Ere long something transpired of the plot of these fanatical ecclesiastics, and the huguenots, forming part of the little council at that moment assembled in the town-hall, represented to their colleagues that the priests had no other object than to draw the ministers into a trap. Accordingly the two chief magistrates, Hugues and Balard, accompanied Machard to the Tour Perce, to give a guarantee to Farel and his friends. Some persons suspected Balard of wishing to get Farel and Saunier into trouble. 'There is nothing more prejudicial to Geneva than division,' he said; 'I wish those who disturb us were well out of us.' But he was neither a coward nor a traitor; he was determined to send the reformers away from Geneva, but to protect their lives.'[519] On reaching the inn the bishop's secretary informed the evangelists that the episcopal council invited them to retract the doctrines they had taught, the presence of Balard and Hugues giving weight to the request. Farel answered: 'We affirm these doctrines in the strongest way possible, and again offer to die if we cannot prove them out of scripture.' 'In that case,' resumed Machard, 'come before the episcopal council to discuss with the priests, and maintain what you have said.' 'No harm shall be done you,' said the premier syndic and the vidame, 'we pledge our word to it.' Farel and Saunier, delighted with this opportunity of announcing the Gospel, set off, accompanied by Olivetan. They were calm and full of joy, doubtless not expecting what awaited them, but ready nevertheless to give up their lives. [494] Tour Percée. The sign of this inn was in existence until recently; there was a _hole in the tower_. [495] Olivetan's Bible, _Apologie du translateur_. [496] Ibid. [497] Froment, _Gestes de Genève_, p. 3. [498] 'Percrebuit rumor de Farelli adventu.'—Spanheim, _Geneva restituta_, p. 43. [499] 'Sacrificulorum flagellum.'—Ibid. [500] La Sœur J. de Jussie, _le Levain du Calvinisme_, p. 46. Choupard MSS.; Roset MSS. liv. III. ch. 1. [501] Froment, _Gestes_, p. 4. Galiffe, _Notices généalogiques_, &c. [502] 'Cives multi non inviti, etsi nounullos, non tam pietatis cura, quam Romanæ tyrannidis odium movebat.'—MS. of Benedict Turretini, entitled _Initium et progressus Reformationis quæ facta est Genevæ_, in the Berne Library, MS. _Hist. Helv._ v. p. 125. [503] _Hist. de la Réf. de Genève_, MS. of Badollet, regent of the college of Geneva in the seventeenth century. Berne library, _Hist. Helv._ v. p. 125. [504] Froment, _Gestes_, p. 5. Gautier MS. Spon I. p. 467. Roser and Choupard MSS. [505] Froment, _Gestes de Genève_, p. 3. [506] La Sœur de Jussie, _le Levain du Calvinisme_, p. 46. [507] Choupard MS. [508] Froment, _Gestes_, p. 4. [509] Ibid. Choupard MS. [510] Calvin. [511] Choupard MS. [512] Ruchat, III. p. 177. [513] 'Se non seditionis tubam sed veritatis præconem esse.'—Spanheim, _Geneva restituta_, p. 43. [514] Choupard MS. Spanheim, _Geneva restituta_, p. 43.