religions liberty, the conquest of modern times, did not certainly preside at that day in the councils of the republic; but as an historian of Geneva, who is not a protestant, has said, 'We must not demand of an age ideas, theories, and acts which could not exist until after events and revolutions still to come.'[611] Seeing that the priests were departing, that their chants no longer re-echoed through the lofty Gothic aisles, that the tapers no longer burnt upon the gorgeous altars and the varied ceremonial had disappeared, Farel, Viret, and Froment came forward and said: 'We are ready to preach without sparing ourselves either weariness or labor, and to employ all the power of the Word to lead the flock into the straight road with wisdom and gentleness.' And in fact from that hour the Word which awakeneth and teacheth was heard daily in the churches, and particularly at St. Pierre and St. Gervais. The hearers said that these true ministers of the Gospel 'did not behave like old-clothes men (_revendeurs_), who are accustomed to polish up their wares and put a gloss upon their old rags, in order to get more money for them; but they offered the pure and simple doctrine of Jesus Christ.' Many felt that the Word of God was a sword which pierces to the heart and kills the old man in such a manner that a new man takes the place of him that was slain. Farel assembled the people in the cathedral in order that they should all pray for peace to God who giveth it.[612] These prayers ascended to heaven. Geneva was to have peace, but after new trials. [587] Registres du Conseil du 12 Août.—Chronique MSC. de Roset. [588] Registres du Conseil du 12 Août. [589] Registres du Conseil des 16 et 17 Août 1535. [590] Archives de Turin. Mémoire sur les droits de la maison de Savoye. [591] Virgil, _Æneid_, ii. 487. 'Shrieks of women rend the vaulted skies.'—_Dryden._ [592] Luke, i. 39. [593] Jeanne de Jussie, _Commencement de l'Hérésie dans Genève_, p. 131. [594] _Ibid._ [595] 'Ce brave homme n'en faisait aucun semblant, ni oncques dit mot; il avait la langue amortie.' [596] 'Vous faites bonne chère et vivez en noise.'—Jeanne de Jussie, _Commencement de l'Hérésie dans Genève_, pp. 170-173. [597] _Ibid._ pp. 141-148. [598] Jeanne de Jussie, _Commencement de l'Hérésie dans Genève_, pp. 150-152. Registres du Conseil du 25 Août 1535. [599] 'Décrachaient.'—Jeanne de Jussie. [600] Jeanne de Jussie, _Commencement de l'Hérésie dans Genève_, pp. 175, 189, 197. [601] Jeanne de Jussie, _Commencement de l'Hérésie dans Genève_, pp. 192, 197. [602] _Ibid._ pp. 199-201. [603] Jeanne de Jussie, _Commencement de l'Hérésie dans Genève_, pp. 34, 201-223. [604] Jeanne de Jussie, _Commencement de l'Hérésie dans Genève_, p. 34.—Froment, _Gestes de Genève_, p. 157. [605] Jeanne de Jussie, _Commencement de l'Hérésie dans Genève_, pp. 154-160.—Roset, Chron. MSC. liv. iii. ch. xxxvii. [606] Registres des Conseils des 15 Octobre, 12 et 29 Novembre 1535.