[665] 'Gaigné.' Froment. _Gestes de Genève_, p. 197. [666] Registres du Conseil de Genève du 12 Octobre 1535.—Froment, _Gestes de Genève_, pp. 196-198. [667] 'Die Schryen, Würgen, würgen! Setzten dem von Diesbach ein Feuerbüchsen an die Brust.'—Stettler, _Chronik_, p. 71. [668] Stettler, _Chronik_, p. 72. [669] Froment, _Gestes de Genève_, p. 198.—Registres du Conseil du 11 Octobre 1535.—MSC. de Roset, liv. iii. ch. 41. [670] 'Une _allée_ qui n'aura pas de _retour_.' [671] Froment, _Gestes de Genève_, p. 199.—MSC. de Roset, liv. iii. ch. 41.—_Schweizer Chronik in Liedern_, Berne, 1535. [672] Registres du Conseil du 12 Octobre 1535.—MSC. de Roset, liv. iii. ch. 42. [673] Froment, Roset, &c. [674] Chron. MSC. de Roset, liv. iii. ch. 51. CHAPTER XI. MOVEMENTS FOR THE ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF GENEVA—FAITH AND HEROISM. (FROM THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 1535 TO THE END OF JANUARY 1536.) [Sidenote: GENEVA BLOCKADED.] A reverse is not always an evil; it may sometimes lead to a decisive victory. There were few regular troops among those who had been beaten at Gingins, which made the defeat a lesson by which the duke of Savoy might profit. He resolved, in effect, to benefit by it, to bring up veteran soldiers, to place a distinguished general at their head, and thus to crush that rebellious city which presumed to set up a religion unknown at Rome. But as these troops were not ready, Charles III. ordered the chiefs of the great valley of the Leman to exact of their vassals the military service which they owed. The nobles of that district were persuaded that they would easily triumph over Geneva, if the Swiss did not come to their help; and as that was not likely, the hatred felt against the city, and the hope of enriching themselves with its spoil, induced a great number of liegemen to rally round the banners of their lords. About the end of October the Sire de Lullin took his measures for blockading Geneva. Mangerot, baron of La Sarraz, a prompt, violent, obstinate man, filled with contempt for the reformation of the Church and the liberty of the citizens, was placed at the head of the attack. On the 1st of November these armed bands occupied certain villages and small towns which formed a kind of circle round the city, and began to plunder, burn, and kill all who fell into their hands. Famine and the cold, which was very severe that year, soon caused distress in the city. The churches were filled with old men, women and children, and even armed men. 'There is no resource and refuge left but God alone,' said Farel from the pulpit, and voices were heard responding to him from the midst of the congregation, 'In Him alone we place our trust.' If a musket-shot was heard, or shouts, or the drum, the armed men left immediately, but 'without noise or confusion; nobody else moved from the sermon,' and the service was not interrupted. As the firing grew hotter without, those who had remained in the temple cried to God