A History of Modern Europe - From the Renaissance to the Present

110 Ch. 3 • The Two Reformations

In 1 540, the majority of citizens of Geneva, believing that the town’s ties to
Bern limited its sovereignty, elected new magistrates, who executed the lead­
ers of the pro-Bern faction. The two councils then invited Calvin to return to
oversee reform in Geneva, and they adopted his Ecclesiastical Ordinances.
Calvin returned to the city he had called “a place so grossly immoral.”
To John Knox, a Scottish reformer, Geneva seemed “the most perfect
school of Christ that ever was on earth since the days of the Apostles.” But
many citizens of Geneva resisted the close scrutiny of the Consistory. One
man named his dog “Calvin” in protest. Always on the alert for the “many
ambushes and clandestine intrigues Satan daily directs against us,” Calvin
forced another man who had publicly criticized him to wear a hair shirt (a
shirt made of coarse animal hair) and walk slowly through town, stopping
at street corners to pray and acknowledge Calvin’s authority. Calvin took it
upon himself to decide whether future bridegrooms were free from vene­
real disease and could marry in Geneva. He determined the punishment of
merchants who cheated their clients. Drinking establishments were per­
mitted (indeed part of Calvin’s salary was paid in barrels of wine) if no
lewd songs were sung or cards played, a Bible was always available, and
grace said before meals. The Consistory imposed penalties for laughing
during a sermon, having one’s fortune told, or praising the pope. Calvin’s
death in 1564 was brought on by a variety of illnesses that were probably
compounded by his chronic state of exhaustion and his fretful anxiety
about the possibility of reforming a fallen and sinful world.

Calvinist Conversions

Calvinism proved the most aggressive version of the reformed religions,

finding converts in places as diverse as France, the Netherlands, a number

of German states, Hungary, Transylvania, Poland, and Scotland, where, fol­

lowing the efforts of the fiery reformer John Knox, the Scottish Parliament

accepted Calvinism in 1560 as the national religion. In France, Calvinism

made some inroads among all social classes during the 1530s, following the

flow of reform literature coming from Switzerland and the German states.

People who could not read could nonetheless listen to the Bible being read

aloud.

Henry II, who came to the throne of France in 1547, denounced the

“common malady of this contagious pestilence which has infected many

noble towns.” The Parlement of Paris created a special chamber to hear

heresy cases—“the Burning Chamber”—and tried about 500 people. The

sadistic king attended many of the executions himself. A magistrate from

Bordeaux described the courage of the Protestant martyrs:

Fires were being kindled everywhere... the stubborn resolution of

those who were carried off to the gallows... stupefied many people.