124 The Swiss and Their Neighbours, 1460–1560
over the issue479 he agreed to make payments in instalments, despite the desolation
of his lands, provided that Bern and Fribourg would help him to regain the
vidomne (as Payerne had stipulated) and abandon any claims to the Vaud. For that
he was even prepared to recognize Geneva’s Burgrecht with the two cities.480 In
effect, he was seeking to recreate the Burgrecht of 1477, with its promise of mutual
access to castles and military aid within the boundaries then delimited;481 any
military assistance rendered by Bern was to be charged at 1000 écus a month. This
was an international treaty in the classical mould which paid scant attention to
little local difficulties in the Vaud.482 Indeed, when Geneva sought Bern’s help
in wresting damages from Savoy it was brusquely told to refer to the mediators if
it considered that Savoy had infringed the St-Julien treaty.483 With lofty disdain it
added that a renewed alliance with Savoy would make Geneva’s problems easier to
resolve (though it explained neither how nor why), and that the city should content
itself a while.484
In the summer of 1532 the clouds were lifting. Savoy indicated its delight at the
prospect of a renewed alliance with Bern and Fribourg, even though the possible
mortgaging of the Vaud remained a sword of Damocles. The two cities also expressed
satisfaction at the outcome. The first instalment of 7000 écus was handed over,
with the balance to be paid by February 1533.485 Alas, by September it was clear
that further payments would be delayed, though Duke Charles hoped that would
not deter the two cities from assisting him to repossess the office of justiciar in
Geneva.486 Savoy’s financial embarrassment was not a feint: in November Savoy’s
marshal, René de Challant, had only been able to offer another 1000 écus, with a
further 3000 écus in plate, which Bern indicated it would put up for auction.487
That was still a breach of the reparation terms, but Bern decided not to insist on
the surrender of the Vaud ‘out of pity’, as the council put it.488 That was more
indulgence than it showed Geneva! In the summer Geneva had approached Bern
for a delay in its payments ‘out of need and poverty’, only to be told that it would
be better to stump up straight away, since any attempt to collect the debt by
force might lead to unrest. Geneva riposted with some heat that it had already paid
5000 écus, which should for the moment suffice.489
479 EA IV, 1b, 1306 (no. 700: 1) (March 1532).
480 EA IV, 1b, 1308–9 (no. 703: I; II; to I, 1; to I, 3) (April 1532).
481 But Bern was not prepared to entertain an extension of the area to include territories beyond
the Alps (i.e. Piedmont) or Annecy (that is, the apanage of Genevois-Faucigny).
482 EA IV, 1b, 1310–20 (no. 703: 1; 2; 3; 6; 7; 12; 13; 17) (April 1532). Its international character
was underscored both by Bern’s assurance that it would remain neutral in any attempt by Savoy to
reconquer the Lower Valais and by the reaffirmation of mutual aid if threatened by Burgundy or any
foreign power.
483 EA IV, 1b, 1328 (no. 705) (April 1532). 484 EA IV, 1b, 1331 (no. 710) (April 1532).
485 EA IV, 1b, 1337–8 (no. 716: I, 1; II) (May 1532); 1345–6 (no. 720: I; II); 1348 (no. 722)
(May 1532); 1362–3 (no. 729: a; b; c) (June 1532). Bern remained worried, however, about followers
of the new faith in Payerne.
486 EA IV, 1b, 1405 (no.750: I, 1; I, 2; II, 1; to II, 2) (Sept. 1532); 1440 (no. 772) (Nov. 1532).
487 EA IV, 1b, 1433–4 (no. 763: I, 1; I, 2) (Nov. 1532).
488 EA IV, 1b, 1434 (no. 763: III) (Nov. 1532).
489 EA IV, 1b, 1366–7 (no. 733: 2; 3; 4; 5) (July 1532).