In order to understand what happened next in Geneva, you must understand how the city was divided into groups. There were the Huguenots who at first had only longed for freedom from the bondage of the priests and the harsh city rulers, but now many of them had learned also of the freedom from Satan and from their own sinful ways. Then there were the priests and those who still clung to the false worship of the idols and who hated God’s Word. The bishop, of course, who had run away from Geneva in fear, still intended to rule over the city. Berne, that great city who protected the gospel preachers, had an agreement of friendship with Geneva to protect one another, should other enemies invade the city. This agreement was badly needed, for the Huguenots and the bishop alike had one enemy not far away who always kept his eye on Geneva. This was the duke of Savoy. He also wished to rule the city and had often wished to overthrow the bishop and the Huguenots alike in order to have his own way in the city. Such was the sad state of Geneva at this time.
Now that the gospel preachers were sent away from Geneva, Furbity and their priests were in great spirits. Furbity preached again in the great church.
“I have done my duty,” he said. “I entreat all you good and faithful people to make good use of your swords. I will use my tongue to defend the truth.”
Scarcely had these words been spoken when another cry rang out in the city.
“Baudichon has come back from Berne, bringing, not an army of soldiers, but the banished Alexander and William Farel!”
“What! That wretch!” exclaimed the priests. “He is come back!”
Before the day was over, one man put Furbity’s words into action and seeing Baudichon and Farel in the street, ran at them with his sword. But Huguenots were on guard and dragged their friends off to a place of safety.
The next day Baudichon appeared before the city council with a letter from Berne. “You drive away the preachers of the Holy Word,” the letter said, “and allow men to preach who blaspheme. We command you to arrest Furbity, and, moreover, we ask for a place in which William Farel may preach the gospel publicly.”
The council, too afraid of the priests to actually arrest Furbity, simply placed a guard of soldiers around him. At this time Furbity decided that his great work in the city was done and that he would leave. He preached his farewell sermon, packed his bags and prepared to leave. He had forgotten that he was in the keeping of the soldiers, and great was his shock to be informed that he was not permitted to leave the city.
Now the priests were further surprised to hear of a fresh arrival: Anthony Froment was back! He arrived with the Bernese ambassador himself and another young gospel preacher, Peter Viret, who had recently been stabbed in the back by a hater of the gospel. There he was, weak and exhausted, ready to preach. There they were — William Farel, Viret and Anthony together in Geneva! With the Bernese ambassador also present, no one dared to hinder their preaching.
Even so, many dared to speak against them. “It is plain that Farel is a devil,” said some.
“I saw them feed devils,” said others.
“I would rather that they went away without paying their bill, if only they would go a long way and never come back,” said the landlord where they were staying.
The Huguenots cared little for such idle talk, but they were alarmed at another matter. One day a few Huguenot soldiers had been placed as guards at the palace of the bishop. The bishop, you remember, was not there, but the soldiers chatted and joked with the bishop’s servants. The servants did not like the comments of the Huguenots.
“Our friends are more important than you suppose,” they said. “There are letters from my lord the bishop, yes, and from his highness the duke of Savoy himself.”
“Indeed!” replied the Huguenots, realizing they were on the verge of a great discovery. “You don’t mean us to believe that such grand people would trouble themselves to write letters about our city. You must have dreamt it.”
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“There are letters,” insisted the servants. “If you could but open the cupboards, you would see them with the duke’s great seal, too.”
Up jumped the Huguenots and raced to the cupboards. They cleared out the letters and carried them to the city council. The citizens of Geneva were horrified to learn the danger that was before them. The bishop himself had arranged to have a governor appointed who would have absolute power in Geneva. He would put to death whom he wished and not answer to anyone but the bishop. In order to carry out this plot, the bishop had made an agreement with his old enemy, the duke of Savoy! The bishop, whom the council had trusted, had betrayed them into the hands of their bitterest enemy!
The plot had been discovered, but now not only the gospel preachers but the city itself was in great danger.