Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-23


command or not. but do know that had
such abundant leisure for walking that
wore little pathway In the rock which
forms the pavement of the dungeon just as
though 1t has been knocked out with q
hammer"
He says that he occupied himself writing
trihing fancies and ballads, both in the
French and Latin languages" and several
of them have been preserved. One of them
was simple little satire upon his enemy,
the duke:
II your case with him be just
Tremble then you surely must.
II it be not just true.
There's no need TO worry you.
Go to sleep without fear,
He Will hold your interests dear.
Never let him know you
Perceive that he's a treacherous man,
For then he'll either have your head.
Honest men he doth conine
And asks the wicked men to dine.
These are not very brilliant verses. but
there is a cheerful sort of humor in them
which speaks well for a man who had spent
four years in a dungeon where he could
only move to and fro within the length of
his chain. Evidently his buoyant spirit was
not broken by treachery or Imprisonment.
Bonivard's Rescue.
Bonivard was rescued in 1886 by an army
of 5000 Berne soldiers. who captured the
castle and found four prisoners in the dun
geons. Two of them We're eminent citizens
sent to the castle because they waited upon
him with deputation from Geneva several
years before to protest against some of his
cruelties. The third was a common muir
derer. The fourth was Bonivard, who was
escorted back to Geneva in triumph, pre-
scented with the freedom of the city and
granted by the town council pension an
nually of 200 crowns and lodging for him.
self and his male legitimate children"
Where the members of the council expected
his wife and daughters to live Is not stated.
Disguised with this parsimony of his fell
low townsmen, after all his sufferings. he
shook the dust of Geneva from his feet and
went to Berne with the army of rescue.
His treatment became a public issue in &C.
neva politics. and after a year or so OF the
bitterest kind of controversy and recrimina-
ton. the town council invited him to come
home and become the official historian or
Geneva with salary of 500 crowns, lit
tie less than $500 year. The council also
paid his debts and redeemed his library,
which had been pawned. with an agreement
that 1t should become the property of the
city after his death-and that library was
the nucleus of the present public library of
Geneva
The records of the city council, which are
very much in detail and well preserved,
contain several references to him thereaf-
ter In 1544 a resolution was passed setting
forth that Francois de Bonivard is in
structed to commence work upon the chron-
appears in the minutes upon the same page
with resolution directing the city vinteger
to supply the Reverend John Calvin with a
cask of wine in consideration of his feeble
health and public service.
In June, 1919, it is recorded that box
of sweatmeats was voted. to Francois de
Bonivard who is working at the chron-
icles, and his servant, who writes at his die
tation, is hereby voted pair of new boots.
Calvin Criticises the Chronicle.
In 1852 Binvard finished his great work.
1.-The History of Geneva from the Earliest
Times" and the manuscript was submitted
for review to John Calvin, who reported
to the city fathers that ''itis not consistent
with the dignity of history and 1 recon-
mend that the said Bonivard be required
to go over the work and remove all
solecisms, vulgarisms and other faults OF
composition" The recommendation was
adopted. The manuscript was returned to
Bonivard with a copy of Calvin's criticism
and recommendations. We do not know
whether the author complied Win these IN
structions or not, but he took his revenge
by writing a lampoon on his eminent pas
tor, SO witty that 1T made all Geneva roar
and Inundated the proud theologian In
most painful manner.
Notwithstanding his Independent and au-
tocratic disposition, and his great intellect,
Calvin was an exceedingly vain and sensi-
tive man. He made complaint Of the lam
pooh to the city council, which fined Boni-
ward crowns for his fmpertinence. Bonl-
wards History of Geneva" was not pub
lished until 1881, the manuscript having
lain In the dusty archives or the MUNICH
pality for 279 years.
Terrible Domestic Tragedy.
The last years of Bonivard's life were en-
FILTERED by a terrible domestic tragedy.
Catherine de Courtavone daughter Of an
intimate friend, recently deceased, became
a num- or was required to take the veil In
order to prevent a scandal. She was
wild, reckless, frivolous, self-willed woman,
and year of convent life made her des-
perate She managed to effect her escape
and fed to Geneva. where she found refuge
in the lodgings of her fathers friend, who
was then an elderly widower, living alone:
When he discovered his guest he begged
her to take refuge elsewhere in order to
avoid compromising him as well as herself,
but she pleaded for secrecy and declared
that she would remain there until he could
arrange means for getting her out OF the
CITY, Her presence was discovered, and
both were summoned before the consistory.
Their explanations were not accepted 1t
was assumed that Bonivard was her lover
and had assisted in her escape from the
convent. although both of them denied it
stoutly. The consistory decided that they
must marry.
The woman was furious with indignation
and chagrin at the mischance of her escape
and Bonivard pleaded his age poverty and
infirmities. He protested that he had no
love or even respect for her; that they We're
uncongenial; that she was a frivolous,
person with an empty head, and
he was a student and a scholar He had
allowed her to remain in his house after her
escape from the convent simply because
she was the daughter Of an old friend and
knew not where to go; and that his rela-
tons with her had been perfectly pure and
honorable, but the conSistory decided that
the only way to save their souls and avoid
a scandal was to marry them and the cere-
mony took place the same afternoon.
OF course the inevitable happened. Boni-
ward hated the woman for having brought
upon him all this trouble and distraction in
his old age, and she hated him because they
were married. They paid very little atten-
ton to each other. although his peace was
disturbed and his happiness was destroyed,
and she sought her pleasure outside her own
household. 1t was not long before the
bride was brought before the consistory
again, upon the most. serious accusations.
Bonivard refused to believe them and de-
Tended her. His sense Of humor had not
left him and when he was compelled to APP
pear as witness, he testified in her be-
half He said that he found nothing to
complain of in her conduct; that she was a
good wife and a very pous woman; that
she often urged him to be more devout; that
she had f1outed him because he did not
preach the gospel. and had twice beaten
- Ic tn 6rnr, fr, and hoy