Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/172

 134 Readings in European History 262. Ex- tracts from Calvin's regulations for the vil- lages about Geneva. Persecution of Catholics The rules made for the villages under the supremacy of Geneva show the actual scope of the religious control. The whole household shall attend the sermons on Sunday, except when some one shall be left at home to tend the children or cattle. If there is preaching on week days, all who can must come, — unless there be some good excuse, — so that at least one from each household shall be present. Those who have men-servants or maid-servants shall bring them when it is possible, so that they shall not live like beasts without instruction. . . . Should any one come after the sermon has begun, let him be warned. If he does not amend, let him pay a fine of three sous. Let the churches be closed except during service, so that no one may enter them at other hours from superstitious motives. If any one be dis- covered engaged in some superstition within or near the church, let him be admonished. If he will not give up his superstition, let him be punished. Those who are found to have rosaries or idols to adore, let them be sent before the consistory, and in addition to the reproof they receive there, let them be sent before the coun- cil. Let the same be done with those who go on a pilgrim- age. Those who observe feasts or papistical fasts shall only be admonished. Those who go to mass shall, besides being admonished, be sent before the council, and it shall consider the propriety of punishing the offenders by imprisonment or special fines, as it judges best. He who blasphemes, swearing by the body or blood of our Lord, or in like manner, shall kiss the earth for the first offense, pay five sous for the second and ten for the third. He who contradicts the word of God shall be sent before the consistory for reproof, or before the council for punish- ment, as the case may require. If any one sings indecent, licentious songs, or dances en virollet or otherwise, he shall be kept in prison three days and then sent to the counciL 1 1 There are similar provisions for drunkenness, gambling, quarreling, taking more than five per cent interest, etc.