[437] We have already read at p. 30, of the present volume of
Calvin's first connection with Servetus, and of the rupture of that
connection as attested by the letter of Calvin to John Frellon (13th
February 1546). Wandering by turns in France, Germany, and Italy,
Servetus had taken up his residence at Vienne in Dauphiné, where he
at once exercised the profession of a doctor, and persisted in his
daring attacks on Christianity, for which he aspired to substitute
a rational philosophy. Such is the drift of his book entitled
_Christianismi Restitutio_, which he published anonymously in 1553,
after having two-and-twenty years before directed his bold attacks
against the doctrine of the Trinity, in his book _De Trinitatis
Erroribus_, published at Haguenau in 1531. Accused by a Genevan
refugee before the Inquisition of Lyons, as the author of these
writings, Servetus was arrested, cast into the dungeons of Vienne,
and condemned by Catholic judges to be burnt, from which he only
escaped by flight. Hear how Theodore Beza recounts, in his letter
to Bullinger, the preparations for the trial of Servetus, of his
escape from prison, and of his arrival and arrest at Geneva:--"You
have heard doubtless of that impious blasphemer Servetus. He caused
a book, or rather volume of his blasphemies to be secretly printed
at Lyons. Certain good brethren at Lyons informed the magistrate
of this deceitful action. Persons were despatched to Vienne, where
he was practising as a physician, to bring him bound [to Lyons].
He was seized, but soon after effected his escape by deceit. At
length he came to Geneva, where he went skulking about. He was
forthwith recognized, however, by a certain person, and cast into
prison. Calvin also, whom he treated very unhandsomely by name in
thirty printed letters, pled the cause of the Church against him in
the Council, in the presence of a great assemblage of the pious.
He continued in his impiety. What will come of it I know not. Let
us pray the Lord to purge his Church of these monsters."--_MSS.
of Zurich._ Letter of the 27th August 1553. Such was the opening
of the process which terminated so fatally for Servetus. Born in
an age not disposed to show mercy to errors of faith, he seems,
says a historian, to have fled from Spain--the native country of
the auto-da-fé--only to see his effigy burnt in a strange land by
the torch of a Catholic executioner, and to come afterwards to
expire amid flames kindled by Calvinistic justice.--Albert Rilliet,
_Relation du Procès Criminel intenté contre Servet_. Genève, 1844.
8vo.--[Translated into English by the Rev. Dr. Tweedie.]
Arrest of Servetus, and institution of the process against him.
GENEVA, _20th August 1553_.
It is as you say, my dear Farel. Although we may be severely
buffeted hither and thither by many tempests, yet, seeing that a
pilot steers the ship in which we sail, who will never allow us to
perish even in the midst of shipwrecks, there is no reason why our
minds should be overwhelmed with fear and overcome with weariness.
We have now new business in hand with Servetus. He intended perhaps
passing through this city; for it is not yet known with what design
he came. But after he had been recognized, I thought that he should
be detained. My friend Nicolas summoned him on a capital charge,
offering himself as security according to the _lex talionis_.[438]
On the following day he adduced against him forty written charges.
He at first sought to evade them. Accordingly we were summoned. He
impudently reviled me, just as if he regarded me as obnoxious to
him. I answered him as he deserved. At length the Senate pronounced
all the charges proven. Nicolas was released from prison on the
third day, having given up my brother as his surety; on the fourth
day he was set free. Of the man's effrontery I will say nothing; but
such was his madness that he did not hesitate to say that devils
possessed divinity; yea, that many gods were in individual devils,
inasmuch as deity had been substantially communicated to those,
equally with wood and stone. I hope that sentence of death will at
least be passed upon him; but I desire that the severity of the
punishment may be mitigated.[439] Adieu. My colleagues again salute
you. Budé does the same, and Normandie, who has now recovered.
Present my regards to my brother Claude.