Deep anxiety on account of the condition of the English
Churches--Conference of the Swiss Churches in regard to Servetus.
GENEVA, _7th September 1553_.
With respect to the letter, I had no doubt but that you made a
faithful endeavour, so far as it was your duty, to send it to me in
safety. That Jew has deceived you however; at least he has not done
what you expected of him. He at length arrived here, but alleged
that he had been robbed at Fribourg: he could give no definite
account of the letter. As circumstances did not turn out here
according to his wishes, he crossed over to England. I informed
him that matters were in a disturbed state in that country, and
endeavoured to deter him from his design. It was of no avail,
however; but he may take his own way.
We have good reason to feel anxiety--yea even torment--regarding
that nation [England].[444] What is to become of so great a
multitude of pious men, who have betaken themselves to voluntary
exile in that country?[445] There is danger, also, that we shall
hear very sad news ere long, of the many native English who have
already embraced Christ, if the Lord do not in his mercy send help
to them from heaven. Besides, the same rumour is gathering strength
here with respect to Cardinal Pole.[446] Moreover, as, I have always
heard that she is a very haughty animal who now succeeds to the
crown, and cruel withal, there sometimes steals over me a prophetic
conjecture, that her audacity will carry her all lengths. You are
aware of the rash daring peculiar to her family. She will prove
troublesome to almost all parties in the long run. Should she make
a weak attempt to alter the existing constitution, she will find
opponents not a few. Meanwhile, the Church of God will be in a
manner buffeted by manifold tempests. Let us, therefore, as you say,
commend this very troubled state of affairs to God.
[444] In a letter to Theodore Beza of 30th August 1553, he
gave eloquent expression to his deep anxiety for the Church of
England:--"Scarcely has any other thing so much distressed me as
this English affair. Let us earnestly implore mercy of God, that
he may have pity on us, and upon his most afflicted Church. But
where is our Martyr? where John A Lasco? where is Hooper, Bishop of
Worcester? where is Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury? where is the
Duke of Suffolk? where are numberless other excellent men? Lord,
have mercy upon them. I cannot easily express how greatly these
things distress me."--_Zurich Letters_, 1st series, vol. ii. p. 741.
[445] "The London Church has more than 15,000 foreigners. Where will
these miserable ones flee to, should the Pope gain the day? We must
pray God therefore...."--Letter of Bullinger to Calvin, of 26th
August 1553.--Eccl. Archives of Berne, vol. vi. p. 312.
[446] Cardinal Pole was at that time preparing to leave Rome to
return to England:--"An English nobleman was sent lately by Queen
Mary to recall that Reginald Pole, who is too well known both to you
and myself; for that English Athaliah desires the benefit of his
presence and his counsel."--Bullinger to Beza, letter already quoted.
Our Council will, on an early day, send the opinions of Servetus
to your city, to obtain your judgment regarding them. Indeed they
cause you this trouble, despite our remonstrances;[447] but they
have reached such a pitch of folly and madness, that they regard
with suspicion whatever we say to them. So much so, that were I to
allege that it is clear at mid-day, they would forthwith begin to
doubt of it. Our brother Gualter [will tell you] more;[448] for I
am compelled to conclude, as there are many here whom I found on
returning home from dinner.
[447] At the session of the 5th September, the Council of Geneva
had decided, contrary to the wish of Calvin, upon consulting the
Churches of Berne, Basle, Sebaffhausen, and Zurich, respecting the
culpability of Servetus, but this decision was realized just a
fortnight too late.--Rilliet, _Relation du Procès de Servet_, p. 84.
[448] Rudolph Gualter, minister of the Church of Zurich, and
son-in-law to Bullinger.
Adieu, therefore, most accomplished sir, and honourable brother in
the Lord. Salute your fellow-ministers, your sons-in-law, and your
whole family. May Christ preserve, guide, and bless you all. Amen.
My colleagues--all very dejected--salute you earnestly.--Yours,