m 




S 

.2 

INUR 




\ STUDIA IN 



THE LIBRARY 

of 
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY 

Toronto 




L E T T E R S 



JOHN CALVIN 

COMPILED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS AND 
EDITED WITH HISTORICAL NOTES 



DR. JULES BONNET, 



VOL II. 



TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN AND FRENCH. 



EDINBURGH: THOMAS CONSTABLE AND GO. 

LITTLE, BROWN, AND CO., BOSTON, U. sA 

MDCCCLVII. 



/&! 



KDINIiCKGH : T. COXSTABLS, PUINTER TO HKR MAJESTY 



CONTENTS. 



1545. 

LETTBE PACB 

/CXLIV. To VIRET. Unpopularity of Calvin various advices, . 1 

/ CXLV. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Exhortation to glorify God amid 

poverty and persecution, ..... 2 

CXLVI. To MADAME DE FALAIS. Congratulations on the constancy mani 
fested by her in the midst of trials salutations from the suffer 
ing Idelette de Bure, ...... 5 

CXLVII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Vanity of trust reposed in the princes 

/of this world confidence in God, .... 6 

CXLVIII. To FAREL. Captivity of Farel s brother ravages of the plague 

in Geneva, ....... 8 

CXLIX. To VIRET. Dispersion of the School at Geneva contests at 
Neuchatel on the subject of church property Calvin s opinion 

ofFarel, 10 

/CL. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Prayers for his restoration to health, 12 

1546. 

CLI. To FAREL News from Germany -journey of the French Am 
bassador to Geneva details concerning the condition of the- 
town, ....... 12 

CLII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Calvin dedicates to him one of his 

Commentaries, . . . . . 15 

CLIII. To JOHN FRELLON. Rupture of the Eolations between Calvin and 

Servetus, ....... 16 

CLIV. To FAREL. Reply to various questions terrible threat against 

Servetus imprisonment of one of the leaders of the Libertins, 1 7 

CLV. To FAREI Pacification of the Church at Neuchatel report of 

the speedy arrival of the Emperor in Savoy dangers at Geneva 

withering mention of Francis I., . . . .20 

CLVI. To VIRET. Election of a minister at Neuchatel sickness of 

Viret s wife, ....... 22 

CLVI1. To VIRET. Calvin invites his friend to repair to Geneva after the 

death of his wife, ...... 23 



VI CONTENTS. 

LETTER 
CLVIII. To VIRET. Renewed and more pressing invitation to come to 

Geneva, . ... 24 

CLIX. To THEODORE VITUS. Indication of the various documents 
wherein are set forth the opinions of Calvin regarding the 
Lord s Supper earnest desires for union and peace among the 
Churches condition of Geneva, . . . .25 

CLX. To VIRET. Instructions to Viret about a journey to Geneva, 28 
CLXI. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Calvin s labours the diet at Ratisbon 

the Church of Metz the reformation at Heidelberg Apo- *"^ 
logy for M. de Falais opinion regarding the sermons of Ochino, 29 
CLXII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Advice regarding the editing of the 
Apology details of a loan contracted for M. de Falais news 
from Germany and Italy Farel and Viret at Geneva 
death of Juan Diaz, . . . .33 

CLXIII. To FAREL. Troubles at Geneva imprisonment of the several , 
members of the family of Favre account of the assassination 
of John Diaz at Neubourg, . . . .38 

CLXIV. To AMY PERRIN. Complaints regarding the conduct of Perrin 
firm and courageous declaration by the Reformer of his 
resolution to persevere in his duty unto death, . . 42 

CLXV. To FAREL AND VIRET. Requests in favour of the faithful in 

/France, ....... 44 
CLXVI. To MADAME DE FALAIS. Expression of Christian sympathy and 

condolence on occasion of the illness of M. de Falais, . 46 
CLX VII. To FAREL. Excitement caused at Geneva by the Representation 

of a Play, . . . . . . .47 

CLXVIII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Proposals of matrimony on behalf of 

Viret, ....... 49 

CLXIX. To VIRET. Account of the steps taken relative to his marriage, 51 
CLXX. To VIRET. Fresh details regarding the projects for his mar 
riage, ....... 51 

CLXXI. To VIRET. Same subject as the preceding, . . .54 

CLXXII. To VIRET. Breaking off of the match treated of in the preced 
ing letters, ...... 54 

CLXXIII. To FAREL. Violence of the family of Amy Perrin declama 
tions of the wife of Froment against the ministers of Geneva, 56 
CLXXIV. To FAREL. Calvin s indisposition literary labours apparent 

reconciliation with Perrin and his family, . . .58 

CLXXV. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Recurrence to the matrimonial pro 
jects of Viret explanations on various subjects, . . 60 
CLXXVI. To MADAME DE FALAIS. Sad communication to be made to 

M. de Falais promise to send several discourses, . 62 

CLXX VII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Congratulations on his convalescence 
uncertainty of prospects in Germany confidence in the all- 
powerful protection of God, . . . .63 

CLXXVIII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Excuses for Viret uses of sickness 
various rumours concerning the war in Germany expla 
nations on the subject of the Supper, . . .65 



CONTENTS. Vll 

LKTTEE PAGB 

Y CLXXIX. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Consolations on the death of his 

sister, ....... 70 

CLXXX. To MADAME DE FALAIS. Assurances of affection for herself 

and her husband, . . . . .71 

CLXXXI. To VIRET. Statement of the expense of a visit to Lausanne, 
on the occasion of Viret s marriage ecclesiastical difficul 
ties at Berne, ...... 72 

CLXXXIL To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Military movements in Switzerland 

policy of the Cantons in reference to the Emperor, . 74 

CLXXX1II. To MADAME DE BUDE. Calvin exhorts this lady to leave 

France, and retire with her family to Geneva, . 70 



1547. 

CLXXXIV. To THE AVOYER NCEGUELY. Complaints of the misconduct of 

several ministers in the Pays de Vaud, . . 80 

CLXXXV. To FAREL. Mission of Calvin in Switzerland dispositions of 

the various Cantons, .... 81 

CLXXXVI. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Search for a house for that gentle 
man in Geneva various details mention of Charles V. 
and Francis I., . . . . . .83 

CLXXXVII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Instructions regarding the Apology 
alarming rumours current at Geneva Calvin s con 
fidence, ...... 86 

CLXXXVIII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Disputes of M. de Falais with 
Valeran Poulain reports of the expected arrival of the 
former in Geneva, ..... 88 

CLXXXIX. To VALERAN POULAIN. Severe reprobation of his behaviour 
towards M. de Falais reply to a calumny directed against 
the Reformer, ...... 90 

CXC. To VIRET. Weakness of the Genevese magistracy expecta 
tion of Viret s arrival in Geneva, . . 9 
,/ CXCT. To WOLFGANG MUSCULUS. Anxiety regarding the Churches 

of Germany advice to Musculus, . . 94 

CXCII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Steps taken at Basle to retract a 

promise of marriage made to Valeran Poulain, . . 96 

CXCIII. To FRANCIS DRYANDER. Confused state of the Church hopes 

and fears for the future, . . .97 

CXC1V. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. The sending of a minister per 
plexities regarding anticipated events in Germany, . 99 
\f CXCV. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Information in regard to a house 
advice on the subject of a marriage proposed for a relative 
of Monsieur de Falais, . . . . .100 

CXCVI. To VIRET. Interview of Calvin with a senator of Berne ad 
vantage secured over the party of the Libertins, . 102 
CXCVII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Recommendation of John de Bude 

uncertainty of the news from Germany, . . 104 



viii CONTENTS. 

LETTER PAGE 

CXCVIII. To MONSIEUR DE BUDE. He exhorts him to follow the ex 
ample of the rest of his family, and retire to Geneva, . 105 
CXCIX. To VIBET. Citation before the Consistory of the wife of Amy 

Pen-in case of Gruet news from Germany, . 108 

CC. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Solemn lessons afforded by the sad 
occurrences in Germany troubles in Geneva energetic atti 
tude of Calvin, . . .111 
CCI. To VIRET. Indecision of the Seigneurs of Geneva inflexibility . 

of Calvin, .... . . 114 

CCII. To THE FAITHFUL OP FRANCE. State of Germany details re 
garding the struggles of the Reformer in the cause of the truth 
at Geneva, ....... 115 

CCIII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Thanksgivings for the happy deliver 
ance of Madame de Falais false reports concerning the state 
of Geneva details regarding the publication of the Apology 
indisposition of Calvin, and his regret at being separated from 
Monsieur de Falais, . . . . .118 

CCIV. To FAREL. False report of Calvin s death proposition (query) 
by the wife, of Amy Perrin calumnious accusation against 
Idelette de Bure -journey of Farel to Geneva, . . 123 

CCV. To VIRET. Mention of a letter from M. de Falais Emmanuel 
Tremellius a book by Viret journey of Bude and Nicolas des 
Gallars to Paris, ...... 125 

CCVI. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Dedication of the Apology mention 

of M. de Mommor sickness of Maldonado, . . 127 

CCVII. To HENRY BULLINGER. Comments by Calvin on a work by 

Bullinger state of Germany and Italy policy of the Cantons, 129 
CCVIII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Return of Nicolas des Gallars stay 

of Farel and Viret at Geneva, .... 131 

CCIX. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Re-assuring intelligence on the state 

of Geneva restoration of Maldonado, . . . 132 

CCX. To FAREL. Sad state of the Republic discouragement of the 

Reformer, ....... 133 

CCXL To VIRET. Rising at the Hotel de Ville heroic bearing of 

Calvin trust in God alone, . . . .134 

CCXII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Printing of The Apology troubles at 

Geneva, ... .... 136 

CCXIII. To VIRET. Invitation to come to Geneva, . . .137 

CCXIV. To FAREL. Publication of The Antidote statement regarding 

the condition of Geneva, . . . . .138 

CCXV. To THE FAMILY OF BUDE. Consolations on occasion of the Death 

of one of its Members, ..... 140 

1548. 

CCX VI. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Cost of printing of The Apology 

despatch of several copies, ..... 143 
CCX VII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Particulars regarding his departure, 

and the purchase of a property near Geneva, . . 145 



\-s \ 

. 



CONTENTS. IX 

LETTER PAGB 

CCXVIII. To HENRY BULLINGER. Brotherly explanations regarding the 

difference on the subject of the Communion, . . 146 

CCXIX. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Obstacles to his departure delay 

of some months, ..... 148 

CCXX. To FAREL. Distressing condition of the Swiss churches, . 150 
CCXXI. To FAREL AND VIRET. Disputes among the ministers of 

Berne and Calvin s journey thither, . . . 151 

CCXXII. To VIRET. Communications regarding affairs at Berne, .. 152 
CCXXIII. To VIRET. Ecclesiastical tyranny of the Seigneurs of Berne 

sojourn of Idelette de Bure at Lausanne, . . 153 

CCXX IV. To HENRY BULLINGER. New explanations regarding the 
Supper violence of some of the Bernese ministers Cal 
vinism and Buceranism, .... 154 

CCXXV. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Preparations for the marriage of 

Mademoiselle de Wilergy, his relation, . . 159 

CCXXVI. To FAREL. Uncertainty regarding the disposition of the Can 
tons stay of Monsieur and Madame de Falais in Calvin s 
house, ....... 161 

CCXXVII. To VIRET. Embarrassment occasioned to Calvin by the 

treacherous publication of one of his letters to Viret, . 162 
CCXXVIII. To A FRENCH SEIGNEUR. Exhortation to come to Geneva, 

that he might there serve the Lord faithfully, . 165 

CCXXIX. To THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. Duties imposed on the Pro 
tector by the high office which he holds plan of a complete 
reformation in England preaching of the pure Word of 
God rooting out of abuses correction of vices and scan 
dalous offences, . . . . .168 

CCXXX. To FAREL. Election of new magistrates at Geneva troubles * 
in France letter from Bucer, .... 184 

\7 CCXXXI. To JOHN STURM. Evidences of faith and Christian steadfast 
ness, amid the dangers that threaten the Church, . 186 

1549. 

v /OCXXXII. To MADAME DE CANY. Exhortation to a courageous and 

honest profession of the truth, . . . .187 

CCXXXIII. To MADEMOISELLE DE . . . . Exhortations to steadfastness 

in the faith acknowledgment of liberality, . . 191 

\ ,,- CCXXXIV. To THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH OF MONTBELIARD. Exhor 
tations to discharge to the end their ministerial duties, 194 
CCXXXV. To HENRY BULLINGER. Hope of union with the theologians 

of Zurich dedication of several writings, . . 196 

CCXXXVI. To BUCER. Consolations to be found in the study of divine 

and everlasting truth, ..... 198 

CCXXXVII. To THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF BERNE Desire of union 

between the Churches of Berne and Geneva, . . 200 

\ X^CXXXVIII. To VIRET. Death of Idelette de Bure, the wife of Calvin, 202 

^/CCXXXIX. To FAREL Further details regarding the death of Idelette 

de Bure, .... . 203 



CONTENTS. 

LBTTER PAGE 

CCXL. To MADAME DE CANY. Account of the instructive death of 

Madame Laurent de Normandie, . . . 205 

CCXLI. To VIRET. Various particulars recommendation of Francis 

Hotman, Jurisconsult, ..... 209 

CCXLII. To HENRY BULLINGER. Pleading in favour of the alliance of 

the Keformed Cantons with France, . . . 211 

CCXLIIL To MADAME DE LA ROCHE-POSAY. He exhorts her and her 

companions to live in conformity with the law of God, . 215 
CCXLIV. To BUCER. Encouragements and consolations desire for the 
conclusion of peace between France and England excesses 
of the ultra-Lutheran party in Switzerland and Germany 
agreement between the Churches of Geneva and Zurich, 218 
CCXLV. To LADY ANNE SEYMOUR. Thanks to the Duchess of Somerset, 
the mother of Anne Seymour exhortation to perseverance 
in the true faith, ...... 222 

CCXLVI. To FAREL. Reply by the Protector of England to a letter from 

Calvin, . 224 

CCXLVII. To FAREL. Imprisonment of two brothers of M. dc Falais 

persecution in the Low Countries and in France, . 225 

CCXL VIII. To VIHET. Negotiations in reference to the publication of the 

Consensus George Count of Montbeliard, . . 226 

CCXLIX. To THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF ZURICH. Urgent recom 
mendation of the adoption of a fixed formulary in the celebra 
tion of the Lord s Supper, . . . 227 
CCL. To BULLINGER. Revisal of the Formulary persecutions in 

France, . . . . . . 22 &lt;&gt; 

CCLI. To FAREL AND VIRET. Letter concerning Vergerio history 

of Francis Spira, ..... 231 

CCL1I. To FAREL. Criticism on a work by Farel, . . 232 

CCL1II. To VIRET. First mention of Theodore Beza poverty of Cal 
vin s colleagues, ...... 234 

CCLIV. To JOHN HALLER. A reformer s complaints on the malevolence 

of the Bernese ministers, .... 235 

CCLV. To WOLFGANG MUSCULUS. Prohibition of the Vaudois Con 
ferences remonstrances on the intolerance of the Bernese 
ministers towards those of France, . . : 237 

CCLVI. To MONSIEUR DE SAINT LAURENS. Statement of leading arti 
cles of the Reformed Faith, . . 230 



1550. 

CCLVI I. To THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. Congratulations on the royal 
favour shown to the Duke of Somerset use to be made of his 
influence for spreading the Gospel in England, . . 243 

CCLVIII. To FAREL. Tidings from Germany and England recommen 
dation of a domestic, . . . . .248 
CCLIX. To FAREL. Election of a new Pope, . . . 250 



CONTENTS. XI 

LKTTER PAGB 

I CCLX. To FRANCIS DRYANDER. Counsels and encouragements col 
lection of Commentaries on Isaiah by Des Gallars, . 251 
CCLXI. To NICOLAS COLLADON. Settlement of the Colladon family at 

Geneva, ...... 252 

CCLXII. To THE SEIGNEURY OF GENEVA. Notice of a publication attri 
buted to Gruet, ..... 254 

CCLXIII. To MELANCHTHON. Controversies excited in Germany by the 

establishment of the, Interim brotherly reproofs, . 256 

CCLXIV. To VIRET. Hope of an early visit from Viret projected ex 
cursions in the neighbourhood of Geneva, . . 261 
CCLXV. To FAREL. Opinion regarding Vergerio intelligence regard 
ing Bucer letter to Melanchthon disputes with Berne 
literary publications of Calvin, . . . .262 

CCLXVI. To WILLIAM KABOT. Exhortation to the study of the 

Scriptures, . . . . . .264 

CCLXVII. To FAREL. Publication of the book on Scandals persecution 

by the King of France Bucer s discouragement, . 265 

CCLXVIII. To FAREL. State of religion in England Calvin s literary 

labours arrival of Kobert Stephens at Geneva, . 268 

CCLXIX. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Misconduct of a servant of M. de 

Falais, . . 271 



1551. 

CCLXX. To HALLER. Explanations on the subject of the abolition of 

the great festivals at Geneva, .... 273 

CCLXXI. To RICHARD LE FEVRE. Explanations regarding various points 
of doctrine in dispute between the Romish and the Eeformed 
Churches, ...... 275 

CCLXXII. To VIRET. Various particulars literary labours of Theodore 

Beza, ....... 283 

v/CCLXXIII. To THE KING OF ENGLAND. He exhorts him to persevere in 
the work of the Reformation in his kingdom enumeration of 
abuses, ceremonies, ecclesiastical elections universities, 284 
CCLXXIV. To BULLINGER. He excuses the infrequency of his letters, and 

urges the publication of the Consensus, . . 289 

CCLXXV. To BULLINGER. Thanks for a document dedication of two 
commentaries to the King of England captivity of Bishop 
Hooper movements of the Emperor in Germany, . 21)1 

CCLXXVI. To BULLINGER. Mention of a letter to the Duke of Somerset 
re-opening of the Council of Trent symptoms of war in 
Europe, . . . . . .293 

CCLXXVIL To VIRET. Death of Bucer and of Joachim Vadian, . 295 
CCLXXVIII. To FAREL. Renewed expressions of regret for the death of 
Vadian and Bucer controversies excited by Osiander 
numerous migrations to Geneva commencement of hosti 
lities in Italy, .... . 296 



Xll CONTENTS. 

LETTER PAGE 

CCLXXIX. To A FKENCII GENTLEMAN. Sickness of Theodore Beza 

Calvin s grief, ...... 299 

CCLXXX. To THE DUKE OF SOMERSET. Protestations of attachment 
reforms required in the Church of England squandering 
of the revenues of benefices and of the universities, . 300 
CCLXXX1. To VIRET. Reply to the attacks of Pighius, and of George 

de Sicile, . . 302 

CCLXXXIL To THE MINISTERS OF NEUCHATEL. Arrest of a minister 

from Neuchatel in France steps for obtaining his release, 303 
CCLXXXIII. To BULLINGER. Edict of Chateaubriand, in France 

attacks on Calvin in Geneva, .... 304 

CCLXXXIV. To THE MINISTERS OF SWITZERLAND. Statement of the con 
troversy with Bolsec regarding Election, . . 307 
CCLXXXV. To OSWALD MYCONIUS. Recommendations regarding the 
dispute with Bolsec request on behalf of the Protestants 
of France, . . . . . .311 

CCLXXXVI. To CHRISTOPHER FABRI. Calvin s dissatisfaction with the 
reply of the ministers of Bale, and the conduct of Mon 
sieur de Falais regarding the affair with Bolsec, . 312 
CCLXXXVII. To FAREL. Recommendation of a schoolmaster com 
plaints against the ministers of Zurich, . . 313 
CCLXXX VIII. To LAELIUS SOCINUS Refusal to reply to the curious ques 
tions proposed to him by Sociuus, . . . 315 



1552. 

CCLXXXIX. To BULLINGER. Thanks for the zeal manifested on behalf 
of the faithful in France complaints of the conduct of 
the ministers of Zurich in the affair of Bolsec, . 316 

CCXC. To FAREL. Fresh complaints by Calvin against the mini- 
s.ers of Zurich and Berne his unpopularity in the latter 
city advices to Farel, .... 320 

CCXCI. To MADAME DE CANY. Rigorous and inflexible spirit of 

Calvin against heresy praise of Theodore Beza, . 323 

CCXCII. To BULLINGER. Journey of Calvin and Farel in Switzer 
land steps in favour of the Reformed in France return 
to the affairs of Bui sec, . . . .326 

CCXCIII. To CRANMER. Agreement to the proposal for assembling a 
General Synod for the more close union of the Reformed 
Churches, ...... 330 

CCXCIV. To BULLINGER. Fresh details regarding the persecutions 

in France, ...... 334 

CCXCV. To THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS, MARTIAL ALBA, PETER 
ESCRIVAIN, CHARLES FAVRE, PETER NAVIHERES, BERNARD 
SEGUIN. Information on various doctrinal points, and as 
surances of Christian sympathy, . . . 335 



CONTENTS. Xlll 

LETTER PAGE 

CCXCVL To EDWARD vi. Dedication of a new work, and Christian ex 
hortations, ...... 339 

CCXCVII. To CRANMER. Calvin exhorts him to prosecute with fresh zeal 
the reformation of the Church in England, by purging it of 
the relics of Popery, . . . .341 

CCXCVIII. To JOHN LINER. Thanks for the zeal manifested by him on 

behalf of the prisoners of Lyons, .... 343 

/ CCXCIX. To THE FRENCH CHURCH IN LONDON. Exhortations to harmony 
Is it lawful to call Mary the Mother of God, and to pray for 
the Pope ?...... 345 

CCC. To THE SEIGNEURS OF GENEVA. Reply of Calvin to the Syndics 

of Geneva in the case of Trolliet, . . . 348 

CCCI. To FAREL. Conspiracy of the Libertins energy of the Re 
former struggles of Viret at Lausanne, . . . 355 
CCCII. To VIRET. Literary labours of Theodore Beza, . . 357 
CCCIII. To AMBROISE BLAURER. Troubles at Geneva sad intelligence 

from France and Germany steady in the promises of God, 358 
CCCIV. To MELANCHTHON. Earnest desires for the continuance of their 
mutual affection disputes with Trolliet longing for agree 
ment in doctrine regarding the Communion and Election, 360 



1553. 

CCCV. To MATHIEU DIMONET. Exhortation to patience and constancy 

under persecution, ..... 366 

CCCVI. To CHRISTOPHE FABRI. Congratulations on the subject of his 
approaching marriage Calvin s regret that he cannot be 
present at the ceremony, ..... 369 

CCCVII. To JOHN CHEKE. Calvin apologizes for silence, and enjoins 
him to use his influence with the King for the advancement 
of the Gospel in England, . . . .371 

CCCVIII. To THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS. Exhortations to constancy 

mention of Oritz the Inquisitor, . . . 373 

CCCIX. To EDWARD VI. Recommendation of a French gentleman, a 

prisoner for the sake of the Gospel, . . . 375 

CCCX. To FAREL. Serious illness and unexpected recovery of Farel 

Calvin s joy, ... ... 377 

CCCXI. To CHRISTOPHER AND TO THOMAS ZOLLICOFFRE. Last steps in 

favour of the Prisoners of Lyons, . . . 378 

CCCXII. To CRANMER. He entreats his influence in favour of the person 

already recommended to the King, . . . 380 

CCCXIII. To MONSIEUR DE MAROLLES. Christian encouragement and 

consolation, . . . . . -381 

CCCXIV. To VIRET. Extinction of all hope in regard to the prisoners of 

Lyons, . ..... 383 

CCCXV. To BULLINGER. Assurances of respect and fraternal affection, 384 



XIV 



CONTENTS. 



LETTER 

( CCCXVI. 

J " 



PACK 



Jfr 



To THE FIVE PIUSONERS OF LYONS. He exhorts them to stead 
fastness unto the end, in the assurance of eternal joy reserved 
in heaven, . 38G 

CCCXVII. To MADAME DB CANY. Expression of Christian sympathy 

under trial, 390 

/CCCXVIII. To THE PRISONERS OF LYONS. He impresses on them the duty 
of maintaining their confession of the truth quietly and 
modestly, . . 393 

V CCCXIX. To BULLINGER. Expression of regret for the death of the King 

of England sad condition of the German Churches, . 396 
CCCXX. To FAREL. Arrest of Servetus, and institution of the process 

against him, ...... 398 

CCCXXI. To DENIS PELOQUIN AND Louis DE MAKSAC. Information re 
garding various controverted points exhortation to fidelity, 
even unto martyrdom, ..... 400 

CCCXXII. To HIS DEARLY BELOVED THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF 
FRANKFORT. Request for the destruction of the copies at 
Frankfort of the book of Servetus, . . . 404 

CCCXXIII. To VIRET. T roubles at Geneva Berthelier and the chiefs of 

the Libertins are refused admission to the Lord s Table, 405 

CCCXXI V. To BULLIXGER. Deep anxiety on account of the condition of 
the English Churches Conference of the Swiss Churches in 
regard to Servetus, ..... 407 

CCCXXV. To SULZER. Statement of the errors of Servetus, and of the 

duty of the Christian magistrate to repress them, . 409 

\J CCCXXVI. To A CAPTIVE LADY. He consoles her under her trials, and 
exhorts her to use every means to secure her retreat to 
Geneva, . . .... 412 

CCCXXVI1. To THE BELIEVERS IN THE ISLES. Religious counsels, and 

414 
CCCXXVIII 

CCCXXIX 



V CCCXXX. 

CCCXXXI. 

CCCXXXII. 



CCCXXXIII. 



announcement of the sending of a minister, 

To FAREL. Acknowledgment of Farel s care for the Church 
of Geneva, . . . . . .410 

To FAREL. Deliverance by the Swiss Churches regarding 
Servetus vain efforts of Calvin to obtain a mitigation of his 
punishment, . . . . . 4J7 

To MADAME DE PONS. He encourages her to come out of the 
spiritual bondage in which she is held, . .418 

To VIRET. Recommendation of several English Refugees in 
Switzerland, . . . . . .421 

To BULLINGER. Appeal to the Magistrates of Zurich in 
reference to ecclesiastical discipline thanks for the aid 
afforded by the ministers of that Church in the affair of 
Servetus, ...... 422 

To THE PASTORS AND DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH OF ZURICH. 
Account of the struggles at Geneva for the maintenance of 
ecclesiastical discipline appeal to the Pastors of Zurich for 
their influence with the magistrates of that town, 424 



CONTENTS. XV 

LETTER PAGB 

CCCXXXIV. To BULLINGER. Fresh details regarding ecclesiastical discip 
line hope of speedy realization announcement of the pub 
lication of a book against the errors of Servetus, . 429 
^/ CCCXXXV. To FAREL Assistance afforded to the faithful refugees in 
Switzerland reply of the Churches on the subject of ecclesi 
astical discipline, . . 430 
V CCCXXXVI. To JOHN A LASCO. Expression of sympathy under his trials 

loud complaints of the intolerance of German theologians, 432 



ERRATUM. 
Page 20, line 23, for in His authority, read unexpectedly. 



CALVIN S LETTERS. 



CXLIV. To 

Unpopularity of Calvin various advices. 

[GENEVA, September 1545.] 

When a crowd of the godly had coine hither, and I heard 
some things which it was of great consequence you should know, 
I wished two of them at once to set out for you. You will 
understand that Satan seeks by every sort of artful con 
trivance to keep all men from thinking of succouring these 
people, and to give a keener edge to the ferocity of the king 
and courtiers, which is already more than sufficiently whetted 
against them. The Swiss also are uncommonly severe upon 
me, not only the pensionaries, but all those who have no other 
wisdom than that of Epicurus, because, by my importunity, 
I have drawn down upon their nation the hatred of the 
king. But may there be nothing of such moment as shall 

1 The letters of the Cantons to the King, in favour of the Vaudois of Provence, 
only served to irritate that monarch. He passionately replied, " The Vaudois 
have but received the just punishment of their crimes. Besides, the Swiss have 
no more right to busy themselves with what passes in my kingdom, than I have to- 
make inquiry into what they do at home." Histoire de la Confederation Suisse, 
vol. xi. p. 289. The failure of those proceedings redounded to the discredit of 
Calvin with the people, as he had been the instigator of them. His adversaries 
went about reiterating everywhere that he had compromised the most valued 
interests of the Cantons, by drawing upon them the enmity of the King of. 
France. 

VOL. 11. A 



2 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1545. 

retard us in the discharge of our duty beyond what cannot be 
avoided. 

Charles the schoolmaster, on whose account Sebastian abused 
me, has deserted his post, induced by what prospect I know 
not. We have appointed Francis his successor ; but as he 
had received one month s payment out of the salary of your 
school, it seemed the more honourable course that he should 
previously request permission and his discharge from the Bernese 
Council, a matter in which, as I trust, there will be no diffi 
culty. A maternal uncle also of our colleague Peter sought a 
recommendation [for him,] which he brings with him. If you 
think it called for, you will likewise lend the aid of your suffrage. 
We have always found him an excellent and ingenuous man, 
peaceable and modest. He is said, for instance, to have 
laboured faithfully, and with success, in the vineyard of the 
Lord in Provence. - 

Adieu ; may the Lord be ever present with you. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. oriy. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CXLV. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. T 

Exhortation to glorify God amid poverty and persecution. 

[September 1545.] 

MONSIEUR, Although I do not know the state of mind or 
body in which you are at present, nevertheless, I have good 
confidence in God that, whether in health or sickness, He gives 
you strength to overcome all the annoyance you may have to 
encounter. For you are no novice in the fight, seeing that for 

1 Letter without date, written at the same time as the following, (September 
1545.) Summoned in the name of the Emperor to leave Strasbourg and return to 
Brabant, M. de Falais had not obeyed that command. This refusal, in stirring up 
the imperial displeasure against him, had exposed him, without defence, to the 
interested denunciations of his enemies. The butt of most calumnious accusations, 
he saw his character misunderstood, his name outraged, his property put under 
sequestration, while he pined away himself, a prey to sickness and discour 
agement. 



1545. MONSIEUK DE FALAIS. 3 

a long time past this good Lord has begun to prepare you for 
it ; and nothing has happened to you which you had not 
looked for beforehand. But it is time to show in reality that 
when you have set yourself frankly to follow Jesus Christ, you 
have not done so without being resolved to hold fellowship with 
Him at the cross, since He has done us that honour to be 
crucified in us, to glorify us with Himself. And there is no 
doubt, even at the time when you were in your own mansion, 
and in the peaceable enjoyment of your property, you would 
have had the courage to quit everything had it so pleased Him, 
and that you were of the number of those who use the things 
of this world as not abusing them, (1 Cor. vii. 31.) But, 
forasmuch as it is very reasonable that one should be taught 
by experience discernment of what our affection is most set 
upon, you are to consider that it has been our Lord s will to 
give you to many others for an example, and, by this means, to 
glorify His name in you. 

On the other hand, we know not what it is to part with 
everything for the love of Him, until He has brought us to the 
test. True it is, that he who has taken off his affection from 
the goods of this world has already sold all, and has made him 
self poor, so far as depends upon himself ; but the fruit and the 
proof of this spiritual poverty are, patiently to endure the loss of 
worldly goods, and without any regret, when it pleases our 
heavenly Father that we should be despoiled of them. I do 
not set these things before you as to one who is ignorant, or 
who has need of lengthy remonstrances, but for the love that I 
bear you, of which God is my witness. I take comfort along 
with you, as I also suffer in your person. 

The time then is arrived when you must manifest that you 
reckon all things no more than dung, that you may reach forward 
to Him who not only has bestowed on you all His benefits, but 
also Himself. And since God has permitted that you should be 
disburdened of a part of your worldly goods, you are to con 
sider that He has clearly perceived that, for the present, they 
would prove a useless fardel for you. I say a part, albeit that, 
as it were, the whole has been snatched away from you, yet, so 
that there remains, as I hope, an abundance for your use. These 



4 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1545. 

whirlpools, however, which engulf the whole world, have daily 
greater want than those whose substance they have swal 
lowed down. 

In short, you have not been lessened one whit, seeing that our 
Lord, while teaching you that your inheritance is in Heaven, has 
made provision for what might be useful for the life of the 
body, by bestowing contentment upon you, and, as regards pro 
perty, more than was needful to make you contented. If the 
whole should be taken away from you, there would yet remain 
the consolation to which we must chiefly betake ourselves, 
namely, to yield ourselves up entirely. It is certain, that hav 
ing the Son of God, we suffer no injury in being deprived of all 
else : for thus highly ought we indeed to prize Him. But 
further, since this kind Saviour has so benignly upheld you, 
that while calling you to the fellowship of His cross, He has 
provided for your worldly comfort, it is quite fitting that you 
submit yourself to His good pleasure, and, besides, rejoice that 
in being minished, so far as the world is concerned, you are 
thereby so much the more exalted before Him and His angels. 
For howsoever the world strives, by all means, to bury Jesus 
Christ in ignominy, His burial cannot be otherwise than 
glorious, not only in Himself, but also in His members. Let 
us therefore endure personal humiliation, as shall seem good 
to Him. But my letters would never come to an end were I to 
follow out the drift of this discourse. Therefore, Monseigneur, 
after having humbly commended me to your kind favour, I 
pray our good Lord that He would so work in you now more 
powerfully than ever, to make you despise all that is in the 
world, and to make you breathe upwards direct to Him with 
your whole heart, without being turned aside by anything what 
soever, making you taste what is the worth of the hope which 
He reserves for us in Heaven ; and that it may please Him to 
lighten your burden as regards the body, in order that you may 
be all the better disposed, well to meditate upon the favours He 
has bestowed upon you, and to take delight in them, acknow 
ledging the love which He has shewn you. My wife, who is sick 
in bed. begs also to be humbly commended to your kind re 
membrance. This bearer, who is of the better sort, and of the 



1545. MADAME DE FALAIS, 5 

stamp such as you require, will inform you more at large 
concerning our state. 

Your humble brother, servant, and assured friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

I Fr. orig. autogr, library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CXLVI. To MADAME DE FALAIS. 

Congratulations on the constancy manifested by her in the midst of trials 
salutations from the suffering Idelette de Bure. 

FROM GENEVA, this 18th September [1545.] 

MADAME, I have not leisure to write at such length as I 
willingly would, on account of the state in which we are. The 
present letter shall be solely to praise our good Lord for the 
trust which He has bestowed on you, enlarging your heart in 
the midst of anxieties, by which it might have been tried, with 
out your having His comfort from on high. Whatsoever may 
happen, if we have the patience to hearken to our Saviour, He 
will always give us wherewithal to rejoice our spirits, and will 
make us taste and feel, in a lively way, that it is not in vain 
that He has promised to make us unconquerable in tribulations. 
Now, then, learn in reality what that beautiful promise is worth, 
that we are indeed happy, when all the world shall speak ill of 
us, and shall hate us, and shall persecute us for His name s sake. 
Therefore it is, that He has prepared you, long before exposing 
you to danger. To this truth it is that you must now recur, 
that you may acquiesce in it ; and, indeed, He is actually lead 
ing you thither by the hand. 

Wherefore are we not together, to provoke Satan, by meditat 
ing upon the things which may well cause us spiritual rejoicing, 
and give us matter for glorying more than ever, even when 
we are utterly discomfited according to the world s estimation ? 
But 1 am aware that you have no need of my fellowship in that ; 
and besides, I say so, more to content myself than because of 
your necessity. Above all, understand that now the hour is 
come when you must shew what a helpmeet you are to Mon- 
seigneur your husband, in such a sort that he may always have 



t; MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1545. 

occasion to bless God, as he has had hitherto, for having pro 
vided him with such a support. I say this, because I consider 
that it is the principal one that God has left him as regards the 
creature, without having deprived him of all. I see clearly, 
though absent, by what zeal you are urged forward to acquit 
yourself of duty, and what trouble you take to employ yourself 
therein. For which reason, what I now speak is not so much 
by way of exhortation as, while congratulating, to uphold you 
in that good courage which God has given. 

I address to your care some reply which I have made to the 
sister of Monseigneur, who is at Mons, to a communication 
which she sent lately to the wife of Saint-Andre. If it seem 
good to you, you can cause forward it to her, with this which I 
send to the sister of Monsieur David. I submit the whole to 
your good discretion. 

To conclude, Madame and very honoured sister, after having 
affectionately commended me to your kind favour, arid having 
also presented to you the humble commendations of my wife, 
who lies sick in bed, I entreat our good Lord to fill you with all 
grace, daily to increase his glory in you, and to triumph in your 
constancy, in order that finally we may be also partakers of His 
glory which He has promised us. 

Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. orlg. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CXLVIT. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS.* 

Vanity of trust reposed in the princes of this world confidence in God. 

MONSEIGNEUR, I hope that, when these present shall reach 
you, they will find you, by the favour of our kind Lord, in such 
state of mind and bodily health as we desire, and likewise 
Madame your wife. The news, however, which we have had 



1 This letter, without date, seems to have been written at the same epor.h, and 
under the same circumstances as the two preceding letters. 



1545. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 7 

of the sickness of both have grieved us, and will do so until 
we receive others which may gladden us. Besides, there is 
reason indeed that we should live and that we should die to 
Him who has purchased, in order to be every way glorified 
in us, and that we shew practically that we are His, submitting 
ourselves entirely to Him in true obedience, which is not in our 
power to do without resigning and giving up our persons to 
Him, so that He dispose of them as shall seem good to Himself. 
That if it please Him to prolong life, we must prepare to see 
much poverty in the Christian Church. We see the dispersion 
and complete disorder there is in it at present. Hope of amend 
ment there appears none on the side of the world ; for to befool 
one s-self in relying upon princes, that is labour lost. They 
have, besides, so many hindrances, that they have not leisure to 
think about what ought to be the chief consideration of all. In 
short, they are entirely taken up with their civil state, for the 
sake of which they will persecute Jesus Christ, thinking that 
there is no other method of maintaining it. It will be nothing 
new, however, if, though only for shame s sake, they should 
make a pretence of applying a remedy for such horrible con 
fusion, on account of which both heaven and earth cry out. 
Wherefore, it only remains for us to pray God that it may 
please Him to strengthen us with true constancy in the midst 
of these scandals, in such a way that nothing may seduce us, 
but that we may persevere always. And also, that He would 
look in pity upon His Church, and put forth the hand to lift 
her up again, fulfilling that which the prophet has said, that 
seeing that lie had no helper among men, he has put forth the 
strength of his arm, (Isa. lix. 16.) 

In conclusion, let us employ ourselves in His service, labour 
ing without growing weary or losing courage, until that He 
call us away into that blessed rest where we have contentment 
in Himself, delighting ourselves in the labours we shall have 
undergone, receiving then the recompense of reward which shall 
be there revealed to us. 

Now therefore, Monsieur, after humble commendation to 
your favour and that of Madame, I beseech this good Lord to 
uphold you in real prosperity, continuing His graces in you, 



8 FAREL. 1545. 

so that to the end you may be instruments of His glory, and 
that He may be your sanetification. 

Your servant and humble brother ever, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 



CXLYIIL To 

Captivity of Farel s brother ravages of the plague in Geneva. 

[September 1545.] 

You will hear sad news ; for this person will inform you that 
your brother Gautier 2 is lying in fetters, and in imminent peril 
of his life. The very thing that I always feared, and that I fore 
told would occur, has happened ; and in this I regret that I 
have not proved a false prophet. But of what avail are such 
complaints ? With regard to helping him, I do not know how 
far it is in the power of the Bernese to do so, nor what, at this 
time, they may be willing to undertake. You will know these 
things better than I. There is no hope of obtaining any 
seasonable assistance from Germany, unless by means of John 
Sturm, who, however well disposed he may be towards the 
cause, is not, so far as things have gone, friendly to your 
brother. Would that you had thought better, while there was 
time, of what it is to offend a friend who deserved well. Be 
sides, you are not ignorant of the fact, that there are servile 
persons who wish, at this time of the day, to approve their 
obsequiousness to the princes. Yet, if you shall be of opinion 
that it will be useful to attempt something in that quarter, your 
influence with Sturm himself is great. You have, however, 
yonr own Bucer, to whom he never ventured to refuse any 
thing ; but it is a long circuit. Let him, therefore, accelerate 
the movements of the Bernese, lest the remedy come too late. 

We are surprised that we have had no announcement re- 

1 Letter without date, and without conclusion, written during the attack of the 
plague, under which the minister Geniston succumbed, that is to say, in September 
1545. 

2 Gautier Farel, brother to the reformer. He was very soon afterwards restored 
to liberty, contrary to all expectation. 



1545. FAREL. 9 

garding yourself. Viret made me aware of the resolution that 
had been come to by the brethren ; but, as far as I can gather 
from his letter, nothing has been done in the Council. How 
long, therefore, will the matter remain in doubt ? Here, as 
you know, we are in great straits : you are away from us ; 
Matthasus is occupied in the hospital for those who are suffering 
from the plague. In the meantime, while we are calling upon 
you to come, we have lost our very excellent brother and 
most faithful colleague Geniston. 1 What if the others should 
likewise be taken away ? What if one only should survive, [I 
myself?] What if the ministers be shut up by themselves, 
through the absurd superstition of our townsmen ? just as 
lately a large number was within a little of being so confined ? 
Consider, therefore, these our difficulties, lest you put us off 
longer than is right. But what Viret mentions that your people 
have added, viz., that you are conceded to us, on the condition 
of our being able to bring about the succession of Toussain, is 
certainly ridiculous ; for what can we do in that matter, or in 
what way shall we attempt the business ? The short of it is, we 
by no means prescribe a definite time, but we desire you to 
use your utmost diligence to disengage yourself from the place 
where you are, in order that you may forthwith repair to us 
unfettered ; 2 for we are now sadly in want of your presence, as 
you may judge from our condition. The wife of Geniston is, 
at the same time, in the death-throes, his little girl is wearing 
away, and his little boy is now given over. . . . 

1 The minister, Louis de Geniston, following the noble example of Pierre 
Blanchet, cut off by the plague in 1543, had, of his own accord, offered himself for 
the service of the hospital set apart for those afflicted with the plague. lie fell 
under it, a victim of his devotedness, in September 1545. His wife and two 
of his children were carried off a few days afterwards by the scourge, which 
almost wholly depopulated several quarters of the city. 

2 There exists (Imp. Lib. ftecueil Hist, de France, vol. xix.) a piece entitled 
Ijepida Farelli Vocatio. In that letter Calvin vigorously urges his friend to repair 
to Geneva, by calling to mind the religious violence with which he was himself 
detained there, by the voice of Farel, at the time of his first entrance into that city 
in 1536. " Do you expect that I should thunder as you were wont to do, when you 
wished forcibly to draw me hither?" The urgencies of Calvin were fruitless, 
and the Church of Neuchatel retained, for twenty years longer, the services and 
the indefatigable activity of Farel. 



10 VIRKT. 1545. 



CXLIX. To VIRET. 

Dispersion of the School at Geneva contests at Neuchatel on the subject of 
church property Calvin s opinion of Farel. 

24tk October 1545. 

We shall wait until you either restore Francis to us, or 
send Erasmus. As, meanwhile, the school is dispersed, 1 you 
must make haste. If both of these courses appear to you tedious, 
or attended with difficulty, briefly signify so to us ; for I will 
send for a person from Strasbourg, who, in my opinion, will be 
suitable, although I would rather have taken one from this 
quarter. With regard to the assistant-teacher, I do not venture 
upon anything, because it will be more satisfactory that the 
person who has the superintendence of the school shall have 
the unfettered power of selecting whom he chooses. 

I had excused myself to Farel, but he remains fixed in his 
purpose. 2 It would not only be ridiculous, but bordering on 
imprudence, to undertake to correct in the Neuchatelese a vice 
which here we are not able to cure. I had given it as rny 
advice, that it would be better to draw up a memorial, in which 
the Princes should promise that they would be always ready to 
make restitution, if an agreement could be come to regarding 
legitimate administration. In the next place, I advised them, 
under this pretext, to put a stop to those profane alienations, in 
order that the matter might be left undecided until a more 
favourable time. Farel replies, that the authority of the 
Princes will not avail much. What confidence then will our 
letter produce ? He further urges me to enter into communica 
tion with Bucer, in order to obtain from the Council of Stras 
bourg a letter to the Council of Berne to this purport : That 

1 The plague had dispersed the regents and students of the College of Geneva, 
and Calvin was labouring at the re-organization of that establishment. He had 
already proposed to the Council, in March 1545, to call to Geneva the celebrated 
Maturin Cordier, as president of the regents; but this proposal ended in nothing, 
and Maturin Cordier remained at Lausanne. 

2 Farel was then at strife with the Seigneury of Neuchatel, on the subject of the 
administration of ecclesiastical property. 



1545. VIRET. 1 1 

it had been pointed out to them that the Neuchatelese did very 
wrong in squandering the goods of the Church ; and that it 
was the duty of the Bernese to check this license. He hopes 
that a letter of that nature would also do good at Berne. I, on 
the contrary, hardly think that the people of Strasbourg would 
write such a letter, as they would be afraid of increasing 
the sore. In the next place, if they should write, do we not 
know that their admonition would be laughed at ? And, 
although the Bernese were in the highest degree desirous to 
remedy this fault of the Neuchatelese, with what face could 
they set about it ? I have to implore that they will not venture 
to reprehend in others that which they pertinaciously defend as 
lawfully done by themselves. I may therefore say of Farel 
what Cicero said of Cato, " That he acts indeed with good judg 
ment, but in counsel does not always shew the best/ The 
cause of this is chiefly, that being carried away by the vehemence 
of his zeal, he does not always discern what is expedient, and 
either does not foresee dangers, or despises them ; and there is 
to be added the evil, that he cannot bear with patience those 
who do not comply with his wishes. But what could I do ? 
for I will not be induced to undertake anything which I think 
will be of injurious tendency. 

Christopher will tell you about Champereau, 1 and I will write 
when the matter has come to an end. Adieu, most excellent 
brother, and most sincere friend. I have not yet had an oppor 
tunity of meeting Amedee. I will, however, fulfil your com 
mission. Adieu, again, including your wife, aunt, and brothers. 
The co-presbyters, my wife, and the neighbours respectfully 
salute you. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 111.] 

1 Rebuked on the ground of his morals, this minister had been banished to a 
country parish, and having refused to submit to the entire Consistory, he had 
received his dismissal. 



12 FAREL. I54G. 

CL. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Prayers for his restoration to health. 

FROM GENEVA, this 26th of October [1545.] 

MONSEIGNEUR, I hope that, according to what Antony 
Maillet has latterly informed us, you are better in body and 
mind than usual, for which I thank our good Lord, beseeching 
Him fully to confirm you ; for I doubt not but the sickness has 
left a long trail of feebleness. But Pie who has begun to raise 
you up, will perfect, as I hope, what He has begun by His in 
finite goodness, as well to grant the prayers of His servants as 
to shut the mouth of the wicked, so that they take not occa 
sion to say that you have been overcome by their temptation ; 
for you are aware that they want not great colour for their 
blasphemy. Therefore, God will shew them that He has fitted 
you to receive still greater assaults, if there is need ; and in the 
meanwhile, will grant us the favour to enjoy a longer time of 
you to our singular consolation. When we shall have tidings 
from yourselves, they will rejoice us still more. 

In the meantime, Monsieur, after having humbly commended 
me to your kind favour and that of Madame, and having pre 
sented to both of you the kind remembrances of a woman 
brought back to life, I beseech our gracious Lord to have you 
always in His holy keeping, multiplying His graces in you daily, 
to the glory of His name. 

Your humble brother, servant, and entire friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Fr. orig. auioyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 

CLL To FAREL. 

News from Germany journey of the French Ambassador to Geneva- 
details concerning the condition of the town. 

GENEVA, 2Qth January 154C. 

There is nothing from your brothers since they passed 
through this place. I briefly indicated my opinion to Viret 
about the choice of a colleague for you. I am afraid that 
further delay may involve a long train of inconveniences, which 



1546. FAREL. 1 3 

I should wish to be guarded against. Feron, our brother/ so 
far as I see, will never have quiet of mind until he is translated 
elsewhere. I had made mention of him to Viret, but it will be 
for you to consider the matter. 

My brother brought back no news from Germany, except 
that the Eatisbon Assembly pretends that our party continue 
their deliberations at Frankfort, 2 and the confident report of a 
league, or at least a friendly alliance, between your party and 
the King. The Emperor was also said to be laid up with gout 
in the feet or hands. The King s ambassador in that quarter, 
when passing through, supped with me. We talked together 
familiarly, for he acknowledges being under some obligation to 
me. I again, however, urge you to beware lest our friends 
prove too compliant. I point to the license that prevails over 
the whole kingdom, of taking cruel measures against the godly. 
We will await the issue. You are aware that the Pope is now 
busying himself that, by means of false pretences, a council may 
be held at Trent ; we do not, however, hear that there is to be 
a full convocation. 

I wish that even one day could be given to a conference on 
our affairs. As this, however, is for the present impossible, do 
not needlessly vex yourself, should many reports be spread 
abroad. There was, indeed, a time when we were on our guard, 
when our party appointed sentinels for the gates, and were 
usually more careful in keeping watch. 3 But they inconsider 
ately gave a signal of alarm, without my knowledge, however, 

1 Minister of the Church of Geneva ; deposed, a few years afterwards, on account 
of the irregularities of his life. 

2 Alarmed at the first movements of the Council of Trent, and the perils to which 
the good understanding between the Pope and the Emperor might subject the 
Reformation, the Deputies of the League of Smalkald had reassembled at Frank 
fort. But their union was not so solid as the gravity of the occasion demanded. 
The Elector of Saxe and the Landgrave of Hesse were influenced by different political 
views ; but they were both alike disposed to seek the alliance of the Kings of France 
and England, as well as of the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland, that they might 
withstand the storm that menaced them. Sleidan, L. xvi., and Robertson, vol. iv. 
B. vii. p. 234. London, 1851. 

3 " Upon the intelligence that the Duke of Savoy has retaken two strongholds in 
Piedmont, and that he is collecting a body of troops, resolved to continue to work 
at the fortifications. 1 Registers of Council, 28th December 1545. 



14 FAREL. 1546. 

and when I had not the smallest suspicion that anything of the 
kind would take place. 1 Seizing the opportunity, our neigh 
bours [the Bernese] run to our aid, and most unreservedly offer 
their assistance. No one had any suspicion of kindness so 
obliging. Our friends make no communication to me, and after 
speeches had been made backwards and forwards, an agreement 
is come to between the parties. Shortly afterwards, there arrives 
a new embassy with the most monstrous commissions. The 
captain of the garrison, proffered by the Bernese, with his pro 
posals, having met with a refusal, has quitted the city. 2 I am 
now aware how many various reports are everywhere circu 
lated, but I see no danger. Should you hear anything, deny 
confidently the existence of any sort of alliance between us. 
For presently, when they become ashamed of themselves, they 
will have recourse to the old arts, saying that they are un 
justly defamed, &c. I can hardly persuade our friends that 
there is need of deeds on our side ; nor is this wonderful, for 
in other things they act foolishly in spite of my remonstrances. 
Adieu, brother and most sincere friend. Salute for me, in the 
kindest manner, all your co-presbyters and your family. May 
the Lord direct all of you by His Spirit, and preserve you safe. 
The impostor who had undertaken to carry Bucer s letter to 
you, stopped at Montbeliard, nor would he ever have conveyed 
it to you, had not my brother purposely set out for that place, 
because he had in his keeping another of far greater moment. 
He is a worker in gold by trade, but a fellow who is deserving 
of the gallows. 

1 am so far convalescent as to be able for preaching and lec 
turing, but am kept busy with arrears. 3 

[Lat. orig. aulogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 

" Oath exacted of all private individuals, of fidelity to the Seigneury, and of 
their readiness to live and die for liberty." Registers of Council, 7th January 1546. 

2 The Seigneurs of Berne, eagerly seeking every opportunity of establishing their 
influence at Geneva, had offered to guard the city, and to protect it against all 
foreign attacks. This proposal was discarded, as tending to compromise the inde 
pendence of the Eepublic. Registers of Council, llth January 1546. 

3 We read, in the Registers of Council of the 29th January of this year : " Cal 
vin having been ill, the Seigneury present to him ten crowns. On his recovery, he 
returns the money to the Council, who cause it to be expended in the purchase of a 
tun of wine for him, thus leaving him no alternative but to accept it." 



1546. MONSIEUR DE FALA1S. 15 



CLII. To MONSIEUR DE F 

Calvin dedicates to him one of his Commentaries. 

[January 1546. 2 ] 

MONSEIGNEUR, Since my written letter, I have changed my 
mind, touching the epistle dedicatory of my Commentary, be 
cause it is a great trouble and difficulty to be forced to fill up 
so many pages and no more ; I therefore send it altogether, 
nevertheless, with this condition, that it shall not be printed 
but by your command. Wherefore, I enclose it in the present 
letter, in order that Yendelin 3 may not have it but from your 
hands. Should it not appear fitting that I address it to you, I 
shall make a new one, on being advertised to that effect. As 
for the rest, do not be astonished if I speak with brevity of you, 
for I would fear to touch some thorns in entering further on 
the subject. But according as circumstances will bear it, we 
can, should it so please God, on a second impression, discourse 
fully arid say all that there shall be need for. Howbeit, I 
would greatly desire, if it might so please God, to be with you 
for three or four days, to confer by word of mouth rather than 
by writing. Possibly it is folly on my part to think that my 
presence can be of any service to you. But why so ? while the 
power may be wanting, affection makes me speak thus. These 
wishes, however, are more easy to form than to fulfil. So let 
us be content with what God gives us. 

Yesterday we had news here of the defeat of four thousand 
English by five hundred light horse. But it is from France. 4 

1 Calvin had just dedicated to M. de Falais his Commentary on the First 
Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. The epistle dedicatory is of the 22d January 
1546. The name of M. de Falais sad example of the fragile nature of human 
affections ! was effaced ten years afterwards from the preface of this Commentary, 
and replaced by the name of the Marquis of Vico. 

2 On the lack, in the hand of M. de Falais Received the 6th February 
1546. 

8 Printer in Strasbourg. 

4 The French were then besieging the town of Boulogne, occupied by the 
English. The peace between the two rival monarchs of France and England, was 
signed the year following. Pe Thou, lib. i. ii. 



1G JOHN FRELLON. 1546. 

Monseigneur, after having humbly commended me anew to 
your kind favour, and that of Madame, I pray always our Lord 
that He would uphold you in His glory. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194. | 



CLIIL To JOHN F 



Ktipture of the Eelations between Calvin and Servetus. 

Tids 13th of February 1546. 

SEIGNEUR JEHAN, By cause that your last letter was brought 
to me at my going away, I had not leisure to reply to what was 
inclosed therein. Since my return, at the first leisure that I 
have had, I have been quite willing to satisfy your desire ; not 
that I have had great-hope of late of being profitable to a certain 
person, judging from the disposition in which I see him to be ; 
but in order to try once more if there shall be any means of 
bringing him back, which will be, when God shall have wrought 
in him so effectually, that he has become entirely another man. 
Since he has written to me in so proud a spirit, I would fain 

1 The following is the address of this letter, taken from the original in the 
archives of the old Archbishopric of Vienne, and first published by the Abbe 
d Artigny, A Sire Jehan Frellon, marchand libraire demeurant a Lyon, en la 
rue Merciere, enseigne de VEscu de Coulongne. The mysterious personage who 
is pointed at in this letter, is no other than Michel Servetus seven years before 
the trial which was to attach so fatal a celebrity to his name. Settled as a 
physician at Vienne, in Dauphiny, he kept up a correspondence with Calvin, under 
the cover of John Frellon, and he had just sent the Reformer an extract of 
the work which was in preparation under the title of Christianismi restitutio, ex 
pressing at the same time the desire of coming to Geneva. Then it was, that 
Calvin wrote to Farel the letter which has been so often cited, where this passage 
occurs, " Servet has lately written to me, and has added to his letter a large 
volume of his own delirious fancies. . . . If it may be agreeable to me, he un 
dertakes that lie tuould come hither. But I will not interpose my assurance of his 
safety, for if he shall come, provided that my authority is of any avail, I shall not 
suffer him to depart alive: * Letter of the 13th February 1546. We know how 
that terrible threat was realized seven years afterwards. 



* Servetus nuper ad me scripsit, ac literis adjunxit longura volumen suorum deliriorum . . . 
Si mihiplaceat, hue se venturum rccipit Serf iwtofdem mean* initrponere, nam si vtnerit, modo 
raleat mca author Has, vivum txire nunpatlar. 



1546. FAREL. 17 

have beaten down his pride a little, speaking more harshly to 
him than is my wont ; but I could scarcely do otherwise. For 
I do assure you that there is no lesson which is more necessary 
for him than to learn humility, which must come to him from 
the Spirit of God, not otherwise. But we must observe a 
measure here also. If God grants that favour to him and to 
us, that the present answer turns to his profit, I shall have 
whereof to rejoice. If he persists in the same style as he 
has now done, you will lose time in asking me to bestow labour 
upon him, for I have other affairs which press upon me more 
closely ; and I would make a matter of conscience of it, not to 
busy myself further, having no doubt that it was a temptation 
of Satan to distract and withdraw me from other more useful 
reading. And therefore I beg you to content yourself with 
what I have done in the matter, unless you see some better 
order to be taken therein. 

Wherefore, after my commendation to you, I beseech our 
good Lord to have you in his keeping. 
Your servant and hearty friend, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

[Printed Nonveaux Memoir es de V Abbe d Artigny, torn. ii. p. 70.] 



CLIV. To FAREL. 

Reply to various questions terrible threat against Servetus imprisonment of 
one of the leaders of the Libertins. 

GENEVA, 13th February 1546. 

You will be at ease regarding your brothers since you received 
the letter of Claude. The messenger who brought it asked 
whether mine would be ready when I returned from sermon, 
after three o clock. I replied in the negative ; but I bid him 
dine at my house with my wife, as I myself had been invited to 
dine with Macrin. I promised to be with him immediately 
after dinner, to make a brief reply. He did not come [to my 
house,] but hurried away without waiting a moment, so that I 
was confounded by so sudden a departure. And yet the youth 

VOL. II. B 



18 FAREL. 15 tO. 

had not appeared to me to behave badly in general. I trust 
the reflection may occur to your brothers, that they have 
been thus extricated from all their difficulties by the hand 
of God, in order that they make the greater haste [in the work.] 
It did not become the Israelites, when a way was opened up to 
them, to show remissness in immediately girding themselves for 
flight. 1 Such would have been the burden of my epistle had 
not the messenger deceived me ; but I am confident that they 
are burning with ardour of their own accord. I now come to your 
own contests. 2 If the ungodly still occasion you some trouble, 
when that letter shall arrive, I have briefly expressed in it what 
I think should be your mode of proceeding. I should wish, 
however, the matter to be discussed viva voce ; and that, there 
upon, the result, or something like it, be committed to writing. 
You will perhaps smile because I suggest nothing out of the 
common, as you looked for something recondite and elevated at 
my hands ; but I do not wish, nor, besides, is it right to be fettered 
by your estimate of me. I had rather, however, be foolish by 
so writing, than by my silence lead you to suppose that your 
entreaties were neglected by me. If nothing can be effected by 
reasoning, and in this lawful way, the Bernese must be privately 
prevailed upon not to allow that wild beast to go out of its den. 
I do not sufficiently comprehend your meaning regarding a 
treaty, unless it be, as I conjecture, that you are turning your 
thoughts to some sort of alliance, with a view to your receiving 
the assistance of the Bernese ; and that just as they guard the 
liberty of the people by the law of the state, so they may pro 
tect ministers in their office by some title which commands 
respect. If that be provided for, I do not disapprove of [the 
alliance.] Bear in mind, that recourse should be had to those 
extraordinary remedies only when there is the exculpatory plea 
of an ultimate necessity. In the next place, be very cautious 

1 Decimated by the most cruel persecution, the faithful of Dauphine, the native 
country of Farel, had inquired of the ministers of French Switzerland, whether it 
was lawful for them to have recourse to flight, in order to escape the fury of their 
adversaries. Numerous refugees had already settled at Geneva. Sec vol. i. 
p. 449. 

2 Ecclesiastical embroilments with the Seigneury of Borne. 



154G. FAREL. 19 

lest anything you do be such as may injure your interests in 
time to come. You may have greater cause of regret in that 
you once received aid, and were parties to a compact, than if 
you were to remain in your original servitude. Marcourt has, 
without doubt, already promised a place for himself; for he 
publicly proclaims that he does not regard the consent of the 
brethren, since he is desired, both by magistrates and people, 
and he has no doubt but that they are indignant against 
you. Finally, since he prematurely discloses the wickedness 
of his character, he must be repulsed by ah 1 artifices, lest he 
rise to a position in which he is able to perform what he 
threatens. With regard to those who gave out that we were 
establishing here a permanent seat of despotism, under colour 
of defence, let us suffer this rumour to spread on both sides. 
Their impudence has been met with civility and mildness, so 
that they ought to be ashamed of themselves. 1 I trust that they 
will keep quiet. I seek, as far as I am able, to persuade our 
friends to remain unconcerned. Servetus lately wrote to me, and 
coupled with his letter a long volume of his delirious fancies, 
with the Thrasonic boast, that I should see something astonish 
ing and unheard of. He takes it upon him to come hither, if 
it be agreeable to me. But I am unwilling to pledge my word 
for his safety, for if he shall come, I shall never permit him to 
depart alive, provided my authority be of any avail. 2 

More than fifteen days have now elapsed since Cartelier 3 was 
imprisoned, for having, at supper in his own house, raged 
against me with such insolence as to make it clear that he was 
not then in his right senses. I concealed what I felt, but I 



1 See letter of the 26th January, p. 14, note 2. 

2 See the preceding letter. It appears that relations between Calvin and 
Servetus continued in a state of interruption, as is proved by the following passage 
of a letter of Calvin to Viret, dated 1st September 1548 : " I think I once read to 
you my answer to Servetus. I was at length disinclined from striving longer with 
the incurable obstinacy of a heretic ; and, indeed, I ought to have followed the 
advice of Paul. He now attacks you. You will see how long you ought to per 
sist in rebutting his follies. He will twist nothing out of me henceforward." 
Library of Geneva, Vol. 106. 

3 One of the most violent members of the party that combated the influence and 
institutions of the reformer at Geneva. 



20 FAREL. 1540. 

testified to the judge that it would be agreeable to rue were he 
proceeded against with the utmost rigour of the law. I wished 
to go to see him. Access was prohibited by decree of the 
Senate ; and yet some good meu accuse me of cruelty, forsooth, 
because I so pertinaciously revenge my injuries. 1 I have been 
requested by his friends to undertake the part of intercessor. 
I refused to do so, except on these two conditions, viz., that no 
suspicion should attach to me, and that the honour of Christ 
should remain intact. I have now done. I abide the judgment 
of the Council. Adieu, brother, and most sincere friend. We 
all salute you and your sisters. You will convey to the brethren 
the best salutations in my name, and that of my brethren in the 
ministry. May God ever bless you and prosper your labours. 
Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. or uj. antof/r. Imp. Library Dnpuy. Vol. 102.] 



CLV.To FABEI, 

Pacification of the Church at Neuchatel Report of the speedy arrival of the Em 
peror in Savoy Dangers at Geneva Withering mention of Francis I. 

GENEVA, 20th February 1546. 

I specially congratulate you and all your friends, yea, our 
selves also, and the whole Church of Christ, that the Lord has 
in His authority stilled all tumults, by restraining the ungodly. 
Viret had already requested me to be prepared at all points in 
case there should be need of my presence, and assuredly I 
should not have been behind ; but God is twice to be praised, 
who by his own counsel has adjusted matters that were in so 
great confusion. We acknowledge that he was present with 
you when he opened up to you that plan of admonishing the 
heads of the citizens. We again acknowledge a memorable 
work of His, in having given to you those who of their own 

1 Calvin shewed himself, on more than one occasion, disposed to forgive personal 
injuries, as the Registers of Council testify : " A woman having ahused M. Calvin, 
it is directed that she be consigned to prison. Liberated at the request of the said 
M. Calvin, aud discharged with a reproof." 12th December 1545. 



1546. FAREL. 21 

accord were disposed to act well towards you. I feel confident 
that the matter has been brought to a conclusion in harmony 
with the desire of all good men. If our service be desired, 
you know that we are all yours. I now hourly expect your 
brothers. May the Lord restore them to us safe and with good 
fortune. 1 A confident report is spread abroad here of the 
arrival of the Emperor. I hold it for certain that a passage 
across will by no means be opened up to him without a bloody 
conflict. It cannot be doubted, that even though our neigh 
bours were willing that we should be left exposed to the danger 
of becoming the prey of the conqueror, they would nevertheless 
find it necessary to guard their own territories ; although I do 
not know why our party have so soon become careless, unless 
they wished to subject themselves to their sway, and thus save 
themselves from other masters. It is a hard condition that you 
must give up your liberty in order to secure allies as defenders. 2 
Our party erred in one particular, that they made too violent a 
reply. But what could I do ? On me, nevertheless, the odium 
redounds, though I strove with great vehemence to prevent the 
ground of it ; but I have bid adieu to the perverted judgments of 
men. I pass on to another subject. Matters will go more 
severely with Cartelier, because he mixed up with myself part of 
the Senate. After that I have respectably enough discharged the 
duty of clemency, I have resolved to halt. The malevolent will 
heap obloquy upon me, but if there be an opportunity of replying, 
I have the means of stopping their mouths. No one certainly 
will allege that any word less than fair fell from me, for among 
good and bad I have endeavoured to extenuate his offence. 
The Parliament of Paris, as I hear, now wages war with fire 
and faggot against Christ. 3 It is indeed certain that a great 

1 See p. 8, note 2. 

2 Allusion to the Bernese and to their pretensions of ruling Geneva under cover 
of the Alliance. See p. 14, note 2. 

3 The year 1546 was especially remarkable for the great persecutions that arose 
within the bounds of the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Paris. Meaux, Seulis, 
Orleans, reckoned numerous martyrs. One named Jean Chapot of Pauphine, col 
porteur of Geneva, arrested at Paris, was condemned to death, after having under 
gone the most cruel tortures. He had his tongue cut out before he was cast 
into the Hamcs. " The dispersion," says Beza, " was widespread, but it led to 



22 VIRET. 1546. 

multitude of the godly are everywhere held in bonds. Sar- 
danapalus, 1 meanwhile, in the midst of his courtezans, feeds 
his fancy with victories. May the Lord have respect to His 
Church ! 

Adieu, most upright brother in the Lord, together with all 
your fellow-ministers, whom you will respectfully salute in my 
name, and in that of the brethren. May Christ ever direct you 
all by right counsel, and bless your auspicious endeavours. 

Fours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

To the four Presidents of the citizens, special compliments in 
my name. May the Lord bless them exceedingly. 

[Lat. oriy. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



LVL To VIRET. 

Election of a minister at Neuchatel Sickness of Viret s wife. 

GENEVA, 22d February 1546. 

I learned from Farel s last letter, that the commotions at Neu- 
chatel were allayed. And I now feel assured that the matter 
of the choice of a pastor is concluded ; for it had at length been 
agreed that the ministers should promise on oath to nominate in 
good faith the person whom they deemed most suitable. It 
was already considered as almost certain, that Christopher 
would be the man, provided the Bernese would part with him ; 2 
and there is hope that they will offer no objection. Farel wrote 
that the good cause had been not a little aided by the Consul 
Wateville. 

Had they invited us as brethren, I should have been ready at 
any hour. But I rejoice especially, that you were of more ser- 

the great advancement of many churches which were built up of the stones of 
that ruin." Hist. Eccl. torn. i. p. 82. Histoire des Martyrs, pp. 170, 177. 

1 Francis I., King of France. 

2 On the death of the minister Chaponneau, the people of Neuchatel wished to 
have in his room Christopher Fabri, minister of Thonon ; they accordingly asked 
him from the Seigneury of Berne, who with a good grace conceded him to them. 
--Ruehat, vol. v. p. 209. 



1540. VIRET. 23 

vice than you thought you would be ; for all loudly assert that 
your arrival was highly advantageous. 

I see that Textor does not hold out much further hope of 
your wife. You need no more words to admonish you to hold 
yourself ready to bear with moderation the issue, whatever that 
may be. Would that I also could fly thither, that I might 
alleviate your sorrow, or at least bear a part of it I 1 But so 
long a ride would cause me pain. I rather advise, should 
matters happen otherwise than as we wish, that you come 
hither for a few days. Adieu, most sound-hearted brother, 
along with your wife and family. The Lord comfort and 
strengthen you all. Amen. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. oriy. autor/r. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CLVIL To 

Calvin invites his friend to repair to Geneva after the death of his wife. 

GENEVA, 8th March 1546. 

Come, on this condition, that you disengage your mind not 
only from grief, but also from every annoyance. Do not fear that 
I will impose any burden upon you, for through my means you 
will be allowed to take whatever rest is agreeable to you. If any 

1 We again find marks of the same solicitude in a letter of Calvin to Viret of 
the preceding month. " Adieu, with your wife, whose health we will commend to 
the Lord. Be assured that we arc not less solicitous about her than if she were 
the wife or daughter of each of us. The Lord keep you and sustain you with the 
consolation of his Spirit." (January 1546,) Vol. 106, from Geneva. 

2 Viret was at that time plunged into the deepest affliction. He had just lost, 
after a long illness, his wife, Elizabeth Turtaz, ofOrhe, with whom he had lived 
for many years in a godly union. The grief which he felt on that occasion is ex 
pressed, in a very touching manner, in a letter written many years afterwards to 
Calvin : " I was so completely dispirited and prostrated by that arrow of affliction, 
that the whole world appeared to me nothing but a burden. There was nothing 
pleasant, nothing that could mitigate my grief of mind." Calv. Epist. et Resp., 
p. 53. The friends of Viret, and especially Farel and Calvin, lavished upon 
him, during that trial, marks of the tcnderest and most brotherly affection. The 
familiar correspondence of Calvin furnishes us with precious revelations in this 
respect. 



24 VIRET. 1546. 

one prove troublesome to you, I will interpose. The brethren, 
also, make the same promise to you as I do. I will also be 
surety that the citizens do not interfere with your wishes. 

I know not what I ought to imprecate on the wretches who had 
spread a report of your death. Never did a letter from you arrive 
more opportunely. Although your death was announced, yet as 
mention was made of poison, Textor was already in the midst of 
preparations for the journey, that he might speed to Orbe on 
fleet horses. A great part of the brethren were present, all 
overwhelmed with deep affliction. Shortly afterward your letter 
made its appearance, and such exultation instantly broke forth, 
that we were hardly masters of our senses. It was fortunate 
that we did not pass a night of sorrow, else I should not have 
borne it without danger. But why do I detain you, and not 
rather incite you to hasten hither as quickly as possible ? 
Adieu, brother and most agreeable friend. Salute respectfully 
the brethren James, Kibitti, Hubert, Cordier, Celio, Francis, 
Merlin. The Lord protect you and the remainder of your 
family. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lot. copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 111.] 



CLVIII To VIRET. 

Renewed and more pressing invitation to come to Geneva. 

15th March 1546. 

I have hitherto delayed writing to you, because I daily ex 
pected you to come hither, as you had promised ; nor should I 
have written even now, as I remain in the same state of expec 
tation, were it not that I might incite you to hasten your 
journey ; for I wonder why it is that you thus put off from 
day to day. I remember that John de Tournay 1 told me 
that you had a horse ; but why not rather come by boat ? 
Unless David has sold his [horses,] that difficulty could be easily 
got over, although I believe that one may now be more easily 
procured than it could have been eight days ago, for fewer 

1 Nephew of Viret, and irinistcr in the Pays de Yuud. 



1546. THEODORE VITUS. ^ 

couriers have passed this way during these days. Make haste, 
therefore, that you may recruit a little, and gather heart again 
with us ; for people from your quarter say that you are 
half dead. Since I can draw you out by no other induce 
ment, I make the announcement, that you shall have no letter 
from me until you come. Quick, then. Adieu. Salute all 
friends. May the Lord shortly bring you in safety to us. 

Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orifj. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CLIX. To THEODORE ViTus. 1 

Indication of the various documents wherein are set forth the opinions of 
Calvin regarding the Lord s Supper earnest desires for union and peace 
among the Churches condition of Geneva. 

GENEVA, llth March 1546. 

Your letter gave me the greater pleasure, as I had not ven 
tured to look for it, for it was my part to draw a letter from 
you by being the first to write. But that you, without being 
called upon, should of your own accord have anticipated me, I 
take as a proof of your greater friendship towards me. If, how 
ever, you would know the reason of my not writing, I refrained 
more from modesty than negligence. And generally the testi 
mony of Philip [Melanchthon] is with me sufficient ; but when 
no great familiarity intervenes, the crooked policy of the times 
sometimes makes me apprehensive. Wherefore, 1 am the more 
grateful to you for having removed every scruple. I greatly 

1 To the most honourable Doctor Theodore Vitus, most faithful Minister of Christ 
at Nuremberg. 

Theodore Vitus, (Dietcrich de Wcit,) a distinguished theologian, friend of Luther 
and Melanchthon, preached the Gospel with great success in the city of Nuremberg, 
his native place, and was worthy of the esteem and affection of Calvin, not more on 
account of his learning than his moderation. He died in 1549. Melanchthon 
wrote, at the foot of his portrait, the following verses : 

Ingenii monumenta sui, sed plura T.uiheri 
Edidit ; his poterunt secla futura frui. 

[Melch. Adam, Vita Theol Germ., pp. 100, 200.] 



26 THEODORE V1TUS. 1540. 

rejoice, also, to find that my pamphlet, De Coend, has met 
with your approbation. 1 It was written in French ten years 
before. When, without my knowledge, it had been already 
translated into Latin by two individuals, I at length consented 
to its publication, being afraid, in fact, that some worse version 
might forestall it. A style of instruction, simple and popular, 
and adapted to the unlearned, shews what my purpose was from 
the first ; for I usually write more carefully for those acquainted 
with Latin. I laboured, however, not only faithfully to express 
my views, and reduce them within a brief compass, but also to 
unfold them lucidly, and without technicalities. Since then 
the Institution , having been revised, was again given to the 
public, in which, unless I am mistaken, I expound and more 
fully confirm the same doctrine, under a different form of ex 
pression, and with somewhat greater development. I at length 
also published a Catechism,, which is trustworthy and pertinent 
evidence of the kind of doctrine with which the common people 
are imbued by me. Would that the people of Zurich, as you 
say, were willing to give their assent to that confession ! 2 I 
do not think Luther is so unyielding but that there might easily 
be an agreement, and they do not, withal, venture to disapprove 
of my views. The chief obstacle to their giving a public assent 
to my doctrine is, that being pre-occupied by a meaning, once 
and now for a length of time prescribed to them, they so stick 
to their customary forms as to admit nothing new. But if you 
consider the tyranny manifested by certain of the adverse party 
in the attempt to force the world, not only into their peculiar 
views, but also into a prescribed form of words, the furious 
insolence they shew, what commotions they excite, the mode 
ration as well as rectitude by which you are characterized, will 

1 The following is the passage of the letter of Vitus to Calvin to which he here 
refers : " I have read your short address to the people on the Sacrament of the 
Supper, and I approve of your calling the bread and wine signs in such a sense that 
the things signified are in reality present. Would that they who leave only the 
naked signs, might be led by you to adopt that view!" Calv. Epist. et Rcsp., 
Amst., p. 37. 

2 This desire was happily realized some years afterwards, by the adoption of a 
common symbol on the Supper, approved alike by the theologians of Zurich and 
Geneva. 



1546. THEODORE VITUS. 27 

lead you to condemn in the matter the absurd conduct of those 
parties, not less than the people of Zurich. May the Lord by 
His Spirit dispose us all to true moderation. You know that I 
am not in the habit of complaining when there is no ground for 
it ; nor do I doubt but that you yourself, as might be expected 
from your eminent piety, sigh in secret over the same evils, 
while it is not in your power to remedy them. With respect to 
the assurances you give me regarding yourself, I wish you in 
turn to believe, that I am and always will be your sincere friend 
and brother. I now, with many others, request you to go on 
strenuously, and make no halt in your progress, until you have 
handed over to us Genesis completed. 1 For as Luther has just 
grounds for congratulating himself in having found such an 
artist to polish his works, so others experience how advanta 
geous the labour is to the public. I may have wished, how 
ever, that you had been more sparing in your mention of the 
Sacramentaries, because I see that the minds of some are thereby 
exasperated, of whom there was a hope that they would be 
brought to moderate views. It will be for you to consider what 
may be more conducive to that end. I will be satisfied if you 
take my warning in good part, whether or not you act upon 
it. The Katisbon Assembly will indeed bring forth smoke for 
us, which the Lord will soon dispel. 2 

Here we are tranquil unless the Emperor molest us. Some 
suspect him of having an eye on Burgundy, with the view of 
threatening the kingdom of France from that quarter, while he 
would harass Provence by means of the young Duke of Savoy, 
and send in the English from the other side. I hold myself 
under the protection of God alone when I see that we are not far 
from certain danger. Adieu, most honoured Sir, and most sin 
cere friend. May the Lord Jesus ever guide and direct you by 
His Holy Spirit, and bless your labours. All my colleagues 

1 Vitus lent useful aid to Luther in the revision of his different writings, and 
rendered a real service to the Church by collecting and offering to the puhlic the 
Commentaries of Luther on the Prophet Micah, and the first eleven chapters of 
Genesis. Melch. Adam, Vitce Theol. Germ. 

2 The Conference opened by the Emperor at Ratisbon, and to which Bucer had 
been summoned, was a mere feint to divert men s minds, and to transfer the decision 
of the points at issue to the Council of Trent. 



28 VIRET. 1546. 

respectfully salute you. To yours also you will convey the 
highest respects in my name, and in that of my colleagues. 
Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lot. Copy, Library of Zurich, Coll. Simkr. Vol. 59.] 



CLX. TO VlBET.l 

Instructions to Viret about a journey to Geneva. 

GENEVA, 26/7* March, before supper. 

The person who delivered yours to me did not know whence 
it came. I thus received it somewhat later than I wished. 
I attended to the wish you expressed, that a suitable horse, 
and one without show, should be sent to you. It would, 
however, have been sent off sooner, had I not told our people 
beforehand that you could not leave your place of residence 
before the morning discourse. I certainly could have wished, 
if your letter had arrived in time, that you had been scut 
for sooner. But I supposed that you had set out with Chris 
topher : for that was the reason why I gave you no letter 
by the messenger belonging to my household. If, after preach 
ing, you can come as far as Nyon, you will be here on 
Monday before supper ; but take care lest you fatigue your 
self. You had better come to Nyon on Monday. We shall 
have you with us in good time, if we get you well. Salute all 
the brethren. 

May the Lord bring you to us safe and in good spirits. 
Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Lat. orig. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 

1 Viret, yielding to the entreaties of Calvin, went to Geneva towards the end of 
March, and there received the most honourable marks of public affection.^ We 
read in the Registers of Council, of date the 2d April 1546, "Grand reception 
given to Fare! and Viret, who had just arrived at Geneva." 



1540. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 29 



CLXI. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Calvin s labours the diet at Batisbon the Church of Metz the reformation 
at Heidelberg apology for M. de Falais opinion regarding the sermons 
of Ochino. 

[April 1546. 1 ] 

MONSEIGNEUR, I thank you for the care which you have of 
my health, anxious that I would not overburthen myself, in 
straining a point to write to you, when I am not in a fit state 
to do so. But had I only to write to you, it would be to me a 
very easy labour, if that can be called toil wherein one only 
finds pleasure. The difficulty arises from the annoyances and 
interruptions of the train of thought which intervene, to break 
off a letter in the midst twenty times over, or even more, beyond 
all bounds. As regards health, I was much more feeble when 
1 wrote to you a while ago than I am at present. But being 
in a good state of general bodily condition, I am unceasingly 
tormented with a heaviness, which, as it were, suffers me not to 
do anything. For, besides the sermons and lectures, there is a 
month already gone in which I have scarce done anything, in 
such wise that I am almost ashamed to live thus useless. But 
if it please God, of His goodness, to make use of me, He will 
release me and allay this ill, which holds me so fast that I can 
not set about any labour of importance, to employ the leisure 
which He gives me. Nevertheless, He does not cease to exercise 
me by some means or other, in order that I may not grow rusty 
through laziness. If, however, He does not graciously restore 
me to a better condition, I am not likely ever to get on horse 
back. Even more than that, were I ever to be sent for, I could 
not stir out of the house in such a state. But, as you observe, 
they let me alone, from fear of setting astir the frantic block 
heads ; and on my side, I willingly give up the diets to those 
who have a liking for them, as for any good they do. 2 I am 

1 On the back, in the handwriting of M. de Falais, Received the 16th of 
April 1546. 

2 A new diet had been assembled at Ratisbon, for the pacification of the reli 
gious troubles of Germany. That assembly opened in the month of June 1546, 



30 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1546. 

glad that our Lord has put you out of pain as regards Norberg. 
As for what remains to be done, you will have an opportunity 
of considering what it ought to be, having been informed by 
Jehan de Kochefort, and after having established your case, as 
it can be done, in coming forth out of Egypt and out of 
Babylon. It is like what is said by Moses and by Ezekiel, in 
much stir and with haste. I hope, should it so please God, 
that all is over by this time. I would not have you to be too 
much astonished at the length of time you have been in receiv 
ing letters from him, considering the length of the journey. 
But if God has been so gracious to him, and to you also, as to 
make a way of escape out of danger, he will not have tarried 
so long on the way as not to be, by this time, on his return. 
Thus, being at rest in regard to that matter, you will take 
counsel for the future. 

As to Constance, I had not spoken to you, but that your 
present abode did not please you. When the crisis comes, how 
ever, Strasbourg is more suitable, and I like it better, were it 
not for the reason which you allege. 

In Metz, 1 I see a great evil, the want of guidance and of 
cordial interest, albeit that these are rather two evils. But 
God will find the remedy. We must try every method which 
He presents to us, and even stir up ourselves, where the means 
appear to be wanting. And whereas I know that you have 
no need to be exhorted not to spare yourself, I forbear to 
do so. 

I am not at all amazed, if Master Peter Alexander is bold, 
having his chin thus held above water, and that besides he is 
quite accustomed at Heidelberg to hear that doctrine already 
for a long time past. 2 He is even well aware that he has no 

in presence of the Emperor, and like those which had preceded, concluded without 
any result whatsoever. 

1 See the notes, pp. 80, 91. The Protestants of this town, feebly supported by 
the league of Smalkald, and intimidated by the presence of the imperial legate, de 
voted to the Koman Catholic clergy, had already lost the rights which had been 
guaranteed to them by the accord of 1543, and so found themselves deprived of 
the exercise of public worship and of the pastorate. (See a letter of Myconius to 
Calvin, 13th November 1543. Calv. Epist. et Responsa, Amst,, p. 20.) 

2 In the year 1546, the Palatinate witnessed the accomplishment of a great re 
ligious revolution. The Elector, Frederic II., yielding to the wish of his subjects. 



154G. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 31 

other means for advancing himself. Thus it is no wonder if 
he takes advantage of it where there is no danger at all. But 
I see quite well that he is not an over-confident man, were it 
only by his conclusions. What is worse, he makes a stupid 
blunder in this, that he says, the swearing an oath is forbidden 
by God ; and that with a blasphemy, inasmuch as he attri 
butes authority to Saint Paul to permit what has been pro 
hibited by his Master ; but these are matters for the civil 
magistrate to decide. 

The Apology would be much better drawn up where you are 
than at a distance. This I say not to exempt myself, but in 
asmuch as I think that such is the case ; for I am quite 
ready to undertake the employment. So also would Master 
Peter Viret, but his style of writing would not be altogether 
suited to such an argument, owing to his want of concise 
ness. And for myself I would have to bite my nails in more 
than a hundred passages, if we could not confer together so as 
to resolve by common accord what might be fit to say or to 
omit. Nevertheless, we shall take care to meet your wish when 
ever you shall have come to a determination upon the whole 
case and the state of your affairs. Howbeit, I have retained 
no memorandum of the particulars beside me. What I have 
told you about the Emperor, was not so much to find fault 
with what has been done, as to set forth the reason why it 
ought not to be inserted so as to be seen. I praise our Lord 
that the present of my Commentary is agreeable to you. In 
conformity with your answer, our brother sent his translation to 
Vendelin, addressing the preface to you, in order that having 
seen it beforehand, you may judge what course shall appear to 
you to be expedient. 

The request which I made to you so affectionately, not to 
separate your household from the French Church, 1 was not 
founded upon any report, but solely upon a passage of your letter 

proclaimed the establishment of the Eeformation, and the abolition of the old wor 
ship in his states. The chief instrument of that revolution was the minister Paul 
Fagius, the disciple of Capito. Sleidan, Comment, lib. xvi. p. 266. De Thou, 
lib. ii. c. 3. 

1 The French Church of Strasbourg, of which Calvin had been pastor during 
bis exile from Geneva. 



32 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1540. 

where you signify that you were in course of doing so, not per 
ceiving any amendment in that quarter. It suffices, that I am 
aware of your intention, so as not to be further troublesome to 
you on that score. I see indeed the reasons you may have, but 
I take into view the scandal which would thence arise. All 
is well, since you have condescended to my request. 

I would desire, Monseigneur, that the hundred crowns [escus] 
might be sent to the lady, and they would be returned to you 
forthwith, sending to the Ladies de Tilly what is resting due to 
them, since the father shews himself such a one as he is. I 
would earnestly wish, that in disposing ourselves willingly 
and patiently to bear the cross, we were framing our shoulders 
to such a charge. But these are matters about which we shall 
better talk together than we can write. 

1 pray you to hold me excused, if I do not as yet signify my 
opinion of the translation of the Sermons of Messire Bernar 
dino. 1 I may, however, speak a word in your ear, that they are 
more useful in Italian than in other languages, were it not 
that the name of the man is of use ; and then there is such a 
variety of minds, that it is not amiss to endeavour to draw some 
of them by that means. Of the translator, I shall let you know 
my opinion, please God, in a few words shortly. 

As touching the apology of the ladies, 2 I think, Monseigneur, 
you have my opinion of it signified already in brief, at least I 
would here declare it, that the author has not observed what 
the Latins call decorum. For the course of procedure is un- 

1 Introduced by Calvin to Myconius, Ochino made but a very short stay at Bale, 
where those writings made their appearance which have been such a blot upon his 
memory. In 1545 he went to Augsbourg, where he became minister to the congre 
gation of Italian refugees until the epoch of the Interim, which was the cause of 
bis betaking himself to England. His leanings toward heterodoxy were veiled 
from the eyes of every one, except perhaps the clear-sighted discernment of Calvin, 
who valued his abilities, without having an entire confidence in the solidity of his 
doctrines. The ever-recurring changes of his unsettled life led him, at a later 
period, to class himself with the sect of the anti-Trinitarians. His discourses, so 
much admired by Cardinal Bembo, and the Emperor Charles V. himself, are less 
remarkable for their purity of doctrine than for the warmth of feeling and the poeti 
cal flash of the style. They have been printed under the following title : Pre- 
diche di Messer Bernardino Ochino, 1543, and reprinted on several occasions ; but 
we are not aware of any translation, whether Latin or French. See Schelhorn. 
Ergotzliclikeiten, torn. iii. pp. 2022, 2161, 2166, and pp. 2174-2179. 

2 The sisters of M. do Falais. 



1546. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 33 

befitting the individuals. Everybody will not perceive this, 
only those who have their wits about them. This is the reason 
why I have retained it beside me. 

The letters of Diaz 1 were not needed to shew me on what 
authority you had opened those which he might write to me. 
For you have sufficient authority without any one else giving 
it to you. I humbly thank you for the offer which you have 
so kindly made for the baptism of our child. 2 And now. 
Monsieur, to conclude, after having humbly, and with all pos 
sible kindly affection, commended me to your good favour and 
that of Madame, and having also presented the humble saluta 
tions of my wife, I pray our good Lord to guide you always as 
He has done, shewing Himself the true protector both of you 
and of all that concerns you. 

Your humble brother, servant, and ever your entire friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr, orig. outogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 195.] 

CLXII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Advice regarding the editing of the Apology details of a loan contracted 
for M. de Falais news from Germany and Italy Favel and Viret at 
Geneva death of Juan Diaz. 

16th April 1540. 

MONSEIGNEUR, You see here what I have done desiring to 
comply with your wish. 3 That it shall altogether satisfy you 

1 Juan Diaz, originally of Cuenca, in Spain, studied letters at the University of 
Paris, and was distinguished, amid the scholars of his nation, "by superior learning, 
adorned with pure morals, great mildness, prudence and benignity." Initiated in 
the knowledge of the Gospel, he left Paris and visited Geneva, Bale, Strasbourg, 
where he acquired the friendship of Bucer, whom he accompanied into Germany. 
The Jesuit, Malvenda, a stout defender of Popish idolatry, having made vain 
efforts to lead him back to the Romish Church, the adversaries of Juan Diaz 
planned a most detestable conspiracy against his life, and, on the 27th of March, 
he was assassinated by order of Alphonso Diaz, his own brother, who had 
come from Rome in order to the accomplishment of this execrable outrage, the 
instigator of which remained unpunished. See the record of this odious fratricide 
in Sleidan, and Histoire des Martyrs, pp. 162, 168; and Letter CLXIII. 

2 Calvin had this year a child by his wife, Idelette de Bure, which died in the 
birth. 

3 At the request of M. de Falais, Calvin had prepared an apology for his Lord- 
VOL. II. 



34 MONSIEUR DE FALAIB. J540. 

I shall not venture to promise myself. It will be quite enough 
for me if you have the persuasion that I have not failed from 
lack of good-will. Indeed, I fear you may not find that which 
you had looked for. But it is not reasonable that I bear the 
blame of the too great credit which I may have with you. If 
I had been in a right frame, and had I had leisure, possible 
it is that I might have done better. But since these two things 
have been wanting to me, I pray you that you may please 
hold me as excused. It would not have cost me very much to 
fill up a much larger extent of paper ; but I have studied 
brevity, thinking that nothing could be better, considering the 
personage to whom the writing is addressed. It did not occur 
to Saint Andre that it wanted anything, except that, on having 
come to the passage about your retirement, you might insist 
upon deducting separately in detail the travelling expenses 
which you had incurred up to that time. I had, indeed, thought 
of another conclusion to be urged, but because I did not well 
know how to keep within bounds, I have let it alone. You 
will exercise your own discretion as to adding an article to 
that effect, if you think fit, namely, with regard to the pro 
perty, which you did not venture to make any other request to 
him about, fearing that it would be trouble thrown away, to 
speak to him about the property before being reinstated in his 
good graces, and also because that is the thing you most of all 
desire and prefer to anything else. In any event, let it please 
him to have regard to such a family, and not allow himself to 
be led by those who only seek its destruction. I know not 
whether it would be of advantage to your brothers 1 to make 



ship, which was to be presented to the Emperor at the Diet of Eatisbon. This 
memorial, drawn up at first in French, then translated into Latin, and along with 
a profession of faith, containing- valuable details for the history of M. de Falais, 
has the following title : Apology of the very Illustrious Lord James of Bur 
gundy, of Falaise, and of Breda, wherein he has wiped away the accusations 
wherewith he has been branded in the sight of the Imperial Majesty, and sets forth 
the Confession of his Faith. This morceau has been published by the Amsterdanj, 
editor at the end of the letters of Calvin to M. de Falais. 

1 M. de Falais had five brothers. Those alone of whom mention is made in the 
letters of Calvin, are John, Seigneur de Fromont, and Peter, Pronotary apostolic, 
who had embraced the Reformation. 



1546. MONSIEUR DE PALAIS. 35 

mention of them. You will consider about that. Towards the 
end,, it would be needful to add an express clause, to remove 
the suspicion that you had too great regret, declaring that for 
the honour of God you bear the loss patiently, beseeching God 
that He would always make you sensibly aware of the work of 
Jesus Christ, and of the benefits bestowed on you by Him, so 
as to reckon all things but loss and dung in comparison of Him. 
If you determine to enter upon the subject of the property, it 
appears to me that it would be advisable to mention it thus 
briefly ; I have explained the reason why I have not done so. 

But to proceed, Monseigneur, I have detained the man who 
has brought me your last, hoping that he would be the mes 
senger to carry you this answer. But, at the end of six days, 
there has occurred a sudden piece of business to Sire Nicolas 
the present bearer. I have thereupon sent away the other, 
delivering to his care the two young children, because he could 
not have arrived so soon. He has been sufficiently admonished, 
not so much by me as by the others, to settle and choose some 
manner of livelihood ; but I see clearly that he is not yet tired 
of running about. That arises in part from his too great sim 
plicity, for he has no great head-piece. Some clodpole, scarcely 
wiser than himself, had whispered in his ear in passing, that I 
would be quite able to recommend him to Berne, and put him 
in the way of his becoming a preacher. I have done everything 
to repress such an expectation : but he does not leave off his 
roving about ; and although he seems to approve an advice 
when offered to him, immediately afterwards he begins to do 
the same thing again. I am sorry for it, for, in other respects, 
I find him well disposed, and without malice. 

As for the business of Sire Nicolas, the case is thus : He had 
no means of squaring his accounts, but in taking the place 
which had been adjudged in hypothec to another preferable 
creditor, having struck off some pieces for law expenses. Thus 
he would have been excluded, had he not undertaken to reim 
burse the other party. What is worse, he who held the security 
was himself under hypothec elsewhere, in danger that his pro 
perty might be sold, and needed to re- assure his interest therein. 
The subject is well worth what the said Nicolas has bargained 



36 MONSIEUR DE FALATS. 154G. 

for. The hardship was for him, that he would have had to pay 
seven hundred crowns before next Easter, and also that it is too 
large for him. But the necessity made him forget all that. It 
is true that he has to receive from Sire Antony Sieglessen a sum 
in satisfaction thereof, hut he fears that it may not be ready at 
so short a term, seeing that he will have to transact with people 
who have no pity. In that perplexity, he has thought that if, 
peradventure, Antony de Sieglessen might not so readily be 
forthcoming with that which he has to receive from him, that 
you would afford him some assistance for a month, or six weeks 
delay, on his giving you the security of Sire Antony and the 
place, on good and equitable terms. When he asked advice of 
me, I requested him to try all means before having recourse to 
you, which he had already indeed determined, as he told me, 
but that it was his last remedy. In any event, however, he 
would bring you letters of assurance over the place. To this I 
have not agreed, fearing lest it might appear to you that it 
would have the effect of protracting a settlement, promising to 
him to assure you that the responsibility lies not with himself 
but with me. 

I have wished much to make this statement to you, Monsei- 
gneur, on purpose that you should be informed, that he did not 
rashly go beyond his authority, but that he had been constrained 
thereto ; in order also, that when he could nowise do without 
your help, you might the more be induced to aid him. I can 
indeed assure you, that there will be no risk, for the assignation 
is quite valid. And if money were to be had here, he would 
not need to stir out of the house. But the country is stripped 
so bare of money, that it is lamentable, the more so that there 
is more due to him at Strasbourg than he has need for. I do 
not take upon me to ask it of you, for that is not my business. 
In so far as I have endeavoured to remove the doubts which 
might prevent you, I hope you will take it in good part, and 
that you will not ascribe it to importunity. Besides that, it is 
my duty, for I have been the cause, along with Monsieur David, 
of involving him in this anxiety. For we made the first pur 
chase in his absence, because the said Monsieur David was fully 
resolved from that time forward to complete the transaction. 



1540. MONSIEUR DE FALA1S. 37 

I believe that you have been otherwise informed of the death 
of the Marquis of Guasto. 1 We are not aware what the 
Emperor intends to do, except that people are coming from 
Naples toward Genoa. One can scarce think that he would go 
so far for pastime as to Argiers. And, indeed, I believe, that 
considering himself secure upon the side of France, and leaving 
the English to occupy the King s attention, having fully ordered 
everything to his own advantage in Germany, that he would 
not make a mere feint of going to Argiers. 2 

Master William Farel and Master Peter Viret, in passing 
from hence, have requested me to present you their humble 
commendations. They have been here eight days to my great 
comfort, except in so far as they have made me put off my ex 
cusing myself to you. I am glad of your well-disposedness, 
and principally for your cheerfulness, and also because I hope 
that it will prove a means of our seeing you. We shall, in the 
meanwhile, however, pray God, that He would restore you from 
better to better, albeit that we must not look, neither you nor 
myself, to be ever of much worth in this world. 

We have made Saint- Andre preacher, at which possibly you 
will be amazed. He did not look for it ; and I believe also, 
that at the first move his courage would not have inclined him 
that way. But we have made conscience of it, seeing his zeal 
and readiness, not to leave him always idle. I hope that God 
will make use of him for the profit and upbuilding of his 
Church. He has not been brought to it without a struggle, 
but perceiving that the call was from on high, he has not re 
sisted it. 

To conclude, Monseigneur, after having presented the humble 
commendations as well of myself as of my wife to your kind 
favour and to that of Madame, I shall supplicate our good 
Lord to have you always in His protection, guiding you with a 
view to His honour, as He has done hitherto, and shewing 

1 Alphonso d Avalos, Marquis of Guasto, governor of the Milanese, and one of 
the ablest generals of Charles the Fifth. He died in 1546. 

2 The Emperor, in 1544, had undertaken a disastrous expedition against the 
town of Algiers. The military movements which were then going forward in 
Italy, were intended to cover his real projects of attack against the Protestant 
princes of Germany. 



38 FAItEL. 1546. 

Himself so powerful in you, that we may always acknowledge 
the fruit of that great victory with which Jesus Christ con 
soles us. 

Your humble servant and brother in our Lord Jesus, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

When I had finished these presents, I received the sad news 
of the death of good Diaz. 1 But it so happens, that the un 
happy Papists shew more and more that they are led by the 
spirit of their father, who has been a murderer from the be 
ginning. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CLXIIL To 

Troubles at Geneva imprisonment of the several members of the family of 
Favre account of the assassination of John Diaz at Neubourg. 

[April 1546.] 

After your departure the dances caused us more trouble than 
I had supposed. All those who were present being summoned 
to the Consistory, with the two exceptions of Corna and Perrin, 
shamelessly lied to God and us. I was incensed, as the vile- 

1 See the following letter. 

2 The Ecclesiastical Ordinances, digested by Calvin and adopted by the councils 
of the republic, daily encountered the keenest opposition in the heart of a party 
which reckoned at its head men belonging to the most distinguished families 
among the Genevese. The Consistory and Councils together took care that the 
laws were rigidly enforced, and checked improprieties without respect of persons. 
The Captain-General, Amy Perrin, the Syndic Corna, and several other persons, 
having, contrary to the prohibitions, danced in a private house, " It is ordained," 
as is contained in the Registers of 12th April 1546, " that they all be imprisoned ;" 
and with regard to the wife of Amy Perrin, who spoke insolently to the Consistory, 
that she also be imprisoned, and be required to find security. Perrin, to avoid 
undergoing the punishment pronounced against him, had recourse to the pretext 
of a journey to Lyons ; but he was incarcerated on his return. The Syndic Corna 
acknowledged his fault, and, after a deposition of some days, he was reinstated in 
his office. The minister, Henry de la Mare, was deposed, for having been present 
at the ball, and taken the side of the dance and dancers figainst the Consistory. 
See Registers of Council, April 1546. 



1546. FAREL. 39 

ness of the thing demanded, and I strongly inveighed against 
the contempt of God, in that they thought nothing of making 
a mockery of the sacred obtestations we had used. They per 
sisted in their contumacy. When I was fully informed of the 
state of the case, I could do nothing but call God to witness 
that they would pay the penalty of such perfidy ; I, at the 
same time, however, announced my resolution of unbaring the 
truth, even though it should be at the cost of my own life, lest 
they should imagine that any profit was to come of lying. 
Francisca also, the wife of Perrin, grossly abused us, because 
we were so opposed to the Favres. 1 I replied as seemed proper, 
and as she deserved. I inquired whether their house was in 
violably sacred, whether it owed no subjection to the laws ? 
We already detained her father in prison, being convicted of 
one act of adultery, 2 the proof of a second was close at hand ; 
there was a strong report of a third ; her brother had openly 
contemned and derided the Senate and us. Finally, I added, 
that a new city must be built for them, in which they might 
live apart, unless they were willing to be restrained by us here 
under the yoke of Christ ; that so long as they were in Geneva, 
they would strive in vain to cast off obedience to the laws ; 
for were there as many diadems in the house of the Favres as 
frenzied heads, that that would be no barrier to the Lord being 
superior. Her husband had meanwhile gone to Lyons, hoping 
that the matter would be silently buried. I thought that they 
should be forced to a confession of the truth by an oath. Corna 
warned them that he would by no means suffer them to perjure 
themselves. They not only confessed what we wished, but that 



1 At the head of the opposition to the ministers were observed the different 
members of the family of Francis Favre, a dissolute old man, and father-in-law of 
Amy Perrin. Francisca, his daughter, wife of the latter, made herself remarkable 
by the violence of her invectives against the Consistory. " They remonstrated 
with her, and made no more account of herself and her father than of the lowest in 
the city. Being again interrogated whether she would name the dancers, twice 
replied, that she would rather submit to punishment, and be dragged before all the 
justices, than appear before the Consistory." Notes Extracted from the Registers 
of the Consistory of Geneva, by M. the late Syndic Cramere, 4to, 1853. 

2 " That the father-in-law of Amy Perrin, who has committed adultery; be also 
imprisoned, and put upon his trial. Register* of Council. Ibid. 



40 FAKEL. 15JG. 

they, on that day, danced at the house of the widow of Bal 
thazar. They were all cast into prison. The Syndic was an 
illustrious example of moderation ; for he publicly spoke 
against himself and the whole herd so severely, that it was un 
necessary to say much to him. He was, however, severely ad 
monished in the Consistory, being deposed from his office until 
he gave proof of repentance. They say that Perrin has returned 
from Lyons ; whatever he may do, he will not escape punish 
ment. Henry was stripped of his office with our consent. With 
him there fell out a ludicrous enough altercation. He had 
admitted that what had been taken down from the witnesses 
was true. Meanwhile he had recourse to the defence, i against 
an elder admit no accusation unless before two or three wit 
nesses/ I inquired whose saying this was, Out of thine 
own mouth I judge thee, worthless servant ; for that now 
the case did not lie in the trustworthiness of the witnesses, 
but in his confession. Besides, when he repudiated the witnesses, 
that he was pressed by the dilemma, either his confession was 
true or it was false ; if true, there was no further ground for 
hesitation ; but if he had said what was false, he was to be 
held as answerable for perjury, because he had sworn to some 
thing different from the reality. It therefore came to this, that 
he might say that he had spoken falsely and without regard to 
principle. When he said that it was unfair that he should be 
pressed by one who ought to have been his defender, I inquired 
by what obligation I was bound to him to defend a bad cause, 
for that I had taken no oath to the Franciscan faction. Much 
was said to the man, backwards and forwards, but the result 
was, that he departed loaded with the reproach and odium of 
all. Being deprived of his ministry, he was, at the same time, 
thrust into prison, whence, however, he was liberated in three 
days. There he was a strenuous patron of the dances, that he 
might embitter, as far as was in his power, the hatred towards 
me of those who were already more than sufficiently alienated 
from me. But whatever Satan may essay by the like of him, 
he will afford a striking example. For two things are already 
matter of public talk, that there is no hope of impunity since 
even the first people of the city are not spared, and that I show 



1546. FAREL. 41 

no more favour to friends than to those opposed to me. Perrin 
with his wife rages in prison ; the widow is absolutely furious ; 
the others are silent from confusion and shame. 

Diaz, the Spaniard, whom you saw here, Viret, at the house 
of Des Gallars, and who, setting out from Neuchatel for Ger 
many, had passed through with the two Senarclens, was most 
cruelly put to death. When the Emperor was said to be ap 
proaching, he had repaired to Neubourg, a town under the rule 
of Duke Otho Henry. From that place he wrote to me on the 
13th of March. He had a brother at Korne of the name of 
Alphonso, who came thither with the express design of making 
away with this godly man. They conferred together for some 
days. When Juan observed that he was of no service, he left 
Alphonso. The latter, pretending that he had forgotten some 
thing, sends a servant to recall his brother, and put him to 
death in the house. He followed him to the house, nor did 
he believe the domestic that the slaughter had been perpe 
trated until he himself had viewed the corpse. Then he hurried 
off on fleet horses to the county of Tyrol. 1 Duke Otho sent the 
prefect of the palace to demand that he should be given up to 
punishment. Unless Ferdinand be willing to throw into con 
fusion all things, both human and divine, he must of necessity 
avenge so base and abominable an outrage. For the prefect 
has at the same time surrendered himself a prisoner. 

Adieu, dearest brethren ; may God ever protect you. Salute 
all friends. You, Farel, will convey to the heads of the citizens 
my best greeting. I wish that I could one day creep your 
length, in whatever way it might be possible. All ours salute 
you. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 38.] 

1 See the whole of this narrative in the Histoire des Martyrs, from the tract of 
Claude de Senarclens Vera Historia de Marie Joannis Diazii Hispani. 1546. 



42 AMY PERRIN. 1546. 



CLXIV. To AMY 

Complaints regarding the conduct of Perrin firm and courageous declaration 
by the Reformer of his resolution to persevere in his duty unto death. 

[April 1546.J 

I should willingly have met you, Lord Captain, had it not 
appeared to me that a different course was expedient. You 
will have an opportunity of hearing the reason from me at a 
proper place and time. I could have wished, however, that you 
had appeared at the Consistory, by way of example to others. 
As in that respect you did not do your duty, because you had per 
haps not been warned, I desired you at least to be present at the 
close of the meeting to-day, that the Syndic Corna and I might 
there discuss the matter with you. What there was to prevent 
you I do not see. But this I wish you to consider, that we cannot 
enjoy weight for weight with an unequal balance; and if impar 
tiality must be observed in the administration of human law, any 
departure from it cannot be tolerated in the Church of God. You 

1 Letter without date, of which the original French is lost. It is here reproduced 
from the Latin translation inserted in the collection of the published Latin letters 
of Calvin, with restoration of date, April 1546. 

Amy Perrin, one of the earliest hearers of Farel and Froment at Geneva, con 
tributed powerfully to the disenthralment and reformation of his native country. 
At one with the Eeformers in the abolition of the ancient worship and in the pro 
clamation of the new, which he regarded as the security for the independence of 
Geneva, he broke with them the moment they undertook to correct manners, after 
having reformed beliefs. He then became the head of that party of undisciplined 
children of Geneva, "who wished to live according to their own inclination, without 
suffering themselves to be restrained by the words of the preachers," and whose 
triumph led to the banishment of the ministers, (1538.) Commissioned, two years 
afterwards, to negotiate their recall, he appeared to be reconciled to Calvin, and 
to submit to the institutions of the Calvinistic discipline ; but the submission could 
not be lasting, and we again find him, in 1545, along with Pierre Vandel and the two 
Bertheliers, at the head of the party that must needs continue to strive with the 
ministers, until their total defeat, (May 1555.) Of an irascible temperament, of easy 
and frivolous manners, Amy took pleasure in fetes, and in appearing in public mag 
nificently dressed. Being accused (see the preceding letter) of having taken part in 
unlawful dances, he refused to compear before the Consistory, incurred, with his 
wife, the just rigours of the Seigneury, and became the implacable enemy of Calvin, 
who, in a letter at once moderate and powerful, essayed in vain to bring him back 
to the path of obedience and duty. 



1546. AMY PERRIN. 43 

yourself either know, or at least ought to know, what I am ; 
that, at all events, I am one to whom the law of my Heavenly 
Master is so dear, that the cause of no man on earth will induce 
me to flinch from maintaining it with a pure conscience. I 
cannot believe that you yourself have any other end in view, but 
I observe that no one has his eyes wide enough open when the 
case is his own. As far as I am concerned, I desire, in this 
very matter, to consult not only the edification of the Church 
and your salvation, but also your convenience, name, and 
leisure ; for how odious would be the imputation which is likely 
to fall upon you, that you were apparently free from and unre 
strained by the common law, to which every one is subject ? It 
is certainly better, and in accordance with my zeal for your 
welfare, to anticipate the danger than that you should be so 
branded. I have heard, indeed, what has proceeded from your 
house, viz., that I should take care lest I stir up a slumbering 
fire, lest what occurred before should again take place, in the 
course of the seventh year. But these speeches have no weight 
with me ; for I did not return to Geneva either for the sake of 
leisure or of gain, nor will it again grieve me to be constrained 
to leave it. The convenience and safety of Church and State 
made me willing to return ; and if measures are now being 
taken against rne alone, I should wish it to be said, once for all, 
to all who think me troublesome, " What you do, do quickly/ 
But yet, the unworthy treatment and ingratitude of some 
parties will not cause me to fail in my duty, and I will 
lay aside that devoted attachment to this place only with 
my last breath, of which I take God as my voucher. Nor 
will I ever so far yield to the humours of any other indi 
vidual, as hereafter to dispense with his personal attendance. 
These observations do not refer to you, but to that member of 
your family that is nearest to you. Nor do I write them with 
the view of spreading quarrels, but that it may be manifest with 
what firmness I am about to proceed, whatever may happen. I 
am especially desirous to impress upon you the necessity of ear 
nestly seeking to acquire the primary virtue of obedience to 
God, and respect for the common order and polity of the Church. 
May the Lord protect you by His own defence, and discover to 



44 FAREL AND VIRET. 1546. 

you how greatly even the stripes of a sincere friend are to be 
preferred to the treacherous blandishments of others ! Adieu. 
Your attached and sincere brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calv. Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 80.] 



CLXV. To FAREL AND ViRET. 1 

Requests in favour of the faithful in France. 

GENEVA, 1st May 1546. 

This pious brother is a citizen of Uzes, 2 a place where many 
have been utterly ruined by the severity of the ungodly. They 
have all agreed to try whether any succour is to be found 
among the Germans. I replied, that I had somewhat greater 
hope to-day, in that our princes have shewn, by clear indica 
tions, their aversion from imprisoning. I had, besides, been 
reminded that there was a certain person at Worms, sent by the 
Dauphin, who makes many promises. I am, indeed, aware of 
the hollowness of courts, but there will be no harm in making 
trial. I should not have refused what they strenuously insisted 
upon, viz., that I should undertake this journey, were I not still 
a prisoner, so slow is the process of my convalescence. I hardly 
know what progress I have hitherto made towards recovery, 
unless that my sufferings are allayed. 3 I have, therefore, left 

1 Menaced by a common peril, and having equally to resist the pretensions of 
Charles V. to universal rule, the King of France and the Protestant Princes of Ger 
many had resumed negotiations, that must seemingly issue in a lasting treaty. 
This treaty of alliance was for long the object of the prayers and the hopes of 
Calvin, who reckoned upon extracting from it advantageous results to the French 
Protestants, and an implicit toleration for churches until then subjected to the 
most violent persecutions. He pressed Farel and Viret, one or other, to repair to 
Germany, to hasten the progress of negotiations and determine the conditions of 
the alliance. 

2 Is this Uzes a small town of Languedoc, now comprised in the department of 
Gard ? Beza and the historian of the martyrs furnish us with no information on 
this point. 

3 Desirous of rendering assistance to Calvin during his illness and recovery, 
the Seigneurs of Geneva decided upon allowing him an attendant at the public 
expense. Registers of Council, 4th March 1546. 



1540. FAREL AND VI RET. 45 

this duty to one of you. Whoever of you finds it convenient 
will provide the expenses. As you, Viret, 1 are on the eve of 
setting out for Berne, it is right that our friend Farel be relieved 
by you of this burden, if the Senate give its permission. But 
if you shall not be free to go, Farel himself, I know, will spare 
neither himself nor his age ; certainly otherwise he will be 
absolutely indispensable. Wherefore, if leave of absence be 
denied to Viret, take care you do not fail, Farel, for I have almost 
gjiven a pledge in your name to the brethren. It remains with 
you, therefore, to fulfil the pledge, even though it were given 
rashly. Moreover, because, from the present state of the king 
dom, it would be in vain to ask of the King what he ought to 
do of his own accord, we have judged that he must at least be 
required to undertake the commission of inquiry. This, again, 
will be equivalent to interdicting the Parliaments from engaging 
in it. In the next place, he must be asked to nominate extra 
ordinary impartial judges. If this is obtained, a great step will 
be made. To aim at anything beyond this would, as I said, be 
superfluous. If the Chancellor is disposed to favour us, all will 
be well. 2 But as he is timid and tardy, we must see to it that 
he is vigorously urged on. Accordingly, not less pains must 
be taken in these secondary matters than in those of prime im 
portance. But abjuration is always to be expressly excluded ; 
for we do the work of Satan, if we open up a path to the godly 
whereby they may be permitted to abjure Christ. I diligently 
commend the whole matter, first to Master James Sturm, whose 
authority in the conventions is of the highest order ; in the next 
place to Bucer, that he may stimulate those whom he can ; 
again to Sturm and Dr. Ulrich, that they may also interpose 
the weight of their personal influence. The affair itself will 
give you counsel. You are not, however, tyros. May the Lord 

1 Viret was on the point of repairing to Berne, in order to discuss certain matters 
relative to the ordinances of the Reformation in the Pays de Vaud. Ruchat, vol. v. 
p. 298. 

2 After the disgrace of the Chancellor Poyet, this high office was filled by 
Francois Olivier, Seigneur of Louville, President of the Parliament of Paris. He 
resigned in 1550, and again became Chancellor in 1559, in order to give his sanc 
tion to the lamentable executions of Amboise, which he survived only for a short 
time. 



4G MADAME DE FALAIS. 1546. 

prosper his journey who shall undertake this sacred cause. 
Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

( Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CLXVIL - To MADAME DE FALAIS. 

Expression of Christian sympathy and condolence on occasion of the illness 
of M. de Falais. 

FROM GENEVA, this 21st of June [1546. 1 ] 

MADAME, Notwithstanding that the addition which you 
have made to your letter has marvellously saddened me, yet 
nevertheless it was kind to have informed me of it, for that will 
serve to bestir us, so that we may pray to God with so much 
the better heart, as danger is to be feared. 2 And, indeed, I 
had already heard somewhat thereof by Monsieur Dalleiri, and 
Master Peter Viret has confirmed it to me. Beside that in 
praying to God to look down with pity upon us in this strait, 
we must look patiently for an outlet such as He shall please to 
send ; and whichsoever way He disposes thereof, that we may 
be prepared to bear with it in suchwise that it must effectually 
appear how obedient we are to Him. Bethink yourself, also, 
how by that wearisome sickness and so many relapses, our Lord 
admonishes you, before the blow, so to strengthen you, that you 
may not be taken by surprise, whatever may happen. However 
the event may be, I do well believe that for all that, although he 
may get the better of it, we must not count, neither he nor my 
self, upon along sojourning here below. And possibly you also 
may very soon after follow us. But, after all, I do not give up 
hope of more gladsome news. 

To conclude, Madame, after having humbly commended me 
to your good graces, I pray our good Lord to have ever His eye 

1 On the back, in the handwriting of M. de Falais : " Eeceived the 22d July. 1 
This note, taken in connexion with the beginning of the next letter to M. de 
Falais, settles the date of the present one. 

2 M. do Falais was at the time dangerously ill. 



154G. FAREL. 4/ 

upon you, and to make you know it by experience for your con 
solation, increasing in you all those graces with which His chil 
dren ought to be enriched. 

Your humble brother, servant, and old friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

My wife presents you her humble commendations. 

[Orig. uutogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CLXVIIL To 

Excitement caused at Geneva by the Representation of a Play. 

GENEVA, 4th July 1546. 

Our plays narrowly escaped being converted into tragedy. 
When the senate had asked my opinion, I said that I would 
make no reply unless concerning the common resolution of the 
brethren. The brethren having been heard, I replied, that for 
many reasons it did not seem to us expedient that the games 
should be proceeded with, and at the same time I explained 
the grounds of our opinion. I said, however, that we did not 
wish to oppose them, if the senate held out for them. When 
the day was coming on, Michael, (who had done so once 
before,) instead of preaching, inveighed against the actors ; but 
so vehement was this second invective, that a concourse of 

1 Certain persons having obtained from the magistrate permission to act in 
public a Morality, entitled, The Acts of the Apostles, which had received the 
approbation of the ministers; one of them, named Michael Cop, less conciliatory 
than his colleagues, preached a very violent discourse in the church of St. Peter, 
and said that the women who should mount the theatre to act that farce, would be 
shameless creatures. These words stirred up a great tumult in the city, and Calvin 
required to put forth all his influence to quiet the agitation, and to preserve the life 
of his imprudent colleague. 

The plays were celebrated in presence of Viret. " It is ordained," say the 
Registers of Council, " that booths be erected for our seigneurs, that they may com 
fortably witness the representation of the Acts of the Apostles. 11 1st July 1546. 
It docs not appear, however, that these representations were frequently repeated. 
" Upon the remonstrances of the ministers," we read in the Registers, " resolved to 
delay the representations of the theatre to a less calamitous time." July 1546. 
Ruchat, vol. v. p. 313. The minister inculpated was not Abel Poupin, as Ruchat 
relates, but Michael Cop, as the Registers attest. 



48 FAREL. 1546. 

people straightway made towards me with loud shouts, threats, 
and what not. And had I not by a strong effort restrained the 
fury of some of them, they would have come to blows. I en 
deavoured in the second discourse to appease their exasperation, 
observing moderation, for I judged that he had acted impru 
dently in having at an unseasonable time chosen such a theme 
for declamation. But his extravagance was the more dis 
pleasing, since I could by no means approve of what he had 
said, He maintained it to be true ; I firmly denied it. There 
were some of the brethren who encouraged the man in his 
obstinacy. About nine in the evening I was told that a 
hundred or thereabouts would meet on the following day in the 
council-room. I immediately called the brethren together : 
we came to the resolution that we ought to accompany Michael. 
He was hardly suffered to go out along with me. I bring him 
to the place of meeting ; meanwhile I order the others to be 
sent for. His accusers indicate their refusal to speak while we 
are present ; for they said they had no concern with me, be 
yond that they regarded me with reverence, and were therefore 
unwilling to enter into any dispute with me. I strenuously 
insist that the cause is common, until it appear that Michael 
has erred in his duty. We are ordered to withdraw to separate 
sides of the house ; from the opposite party arise seditious 
shouts ; they threateningly assert that they would have killed 
Michael were it not that they revered me. To restrain the 
tumulfc, he was detained in the council-room, but in a respect 
ful manner. On the following day, by the favour of the Lord, 
we quieted all disturbance ; for Abel, 1 by the esteem in which 
he is held, and I by my authority, prevailed with the actors. 
The senate, however, was on our side. I was so far displeased 
with it, that it was not more courageous and spirited, for as 
usual it behaved too timidly ; the result is, that the games are 
now going on. Viret is present as a spectator, who has again 
returned, according to arrangement, with a view to restore our 
furious friend to sanity. 2 

1 The minister, Abel Poupin, exerted his interest with the actors to appease the 
tumult excited by his colleague. 

2 It is seen by this instance, that Calvin was not so stern as to proscribe public 



1546. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 49 

Of your brothers I hear absolutely nothing. There is with 
you one Elie Limousin by name, a native of Kochelle, who 
has now in a third letter asked me to certify to you what I 
have known of his former life. Pious people who come from 
that district declare that he was an upright man, and of hon 
ourable life, and also that he was unmarried when he removed 
thence to us. There is no reason therefore, why any suspicion 
of this nature should be a hindrance to his marriage. You 
will apologize for my not having replied to him, and also for 
having so cursorily gone over to you what perhaps demanded a 
longer discourse. Adieu, dearest brother in the Lord, and 
most sincere friend. Salute respectfully all the brethren ; there 
is no salutation from any one here to you or them, as no one 
knew I was going to write except Nicolas, the father-in-law 
of a brother, who came in. May the Lord be ever present with 
you, and bless your sacred labours. 

i} Lot. Corre-sp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 43.] 



CLXYIII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Proposals of matrimony on behalf of Viret. 

GENEVA, th July 1546. 

MONSEIGNEUR, You see, by the date of the other letters, 
what a length of time they have lain by me since they were 
written, forasmuch as the bearer could not find means to fill his 
letter-case ; whereof I wished to inform you, fearing that you 
might suppose that he had kept them up for such a length of 
time in his own hands. We are in great anxiety for news con 
cerning you, on account of the rumour which is abroad. The 
Lord graciously vouchsafe that you may have matter wherewith 
to gladden us. Now, however, since the bearer has been tarry 
ing for a while, I have taken upon me, Monsieur, to make a 

games and amusements that harmonized with decency. " He himself made no 
scruple in engaging in play with the seigneurs of Geneva ; but that was the inno 
cent game of the key, which consists in being able to push the keys the nearest 
possible to the edge of a table." Morus, quoted Hist, de la Snisse, vol. xi. p. 356. 
VOL. II. D 



50 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1546. 

request of you. You know that our brother Viret is about to 
marry. I am in as great anxiety about it as himself. We 
have plenty of wives here, both at Lausanne and at Orbe ; but 
yet there has not hitherto appeared a single one with whom I 
should feel at all satisfied. While we have this matter in 
hand,. I would beseech you earnestly, if you have remarked 
any one in your quarter who appears to you likely to suit him, 
that you would please let me know of it. I have not thought 
fit to apply to any other than yourself, seeing that every one 
has not the prudence which is herein required. You may reply 
to me, that I am at least acquainted with some one in your 
neighbourhood; but I shall not venture to breathe a word 
before having your opinion, which you can tell me in one word, 
for I shall hold your silence for a non placet. 1 I have not felt 
the least difficulty in addressing you privately in regard to 
this, although the subject may be rather delicate, for the neces 
sity of the case would excuse me, were I even somewhat impor 
tunate, because there was no one else in whom it appeared safe 
to confide ; and I am well aware that, for your part, knowing 
of how much consequence the marriage of such a man is for 
the Church of God, you would not spare yourself any pains 
therein. Indeed, I would not hinder your acting directly for 
him, supposing that a suitable party can be found there ; but 
in regard to asking advice, I have taken for granted that you 
will allow me that liberty. 

In conclusion, Monseigneur, after having commended me to 
your kind favour with such affection as that wherewith I love 
you, I pray our good Lord to have always a care of you, guid 
ing you in suchwise that you may be more and more serviceable 
for the advancement of His glory. 

Your servant, humble brother, and entire friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 

1 Allusion to a sister of M. de Falais. 



1546. VIBET. 51 

CLXIX. TO VlRET. 

Account of the steps taken relative to his marriage. 

ISth July 1546. 

Think of what you are going to do, and then write to me 
again what resolution you have come to. The more we inquire, 
the more numerous and the better are the testimonies with 
which the young lady is honoured. Accordingly, I am now 
seeking to discover the mind of her father. As soon as we 
have reached any certainty, I will let you know. Meanwhile, 
do you make yourself ready. This match does not please 
Perrin, because he wishes to force upon you the daughter of 
Eameau. That makes me the more solicitous about pre-occu- 
pying the ground in good time, lest we be obstructed by having 
to make excuses. To-day, as far as I gather, he will enter 
upon the subject with me, for we are both invited by Corna to 
supper. I will gain time by a civil excuse. It would tend to 
promote the matter if I, with your permission, should ask her. 
I have seen her twice ; she is very modest, with an exceedingly 
becoming countenance and person. Of her manners, all speak 
so highly that John Parvi lately told me, he had been captivated 
by her. Adieu ; may the Lord govern you by His counsel, and 
bless us in an undertaking of such moment. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 

CLXX. To VIRET. 

Fresh details regarding the projects for his marriage. 

GENEVA, loth July 1546. 

Three days ago, towards the conclusion of supper, mention 
was made of your marriage, which I had foretold you would 
be the case. But Dominic Arlot, whose assistance I had em 
ployed, presently interrupted the conversation ; for he said that 
the matter was completed. On hearing this our friend in- 



52 VIRET. 1546. 

staritly sprung up from table, and, in his usual way, gave reins 
to his indignation ; for, says he, his whole body shaking, " Will 
he then marry that girl of low connexions ? Could there not 
V)e found for him in the city one of better family ? Whoever 
have been the originators or abettors of this business, I regard 
them as vile and infamous. Of a brother and sister I am thus 
unwillingly compelled to speak." I, in reply, say, " I could 
not be the originator of it, inasmuch as the young lady was 
unknown to me. I acknowledge that I was a promoter of it, 
and, indeed, the principal one ; but that the matter is finally 
settled, as Dominic has asserted, is not true, beyond this, that 
I have gone so far in it that to draw back would be dishonour 
able. In that there is nothing for me to be ashamed of." His 
fury was thus turned into laughter. But he again began to grow 
hot, because the matter had been concealed from him by you. 
He was especially inflamed with a foolish jealousy, because Corna 
confessed that you and he, while riding, had talked over the 
thing together. " Is it even so ?" he proceeded to say to Corna, 
" Was it for this I attended him along with you, that he might 
in the most insulting manner shut out from his counsels the 
most attached friend he has in the world ? [for] I would cheer 
fully prefer him to myself." 

I objected that he himself drew a false conclusion, since you 
had not disclosed your mind even to Farel. He was, therefore, 
again pacified, though he talked of the daughter of Kameau, 
whom he extolled in an extraordinary manner. I nodded assent 
to all the encomiums, that I might remain firm in regard to 
the other party. 

Consider, now, whether it be expedient for you to come into 
the city disengaged. For there will be a hateful apologizing, 
if they proceed to obtrude her upon you. I know how danger 
ous even it may be to give a promise before the natural dispo 
sition of the girl has been ascertained. I am full of anxiety, 
nor can I easily clear a way for myself. I think, however, that 
this course would not be ridiculous. Suppose you consent to 
my asking the young lady in your name, the condition being 
added, that before the betrothal takes place, you are to meet her, 
that we may give some certain promise. They will thus not 



1546. VIKET. 53 

dare to press you. Write in return, therefore, by the earliest 
possible messenger what your views are, although, at the same 
time, I give it as my advice that you should not delay long, but 
come on an early day. Of the lady, I hear nothing that is not 
highly pleasing. In her father and mother, also, there is no 
thing blameable. I am the more confirmed, when I see that 
our opponents have nothing to carp at beyond this, that it was 
impossible for them to frighten us from our purpose. There 
are some things about the daughter of Kameau which I fear ; 
nevertheless, as it is your own affair you will be free to choose. 
I will never, however, allow that there is any man on earth who 
has greater concern about his own matters than I have about 
the present. 

This youth came to us from Italy, with the view of giving his 
attention to sacred literature, if a situation had been found such 
as he had hoped for. But as he has been disappointed, he 
wished, before he returned home, to pay you a visit. I have 
observed in him a truly good disposition. You will say a few 
words to confirm him in the fear of the Lord, and in reverence 
for His teaching. Adieu. May the Lord direct you by His 
counsel, and bless you in a recommendation of so much mo 
ment. Salute respectfully all the brethren. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

Forgive me for not having, some time ago, sent to you this 
letter by our treasurer I mean Bucer s, for, as the messenger 
brought it open, I thought that it had been already read by you 
and Farel. Afterwards, he reminded me that not even Toussain 
had read it. You will therefore send it to Farel, as soon as you 
shall have an opportunity. I am surprised that Bucer was not 
aroused by the murderous outrage so greatly to be execrated, 
which the Emperor perpetrated when he struck off the heads 
of the principal senators at Eatisbon. I am also surprised that 
he has made no mention of the incendiaries, but I set it down 
partly to his engagements. The other matter he has perhaps 
passed over on purpose, because he did not dare to commit 
everything to writing in these dubious times. 

\Lat. orifj. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



54 VIRET. 1546. 

CLXXL To VIRET. 

Same subject as the preceding. 

[July 1546.] 

Only say the word, the thing is settled. I should never have 
been in such haste, had I not been stimulated by so many re 
markable testimonies. But nothing gave me a greater impulse 
than the desire to be freed from those embarrassments of which 
you are aware. 

Adieu, again. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 

CLXXIL To ViRET. 1 

Breaking oft" of the match treated of in the preceding letters. 

GENEVA, 25th July 1546. 

What I wrote to you, by the treasurer, regarding the settle 
ment of the matter, was told to me by Peter Ursier, whom I 
was then employing as negotiator ; because 1 was unwilling to 
say anything myself, until I had received a more definite com 
mission. But after reading your letter, I waited on the father 
and daughter, that I might be absolutely certain of success. As 
soon, however, as reference was made to a change of residence, 
the father took exception to it, on the ground that something 
different had been promised him. I said that no promise to 
that effect had been made with our knowledge ; and, moreover, 
that I had carefully enjoined Peter Ursier not to cajole them by 

1 The project of marriage, developed in the two preceding letters, not having 
Ibeen realized, Viret turned his attention in another direction ; and a passage in 
his will, preserved in the Archives of Geneva, informs us that he espoused, 
in his second marriage, Elizabeth Laharpe, daughter of a French refugee of Lau 
sanne. This marriage was celebrated in October or November 1546, and the 
nuptial benediction was pronounced by Calvin himself, who, in a subsequent letter, 
(of the 3d December,) makes allusion to the journey which he had accomplished, 
in order to be present at the nuptials of his friend. 



1546. VIKET. 55 

such promises. I pointed out how absurd it would be if we 
were to leave our churches to follow whither our wives called 
us ; that a marriage consummated under such a condition would 
be an unhappy, because an unholy, alliance, that would not 
pass without punishment falling on both you and the girl ; 
finally, that you would never be prevailed upon to afford the 
first example of so disgraceful a practice, and, therefore, that it 
was in vain to make the request. I added, that Lausanne was 
not so far distant from this as to prevent his daughter from 
being with him as often as might be necessary ; that it would, 
likewise, be more satisfactory to have daily to congratulate his 
absent daughter than constantly to see and hear her weeping 
and bewailing the cruelties of her husband, which he observed 
was the case with so many. He requested space for delibera 
tion, and, at the end of three days, he replied, that he was un 
willing to send his only daughter from home. I felt greatly 
indignant at being so deluded by the folly of those in whom 
I trusted. I restrained myself, however, and dissembled my 
anger. But I do not need to offer any more lengthened excuse 
to you, as I am free from all blame. We may accordingly 
turn to some other quarter. Christopher spoke to me of a, 
certain widow, who, he asserts, pleases him admirably. If 
such is the case, I am at rest, and leave it. But if not, indi 
cate your mind. We shall very shortly, also, have a messenger 
from Strasbourg. Adieu, brother, and most sincere friend. 
Salute all the co-presbyters very affectionately. May the Lord 
preserve you all safe, and direct you by His Holy Spirit even 
to the end. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

Excuse me for not writing by the female servant of Petronilla, 
for I was not then fully aware of the state of the case ; in other 
words, there was still a gleam of hope. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



56 FAKEL. 1546. 



CLXXIII. To FAREL. 

Violence of the family of Amy Perrin declamations of the wife of Froment 
against the ministers of Geneva. 

GENEVA, [1st /September 1546-] 

Although the letter was not in every respect to my mind, for 
I was afraid that its undue harshness might hurt so delicate a 
stomach, I took care to have it forwarded, but in such a way 
that he should not know that I had seen it. 1 For this person 
conveyed it to his house as if it had been intrusted by you to 
himself. Should he thunder after his peculiar fashion, his bolts 
will die away in mere clatter. I not only appear before him, 
but almost obtrude myself upon him ; only, I observe a mean, 
that I may keep in mind the place I hold ; nor is this done on 
my own account, but because the man, being accustomed to 
adulation, would abuse my modesty, to the derision of Christ. 
I therefore despair of him, unless God apply a remedy. His wife 
is an unnatural fury. The widow 1ST. is so shamelessly wanton, 
that you would say she is quite youthful. Then, having an evil 
conscience, she is excited by every word that is spoken before 
the congregation, and discharges upon us at home the venom 
she harbours. She has manifested towards you, however, mar 
vellous good-will ; for she took to her house your two nephews, 
when they were dangerously ill, and treats them as her own 
sons. This kind office deserves a liberal meed of thanks, 
which you will not omit to convey to her, whenever a messenger 
shall present himself. She is so opposed to all of us, that I 
believe Caesar 2 himself is not more of an enemy ; and yet, I 
confess I do not know what cause is to be assigned for this, unless 
that she shamelessly undertakes the defence of all her crimes. 

1 At the request of Calvin, Farel had written a letter to Amy Perrin, in order 
to calm his resentment, and lead him back to the good path. The message of 
Farel, like that of Calvin himself, was without effect, and the quarrel between the 
Reformer and his old friend, now his adversary, became daily more confirmed and 
violent. 

2 A term frequently employed by Calvin to designate Perrin, with the adjunct 
of a fieri si VP epithet, C&sar our comedian. 



1546. FAREL. 57 

I am now going to give you a humorous story. The wife of 
Froment 1 lately came to this place. She declaimed through all 
the shops, and at almost all the cross-roads, against long gar 
ments. When she knew that I was aware of it, she excused 
herself by alleging that she had said with a smile, that we were 
either unbecomingly clothed, to the great detriment of the 
Church, or that you taught what was erroneous, when you said 
that false prophets could be distinguished by their long vest 
ments. When I was rebutting so stale a calumny, she began to 
ascribe even to the Holy Spirit what she had directed against us. 
What is the meaning, said she, of that passage of the Gospel, 
" They will come to you in long garments ?" I replied, that I 
did not know where that sentence was to be found, unless, per- 
haps, it might occur in the gospel of the Manichseans ; for the 
passage of Luke, xx. 45, is as follows : " Beware of the Scribes, 
who desire to walk in long robes," but not, " They will come to 
you," &c., which she had interpolated from Matthew vii. [15.] 
Feeling that she was closely pressed, she complained of our 
tyranny, because there was not a general license of prating about 
everything. I dealt with the woman as I should have done. She 
immediately proceeded to the widow of Michael, who gave her 
a hospitable reception, sharing with her not only her table, but 
her bed, because she maligned the ministers. I leave these 
wounds untouched, because they appear to me incurable until 
the Lord apply His hand. We are to celebrate the Supper on 
the next Lord s-day. You may thus form a judgment of the 
straits by which I am encompassed. Would that it could be 
celebrated without me, even on condition that I should creep 
to you on my hands ! I wish that the verse of Terence would 
occur to your brothers, " To lose in time is to make gain." I 
have admonished them, but they do not make the haste I wished. 
They may bear, however, for a short time the delay that has 
taken place, although it is disagreeable to us. Adieu, brother 
and most sincere friend. Salute respectfully, in my name, all 
the brethren, your family, and the godly citizens. May the 

1 See note 1, vol. i. p. 319. It appears, from this passage, that Froment was 
not at that time settled in Geneva. He was called thither a short time afterwards 
to assist Franfois Bonivard in digesting the Chronicles of the city. 



58 FAREL. 1546. 

Lord preserve you, and always direct you by His Spirit ! 
Amen. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, vol. ix. p. 38.] 



CLXXIY. To FAREL. 

Calvin s indisposition literary labours apparent reconciliation with 
Perrin and his family. 

GENEVA, 2d October 1546. 

Not to beguile you by a vain hope, I may say that I do not 
think I shall come to your place before winter ; for having once 
experienced the inconvenience of a voyage, I shall not venture 
again to commit myself to the waters. A good part of the 
journey would thus fall to be accomplished on foot, for the jolt 
ing of a horse is not only hurtful to me, but the rubbing also is 
dangerous. I am not acquainted with the physician of whom 
you speak, nor do I rightly understand what druggist you blame, 
unless, as I conjecture, you hint at Francis. What Textor may 
now think I do not know, except that he was too stringent in his 
prescriptions. For by involving himself in the lawsuits of his 
father, he has woven, in his native place, a Penelope s web that 
will have no end. Meanwhile, you see him. complaining that 
he was deprived of my advice. But this peevishness of the 
good man must somehow or other be tolerated by us. As you 
exhort me to write, I wish I had more leisure occasionally, and 
more robust health. I have now, however, set myself in earnest 
to the Epistle to the Galatians. 1 I am not free in the matter of 
publication, as far at least as the Epistles of Paul are concerned. 
You once heard from me when I was at Strasbourg, that Wen- 
delin laid me under obligations by services of such a nature, that 
I should be constrained to charge myself with ingratitude unless 

1 The Commentary on the four Epistles of St. Paul to the Galatians. the Ephe- 
sians, the Philippians, and the Colossians, were not published until 1548, by the 
bookseller Girard, of Geneva. Is there a previous edition of the Commentary on 
the Galatians ? We are not aware of anv. 



1546. FAREL. 59 

I offered this work to him. For at the time of my greatest 
straits, he expended on my behalf ahove forty golden pieces ; 
and he was not less prompt in his assistance in taking charge 
of my domestic affairs, than if I had hired him for the express 
purpose of superintending them. I am, therefore, now not at 
liberty to refuse him the Epistles. If I should write anything 
else, it will rather be published here, and yet Des Gallars could 
find no one to undertake to bring out two short treatises he had 
composed. Before, however, I subject my writings to any risk, 
I shall retain a copy. I left off for a time a short treatise, De 
Scandalis, 1 that I had begun, because the style did not flow so 
freely as I wished, nor have I a mind to resume it, until I shall 
have completed the Commentary on the Epistle to the Gala- 
tians. I had lately some conversation with our friend Perrin. 
If he perform what he promised, matters will not be at the very 
worst. 2 Penthesilasa, while in her outward deportment she 
affects a wonderful friendship, rages within doors in a terrible 
manner. I observe that you have written to her. I shall call 
for her on the earliest opportunity. I shall then discover what 
effect your letter has had. Adieu, brother and most sincere 
friend. May the Lord be ever present with you, always protect 
you, and render your labours prosperous ! I wrote to the mini 
sters of Berne. If you desire to know the contents of the letter, 
Viret, I think, retained a copy. My wife reverently salutes you, 
as also Des Gallars, Feron, my brother, (for since I received 
yours I have not seen the others.) The best greeting to the 
brethren and friends, and to your whole family. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

I had no talk with Perrin about your letter. I was unwilling 
to touch that sore, until it should have been somewhat molli- 



1 This, one of the most remarkable of the works of Calvin, appeared only in 1550. 

2 This apparent reconciliation was without satisfactory result. Peirin could not 
tolerate, nor Calvin sacrifice, the right of censure vested in the Consistory, and 
which the excesses of the Libertins daily rendered more necessary. " Complaints 
to the Council hy M. Calvin regarding the dissoluteness of the youth, there being 
nothing more common in the city than acts of debauchery and licentiousness." 
Registers of Council, 1 1th October 154G- 



60 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1546. 

tied by the lapse of time. If there is any news, provided it be 
certain, let us immediately know, I pray you. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CLXXV. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Recurrence to the matrimonial projects of Viret explanations on various 
subjects. 

FKOM GENEVA, this 4th of October 1546. 

MONSEIGNEUR, While hour after hour I was on the outlook 
for James on his return from Lyons, to reply to you by him, I 
was amazed the other day when my brother told me that he had 
passed through without speaking with me. And now it happens 
that I must write you very much in haste, because of the sudden 
departure of the bearer. It is very true I was told of it yester 
day, but it was at eight o clock at night, when my megrim 
troubled me so severely, that it was with great pain I could open 
my mouth. This morning I thought that he would be gone 
away, until, at the end of the sermon, he told me that he would 
wait a quarter of an hour to oblige me ; wherefore, I must beg 
of you to excuse the brevity. 

As to the affair of the individual for whose sake I have made 
the request, he has replied to me, thanking you very humbly 
for the kind affection you have shewn him ; that he would 
desire above all things to have communication with the party, 
fearing lest, from the want of a mutual understanding, they 
might not assort so well together in future. Besides, while 
these troubles last, it appeared to him that the journey could 
not be well undertaken, and I am much of that opinion ; for 
thereby there would be some danger of a long protraction of the 
affair, and this is by no means your intention, which I find very 
reasonable. As for the rest, there is no sort of hindrance arising 
from health ; but I find this to be an annoyance, that a matter, 
uncertain at any rate, should be kept for so long in suspense, 
although I do not find fault with his request, considering the 
reasons which he has alleged to me for it, that it is necessary 



1546. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 61 

that the wife lie shall take may be informed beforehand of some 
domestic charges which he is obliged to bear. Besides, love 
requires previous acquaintance, and the household affairs never 
go on well without a private mutual understanding, and a settle 
ment of the conditions required on both sides. The mischief is, 
the waiting for that length of time ; and besides, I do not see 
any great object to be gained by it. I pray God that, in any 
event, He would well order it. 

About the book, 1 it strikes me that I have told you enough 
already of what occurred to me, and therefore I do not compre 
hend wherefore you ask my opinion anew, unless it might be to 
shew it to him. Besides, he will take it better, methinks, if it 
may please you, to shew him the passage of my letter on that 
point, the more that I speak therein more freely, not knowing 
the author. Nevertheless, if it appears to you that there is 
somewhat more to be said, when you shall please to inform 
me of it, I will follow your advice. 

Furthermore, Antony Maillet has written to me, that he had 
spoken to Peter Telsen, and tells me that the twelve crowns 
which Master Valerand has disbursed, are to be refunded to 
you, although I need not be in very much haste about it, 
but suit my own convenience. I know not whether he has done 
so by mistake, but if he has still twelve crowns to pay, Peter 
Telsen must have laid out twice as much as he ought ; for I 
have sent you twelve crowns by my brother, the which you have 
told me you had received. Notwithstanding, if Peter Telsen 
have failed to do so, I would not that you should be the loser, 
albeit I know not for what purpose he can have employed the 
money ; but as to that, it will be my business to settle with him. 
Before saying a word about it, I was desirous to know the truth. 
I pray you, then, that you may please let me know whether, 
besides the twelve crowns which my brother returned to you, 
there has a still further sum of like amount gone out of your 
purse. Seeing that they have roused so much indignation 
down there, I see not what hinders you to publish your Apology, 
and it seems to me very fit that you do so. Nevertheless, I say 

1 M. de Falais had sent Calvin a theological work by a certain Denis de la 
Roche, requesting his opinion of it. 



62 MADAME DE FALAIS. 1546. 

what I think about it without prejudice. The rest remains still 
in the pen, for the bearer has not given me a long enough time. 
And thus, Monseigneur, after commending me humbly to your 
kind favour and that of Madame, I pray our good Lord to have 
you always in His keeping, vouchsafing you grace in such wise 
ever to walk, that He may be ever more and more glorified in 
you. I render thanks to Him for that He hath set you up 
again, but I beseech of Him to increase you in strength daily, 
until you are completely restored. My wife presents her humble 
commendations. 

Your servant, humble brother, and entire friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. Copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CLXXVL To MADAME DE FALAIS. 

Sad communication to be made to M. de Falais promise to send several 
discourses. 

FROM GENEVA, this Wth of October [1546.] 

MADAME, Forasmuch as you informed me by your last, that 
you sent me therewith the letter of Monsieur de Fresne, I feared 
that the bearer had not done his duty in taking proper care of 
what had been committed to him. But he has assured me 
that he had received nothing else but what he has delivered to 
me. Wherefore, I guess that it has been left behind by neglect. 
I believe that your intention in sending it to me, was in order 
to have my advice how to inform Monsieur of it. 1 Now, as he 
must be made aware of the news, I could have no hesitation in 
opening up somewhat of the business, whenever he shall be in 
a good humour, and then telling him all about it. Except 
when he is ailing, he is not a man that lets himself be over 
come by sadness, and who does not know how to make a pro 
fitable improvement of the grace which God vouchsafes him 
for his consolation. 

1 Allusion to the death of one of the sisters of M. de Falais, which they had not 
ventured to communicate to him. 



1546. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 63 

He has put me in mind that you were complaining lately of 
Monsieur enjoying himself all alone in the reading of my Com 
mentary. 1 You request me also to have some thought of those 
who only understand French, that they also may partake, and 
you ask for my sermons. Well, if there had been a demand for 
putting them forth, I would indeed have set about it in good 
earnest ; but that will not be this year. However, if God 
bestow grace to finish the Epistle to the Galatians, which ought 
to be summary, I have the framework of something of a treatise 
which shall speak French as well as Latin, that may prove 
somewhat useful, as I hope. 

After having affectionately commended me to your kind 
favour, and presented the humble salutations of my wife, I 
beseech our good Lord to have you in His safeguard, making 
you more and more serviceable for the advancement of His 
kingdom. 

Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CLXXVIL To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Congratulations on his convalescence uncertainty of prospects in Germany 
confidence in the all-powerful protection of God. 

FKOM GENEVA, this 19th of October 1546. 

MONSEIGNEUR, I believe that you have received my last 
letter, by which you will have understood that yours had been 
delivered by Alexander, but somewhat tardily. I give thanks 
to our good Lord affectionately for the news which Madame 
has communicated to me of the recovery of your health. I 
hope that it may please Him, who has begun so well, that in 
the spring you will feel yourself so nimble that you will not 
know how to restrain your merriment, so as to make up for 
past time. We shall look for that, and for all else, as it shall 
please Him of His infinite goodness to allot, having good ex- 

1 The Commentary on the First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, dedi 
cated to M. de Falais. 



64 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1546. 

pectance that the rage which the Court of Malines has vented 
upon you will pass off in smoke. 1 

I believe that it will soon be time to sound a retreat for both 
camps. 2 I pray God so to direct the whole that the upshot may 
prove for the advancement of His own honour. I am better 
pleased that He makes war upon that unhappy tyrant with 
His own hand, than otherwise. For if we were to attempt any 
thing of importance, I should always fear the fatal consequences 
of the presumption. We have never yet heard what has become 
of that harebrained fellow, the Count de Buren, 3 whether he 
has passed on with his army, or whether he has been driven 
back. Howsoever it may be, it is not the multitude nor the arm 
of flesh that can prevail. 

Master Valerand is returning ; you shall know better from 
him the whole state of your affairs. Howbeit, I see no other 
means, unless you yield somewhat on your side, until God 
opens up a better. You will know who this bearer is, and his 
purpose in going to you. Because I believed his determination 
to be right, I have not desired to turn him back from it. 

To conclude, Monseigneur, after my humble commendation 
to your kind favour, I shall pray our good Lord to have ever 
His hand stretched out to guide you by His grace. 

Your servant, humble brother, and entire friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

My wife also entreats to be always humbly commended to 
your kind favour. 

[Fr. on//, autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 1 94.] 

1 The confiscation of the property of M. de Falais had been pronounced by the 
Court of Malines. That decree had been submitted to the confirmation of the 
Emperor. 

2 The sentence which put the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse to 
the ban of the empire, 20th July 1546, was the signal for war in Germany. The 
Imperial army, and that of the Protestant Princes, observed one another for 
several months, on the banks of the Danube, without the one being able to obtain 
any decisive advantage over the other. But the troops of Charles the Fifth were 
decimated by want and sickness, while there was an overabundance in the camp of 
the confederates. 

3 Maximilian d Egmont, Count de Buren, a valiant and adventurous captain. 
He brought a powerful reinforcement to Charles the Fifth from the Netherlands, 
and he executed that difficult operation with the most happy success. 



1540. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 



CLXXVIIL To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Excuses for Viret uses of Sickness various rumours concerning the War 
in German} 7 explanations on the subject of the Slipper. 

FROM GENEVA, this IGth of November 154G. 

MONSEIGNEUR, Although I was expecting a letter from you 
from day to day, I could not let this messenger go away without 
writing, to make some reply to your last. I shall begin upon 
the subject of the little book which you sent me. Having 
read my answer, and the opinion I had of it, you have men 
tioned to me the name of the author ; and because he is some 
what opinionative, you request me to let you know my mind 
about it, in order that you may tell him on his return the 
opinion you have formed. Your words are these, " The author 
is Denis de la Eoche, who has requested of me that I would 
send it you privately. In consequence of this I feel puzzled 
how to set about finding fault, for I fear he will suspect that 
the criticism comes from you, and he is a little proud, and 
withal tenacious of his own views. Inasmuch as you have 
known him longer than I, write me your advice, so that upon 
his return I may be able to tell him the judgment which I 
have come to, when he shall ask me for it." 

You must hold me excused in this matter. I know not how 
to proceed therein, since I have already shortly stated to you 
my opinion in regard to it. If you ask me for a lengthened 
discussion, I could not do it so well as when it was fresh in my 
recollection ; and indeed I have doubtless forgotten part of 
what I formerly wrote. What made me doubtful as to your 
drift, was that it seemed to me you were asking me to do over 
again what I had already done. And even now I do not com 
prehend wherefore you would have a new declaration of my 
opinion, unless you were dissatisfied with the first. It would 
be very difficult for me to discuss in detail the things which 
have escaped me. For I have retained but a confused idea of 
the general argument, and of some points here and there. 

As concerns the marriage in reference to which I have put you 

VOL. IT. E 



66 MONSIEUR DE FALA1S. 1540. 

in requisition/ I beseech you, Monseigneur, to believe what I 
shall tell you, for I shall recount the pure truth without any 
dissimulation whatever. The reason which induced me to write 
you about it was, that a party had been proposed here who 
was nowise suitable for him. But on account of the forwardness 
of some of those who had meddled in the affair., we had very 
great difficulty in getting the proposal set aside. And so, to 
break the blow, it was my earnest desire to have found some 
one in another quarter ; for there would have been less envy 
and jealousy had he taken one from a distance, as we have 
already had ample experience in the murmurs which some have 
made when we would not follow their leading-string. I assure 
you, however, that he has not been making indirect application 
elsewhere. But without reference either to her whom you kindly 
named in your reply, nor yet to any other, I have thought it 
advisable, under the circumstances of the case, to recommend 
the man to you. Then you know the first letter loitered long 
upon the way, before we had any news from you, which was 
the occasion of my writing again, and that at his own instance, 
although I did not comprehend very clearly why. For in the 
meantime, from what I have since learnt, he had a proposition 
from another quarter. Nevertheless, after receiving tidings 
from you, I communicated with himself, and the result was 
such as I have told you, without feigned civility or double- 
dealing. Since then, I have understood that the proposal about 
a widow was still under consideration, although to this hour I 
know not how it stands. And so far was I from meddling, 
that knowing in this town of a widow as well endowed as I 
could have wished for myself if God had so far afflicted me 
as to have deprived me of my helpmate, 2 and that there was a 
necessity for my marrying again ; on considering the other pro 
posals which were under consideration, I have not felt inclined 
to bring forward her name. And notwithstanding, I have no 
doubt whatever that it would prove an admirable match for him. 

1 For Peter Viret. See preceding letters to M. de Falais, pp. 49 and 60. 

2 Calvin lost his wife, Idelette de Bure, in the beginning of April 1549, and 
never married again. His Latin correspondence contains two beautiful and touch 
ing letters to Yiret and to Farel (7th and llth April) on that sad event. They will 
be found reprinted in this collection. 



1546. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 67 

But all the more that I refrained from active friendly inter 
ference, it was sufficient for me to commit him to God, and 
to let the stream find its own channel. You see how I have 
thanked you without hypocrisy, now that I have set before you 
the difficulties that I have had here. And I do not think that 
there was any want of honesty in the man for whom I spoke ; 
indeed I might venture to assure you of it. But purposes 
change in a few hours. Seeing the present position of matters, 
I did not like to communicate to him anything of what was 
contained in your letter. I shall not trouble you with long 
excuses ; and besides, it is well that the thing has not taken 
wind. Wherefore, if you think fit, consider the whole matter 
as if it had never been mooted. Meanwhile, your goodwill 
toward me must not be buried out of mind, nor toward the 
man who is principally concerned in the affair. For I assure 
you that he was truly grateful for your interference, and I 
know that he has it imprinted on his heart, although it was 
attended with no result. 

With regard to the money which has been laid out on ac 
count of our child, that you may not be further troubled about it, 
Antony Maillet will settle the amount. And now, please God, I 
shall do my duty, thanking you most affectionately that you have 
been pleased to have patience until the settlement could be made. 

Since the Apology has not yet gone forth, it is very desirable 
to have the news which Master Valeran 1 may bring along with 
him. And, indeed, over and above the circumstance which 
has befallen in your particular case, the general declaration 
which the man has made against the whole cause, well deserves 
that the style should be altered, and that some additions be 
interwoven. And seeing that God has allowed you to wait so 
long, He will so end all as to instruct you the more certainly. 

Although I have indeed heard of a man having been seized 
at Berne for poisoning and fire-raising, nevertheless, I have so 
little correspondence in that quarter, that I have heard nothing 
of it but upon common report. On which account I did not care 
to say much to you about it. If it be really so as has been re- 

1 Valeran Poulain, of Lille, who was at a later period minister of the French 
Church at Frankfort. 



68 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1546. 

lated to you, I must acknowledge that it is a good thing that 
God is more concerned about my life than are my neighbours. 

Although your weakness may be protracted, it is much that 
you go on steadily, though by slow degrees, in the way of 
amendment. And when I consider the complaint, I feel that 
there is still greater reason to be well content. Notwithstand 
ing, we shall not give over praying to God that it would please 
Him to confirm you entirely, with thanksgiving that He has 
brought you back from the brink of the grave. Besides, I 
hope, from present appearances, that He is minded yet to make 
use of you in health, since He has employed you in sickness. 
For although laid powerless upon a bed, we are by no means 
useless to Him, if we testify our obedience by resigning our 
selves to His good pleasure, if we give proof of our faith by 
resisting temptation, if we take advantage of the consolation 
which He gives us in order to overcome the troubles of the 
flesh. It is in sickness, especially when prolonged, that patience 
is most needful ; but most of all in death. Nevertheless, as I 
have said, I confide in this good God, that after having exer 
cised you by sickness He will still employ your health to some 
good purpose. Meanwhile, we must beseech Him that He 
would uphold us in steadfast courage, never permitting us to 
fall away because of lengthened on- waiting. 

Howsoever doubtful the retreat of Kenard 1 may be, it is 
nevertheless no small matter, that instead of reaching the 
point aimed at, which would have been his great advantage, he 
has made a crablike movement backwards. And from what 
we have heard, he has left behind the marks of the persecution 
of God s hand. I am much better pleased that God should cut 
off his finger than we his arm. Not that that is not still God s 
work, which He performs by us, but I always fear so much the 
effect of glory, that I rejoice the more when it is plainly the 
doing of the Lord. And the unhappy man has likewise still 
greater occasion to feel uneasiness at heart. Whatever may 
come of it, I think that I have only spoken the truth, after the 
news of his departure, in writing what follows : Whither is 
he going ? Whither is he gone ? What will become of that 

1 The Emperor Charles V. See note 2, p. 64. 



1546. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 69 

wicked man ? By thus driving him away God has at least 
lowered his pride. 

A report is afloat, which troubles and plagues more than 
it astonishes me. It is that Maurice has entered into an under 
standing with him to ruin his own cousin and his father-in-law, 
and in the end to ruin himself; 1 for Satan must assuredly have got 
entire possession of him. We shall await, however, whatsoever 
shall please God, prepared to accept all that shall please Him. 

Concerning the advice which you require of me, whether it 
were expedient to refresh the memory of the ambassadors: before 
I had an opportunity of writing to you, the time to do so had gone 
by ; I therefore rather held my peace, not so much from forget- 
fulness as from this consideration : Ne pluvia post messem. 

There is one point, however, that I think I have forgotten, 
namely, the complaint they make, that it appears I would 
shut up the body in the bread alone. I know not where they 
have dreamed that dream. In several treatises I speak of that 
matter, but chiefly in the Institution, in the Catechism, in the 
Commentary on Corinthians, and in the manner of administra 
tion of the Lord s Supper. In the Supplication I have only 
touched upon it very lightly. Besides that, I have written a 
little book upon the subject, in which I believe a reader of sound 
judgment will meet with nothing to find fault with. But here 
is their mistake : many think that we make no distinction be 
tween the sign and the truth signified, unless we separate them 
entirely, to make God like a mountebank, who exhibits delusive 
representations by sleight of hand. It is our duty, however, to 
proclaim, that this comes by the craft of Satan, who only seeks 
to bewilder the understanding, that he may render our labours 
of no avail. Let us therefore pray to God that He would bestow 
increase by His grace, so that our labour may not be in vain. 
Such examples ought to incite us thereto, and likewise to ad 
monish us, not to think that we have done some great thing by 
merely having written. 

1 Maurice of Saxony, cousin of the Elector John Frederic, and son-in-law of the 
Landgrave of Hesse, unworthily betraying the cause of the Confederates, concluded 
a secret treaty with the Emperor, to whom he took the oath of fidelity, and who 
guaranteed to him in return the spoils of his father-in-law. 



70 MONSIEUR JDE FALAIS. 1546. 

Monsieur, having presented the humble commendations of 
myself, as well as of my wife, to your kind favour, and also 
that of Madame, I pray our good Lord, that it would please 
Him ever to preserve you in His holy protection, strengthening 
you in all might by His Spirit, making His glory to shine forth 
in you ever more and more. 

I beg to be excused for faults, for I have not been able to 
revise the present letter, being engrossed by headache with 
which I have been seized. Our friend and brother, Des Gallars, 1 
also humbly commends himself to you, and sends you a distich 
which he has composed upon Kenard. We greatly desire to 
have some news. If the war did not give holiday to the print 
ing-presses, I would have sent Vendelin the Galatians ; but 
since the Corinthians lie quiet in his desk, there is no need for 
my being in any hurry. 

[Fr. orig. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 

CLXXIX. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Consolations on the death of his sister. 

FROM GENEVA, this 20th of November 1548. 

MONSEIGNEUR, The day before Camus arrived, I had written 
to you, as well as to others, by a young tailor of Picardy ; but 
because I was not certain whether they had as yet informed 
you of the death of Madame your sister, 2 I did not venture to 
mention it. Now I have rejoiced, and have thanked God 
with my whole heart, perceiving by the letter of Madame that 
you had at once taken your stand upon the point whereon I 
would have founded my principal argument, if I had wished to 
console you. And, indeed, you have much occasion for grati 
tude on account of the grace which God has vouchsafed to her, 
and to you also. For seeing that her husband had waxed so 

1 Nicolas des Gallars, of Paris, (M. de Saules,) the friend and secretary of Calvin, 
and one of the most distinguished ministers of Geneva. He was sent as pastor to 
the Church at Paris in 1557, reappointed in 1560 to the French Church of London, 
assisted the following year at the conference at Poissy, was named minister of the 
Church of Orleans, and hecame, in 1571, preacher to the Queen of Navarre. We 
have several of his works mentioned by Senebier, Hist. Litt., torn. i. p. 341. 

2 ITelene de Falais. She had married Adrien de L Isle, Seigneur do Trenoy. 



1546. MADAME DE FALAIS. 71 

cold, the good lady would have been in an unhappy captivity 
had she remained longer in the world, and would only have 
languished her life away. On your part, you would not have 
had it in your power to lend her a helping hand, nor to solace 
her sorrows ; and so you never could have thought of her with 
out regret and vexation. God, therefore, has had pity upon you 
and her, in thus providing, and above all, in preventing the 
dangers into which she might have fallen in a long career, by 
reason of the frailty which is in us. And we have yet a better 
ground of further consolation, that it will not be long ere we 
find ourselves together again. Meanwhile, let us think of pre 
paring ourselves to follow her, for the time will soon come. But 
I like much better to congratulate you, seeing that our Lord has 
already put these things in your heart, than to labour in recall 
ing them to your memory. The other news which Camus has 
told me about you, has also cheered me to await the time when 
God will bring to pass what He has put into so good a train. 

Monseigneur, after humble commendations to your kind 
favour, and having presented the humble remembrances of my 
wife, I pray our good Lord to have you ever in his safeguard, 
to strengthen you in body and in spirit, so as always to make 
you more abound in His service. 

Your humble servant and bounden friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

I assure you that you make me desire the arrival of the 
spring-time more than I would otherwise have done. Our 
brother Des Gallars commends himself also very humbly to 
your kind favour. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva, Vol. 194.] 



CLXXX. To MADAME DE FALAIS. 

Assurances of affection for herself and her husband. 

FROM GENEVA, this 20t7i of November 1546. 

MADAME, Having been made aware that Monseigneur had 
been informed of the death of his sister, I have only given him 



72 V1KET. 1546. 

one word on the subject, knowing beforehand from yourself 
that he has no need of long consolation, seeing that God, with 
out human means, has put into his heart that which cannot fail 
to alleviate his sadness. 

As for my promise, to which you hold me bound, I shall dis 
charge myself of it, when God shall have vouchsafed me the 
means wherewith to do so. But I am astonished that you 
should even hint at the reward which my said Lord intends for 
me, as if I were looking to that, and had not other considera 
tions in the discharge of my duty to him. The love and re 
verence which I may well bear toward him in our Lord are 
so strong, that I am very sorry that I cannot devote myself 
more to his and your service, to shew what is in my heart. 
Howbeit, I beseech you not to take amiss what I have now said, 
for I have had no other feeling than the fear that you may not 
place such reliance upon me as I desire. Besides, I do not mean 
to make any complaint which deserves a reply ; for it is quite 
enough for me that you have neither entertained a doubt nor a 
suspicion which has induced you to mention it. 

Now therefore I shall make an end, after having humbly 
commended me to your kind favour. 1 pray our good Lord 
to have you always in His holy protection, guiding and govern 
ing you after His own good will, so as to glorify His holy name 
in you. 

Your humble servant and good brother for ever, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CLXXXL To VIRET. 

.Statement of the expense of a visit to Lausanne, on the occasion of 
Viret s marriage ecclesiastical difficulties at Berne. 

GENEVA, 3d Dec. 154(3. 

Two letters of Bucer were delivered to me after a short in 
terval. I send both of them to you, although they may contain 
almost nothing which you have not learned from other sources. 
With regard to the King of France, I think that lie will shortly 



1546. VI RET. 73 

be brought to give some assistance with money to our party 
the only thing that is sought from him. It is, moreover, in 
the highest degree, his interest to distract the attention of 
Charles by another war. 1 I have enjoined Peter Textor to pay 
to you sixteen crowns ; for although I had ten with me when 
I came to the marriage, it escaped my memory. But here is a 
greater lapse of memory ; when I had found them laid aside in 
my desk, I stood still for some time, not knowing whether I had 
ever seen them before. Kayinond came upon me, who reminded 
me of the fact, that he had given them to me by order of 
Antony Maillet. You will therefore add this sum to the former. 
In the other six [crowns], I am afraid that I have made a mis 
take ; for they may possibly belong to my brother. For as a 
teacher of Orleans was in his debt, he arranged that payment 
should be made by the son of Bruno. He had lately received 
five [crowns.] You will therefore retain these until I shall 
have learned with certainty from Saint Andre, whether they 
ought to be given to you or to my brother. 

Sulzer lately wrote to me that matters had reached an ex 
tremity. 2 He implores our aid. I consulted with the brethren. 
As we could discover no plan of procedure in circumstances so 
perplexed, and almost desperate, I repaired to Nyon. I became 
aware that they had committed much more grievous errors 
than the letters contain any mention of. They are not, in my 
opinion, fighting for a cause that is good in every respect. All 
see that their proceedings are preposterous ; and yet when we 
also see that everything is going to ruin, with what conscience 
shall we be silent ? I asked Nicolas, 3 whether he thought 
that a letter from us would be of any service ? He gave a 

1 This diversion, dictated to the King of France by sound politics, was not effected, 
and Francis I. remained a peaceable spectator of events, whose necessary tend 
ency was to secure, by the defeat of the Protestant party in Germany, the ascen 
dency of Charles V. in Europe. 

2 The ministers of Berne were divided by incessant disputes on the subject of 
the Supper. Sulzer and certain of his colleagues inclined to the Lutheran view, 
which Erasme Hitter combated ; and by an abuse of power, that was not uncom 
mon at that period, the Seigneury of Berne claimed to determine by itself the sense 
of the controverted dogma, the settlement of which ought to have been remitted to 
a Synod. Ruchat, torn. v. pp. 225, 226. 

3 The senator, Nicolas de Zerkinden, friend of Calvin and prefect of Nyon. 



74 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1546. 

trembling and hesitating consent to our writing. Should a 
messenger present himself in good time, I wish that you also 
would intimate your opinion ; thereafter consider whether it 
be not time to press for obtaining a Synod. 

Adieu, brother, and most sincere friend, along with your 
wife, whom you will respectfully salute in the name of all ours, 
as well as James and the rest. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat, orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CLXXXIL To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Military movements in Switzerland policy of the Cantons in reference 
to the Emperor. 

FROM GENEVA, this 8th of December 1546. 

MONSEIGNEUR, I have nothing to write you at present, 
except that we are waiting to see what will be done by the 
Swiss. 1 All is in readiness at Berne as if to start at any 
moment, the captain, his council, officers, soldiers, chosen and 
commissioned ; a second order sent, to be ready to march, with 
artillery and baggage. Their army consists of ten thousand 
men. I believe they would not have delayed so long, if there 
had not been an impediment which holds them as it were tied 
by the leg. For it is now about a year since all the Cantons 
agreed that none should leave the country to engage in war, 
without the consent of the rest. Now there is fear that the 
Papists may be urged to invade the country while it is depo 
pulated, under colour of breach of treaty ; which, if the King 
of France had only thrown in a word, would have happened a 
long time ago, namely, had he called the Papists to enter his 

1 The Eoman Catholic and Reformed Cantons, solicited, the former by the em 
peror, the latter by the Protestant princes, to take part in the struggle of which 
Germany was the theatre, had both observed a strict neutrality. But the Seigneury 
of Berne having received information that military movements were taking place in 
Franche-Comte, then under the rule of the Spaniards, summoned ten thousand men 
to arms, and occupied the passes of the Jura. That measure, which arose out of the 
pressure of circumstances, would perhaps have brought about a division among the 
confederates, and serious complications from without, if the treachery of the Elector 
Maurice had not hastened on the course of events in Germany. John de Miiller, 
Hist, de la Confederation Suisse, continuation of M. Vulliemin, torn. xi. p. 292. 



1546. MONSIEUR DE FA LAIS. 75 

service, which ours would have readily agreed to do. Thus 
would the one side have spoken German to Charles, the others 
Italian or Picard. 

I fear indeed that there must be a want of good management 
as well in that as in other things. Thereby are we so much the 
more admonished to pray God that He by His infinite good 
ness would be pleased to supply so many shortcomings. True 
it is, that the ignorant are apt to judge foolishly. But however 
that may be, every one is amazed that they are so long 

, T without putting forth an effort. For it looks as if 
God were holding out the hand to us, as much as to say enter 
in. And in letting the time slip by, we only invigorate him 
who is already almost desperate. Let us pray, therefore, and 
seeing that it pleases God to make trial of our patience for our 
good, let us be content with what He sends us, never growing 
weary of serving Him, on any account whatsoever. 

There has been murmuring of late on account of some 
appointment. They would indeed need wondrous masons to 
complete the building. But I fear that our people, or some of 
them at least, may let themselves be so far led away as to en 
tertain the proposals, which would be to replace the enemy, 
not only in the exercise of his former tyrannous sway, but even 
of that to which he has always aspired. Yet, inasmuch as I 
feel assured that it will not so happen unless God shall be alto 
gether exasperated against us, I trust that He will avert so 
great a danger. For I have no doubt that He looks rather 
upon His own work in us, than upon our sins and shortcom 
ings, that He may have pity on us. 

And now, Monseigneur, having humbly commended me to 
your good favour, and that of Madame ; having also presented 
the commendations of my wife, and of our neighbours, I pray 
God of His goodness to keep you always in His protection, 
and to make you feel more and more the joy of His help. 

Your servant and humble brother, and ever bounden friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Fr. orif/. autorjr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 

1 A word effaced in the original. 



76 MADAME DE BUDE. 1546. 



CLXXXIIL To MADAME DE BuDE. 1 

Calvin exhorts this lady to leave France, and retire with her family to Geneva. 

This 20th .... 1546. 2 

MADAME, Howbeit that I have occasion to praise God for 
the great zeal and constancy He has vouchasfed to you, as I 
have heard from the bearer, yet, believing that my exhortation 
might not be superfluous to you, in the midst of such diversified 
trials and conflicts, I was unwilling to forego writing you some 
words by him, and, above all, to help you to come to a deter 
mination upon the point on which you are still somewhat 
doubtful ; that is, as to your retiring hitherward that you may 
serve God in peace of conscience. Were it possible for you to 
discharge your duty where you are, I would by no means advise 
you to stir. But I am well aware in what captivity you are 
held. If God had given you strength and constancy to prepare 
for death, and not to flinch for any fear of the danger wherein 
you are, there would be nothing better than to keep that grace in 
exercise. But if you feel that the weakness of the flesh gets 
the mastery, and hinders you from doing your duty, seeing that 

1 The original letter is without address. But it is generally helieved that it 
was addressed hy Calvin to the widow of the celebrated William Bude, great- 
grandson of the secretary to King Charles V., and one of the most learned person 
ages of the period of the revival of letters. William Bude having declared in his 
will that he wished to be buried without ceremony, this circumstance led to 
the supposition that he had died in the faith of the reformed. His widow not being 
able to make free profession of her faith at Paris, was about to settle at Geneva, on 
the solicitation of Calvin, (June 1549.) She was accompanied by her daughter 
and three of her sons, Louis, Francis, and John de Bude, who held a distinguished 
rank in the republic: The best known of the three brothers is John de Bude, 
Sieur de Verace, the particular friend of Calvin and of Theodore de Beze. He 
was received an inhabitant of Geneva the 27th June 1549, burgess the 2d May 
1555, member of both Councils in 1559, fulfilled several important missions to the 
Protestant princes of Germany, and died in 1589, after having rendered dis 
tinguished services to his new country, and thereby added fresh lustre to his 
family, whose descendants still live at Geneva. Galiffe, Notices Genealogiques des 
Families Genevoises, torn. iii. p. 83, et seq. 

2 On the back, in another handwriting, " Of 46. I think that this letter must be 
to Madame Bude." 



1546. MADAME DE BUDE. 77 

your conscience must needs be troubled and in continual tor 
ment, the only way is to seek a suitable remedy. For it is no 
slight perplexity, yea, even agony, to feel ourselves blameable in 
a matter of so great moment ; yea, and that the evil continues 
to such an extent, that we can make no end of offending God. 
Although many deceive themselves in this matter, making 
themselves believe that it is bat a trifling fault to defile them 
selves with superstitions which are repugnant to the Word of 
God, and derogate from His honour, I reckon that His honour, 
to whom we owe everything, is so precious to you, that it is felt 
to be a subject of intolerable regret to you to offend against it 
daily, as you are constrained to do at present. I do not doubt, 
therefore, but that you have a special desire to escape out of 
such wretchedness, and that until you do, you cannot but be in 
very great anxiety and sadness. Consider, now, whether this 
is not an unhappy condition, thus to linger for ever. I know, 
indeed, that there are many who reply to us, that we here are 
no more angels than themselves, and that we offend God even 
as they do ; which is true. But as the proverb says, " Sickness 
upon sickness is not health." If, then, we come far short in 
other respects, what need is there to increase our condemnation 
by adding to the rest this sin which is so grievous ; to wit, that 
of not giving glory to the Son of God, who became as nothing 
for our salvation ? 

Besides, after you have done your best by dissimulation, to 
keep clear of the perils which surround you, you are not a whit 
better ; for the wicked are very sharp-sighted, and you will 
never content them but by an entire renunciation of God ; 
wherefore, you have no rest for the body any more than for the 
soul. And after declension from God, in order to comply with 
the world, you have derived no benefit from it, except that you 
languish as in a trance. You will ask me if, being come hither, 
you shall always have assured repose. I confess that you will 
not ; for while we are in this world, it is fitting that we 
should be like birds upon the branch. So it has pleased God, 
and it is good for us. But since this little corner is vouchsafed 
to you, where you may finish the remainder of your life in His 
service, if He so please, or profit more and more, and be con- 



78 MADAME DE BUDE. 1546. 

firmed in His word, in order that you may be more ready to 
endure persecutions, if it shall so please Him, it is not right 
that you refuse it. We have always to take care lest we be the 
cause of our own misfortune, and draw it down upon ourselves 
by not accepting the means of escape which God presents to us. 
I know that it is a hard thing to leave the country of our birth, 
most of all to a woman like yourself, of rank, and advanced in 
life. But you ought to overcome such difficulties by higher con 
siderations ; such as, that we should prefer to our own country 
every region where God is purely worshipped ; that we should 
not desire any better repose for our old age than to abide in 
His Church, His dwelling-place and the place of His rest; 
that we should prefer to be contemptible in the place where 
His name may be glorified by us, to being honourable in the 
sight of men, while we defraud Him of the honour which be 
longs to Him. 

Concerning the doubts which may come into your mind, it 
would be too tedious to reply to them all. But you have always 
this as a settled point, that we must refer our many anxieties to 
the Providence of God, trusting that He will provide an outlet 
in cases where we see none. And in fact it is undoubted, that 
if we seek Him we shall find Him. That is to say, He will be 
with us to guide our steps, and to have a care of our affairs, to 
order them well for us. True it is, that we shall not cease to 
be subject to many troubles and annoyances ; but let us pray 
Him that, having been strengthened by His Word, we may 
have wherewithal to overcome them. And assuredly you pos 
sess many helps, which deprive you of the excuse which many 
others have. If it shall please God to lead you hither, you will 
not come so bereft of property as to have nothing to live upon, 
while there are many poor people who have only burdens with 
out temporal provision. How many Christian women are there 
who are held captive by their children ! while our Lord has 
given you this advantage, that you have children who not only 
are ready to aid in your deliverance from captivity, but also 
exhort you thereto. You have the liberty which many wish 
for, of which you ought to avail yourself, that you may all the 
more freely engage in the service of God. Among the other 



1546. MADAME DE BUDE. 79 

hindrances that it appears you have, your daughter may be one, 
inasmuch as she is still unmarried. But instead of reckoning 
that to be a hindrance, it ought rather to serve as a spur the 
more readily to decide you. I understand that you love her not 
merely with the common love of mothers, but with a peculiar 
affection. I beseech you, then, to consider well whether it would 
be better for her to be there tied down in marriage, to live in 
perpetual bondage, or to be brought by you to a place where 
she may be free to live as a Christian with her husband ; for 
you must trust that God will find out for her a worthy person, 
who will be a comfort to you as well as to herself. 1 There is 
one thing of which it is right that you should be made aware, 
in order that nothing may alarm you as new and unforeseen. 
It is this, that Satan will stir up many troubles in order to 
upset or to delay your pious purpose ; but when you shall have 
taken your fixed resolve, it will not be difficult for you to rise 
above all. Meanwhile, profit by the opportunity, now when it 
is offered to you ; for as, in matters of conscience, it behoves us 
to resolve speedily, without seeking advice or long dalliance, it 
is also necessary to perform soon what we have decided on, fear 
ing, because of the frailty which is in us, to grow cold upon our 
good intention. 

To conclude, knowing that all my exhortations must be 
vain and useless, unless God make them effectual by gaining an 
entrance to your heart, I shall beseech Him to instruct you with 
true prudence to decide upon what shall be most fitting for you 
to do ; to bestow steadfast constancy upon you in obeying His 
will ; to stretch out the hand, and be Himself your guide ; to 
grant you such grace, that in leaning upon Him, you may per 
ceive His assistance in everything, and all throughout. 
Your servant and humble brother, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 

1 Catherine de Bude married, in 1550, William de Trie, Seigneur de Varenncs, 
a gentleman of the Lyonnais, a refugee at Geneva on account of religion. 



80 THE AVOYER NCEGUELY. 1547. 

CLXXXIV. To THE AVOYER NCEGUELY. x 

Complaints of the misconduct of several ministers in the Pays de Vaud. 

FROM LAUSANNE, this 12th January 1547. 

MONSEIGNEUR, Seeing that this present bearer 2 has brought 
me so good a testimony regarding Lion, and also that I myself 
have known him to be both well qualified and zealous, inso 
much that I have no doubt of his fitness to serve the Church of 
God, I am constrained to recommend him to you, assured also 
that the letter of introduction which I give him to you will be 
of service to him, considering the kind affection which you 
bear to me. I pray you then humbly that it may please you 
to hold him as recommended, to the intent that by your means 
he may hereafter find an opening for the service of our Lord 
Jesus, in which you may have occasion to rejoice ; for were not 
such my expectation, I would be very sorry to breathe a word 
about it. 

Moreover, Monsieur, if God granted me an opportunity of 
speaking to you, I would willingly disburden my heart of the 
scandals which lie heavy upon us here, on account of the mis 
conduct of some who are ministers of the Word of God in your 
demesne, and in their whole life give constant occasion to blas 
pheme the name of God. 3 I am well persuaded that you, on 
being made aware of the wretchedness in which every one there 
abouts is sunk, will be as well disposed to provide for it, as I 
have great regret and sorrow even to hear it spoken of. I be 
lieve, indeed, that you will have spoken about it in council, 
seeing that a poor brother who goes to your quarter, named 

1 John Francis Nceguely, one of the most illustrious magistrates, and one of the 
most able captains of the republic of Berne, in the sixteenth century. In 1536 he 
commanded the Bernese army, which conquered the Pays de Vaud from the Duke 
of Savoy ; discharged the functions of Avoyer from 1540 to 1568, and died at a 
very advanced age. 

2 In a note, by an unknown hand, " Philippe Buissonnier de Bresse." 

3 Several ministers of the Pays de Vaud, and particularly Zebedee, later pastor 
of Nyon, Lange, pastor of Bursins, delivered from the pulpit the most virulent decla 
mations against the doctrines of the Reformer. 



1547. FAREL. 81 

Master Francis Maurice, will give you occasion to think there 
upon. I do not touch further on the maladies, except that I 
earnestly desire that it would please God to put it in your heart 
to apply an effectual remedy. And because I know that in 
dividually you are well inclined, as becomes you, T do beseech 
you, inasmuch as I ought to have the interest of the Church of 
God at heart, that it would please you to hold out a hand to 
those who are in trouble for having borne themselves faithfully 
in God s service and yours : Wherefore, Monsieur, after having 
humbly commended me to your kind favour, I pray our good 
Lord to uphold you in his safe keeping, guiding you always 
by His Spirit in obedience to His will. Your humble servant, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CLXXXV. To 

Mission of Calvin in Switzerland dispositions of the various Cantons. 

GENEVA, 20th February 1547. 

Textor will have returned to us before my letter reaches you. 
The reason why I did not proceed by way of [Neuchatel] in 
returning from the Swiss, was, that I had engaged to be present 
with the brethren on a day that must have elapsed had I not 
made very great haste. With regard to the present disturb 
ances, I have to remark, that the people of Bale are either in a 
state of marvellous insensibility, or they possess a wonderful 
power of concealing their real feelings. They did, however, 
make some exertion, but coldly, and their zeal was not to my 

1 On the news of the dangers that menaced the churches of Germany, an im 
portant mission had been confided to the Eeformer. " Calvin is despatched by the 
Seigneury to Zurich, to obtain certain information of the condition of the war be 
tween the Emperor and the Protestant princes." Registers of Council, 23d January 
1547. " Calvin having returned, reports that the war between the Emperor and 
the Protestants is more enkindled than ever, and that the Swiss, apprehensive of 
that prince turning his arms against them, are putting themselves in a state of 
defence." Ibid., 23d January 1547. 

In a letter to Farel, he gave with greater detail the impressions hr had received 
during his hasty journey. 

VOL. IT. r 



82 FAREL. 1547. 

mind. I observed great fervour at Zurich. The inhabitants 
of that place were as much concerned about the people of Con 
stance 1 as about themselves. They made over to them all their 
resources, and yet the wretched state continued still to vacillate, 
just as if it had been without any help whatever. If it had 
stood to this hour, I think there would have been no danger for 
the future. If you are in possession of any information, make 
us aware of it. Some people were furious, because of a report 
that the ambassadors of the people of Strasbourg were seen in 
the court of Charles. To me it does not appear probable. The 
people of Zurich were soon persuaded. I was, however, greatly 
pleased to find that they forgot all causes of dissension, and 
thought only of the common weal, being prepared to spend their 
strength not less in behalf of Strasbourg than of Constance. 
You can hardly credit how offensive are the terms accepted by 
the cities that have surrendered ; but the most disgraceful of 
all is Wurtemberg. 2 This, to be sure, is the reward of tyrants. 
I observed that the Bernese were occupied in defending their 
own bounds, that they might be the less conscious of the neigh 
bouring conflagration. But there are very many more private 
matters regarding the churches that cannot be committed to 
writing. It would therefore repay the trouble if you came hither 
speedily, because I have now in hand certain materials which 
I must send back in a short time. I am desirous that their 
contents be communicated to you, and you will infer that I am 
not desirous of that without good grounds. Adieu, my brother, 
along with your whole family, to the members of which you 
will convey the best greeting in my name and that of my wife. 
Salute also respectfully all the brethren. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lot. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 

1 Situated at the extremity of the Confederation, without forming part of it, and 
sharing the faith of the Reformed Cantons, Constance, the first city open to the 
attacks of the Emperor upon the banks of the Rhine, invoked the aid of the Can 
tons, whose rigorous neutrality left it exposed without defence to its adversaries. 
Histoire de la Confederation Suisse, torn. xi. p. 296. 

2 Ulrich, Duke of Wurtemberg, although among the first to submit to the Em 
peror, was compelled to sue for pardon on his knees, and to pay a ransom of 
300,000 crowns. Robertson, TJi.it. of Charles V., book viii. 



1574. MONSIEUR DE FALA1S. 83 



CLXXXVL To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Search for a house for that gentleman in Geneva Various details 
Mention of Charles V. and Francis I. 

FROM GENEVA, this 25th Feburary 1547. 

MONSEIGNEUR, Having received your letter by the Sieur de 
la Kiviere, I feared that the other, of which you made mention, 
must have been lost. It has since been brought to me. In 
reply, I thank God for having increased your joy and content 
ment. I have written briefly a joint letter to the three com 
panions, to congratulate them on their welfare. I know not 
whether God will one day so bless us, that they shall have no 
more need of my letters. If not, I shall another time be a 
little more liberal on paper. 

As for yourself, in obedience to the commission which you 
gave me, I have looked about since my return for a convenient 
lodging. As for that of Clebergue, 1 you would be too far away 
from the neighbours you desire ; 2 although I have long had a 
wish for it myself, for the sake of retirement, when I seek to have 
leisure : And they promised to let me have an answer ; but 
none has come. If I had it at my disposal, as they had given 
me to hope, you know that it would be very much at your ser 
vice. Near us, I have not been able to find one having a 
garden, which would be more suitable for you than the one 
which I have taken. Not that I am quite content with the 
lodging, but I took it for want of a better. You will have in 
front a small garden, and a tolerably spacious court. Behind 
there is another garden. A great saloon, with as beautiful a 
view as you could well desire for the summer. The other rooms 
have not so pleasant an aspect as I would like. But when you 
have arrived, possibly we may devise some satisfactory arrange 
ment. With the exception of the saloon, one might find houses 

1 The present Quai des Bergues. 

2 Calvin at that time inhabited the house of the Sieur de Freneville, situated in 
the Hue des Chanoines, near St. Peter s Church, and corresponding to the house 
in the same street which is now No. 122. See the Memoires de la Societe cVHis- 
toire de Geneve, vol. ix. p. 391. 



84 MONSIEUR DB FALAIS. 1547. 

better furnished and more conveniently laid out ; but there would 
have been no garden, and I see that is a feature which you 
desire above all. However that may be, it is hired for twelve 
crowns. When you see it, if you say that this is too much, I 
shall have my excuse ready, that I am not such a manager as 
to be very sparing of my purse, any more than of that of others. 
I have hurried on the bargain solely on account of the garden. 
If time hangs heavy with you where you are, it appears to me 
the season will be as suitable in a month as at a later period, 
provided that the weather be as favourable as it usually is at 
that time. As for escort, although my brother is not here at 
this moment, I can safely venture to undertake for him that he 
will willingly serve you ; and he has gone that road so often, 
that he ought to know it well. Moreover, he has already had 
to do with the boatmen : and I believe you will recollect my 
advice, that you should come part of the way by water, to re 
fresh you. Awaiting your full resolve, we shall sow without 
making any stir about it, and prune the vines. 

As for your causes of complaint, I beseech you, Monseigneur, 
to overlook many things, to avoid that vexation which does not 
alleviate the ill, and cannot mend it ; above all, to please to 
bear with what may have been done from inconsiderate zeal, 
for that is a fault which happens with the best. But I believe 
the matter has been already settled in some way or other. I 
hope the consequences have been modified by your prudence. 

With regard to Sieur de Pare, 1 if peradventure he should 
come straight to you without passing this way, and that besides 
he makes fresh overtures in regard to the proposal, you have there 
Monsieur D Albiac, who being very intimate with him, will be 
able to inform you of everything better than Maldonado can 
have done. And it will be right to make diligent inquiry ; for 
I would fear that by the follies of his youth he may have had 
some disease, such as many persons have now-a-days. I openly 
avow to you my fear, choosing to exceed in that respect, rather 
than to conceal anything until it be too late. You will ask 
me wherefore then I have put off so much time already ? But 
my conjectures on this point have arisen since. It would indeed 

1 He sought in marriage a relation of M. de Falais. 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALA1S. 85 

have been the shortest way to communicate by word of mouth, 
if I had conceived in my mind all that I do now. I set the 
matter before you, that you may think of it. For I would not 
have that reproach, I mean not only in the sight of the world, 
but also before God, that the girl should have been in any way 
wronged by my concealment. I am aware, that by reason of 
its being a malady so common and prevalent, many make 
scarcely any difficulty about it. But I suspect that you, like 
myself, will have your scruples. 

To make an end, Monsieur, after having humbly commended 
me to your kind favour, and that of Madame, I entreat our good 
Lord to have you in His keeping, which is the one thing needful 
of our whole life, as well for this present time as that which is 
to come ; I mean that He may always make you to feel, as He 
does now, that you are under His guidance. All those who do 
not write, humbly commend them to your good graces, and 
to those of Madame. 

Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

Monsieur, he who will present you this letter, is the ambas 
sador from this town. There are two who proceed to your 
quarter, I know not wherefore, that is to say, on account of 
their private affairs, which they have to settle together. I have 
thought it well to inform you of this, for no other reason, save 
that I presume you would have been sorry not to have been told 
of it. For if your affairs admit of your deciding to come, you 
may avail yourself of this means of communication ; not that 
there is need of great ceremony, as we have already spoken of 
it, but only in order that they may not fancy themselves 
slighted, especially if you should come hither. I speak the 
language of the country. If there are any good tidings, I hope 
that they will bring them to us. But there is need for God 
humbling us, from whichever side it may come. I hope, how 
ever, that our Antiochus, 1 who presses us at present, will be so 

1 The Emperor Charles the Fifth, conqueror without a comhat, of the army of 
the confederate princes : thanks to the treason of Maurice of Saxony, this prince, 
although suffering severely from the gout, was at this very time receiving 



86 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1547. 

hard pressed, that he shall be regardless of the gout in his 
hands and in his feet ; for he will have it over his whole body. 
As regards his companion, Sardanapalus, 1 may God have a 
like care of him ! for they are both well worthy to have the 
same measure meted to them. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CLXXXVIL To MONSIEUR DE 

Instructions regarding the Apology alarming rumours current at Geneva 
Calvin s confidence. 

FROM GENEVA, this 7th of March 1547. 

MONSEIGNEUR, I forgot in my last letter to mention the sub 
ject of the Apology, and I know not how it had escaped me. 
Saint Andre had the copy ; and in so far I was not deceived in 
my opinion. But as matters stand at present, if you should 
think of printing it, I do not see anything there will be to 
change. To soften it down, that is not possible ; and the times 
will not warrant its being kindled into greater vehemence, at 
least with any effect. And if you determine to have it printed 
at Strasbourg, I am not very sure that they will venture to 
admit it as it is. " For what can he dare to do who hath once 
involved himself ivifh a tyrant?"* Here there would be more 
liberty. I recollect that you spoke to me, immediately after 
having seen it, about correcting some points, but without signi 
fying to me what these were, nor how to be corrected. Will 
you therefore please to let me know your wish by the first oppor 
tunity, and what you desire that I should do. As for some one 

the submission of the confederate towns of Suabia and of the Palatinate, from 
which he exacted enormous penalties. 

1 The King, Francis I. He died the following month, the 31st March 1547. 

2 On the bacJc To Monseigneur, Monsieur de Fallez, at Basle, near to the 
Cauf-HoufT. M. de Falais was in fact about to quit Strasbourg, then threatened 
by the imperial army, to fix his residence in Switzerland. 

3 " Quid enim audeat, qui tyranno se implicuit?" The town of Strasbourg had 
submitted itself to the emperor. The terms of that submission bore, that it shall 
renounce the League of Smalkalde, and shall contribute with the other states, to 
the execution of the sentence pronounced against the Landgrave and the Elector. 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 87 

to translate it into Latin, you have one at hand sufficiently 
elegant, should you think proper to make use of him. 1 Here, 
also, we might doubtless find one ; for want of a better, I shall 
undertake it myself, and that I hope I may do, without boast 
ing ; for provided that it is perspicuous, that will be sufficient ; 
and besides, the barbarism of Majestas vestra, which one must 
employ, forbids a too exquisitely ornate style. In any event, 
however, we shall have need of your advice, in case we under 
take it here. Moreover, our people are in some alarm. But I 
do not think they have any cause. You know very well that 
frontier towns are very apt to take fright ; and forasmuch as 
we have Granvelle for a neighbour, 2 and we hear talk of a levy 
of men, one is somewhat in doubt. As for me, I think differ 
ently, for it is not the proper season for attempting anything 
here. But we must let many rumours glide past, even as we 
cannot hinder water from going downwards. However matters 
turn out, I am very glad that our Lord arouses us, in order to 
make us turn to Himself; and that is the greatest mercy that 
can happen to us, that we may be led to commit ourselves in 
real earnest to His protection. 

Making an end for the present, Monsieur, after having 
humbly commended myself to the kind favour both of yourself 
and Madame, and having presented the respects of our neigh 
bours, I pray our good Lord to have you in His holy keeping, 
to guide you in all your paths, to show you what is right and fit 
for you to do, and to give eventually a good and prosperous 
result. 

You will perceive by the letter of Sire Nicolas how it goes 
with your money. He has also informed me of the choice 
which he sets before you ; you will make your election as oppor 
tunity presents itself. 

Your servant and humble brother for ever, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 

1 Sebastian Castellio, who had then retired to Bale. 

2 Antoine Perrenot, Bishop of Arras, Cardinal de Granvelle, the celebrated 
minister of Charles V. and of Philip IT. He was born at Ornans, near Besanfon, 
in 1517. and died in 1586 at Madrid. 



88 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1547. 



CLXXXVIII, To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Disputes of M. do Falais with Valcran Poulain Reports of the expected 
arrival of the former in Geneva. 

FROM GENEVA, this 15th March 1547. 

MONSEIGNEUR, I am glad that you have our brother, Master 
Peter Viret, to cheer you in the midst of the annoyances which 
must have been very hard upon you, seeing that I have been 
tormented more than I can express through mere sympathy. 
But I hope that God has applied a remedy as regards the actual 
issue ; and assuredly He has cared for you by sending you 
him from whom you may receive as effectual consolation as 
from any man in- the world, so that I am in nowise sorry that 
I did not undertake the journey ; for I do not fear that you 
will have any need of me. For this reason, also, I shall make 
my letters to you shorter. 

Concerning the person you allude to, 1 I am not aware of 
having given him any reason to think that I deemed your com 
plaints excessive; but, fearing lest some illness might attack 
you, and also thinking it unbecoming that you should enter 
into contention with a man of his disposition ; considering on 
the other hand his audacity, and what a venomous animal is apt 
to emit when pressed, I entreated you to take the whole with 
moderation, so far as might be possible. Besides, I know him 
well, and do not so much fear his ill-will, as to wish that the 
Church of God should suffer from my dissimulation. But I 
do not see now what I can do in the matter, and indeed there 
is no present need. For where he is known, his reputation is 
already lower than we need. Where he is unknown, nothing 
would be gained by speaking of him, unless he endeavours to 
insinuate himself. But yet God may make him wise, after 
having suitably chastised him on account of his foolishness. 

1 Allusion to Valeran Poulain. It appears from the next letter in this Series, 
pp. 90-92, that Yaleran sought, in spite of the opposition of M. de Falais, the 
hand of Mademoiselle de Willergy, a relation of this Seigneur, likewise sought 
by M. de Pare. See Note 1, p. 84. 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 89 

I now come to your journey. Although I see no danger in 
the way, either of ambush,, or of other proceedings of a like 
kind, nor yet of open violence, nevertheless, as for the first, 
I have given no assurance to any one to that effect, but on the 
contrary rather have my suspicion. In the second place, as 
regards the time of your coming, I have spoken as one who 
knew nothing at all about it. It is true that when I am asked 
if you have an intention of coming to see us, I am not very 
obstinate in the denial thereof to my friends, fearing lest they 
might think me a double dealer. And even when I have hired 
the house, not only he who spoke to you, but some others also, 
have at once conjectured that it was for yourself. I have 
answered them, Yea, that it was possible, but that there were 
others whom it might be ; that I took it thus at a venture, 
not doubting, however, to find a tenant to put into it. I cannot, 
however, hinder many from guessing about it, and persuading 
themselves, without my breathing a word on the subject, that 
you are coming. However, if it please God, you shall have no 
prejudice thereby so far as I am concerned. I hope, if the 
Lord will, that next week Master Peter Viret will bring us 
your news. If after having heard our brother Saint Andre, 
you have anything new to tell me, you will find a suitable 
messenger in him. 

Whereupon, Monsieur, having affectionately commended me 
to your kind favour, and to that of Madame, and having pre 
sented to both of you the remembrance of my wife and friends, 
I beseech our good Lord to have you always in his keeping, to 
comfort you, to strengthen and perfect you in every work for 
His glory, and your salvation. Amen. 

Your very humble servant and brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. orig. autogr, Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



90 VALERAN POULAIN. 1547. 



CLXXXIX. To VALERAN PouLAiN. 1 

Severe reprobation of his behaviour towards M. de Falais reply to u calumny 
directed against the Reformer. 

[GENEVA, March 1547.J 

Greeting, I only received your letter this day, which was 
later than was proper. Meanwhile, however, I think that the 
conversation of our friend Viret has done something towards 
changing your mind on the point. When I heard Saint Andre s 
account of the matter, I briefly replied that I was not a little 
grieved to find that you had thus sullied by your last act 
whatever praise you had earned, in the discharge of a mission 
so illustrious. And I am not indeed so light-minded, as to 
pronounce a judgment after hearing merely the one side of a 
question. Nor is my vision blinded by the splendour of rank ; 
but while I hear men indifferent, and giving expression to 
no accusing word, I am constrained to think that you acted 
neither with prudence nor propriety in soliciting the girl in 
marriage. But I am still more displeased, seeing she com 
plains that you circumvented her by means of numerous 
baseless accusations, and indirect arts. You mention to me 
Bucer and Bernardino. If you had done nothing but with 
their advice, you would, assuredly, never have set about what 
you did. Do you suppose that your cause will meet with their 
approval ? I mentioned in a former letter, regarding the 
younger [lady] to whom you aspired, what I thought was cen- 

1 Enclosed in a letter to M. de Falais, with the words, Copy of a letter written 
to Valeran. 

There has been already repeated mention of Valeran Poulain in the corre 
spondence of Calvin with M. de Falais, and we shall again find his name in the 
subsequent letters of the Reformer, when a refugee at Strasbourg on the ground 
of religion. He aspired at that time to the functions of the ministry, which he 
exercised at a later period at London and Frankfort ; and if, by his indiscretion, he 
at first drew down upon himself the severe censures of Calvin, he afterwards suc 
ceeded in regaining his esteem and meriting his affection. See the correspondence 
of the Reformer, (years 1555, 1556.) 



1547. VALEBAN POULAIN. 9] 

surable in her. In seeking after this one, you seem to have 
forgotten what you wrote to the other on your departure. Even 
although nothing else had stood in the way, you ought to have 
absolutely abstained from the mention of marriage until she 
had reached her destination. But if what she herself testifies be 
true, the engagement was brought about through the influence 
of the worst inducements. Accordingly I shall not believe that 
the marriage is, as you say, from the Lord, until you prove that 
she says what is untrue, when she affirms that you had before 
hand engrossed her mind with numerous calumnies. Albeit, 
she strongly asserts that she gave you no credence, and that no 
engagement was formed between you, but that she always 
expressly stipulated to be allowed to do everything in accord 
ance with the advice of Monsieur de Falais. She says, however, 
that you affirmed that his will was quite well known to you, that 
the only difficulty would be with his wife, as she still regarded 
with admiration the fumes of nobility. These were not the 
tokens of G od ; but you prohibit me from believing them. I 
can do nothing less, however, than hear both sides. When 
I reflect on the whole circumstances, certain particulars ap 
pear with which, I confess, I am displeased. You remind me 
that illustrious men are sometimes guilty of grave offences. 
It is on other grounds, however, that I love and reverence 
M. de Falais, than on account of the mock greatness on which 
alone most of the nobility pride themselves. In the next 
place, I have, as yet, heard nothing from him but reasonable 
complaints. Moreover, I have looked more to the matter itself 
than to the persons. I wish that you had never involved your 
self in those troubles ; but since it has so happened, it remains 
for me to desire to see you relieved from them in a short space, 
which I trust is now accomplished. 

With regard to the estate which I am said to have purchased, 
with so many thousands, I should indeed be silly if I spent 
many words in rebutting falsehoods so gross. There is no 
one here, or in the whole vicinity, who is not aware that I do 
not possess a foot of land. Moreover, my acquaintances well 
know that I never had money sufficient to purchase an acre, 
unless when I am paid what enables me to meet the expendi- 



92 VIRET. 1547. 

ture of the quarter. I have surely not reached the point alleged, 
as I am still using in my house another s furniture ; for neither 
the table at which we eat, nor the bed on which we sleep, is my 
own. Whence, then, those reports ? I know not, unless it be 
that godless men so malign me, in order to fix a brand on the 
Gospel. They will never, however, prevent me from being 
truly rich, because I am abundantly satisfied with my slender 
means ; and while my poverty is a burden to no one, it is 
nevertheless an alleviation to some. 

Adieu, and believe that I am friendly disposed towards you. 
I wish there may sometimes occur occasion for correspond 
ence, &c. 

[Lat. Copy. Library of Geneva. Vol. 196.] 



CXC. TO VlRET. 1 

Weakness of the Genevese magistracy Expectation of Viret s 
arrival in Geneva. 

GENEVA, 11th March 1547. 

I AM in doubt with regard to your coming to us. 2 Koset, as 
far as I hear, exceeded due bounds in explaining to you the 
necessity for it, although he is not the only one who errs in 
this respect ; for the whole council is in a state of groundless 
agitation. I see no one of the whole number in whom. I can 
put confidence. I certainly observe no one here who can be 
said to be judicious. They show no boldness in a good and 
praiseworthy cause. So childish are they all, that they are 
frightened by the silly shake of a head, while a man of no con 
sequence displays his insanity. I do not defend my cause 

1 Invested with the right of censure and ecclesiastical excommunication, the 
Consistory daily beheld its authority assailed and disowned by numerous adver 
saries, who accused it of encroaching upon the power of the magistrates. " The 
ministers complain that they are accused of exceeding the authority accorded them 
by the edicts, and request permission to put into force the right of excommunica 
tion, in order to bring offenders to their duty. Resolved to hand over to the Con 
sistory rebellious and obstinate offenders, and to leave the others unmolested." 
Registers of Council, 21st and 29th May 1547. 

a Arrival at Geneva of the minister Viret, a very excellent man." Registers, 
April 1547. 



1547. VIEET. 93 

under the form of a public one, carried on in my absence. If I 
desist from prosecuting it, the whole consistory will of neces 
sity go to ruin. Moreover, they so conduct themselves, as to 
extort daily clamours in the course of their sermons ; other 
wise, the entreaties of Roset would not have particularly influ 
enced rne. Just now, our brother has made known to me from 
Saint Andre, that our comic actor Cresar, and certain of his 
faction, have been making diligent inquiry as to whether you 
were coming hither immediately. I observe, therefore, that 
there is a strong desire for you on the part of some, that others 
expect you because they are aware that you have been sum 
moned. With no one belonging to the council have I any 
communication that can be relied on, Michel 1 alone excepted ; 
but he is neither very sharp-sighted, nor is he even admitted 
to the more private deliberations. John Parvi makes a mag 
nificent offer of his services, but he is not the thing. Besides 
these, no one has come near me. Certain guesses, not lightly 
formed, have made me suspicious of Corna. I indeed love the 
man, but he does not permit me to confide in him. In the 
first place, he is timid ; in the next, he is distrustful ; and, 
finally, he adores that shadow, or ghost if you will. 2 Those 
who are desirous that the matter should be arranged without 
disturbance, hope that you would prove a suitable pacificator. 
The party composing the faction itself is anxious for you, with 
the view of being somewhat relieved from its difficulties by 
your mediation. We desire and solicit you, I myself in parti 
cular, that you may see, judge, and do whatever in your opinion 
shall be for the interest of the Church. But observe its wretched 
condition. Farel lately learned that he had been unfortunate 
in turning to me for assistance, because nothing could be 
done unless he were separated from me. Nothing assuredly 
would be more agreeable to me, than if all matters here were 
brought to a happy issue by your interference, even though 
I were banished to the Garamantes. But this mode of pro 
cedure will be as little satisfactory to you as to myself. I men 
tion this plan as that prescribed by the most moderate, as they 

1 Doubtless Michel Morel. 

2 Is this an allusion to the gradually declining influence of Amy Ferrin ? 



94 WOLFGANG MUSCULUS. 1547. 

wish to be thought. But if you could be here by Tuesday 
next, and remain until Monday, you might have my opinion 
of this complicated matter ; you would, in that case, I presume, 
conduct public worship. Should it be necessary for you to re 
turn sooner, I do not advise you to subject yourself to so much 
trouble for no purpose. If the arrangements of your church 
do not permit you to come in such good time, I have nothing 
to say ; but if I were in your place, I know what I would do ; 
I do not, however, wish you to be guided by my judgment. 
Adieu, therefore, brother and dearest friend, along with your 
wife and brothers, all of whom you will greet in my name. 
Des Gallars sends his warm thanks to you through me, and he 
expresses the same to me, on the ground that I am the cause 
of your undertaking the journey. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CXCI. To WOLFGANG MuscuLus. 1 

Anxiety regarding the Churches of Germany advice to Musculus. 

GENEVA, 21st April 1547. 

If I were to follow out the subject in this letter, as time and 
the present condition of things demand, I see that there would 
be no end to it. There are, besides, other reasons that prevent 
me from entering on this forest so full of thorns. I was un- 

1 To the excellent servant of Christ our Lord, Doctor Wolfgang Musculus, most 
reverend pastor of the Church of Augsbourg, brother, and fellow-minister. 

Wolfgang Musculus, born in a small town of Lorraine, and of an obscure family, 
raised himself by his talents, and the varied range of his accomplishments, to a 
place among the most distinguished men of his time. He cultivated with success 
music, poetry, and theology; was converted to the Gospel in a convent by the 
perusal of the writings of Luther ; gained the friendship of Capito and Bucer, and 
quitted Strasbourg in 1531, with a view to the discharge of the functions of the 
ministry in the church of Augsbourg. Driven from that city in 1548, by the pro 
clamation of the Interim, he withdrew at first to Zurich, and afterwards to Berne, 
where he died in 1563. His numerous manuscripts, as well as those of Abraham 
Musculus his son, are preserved in the Library of Zoffingue. Melch. Adam, Vitce 
Theol Germ., p. 367. 



1547. WOLFGANG MUSCULUS. 95 

willing, however, to send away this youth wholly empty, who 
had come in my way, without at least testifying to you, in the 
present calamitous state of your church, and as becomes the 
friendly relations subsisting between us, that I ever bear you in 
mind. Indeed, when the earliest rumours reached this, you 
were among the first, of those whose danger caused me agony, 
to occur to my mind ; and when the ungovernable violence of 
my grief had hurried me to Zurich, as soon as I fell in with 
Bernardino, 1 who had arrived about half an hour before I 
met him, I began at once, forgetful alike of salutation and 
everything else, to make inquiries after you. I confess, how 
ever, that I was solicitous about your safety, in proportion to 
the strength of the fear I had, lest you should abandon the 
Church in such a time of need, as usually happens when mat 
ters are desperate and past recovery, or rather lest, being as it 
were deserted by your flock, you should betake yourself else 
where ; 2 for it is difficult, amid so great darkness, to discern 
what is most expedient. Now, howsoever severe the trial may 
have been, I yet rejoice that the Lord has caused the spirit of 
prudence and counsel to spring up in you and your fellow- 
ministers, and has sustained your minds with the spirit of for 
titude, as far as might be in circumstances not the best. I also 
give God thanks, that in whatsoever way matters have been 
improved, a short breathing time is granted you, until at length 
tranquil serenity may clearly dawn upon you. Meanwhile, it is 
proper we should learn, that it has been usual with God in all 
ages to preserve His own Church in a wonderful way, and 
without human protection. Kelying therefore on this ground 
of confidence, let us strive to break through whatever difficulty 
there may be, and let us never lose heart, even although we 
should be destitute of all things. 

Adieu, most upright brother, and one dear to me from the 

1 Named pastor of the Italian church at Augsbourg in October 1545, Ochino fled 
from that city on the approach of the imperial army, in the early part of the year 
1547. Schelhorn ErgoetzlicJikeiten, vol. iii. pp. 1141, 1142. 

2 Wolfgang Musculus did not cease to proclaim the Gospel in Augsbonrg until 
the church in which he preached had been closed by order of the emperor, and his 
congregation dispersed. He was himself obliged to take his departure the year 
following, (26th June 1548.) Melch. Ad., p. 381. 



96 MONSIEUR DE FALA1S. 1547. 

bottom of my heart, as also your fellow-ministers, all of whom 
you will very affectionately salute in my name. May the Lord 
Jesus be present with you, guide you by His Spirit, and bless 
your holy labours. You will also convey to your family my 
best greeting. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

My colleagues also reverently salute you all. If any oppor 
tunity be afforded you, you will make me aware of the state of 
your affairs. 

\Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Zoffingue. Vol. i. p. 10.] 



CXCII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Steps taken at Basle to retract a promise of marriage made to Valeran Poulain. 

FROM GENEVA, this first of May [1547.] 

MONSEIGNEUR, I wrote to Myconius, 1 as you will see by the 
copy which I send you. I was of opinion that it was enough, 
because the judges will better comprehend my meaning from 
his mouth. It will have more weight, because the prosecution 
of the suit will not thus be so vehement on my part, as if I 
should take upon me to write to them, thus making myself too 
much a party in the matter. I believe that our brother, Master 
Peter Viret, will do the same in regard to the Sieur Bernard 
Mayer, in consequence of what I have told him. Should there 
be any need for it, he condemns himself of treachery in the 
letters which he has written to me. For after having requested 
me, in the month of January, to intercede for him in regard to 
the marriage of Merne, he has told me that Wilergy was in 
love with him many months before : so much so, as to ask him 
in marriage, rather than wait to be asked. How is that to be 
reconciled, unless he wanted to have both of them ? But he 

1 See ante, vol. i., pp. 288, 289, note. Calvin called on him for his aid with the 
magistrates of that town for having a promise of marriage cancelled between 
Mademoiselle de Wilergy and Valeran. Bill, de Geneve, vol. 106. 



1547. FRANCIS DRYANDER. 97 

must be cut short in the whole of his troublesome nonsense ; 
seeing that it is quite unworthy of a hearing. I have no doubt 
that the judges will very soon put an end to that. 

Monsieur, having heartily commended me to your kind 
favour and that of Madame, without forgetting the three 
Demoiselles, I pray our good Lord to have you in His keeping, 
to confirm you always in patience, to deliver you from the 
annoyance of this importunate suitor, and to bring you into 
assured prosperity. 

Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVTN. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 1 94.] 



CXCIIL To FRANCIS 

Confused state of the Church Hopes and fears for the future. 

GENEVA, 18th May 1547. 

Greeting : It would not require a letter of very great 
length, were I to comply with your request to write to you at 
full length my opinion of the present state of general disorder ; 
because when matters are in so great confusion, I not only ab 
stain from passing any judgment, but I do not even venture to 
inquire into what may be the issue of them. For as often as I 
have begun the attempt, I have been immediately involved in 
darkness so intense, that I thought it better to close my eyes 
upon the world, and fix them intently upon God alone. I only 
speak of myself, as I am here situated. Had I been placed in 
the situation which some others occupy, my mode of procedure 

1 To the most erudite Doctor Francis Dryander, and very dear friend. 

Fran9ois Ensinas, better known under the name of Dryander, horn at Burgos in 
Spain, was the disciple of Melanchthon, and embraced the Eeformation with ardour. 
Imprisoned for having published a translation of the New Testament in Spanish, 
lie recovered his liberty in 1542, and visited Calvin at Geneva. He afterwards 
withdrew to Strasbourg, whence he passed over to England, after the adoption of 
the Interim, and occupied a chair in the University of Oxford. There are several 
letters of Dryander to Bullinger (1549-1552,) in the fine collection of Zurich 
Letters, published by the Parker Society, 1st series, Vol. i. p. 348, and following. 
VOL. II. G 



98 FRANCIS DRYANDER. 1547. 

might then have required to be changed. Besides, I cannot from 
this retreat as from a watch-tower observe the circumstances 
that go to the formation of a judgment. And if anything 
reaches me, it comes late. Further, nothing can with certainty 
be determined, until the whole particulars are gathered together. 
But at present the more private counsels, from which an opinion 
is chiefly to be formed, are unknown to me. What folly then 
would it be for me to fatigue myself to no purpose or profit, by 
occupying my attention with, what is obscure ! " What/ there 
fore, you will say, " do you alone wish to enjoy undisturbed quiet 
amid the ruins of the Church ?" On the contrary, I sigh 
anxiously night and day, but I repel as much as I can all need 
less reflections that from time to time steal upon me. I do not, 
nevertheless, succeed in this so far as I could wish ; it is, 
however, something, that I do not indulge a prurient disposi 
tion. I occupy myself in considering what is already done ; 
and I connect matters that occur from day to day, with what 
preceded them. Keflection on these things furnishes me, I 
confess, with various grounds both of hope and fear. But 
because, as I have said, there are so many opposing reasons, I 
restrain myself in good time, lest I say anything rashly and 
beyond what is proper. The prediction, indeed, which you 
gave in your letter, will never deceive us, even although heaven 
and earth were mingled in confusion together, viz., that God 
will take so peculiar a care of His own Church, as to preserve it 
even amid the annihilation of the whole world. Excuse the 
brevity of this epistle, as I was warned a little before supper of 
the departure of the messenger. [My] brother had told me before 
mid-day, that he was ready for the journey : I would not have 
written, if he had gone so soon. He returned after three o clock : 
I had thus less time than I should have had. Adieu : may the 
Lord direct you by His Spirit, and preserve you safe. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[T^at. orig. aufogr. Protestant Seminar)/ of Strasbourg.] 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 99 



CXCIV. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

The sending of a minister perplexities regarding anticipated events 
in Germany. 

FROM GENEVA, this 18th of May 1547. 

MONSEIGNEUR, Since your convenience has not permitted 
your coming hither as we had hoped, it is enough if God 
graciously grants you health where you are. For albeit I 
might desire to be near you, nevertheless I prefer what is best 
for you. Concerning the man of whom Maldonado spoke to 
you, besides the knowledge which I have had of him while he 
has been here, I have made inquiry about him at his old master, 
Gallars, who tells me that he found him very leal and service 
able. It is true, that he would not reckon him qualified to 
manage great affairs, unless one should instruct and set him 
his lesson. But that in the carrying out of whatsoever he shall 
be commanded to do, there will be nothing wanting, nay, that 
he will even be vigilant. And even as regards the former 
quality, I do not undervalue him. For a staid and modest 
man is far better, than one who is overbold and venturesome. 
You will decide according to the turn of your affairs, in order 
that the Sieur d Albiac may send him ; and thus you may not 
remain long unprovided. Moreover, I hope that God has rid 
you of the annoyances wherewith that marplot 1 has been so 
long teasing you. That done, you may be altogether at ease 
about your house. 

We are still on the outlook for news about the general state 
of the Church. If God intends so sorely to afflict us, as to let 
loose that tyrant upon us, 2 who only seeks to ruin everything, 
we must be quite prepared to suffer. Considering that He 
who has us in charge, rules in the midst of His enemies, it 
becomes us to have patience, consoling ourselves in the assured 
hope, that in the end He will confound them. But yet I hope 

1 Valeran Poulain. See pp. 90, 96. 

2 The Emperor Charles the Fifth had just gained a decisive victory at Miihl- 
berg (24th April 1547) over the Protestant princes. 



100 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1547. 

that He will provide against these great troubles, supporting 
our weakness ; and that He will check the boldness of those 
who triumph before the time, and that against Himself. 

Monsieur, having humbly commended me to your kind favour, 
and that of Madame, and having presented to both of you the 
remembrances of my wife, I pray our good Lord to guide you 
continually, to watch over you and to enlarge you in all His 
mercies. I abstain from entering upon the proposal which the 
Sieur Maldonado has brought me, about settling a church in 
that quarter ; a for I know not what to say about it, except 
that I would desire that all may be well done. 
Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. oriy. autogr.- Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CXCV. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Information in regard to a house advice on the subject of a marriage 
proposed for a relative of Monsieur de Falais. 

FROM GENEVA, this 2Qth of May 1547. 

MONSEIGNEUR, I hope that the bearer of these presents will 
be the captain of our town, 2 from whom I have hired the house. 
He has a mind to betake himself to your quarter, in order to 
confer with you. He has offered me an alternative condition. 
In the first place ; should it please you to lend him money for a 
certain term, that the house shall remain pledged to you in 
security for the repayment, without paying any rent ; and that 
of the repairs which you may make for your convenience, he 
shall bear a part : secondly, that he should sell it to you. It is 

1 That is to say, at Bale. The French church of that town was founded after 
the massacre of Saint Bartholomew, at the request of a great number of refugees, 
among whom we find the children of the Admiral de Coligny. MSS. of the archives 
of the French Church of Bale. 

2 The hearer of this letter was the captain-general, Amy Pen-in, then on his way 
to Bale. He had been charged with a secret mission to the new king of France, 
Henry II., and was imprisoned after his return to Geneva, because of unfaithful 
ness in the fulfilment of his commission. 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 101 

true that lie is not the feudal superior, but he engages at all 
risks to maintain and warrant you in the sale of it out and out. 
In this case, he must have three hundred crowns for it. If 
your intention is to purchase, you will discuss the price with 
himself, making the best bargain you can. It is very certain, 
that assuming the responsibility of keeping it in repair, he will 
not readily give it for two hundred crowns. You will have to 
choose between these two conditions, and to arrange with him 
self, if you see it to be for your advantage. If so be that you 
do not enter into agreement with him, I have told you already 
that the house could not be secured to you, consequently you 
would need to look about elsewhere. For you will not prevail on 
him to put it into a proper state for your accommodation, unless 
you go about it in this way. And in good earnest, if you pur 
pose to come here about the end of summer, I advise you to 
endeavour that the repairs may be made before your arrival, to 
avoid having your heads broken, and many other inconveni 
ences. I believe that the plan I have laid down would please 
you very well, so that your absence need be no hindrance, and 
it will be quite easy to have the thing done. He does not 
think much repair is needed, but I suspect it will not amount 
to less than forty crowns. Wherefore, the purchase would seem 
to me more expedient, especially if you could agree at two hun 
dred crowns, and that he would take upon himself to warrant in 
perpetuity. I desire that you may do something in this matter, 
provided it be to your advantage. 

The Sieur de Parey 1 arrived last evening, and came to call 
for me about nine o clock. As it was rather late, we had 
scarcely leisure to speak together, so that I do not yet know r 
the position of his affairs. After having spoken to Sieur Mal- 
donado, I would advise that you only inform the girl of the 
nature of the objection, without mentioning to her any mishap 
which may have occurred to him ; for all that would be told 
over again afterwards. Therefore, I would merely let her un 
derstand : " He sleeps little, there is somewhat of levity about 
him, wherefore some danger might be apprehended from his 
peculiar constitution. Consider, then, whether you would be 

1 A pretender to the hand of Mademoiselle de Wilorgy. 



102 VIRET. 1547. 

patient if God were to visit you with such a trial." That, in 
ray opinion, would be sufficient. And according as you shall 
see her disposed, you will do what you think right in the 
matter. We have had some report of the decision, and he, 1 
complaining of the sentence of the judges, glories in his shame. 
May God give him a better mind. 

Monsieur, having humbly commended me to the kind favour 
of yourself and of Madame ; and having presented to you the 
remembrances of Des Gallars and of my wife, I pray our good 
Lord to have you always in His keeping, to rule and guide you, 
and bestow grace upon you to glorify Him always. 

It is enough that you be informed who the bearer is. I do 
not know if he will have other company along with him, for he 
went away in such haste, that without having spoken of it to 
me, he came this morning all booted and spurred, to bid me 
adieu. You see what has been the cause of my not having 
been able to communicate with Maldonado, for he went away 
yesterday evening to sleep at Tourne. That is also the reason 
wherefore I have not sent you any compliments from him. 
Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. orig. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CXCVL To VIEET. 

Interview of Calvin with a senator of Berne advantage secured over the 
party of the Libertins. 

GENEVA, 28th May 1847. 

Zerkinden 2 was here. I laid bare the ailments, and at the 
same time suggested the remedy of which we had spoken to 
gether. 3 He approved of it, but he thinks it will be difficult 
to obtain it. If, however, he come to Berne in time, he will 
make trial ; for he admits that, in such an emergency, there is 

1 Valeran Poulain. See note 1, p. 99. 

2 Nicolas Zerkinden, senator of Berne, prefect of the town of Nyon. 

3 The establishment of discipline in the churches of the Pays de Vaud. 



1547. VIBET. 103 

nothing that should not be attempted. I am, however, afraid 
that others may be sent thither before him, who, as is usual 
with them, after making a great display, will perform nothing. 
Thus, what has been for long desired will be granted too late. 
But may God look to this, as to all other matters ! 

We had here lately some little trouble about slashed breeches. 1 
This was the pretext, but they had already begun to break out 
into the greatest license. When the Two Hundred had been 
summoned at their request, we were all present. I made a 
speech, which in a moment extorted from them what with firm 
expectation they had eagerly swallowed ; for I discoursed about 
sources of corruption in general, premising that I was not speak 
ing against these trumperies. They fall into a rage, and gnash 
with their teeth, as they do not dare openly to shout. By this 
one experiment, however, they learned, what they had not sup 
posed to be the case, that the people are on our side. The tragic 
Ogesar hastily set off on a journey the following day, to avoid 
being present at the public procession, which that meeting ren 
dered hazardous and puerile, whereas he was hoping that it 
would be the token of a certain supreme authority. He had 
returned to terms of friendship with Komanel, with a view to 
concuss the whole city, with no one to interpose. We, however, 
have unexpectedly shattered all his plans. Thus does God 
make sport of those Thrasoes ! 

Adieu, brother and most sincere friend. May the Lord be 
continually present with you, and bless and prosper your labours. 
You will hear the rest from Kebitti. Salute your wife in the 
name of me and mine. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 10G.J 

1 An ordinance had recently interdicted the use of slashed breeches at Geneva. 
The reasons which Calvin gives for this prohibition may be seen in a subsequent 
letter to the faithful of France, (24th July 1547.) 



104 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1547. 

CXCVIL To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Recommendation of John de Bude Uncertainty of the news from Germany. 

FROM GENEVA, the 4th of June 1547. 

MONSEIGNEUR, I have nothing to write you at present, ex 
cept that the bearer is one of the sons of the late Mr. BudeV 
When you shall have made his acquaintance, you will find him 
so excellent, that you will esteem him worthy of being loved by 
all those who love God, even if the memory of his father had 
not of itself recommended him. He is none of those who make 
a great show and parade. And all the more on that account is 
he valued by rne, and I know that so it will be with you. His 
intention is to go to see Bale and Strasbourg, then to return 
without making any long sojourn in those parts. Notwith 
standing, I have advised him to make full inquiry whether the 
roads will be safe before going fartlier, and he has promised 
me to do so ; for where there is no necessity, it would answer 
no purpose to put himself in danger. I believe that before he 
arrives there, you will be no longer in deliberation with regard 
to Sieur de Parey. For the prolonged delay which he asks for, 
is by no means with a view to strengthen his resolution ; and 
indeed I conjecture, that it has been cautiously suggested by his 
relations, thinking that between this time and that he might 
alter his mind, seeing that they must be acquainted with his 
humour. 

We are quite amazed to have no news that can be depended 
upon. One may perceive the disorder which prevails in Ger 
many, and the wretched management. If there had been a 
grain of salt among them, they would have looked well to their 
affairs, before they came to the knowledge of that which was to 
be known far and wide three days afterwards. But what do I 
say ? Non est consilium, non est fortitudo absque domino. 
Therefore they are taken unawares. 

1 John de Bude, Sieur de Verace. See note 1, p. 76. 



1547. MONSIEUR DE BUDE*. 105 

I hope to know by the first what decision you have come to 
with our captain. 1 

To make an end, Monsieur : having humbly commended me 
to your good grace and of Madame, and having presented 
the like remembrances to you on the part of my wife and 
others, I supplicate our good Lord always to have a care of 
you, to rule you by his Spirit, to strengthen you against all 
stumblingblocks and annoyances, as well as the whole of your 
household. Although I have not leisure to write to the young 
ladies, I desire to be very affectionately remembered to all three. 
Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN, 

[Fr. orig. autogr Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CXCVIIL To MONSIEUR DE BuDE. 2 

He exhorts him to follow the example of the rest of his family, and 
retire to Geneva. 

This IMh June 1547. 

MONSIEUR, Although I am personally unknown to you, I 
do not hesitate on that account to write you privately, hoping 
that my letter will be welcome, as well for the sake of the 
Master whom I serve, as for the matter of which it treats ; and 



1 Amy Perrin. 

2 See the notice concerning the family of Bude, p. 76. We believe, contrary 
to the opinion of M. Galiffe, Notices Genealogiques, torn. iii. p. 83, that this letter 
is addressed to Louis or to Francis Bude, and not to John de Bude, Sieur de 
Verace, their brother. This latter had already made a journey to Geneva, and he 
was known to the Eeformer, who had introduced him in very kind terms to M de 
Falais. Letter of 4th June 1547, p. 202. It is not then to the Sieur de Verace, 
that the first words of Calvin s letter can apply, but to one of his brothers : " Al 
though I am personally unknown to you, I do not on that account hesitate to 
write you privately, in the hope that my latter will be welcome," &c. The family 
of Bude were then preparing to leave France. Two years afterwards, they settled 
at Geneva, as appears from their registration in the list of the inhabitants. 
27th June 1549, and the following passage of a letter from Viret to Calvin, 
12th June of the same year : " I rejoice that the Bade have arrived, along with 
their mother." MSS. of the Library of Geneva. 



10G MONSIEUR DE BUDE. 1547. 

also that those who have induced me to do so, have credit 
enough with you, as I believe they have, to secure me access. 
I have heard of the upright spirit which our Lord has given 
you, wherefore let us all praise Him. For although you may 
have many temptations of a worldly kind where you are, to 
impede and distract you, you nevertheless do not cease to groan 
under the unhappy captivity in which you are held, desiring to 
escape from it. And indeed your honest zeal has been already 
partially manifested, when, in place of hindering the party who 
were about to shift their quarters, you confirmed them in their 
good purpose, and instead of delaying, have endeavoured to 
forward their departure, only regretting that you could not 
follow them immediately. Now, then, seeing that Satan has 
many means to damp our zeal in well-doing, and that our 
nature is very apt -to side with him, you must stir up the fire 
which God by his Spirit has already lighted in your heart, until 
the good desire be realized. You must abandon everything as 
hurtful which separates you from him, in whom lies all our 
happiness, and with whom if we are not united, we forfeit life 
and salvation. We do not mean, however, to condemn all 
those who live elsewhere, as if the kingdom of God were shut 
up within our mountains, while we know it is extended over 
all. But it is right, wheresoever we are, that God should be 
honoured by us, and we are nowise to be excused if we pollute 
the earth which He has sanctified to our use. If we are in a 
place where we are not permitted to acquit ourselves of our 
duty, and where the fear of death leads us to do what is evil, 
we ought, knowing our grievous infirmity, to seek the remedy : 
which is, to withdraw from such bondage. Since our Lord has 
opened your eyes to let you see what an evil it is to defile your 
self with superstition, it only remains for you to come forth 
of it. Besides, you have less excuse than another, considering 
the position which you hold, for the reckoning will be twofold, 
if instead of shewing the way, as you are bound to do, you give 
occasion to those who see you, to step aside out of it. 

As for the other difficulties which are peculiar to your pre 
sent circumstances, I refer myself to your own experience. 
More tli an all that, you have to consider that if the good lady 



1547. MONSIEUR DE BUDE. 107 

with just reason dreaded to finish the remainder of her life 
there, you may well fear a longer period of languishing, accord 
ing to the ordinary course of nature. There is assuredly no 
to-morrow that we can make ourselves sure of. Therefore, on 
the other hand, you ought to make the greater haste, for fear 
you should be taken unawares. You see, therefore, that God 
is urging you in every way. Howsoever the matter may be 
settled, I pray you, Monsieur, not to allow the grace which God 
has given you to be quenched. If He has given you worldly 
riches, have a care lest in place of rendering them in homage 
to Him, you may be hindered by them from serving him. I 
need not tell you, that He has given you a help which every 
one has not. This is, that you have a Sarah who will be ready 
to follow you, whithersoever that kind Father shall call you ; 
so that it depends upon yourself alone whether or not you shall 
follow the example of our father Abraham. It is quite true 
that you will find no spot on earth where you can be beyond 
the reach of trial, as indeed it is not reasonable to expect our 
faith to be exempt from these anxieties. But since the present 
is a time of conflict, there is nothing better for us than to fall 
back upon our standard, where we may receive courage to do 
battle stedfastly even unto death. It is an advantage not to be 
despised, when God gives us leisure to confirm our faith, that 
the preparation may be of service to us in due time and place. 
For this ought to be quite enough for us, when He arms us with 
His strength for victory, before putting us to the proof. But 
seeing that the very beginnings are difficult, and perseverance still 
more so, the best resource is to pray God that he would stretch 
out His hand to you, and give you courage to surmount all 
obstacles. To which end we also would beseech Him along with 
you, and that He would please to shew Himself your protector 
even unto the end, upholding you not only against the wicked, 
but also against Satan their chief. Having humbly commended 
me to your good favour, and to that of Madame your wife . . 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[/ y r. c&pij. Library of Geneva. Vol. 111.] 



108 VIHET. L547. 



CXCIX. TO VlRET. 

Citation before the Consistory of the wife of Amy Perrin case of Gruet 
news from Germany. 

2d July 1547. 

We must now fight in earnest. The wife of the comedian 
Cassar was again summoned to the Consistory, on account of 
her frowardness. 1 While there, though she received no provo 
cation, in the form even of too harsh a word, she vomited forth 
more venom than on any previous occasion. First of all, she 
denied the right of our court to take cognizance of her, even 
supposing she had been guilty of a delinquency. In the 
next place, she complained that she was deeply branded with 
ignominy, by being compelled to appear in a place to which the 
depraved and criminal could alone of right be summoned. 
When one of the assessors sought to restrain her intemperate 
behaviour, she turned her fury upon him. Abel then inter 
posed, and expressed his surprise that she had at first pro 
fessed that she was too modest, or too little given to speaking, 
to be able to answer at greater length, whereas she was a 
match in abuse for as many as there might be. At this her 
fury boiled all over. " No, indeed/ she says, " but you are a 
reviler, who unscrupulously slandered my father. Begone, 
coarse swine-herd, you are a malicious liar !" She would have 
almost overwhelmed us by her thunders, had she not been 
forcibly extruded. The Senate desired that she should be 
more closely imprisoned. She escaped by means of that matron 
who is wont to take under her patronage all bad causes. One 
of her sons accompanied her in her flight. Accidentally meeting 
Abel not far from the city gate, she insulted him afresh, and 
even more shamelessly than before. Abel said nothing, but 
conducted himself with the greatest moderation, just as he had 
done in the Consistory. Next day a paper is found in the 
pulpit, threatening us with death, unless we remain silent. I 

1 " Complaint of Calvin against the wife of Amy Perrin, who insulted the mini 
ster Abel in full Consistory." Registers of Council, 24th June. 



1547. VIRET. 109 

send a copy of it to you. 1 The Senate, startled by such audacity, 
orders a rigid inquiry to be made into the conspiracy. The in 
vestigation is committed to a few. As many suspected Gruet, 
he was immediately arrested. 2 It was, however, a different hand ; 
but while they were turning over his papers, much was discovered 
that was not less capital. There was a humble petition which 
he had designed to present to the people in the Assemblies, in 
which he contended that no offence should be punished by the 
laws but what was injurious to the state ; for that such was the 
practice of the Venetians, who were the highest authority in 
the matter of government ; and that in truth there was danger 
while this city submitted to be ruled by the brain of one man 
of melancholy temperament, of a thousand citizens being de 
stroyed in the event of any outbreak. Letters were also found, 
chiefly written to Andre Philippe, and to others. In some he 
named me ; at other times, he had enveloped me in figures of 
speech, so clumsily contrived, however, that one could lay his 
finger on what he meant to conceal. There were, besides, two 
pages in Latin, in which the whole of Scripture is laughed at, 
Christ aspersed, the immortality of the soul called a dream and a 
fable, and finally the whole of religion torn in pieces. I do 
not think he is the author of it ; but as it is in his handwriting, 
he will be compelled to appear in his defence, although, it may 
be, that he himself has thrown into the form of a memorandum, 
according to the turn of his own genius, what he heard from 
others ; for there are mutilated sentences, crammed with sole- 

1 The import of this note, written in the Savoyard language, and affixed to the 
pulpit of the ministers, was, " that people did not wish to have so many masters ; 
that they (the ministers) had now gone far enough in their course of censure ; that 
the renegade monks like them had done nothing more than afflict all the world in 
this way ; that if they persisted in their course, people would he reduced to such 
a condition that they would curse the hour in which they emerged from the rule 
of monachism ; and that they (the ministers) should take care lest as much should 
be done to them as was done to the Canon Vernly of Frihourg. The last passage 
was equivalent to a threat of death. 

2 The former canon, Jacques Gruet, of dissolute manners, of licentious and per 
verse doctrine, constantly opposed to the ministers, and intolerant of all rule in 
the Church as in the State, had lain under the imputation of having been the 
instigator of the attempt at poisoning Viret in 1535. Histoire de la Suisse, 
vol. xi. p. 364. 



110 VIRET. 1547. 

cisms and barbarisms. I know not whether Jacoba, whose 
sister is the wife of Des Gallars, has been apprehended. There 
is, indeed, a decree of the Senate [for that purpose.] What 
Vandel s sentence will be is still doubtful ; but he is in consi 
derable danger. 1 Such was the state of things when I wrote. 
You know that our Syndics have little enough judgment, other 
wise the Senate is exceedingly well disposed to the cause. 

The brethren have replied to me regarding Sonnier, that they 
mean to make no change in their former resolution ; for I re 
laxed, as I had abstained from writing, with a view to spare 
him. He eagerly made reference to the minister De Coppet, 
who also wished to change his place. I advise you to examine 
whether there is any truth in this. 

The statements contained in Bucer s letter regarding those 
two victories are quite certain ; for a friend of mine 2 passed 
through this, who had ascertained the truth of the whole 
matter. He also informed me that tidings of a third victory 
had been brought away within two hours before he left Stras 
bourg ; but he did not venture to assert this for certain. He 
further mentioned to me, that when the Landgrave had come 
to Leipsic on the strength of the promise made to him, he 
returned without accomplishing the matter, and in despair, and 
that he was collecting a new army. The name of Henry 3 was 
erroneously given in Bucer s letter ; for the Landgrave still 
keeps him in fetters, or at least closely imprisoned. But Bucer 
was speaking of Erich, 4 who professes the same doctrine with 
ourselves, and yet hires himself to the tyrant in disturbing 
the Church. I wish that your Senate could be induced to 
take the initiative in the stipulated treaty ; for Pharaoh wishes 
to be asked, and thinks it unbecoming his dignity to solicit the 

1 Pierre Vandel, one of the chief of the reprobate children of Geneva. Hand 
some and brilliant, he loved to exhibit himself surrounded by valets and courtezans, 
with rings on his fingers, and his breast covered with gold chains. He had been 
imprisoned on account of his debaucheries, and his insolent behaviour before the 
Consistory. 

2 Doctor Chelius, in the handwriting of Calvin. 

3 Henry of Brunswick. 

4 The personage here designated is doubtless Erich, hereditary prince of Sweden, 
who ascended the throne in 1560, and was deposed in 1568. 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. Ill 

weaker parties. 1 But let them look to these and other matters, 
that are now in course of arrangement. I desire nothing 
to be done, unless what I judge to be fitting and useful 
to you. 

Adieu, brother and most sincere friend, along with your wife 
and your whole family. May the Lord always direct you and 
be present with you. You will salute the brethren respectfully 
in my name. I and my wife salute thee and thine in the Lord. 
Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CO. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Solemn lessons afforded by the sad occurrences in Germany troubles in 
Geneva energetic attitude of Calvin. 

This UtJi of July 1547. 

MONSEIGNEUR, From what you have written me, I am 
certainly of opinion that our brother, Master Francis de la 
Riviere, 2 should withdraw at least for a season. For should it 
so be that it suited him to return hither, he would not have to 
make a long journey: and bringing with him some recom 
mendation from Bale, he might make application at Berne to 
be sent to Lausanne, with some provision in the meantime. I 
should not however have come to this resolution, unless your 
letter had helped me to it. I have merely told him that you 
would be glad of his coming, in order that your family might 
receive instruction from him several times in the week. For I 
desired to avoid any more definite engagement, that you might 
remain at perfect liberty in that matter. 

1 A common interest at that time conciliated the King of France and the Swiss. 
The ambassadors of Henry II., Brissac and Marillac, assured Geneva of the friend 
ship of the King, and took in charge letters of Calvin to the Helvetic Churches. 
Ilistoire de la Suisse, vol. xi. p. 358. 

2 The minister Francis Perucel, called La Riviere. 



112 MONSIEUR DE FALA1S. 1547. 

With regard to the house, I beg you will inform me what 
you wish me to do about it. But let me have your letter by 
the middle of August. For according to the use and wont of 
the town, I have leave to renounce the bargain for the following 
half year, giving intimation to that effect six weeks before the 
term. By doing this, you will not be burdened with needless 
expense ; while I fear that by holding it for a longer period, 
you may incur outlay without return. 

I believe Saint Andre has told you what we have done with 
the Apology. The printing shall not be delayed for want of 
copy. As for the money, I am not of opinion that you ought 
to withdraw any of it merely to avoid the murmurs which 
might thence arise, but rather, that enjoining those who have 
the charge thereof, to apply it as they ought correcting abuses, 
if there be any, you should depute some one to act for you in 
the matter. However, you will determine that according to 
your own discretion. But I did not like to withhold what 
occurred to me, seeing that you have been pleased to consult 
me on the subject. 

We have had no news from Germany since the capture of 
the Landgrave, 1 who has been suitably rewarded for his base 
ness. In the present position of affairs, I recognise our God s 
intention utterly to deprive us of a triumphant Gospel, that He 
may constrain us to fight under the cross of our Lord Jesus. 
But let us be content that He return to the early method of His 
dealings, in the miraculous preservation of His Church by His 
own power, without the help of an arm of flesh. The trial is 
hard, I confess ; but our fathers have had the like, quite as 
depressing, and have never been shaken in their stability. 
Now is the time to put in practice the proverb, " Let us hope 
and we shall see." Besides, we need not be astonished that 
God has corrected us thus roughly, considering the life we have 
led. But as you say, may those who have not hitherto been 
touched, take note of such examples, that they may humble 

1 Intimidated by the defeat of the Elector of Saxony, the Landgrave of Hesse 
had submitted himself to the Emperor, and only obtained his pardon by imploring 
it upon his knees, and surrendering his person and states into the power of this 
prince. 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALAJS. 113 

themselves, and by that means prevent the hand of the 
Judge. 

There has been some want of consideration on the part of 
the commissioners from this town, in not informing me of their 
departure. However, I do not give up the expectation of tid 
ings from you by them. I do not know whether any report of 
our troubles has yet reached you, but they talk of them so 
loudly throughout the neighbouring country, that it would 
appear all is over with us. More than that, they have often 
had me dead, or at least sorely wounded. Be that as it may, I 
feel nothing of it myself. And in the town we are not aware 
of the hundredth part of what is said. There have, indeed, 
been some murmuring and threats on the part of loose-living 
persons, who cannot endure discipline. Even the wife of him 
who was to go to see you, 1 and who wrote to you from Berne, 
rebelled very proudly. But it has been necessary that she 
should betake herself to the country, feeling herself but ill at 
ease in town. The others, indeed, lower the head, in place of 
lifting up the horn ; and there is one of them who is in danger 
of paying a very heavy reckoning ; I know not even whether it 
may not cost him his life. 2 The young people think that I 
press them too hard. But if the bridle were not held with a 
firm hand, that would be the pity. Yea, we must look to their 
wellbeing, however distasteful to them it may be. 

Monsieur, having humbly commended me to your kind 
favour and that of Madame, I pray our good Lord that He may 
have you always in His keeping, strengthening you by His 
Holy Spirit to resist all temptations, and making you abound 
in all well-doing to His honour. And seeing that the time of 



1 Amy Pen-in. His wife, daughter of a rich burgess, Frar^ois Favre d Echallens, 
and reprimanded incessantly by the Consistory, was the implacable enemy of the 
ministers and of Calvin. 

2 Jacques Gruet, formerly a Canon, and a man of licentious and irregular morals, 
impatient of all restraint either of Church or State. Severely censured by the 
ministers on account of his debaucheries, he had uttered threats of death against 
them, which he even ventured to affix to the pulpit of St. Peter s Church. His 
trial, conducted with all the rigour of that period, terminated by a sentence of 
capital punishment. Condemned for sedition, blasphemy, and atheism, he perished 
on the scaffold the 26th July 1547. 

VOL. IT. H 



114 VIRET. 1547. 

the trial of Madame draws near, we shall remember her in 
prayer for her happy delivery. My wife also presents her 
humble remembrance to both of you. 
Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



COL TO VlRET. 1 

Indecision of the Seigneurs of Geneva inflexibility of Calvin. 

GENEVA, 24f/i July 1547. 

There is nothing new in our affairs. The Syndics protract 
the case of Gruet against the will of the Senate, which does 
not, however, as would be proper, utter any protest against the 
delay. For you know that few of them are judicious. I exer 
cise my severity in dislodging common vices, and principally 
the sources of corruption among the youth. I conceal all sense 
of the dangers which good men from several quarters allege to 
exist, lest I should appear over solicitous about myself. The 
Lord will give the issue in the way that may please himself. 
Adieu, brother, and most sincere friend, as also your wife and 
family. May the Lord Jesus continually direct you, and be 
present with you. You will convey best greetings to the 
brethren, and to your wife in my name. My wife salutes you 
and your family. Yours, 

CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 

1 Subjected to torture, Gruet admitted his guilt, and as well on the ground of 
his impious and blasphemous productions, as of a letter written to a private indi 
vidual, in which he exhorted the Duke of Savoy to turn his arms against Geneva, 
he was condemned to death. It appeared, according to the letter of Calvin to Viret, 
of which a fragment is here reproduced, that this sentence was not unanimous, and 
that Gruet reckoned up to this time, in the councils of the republic, friends or accom 
plices who were desirous of saving him. This did not prevent his execution on the 
26th July 1547, and the example threw terror into the ranks of the party of the 
Libertins. On the trial of Gruet, see the various historians of Geneva, Spon, 
Picot, and the Uistoire de la Sidsse, vol. xi. pp. 864, 365. 



1547. THE FAITHFUL OF FRANCE. 115 



CCII. To THE FAITHFUL OF FRANCE. 1 

State of Germany details regarding the struggles of the Reformer in tho 
cause of the truth at Geneva. 

This 24th of July 1547. 

The electing love of God our Father, and the grace of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, rest always upon you by the communion of 
the Holy Spirit. 

Very dear lords and brethren, I doubt not that you have 
daily much news, as well from hence as from Germany, which 
might prove a stumbling-block to those who are not overmuch 
confirmed in our Lord Jesus Christ. But I trust in God He has 
so strengthened you, that you shall not be shaken, either thereby 
or by any still greater marvel which may yet arise. And verily, 
if we are indeed built upon that solid stone which has been 
ordained for the foundation of the Church, we may well sustain 
more boisterous storms and tempests without being foundered. 
It is even expedient for us that such things should happen, that 
the firmness and constancy of our faith may be approved. 

As for the state of Germany, our Lord has so abased the 
worldly pride of our people, and given all power and authority 
to him from whom we can look for nought but ill, as that it 
indeed appears that He means Himself to maintain His spiri 
tual kingdom wheresoever He had already set it up. It is very 
true, that according to the carnal mind it is in danger ; yet in 
commending to Himself the care of His poor Church and the 
Kingdom of His Son, let us hope that He will provide for all, 
beyond what we can think. The danger hitherto has been, 

1 Entitled: To our very dear lords and brethren who desire the advancement of 
the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

During the period that the Reformation was for a while overcome in Germany, 
and that it had to sustain the rudest conflicts in order to its establishment at Ge 
neva, the most alarming reports were spread among the French Protestants, and 
carried discouragement and dismay into their ranks. Calvin, addressing his brethren 
from the midst of the struggle in which he was engaged against the party of the 
Libertins, reassured and comforted them by his letters, and exhorted them to place 
their entire confidence in God. 



116 THE FAITHFUL OF FRANCE. 1547. 

lest human means might have dazzled our eyes. Now, however, 
since there is nothing to prevent our looking to His hand, and 
recalling to mind how He has preserved His Church in time 
past, let us not doubt but He will glorify Himself in such sort 
that we shall be amazed. Meanwhile, we must never grow 
weary of fighting under the ensign of the Cross of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, for that is worth more than all the triumphs of 
the world. 

As regards the rumours of our troubles which have flown 
abroad, they seem, the greater part of them, in the first place, 
to have been improvised ; because, were you upon the spot, you 
would not see a tenth part of what is told at a distance. True 
it is, that we have many hard-headed and stiff-necked rebels, 
who on all occasions seek only to raise themselves, and by riot 
ous courses to dissipate and abolish all order in the Church, and 
these, indeed, as well young as old. And the state of our young 
people, especially, is very corrupt ; so that, when we will not 
allow them every license, they go from bad to worse. 1 Of late, 
they were sorely enraged under cover of a small matter. It was 
because they were not allowed to wear slashed breeches, which 
has been prohibited in the town for these twelve years past. Not 
that we would make overmuch of this, but because we see that., 
by the loop-holes of the breeches, they wish to bring in all man 
ner of disorders. We have protested, however, in the mean 
time, that the slashing of their breeches was but a mere piece 
of foppery, which was not worth speaking about, but that we 
had quite another end in view, which was to curb and to repress 
their follies. During this little conflict, the devil has interjected 
others, so that there has been great murmuring. And because 
they perceived in us more courage than they could have wished, 
and more determination to resist them, the venom which some 
of them had concealed within their heart burst forth. But this 
is nought but smoke ; for their threats are nothing else but a 
splutter of the pride of Moab, who is powerless to execute what 
he thus presumes to threaten. 

Howsoever that may be, you need not be astonished. There 
have been greater commotions stirred against Moses and against 

1 Us font des mauvais clievaulx a mordre et a regimber. 



1547. THE FAITHFUL OF FRANCE. 117 

the prophets, although they had to govern the people of God ; 
and such exercises are needful for us. Only beseech our Lord, 
that He would vouchsafe us grace not to flinch, but that we 
may prefer His obedience to our life if need be, and that we 
may be more afraid of offending Him than of stirring up all 
the fury of the wicked against ourselves, and that at length it 
may please Him to allay all the tumults which might otherwise 
break the courage of the unsettled, for it is that which down- 
weighs me more than all the rest. This grace our Lord has 
vouchsafed us, that we have a right good will to remedy the 
evil, and all our brethren are well agreed to go forward earnestly 
in that which is our duty, so that there is the same constancy 
in all. Nothing is needful, except that this good Lord continue 
to conduct His own work. 

I entreat of you, my dear brethren, continue steadfast on your 
part also ; and let no fear alarm you, even although the dangers 
were more apparent than you have seen them hitherto. May 
the reliance which God commands us to have in His grace and 
in His strength always be to you an impregnable fortress ; and 
for the holding fast the assurance of His help, may you be care 
ful to walk in His fear, although, when we have made it our 
whole study to serve Him, we must always come back to this 
conclusion, of asking pardon for our shortcomings. And inas 
much as you know well from experience how frail we are, be ever 
diligent to continue in the practice which you have established, 
of prayer and hearing of the holy word, to exercise you, and to 
sharpen and confirm you more and more. Let nothing turn you 
aside, as sometimes there are many colourable pretexts adduced 
to justify the remission of such duties. I am convinced that it 
would be much better that all those who desire to honour God 
should assemble together, and that every one should call the 
others thither as by sound of trumpet. But yet, it is much 
better to have what you have, though it be but a part, than no 
thing at all. And so, watching well against declension, seek 
rather to advance in the way of proficiency, and make use of 
what God gives you, edifying one another, and in general all 
poor and ignorant ones, by your good life, that so, by the same 
means, the wicked may be put to confusion. In so doing, you 



118 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1547. 

will perceive the hand of God upon you, to whom I pray that 
He would increase in you the graces which He has put withiii 
you ; that He would strengthen you in true consistency ; that, 
in the midst of dogs and of wolves, He would preserve you, and 
every way glorify Himself in you ; after having commended me 
affectionately to your kind prayers. 

Your humble brother and entire friend, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

[Fr. copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



CCIII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Thanksgivings for the happy deliverance of Madame de Falais false reports 
concerning the state of Geneva details regarding the publication of the 
Apology indisposition of Calvin, and his regret at being separated from 
Monsieur de Falais. 

FKOM GENEVA, this Itith of August 1547. 

MoNSEiGNEURj Two days after the arrival of M. Btide, I 
received your letter, which you had delivered to James Dalli- 
chant ; so that all of them have been delivered. Thinking to 
find a messenger, I have twice since then been disappointed ; 
and 1 was also in doubt whether to undertake the journey. 
For notwithstanding the hindrances which might detain me, I 
was afraid that I had no sufficient excuse. But the tidings 
which have since reached us, have removed that doubt. I re 
turn thanks to our Lord, and all our friends along with me, for 
the happy delivery which he has granted to Madame, praying 
that he would so bless the offspring which he has given you, 
that you may have a twofold comfort in them in the time to 
come, as I do also hope. We shall look for a letter from you 
shortly. It is enough in the meanwhile to know that all is 
well as to the main point. 

Iii reply to all that you have sent to me, I had requested 
Uallars to translate the Apology, promising to revise it finally 
myself. But he has been so negligent, that Master Francis 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 119 

Baulduin 1 came just in time to begin it. I send you, there 
fore, liis translation, which we have revised together, not to 
polish it very highly, but merely to see whether the meaning 
had been truly rendered, at the same time with the French 
copy in the handwriting of Saint Andre. 

In the Latin epistle of Dryander, 2 I have corrected what 
appeared to me to be right ; you can follow that which shall 
seem best to yourself. I hope that you will understand who 
has induced me to write many things, which I did not object 
to, but which appeared to me to be superfluous, or at least that 
they would be of no weight with the individual to whom they 
were addressed. 

You will see the answers which I have made in the name of 
Mademoiselle de Wilergy, and may give effect to, if you think 
they are the right thing. I speak drily enough to the Abbess, 
because of the suspicion, which is very strong. 

If it please God to settle a church there, it will be a great 
comfort to your family. But the blessing will extend much 
further, and will have the effect of removing many stumbling- 
blocks. It is a great pity the scattering of the handful who 
met at Vezel. 3 Our Lord, I fear, must have been disposed to 
punish that excessive moroseness which could only arise from 
a despising of His blessing. However, I hope that, after having 

1 Francois Baudouin of Arras, a distinguished lawyer, fled to Geneva on account 
of religion. He became the friend and the secretary of Calvin, whose opinions at 
a later period he attacked, and betra yed his confidence by robbing him of his most 
precious papers. (See Drelincourt, Defence of Calvin, pp. 251, 252.) Called suc 
cessively as Professor of Law to Bourges, to Strasbourg, and to Heidelberg, Bau 
douin died in 1573, leaving the reputation of one of the most learned men of his 
time, and of a most versatile spirit in matters of religion. It has been justly said 
of him, that he was Roman Catholic in France, Lutheran at Strasbourg, and Cal- 
vinist at Geneva. 

2 See note 1, p. 97. Dryander seems at this period to have filled the office of 
secretary to M. de Falais. He carried on at the same time a correspondence with 
Calvin, expressing the highest esteem for his character and talents. Library of 
Geneva, Vol. 110. One of his brothers, John Ensinas, had been burnt at Rome 
in 1545, a martyr to the Protestant faith. 

3 Some Flemish and French refugees had already formed a community at Vezel, 
which was enlarged in 1553 by the dispersion of the foreign congregation of Lon 
don, and which was constituted as a church by the minister Francis Perucel, 
called La Riviere. 



120 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1547. 

punished the fanatics and crack-brained persons who have been 
the cause of all the mischief, He will yet set up again His little 
flock which remains, and will hold out a hand to them, to lead 
them always in the right way. 

"What moved me to urge you about the house, was my fear 
of the shame I should feel if perhaps you did arrive here and 
should not find a lodging ready. Besides, the repairs which 
the landlord thought of making thereon, would not make it fit 
for your occupation. Thus the rent you are paying for it, would 
be so much money lost, unless we should fall upon some remedy 
for it. Although I have taken it for three years, it was at my 
option to be quit of the bargain at the end of the half-year, on 
giving intimation three weeks before the term. At this time 
we shall be foreclosed of that liberty. If you could have decided 
upon coming, I would have desired the whole to be put in 
proper repair,, that you might be exempt from annoyance. 
But seeing the matter stands as it does, it is very unadvisable 
indeed to charge yourself with a house here ; only I could have 
wished to cause you no needless expense. But since you have 
allowed this half year to pass away, we shall need to take care 
between this and the end of January, so as not to enter upon 
the second year. 

I perceive that the troubles which we have had here are also 
exaggerated with you as well as elsewhere. At Lyons they have 
had me dead in more than twenty ways. Everywhere through 
out the country they tell of wonders, of which, God be thanked, 
we perceive nothing. It is very true Satan has here very many 
firebrands ; but the flame passes off with a blaze like that of 
flax. The capital punishment which has been inflicted upon 
one of their companions. 1 has laid their horns in the dust. As 
for your landlord. 2 I know not what face he will wear towards 
us when he returns. He appeared to go away on friendly 
terms, at least manifesting more compunction and respect 
towards me than formerly. Meanwhile, however, his wife has 
played the she-devil to such a degree, that she has found it 
necessary to gain the open country. It is already about three 
months that he has been absent. He must needs walk softly 

1 Jacques Gruel. Set p. 114. - Amedee Perrin. 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 121 

upon his return. Up to the present time, we have got on very 
well, considering the condition of the servants of God. Had 
we not been so depressed, we should have been too much at our 
ease. I believe, indeed, that he may have opened the letter, and 
that that may have given boldness to Valeran, and to that 
worthy man with whom he was lodged, to take a second look 
into them. However that may be, in complaining about it as 
he does, he must at once avow himself to be a breaker-open of 
letters, which is certainly the act of a lawless man. As for his 
wrongs, they weigh no more with me than his person in the 
scale of importance, which is a little less than a feather. More 
over, it is evident that he was drunk, or at least seeing double, 
when he thus wrote. Provided he does not go the length of 
throwing stones, our patience, yours and mine, will not find it 
very hard to bear with his abuse. We are not better than 
David, were we even called to bear further injury, and he is at 
least quite as worthy as Shimei. In that and in greater things, 
let us pray God that he may vouchsafe us grace to call us to His 
light, despising the calumnies of those who judge in darkness. 
I am more sorry than for aught else to see him gone so far 
astray. 

If there is no pressing hurry, or if there might be more hope 
of reasonable despatch in the absence of the protonotary, I 
think that it would only be right to await his return, as well 
that nothing may be done by halves as to avoid the suspicion 
he might take up that you had watched the opportunity, or 
anticipated the complaint he meant to make, in terms of his 
letter, which was not a little dissatisfied. But should there be 
any damnum aut periculum in mora, this consideration ought 
not to hamper you, so at least methinks. Otherwise the better 
way will be, to wait for an opportunity to get rid of the whole 
at once. 

As for the book-mark your own arms, as well as the motto, 
everything will be liable to be blazoned abroad by those who, 
without good ground, are, nevertheless, always open-mouthed 
in speaking evil of us. Howbeit, I find nothing amiss, neither 
in the one nor in the other. Even had there been no dimmish- 
ing of the expense, there could be no harm in putting the arms 



122 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1547. 

at the beginning, and the motto at the end. But I am much 
puzzled which of the two methods to choose, unless you were 
to put your armorial bearings with the saying underneath, 
Qui recedit a malo prcedce est expositus, with the citation of 
the chapter. 1 

As regards the marriage, 2 for my part, I would by no means 
consent to it. You see how confidentially I reply to you. i The 
family is very poor indeed. The noblesse of Savoy is very 
different from that of your country ; the man himself is well 
enough, but not so steady as to withstand evil counsels ; subject 
to illnesses, arising chiefly from a sanguine temperament, (you 
fear one reproach ; I am afraid of a quite different one, which 
I would only mention if I desired to be put out of the way, &c.) 
You had been rash in entertaining his proposal/ Pardon me 
if I am too forward. I would like better to take the other 
whom I know, if it fell to me to decide. But it is full time for 
me to pull up, having certainly exceeded due bounds. 

Before I have concluded, a cough has seized me, and hits me 
so hard upon the shoulder that I cannot draw a stroke of the 
pen without acute pain. 3 There is a letter to Wendelin, to 
which I would much desire to have a reply, because there is 
some inquiry regarding the Commentaries on St. Paul, of which 
several persons urge the printing. I hope that it shall be profit 
able, otherwise I would not have composed them. Seeing that the 
present bearers are not quite certain of going so far as Stras 
bourg, and that even if they do go, I could not be sure to have 
an answer by them, I beg you kindly to charge some one of 
your servants to convey the letter in good time, and to procure 
the answer. 

Monsieur, having heartily commended me to your kind 
favour, and that of Madame, and also presented to you remem 
brances from my wife, I pray our Lord that it would please 
Him to have you in His holy keeping, to preserve to you the 
blessing He has bestowed, that you may even see the fruit of 
it, so as to derive more full consolation and joy ; and, in the 

1 Isaiah lix. 15. 2 Of Mademoiselle de Wilergy. 

3 The conclusion of the letter is in the handwriting of Francis Baudouin. 



1547. FAREL. 123 

meanwhile, to help you in everything, and that continually. I 
am sorry that I cannot be with you for at least a half of a day, 
to laugh with you, while we wait for a smile from the little 
infant, under the penalty of bearing with his cries and tears. 
For that is the first note, sounded as the key-note, at the be 
ginning of this life the earnest of a better, that we may smile 
from the heart when we shall be about to depart from it. 

I entreat of you to bear with my indisposition, commending 
me to the goodly company. 

Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 1 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 1 94.] 



CCIV. To FAREL. 

False report of Calvin s death proposition (query) by the wife of Amy Perrin 
calumnious accusation against Idelette de Bure -journey of Farel to 
Geneva. 

GENEVA, 21st August 1547. 

I am more grateful to you than words can readily express, 
for having spontaneously transferred to us your credit and ser 
vice, when you thought that we were pressed by great difficul 
ties. In this, however, you did nothing that was novel or 
unexpected. The reason why I did not avail myself of your 
offer, was that various rumours were everywhere flying about 
which I thought had been extinguished, but which would have 
been the more increased had I summoned hither you and Viret. 
You know with what sort of men we have to deal, and how 
eager they are for an opportunity of speaking against us. 
Letters were daily arriving, especially from Lyons, from which 
I learned that I had been more than ten times killed. 2 It was 
therefore proper that the ungodly should be deprived of the 

1 The signature of the letter is autograph. 

2 " M. Calvin has represented that letters have been written to him, as well 
from Bourgoyiie as from Lyons, to the effect that the children of Geneva were will 
ing to give five hundred crowns to have him put to death ; he does not know who 
these are." Registers of the Consistory, 1st September 1547. 



124 FAREL. 1547. 

occasion of talking. The senate is now quieted, and is favour 
ably disposed to the good cause. Amy, our friend, is still in 
France. 1 His wife is with her father, where she carries on her 
revels in her usual fashion, and yet we requested the Senate 
that all past offences might be forgiven her, if she shewed any 
thing to warrant a hope of repentance. That petition has not 
been granted, for she has gone so far as to have cut off all hope 
of pardon for herself. As the day of the [Lord s] Supper draws 
near, I may meet with Penthesileea. Froment lately made a 
movement about a reconciliation, but he wished the matter to 
be settled according to his own arbitration. I replied that our 
church was not so destitute but that there were brethren com 
petent to undertake that duty. We shall make every effort. 
And yet she has cruelly wounded me. For when at the baptism 
of our child James, I had admitted the truth about the fault 
of my wife and her former husband, 2 she calumniously asserted 
among her own friends, that my wife was therefore a harlot ; 
such is her bold impudence. I shall treat her not according 
to what she deserves, but according to what my office demands. 
Add that N. had invented a most calumnious fable, to the 
effect, that I had received a severe reprimand from you and Viret, 
on the ground that, having been placed here by you in your 
room, and by way of deputy, I abused my precarious authority. 
You will now, however, come at a much more opportune time 
than you would have done before. You would hear everything 
that cannot be committed to writing. You might apply your 
hand to wounds that are not yet well healed. We might con- 

1 Charged with an important mission to the court of King Henry II., Perrin, on 
his return, was subjected to the accusation of treason in the carrying out of his 
commission. The King of France had said that he would give two millions to be 
master of Geneva. Perrin was accused of having replied, that two hundred horse 
would be sufficient to conquer the city. Hist, de la &gt;uisse, vol. xi. p. 361. It 
could not however be proved, that he had contracted secret engagements with 
France. He was nevertheless imprisoned, afterwards released at the request of the 
Seigneury of Berne, and stripped of his offices. Registers of Council, September 
and November 1548. 

2 Idelette de Bure is known to have espoused in her first nuptials an Anabaptist, 
Jean Storder. According to the doctrines of that sect, which denied the authority 
of the civil power, the marriage to be legitimate had no need of the sanction of the 
magistrate. 



1547. VIRET. 125 

suit together about the remedying of occult diseases. You will 
therefore see whether you will have any leisure. I have com 
menced work upon the Fathers of Trent ; a but the beginnings 
proceed slowly. The reason is, I have not an hour that is 
free from incessant interruptions. Adieu, most sound-hearted 
brother, and matchless friend ; salute respectfully fellow-mini 
sters and your family in my name. May the Lord be always 
present with you, direct you, and bless your labours. Amen. 
Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 240.] 



CCV. To VIRET. 

Mention of a letter from M. de Falais Emmanuel Tremellins a book by 
Viret journey of Bude and Nicolas des Gallars to Paris. 

GENEVA, 29th August 1547. 

Before bringing to a conclusion the matter of Beat, it seems 
proper to wait the return of Textor, who I know will be here 
in a short time, unless some new obstacle intervene. For 
he had been compelled to remove from Macon, when Claude 
the dyer lately returned from that quarter. The letter from 
Bale contained absolutely nothing of interest to you or me. 
There was but one letter of Falais to me, in which he men 
tioned the birth of a daughter, 2 of whose death he spoke in a 
second letter to Maldonado. He had besides sent a copy of 
the letter of recommendation which the Landgrave had ob 
tained from the Emperor ; but I had read a translation of it 
by Pagnet fifteen days before. I send it you, in case you should 
not have seen it. I had forgot the epistle of Valeran, in which 
that wretch so unblushingly insults a perfect nobleman, that I 
am ashamed to read it. Bude strongly solicited me to exert 

1 Allusion to the work which Calvin was at that time preparing against the 
Council of Trent, and which appeared at the end of the year. See the Letter to 
Farel of the 28th December 1547. 

2 See the letter to M. de Falais of the 16th August, p. 118. 



126 VIRET. J547. 

myself to bring Emmanuel 1 hither, if it could be accomplished 
on any ground. His services could be of no avail to us, unless 
in the professorship of Hebrew ; and this office is filled by 
Imbert. I wish you would excuse me to him, if you have no 
objection, that he may at least understand that I am not guilty 
of neglect. Girard has not yet brought the preface, although I 
reminded him that he should do so to-day. Send the book on 
the Church and Sacraments. 2 I would read it with pleasure, 
even although you did not impose that task upon me. Only I 
request your permission to consult my own convenience ; for I 
never had less leisure than at present. The long nights, how 
ever, will presently afford me somewhat more. Des Gallars 
has left for Paris, along with Bude, as he could not otherwise 
satisfy his mother ; and he could not have had a better oppor 
tunity than now, in the absence of his father-in-law. Besides, 
he has it in view to bring his sister along with him ; a modest 
girl, I hear, and who is harshly treated by her step-father. I 
wished you to know that. Adieu, most sound-hearted brother 
and friend, with your wife and brothers, all of whom you will 
salute in our name. May Christ be ever present with you. 

But I had forgot about Verori. Sulzer obtained from the 
Senate a supplement for him, so long as he should be sick, 
to meet the unusual expenditure ; and also half stipend for 
Maigret. 3 Lest that arrangement should displease me, Sulzer 
charged him to return to terms of friendship with me. After 
asking me to come to him, he made a long enough petition for 
forgiveness. I replied as I was disposed, and as I was bound 
to do. The result was that he promised amendment, and I 
fraternal affection, if he changed his course of life for the better. 
Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. or itj. autof/r. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 

1 Emmanuel Tremelli, a learned Hebraist of Ferrara, disciple of Peter Martyr, 
at that time in retirement at Strasbourg. 

2 The hook, De la Vertu et Usarje du Saint Ministere et des /Sacremens, 
Geneve, 1548. Senehier, Hist. Lift., vol. i. p. 15G, Art. Virct. 

3 The minister Antoine Maigret, who was shortly afterwards deposed from his 
charge. 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 127 

CCVI. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Dedication of the Apology mention of M. de Montmor Sickness of Maldonudo. 

FROM GENEVA, this 10th of September 1517. 

MONSEIGNEUR ; By your last, I perceive that I have not yet 
satisfied you concerning the Apology. Although the three 
points which you have noted need not retard the publication, 
the excuse may be made in three sentences ; because should 
we enter somewhat further on explanation, we must touch upon 
rather ticklish matters, which it would be better to let sleep. 
I do not know to whom it would be well to address it at pre 
sent, considering the temper of the times. She has already 
played a principal part : I cannot think of any of the other 
persons who would be suitable. To dedicate it to the noblesse 
of the Netherlands, would be a hateful proceeding. In Ger 
many, what States would you choose ? I would therefore pre 
fer that no change be made in the beginning. Touching the 
conclusion, although there is plenty of material, and that very 
pertinent, that might be added, even as it stands it is not in 
complete. Hereafter, should occasion call for it, you will con 
sider whether you should add thereto, or make some other 
distinct publication. However, I refer the whole to your dis 
cretion, and merely express to you my opinion. 

Concerning the party you inquire about, I fear that you 
suppose I build marriages in the air very much at random. 
But why so ? for indeed I believe that I have some foundation 
of reason and sound confidence. Eight months ago, the son of 
M. de Montmor, with whom I was brought up in my child 
hood, 1 informed me that he would desire above all else to 
retire hither, and he continues of that mind ; for it is not 

1 We read in the Life of Calvin by Theodore Beza, "From his youth he was all 
the hetter, and liberally brought up, at the expense of his father, however, in the 
society of the children of the house of Montmor, whom he also accompanied as the 
companion of their studies at Paris." It is to one of the members of that noble 
family, Claude de Hangest, Abbot of Saint Eloy, that Calvin dedicated, in 1532, 
his Commentary on Seneca s Treatise De dementia. 



128 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1547. 

merely on one occasion that lie has so written. He is a young 
man, at least he is of the age of thirty-four years, good- 
natured, very gentle, and docile. Though he has drunk deep of 
youthful follies in earlier life, now that God has given him a 
knowledge of himself, I believe he will be quite to your mind. 
I have made diligent inquiry of Nicolas Loser, and Nicolas 
Picot his son-in-law, who have spoken to him, whether there 
was any taint of disease about him, such as young men acquire 
in their dissolute courses. They have replied to me in the 
negative. My desire has thereupon led me to build an expec 
tation. Should he come, as I expect, I would send him at 
once to yourself ; and then you can consider whether he would 
be a suitable person. If he does not come within a month, I 
know not whether I ought to expect him. But I think he will 
come, to communicate to me, and forthwith return to expedite 
his departure. 

We have been like to lose the good Maldonado, for he has 
been at the point of death : and the fever even now confines 
him to bed, but not with imminent danger, so far as we can 
discern, by the favour of God. I have prepared some verjuice, 
enough for a year s provision, which awaits you, if perchance 
you come. It is the produce which you have got from your 
garden for the bygone year. 

In conclusion, Monsieur, having humbly commended me to 
your kind favour, and that of Madame, I pray our good Lord 
to have both of you in His holy protection, to lead and direct 
you, to send you whatsoever He perceives to be needful for 
you. 

Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 

The title would appear to me to read well thus : Excuse 
composed by M. Jacques de Bourgoigne, &c., to clear himself 
towards his Imperial Majesty from the calumnies laid upon 
him on account of his faith, ivhereof he makes confession. 
For the word Apology is not used in French. 



1547. BULLINGER. 129 



CCVIL To HENRY BULLINGER. 

Comments by Calvin on a work by Bullinger state of Germany and Italy 
policy of the Cantons. 

[GENEVA, \3tli September 1547.] 

It is now six months since I returned your book, with anno 
tations, such as you had requested me to make. 1 I am sur 
prised that I have received no reply from you since that time. 
When I was in your quarter, you reminded me that there was 
to be frequent interchange of letters between us. In the mean 
time, I have heard of some of your townsmen having at differ 
ent times passed through this place ; I have had no one going 
to you, so far as I remember. Should an opportunity of writing 
be at any time afforded you, I earnestly request you will not 
allow it to pass without availing yourself of it. 

I am compelled to hear more about the disaster of Germany 
than I could wish ; and yet nothing is said of the condition of 
Constance, which remains deeply fixed in my mind. There 
was great trepidation at Strasbourg when it was supposed that 
the Emperor would winter there. Moreover, even to this day, 
they assert that the gates will not be opened to him, if they 
receive support from any other quarter. I do not know what 
the Helvetic cities may think. For a short time, indeed, all 
rumours of a war to be waged against them have ceased, on 

1 Bullinger had submitted his book on the Sacraments to Calvin, (Absoluta de 
Christi et ejus Ecclesice Sacramentis Tractatio,) in which he departed slightly 
from the doctrine of Zwingle, with the view of approximating to that of the French 
reformer. Still, however, the mystery of the spiritual presence of Christ, under 
external and material symbols, was not expressed in it with sufficient clearness. 
Calvin had fully criticised this book in a letter, or rather in an extended memoir, 
the original of which is preserved at Zurich, under the title, Censura Libri Bul- 
lingeri de /Sacramentis, Geneva, 27th February 1547. This memoir, written with 
a brotherly freedom, concludes with these words : " You thus have what in your 
book I desire to see corrected, that it may meet with absolute approval. I make 
no note of the parts that merit commendation. I have discharged the office of a 
friend, by complying with your wishes, and freely admonishing you ; it now 
remains for you to take my liberty in good part. This I am confident you will do." 
Library of Zurich. Coll. Hottinger, M. F. 80, p. 338. 

VOL. II. I 



130 BULLINGER. 1547. 

account of the Italian commotions. But what if all these cities, 
struck with terror of him, do not venture upon any movement ? 
He already occupies Placentia and Parma, Peter Farnese 1 
having been put to death as some suppose, or at least, quite 
prostrated ; and so great a success may possibly be the means 
of bringing Italy into a state of peaceful subjugation in the 
course of this year. Were he to enter Strasbourg, he would, 
you perceive, occupy an encampment whence he could invade us. 
Would there then be time, my Bullinger, for you to deliberate ? 
For by keeping silence, do you not, as it were, present your 
throat to be cut ? On this point, however, I have no good 
reason for making an appeal to you, for I know that your 
fellow-citizens will be so wise as to desire to apply a remedy. 
The neighbours [Bernese] are manifestly acting the part of 
fools, in withstanding the adoption of any measures for curbing 
this wild beast. 2 Nevertheless, as they are of their own accord 
bent on destruction, may the Lord direct His own elect by the 
spirit of wisdom, to make a seasonable stand against the 
dangers. There are many things which ought to deter you 
from the French alliance. But just as, on the one hand, it is 
by no means expedient that you should be wholly bound up 
with him [the French king], so, on the other, I do not see that 
you are to shun all connexion with him. 

As to the rest, the boy who has delivered my letter to you, 
is the son of a senator with whom I am on terms of the greatest 
intimacy. He has, in virtue of our friendship, requested me 
to give his son a letter of introduction to you. He lives with 
your treasurer, as far as I understand. But it is his father s 
design that he should prosecute the study of letters, of which 

1 Peter Farnese, son of Pope Paul III., had in truth been recently assassinated at 
Placentia, and that city had opened its gates to Charles V. But Parma remained 
under the power of the Pope, who in vain sued for justice from the Emperor on 
account of the murder of Farnese, and the dispossession of his children. Robert 
son, History of Charles V., B. ix. 

2 The Catholic cantons having engaged to take no step that should have the 
effect of connecting them with the Emperor, the reformed cantons, with Berne at 
their head, bound themselves to the strictest neutrality, and informed the German 
princes, that they could give them no aid without throwing the half of the con 
federate states into the hands of their enemy. Hist, dela Suisse, Tom. xi. p. 291. 



1547. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 131 

he has acquired the rudiments. He is of a teachable disposi 
tion, and fond of study. I therefore beg of you to recommend 
him to the masters of your school, in your own as well as my 
name, not simply in the ordinary fashion, that greater attention 
may be paid to him than if he were unknown. This service 
will be highly gratifying to me. 

Adieu, illustrious sir, and highly revered friend in the Lord, 
along with your fellow-ministers and brethren, all of whom you 
will salute in my name and in that of my brethren. May the 
Lord be continually present with you, and bless your labours. 
I also wish well to your wife and children. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Lat. orig. autogr. Archives of Zurich, Gallicana Scripta, p. 4.] 



CCVIIL To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Return of Nicolas des Gallars stay of Farel and Viret at Geneva. 

FROM GENEVA, this 29th of September 1547. 

MONSEIGNEUR, Since my last letter nothing new has oc 
curred, except that our brother Des Gallars has returned, and 
has also brought with him the present bearer for your service, 
seeing that M. Bude did not find the person ready of whom 
he had spoken to you. I think and feel assured, that this 
man will quite suit you ; he is so loyal and serviceable, and 
knows well what is good breeding, so as to demean himself 
becomingly. I have advised that he should come hither along 
with you as soon as possible, and chiefly because I do not know 
whether you have resolved to undertake the journey. I have 
had no tidings of the individual about whom I wrote to you, 1 
only I have heard that some disturbance had broken out at 
Noyon, which may possibly have delayed him, because he was 
to have been accompanied by a steward of his own, who must 
have been detained along with the others. 

Master William Farel and Master Peter Viret have been 
here for a week : your presence alone was wanting to complete 

1 M. dc Montmor. See note, p. 127. 



132 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 15 4 7. 

the festival. Everything goes on as usual. May God of His 
grace correct whatever is defective, and increase whatever little 
good there may be. The good Maldonado cannot raise himself 
up ; so that there is no hope of his being of service to you for 
the present. But when you have work for my brother to do he 
will make up for the former failure. 

Monsieur, having presented our affectionate remembrances, 
all, as well to yourself as to Madame, I pray our good Lord 
to have you always in His holy keeping, to govern you by His 
Holy Spirit, to bless and to help you in every way. 

Your humble brother and servant, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

In the above remembrances, Master William, Master Peter, 
my wife, all the friends are included, more than a dozen. I 
pray also to our Lord, that He may please to rule your whole 
household, to which I desire to be heartily commended. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CCIX. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Re-assuring intelligence on the state of Geneva restoration of Maldonado. 

The 2&th of October [1547.] 

MONSEIGNEUR, In turning over my papers the other day 
for another purpose, I found a few words of a preface 1 which I 
had written on the return of Master Peter Viret. I now send 
it you, not so much in order that it may be made use of, as to 
let you know that I had carefully attended to what you had 
requested of me, although from forgetfulness it had been left 
there. 

I have no doubt but that many reports are flying about at 
present concerning the affairs of this town. Whatever you 
inay hear of them, let it not prevent your sleeping quite at 
your ease ; for there is a vast number of people who take a 

1 For The Apology of M. de Falais. 



1547. FAREL. 133 

pleasure in lying, not merely among our neighbours, but also 
of those within the town. 

The good Maldonado is raised up again by the favour of 
God, but not without great difficulty. 

Monsieur, having humbly commended me to your good grace 
and that of Madame, I pray our good Lord to have you always 
in His holy keeping. I look for tidings of you about the end 
of this week. 

Your humble brother and servant, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CCX. To FAREL. 

Sad state of the Eepublic discouragement of the Reformer. 

GENEVA, 14th December 1547. 

I am not surprised, and I am thankful that you feel impa 
tient because so few letters from me reach you at this time ; 
for I see from this that we are the objects of solicitude on your 
part. You are, moreover, daily hearing many reports, some of 
which may cause you bitter sorrow, and others inspire you with 
various fears on our account. The rumours that are spread 
abroad are almost all groundless; but we are oppressed by 
intestine evils that are so little public as hardly to be known, 
unless to a few in the city. The wild beast that lately, by 
the treachery of his keepers, escaped from his den, breathes 
nothing but threats. 1 Macrin being cast out, there is nothing 
they do not promise themselves, because they are confident 
that matters are now entirely in their own hands. For they 
count upon this [ejection] as constituting the proof of op 
pressed liberty. Affairs are certainly in such a state of con- 

1 According to the testimony of the Registers of Council, Amy Perrin had been 
restored to liberty, on bail, at the instance of the Seigneury of Berne and his 
family, and on condition of begging the forgiveness of God and men, and paying 
the expenses of justice. Register, 23d November 1547. Had this legal liberation 
been preceded by tho pscape of the prisoner? WP are not aware. 



134 VIRET. 1547 

fusion that I despair of being able longer to retain this church, 
at least by my own endeavours. May the Lord hear your in 
cessant prayers in our behalf. [My] brother will give you a 
better account of all the circumstances [than I can do by 
letter.] 

Adieu, most upright brother. Salute respectfully all the 
brethren. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CCXL To ViRET. 1 

Rising at the Hotel de Ville heroic bearing of Calvin trust in 
God alone. 

[GENEVA,] Uth December 1547. 

[The enemy] are so blinded that they pay no regard to pro 
priety. Yesterday not a little confirmed a suspicion previously 
entertained by us, that they were shamelessly striving to excite 
some commotion. The Two Hundred had been summoned. 
I had publicly announced to my colleagues that I would go to 
the senate-house. We were there a little, indeed, before the 
hour of meeting. As many people were still walking about in 
the public street, we went out by the gate that is contiguous 
to the senate-house. Numerous confused shouts were heard 
from that quarter. These, meanwhile, increased to such a degree 
as to afford a sure sign of an insurrection. I immediately ran 
up to the place. The appearance of matters was terrible. I 
cast myself into the thickest of the crowds, to the amazement 

1 The scene of tumult and sedition described in this letter left so lively an im 
pression on the mind of Calvin, that he recalled it seventeen years afterwards, on 
his deathbed, in his farewell to the ministers of Geneva, subjoining these memor 
able words: "Although I am nothing, yet I know that I prevented three 
thousand disturbances from taking place in Geneva ; but take courage, you will 
become strong, for God will make use of that city, and will maintain it; and I 
assure you He will keep it." Collection de M. Tronchin, a Geneve. Adieux de 
fJalvin, recueillis par Pinaut. 

The Registers of Council are silent on this scene, the date of which has been 
given, by a frequently repeated mistake, as the 17th September ; but the circum 
stances tally with the 13th December 1547. 



1547. VIRET. 135 

of almost every one. The whole people, however, made a rush 
towards me ; they seized and dragged me hither and thither, 
lest I should suffer any injury. I called God and men to wit 
ness that I had come for the purpose of presenting my body to 
their swords. I exhorted them, if they designed to shed blood, 
to begin with me. The worthless, but especially the respectable 
portion of the crowd, at once greatly relaxed in their fervour. I 
was at length dragged through the midst to the Senate. There 
fresh rights arose, into the midst of which I threw myself. All 
are of opinion that a great and disgraceful carnage was pre 
vented from taking place by my interposition. My colleagues, 
meanwhile, were mixed up with the crowd. I succeeded in 
getting them all to sit down quietly. They say that all were 
exceedingly affected by a long and vehement speech, suitable 
to the occasion, which I delivered. The exceptions were at 
least few, and even they, not less than the respectable part of 
the people, praised my conduct in the circumstances. 

God, indeed, protects myself and colleagues to the extent of 
the privilege implied in the declaration of even the most aban 
doned, that they abhor the least injury done to us not less than 
they detest parricide. Their wickedness has, however, reached 
such a pitch, that I hardly hope to be able any longer to retain 
any kind of position for the Church, especially under my mi 
nistry. My influence is gone, believe me, unless God stretch 
forth His hand. 

I can make no certain reply regarding the daughter of our 
neighbour, because having once already found the father diffi 
cult to manage in this matter, I do not venture to raise any 
expectation. Nothing, however, would be more expedient, in 
my judgment, than for the man himself to come hither ; for 
the father will strenuously demand that at the very first. 
Nevertheless, if you so order it, we shall make every endeavour 
even in his absence. I have not yet spoken to the brother of 
Du-Plessis. About their quarrel, more at another time. 

Adieu, brother and most sincere friend. Salute your colleague 
and all the brethren. My wife and I wish yours every greeting. 
May the Lord be perpetually present with you. Amen. 

[Lat, orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106. | 



13G MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1547. 



CCXII. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Printing of The Apology troubles at Geneva. 

The 19*7* December 1547. 

MONSEIGNEUR, I shall not at present write a very long letter 
to you, because I was not informed that the messenger would 
go away so soon. He is an engraver, who had left about two 
hours before I could speak to our printer. Seeing, therefore, 
that your armorial bearings would not have been very well 
suited to the form of the book, I immediately sent after him, 
and have had them done in lead, as you will see by the proof. 
I feel quite confident that you will not be sorry that a crown 
was expended to make the thing quite complete. The printing 
of the book is not yet begun, because it has been necessary to 
recast some letters of the fount, which is the same with which 
the supplication was printed, very readable and handsome. We 
shall begin it this week, if the Lord will ; but we shall not 
touch the Latin at all, until we hear from yourself. As I have 
no spare time at present, I shall put off all other matters, and 
send you an answer in regard to them by Kobert, my wife s 
cousin. 

We are somewhat annoyed here by those who ought to bring 
us peace. I hope, however, that good shall result from it, and 
that shortly, to the rejoicing of those who desire that God may 
be honoured. But while our brethren are persecuted by open 
enemies, we ourselves must needs be troubled by those of our 
own household. There is one mercy, however, that all is for 
our profit, provided that we are so well advised as thus to take 
it. As I have formerly told you, do not be disturbed by any 
thing that is said, setting down the whole as falsehood, until 
you hear from us how matters go. 

Monsieur, having humbly commended me to your kind 
favour, and to that of Madame, and the whole of your worthy 
family, I beseech our good Lord to have you in His keeping, to 



1547. VIRET. 137 

guide you by His Spirit, to send you what to Him may seem 
meet as best for you. 

Your servant and humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

I have sent by a trusty man the letter of M. de Varan. 

\Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CCXIIL To VIRET.I 

Invitation to come to Geneva. 

GENEVA, 26th December 1547. 

Amid the great swellings of our commotions, I ought not, 
nevertheless, to have gone so far as to ask you to come hither, 
because I knew that you were detained in your own locality by 
necessary occupations ; and another obstacle stood in the way 
of it, as it was possible some rumour of your coming might 
thereupon reach the Arctei. Now, as I hope you have more 
leisure, you would do a valuable service were you to make 
yourself ready for the journey on the earliest possible day. I 
have not yet made up my mind as to what I am finally to do, 
beyond this, that I can no longer tolerate the manners of this 
people, even although they should bear with mine : and withal 
I do not understand why they object to my severity. I should 
not, however, take it so ill, did I give them offence without 
even any fault on my part, were I not becomingly impressed 
with a sense of their wretchedness. For how little of life re 
mains to me, that I should be solicitous about myself ? But I 
am foolish in handling these matters in a letter, when I am 

1 Disarmed for a moment by the heroic attitude of Calvin in the rising of the 
13th December, the parties that divided Geneva were not slow to renew their 
lamentable strife. The voice of the Keformer was disregarded, and he wrote 
with deep sadness on the 23d December, " Our affairs are in no better condition. 
I do not cease to press upon them, but I cause them to make little or no advance 
ment. I am now returning from the Senate ; I said a great deal, but it is like tell 
ing a story to the deaf. May the Lord restore them to their right mind." Calvin 
to Viret, MSS. of Geneva, Vol. 106. 



138 FAREL. 1547. 

confident you will be here presently. Adieu, brother, and 
dearest friend. May the Lord Jesus protect you along with 
your wife and whole family. You will salute in my name, and 
in that of the brethren, your fellow-ministers. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva, Vol. 106.] 



CCXIV. To FAREL. 

Publication of The Antidote statement regarding the condition of Geneva. 

GENEVA, 28th December 1547. 

My Antidote 1 now begins to please me, since it is so greatly 
approved of by you, for before, I was not satisfied with it. But 
you who know my daily labours, and still more the contests 
with which I am not so much occupied as quite wasted, are 
perhaps ready to excuse me when there is anything not quite 
perfect. I certainly marvel that any composition worthy of 
perusal can emanate from me. With regard to your exhorta 
tion, that my colleagues and I should persist with unbroken 
resolution, I may say that neither dangers nor troubles weaken 
my determination. But as I am sometimes destitute of counsel 
in matters where confusion so greatly prevails, I desire that God 
would grant me my discharge, a foolish wish you will say ; I 
admit that it is so ; but what did Moses, that illustrious example 
of patience ? Does he not complain of too heavy a burden being 
laid on his shoulders ? I also am in truth, simply tempted 
by these thoughts ; I do not, however, give way to them. We 
have inspired some fear in our men, and nevertheless there is 
as yet no appearance of amendment. Such is their shameless- 

1 Calvin had just published his celebrated treatise of the Antidote, (Acta Synodi 
Tridentince cum Antidoto, 1547,) which he translated into French the year follow 
ing, with changes fitted to bring it within the comprehension of the people. Opus 
cules, p. 881. In this work the Reformer passes in review the decrees of the 
Council of Trent, and refutes them with a merciless logic and a marvellous elo 
quence. The Catholic theologian Cochlseus replied to him by personal attacks, 
which Des Gallars and Beza undertook to refute. 



1547. FAREL. 139 

ness, that they devour with open and regardless ears all our 
clamours ; finally, the diseases of many are incurable. For 
thus far we have essayed almost all methods with no success. 
The last act remains, at which I wish you to be present. You 
will, I suppose, have learned from my letter to Viret, how God 
stilled the tragical tumult ; for I had given him an injunction 
to that effect. 1 The Two Hundred ordered us, and the other 
ten peace-makers, to make away with all dissensions. 2 I wished 
that the initiative should be taken by me. Our Caesar yester 
day denied that he had any quarrel with me ; I immediately 
pressed out the matter from the sore. In a grave and calm 
speech, I made certain sharp strictures, but such as were cal 
culated to wound very slightly. Although he promised f re 
formation hand in hand, I am afraid that I have preached but 
to the deaf. I wish you would again gladden me by your 
arrival. I am aware that some people have complained to 
Viret of my immoderate severity. I know not what his belief is. 
I scented out the fact, however, that he was afraid lest I should 
too greatly indulge my ardour. I have requested him to come 
hither. One in Terence says: If you were here, you would 
feel differently. I might say the same. If you were in my 
place, I know not what you would do. But amid a multitude 
of sorrows, this likewise must be patiently borne. I do not 
say these things in reply to you or Viret, but to others who idly 
censure us. I seem, moreover, to see your sympathy for me, 
so far am I from thinking that you have any hostility towards 
me. Adieu, best and most upright brother, along with your 
whole family, whom you will affectionately salute in my name 
and in that of my wife, as well as all fellow-ministers, and all 
the godly. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lot. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 49-] 

1 See Letter, p. 134. 

52 In testimony of regard for Calvin, the Council adopted the following decree : 
" Resolved to present to Calvin all the furniture that is in his house belonging to 
the city, 29th December 1547." The preceding year he had been offered ten 
crowns as a present, but he refused them, praying the Council to distribute them 
among the other ministers who were poor compared with him, " and even to 
diminish his stipend in order to benefit them." 



140 THE FAMILY OF BUDE. 1547. 



COXY. To THE FAMILY OF 

Consolations on occasion of the Death of one of its Members. 

[1547. 2 ] 

MESSIEURS AND WELL-BELOVED BRETHREN, Although the 
present is addressed particularly to two of you, 3 I nevertheless 
write in suchwise, that if you think fit it may serve for the 
whole household. If the account which I have heard of the 
death of your good brother and mine have been the occasion of 
joy to me, as, indeed, there was good reason for it, you who 
have known better the whole matter, have, assuredly, far more 
ample matter for rejoicing, not for that you have been deprived 
of so excellent a companion, on which account both you and I 
have good ground for regret all the more that the number of 
those who in the present day walk constantly in the fear of 
God is so small and rare, but because of the singular grace 
which God had conferred upon him, of perseverance in the fear 
of His name, the faith and patience which he has manifested, 
and other tokens of true Christianity. For all that is as a mirror 
wherein we may contemplate the strength wherewith our kind 
heavenly Father assists His children, and most of all, out of 
their greatest difficulties. Then, also, we may conclude that 
his death was indeed happy and blessed, in the face of Him and 



1 This family had not yet quitted France. See the letters, pp. 76, 105. They 
received this new letter of Calvin, on the occasion of the death of one of its mem 
bers, perhaps Mathieu de Bude, who had corresponded with the Keformer in 1546, 
and of whom, subsequent to this period, all trace is lost. There exists (MSS. of 
the Library of Geneva, vol. 109) a letter of Mathieu de Bude to Calvin, relative to 
the assassination of John Diaz at Neubourg. We remark the following passage : 
" I have received your letter . . . which was most welcome to me, as well 
because I recognise in it your disposition of goodwill and love, as on account of the 
ordinary consolation which I have received from it. . . ." 26th April 1546. 
The author of that letter is not mentioned by M. Galiffe. Notices Genealogiques, 
torn. iii. p. 83. He had died, no doubt, before the establishment of his family at 
Geneva. 

2 Dated, on the back of the letter, in a foreign hand. 

3 Doubtless these were John de Bude, Sieur de Verace, and Louis, Sieur de la 
Motte, his brother. 



1547. THE FAMILY OF BUDE. 141 

of all His angels. At the same time, you must reflect that it is 
a fine example for you, lest it be converted into a testimony 
against you, to make you inexcusable before God, the great 
Judge. For inasmuch as he, dying as a Christian, has shewn 
you how you ought to live, it is certain that God would not 
have such a testimony to be useless. Know, then, that the 
death of your brother is as God s trumpet, whereby He would 
call upon you to serve Him alone, and this far more loudly 
than if your brother had lived ten years longer to exhort you : 
while, besides, the pious exhortations which he addressed to 
you are ever sounding in your ears, that his zeal may glow in 
your hearts, that his earnest and instant prayers may quicken 
you, to draw you towards Him to whom he has been gathered 
and restored as one of His own. I do not doubt that his ex 
pressed condemnation of the abuses and superstitions which 
exist in Christendom, may have given occasion of murmuring 
to many, and that it may have somewhat aroused the rage of 
the adversaries of the Gospel against the whole family ; but it 
is not fitting that the plots and threatenings of the wicked 
should have more power to discourage our hearts than so 
effectual a call from God to uphold us. In short, you must 
take heed that the blessing become not an occasion of evil to 
you ; wherefore, if hitherto ye have begun well, which, indeed, 
ought to prove a help to you in going forward, do not slacken, 
but rather redouble your ardour, so as to run with greater dili 
gence. I am not ignorant of the dangers which environ you, 
and am not so devoid of fellow-feeling, as not to have that 
sympathy which I ought. But you are aware, that will not 
excuse such a degree of timidity as there is among those who 
mingle in the world, disguising themselves in every way ; and 
so much the more that there are few who are quite exempt 
from it, our duty is to urge and provoke one another forward ; 
and inasmuch as every one ought to do his utmost to walk 
according to the measure of knowledge vouchsafed to him, you 
should examine the more narrowly whereunto ye have attained. 
For you cannot pretend the common excuse wherewith the most 
part cover themselves, as with some moistened rag of a pallia 
tive, namely, that God has not yet bestowed so much grace upon 



142 THE FAMILY OF BUDE. 1547. 

them. For besides that God has opened your eyes to make 
you understand with what zeal you ought to glorify Him before 
men, above all, the profession you have made obliges you to it 
as well. Nought remains, therefore, except that you disen 
cumber yourself of worldly anxieties, to seek in good earnest 
the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. And if it 
be not possible to confess Him as your Saviour where you are, 
you should far rather prefer to be removed for a little while 
from the country of your birth than to be for ever banished from 
that immortal inheritance to which we are called. Whether 
willingly or no, we must needs be strangers in this world ; shall 
we then refuse even to stir from the nest ? Happy, indeed, 
are they who declare, not merely by empty profession, but 
effectually, that they are so, and rather than decline from the 
faith, are quite ready at once to quit their home, and, in 
order to dwell in union with Jesus Christ, make no difficulty 
about parting with their earthly comforts. These are hard 
sayings to those who have not tasted the worth of Christ ; but 
to you, who have felt His power, all else ought, after the 
example of Saint Paul, to be counted but as filth and dung. 
Indeed, it is not enough that you yourselves keep steadfast, but 
if there be others who are weaker, you ought to strengthen 
them by your admonitions, and to look well to it that there be 
no falling away. 

I myself am far from the dealings of the present time; whether 
that will be of long continuance I know not. But I speak of 
a thing known and experimentally ascertained. It is a great 
shame that with such a measure of knowledge as God has vouch 
safed us, there is so little heart, compared with the ardour of the 
martyrs who have gone before us, who were ready to go to death 
so soon as God had enlightened them with a far less amount 
of understanding. We learn somehow to make shift while we 
ought rather to be learning to live ; but there are others in 
worse plight than we ; for, to speak the truth, there are many 
who dare not venture to breathe a word, but are content to 
dream apart, and to feed upon their fancies, instead of rather 
seeking, as they ought, to be continually exercised, as well by 
reading together as by conference and godly conversation, the 



1548. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 143 

more to confirm and enkindle holy zeal. I have no reason to 
distrust you ; but you will pardon my anxiety, which proceeds 
from an upright love, if I am moved to warn you in the name 
of God, not to let such a blessing be lost, as that which God 
has sent to your family ; and that you may not lessen it, take 
heed to grow in grace ; that you may not draw back, determine 
to go forward ; that you may not come short, resolve to go on 
unto perfection. 

Wherefore, Messieurs and beloved brethren, after hearty 
commendations to all of you who desire the kingdom of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, and serve God with a good conscience, I 
beseech this kind Father to have you in His protection, and to 
make you feel it, so as you may lay hold upon Him with such 
boldness as should belong to you, that He would guide you by 
His Spirit in the obedience of His will, and glorify Himself in 
you, even unto the end. 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

\Fr. Copy, Library of Geneva. Vol. 168.] 



CCXVI. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Cost of printing of The Apology despatch of several copies. 

The 24th of January 1548. 

MONSEIGNEUR, Until the return of Sire Nicolas, I shall not 
trouble you with long letters, for I expect more ample news by 
him. Rest assured, that if I may follow my inclination, please 
God I shall not fail to keep my promise. 1 But seeing that I am 
not a free man, I must needs abide the course of events. We 
have, God be thanked, another sort of tranquillity than during 
the time of billeting. But there is never any season through 
out the year in which I have not my work cut out for me, and 

1 He refers to the promise of a visit to M. de Falais. Calvin went in fact to 
Bale the 2d of February following. We read under that date, in the Council 
Registers of the state of Geneva : " Calvin went to Bale. The Council offers 
him things requisite for the voyage. 26th February, Calvin on his return from 
Bale." 



144 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS, 1548. 

more than I could well get through, even although I were a 
tolerable tailor. 

That which detains me at this time would be explained if I 
could only come to you. And, besides, were I to be prevented 
by some unlocked for business, Master Peter Viret, who is ready 
to supply my place, will explain it to you. But before speak 
ing of a substitute, we shall see what the Lord will allow. 

Concerning the books, 1 at the price which I have agreed 
upon with the printer, together with what has been paid to the 
engraver of the armorial bearings, they will cost you about a 
crown the hundred. I gave three florins of Savoy, that is to 
say, testons, to the engraver for his trouble ; besides which, he 
got his victuals. That, with about a teston which it cost him 
in returning, is over and above the amount for printing. There 
have been eight hundred copies thrown off. I have allowed the 
printer to retain a hundred for himself, deducting to that 
amount proportionally upon the whole. By this means the 
object has been attained of spreading it throughout France. I 
have sent away here and there about fifty copies ; among others, 
one to Madame de Ferrara, 2 which, however, need not prevent 
you addressing another to her, along with a letter. The seven 
hundred, all expense included, amount to seven crowns. I 
believe that Eene, diligence excepted, will have been faithful. 

In conclusion, Monsieur, having commended me affectionately 
to your kind favour and that of Madame, and having also pre 
sented to both of you the recommendations of my wife, I 
beseech our good Lord to have you always in His keeping, to 
guide you by His Spirit, and to increase you in every grace. 

Your humble brother and servant, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

I desire particularly to be remembered to the excellent young 
ladies whom I have not yet seen, and my wife the like. 

\Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 

1 The Apology of M. de Falais. 

2 Renee of France, Duchess of Ferrara. See, in this collection, the letters of 
Calvin to that princess. 



1548. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 145 

CCXVIL To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Particulars regarding his departure, and the purchase of a property near Geneva. 

This last day lut one of February 1548. 

MONSEIGNEUR, According to our agreement, the coming of 
Sire Nicolas Loser will afford you a good opportunity for 
making the journey, if your health admits of it. 1 He ought to 
go as far as Strasbourg ; but in order that you may not be de 
layed, I have somewhat hastened his departure. To those who 
make inquiry of me, I reply, that already you are wishing to 
be here ; but that whether you shall come or no, will be seen 
in due time. 

Kegar cling the payment, which you have hinted to me, I 
believe that you will be disposed to grant it. We shall speak 
about that, however, when you are on the spot. The minister 
of the village 2 is a good sort of a man. But it will be for 
yourself to decide when you shall have arrived. Meantime we 
shall look about, here and there, that you may choose what best 
pleases you. I shall take care of the two receipts until your 
arrival. 

To conclude, Monsieur, having commended me humbly to 
your kind favour, I beseech our good Lord to uphold you 
always in his keeping, to lead you by His Spirit, and to aid you 
in all and throughout. We pray you, my wife and myself, to 
present also our humble commendations to Madame, not for 
getting Mademoiselle de Bredan. 

Your servant, humble brother, and sincere friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

I thought, indeed, that Sire Nicolas Loser would have left, 
and that he was to be my messenger, but this will not be for 

1 In the journey which he had recently made to Bale, Calvin had decided M. 
de Falais to come and fix himself definitively at Geneva. 

2 Veigy, near Geneva. M. de Falais made there the purchase of a domain 
which he occupied during several yeavs. 

VOL. IF. K 



146 BULLiNGER. 1548. 

five or six days yet ; and to avoid delay I have thought it well 
to send the present by M. Brevassis. 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CCXVIIL To HENRY 

Brotherly explanations regarding the difference on the subject of the 
Communion. 

GENEVA, 1st March 1548. 

I hardly know what prevented me from replying sooner to 
you, unless it were that no trustworthy messenger presented 
himself who roused me to diligence. But when I heard that the 
ambassador of your city was here, I was unwilling to be guilty 
of allowing him to depart without a letter from me. I pass 
over in silence the long reply in which you seek to wash away all 
those points of difference about which I had carefully admonished 
you. For of what avail is it for us to enter on a controversy ? 
I made a note of those points in your book that did not 
satisfy myself, or that might prove unsatisfactory to others, or 
such as I thought might not meet the approbation of the pious 
and learned. I did that at your request. I discharged the 
duty of a friend ; if you think differently, you are at liberty to 
do so, as far as I am concerned. It would certainly not be the 
last of my wishes that there should be perfect harmony between 
us. But in whatever way I may hold the firm persuasion of a 
greater communication of Christ in the Sacraments than you 
express in words, we will not, on that account, cease to hold 
the same Christ, and to be one in Him. Some day, perhaps, 
it will be given us to unite in fuller harmony of opinion. I 
have always loved ingenuousness, I take no delight in subtleties, 
and those who charge others with obscurity, allow me the 
merit of perspicuity. Neither, accordingly, can I be charged 
with guile, who never artfully affect anything to gain the 

1 See letter to Bullinger of 19th September 1547, p. 120. The observations of 
Calvin on the treatise on the Sacraments being badly received, as it appears, by 
the minister of the Church of Zurich, had led, on the part of the latter, to a 
temporary coldness, of which Calvin complained in a letter, characterized alike by 
the noblest independence and the most Christian affection. 



1548. BULLINGER. 147 

favour of men ; and my method of instruction is too simple to 
admit of any unfavourable suspicion, and too detailed to offend 
on the ground of obscurity. Wherefore, if I do not give 
uniform satisfaction, indulgence must be extended to me be 
cause I study in good faith, and with perfect candour, openly 
to declare what I have to say. It was on this account that 
Lately, when at Bale, I felt surprise at your complaint, as a 
friend reported to me, that I taught differently in my Com 
mentaries from what I had held out to you. I replied in one 
sentence, which was the truth, that I used the same language 
at Zurich as at Geneva. I was, however, disposed to attribute 
the whole statement, be it what it might, to the mistake of my 
informant. At a time when it was dangerous for me to declare 
in language what views I held, I did not turn aside from the 
Straight line by foregoing the free and firm announcement of 
my opinions in every particular, even so far as to bend the 
most rigid to some sort of moderation. Why then should I 
now, without any necessity, change at once my general mode 
of procedure and my convictions ? If, however, I fail in per 
suading men of the truth of this, I shall be content to have 
God as the witness of my confession. 

Your ambassador will give you a fuller and more perfect 
account of affairs in France than I can compress in a letter. 
I wish they were of such a kind as it would give you pleasure 
to hear ; but there is nothing except sad news daily. Although 
he was ordered to abstain from all the abominations of the 
Papacy, he could not avoid observing a disgraceful profanation 
of the sacred ordinance of baptism. 

Adieu, illustrious Sir, and highly to be revered brother in 
the Lord. You will respectfully salute in my name Masters 
Pellican, Bibliander, Walter, and the other fellow-ministers 
and masters of the school. May the Lord Jesus guide you 
by His own Spirit, bless your pious labours, and preserve you 
safe. 

All my colleagues also reverently salute you. To your wife 
and family the best greeting. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lett. orig. aidof/r. Arcli. of Zurich. GaUicana Scriptrt, p. 8.] 



148 MONSIEUR DE FALATS. 1548. 

CCXIX. To MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 

Obstacles to his departure delay of some months. 

The 3d of April (\5%. 1 } 

MONSEIGNEUR, Your letter has arrived just in time to stop 
the departure of my brother ; for that was a settled matter, if 
I had not been informed. But in my opinion the reasons 
which detain you where you are, are not of such importance as 
you "deem them. You see how familiarly I write to you on 
this point, and I do not fear to do so, being authorized by your 
self. I had not thought that you would need expressly to re 
nounce your rights as a burgess, 2 although I foresaw clearly 
that it would amount to a tacit renunciation when you settled 
your domicile in another seigneury. Seeing that there is an 
advantage in it, you are right to go thither, unless we could 
effect some such arrangement as the following : that even were 
you to be longer absent, they should allow you to remain upon 
the roll, on condition of your providing a substitute who should 
discharge during your absence your duties as a burgess ; or 
even if there was no hope of that, might you not present a new 
request, notwithstanding the reply which they have given you, 
to beg of them, that in the event of its suiting your conveni 
ence to remain here, or that after you were come here, it might 
not suit you to return, they should be satisfied with your re 
nunciation by a procurator. But I would state the two condi 
tions thus : that notwithstanding the reply they have made to 
you, inasmuch as you are uncertain when you shall have come 
hither, whether you shall think fit to fix your residence here, 
you would therefore beg of them, that on condition of your en 
gaging, as indeed you ought, to supply any deficiency that may 
arise owing to your absence, it would please them still to retain 
you for some time on the roll of burgesses in fact, to grant 

1 On the back, in the handwriting of M. de Falais : Received the 12th April 
1548. 

2 M. de Faluis could not establish himself at Geneva, without losing the right 
of a burgess, which he had acquired at Bale. 



1548. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 149 

an extension of your leave. Or, at the least, fearing to be 
troublesome by your importunity, that you pray them to accept 
a renunciation by letter, on account of your bodily weakness, 
as they are aware that it is not very easy for you to move from 
place to place. By so doing, you will remove the suspicion 
they may have conceived, that you mean to abandon them 
entirely. However it may turn out, I think they will have 
good reason to be satisfied. In any case, I never expected that 
the rights of a burgess would be long continued to you. 

Touching the rumour which your clowns have spread abroad 
in order to calumniate you, it scarcely astonishes me. I had 
quite laid my account with it, that you would not get aw r ay 
without many of them letting loose their tongues. And you 
must be prepared for that, as well for the other year as for this 
one. You have this comfort, however, that it all very soon 
goes off in smoke. I am still less alarmed at the threat whis 
pered in the ear, for it would need great courage to venture on 
such a step ; and I know not who would dare to be the leader 
in an affair of so great difficulty and hazard. In short, I can 
perceive no danger for you, according to our arrangement of 
each day s journey. But seeing that you think it better to put 
it off for some months, and that the advice of some friends is 
to that purport, I have no mind to press it further, and would 
rather agree to this delay, than by urging you to a contrary 
course lead you to incur the risk of mischief or of annoyance. 

I know not whether this summer will disclose the councils of 
those who may set the world in confusion. 1 For my part, I do 
not think so, unless some new accident turn up. However, I 
do not so much place reliance upon my own conjectures, as I 
await the course of events in submission to the will of God. 

Although your coming hither may be stayed for a season, it 
will be of no consequence as regards the house, for I had con 
cluded no agreement about it. Only I had purchased a good 
cask of wine, such as it would be difficult to get again. But 
I have got rid of it without any difficulty, and even as a favour 

1 The Emperor, and the new king of France, Henry II. Faithful to the policy 
of Francis I., a persecutor of the Reformation in his own States, the latter was 
about to conclude a secret treaty with the Protestant princes of Germany. 



150 FAREL. 1548. 

to the purchaser. Therefore it will be for you to consider how 
matters go yonder, and thereupon to decide. And do not annoy 
yourself lest any one should be offended by your change of 
plan ; for although all your acquaintances desire much to see 
you here, still there is not one of them who does not prefer your 
quiet and convenience. 

If I could have found a suitable messenger, I would not have 
waited so long before sending the complement of the Apologies. 
But I know not by what means to do so, for up to this time, 
no opportunity either of carrier or bearer has occurred. When 
I can find one, I shall not fail to do so. About the Latin 
copies you have never expressed to me your wish, as far as I 
know. Perhaps you would rather defer doing so until your 
arrival. Let me know your mind regarding this, if you please, 
in one word ; if -you would have them printed, it shall be 
done. 

To conclude, Monseigneur, having humbly commended me to 
your kind favour, I beseech our good Lord to keep you in his 
protection, to have such a care of you as that all your steps may 
be directed by him, and to make you serviceable always more 
and more for his own glory. My wife also presents her humble 
commendations, and both of us desire to be remembered to 
Madame and to Mademoiselle de Bredan. 
Your humble brother and servant, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. oriy. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



CCXX. TO FAREL. 1 

Distressing condition of the Swiss churches. 

GENEVA, 30th April 1548. 

My grief prevents me from saying anything of the dreadful 
calamity that hangs over so many churches. Michael will 

1 While persecution decimated the Reformed Churches of France, and the pro 
clamation of the Interim dispersed those of Germany, the Swiss Churches were a 
prey to the most grievous dissensions, and appeared further removed than ever 
from that era of unity and peace which Calvin never ceased to invoke for them. 



1548. FAREL AND VIRET. 151 

inform you of what I wrote to Viret. The cause is of such a 
nature that no one is to be reckoned among the servants of 
Christ who does not come forward boldly in His defence. But 
there is need of counsel and some moderation. Should Viret 
agree to it, I shall presently hasten to your quarter, that we 
three may thence proceed together to Zurich. As to the rest, 
Viret and I marvelled as to what decision by arbitration you 
referred to ; for neither of us has hitherto heard anything of 
the matter. I, indeed, assert for certain, that no hint of any 
kind was ever given to me. See, therefore, who has undertaken 
this business. You will hear the other matters from the mes 
sengers. 

Adieu, brother and most sincere friend, along with your 
family and fellow-ministers, whom I desire respectfully to 
salute. May the Lord preserve you all and govern you by His 
own Spirit. Amen. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Lat. or uj. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CCXXL To FAREL AND ViRET. 1 

Disputes among the ministers of Berne and Calvin s journey tliitlier. 

GENEVA, 9tfi May 1548. 

After receiving your last letter, I had set out on my journey ; 
but meeting the father-in-law of my brother Coppet, who told 
me that you had left Berne three days before, I returned home 
for several reasons, which, if it shall be deemed necessary, I 
will detail to you when I see you. Make me now aware of 
what you intend to do ; for I will straightway execute what 
ever you shall demand, without the slightest deliberation. I 
have not yet been able to understand the result of your pro- 



1 " Calvin informs the Council of certain disputes between the Seigneury and 
the ministers of Berne, which have gone so far that three of the ministers of said 
city have been deposed, besides Peter Viret of Lausanne ; requests that leave 
may be given him to go to Berne to defend Viret, which was granted him ; the 
Seigneury, besides, undertaking to defray the expenses of the journey." Register* 
of Council, May 7, 1548. 



152 VIKET. 1548. 

ceedings. Giron and Zerkinden requested greetings to me. 
When Nicolas asked whether they had anything to say besides, 
he got the answer that there was nothing good. I hence sus 
pect that the matter is worse than they were willing to 
express. Adieu, brethren most dear to me. Both of you 
salute the brethren. May God preserve you all, guide you 
by His own Spirit, and establish you amid these stormy 
troubles. 

When you, Yiret, have read Bucer s letter, you will give it 
to the bearer of this that it may be carried to Farel. I have 
understood, besides, that Duke Christopher of Wurtemberg, 
with his father, has set out for the court of the Emperor. We 
thus see that all is in the hand of one. Nevertheless the 
Lord will either close it, or wither it, or cut it off, as seems 
good to Him. 

[Lat. orlg, auiogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CCXXILTO 

Communications regarding affairs at Berne. 

[GENEVA, June 1548.] 

You will say to Farel that I had written to Bucer before his 
letter reached me. I send you a copy of a letter to Sulzer. I 
have resolved to write to Bullinger and Haller, should I be 
permitted and have leisure. This is the reason why I do not 
return the letter of Gualter. It is necessary that the threats 
of Ludovic form the matter of judicial inquiry by the brethren. 
When he shall have been convicted by them, I doubt not but 
that he will be proceeded against according to law. I shall 
indicate in my next letter, what form of process I think should 
be adopted. Adieu, dearest brother in the Lord, and most 
sincere friend. I sincerely congratulate you on the safe delivery 
of your wife, and the addition to your family. 1 I wish that I 

1 By his second wife, Sebastienne de la Harpe, Viret had three daughters, 
designated in his will as Marie, Marthe, and Jeanne. (MS. of the Arch, of 
Geneva] 



1548. VIKET. 153 

could be present at the baptism. This desire I assuredly cherish 
in common with yourself. But I shall be present with you 
in spirit. 
May the Lord continue to bless you in all things. Amen. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CCXXIIL To ViRET. 1 

Ecclesiastical tyranny of the Seigneurs of Berne sojourn of Idelette de Bare 
at Lausanne. 

[GENEVA,] loth June 1548. 

I took care to have a copy of the letter which I wrote to 
Bullinger and Haller transcribed for you, in case its contents 
should be reported differently from what you may have thought 
it proper they should have been ; for, as far as I am concerned, 
the letter itself contains my opinion to the best of my judg 
ment. If the reason must be assigned, I not only look to what 
is becoming in honourable men, but I further fear that we 
may suffer a heavy penalty if, by servile dissimulation, we 
strengthen the tyrannical power which barbarous men already 
openly usurp. We may serve Jodocus, 2 and other such beasts, 
provided only they form no barrier to our serving Christ ; but 
when the truth of God is trodden down, woe to our cowardice 
if we permit this to be done without protest. It should not 
even be tolerated that an innocent man should suffer injury. 
At this time, both numerous servants of Christ and his doctrine 
itself are assailed. Is it not full time that all the godly, both 
collectively and individually, should raise their heads in His 
cause ? But, nevertheless, that you may come to a free decision, 

1 See letter of 9tli May preceding. The relations between the Vaudois ministers 
and the Seigneury of Berne, became daily more complicated. A synod assembled 
at Lausanne, having ventured formally to propound ten propositions contrary to 
the celebrated disputation of Berne, and to manifest an inclination in favour of 
ecclesiastical discipline, with the concurrence of two Bernese ministers, Beat Gerung 
and Simon Sulcer. these two clergymen were arbitrarily deposed by the Seigneury, 
under the pretext of " the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the Church." 
Ruchat, torn. v. pp. 343, 344. 

2 Jodocus, minister of the Church of Berne. 



154 HENRY BULLINGEK. 1548. 

making no account of my pre-judgment of the case, you are 
not only permitted, so far as I am concerned, but I even wish 
you to give your opinion. Should it seem proper to allow 
Farel a reading, I will take care that another copy be sent to 
him, that I may receive back the one I send to you. 

It is truly a source of pain to me that my wife should have 
been so great a burden to you ; for she could not have been of 
much service to your wife when confined, so far as I can 
divine, since she herself, on account of the state of her health, 
stood in need of the assiduous attentions of others. It is 
matter of comfort to me to be persuaded that you would not 
bear it impatiently. 

Adieu, brother and most sincere friend. May the Lord 
guide you, and protect your whole family. Amen. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\ Lett, copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 111.] 



CCXXIY. To HENRY BuLLiNGER. 1 

New explanations regarding the Supper Violence of some of the Bernese 
ministers Calvinism and Buceranism. 

GENEVA, 26&lt; 7i June 1548. 

Your letter at length reached me, eight days after I had 
arrived at home. Eeust was not himself the bearer of it ; it 
was brought by Koset. The former, I suppose, was less soli 
citous about the delivery of it, as he had found a master with 
out our assistance. We both, however, courteously placed our 
services at his disposal. With regard to your small treatise to 
which you refer in your letter, I wish, niy Bullinger, as we 
were lately in your quarter, it had not been troublesome to you 
and your colleagues to have talked together in a quiet way of 

1 See the letters, pp. 129, 146. In a new message to Bullinger, Calvin strove 
to dissipate the still lingering prejudices entertained by the Zurich theologians 
against those of Geneva and of Strasbourg, regarding the Sacraments ; and he pro 
posed the basis of that union, long-desired, which was consummated the following 
year between Zurich and Geneva. The Church of Berne, now deeply imbued 
with Lutheran views, refused its adhesion. 



1548. HENRY BULLINGEIi. 155 

the whole matter. There would assuredly have been some ad 
vantage in this ; for I had not come prepared for a stage dis 
play, which is not less disagreeable to myself than it is to you, 
to say nothing of Farel, whose disposition you are also aware 
is utterly averse from ostentation. But we were anxious to 
discuss with you in a familiar way, and with not the least 
desire to engage in formal debate, those points with regard to 
which we are most nearly at one. And this indeed were the 
best method of procedure among brethren, and one we should 
have found profitable, unless I am greatly deceived. For with^ 
regard to the Sacraments in general, we neither bind up the 
grace of God with them, nor transfer to them the work or 
power of the Holy .Spirit, nor constitute them the ground of 
the assurance of salvation. We expressly declare that it is God 
alone, who acts by means of the Sacraments ; and we maintain 
that their whole efficacy is due to the Holy Spirit, and testify 
that this action appears only in the elect. Nor do we teach 
that the sacrament is of profit, otherwise than as it leads us by 
the hand to Christ, that we may seek in Him whatever blessings 
there are. I do not in truth see what you can properly desire 
as wanting in this doctrine, which teaches that salvation is to 
be sought from Christ alone, makes God its sole author, and 
asserts that it is accepted only through the secret working of 
the Spirit. We teach, however, that the sacraments are instru 
ments of the grace of God ; for as they were instituted in view 
of a certain end, we refuse to allow that they have no proper 
use. We therefore say, that what is represented in them, is 
exhibited to the elect, lest it should be supposed that God 
deludes the eyes by a fallacious representation. Thus we say, 
that he who receives baptism with true faith, further receives by 
it the pardon of his sins. But lest any one should ascribe his 
salvation to baptism as the cause, we at the same time subjoin 
the explanation, that the remission flows from the blood of 
Christ, and that it is accordingly conferred by baptism only in 
so far as this is a testimony of the cleansing which the Son of 
God by his own blood shed on the cross procured for us, and 
which He offers for your enjoyment by faith in His gospel, and 
brings to perfection in our hearts by His Spirit. Our opinion 



156 HENRY BULLINGEK. 1548. 

regarding regeneration is precisely similar to that about baptism. 

v When the signs of the flesh and blood of Christ are spread 
before us in the Supper, we say that they are not spread before 
us in vain, but that the thing itself is also manifested to us. 
Whence it follows, that we eat the body and drink the blood of 
Christ. By so speaking, we neither make the sign the thing, 
nor confound both in one, nor enclose the body of Christ in the 
bread, nor, on the other hand, imagine it to be infinite, nor 
dream of a carnal transfusion of Christ into us, nor lay down 
any other fiction of that sort. You maintain that Christ, as 
to his human nature, is in heaven. We also profess the same 
doctrine. The word heaven implies, in your view, distance 
of place ; we also readily adopt the opinion, that Christ is 
undoubtedly distant from us by an interval of place. You 
deny that the body of Christ is infinite, but hold that it is 
contained within its circumference. We candidly give an 
unhesitating assent to that view, and raise a public testimony 
in behalf of it. You refuse to allow the sign to be con 
founded with the thing ; we are sedulous in admonishing 
that the one should be distinguished from the other. You 
strongly condemn inipanation ; we subscribe to your decision. 

, What then is the sum of our doctrine ? It is this, that Kvhen 
we discern here on earth the bread and wine, our minds 
must be raised to heaven in order to enjoy Christ, and that 
Christ is there present with us, while we seek Him above the 
elements of this world. For it is not permitted us to charge 
Christ with imposition ; and that would be the case, unless we 
held that the reality is exhibited together with the sign. And 
you also concede that the sign is by no means empty. It only 
remains that we define what it contains within it. When we 
briefly reply, thatfwe are made partakers of the flesh and blood 

1 of Christ that He may dwell in us and we in Him, and in this 
way enjoy all His benefits,, what is there, I ask, in these words 
either absurd or obscure, especially as we, in express terms, 
exclude whatever delirious fancies might occur to the mind ? 
And yet we are censured, as if we departed from the pure and 
simple doctrine of the Gospel. I should wish, however, to learn 
what that simplicity is to which we are to be recalled. When 



1548. HENEY BULLINGER. 157 

I was lately with you, I pressed this very point. But you re 
member, as I think, that I received no answer. I do not make 
this allegation so much by way of complaint, as that I may 
publicly testify to the fact that we lie under the suspicion of 
certain good men without any ground for it. I have long ago 
observed, moreover, that the intercourse we have with Bucer 
acts as a dead-weight upon us. But I beseech you, my Bui- 
linger, to consider with what propriety we should alienate our 
selves from Bucer, seeing he subscribes this very confession which 
I have laid down. I shall not a,t present declare the virtues, 
both rare and manifold, by which that man is distinguished. 
I shall only say, that I should do a grievous injury to the Church 
of God, were I either to hate or despise him. I make no refer 
ence to the personal obligations under which I lie to him. And 
yet my love and reverence for him are such, that I freely ad 
monish him as often as I think fit. How much greater justice 
will his complaint regarding you be judged to possess ! For he 
sometime ago complained that you interdicted youths of Zurich, 
who were living at Strasbourg, from partaking of the Supper in 
that church, although no confession but your own was demanded 
of them. I indeed see no reason why the churches should be 
so rent asunder on this point. But what is the reason that 
godly men are angry with us, when we cultivate the friendship 
of a man who, by himself, professes nothing that can stand in 
the way of his being received as a friend and a brother ? As 
the matter hinges on this, shew me, if you can, that by my 
friendly intercourse with Bucer I am restrained in the free pro 
fession of my views. I may perhaps seem to be so, but I make 
the thing itself the test of the truth. Wherefore, let us not be 
so suspicious where there is no call for it. As to the other 
matters, when I had come to Lausanne I counselled the brethren 
to send as soon as possible to Haller, for I had the hope they 
would obtain from him all that was just ; and in this expecta 
tion I was not disappointed. Jodocus, however, and Ebrard, 1 
what brother of the giants I know not, who had been sent, were 
so grossly violent in their invectives, that they were presently 
compelled to betake themselves [home]. So great a source of 

1 Ministers of the Church of Berno. 



158 HENRY BULL1NGER. 1548. 

indignation was my proceeding to Zurich, as if, forsooth, I had 
no right to be affected by the danger of a church so near us, 
or to seek a suitable remedy in conjunction with the brethren. 
Jodocus said, in a threatening way, that he knew what I had 
done when with you. I boasted, however, that I had been a 
party to no transaction that was unworthy of my reputation as 
an honourable man. But why should I recount to you the in 
solence and scurrilities of both of them ? Take this as the sum 
of the matter, that the two brethren, both eminently learned, 
grave, and judicious, were so astounded, that they thought it 
best to make a seasonable departure. Such is brotherly cle 
mency. It is, however, worth while to make a brief statement, 
that you may form a judgment of the matter from the begin 
ning to the end. Immediately on our first meeting, in place of 
salutation, it was asked, Who raised these tragical commotions ? 
When it was said, in reply, that they were known to have pro 
ceeded from Zebedee, Ebrard exclaimed, c Yes, that good man 
is unworthily traduced by you, because he laid bare your stra 
tagems/ On the brethren requesting those stratagems to be 
explained to them ; We have, he says, a Bernese disputation 
from which we form our judgment of you and all your affairs/ 
I beseech thee, my Bullinger, to say whether such is the case. 
What have we profited by shaking off the tyranny of the Pope ? 
Observe, also, how suitable was the interrogation of Jodocus, 
Who had asked me to form one of the assembly at Lausanne ? 
Finally, that the last part of the proceedings might be of a piece 
with the first, the brethren were ordered to go away, and have 
done with their Calvinism and Buceranism. And all this with 
an impetuosity almost like madmen, and outrageous clamours. 
Could you expect anything more unfeeling or truculent from 
Papists ? Though we may patiently tolerate this intemperate 
Bacchantism, the Lord, nevertheless, will not suffer it to pass 
unpunished. At Paris and in many parts of the kingdom, the 
ferocity of the ungodly is inflamed afresh. The King himself 
holds on in his fury. Thus is fulfilled the prediction, Without 
fightings, within fears ; although Jodocus excites not only fears 
within, but open fightings. But may the very fewness of our 
numbers incite us to an alliance I 



1548. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 159 

Adieu, most excellent and most honoured Sir, along with 
your colleagues, all of whom I desire you will respectfully 
salute in my name. To your wife also, and your whole family, 
I send the best greeting. May the Lord Jesus protect and 
direct you all. Amen. 

Something is said about the state of Constance, not much 
fitted to inspire gladness. May the Lord regard you, and 
rescue you from the jaws of the lion. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

It would be better you should suppress this letter, if you 
thought proper, than that it should lead to the excitement of 
a greater conflagration at Berne ; for the lack of self-restraint 
on the part of some is marvellous. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Archives of Zurich. Gcst. vi. p. 6.] 



CCXXV. To MONSIEUR DE FALAis. 1 

Preparations for the marriage of Mademoiselle de Wilergy, bis relation. 

FROM GENEVA, this 17th of July [1548.] 

MONSEIGNEUR, I believe that it will be best as it is. If it 
had been possible to speak together about the contract, 2 1 would 
have much desired to do so ; but I do not know whether you 
will be able to come this week. However, the man offers, in 
case he should leave his wife a widow without children, that she 
shall have a thousand crowns. In the event of his leaving chil 
dren, she shall have the half, but on condition that, if she 
marry afterwards, and have also children by the second mar 
riage, she must not have the power of preferring them to those 
of the first. The present assignment will be founded upon the 

1 M. de Falais was on the point of leaving Bale to settle at Geneva. He arrived, 
doubtless, in that town the end of July 1548. We read, in a letter of Calvin to 

Viret of the 20th August 1548 : "Dominus Falesius uxor et soror vos salutant; 

the wife and sister of M. de Falais salute you." Vol. 106 of the Library of Geneva. 
The correspondence of Calvin with this Seigneur, thenceforward interrupted, was 
only resumed occasionally, and in 1552, ceased entirely. 

2 The contract of marriage of Mademoiselle Wilergy. 



160 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1548. 

instrument of Paris, to be implemented, when he shall have 
made good his money and expenses. I am of opinion that 
his offer is very liberal ; for it is quite right that the husband 
retain some control in his own hand. 

The wedding, I hope, will go off well. There must needs be 
some company, but no great multitude. And besides, we must 
not be too hard upon you, for it will be necessary to find lodg 
ings for them. I think ten persons will be a reasonable num 
ber, including myself. And seeing that my brother is not here 
at present, I know not whether we could send notice by letter 
to Dole and to Basle. Perhaps, indeed, we might, if they should 
be here for the whole day to-morrow. 

I had forgotten to mention the French traveller ; x that is, to 
tell you that I do not find him in any hurry ; and yet that is 
not by any means because all is not quite clear about him, but 
for the purpose of seeking some advantage over and above. I 
wish very much that it may please God to bring you hither to 
drink of the wine upon the spot, and that soon. If the bearer 
had left this earlier in the morning, you might have had a flask 
of it. If there were any means of sending you the half of it, 
I should not have failed to do so, but when I inquired, I found 
that it could not be done. 

And so, Monsieur, having commended me to your kind favour, 
and that of Madame and your whole household, I beseech our 
Lord to have you in his keeping. 

Your humble brother and servant, 

JOHN CALVIN, confined to bed. 

M. de Ballesan has written to request of me, that I would see 
whether he could get any help from you. After making excuses 
more than enough for you, I have at length been constrained to 
promise him that I would write to you about it, which I had 
resolved to do yesterday by Monsieur de Parey ; but he forgot 
to come, so great was his hurry to make the journey. 

[Orig. signal, autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 

1 M de Montmor. See the note, p. 127. 



1548. FAllEL. 161 



CCXXVL To FAREL. 

Uncertainty regarding the disposition of the Cantons stay of Monsieur and 
Madame de Falais in Calvin s house. 

[GENEVA,] 27th August 1548. 

I have no doubt, even although you do not expostulate with 
me, that you silently condemn me for neglect in having suf 
fered so many bearers to depart for you without my letter. If 
I were to plead that there was nothing to write about, you 
would at once confute me. Even though matter for corre 
spondence is never wanting, I permit myself to indulge in 
silence, when there is nothing pressing. We are waiting to 
find whether the Swiss will suffer themselves to be circum 
vented by the artifices of Ulysses. May the Lord look to this, 
on whose Providence it is fitting we should lean j 1 since reason 
does not guide the helm, and we know that fortune has no 
dominion. As far as can be divined, [their policy is as follows :] 
As on the one hand the Emperor will seek to deceive them by 
fair words, so they in their turn will keep him in suspense 
until they have seen that they are protected by those defences 
which they deem necessary. Here we are occupied in the usual 
way, but the skirmishes are slight. Unless I am wholly de 
ceived in my conjectures, either some disturbances will speedily 
arise, or this winter cause suffering to the great crowds in 
many places. Good Toussain 2 is not grieved by the matter. 
To his other troubles is added the disease of his son. You 
will therefore use your influence with Peter the surgeon to get 
him to repair to that quarter, in case some means of alleviation 
may be discovered. We shall see about William ; we have 
talked among ourselves regarding him. But as Allen and San 
Privat are present, we have as yet come to no determina 
tion. The godly man offers no objection, but I am unwilling 

1 Messengers of the Emperor were then scouring the Cantons with a view to de 
tach them from the French alliance, which was nevertheless renewed, 9th June 
1549. 

2 The minister Toussain, pastor of the church of Montbeliard, at that time dis 
persed by the imperial army. 

VOL. II. L 



162 VIRET. 1548. 

to send him away for no end. He will also return to Lausanne 
before he undertakes this journey. If you have found a trust 
worthy messenger, I wish you would send to me what letters 
of mine you have in your possession. Yiret is to do the same. 
I shall send them back, with certain marks, if there be any 
which it is not expedient all should read. I shall send each of 
you his own, when I am at liberty to do so, that you may add 
similar marks. I will take care that these are subjoined. I 
have not yet seen Christopher. M. de Falais is now with me, 
who I trust will pass the winter here. 1 I have caused him to 
cast away the unfavourable doubt regarding you, which he had 
conceived from your conversation. The more he loves you 
and defers to you, the more anxious was he that you should 
judge aright of his piety. But it is in truth as you say : when 
you demanded of him what you thought would be for the edifi 
cation of the Church, he suspected that you desiderated in him 
the very thing you sought for, as if he had not manifested it 
hitherto. Both [Monsieur and Madame de Falais] very affec 
tionately salute you, as also my colleagues ; and my wife, who 
is in bed from prolonged illness. I have been struggling 
these days past with pain in the head, and spasms of the 
stomach, to such a degree as to cause violent convulsions. 
Adieu, brother and most sincere friend, along with your family 
and brothers, especially my guest Fato, to whom I will send 
back the token of friendship, unless he sometime visit us. 
Yours, JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CCXXVII To ViRET. 2 

Embarrassment occasioned to Calvin by the treacherous publication of one of 
his letters to Viret. 

[GENEVA,] 20t7t September 1548. 

I was within a little of letting our friend Merlin depart with 
out a letter. When he was already equipped for the journey, 

1 See the letter to M. de Falais of 17th JVly 1548, and the relative note. 

2 V, r e have reproduced (Vol. i. p. 425,) a letter of Calvin to Viret, containing a 



1548. VIRET. 163 

he sacrificed for me the time between sermon and supper ; the 
half of which period I spent in conversation with some people. 
With regard to a successor to Himbert, I have scarcely ground 
for giving an advice. I see indeed the dangers that are im 
minent, unless some one be put in his place as soon as possible. 
I do not observe among you any one who pleases me in every 
respect. You cannot call from a distance any but unknown 
men. Our choice is accordingly restricted to those in whom 
you may have to desiderate something as wanting ; only let it 
not be piety and a moderate acquaintance with the language, 
qualifications that are to be regarded as the chief. But if you 
make choice of any one with this reservation, that he is not to 
be under obligation to remain in the office, should anything 
more suitable shortly afterwards present itself, you will take 
care expressly to state this to the person himself, and to the 
senate. When I became aware that the letter, obtained sur 
reptitiously and translated into French by Trolliet, was being cir 
culated, and that oil was thus poured on the flame, I came into 
the council chamber, and pointed out the injustice of those de 
vices, the danger of such procedure to the Church, and the evil 
precedent it afforded. That person was summoned; he appeared 
in the midst of the meeting ; I acknowledged my hand, and then 
made such an apology as the circumstances demanded. We were 
thus suffered to go home. A resolution, however, was come to, 

severe judgment of the Reformer upon the magistrates of Geneva. Stolen from 
Viret by a faithless servant, and given to the Seigneury by Trolliet, this letter ex 
cited real commotions, the traces of which are to be found in the Registers of 
Council. 

" Calvin justifies himself in council with regard to a certain letter he had written, 
in which it was alleged he blamed the Seigneury of this city. He also complains 
of the calumnies directed against him by Trolliet." 24th September. 

On the 15th October following, Farel appears in Council, " and prays them 
to entertain a constant regard for Calvin ; that he observes with grief they 
do not show to that servant of God the deference that is due to him .... pray 
ing the Council to take order therein." 28th October. "Farel testifies anew 
that too little regard is had for the character and merits of Calvin ; that he has no 
equal in learning ; that it was not necessary to take such offence at what he 
might have said, as he had censured w r ith great freedom the greatest men, such as 
Luther, Melanchthon, and many others. 

" Resolved, to thank the said Farel, and to remit to him the original of the fore- 
said letter, in order that it might be restored to Yiret." 



1G4 ViitET. 1548. 

that I should be again summoned after the following Monday. 
This has not been done. What has prevented it I know not, 
unless, as I suspect, it be the stratagem of the ungodly to afford 
them a weapon for the purpose of injuring me, as often as it shall 
be advantageous for them to employ it. For the council was 
disposed to allow the whole matter to pass into oblivion. Ac 
cordingly, if at any time I have stood in need of your help, you 
now see that I especially require it. For I shall not be able to 
urge you without a confession of fear. But if you repair hither, 
and complain of the injury done to you, if you then add that 
you do not deserve at the hands of the republic to have a letter 
that was stolen from you retained, if finally you demand its 
restoration, arid moreover signify that you need it for the con 
viction of the thief, I do not think it will be difficult to obtain 
it. Do you now consider whether another course is more ex 
pedient. The whole council is censured in the letter. For the 
time is described when Corna resigned the office of treasurer. 
I next mention those whom the people then created syndics, 
and who were allured into the council. Then follow finally 
the best things they wish to be expected of them. I know not 
what I ought to expect. For under pretext of Christ they mean 
to reign without Christ ; since among them are reckoned Amy 
Curtet, and Dominic Arlo, who are now in prison, until they 
shall have discharged the debts due by them to the public 
treasury. Perrin, with his friends, goes to them, and urges 
them to become reconciled to me. Others also solicit this. 
Last of all, they omit no wickedness by which they may over 
throw me. I partly dissemble, and partly openly profess that all 
their efforts are held by me in derision. For they would think 
they had obtained the victory, if they observed in me any token 
[of fear.] Nor indeed is there anything that is more fitted to 
break the force of their impetuosity, and animate good men in 
sustaining the cause, than my self-reliance. If you are not at 
liberty to come shortly, consider whether it be not expedient to 
write. But I should not wish you to do so, unless by a sure 
messenger, and one who should have a commission requiring an 
answer. Adieu, brother, and most sincere friend, along with 



1548. A FRENCH SEIGNEUR. 1G5 

your wife and young daughter. Respectfully salute the brethren. 
My wife also salutes you. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

If you can find a faithful friend, I should wish him once to 
read over what I have here written to you. 

[Lat. oriy. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CCXXVIIL To A FRENCH SEIGNEUR^ 

Exhortation to come to Geneva, that he might there serve the Lord faithfully. 

This 18th of October 1548. 

MONSIEUR, I have partly been informed of your intention 
by the Sieur Francois de la Riviere, and praise our Lord for 
the good courage he has given you to serve him fully. As 
we ought to yield ourselves up to him entirely and without 
reserve, if we desire to be approved as his, you must now ascer 
tain how you can employ yourself as is your duty in his ser 
vice. It is true that the earth is the Lord s, and that we are 
at liberty to dwell in any part of it, provided we take care to 
keep ourselves unpolluted, to honour him in our body as well 
as our spirit. When we are told that the whole earth is holy, 
we are thereby admonished, that we ought in nowise to defile 
it by leading a sinful life. You must now take good heed, that 
by concealing as you are doing the light that is in you, you do 
not make yourself a partaker in the pollutions which you very 
properly condemn in unbelievers. I fully believe, that your 
heart is very far from consenting thereto ; but in making the 
outward show of communicating, there can be no doubt that 
you thereby make a profession of consenting to it. And as 
before God we ought to manifest our detestation of idolatry, so 
also before men, we ought to abstain from whatsoever may 

1 Perhaps to Charles de Jonvillers, who became some years afterwards tho 
secretary and friend of the reformer. It was in fact in 1549, and in consequence 
of the advice of Calvin, that this Seigneur left Chartres, his country, to go to 
Geneva, which received him as inhabitant in 1550, and as burgess in 1556. 



166 A FRENCH SEIGKEUR. 1548. 

make it appear that we approve thereof. It is surely right that 
the body be kept quite pure for the service of God, as well as 
the soul, seeing that it is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and 
has the promise of the immortal glory which shall be revealed 
at the last clay. But is it possible to employ body and soul 
with sincerity of heart in the service of God, while we make a 
semblance of agreement with idolaters, in an act which we 
know to be dishonouring to God ? It is not enough to reply 
to this, that you make no oral declaration, indeed, that you 
would be ready to protest the contrary, were you required 
to do so, for you are well aware that you go thither with 
no other intention, than that of leading God s enemies to be 
lieve that you do not repudiate their doings, for if it was not 
for the sake of gratifying them, and by such means shrinking 
from the declaration, that you are utterly opposed to their 
sacrileges, you never would join them in an act of worship. 
And that is nothing else than rendering a feigned homage to 
their idol, albeit without the homage of the heart. If it seems 
to you that I am too severe in dealing with your faults so nar 
rowly, I ask you to enter upon the work of self-examination, 
and you will find, that I bring forward nothing against you, 
whereof your own conscience does not reprove you. Judge, 
then, whether God does not see there much more to find fault 
with, for he sees our state far more clearly than we ourselves 
do. Therefore, I cannot, consistently with the understanding 
which God has vouchsafed me, advise a Christian man to con 
tinue in such a state; and can only say, that to my thinking 
lie is truly happy who is free from such constraint. Whosoever 
therefore, has the means of withdrawing from it, ought not in 
my opinion on any account to neglect to do so. True it is, that 
never shall man have things so entirely to his mind, that he 
shall be exempted from difficulty, but, on the contrary, must 
expect many annoyances, even wrong and loss of property. 
But let us learn to prefer the honour of God to all things else. 
In your case, I understand that your merciful God has already 
brought you so far, that you are resolved not to stagnate in a 
place where you knowingly offend Him. Wherefore, I forbear 
from any more lengthened exhortations ; only, be careful not 



1548. A FRENCH SEIGNEOR. 167 

to quench that zeal which he has vouchsafed you, but rather 
stir it up as a remembrancer to keep you in mind to carry out 
your good intention. For I know well, and experience will 
convince you, how many distractions there are to make you 
forgetful of it, or so far to delay that you might grow cool about 
it. Kegarding the alternatives which Sire Francois has set 
before me, I have told him what to give you as my opinion. 
However, your departure must be like that out of Egypt, bring 
ing all your effects along with you. For all this, I believe you 
will need stedfast and very determined courage. But you are 
able to do all in Him who strengthens you. When He has 
brought you hither, you shall see how He will guide you farther. 
For my part, I would gladly help thereunto cheerfully and 
steadily, as bound I am to do. I am confident, that after lead 
ing you by the hand in greater things, He will not fail you on 
this occasion. But he is sometimes pleased to exercise and try 
our faith, so that while quitting hold of that which is within 
our grasp, we know not what we shall receive in place of it. 
We have an example of this in our father Abraham. After 
having commanded him to forsake his country, his kindred, and 
everything else, He shewed him no present reward, but put 
that off to another time. " Get thee out," said He, " into the 
land which I shall shew thee." Should it please Him at this 
time to do the like with us, that we must quit the land of our 
birth, and betake ourselves into an unknown country, without 
knowing how it may fare with us there, let us surrender our 
selves to Him, that He may direct our way, and let us honour 
Him, by trusting that He will steer us to a safe harbour. It 
is needful, at least, that you be informed beforehand that you 
shall enter here no earthly paradise, where you may rejoice in 
God without molestation : you will find a people unmannerly 
enough ; you will meet with some sufficiently annoying trials. 
In short, do not expect to better your condition, except in so 
far, that having been delivered from miserable bondage of body 
and of soul, you will have leave to serve God faithfully. You 
will have the pure doctrine of the Word, you will call upon His 
name in the fellowship of faithful men, you will enjoy the true 
use of the sacraments. But that may well be all in all to us, 



168 THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1548. 

if we only prize it as we ought. As for other comforts, you 
will take those which God vouchsafes to you, willingly suffer 
ing the want of those which He denies. Make up your mind, 
then, to follow Jesus Christ, without flying from the cross ; and 
indeed you would gain nothing by trying to avoid it, because it 
will assuredly find you out. But let us be content with this 
invaluable blessing, that we are allowed to live not only in 
peace of conscience, but daily to exercise ourselves in the doc 
trine of salvation, and in the use of the sacraments, for our con 
firmation. He who builds on this foundation, shall rear a solid 
edifice, and in truth you cannot evidence whether you do value 
Jesus Christ or not, unless by reckoning all the world as filth 
in comparison of Him. 

To conclude, having recommended me affectionately to your 
kind favour, I beseech our good Lord to fill you with the 
spirit of counsel and discretion, to discern what will be right 
and fitting for you to do, and to strengthen you in true con 
stancy, to put in practice whatsoever shall be according to His 
will ; that having done so, it may please Him to lead you by 
the hand, to bless you in going out and coming in, to turn all 
into godly prosperity. 

Your humble brother and servant in our Lord, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

[Fr. copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



CCXXIX. To THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1 

Duties imposed on the Protector by the high office which he holds plan of 
a complete reformation in England preaching of the pure Word of God 
rooting out of abuses correction of vices and scandalous offences, 

GENEVA, 22d October 1548. 

MONSEIGNEUR, Although God has endowed you with singular 
prudence, largeness of mind, and other virtues required in that 

1 Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, Duke of Somerset, Regent of England, 
under the minority of Edward VI. It was under his administration that the refor 
mation was victoriously established in England. Supported by Parliament, he 



1548. THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 169 

station wherein He has set you, and for the affairs which He 
has put into your hand ; nevertheless, inasmuch as you deem 
me to be a servant of His Son, whom you desire above all else 
to obey, I feel assured, that for the love of Him you will receive 
with courtesy, that which I write in His name, as indeed I 
have no other end in view, save only, that in following out yet 
more and more what you have begun, you may advance His 
honour, until you have established His kingdom in as great 
perfection as is to be looked for in the world. And you will 
perceive likewise as you read, that without advancing anything 
of my own, the whole is drawn from His own pure doctrine. 
Were I to look merely at the dignity and grandeur of your 
position, there would seem no access whatever for a man of my 
quality. But since you do not refuse to be taught of the 
Master whom I serve, but rather prize above all else the grace 
which He has bestowed in numbering you among His disciples, 
methinks I have no need to make you any long excuse or pre 
face, because I deem you well disposed to receive whatsoever 
proceeds from Him. 

We have all reason to be thankful to our God and Father, 
that He has been pleased to employ you in so excellent a work 
as that of setting up the purity and right order of His worship 
in England by your means, and establishing the doctrine of 
salvation, that it may there be faithfully proclaimed to all those 
who shall consent to hear it ; that He has vouchsafed you such 
firmness and constancy to persevere hitherto, in spite of so 
many trials and difficulties ; that He has helped you with His 
mighty arm, in blessing all your counsels and your labours, 

suppressed the troubles which arose in some parts of the kingdom after the death 
of Henry VIII., confirmed the king s supremacy, abolished the worship of images, 
private masses, and restored the communion in both kinds. He held a correspond 
ence with Calvin, who dedicated to him, June 24, 1548, his Commentary on the 
First Epistle of Paul to Timothy ; and by advice of the reformer, he offered an 
asylum to the exiles, Bucer, Fagi, Ochino, and Peter Martyr, banished for the 
sake of their religion from the Continent. Beloved by the people, hated by the 
nobles, he made himself unpopular by his want of success in the war, which he 
kept up against the Scots, and in France ; was overthrown by a conspiracy of the 
nobility, imprisoned in the Tower of London, (October 1549,) and only recovered 
his liberty the year following, to perish in 1552 on the scaffold, victim of the ambi 
tion of Warwick, Earl of Northumberland, his relative. 



J 70 THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1548. 

to make them prosper. These are grounds of thankfulness 
which stir up all true believers to magnify His name. Seeing 
however, that Satan never ceases to upheave new conflicts, and 
that it is a thing in itself so difficult, that nothing can be more 
so, to cause the truth of God to have peaceable dominion among 
men, who by nature are most prone to falsehood ; while on the 
other hand, there are so many circumstances which prevent its 
having free course ; and most of all, that the superstitions of 
Antichrist, having taken root for so long time, cannot be easily 
uprooted from men s hearts, you have much need, methinks, 
to be confirmed by holy exhortations. I cannot doubt, indeed, 
that you have felt this from experience ; and shall therefore 
deal all the more frankly with you, because, as I hope, my de 
liberate opinion will correspond with your own desire. Were 
my exhortations even uncalled for, you would bear with the 
zeal and earnestness which has led me to offer them. I believe, 
therefore, that the need of them which you feel, will make them 
all the more welcome. However this may be, Monseigneur, 
may it please you to grant me audience in some particular re 
formations which I propose to lay here briefly before you, in 
the hope, that when you shall have listened to them, you will 
at least find some savour of consolation therein, and feel the 
more encouraged to prosecute the holy and noble enterprise in 
which God has hitherto been pleased to employ you. 

I have no doubt that the great troubles which have fallen out 
for some time past, must have been very severe and annoying 
to you, and especially as many may have found in them occasion 
of offence ; forasmuch as they were partly excited under cover 
of the change of religion. Wherefore you must necessarily have 
felt them very keenly, as well on account of the apprehensions 
they may have raised in your mind, as of the murmurs of the 
ignorant or disaffected, and also of the alarm of the well-dis 
posed. Certes, the mere rumour which I heard from afar, 
caused me heartfelt anxiety, until I was informed that God had 
begun to apply a remedy thereto. However, since perhaps they 
are not yet entirely allayed, or seeing that the devil may have 
kindled them anew, it will be well that you call to mind what 
the sacred history relates of good King Hezekiah, (2 Chron. 



1548. THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 171 

xxxii.,) namely, that after he had abolished the superstitions 
throughout Judea, reformed the state of the church according 
to the law of God, he was even then so pressed by his enemies, 
that it almost seemed as if he was a lost and ruined man. It 
is not without reason that the Holy Spirit pointedly declares, 
that such an affliction happened to him immediately after having 
re-established the true religion in his realm ; for it may well 
have seemed reasonable to himself, that having striven with 
all his might to set up the reign of God, he should have 
peace within his own kingdom. Thus, all faithful princes and 
governors of countries are forewarned by that example, that 
however earnest they may be in banishing idolatry and in pro 
moting the true worship of God, their faith may yet be tried by 
diverse temptations. So God permits, and wills it to be thus, 
to manifest the constancy of his people, and to lead them to 
look above the world. Meanwhile, the devil also does his work, 
endeavouring to ruin sound doctrine by indirect means, working 
as it were underground, forasmuch as he could not openly 
attain his end. But according to the admonition of St. James, 
(James v. 11,) who tells us, that in considering the patience of 
Job, we must look to the end of it, so ought we, Monseigneur, to 
look to the end which was vouchsafed to this good king. We 
see there that God was a present help in all his perplexities, and 
that at length he came off victorious. Wherefore, seeing that 
His arm is not shortened, and that in the present day, He has 
the defence of the truth and the salvation of His own as 
much at heart as ever, never doubt that He will come to your 
aid, and that not once only, but in all the trials He may send 
you. 

If the majority of the world oppose the Gospel, and even 
strive with rage and violence to hinder its progress, we ought 
not to think it strange. It proceeds from the ingratitude of men, 
which has always shewn itself, and ever will, in drawing back 
when God comes near, and even in kicking against Him when 
He would put His yoke upon them. More than that, because 
by nature they are wholly given to hypocrisy, they cannot bear 
to be brought to the clear light of the Word of God, which lays 
bare their baseness and shame, nor to be drawn forth out of 



172 THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1548. 

their superstitions, which serve them as a hiding -hole and shady 
covert. It is nothing new ; then, if we meet with contradiction 
when we attempt to lead men back to the pure worship of God. 
And we have, besides, the clear announcement of our Lord 
Jesus, who tells us that He has brought a sword along with His 
Gospel. But let not this daunt us, nor make us shrink and be 
fearful, for at last, when men shall have rebelled most stoutly, 
and vomited forth all their rage, they shall be put to confusion 
in a moment, and shall destroy themselves by the fury of their 
own onset. That is a true saying, in the second Psalm, That God 
shall only laugh at their commotion ; that is to say, that seem 
ing to connive, He will let them bluster, as if the affair did not 
at all concern Him. But it always happens, that at length they 
are driven back by His power, wherewith if we be armed, we 
have a sure and invincible munition, whatsoever plots the devil 
may frame against us, and shall know by experience in the end, 
that even as the Gospel is the message of peace and of recon 
ciliation between God and us, it will also avail us to pacify men ; 
and in this way we shall understand, that it is not in vain that 
Isaiah has said, (Is. ii. 4,) that when Jesus Christ shall rule in 
the midst of us by His doctrine, the swords shall be turned into 
ploughshares, and the spears into pruning-hooks. 

Albeit, however, the wickedness and opposition of men may 
be the cause of the sedition and rebellion which rises up against 
the Gospel, let us look to ourselves, and acknowledge that God 
chastises our faults by those who would otherwise serve Satan 
only. It is an old complaint, that the Gospel is the cause of 
all the ills and calamities that befall mankind. We see, in 
fact, from history, that shortly after Christianity had been every 
where spread abroad, there was not, so to speak, a corner of the 
earth which was not horribly afflicted. The uproar of war, like 
a universal fire, was kindled in all lands. Land-floods on the 
one hand, and famine and pestilence on the other, a chaotic 
confusion of order and civil polity to such a degree, that it 
seemed as if the world was presently about to be overturned. 
In like manner we have seen in our times, since the Gospel has 
begun to be set up ; much misery ; to such an extent, indeed, 
that every one complains we are come upon an unhappy period, 



1518. THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 173 

and there are very few who do not groan under this burden. 
While, then, we feel the blow, we ought to look upward to the 
hand of Him who strikes, and ought also to consider why the 
blow is sent. The reason why He makes us thus to feel His 
rod is neither very obscure nor difficult to be understood. We 
know that the Word, by which He would guide us to salvation, 
is an invaluable treasure ; with what reverence do we receive it 
when He presents it to us ? Seeing, then, that we make no 
great account of that which is so precious, God has good reason 
to avenge Himself of our ingratitude. We hear also what 
Jesus Christ announces, (Luke xii. 47,) that the servant know 
ing the will of his Master, and not doing it, deserves double 
chastisement. Since, therefore, we are so remiss in obeying the 
will of our God, who has declared it to us more than a hundred 
times already, let us not think it strange if His anger rage 
more severely against us, seeing that we are all the more inex 
cusable. When we do not cultivate the good seed, there is 
much reason that the thorns and thistles of Satan should spring- 
up to trouble and annoy us. Since we do not render to our 
Creator the submission which is due to Him, it is no wonder 
that men rise up against us. 

From what I am given to understand, Monseigneur, there 
are two kinds of rebels who have risen up against the King and 
the Estates of the Kingdom. The one, a fantastical sort ot 
persons, who, under colour of the Gospel, would put all into 
confusion. The others are persons who persist in the supersti 
tions of the Koman Antichrist. Both alike deserve to be re 
pressed by the sword which is committed to you, since they not 
only attack the King, but strive with God, who has placed him 
upon a royal throne, and has committed to you the protection 
as well of his person as of his majesty. But the chief point is, 
to endeavour as much as possible, that those who have some 
savour of a liking for the doctrine of the Gospel, so as to hold 
fast, should receive it with such humility and godly fear, as to 
renounce self in order to serve God ; for they ought seriously to 
consider that God would awaken them all, so that in good ear 
nest they may profit far more from His Word than they have 
ever yet done. These madmen, who would have the whole 



174 THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1548. 

world turned back into a chaos of licentiousness, are hired by 
Satan to defame the Gospel, as if it bred nothing but revolt 
against princes, and all sorts of disorder in the world. Where 
fore, all the faithful ought to be deeply grieved. The Papists, in 
endeavouring to maintain the corruptions and abominations of 
their Kornish idol, shew themselves to be the open enemies of the 
grace of Jesus Christ, and of all His ordinances. That ought 
likewise to occasion great sickness at heart among all those who 
have a single drop of godly zeal. And therefore they ought every 
one of them earnestly to consider, that these are the rods of God 
for their correction. And wherefore ? Just because they do not 
set a proper value on the doctrine of salvation. Herein lies the 
chief remedy for the silencing of such calumnies, that those who 
make profession of the Gospel be indeed renewed after the image 
of God, so as to make manifest that our Christianity does not 
occasion any interruption of the humanities of social life, and 
to give good evidence, by their temperance and moderation, that 
being governed by the Word of God, we are not unruly people 
subject to no restraint, and so by an upright holy life shut the 
mouth of all the evil speakers. For by this means God, being 
pacified, shall withdraw His hand, and instead of, as at this day, 
punishing the contempt with which they have treated His Word, 
He will reward their obedience with all prosperity. It would 
be well were all the nobility and those who administer justice, 
to submit themselves, in uprightness and all humility, to this 
great King, Jesus Christ, paying Him sincere homage, and with 
faith unfeigned, in body, soul, and spirit, so that He may cor 
rect and beat down the arrogance and rashness of those who 
would rise up against them. Thus ought earthly princes to 
rule and govern, serving Jesus Christ, and taking order that 
He may have His own sovereign authority over all, both small 
and great. Wherefore, Monseigneur, as you hold dear and in 
regard the estate of your royal nephew, as indeed you shew 
plainly that you do, I beseech you, in the name of God, to apply 
your chief care and watchfulness to this end, that the doctrine 
of God may be proclaimed with efficacy and power, so as to pro 
duce its fruit, and never to grow weary, whatsoever may happen, 
in following out fully, an open and complete reformation of the 



1548. THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 175 

Church. The better to explain to you what I mean, I shall 
arrange the whole under three heads. 

The first shall treat of the sound instruction of the people ; 
the second shall regard the rooting out of abuses which have 
prevailed hitherto ; the third, the careful repression and cor 
rection of vice, and to take strict heed that scandals and loose 
conversation may not grow into a fashion, so as to cause the 
name of God to be blasphemed. 

As concerning the first article, I do not mean to pronounce 
what doctrine ought to have place. Kather do I offer thanks 
to God for his goodness, that after having enlightened you in 
the pure knowledge of Himself, He has given you wisdom and 
discretion to take measures that His pure truth may be 
preached. Praise be to God, you have not to learn what is the 
true faith of Christians, and the doctrine which they ought to 
hold, seeing that by your means the true purity of the faith has 
been restored. That is, that we hold God alone to be the sole j 
Governor of our souls, that we hold His law to be the only \ 
rule and spiritual directory for our consciences, not serving Him 
according to the foolish inventions of men. Also, that accord 
ing to His nature He would be worshipped in spirit and in 
purity of heart. On the other hand, acknowledging that there 
is nothing but all wretchedness in ourselves, and that we are 
corrupt in all our feelings and affections, so that our souls are 
a very abyss of iniquity, utterly despairing of ourselves ; and 
that, having exhausted every presumption of our own wisdom, 
worth, or power of well-doing, we must have recourse to the 
fountain of every blessing, which is in Christ Jesus, accepting 
that which He confers on us, that is to say, the merit of His 
death and passion, that by this means we may be reconciled to 
God ; that being washed in His blood, we may have no fear 
lest our spots prevent us from finding grace at the heavenly 
throne ; that being assured that our sins are pardoned freely in 
virtue of his sacrifice, we may lean, yea rest upon, that for assur 
ance of our salvation ; that we may be sanctified by His Spirit, 
and so consecrate ourselves to the obedience of the righteous 
ness of God ; that being strengthened by His grace, we may 
overcome Satan, the world, and the flesh ; finally, that being 



176 THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1548. 

members of His body, we may never doubt that God reckons 
us among the number of His children, and that we may con 
fidently call upon Him as our Father ; that we may be careful 
to recognise and bear in mind this purpose in whatsoever is 
said or done in the Church, namely, that being separated from 
the world, we should rise to heaven with our Head and Saviour. 
Seeing then that God has given you grace to re-establish the 
knowledge of this doctrine, which had been so long buried out 
of sight by Antichrist, I forbear from entering further on the 
subject. 

What I have thus suggested as to the manner of instruction, 
is only that the people be so taught as to be touched to the 
quick, and that they may feel that what the Apostle says is true, 
(Heb. iv.) that " the Word of God is a two-edged sword, piercing 
even through the thoughts and affections to the very marrow of 
the bones." I speak thus, Monseigneur, because it appears to 
me that there is very little preaching of a lively kind in the 
kingdom, but that the greater part deliver it by way of reading 
from a written discourse. I see very well the necessity which 
constrains you to that ; for in the first place you have not, as I 
believe, such well-approved and competent pastors as you desire. 
Wherefore, you need forthwith to supply this want. Secondly, 
there may very likely be among them many flighty persons 
who would go beyond all bounds, sowing their own silly fancies, 
as often happens on occasion of a change. But all these con 
siderations ought not to hinder the ordinance of Jesus Christ 
from having free course in the preaching of the Gospel. Now, 
this preaching ought not to be lifeless but lively, to teach, to 
exhort, to reprove, as Saint Paul says in speaking thereof to 
Timothy, (2 Tim. iii.) So indeed, that if an unbeliever enter, 
he may be so effectually arrested and convinced, as to give 
glory to God, as Paul says in another passage, (1 Cor. xiv.) 
You are also aware, Monseigneur, how he speaks of the lively 
power and energy with which they ought to speak, who would 
approve themselves as good and faithful ministers of God, who 
must not make a parade of rhetoric only to gain esteem for 
themselves ; but that the Spirit of God ought to sound forth by 
their voice, so as to work with mighty energy. Whatever 



1548. THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 177 

may be the amount of danger to be feared, that ought not to 
hinder the Spirit of God from having liberty and free course in 
those to whom He has given grace for the edifying of the 
Church. 

True it is, nevertheless., that it is both right and fitting to 
oppose the levity of some fantastic minds, who allow themselves 
in too great license, and also to shut the door against all eccen 
tricities and new doctrines ; but the method to be taken, which 
God hath pointed out to us, for dealing with such occurrences, 
is well fitted to dispose of them. In the first place, there ought v 
to be an explicit summary of the doctrine which all ought to 
preach, which all prelates and curates swear to follow, and no 
one should be received to any ecclesiastic charge who does not 
promise to preserve such agreement. Next, that they have a * 
common formula of instruction for little children and for ignorant 
persons, serving to make them familiar with sound doctrine, so 
that they may be able to discern the difference between it and 
the falsehood and corruptions which may be brought forward in 
opposition to it. Believe me, Monseigneur,ithe Church of God " 
will never preserve itself without a Catechism, for it is like the 
seed to keep the good grain from dying out, and causing it to 
multiply from age to age. And therefore, if you desire to build 
an edifice which shall be of long duration, and which shall not 
soon fall into decay, make provision for the children being in 
structed in a good Catechism, which may shew them briefly, 
and in language level to their tender age, wherein true Chris 
tianity consists. This Catechism will serve two purposes, to ^ 
wit, as an introduction to the whole people, so that every one 
may profit from what shall be preached, and also to enable them 
to discern when any presumptuous person puts forward strange 
doctrine. Indeed, I do not say that it may not be well, and even 
necessary, to bind down the pastors and curates to a certain 
written form, as well for the sake of supplementing the ignor 
ance and deficiencies of some, as the better to manifest the con 
formity and agreement between all the churches ; thirdly, to 
take away all ground of pretence for bringing in any eccentri 
city or new-fangled doctrine on the part of those who only seek 
to indulge an idle fancy ; as I have already said, the Catechism 

VOL. ir. M 



178 THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1548. 

ought to serve as a check upon such people. There is, besides, 
the form and manner of administration of the sacraments ; also 
the public prayers. But whatever, in the meantime, be the 
arrangement in regard to these matters, care must be taken not 
to quench the efficacy which ought to attend the preaching of 
the Gospel. And the utmost care should be taken, that so far 
as possible you have good trumpets, which shall sound into the 
very depths of the heart. For there is some danger that you 
may see no great profit from all the reformation which you shall 
have brought about, however sound and godly it may have been, 
unless this powerful instrument of preaching be developed more 
and more. It is not said without a meaning, that Jesus Christ 
shall smite the earth ivith the rod of his mouth, and ivith the 
breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked, (Is. xi. 4.) The 
way by which He is pleased to subdue us is, by destroying what 
soever is contrary to Himself. And herein you may also per 
ceive why the Gospel is called the Kingdom of God. Even so, 
albeit the edicts and statutes of princes are good helps for ad 
vancing and upholding the state of Christianity, yet God is 
pleased to declare His sovereign power by this spiritual sword 
of His Word, when it is made known by the pastors. 

Not to tire you, Monseigneur, I shall now come to the 
second point which I propose to touch upon ; that is, the aboli 
tion and entire uprooting of the abuses and corruptions which 
Satan had aforetime mixed up with the ordinances of God. We 
wot well that under the Pope there is a bastard sort of Chris 
tianity, and that God will disavow it at the last day, seeing that 
He now condemns it by His Word. If we desire to rescue the 
world from such an abyss, there is no better method than to 
follow the example of St. Paul, who, wishing to correct what 
the Corinthians had improperly added to the Supper of our 
Lord, tells them, (1 Cor. xi.,) I have received of the Lord that 
ivhich I have delivered to you. Thence we are bound to take 
a general instruction, to return to the strict and natural mean 
ing of the commandment of God, if we would have a sound 
reformation and by Him approven. For whatsoever mixtures 
men have brought in of their own devising, have been just so 
many pollutions which turn us aside from the sanctified use of 



1548. THE PROTECTOK SOMERSET. 179 

what God has bestowed for our salvation. Therefore, to lop off 
such abuses by halves will by no means restore things to a state 
of purity, for then we shall always have a clressed-up Chris- ^ 
tianity. I say this, because there are some who, under pretence 
of moderation, are in favour of sparing many abuses, without 
meddling with them at all, and to whom it appears enough to 
have rooted out the principal one. But on the contrary, we see 
how fertile is the seed of falsehood, and that only a single grain 
is needed to fill the world with them in three days time, to such 
an extent are men inclined and addicted thereto. Our Lord 
teaches quite another method of procedure, for when David 
speaks of the idols he says, (Psalm xvi.,) Their names will I not 
take up into my lips, to intimate in what degree of detestation 
we ought to hold them. Above all, if we consider how we have 
offended God in the days of our ignorance, we ought to feel 
doubly bound to flee from the inventions of Satan, which have 
led us into the commission of evil, as from baits which serve 
only to seduce souls. On the other hand, we see, even when 
we remonstrate with men about their faults and errors, though 
we warn them as earnestly as possible, they are nevertheless so 
hardened that we can produce no effect. If, therefore, we were 
to leave them any remnant of abuse, that would only serve to 
nourish their obstinacy the more, and become a veil to darken 
all the doctrine which we might set before them. I willingly l 
acknowledge that we must observe moderation, and that over 
doing is neither discreet nor useful ; indeed, that forms of wor 
ship need to be accommodated to the condition and tastes of the 
people. But the corruptions of Satan and of Antichrist must / 
not be admitted under that pretext. Therefore it is that Holy " 
Scripture, when praising those kings who had cast down the 
idols and their worshippers, not having swept them entirely 
away, notes it as a blemish, that nevertheless they had not cast 
down the chapelries and places of silly devotion. Wherefore, 

Monseigneur, seeing that God has brought you so far, take 
order, I beseech you, that so without any exception He may 
approve you as a repairer of His temple, so that the times of 
the king your nephew may be compared to those of Josiah, and 
that you put things in such condition, that he may only need 



180 THE PROTECT011 SOMERSET. 1548, 

to maintain the goodly order which God shall have prepared 
for him hy your means. I will mention to you an instance of 
such corruptions,, as, if they were allowed to remain, would be- 
, come a little leaven, to sour in the end the whole lump. In 
your country, some prayer is made for the departed on occasion 
of communicating in the Lord s Supper. I am well aware that 
it is not done in admission of the purgatory of the Pope. I am 
also aware that ancient custom can be pleaded for making some 
mention of the departed, for the sake of uniting together all 
the members of the one body. But there is a peremptory 
ground of objection against it, that the Supper of Jesus Christ 
is an action so sacred, that it ought not to be soiled by any 
human inventions whatsoever. And besides, in prayer to God, 
we must not take an unbounded license in our devotions, but 
observe the rule which St. Paul gives us, (Eomans x.,) which 
is, that we must be founded upon the Word of God ; therefore, 
such commemoration of the dead, as imports a commending 
of them to His grace, is contrary to the due form and manner 
j&gt;f praj^er, it is a hurtful addition to the Supper of our Lord. 
There are other things which possibly may be less open to 
reproof, which however are not to be excused : such as the 
ceremony of chrism and unction. The chrism has been in 
vented out of a frivolous humour by those who, not content 
with the institution of Jesus Christ, desired to counterfeit the 
Holy Spirit by a new sign, as if water were not sufficient for 
the purpose. What they call extreme unction, has been re 
tained by the inconsiderate zeal of those, who have wished to 
follow the apostles without being gifted as they were. When 
the apostles used oil in the case of the sick, it was for the heal 
ing of them miraculously. Now, when the gift of miracles has 
ceased, the figure ought no longer to be employed. Wherefore, 
it would be much better that these things should be pruned 
away, so that you might have nothing which is not conform to 
the Word of God, and serviceable for the edification of the 
Church. It is quite true we ought to bear with the weak ; but 
in order to strengthen them, and to lead them to greater per 
fection. That does not mean, however, that we are to humour 
blockheads who wish for this or that, without knowing why. I 



1548. THE PKOTECTOR SOMEBSET. 181 

know the consideration which keeps back many is, tnat they are 
afraid too great a change could not be carried through. It is 
admitted, that when we have to do with neighbours with whom 
we desire to cherish friendly feeling, one is disposed to gratify 
them by giving way in many things. In worldly matters, that may 
be quite bearable, wherein it is allowable to yield one to another, 
and to forego one s right for the sake of peace ; but it is not 
altogether the same thing in regard to the spiritual governance 
of .the Church, which ought to be according to the ordinance of 
the Word of God. Herein, we are not at liberty to yield up j 
anything to men, nor to turn aside on either hand in their 
favour. Indeed there is nought that is more displeasing to- \ 
God, than when we would, in accordance with our own human 
wisdom, modify or curtail, advance or retreat, otherwise than 
He would have us. Wherefore, if we do not wish to dis 
please Him, we must shut our eyes to the opinion of men. As 
for the dangers which may arise, we ought to avoid them so far 
as we can, but never by going aside from the straight road. 
While we walk uprightly, we have His promise that He will 
help us. Therefore, what remains for us is to do our duty, 
humbly committing the event unto Himself. And here we 
may perceive wherefore the wise men of this world are ofttimes 
disappointed in their expectation, because God is not with 
them, when, in distrust of Him and His aid, they seek out 
crooked paths and such as He condemns. Do we then wish to 
feel that we have the power of God upon our side ? Let us 
simply follow what he tells us. Above all, we must cling to 
this maxim, that the reformation of His Church is the work of 
His hand. Wherefore, in such matters, men must leave them 
selves to be guided by Him. What is more, whether in re 
storing or in preserving the Church, He thinks fit for the most 
part, to proceed after a method marvellous, and beyond human 
conception. And, therefore, it were unseemly to confine that 
restoration, which must be Divine, to the measure of our un 
derstanding, and to bring that which is heavenly into subjec 
tion to what is earthly and of this world s fashion. I do not 
thus exclude the prudence which is so much needed, to take all 
appropriate and right means, not falling into extremes either 



182 THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1548. 

on the one side or upon the other, to gain over the whole world 
to God, if that were possible. But the wisdom of the Spirit, 
not that of the flesh, must overrule all ; and having inquired at 
the mouth of the Lord, we must ask Him. to guide and lead us, 
rather than follow the bent of our own understanding. When 
we take this method, it will be easy to cut off much occasion 
of temptation, which might otherwise stop our progress 
midway. 

Wherefore, MOD seigneur, as you have begun to bring back 
Christianity to the place which belongs to it, throughout the 
realm of England, not at all in self-confidence, but upheld by 
the hand of God, as hitherto you have had sensible experience 
of that powerful arm, you must not doubt that it shall con 
tinue with you to the end. If God upholds the kingdoms and 
the principalities of the infidels who are His enemies, far more 
certainly will He have in safeguard those who range themselves 
on His side and seek Him for their superior. 

I come now to the last point, which concerns the chastise 
ment of vice and the repression of scandals. I have no doubt 
that there are laws and statutes of the kingdom both good and 
laudable, to keep the people within the bounds of decency. 
But the great and boundless licentiousness which I see every 
where throughout the world, constrains me to beseech you, that 
you would earnestly turn your attention to keeping men within 
the restraint of sound and wholesome discipline. That, above 
all, you would hold yourself charged, for the honour of God, to 
punish those crimes of which men have been in the habit of 
making no very great account. I speak of this, because some 
times larcenies, assault, and extortions are more severely 
punished, because thereby men are wronged, whereas they will 
tolerate whoredom and adultery, drunkenness, and blaspheming 
of the name of God, as if these were things quite allowable, or at 
least of very small importance. Let us hear, however, what 
God thinks of them. He proclaims aloud, how precious His 
name is unto Him. Meanwhile, it is as if torn in pieces and 
trampled under foot. It can never be that He will allow such 
shameful reproach to remain unpunished. More than this, 
Scripture clearly points out to us, that by reason of blasphemies 



1548. THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 183 

a whole country is defiled. As concerning adulteries, we, who 
call ourselves Christians, ought to take great shame to ourselves 
that even the heathen have exercised greater rigour in their 
punishment of such than we do, seeing even that some among 
us only laugh at them. When holy matrimony, which ought 
to be a lively image of the sacred union which we have with 
the Son of God, is polluted, and the covenant, which ought to 
stand more firm and indissoluble than any in this world, is 
disloyally rent asunder, if we do not lay to heart that sin 
against God, it is a token that our zeal for God is very low 
indeed. As for whoredom, it ought to be quite enough for us 
that St. Paul compares it to sacrilege, inasmuch as by its means 
the temples of God, which our bodies are, are profaned. Be 
it remembered also, that whoremongers and drunkards are 
banished from the kingdom of God, on such terms that we are 
forbidden to converse with them, whence it clearly follows, that 
they ought not to be endured in the Church. We see herein 
the cause why so many rods of judgment are at this very day 
lifted up over the earth. For the more easily men pardon 
themselves in such enormities, the more certainly will God 
take vengeance on them. Wherefore, to prevent His wrath, I 
entreat of you, Monseigneur, to hold a tight rein, and to take 
order, that those \yhp hear the doctrine of the Gospel, approve 
their Christianity by a life of holiness. For as doctrine is the 
soul of the Church for quickening, so discipline and the correc 
tion of vices are like the nerves to sustain the body in a state 
of health and vigour. The duty of bishops and curates is to 
keep watch over that, to the end that the Supper of our Lord 
may not be polluted by people of scandalous lives. But in the "" 
authority where God has set you, the chief responsibility returns 
upon you, who have a special charge given you to set the others 
in motion, on purpose that every one discharge himself of duty, 
and diligently to look to it, that the order which shall have 
been established may be duly observed. 

Now, Monseigneur, agreeably to the protestation which I 
made above, I shall make no further excuse, neither of the 
tiresomeness of my letter, nor on account of my having thus 
freely laid open to you what I had so much at heart. For I 



184 FAKEL. 1548. 

feel assured that my affection is well known to you, while in 
your wisdom, and as you are well versed in the Holy Scriptures, 
you perceive from what fountain I have drawn all that is herein 
contained. Wherefore, I do not fear to have been troublesome 
or importunate to you, in making manifest, according as I 
could, the hearty desire I have that the name of God may 
always be more and more glorified by you, which is my daily 
supplication, beseeching Him that He would please to increase 
His grace in you, to confirm you by His Spirit in a true uncon 
querable constancy, upholding you against all enemies, having 
yourself with your whole household under His holy protection, 
enabling you successfully to administer the charge which is 
committed to you, that so the King may have whereof to 
praise this gracious God for having had such a governor in his 
childhood, both for his person and for his kingdom. 

Whereupon I shall make an end, Monseigneur, very humbly 
commending me to your kind favour. 

[Fr. Copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



CCXXX. To FAREL. 

Election of new magistrates at Geneva troubles in France letter from Bucer. 

GENEVA, 27tk November 1548. 

You ought not to impute to my negligence your not having 
received a letter from me since you set sail from this place ; for 
I have found no one setting out in your direction. It is not 
quite safe, moreover, in these times, for a letter to be carried 
about by a variety of hands. In the next place, I hardly know 
what to write to you, because there is nothing that is not fitted 
to cause you much more annoyance than satisfaction. The 
prefect Molard is here, with whom are joined as accessors the 
eldest son of Balthazar and a certain Kigot of that faction. You 
see, therefore, that there will be no danger this year to the wicked 
from the severity of the judges. We wait, however, to see in 
what channel their licence will break forth. On the same day 



1548. FAREL. 185 

our comic friend Caesar again donned the socks. 1 Being now 
rendered somewhat more ferocious, he boasts among his stage- 
players after his own Thrasonic fashion. Finally, there appears 
to be no hope of speedy amendment, whatever we may essay. 
Nor is it to be doubted that they are labouring to effect a great 
revolution in the republic at the next assembly of syndics ; but 
the Lord in heaven is vigilant. 

The commotions at Bourdeaux are settled, or they are at least 
lulled for a season. 2 For examples of extreme cruelty have been 
exhibited, which may in a short time boil forth in greater tem 
pests. The people of Saintonge keep themselves concealed in 
the isles. Bucer lately wrote to me that Antiochus was looking 
forward to a day of purification. As far as I can gather from his 
letter, the council have no heart for that. 3 I also received a 
letter from Bullinger yesterday. When I reply you will know 
allJ Should our council by chance permit what has been adduced 
against the Interim of the sons of Cassar 4 to be printed here, 
I shall send you a copy by the first messenger I can find. But 
as Trolliet maintains among his own friends that there is no 
need of so many books and sermons, I am afraid lest his autho 
rity prove so powerful as to force us to seek a press elsewhere. 
Adieu, brother and most sincere friend, along with your col 
leagues Fatin, Michel, Thomas, and the rest of the co-presby 
ters. May the Lord continue to guide you all by His Holy 
Spirit. You will salute your whole family in my name and in 
that of my wife. All my city colleagues salute you. The 
others conduct themselves piously and uprightly, with the two 
exceptions of Philip and Ludovic Siliniac. James Bernard had 

1 Deprived, the preceding year, of his office of councillor and captain-general, 
Amy Perrin had contrived, by the force of intrigue, to recover his former 
dignities. 

2 The city of Bourdeaux having risen in revolt against the authority of the king, 
on the ground of fresh taxation, the Constable Montmorency, being commissioned 
to suppress tho disturbances, acted with relentless severity, and signalized his 
entry into the capital of Guienne by frightful executions. De Thou, Lib. v. 

8 Bucer wrote to Calvin: " Earnestly entreat the Lord for this republic that 
it may learn to put away its own will and obey Him." Calv. Opera, Lib. ix. p. 46. 
But the magistrates had already resolved to make their submission, which involved 
the suppression of the Gospel in that unhappy city. 

4 Is tho reference to the partisans of the Imperial Alliance V 



186 JOHN STURM. 1548. 

lately a quarrel with a grandson of Wendelin, because he allied 
the latter too closely with us. His brother left this for another 
place three days ago. In haste, yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CCXXXI To JOHN STURM. 1 

Evidences of faith and Christian steadfastness, amid the dangers that 
threaten the Church. 

[GENEVA, December 1548.] 

If the rumour that has suddenly been spread among us be 
true, it behoves us to hold ourselves ready for the clash of arms. 
Would that the world were wise, for in that case it would long 
ago have been accustomed to cultivate peace under the favour 
of God. But since a good part of it takes too much pleasure 
in a war with God, it is but just that all those who refuse 
peaceably to submit themselves to the Author of Peace, should 
perish wretchedly in their mutual tumults. We ought at least 

1 Without date. This letter appears to have been written at the moment when 
Strasbourg, menaced by the victorious army of Charles V., was disposed, in spite 
of the counsel of Bucer, to accept the Interim, and avoid by a voluntary submis 
sion the punishment inflicted on the leagued cities of Germany (December 
1548.) 

John Sturm, a learned humanist and able politician, born at Sleida in 1507, 
passed through a brilliant course of study at the University of Louvain. Famous 
from his youth for learning and eloquence, he was nominated in 1529 Professor of 
Belles Lettres in the College of France, founded by Francis 1., and became in 
1537 Eector of the celebrated Academy of Strasbourg. Connected thenceforward 
with the German and Swiss Reformers, he occupied an important place in the re 
ligious negotiations of the age, maintained a correspondence with the principal 
European sovereigns, and died in 1583. 

Calvin and Sturm were known to each other, and associated together during the 
sojourn of the French Reformer at Strasbourg. From this period date the rela 
tions they maintained during many years, numerous precious memorials of which 
are to be found in the correspondence of Calvin. Sec on the subject of Sturm 
the curious and learned work entitled : La vie ct les travaux de Jean /Sturm, 
Premier llecteur de VAcademie de /Strasbourg, par C. Schmidt. 1 vol. in 8vo, 
1855. 



1549. MADAME DE CANY. 187 

to take this consolation in the midst of evils ; that those stormy 
troubles bring some cessation of hostilities to the Church of 
God. The power of Antiochus will be ruined ; our Pharaoh 
being conquered, will turn his violent assaults elsewhere, and 
relax perchance somewhat of his severity at home. New 
friends also will be able to effect some mitigation. I refrain 
from exhorting you to use your efforts in the particular quarter 
to which I refer, because I am persuaded that there is already 
sufficient willingness. As to the rest, whether a final dispersion 
be imminent, or, what is more pleasing to forecast, whether 
the Lord has resolved to gather together, by means of earthly 
commotions, into His heavenly kingdom, all those who are now 
scattered and wandering wretchedly abroad, we shall have cher 
ished a friendship in good faith, the bond of which is in 
violable l 

[Lat. oriy. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107 a .] 



CCXXX1I.- To MADAME DE CANY. 2 

Exhortation to a courageous and honest profession of the truth. 

Tids 8th January 1549. 

MADAME, I would not have taken the liberty to write to 
you, if a man, whom I ought to trust among all others, had riot 
emboldened me to do so, by assuring me that my letter would 
be agreeable to you. That is 3 Monsieur de Kormandie, who, 
feeling himself obliged to you for the kindness you had shewn 
him, had a special desire to do you service, so far as he had the 

1 Conclusion wanting in the original manuscript. 

2 Peronne de Pisseleu, wife of Michel de Barbanfon, Seigneur de Cany, one of the 
personages of most importance in Picardy. This lady, instructed in the reformed 
faith by Laurent de Normaiidie, lieutenant of the king at Noyon, and the friend of 
Calvin, had for a long time to endure the severity of her husband, who afterwards 
came at a later period to be a partaker of like faith. Beze, Hist. Eccl., torn. ii. 
p. 244. ; De Thou, lib. xxv. Madame de Cany, sister of the Duchess d Etampes, 
favourite of the late king, had possessed an unbounded influence at court, which 
she always used for generous purposes. Her ordinary residence was the Chateau 
de Varannes, situated on the Oise, near to Noyon. 



188 MADAME DE CANY. 1549. 

means, and besides, has such a care of your salvation as he ought 
to have who knows that you have loved him, as partaker of 
a common Christian faith. On this account he has induced 
me to write to you, thinking that not only you might take plea 
sure in my letters, but that they might perhaps be profitable 
for you, as well for your consolation in present extremity, as to 
exhort you to perseverance so needful in the midst of such 
manifold temptations. And would to God I might have more 
ample opportunity of compliance with his request. But seeing 
that it is His pleasure that we should be separated by so great 
a distance, which does not permit more frequent communica 
tion between us, I beseech yon, Madame, to take what I do 
write as a testimony of the earnest desire which I have to pro 
mote your salvation. If, because of the confession you have 
made of your Christianity, murmurs and threatenings rise up 
against you, you must bear in mind to what we are called, 
which is, that notwithstanding all sorts of contradiction on the 
part of the world, we must render to the Son of God the 
homage which belongs to Him. These indeed should be to you 
as so many warnings to prepare yourself for greater things, for 
neither great nor small ought to seek exemption from suffering 
in the cause of our Sovereign King, in which His honour is as 
much involved as our salvation. Above all, since Himself has 
begun by shewing us the way, who among us shall dare to re 
fuse to follow Him ? Where is the greatness, or the elevation, 
that can bestow greater privilege upon us than on Himself ? 
And more than that, if we can appreciate the honour he confers 
upon us in making use of our service to maintain His so pre 
cious truth, we shall hold it to be a peculiar advantage, rather 
than be annoyed on account of it. True it is, that the human 
understanding cannot apprehend that ; but, seeing that the in 
fallible wisdom of God pronounces, that those who are perse 
cuted for the testimony of the Gospel are most happy, at all 
hazards we must needs acquiesce in that judgment. And in 
deed, who are we that we should maintain the cause of God ? 
Where is our sufficiency for it. seeing that we are altogether 
inclined to falsehood ? How should we be witnesses for His 
truth, unless by His own special gracious permission ? On the 



1549. MADAME DE CANY, 189 

other hand, seeing that we deserve on account of our sins to 
suffer all shame of face and ignominy, every sort of misery and 
torment, yea were it even a hundred thousand deaths, if that 
were possible, have we aught to complain of, ought we not 
rather to rejoice, when, forgetting our faults, He wills that we 
should suffer for His name ? Therefore, inasmuch as we are 
so fro ward and carnal that we cannot reach such elevation, let 
us beg of this gracious God that He would please to imprint in 
our hearts that which naturally we find so strange. Further 
more, let us take to ourselves the example of the Apostles, who 
counted the reproach of the world as a great honour, and 
even gloried in it. In short, let us never think that we have 
fully received the truth, if we do not prefer above all worldly 
triumphs, to fight under the banner of our Lord Jesus, that 
is to say, to bear His cross. 

Even so, Madame, consider, I beseech you, if hitherto you 
have taken pains to serve and honour so good a master, how 
you can strive more earnestly than ever to arm yourself against 
opposition, to take courage against all difficulties in order to 
surmount them ; for, since the worldly often manifest invincible 
constancy in the pursuit of their vanities, patiently enduring so 
many labours, troubles and dangers, it would be too shameful 
were we to grow weary in the midst of the way of salvation ; 
albeit that this is by no means all that is required of us, that 
we shew ourselves steadfast in the midst of persecutions ; for, 
even if there were no enemies to make open war upon us, we 
find enough of aversion and indisposedness in ourselves and 
all around, to hinder us in making our calling sure, which all 
those who have a true zeal to devote themselves to God, ex 
perience more fully than any one could tell them. Inasmuch, 
then, as I hold you to be of the number, I entreat you to exer 
cise yourself continually in the doctrine of renouncing the 
world yet more and more, in order to come nearer to our Lord 
Jesus, who has once for all purchased us to separate us unto 
Himself. I mean the world, such as we carry it within our 
selves, before we are made again after His likeness. And seeing 
that our whole nature, inasmuch as by the corruption of the 
plague it has been depraved, is enmity against God, the king- 



190 MADAME DE CANY. 1549. 

dom of our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be duly established, until 
all which is ours has been beaten down ; and not only the open 
vices which are condemned of men, but also even our own 
reason and wisdom. I am aware that I do not speak to you of 
any new thing, and that by the grace of God you have long ago 
begun to follow in the way of the holy heavenly calling. But 
the study of holiness is one of which we must avail ourselves 
even to the end. And as I have ample cause to praise God for 
the graces He has bestowed on you, and whereby He magnifies 
Himself in you, by making His own glory to shine forth therein ; 
in also looking to the frailty which we all feel, I think it no 
superfluous trouble to exhort you to follow on, as indeed you 
do. And even as it is becoming in Christians to submit in 
all humility to receive the admonitions which are addressed to 
them in the name of God, even that the most learned should 
gladly submit to be taught, I hope that you will receive the 
whole with a benign and kindly heart. Believe me, when I 
hear that God has wrought so powerfully in you, and that He 
has vouchsafed you such commendable qualities, I am incited 
all the more to desire that He would increase His work in you, 
until He has quite finished it ; and this it is that has constrained 
me more freely to declare to you my desire and affection. 

In conclusion, Madame, having humbly commended me to 
your kind favour, I entreat our good Lord to have you in His 
holy protection, to guide you by His Holy Spirit in all strength 
and prudence, to vouchsafe you grace to promote His honour, 
until He gather us all unto Himself. 
Your servant and humble brother, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

[Fr. Copy. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



1549. MADEMOISELLE DE . . , 191 



CCXXXIIL To MADEMOISELLE DE . . . . 

Exhortations to steadfastness in the faith acknowledgment of liberality. 

The llth of January 1549. 

MADEMOISELLE MY SISTER, I am very glad that your letter has 
afforded an occasion for my writing to you, so that without further 
excuse access and freedom have been given me, were it for nought 
else than to declare the affection I have for you. Therein, that 
is in your letter, I can perceive evident and clear signs of spiri 
tual vitality; and I have not a doubt but the heart speaks therein 
quite as much, or rather more than the mouth. Besides, you 
shew convincingly that you have no longer mere passing con 
victions, such as many people have now-a-days, but that you have 
been touched to the quick, and moved with the desire of dedi 
cating yourself wholly to God and to His will. It is very true, 
as you say, that while clinging from worldly fear to the super 
stitions which in the world reign paramount, you are still very 
far from that perfection whereto our gracious God doth call us. 
But yet it is to have made some progress even to acknowledge 
our sins, and to be displeased with them. You must now 
advance farther, and condemning your own weakness, set your 
self in earnest about getting rid of it ; and if you cannot suc 
ceed all at once in compassing your wish, yet nevertheless you 
must persevere in seeking the remedy for it, until you have 
been completely cured. To do this, you will find it to be of 
advantage to call yourself to account day by day, and while 
acknowledging your faults, to groan within yourself, and mourn 
over them before God, so that your displeasure against what 
soever is evil may become more intense, until you are quite 
confirmed and resolved to renounce it as you ought, even as in 
deed I feel assured you labour hard to do. And it is not in 
vain that you beg of me to join my prayers with yours, to seek 
with importunity to God that He would be pleased to have 
compassion upon you, and to deliver you from this unhappy 



192 MADEMOISELLE DE . . . . 1549. 

captivity. Let us continue then with one accord to put up this 
request, and He will at length make manifest that you have not 
altogether lost your time. True, sometimes He lets us grow 
faint, and before declaring effectually that He has heard our 
prayers, He seems to keep at a distance, as much to sharpen 
our desire, as to make trial of our patience ; and, therefore, you 
need not reckon that hitherto your prayers to Him have been 
in vain, but much rather take encouragement, and strive 
even more and more, knowing that if perseverance be required 
throughout our whole life, it is specially desired in prayer. 
And, besides, you must also take care in real earnest to fan 
the flame which God has already begun to kindle within you ; 
for all the gracious affections He breathes into us, are just so 
many sparks which we must not extinguish, or allow to go out 
by our heedlessness. Since, then, God has already opened your 
eyes so far, that you admit we ought to be His peculiar 
ones, and dedicated to Him in righteousness, so as to glorify 
Him as well in our bodies as in our souls ; seeing also that He 
has touched your heart, so that you have some feeling of our 
unhappiness in alienation from Him, unquestionably you must 
not now go to sleep or trifle away at your ease, but even as we 
stir the fire when it does not bum as it ought to do, it is quite 
right that you be upstirred yet more arid more, until the long 
ing desire to devote yourself wholly to Him and to His righteous 
ness, overcomes all hindrances either from the flesh or from the 
world. I see, or at least take into view, the very great diffi 
culties you have where you are ; but since these considerations 
do not excuse you in the sight of God, when the question is of 
obedience to His Word, and also in a thing of so great import 
ance as the rendering unto Him the glory which is due, and 
the making confession of your Christianity, if I desire your sal 
vation as I ought, as God is my witness that I do, it is my duty 
to awaken you, so far as I possibly can, not that I can teach 
you any new thing, but that on my part I may assist you in 
making a right use of that knowledge which God has vouch 
safed you ; to wit, how reasonable it is that His honour be pre 
ferred to our life, and also that we endeavour to put away all 
those subterfuges, which our flesh suggests to us, for turning 



1549. MADEMOISELLE DE . . . . 193 

aside from the path which He points out. That we may do so, 
we must learn a habit of forgetting ourselves., for the allure 
ments of the world are no less dangerous than open war. The 
most humble have their share. You, on the other hand, owing 
to the high condition wherein God has set you, have a larger 
portion. But you must consider that this is a discipline God 
sends you, in order that you may all the better manifest the 
strength and vigour of the savour of our heavenly life, when 
you shall have surmounted those great obstacles, following out 
in spite of them your heavenly calling. However, Mademoi 
selle, when you feel your own infirmity so great, that in the 
midst of dangers you are unable to give glory to God, do not 
neglect the remedy, which is to betake yourself to the cross, 
where you may be joined to the flock, and hear the voice of 
the Shepherd ; whatever may happen, shun to be as a sheep 
straying in the wilderness. When you are in such a dispo 
sition, there is no doubt that God will have compassion upon 
you, that Himself will provide when you shall see no means 
of doing so ; for it is thus that He withdraws His own not 
only from the mouths of wolves, but from the very depths 
of hell. 

I have received the ten crowns which you have sent for the 
support of the poor believers who have need of it. 1 I have in 
trusted them to a discreet hand, to make distribution according 
to your intention. May the Lord vouchsafe acceptance of this 
alms at your hands, as a sacrifice of a sweet savour, and cause 
you one day to rejoice in the spiritual benefits which He has 
imparted to those you are thus helping in their earthly 
poverty. 

And now, Mademoiselle, having commended me humbly to 
your kind favour, with prayer to our good Lord to uphold you in 
His protection, to govern you always by his Spirit, and to assist 
you in every way and evermore, I shall conclude for the pre- 

1 The donations which a pious liberality daily multiplied at Geneva, gave rise 
to the foundations known by the name of French. German, and Italian Bourses. 
The names of Margaret de Valois, and of the Duchess of Ferrara, shine in the first 
rank upon the list of foreign contributors. Bolsec, Life of Calvin, c. xi. 
VOL. It. X 



194 THE MINISTERS OF MONTBELIARD. 1549. 

sent. My wife also desires to be humbly commended to your 
kind favour. 

Your servant and humble brother, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

[Fr. copy. Library of Geneva. Vol. 108.] 



CCXXXIV. To THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH OF 

MONTBELIARD. 1 

Exhortations to discharge to the end their ministerial duties. 

[GENEVA, IQth January 1549.] 

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and from the 
Lord Jesus Christ. Very dear brethren, deserving of my 
hearty reverence, what we so long feared has at length come to 
pass, for Satan has, by the aid of his ministers, overturned 
among you also the order of the Church as established by God. 
Yet your letter was consolatory so far as there could be any 
consolation in so very sad a state of things for we learned 
from it that you were all faithful to the last in the discharge 
of your duty. In denouncing, as you say you did, those sedu 
cers who were making themselves busy in defiling the purity of 
sound doctrine, you acted with a decision worthy of the minis 
ters of Christ. You now give a bright example of the sincerity 
of your faith, in preferring even exile to perfidious dissimula 
tion. For when he who had hitherto given a hospitable recep 
tion within his dominions to the Church of Christ, and had 
granted you full permission to preach Christ, now deprives you 

1 To the Faithful Servants of Christ, the Ministers of the Church of Montbeliard, 
dearest Brethren and Fellow-Ministers. 

George of Wurtemberg, Count of Montheliard, having fallen under the disgrace 
of the Emperor, at the end of the war of Smalkald, in which he had taken part in 
the ranks of the Protestant princes, was stript of his Principality in 1548, and 
withdrew to the Canton of Berne. Rucliat, vol. v. p. 368. At the termination of 
that revolution, the Churches of the Pays de Montheliard were dispersed, and their 
ministers, among whom was to be remarked Pierre Toussain, were banished, and 
sought an asylum in the different Reformed Cantons of Switzerland, until the 
period of the restoration, both political and religious, that replaced them some 
years afterwards in their native country. 



1549. THE MINISTERS OF MONTBELIAKD. 195 

of the office of teachers, there is no use in pushing the matter 
farther, as we think, especially when there is no hope of making 
progress, and when the sheep, over which Christ had made you 
pastors, no longer desire your services. As he is a traitor who 
voluntarily yields up and deserts his post, so it is our duty, 
when forced, not to offer resistance, unless perhaps we should be 
expressly called upon by the Church to undergo the extremity ; 
for it is a hundred times better to die, than for those who were 
prepared to follow Christ to make vain their vows. But your case 
is far different ; for so long as you were pastors, you were faith 
ful and assiduous in your attention to your flocks. Now when 
there is no use in desiring to persevere, and when the sheep 
themselves, to whom your faith was pledged, do not consider it 
profitable for you to proceed farther, you are certainly free from 
all further obligation. It remains, therefore, for you to commend 
to Christ the charges committed to you, that He alone by His 
Spirit may give guidance when you have no longer any oppor 
tunity of carrying on your labours. Henceforward we may 
imagine what your sorrow must be, seeing that nothing presents 
itself to you but exile and poverty. But your greatest affliction 
will be caused by the misery of the Church, for whose interests 
you have evinced greater regard than for your own. And we 
indeed are equally affected as we ought to be by your public 
and private misfortunes. Would that we could extend a help 
ing hand to you ! For the rest, we exhort you to hold on to 
the end in this your testimony of Christian sincerity. Your 
lot, however hard, will be more blessed than if you maintained 
a name and a place where the Son of God was exiled. Yet we 
shall soon see Him so reigning in heaven, as to make his power 
appear also on the earth. Meanwhile, it becomes us to be ready 
for the warfare, since it is not yet the hour of triumph. Adieu, 
best and most upright brethren. May the Lord Jesus Christ 
be with you, may He comfort and support you in your devoted 
steadfastness. 

Your brethren truly in the Lord, the Ministers of the Church 
of Geneva. In the name of all, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lai. Porresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 50.) 



19G BULLINGER. 1549. 

CCXXXV. To HENRY BULLINGER.I 

Hope of union with the theologians of Zurich dedication of several writings. 

GENEVA, 21s/ January 1549. 

I at length received your former letter, which I thought had 
been destroyed, three days before the latter of the two reached 
me. For when the person who married the other sister 2 sought 
Hooper s 3 letter from his companion, observing another small 
packet, he immediately laid hands on it. His companion, 
either from modesty, or from some cause I know not what, did 
not dare to take it from him. I have read your annotations, 
from which I have discovered what you regard as wanting in 
my method of treating the subject. I have endeavoured 
briefly to satisfy you, because the matter itself did not demand 
a long discourse. I shall know how far I have succeeded in 
this, when I have received your reply. I may at least on good 
grounds wish to obtain this of you, viz., that you will not 
allow yourself to become entangled in baseless suspicions. For 
I observe that, owing to this cause, you are perplexed in regard 
to many points which present difficulty, simply because you 
put upon the majority of my statements a different construc 
tion from what you have any ground for doing. A pre-con- 

1 The year 1549 is remarkable for the tendencies to union manifested by many 
of the Swiss Churches, and for their happy issue ! Several persons, says Kuchat, 
zealous for religion, imagined that the clergy of Zurich and Geneva did not hold 
the same doctrine on the Supper, on the ground of some slight difference in the 
expressions they made use of; and this divergence caused them pain. Accordingly, 
as they held Bullinger and Calvin in great esteem, and desired to be able to profit 
equally by writings published by theologians of both churches, they deemed it 
necessary to institute conferences with a view to union ; and Calvin, ever full of 
zeal for the interests of the Church, did not hesitate to subscribe to this petition. 
Hospinien, torn. ii. p. 367 ; Ruchat, torn. v. p. 369. 

2 Valeran Poulain, brother-in-law of Hooper, whose sister he espoused at Zurich. 
He became this same year minister of the congregation of Foreign Protestants at 
Glastonbury, near London. We shall find him afterwards minister of the Church 
of Frankfort. 

3 John Hooper, formerly chaplain to the Duke of Somerset, withdrew to Zurich 
during the latter years of the reign of Henry VIII. Ho was at this time disposed 
to return to England. 



1549. BULLINGER. 197 

ceived opinion regarding me leads you to imagine and attribute 
to me what never occurred to my mind. Besides, while you are 
concerned to maintain your own opinions, whatever they may be, 
to the very last, you sometimes consider more what is in har 
mony with them, than what is the truth on the subject. If 
simplicity pleases you, I certainly take no delight in disguise 
and circumlocution. If you love a free declaration of the 
truth, I never had any mind to bend what I wrote, so as to re 
ceive its acceptance with men. If there be any who have flat 
tered Luther and others, I am not of that number. Our most 
excellent Musculus knows, that even when wise men were in 
fear, I was always free [from apprehension]. But had it not 
been for the obstacle of an unprofitable distrust, there would 
by this time have been no controversy between us, or none to 
speak of. Although, however, I differ from you in opinion, 
that does not imply the least severance of affection ; just as I 
cultivate the friendship of Bucer, and yet am free to dissent 
occasionally from his views. You are accordingly too severe 
in saying in your letter that the matter can only go well, pro 
vided you understand that you are not regarded as our enemies. 
On what grounds you form that surmise, I know not. This 
indeed I know, that I both think and speak of you in a friendly 
spirit. This, moreover, is known to very many who have heard 
me speak. It may indeed be that I have found fault with you 
in private letters to my friends, or that I have not concealed 
iny conviction, that what they censured was deserving of re 
prehension. There was always, however, such an admixture of 
praise, as qualified any bitterness, and afforded proof of good 
intentions. Others may form what opinion they choose, but I 
shall never have to repent of lack of integrity on my part. If 
Master Blaurer 1 shall undertake Provence, which is offered to 
him, and Musculus accept the Professorship of Theology, I 
shall not only congratulate the Church of Berne, but hope that 
this will prove a bond of closer relationship between us. I beg 
you will inform me of your affairs, whenever an opportunity 
occurs. You would have had my Commentaries on the Five 

1 Ainbroise Blaurer, formerly minister of tlie Reformed Church of Constance, at 
this time minister of the Church of Bienne. 



198 BUCER. 1549. 

Epistles of Paul before this time, had I not thought that they 
were for sale with you. As messengers rarely go and come 
between this and your quarter, I was afraid that the carriage 
would cost more than the purchase of them. I now send you 
the Commentaries on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, 
and the four [Epistles] immediately following. I have yet 
published nothing on the Epistle to Titus, and the two Epistles 
to the Thessalonians. I also send my reply, which is highly 
approved of by Brentius, whose opinion I do not mention 
to you in the way of boasting, but that you may therefrom 
form a conjecture as to how much more moderate he is in his 
doctrine of the Sacraments than he formerly was. Adieu, most 
illustrious Sir, and dearest brother in the Lord. May the Lord 
Jesus always guide you and your colleagues, all of whom you 
will salute respectfully in my name. Ours in turn desire best 
greetings to you, of whom Des Gallars presents for your accept 
ance a small treatise he has composed. The best greeting to 
Master Musculus, and other pious brethren. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Archives of Zurich. Gest. VI. 166, p. 19.] 



CCXXXYL To BucER. 1 

Consolations to be found in the study of divine and everlasting truth. 

[February 1549.] 

As truth is most precious, so all men confess it to be so. 
And yet, since God alone is the source of all good, you must 
not doubt, that whatever truth you anywhere meet with, pro- 

1 This undated fragment should, we think, he referred to the month of February 
1549 ; that is, to the period at which Bucer, compelled to leave Strasbourg, by the 
establishment of the Interim in that town, was making preparations for his de 
parture for England. In one of his letters to Calvin we discover the following 
passage : "We are only hindered by the tears and sighs of the pious of whom 
there are still a great many here from leaving this place before we get orders. 
For, if the Lord will, we wish rather to seal than to break up our ministry. You 
see how our affairs stand, and how much we need the assistance of your prayers, 
both in our own behalf and on that of this very unfortunate Church." Calv. 
Opera, b. ix. p. 233. 

Sadly disappointed in the dream of his whole life the union of the Reformed 



1549. BUCER. 199 

ceeds from Him, unless you would be doubly ungrateful to 
Him ; it is in this way you have received the word descended 
from heaven. For it is sinful to treat God s gifts with con 
tempt ; and to ascribe to man what is peculiarly God s is a 
still greater impiety. Philosophy is, consequently, the noble 
gift of God, and those learned men who have striven hard after 
it in all ages have been incited thereto by God himself, that 
they might enlighten the world in the knowledge of the truth. 
But there is a wide difference between the writings of these 
men and those truths which God, of His own pleasure, delivered 
to guilty men for their sanctification. In the former, you may 
fall in with a small particle of truth, of which you can get only 
a taste, sufficient to make you feel how pleasant and sweet 
it is ; but in the latter, you may obtain in rich abundance that 
which can refresh the soul to the full. In the one, a shadow 
and an image is placed before the eyes which can only excite 
in you a love of the object, without admitting you to familiar 
intercourse with it ; in the other, the solid substance stands 
before you, with which you may not only become intimately 
acquainted, but may also, in some measure, handle it. In 
that, the seed is in a manner choked ; in this, you may possess 
the fruit in its very maturity. There, in short, only a few small 
sparks break forth, which so point out the path that they fail in 
the middle of the journey, or rather, which fail in indicating 
the path at all, and can only restrain the traveller from going 
farther astray ; but here, the Spirit of God, like a most brilliant 
torch, or rather like the sun itself, shines in full splendour, not 
only to guide the course of your life, even to its final goal, but 
also to conduct you to a blessed immortality. Draw then 
from this source, wherever you may wander, and as soon as he 
finds you a settled abode, you ought to make that your place 
of rest. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 50.] 

Churches of Germany and Switzerland forgotten by parties who could not for 
give his moderation in an age of hatred and intolerance, Bucer carried with him 
into exile the respect and affection of Calvin, who in a letter, &lt;u which we have 
here only a mere fragment, addressed to him the highest consolations of Christian 
philosophy. 



200 THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF BERNE. J549. 



CCXXXVII. To THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF BERNE. 1 

Desire of union between the Churches of Berne and Geneva. 

GENEVA, 13th March 1549. 

Seeing that we have, unsolicited., offered you a reading of our 
views on the sacraments, it seems desirable to furnish you, 
briefly, with some reason for our resolution in this matter ; 
although, indeed, no lengthened introduction is needed in 
dealing with us in so just a cause. When your illustrious 
senate has publicly called upon you to deliberate, among other 
matters, regarding .the peace of the Church, of which the pe 
culiar bond is harmony in purity of doctrine, it is probable 
there will be some discussion regarding the sacraments, as that 
subject has for a long time occupied the attention of the 
Bernese Church. And while we are not required to make any 
exposition of our doctrine, we have, nevertheless, thought it our 
duty, even though unasked, to take part with you in bearing 
testimony on a matter in which we have all been completely 
unanimous. For since we both preach the same Christ, both 
profess the same gospel, are both members of the same church, 
and have both the same ministry, there ought not to be that 
diversity of authority among us to which we have been subject, 
either to break up the unity of our faith, or to hinder from 
nourishing amongst us so many rights of holy fellowship con- 



1 While Calvin was engaged in active negotiations with the ministers of Zurich 
for the adoption of a common formula regarding the sacrament of the Lord s 
Supper, he addressed to the ministers of the Church of Berne a statement of what 
the Church of Geneva held on that important question, in the hope of leading that 
Church into the proposed union. But the Bernese clergy, placed in a position of 
absolute dependence on the seigneury, could not adopt any formula without its 
authority ; and the seigneurs, jealous of their influence, regarded with a distrustful 
eye any communication with the ministers of Geneva. The approaches of Calvin, 
also, were not well received, and the noble desire of the reformer for the union of 
the Helvetian churches, realized at a later period by Bullinger, met with no re* 
spouse. flvchat, torn. v. pp. 578, 579. 



1549. THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF BERNE. 201 

secrated to the service of Christ. That proximity of residence, 
also, which is so influential among the children of this world, 
in drawing them into close friendship, ought not, at least, to be 
less powerful among us. We are, in reality, so commingled, 
that even the situation of the two places brings us, as it were, 
within a bond of mutual union. So far is this the case, that 
there is a federal union between the two cities. Some of 
our ministers, moreover, supply the churches of the Bernese 
district, just as certain of your body, again, have some of the 
churches of Geneva under their charge. It is, consequently, to 
a great extent, as much your interest as it is ours to become 
intimately acquainted with those doctrines to which we conform. 
At all events, in this way passing by other considerations- 
many unfavourable suspicions will be counteracted, and ma 
licious men will be deprived of a source of abuse. We confi 
dently trust that our wishes will be agreeable, not only to 
yourselves, but also to your most illustrious senate. It only 
remains that you receive this communication calmly and with 
forbearance. And if you do so, as there is the highest hope 
you will, it will not be found to contain anything which you 
may not easily comprehend. Adieu, dearly beloved and estim 
able brethren and fellow-ministers ; may the Lord Jesus long 
preserve, by His strength, the Bernese republic in a most pros 
perous condition. May He uphold the illustrious senate, under 
whose auspices ye have been assembled. May He direct and 
bless your assembly, and guide you by a spirit of wise zeal 
and uprightness to promote the advancement and edification 
of the Church. 

Signed in the name of all your brethren and fellow-ministers 
of the Church of Geneva, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

Then follows an exposition of the sacraments, corrected by 
the hand of Calvin. 

[Lot. Copy Archives of Zurich, Gest. VI. 105, p. 390.] 



202 VIRET. 1549. 

CCXXXVIIL To VIRET.I 

Death of Idelette de Bure, the wife of Calvin.. 

April 7, 1549. 

Although the death of my wife has been exceedingly painful 
to me, yet I subdue my grief as well as I can. Friends, also, 
are earnest in their duty to me. It might be wished, indeed, 
that they could profit me and themselves more ; yet one can 
scarcely say how much I arn supported by their attentions. But 
you know well enough how tender, or rather soft, my mind is. 
Had not a powerful self-control, therefore, been vouchsafed to 
me, I could not have borne up so long. And truly mine is no 
common source of grief. I have been bereaved of the best 
companion of my life, of one who, had it been so ordered, 
would not only have been the willing sharer of my indigence, 
but even of my death. During her life she was the faithful 
helper of my ministry. From her I never experienced the 
slightest hindrance. She was never troublesome to me through 
out the entire course of her illness ; she was more anxious about 
her children than about herself. 2 As I feared these private 

1 A peculiar interest attaches to this and the following letter, written under a 
load of great domestic affliction. Early in April 1549, Calvin lost the worthy 
partner of his life, Idelette de Bure, whose frail and delicate health gave way 
under the pressure of a protracted illness, and whose last hours are known to us 
by the touching picture given of them by the Reformer. The consolations of 
friendship, and the consideration of the important duties he had to discharge, sup 
ported Calvin in this affliction, and the self-control which he manifested during 
the first days of his bereavement, excited the admiration of his friends. Viret 
wrote him on this occasion as follows : " Wonderfully and incredibly have I been 
refreshed, not by empty rumours alone, but especially by numerous messengers 
who have informed me how you, with a heart so broken and lacerated, have at 
tended to all your duties even better than hitherto . . . and that, above all, 
at a time when grief so fresh, and on that account all the more severe, might have 
prostrated your mind. Go on then as you have begun . . . and I pray God 
most earnestly that you may be enabled to do so, and that you may receive daily 
greater comfort and be strengthened more and more." Letter of 10th April 1549. 
Calv. Opera, torn. ix. p. 53. 

2 Idelette de Bure had, by her first marriage with Jean Storder, several children 
known to us only by the pious solicitude of their mother on her deathbed. 



1549. FAREL. 203 

cares might annoy her to no purpose., I took occasion, on the 
third day before her death, to mention that I would not fail in 
discharging my duty to her children. Taking up the matter 
immediately, she said, " I have already committed them to 
God" When I said that that was not to prevent me from 
caring for them, she replied, " I know you will not neglect 
what you know has been committed to God/ Lately, also, 
when a certain woman insisted that she should talk with me 
regarding these matters, I, for the first time, heard her give the 
following brief answer : " Assuredly the principal thing is that 
they live a pious and holy life. My husband is not to be urged 
to instruct them in religious knowledge and in the fear of God. 
If they be pious, I am sure he will gladly be a father to them ; 
but if not, they do not deserve that I should ask for aught in 
their behalf." This nobleness of mind will weigh more with 
me than a hundred recommendations. Many thanks for your 
friendly consolation. Adieu, most excellent and honest brother. 
May the Lord Jesus watch over and direct yourself and your 
wife. 1 Present my best wishes to her and to the brethren. 
Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lett. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 50.] 



CCXXXIX. To FAREL. 

Further details regarding the death of Idelette de Bure. 

GENEVA, \lth April 1549. 

Intelligence of my wife s death has perhaps reached you 
before now. I do what I can to keep myself from being over 
whelmed with grief. My friends also leave nothing undone 
that may administer relief to my mental suffering. When your 
brother left, her life was all but despaired of. When the 

1 We read in Viret s letter to Calvin already referred to, " My wife salutes you 
most courteously ; she has been grieved in no ordinary way Ly the death of her 
very dear sister, and she and I feel it to be a loss to us all." Tdelette de Bure 
kept up with Viret s wife a pious epistolary correspondence, which has unfortun 
ately not been preserved. 



204 FAREL. 1549. 

brethren were assembled on Tuesday, they thought it best that 
we should join together in prayer. This was done. When 
Abel, in the name of the rest, exhorted her to faith and patience, 
she briefly (for she was now greatly worn) stated her frame of 
mind. I aiterwards added an exhortation, which seemed to me 
appropriate to the occasion. And then, as she had made no 
allusion to her children, I, fearing that, restrained by modesty, 
she might be feeling an anxiety concerning them, which would 
cause her greater suffering than the disease itself, declared in 
the presence of the brethren, that I should henceforth care for 
them as if they were my own. She replied, " I have already com 
mitted them to the Lord." When I replied, that that was not 
to hinder me from doing my duty, she immediately answered, 
" If the Lord shall care for them, I know they will be com 
mended to you." -Her magnanimity was so great, that she 
seemed to have already left the world. About the sixth hour 
of the day, on which she yielded up her soul to the Lord, our 
brother Bourgouin 1 addressed some pious words to her, and 
while he was doing so, she spoke aloud, so that all saw that her 
heart was raised far above the world. For these were her 
words : " glorious resurrection ! God of Abraham, and of 
all our fathers, in thee have the faithful trusted during so 
many past ages, and none of them have trusted in vain. I also 
will hope." These short sentences were rather ejaculated than 
distinctly spoken. This did not come from the suggestion of 
others, but from her own reflections, so that she made it obvious 
in few words what were her own meditations. I had to go out 
at six o clock. Having been removed to another apartment 
after seven, she immediately began to decline. When she felt 
her voice suddenly failing her she said : " Let us pray : let us 
pray. All pray for me." I had now returned. She was unable 
to speak, and her mind seemed to be troubled. I, having 
spoken a few words about the love of Christ, the hope of 
eternal life, concerning our married life, arid her departure, 
engaged in prayer. In full possession of her mind, she both 
heard the prayer, and attended to it. Before eight she expired, 
so calmly, that those present could scarcely distinguish between 

1 The minister Francis Bourgouin. 



1549. MADAME DE CANY. 205 

her life and her death. I at present control my sorrow so that 
my duties may not be interfered with. But in the meanwhile 
the Lord has sent other trials upon me. Adieu, brother, and 
very excellent friend. May the Lord Jesus strengthen you by 
His Spirit ; and may He support me also under this heavy 
affliction., which would certainly have overcome me, had not 
He, who raises up the prostrate, strengthens the weak, and re 
freshes the weary, stretched forth His hand from heaven to me. 
Salute all the brethren and your whole family. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lot. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 50.] 



OCXL. To MADAME DE CANY. 1 

Account of the instructive death of Madame Laurent de Normandie. 

This 29th of April 1549. 

MADAME, Although the news which I communicate are 
sad, and must also sadden the person to whom I beg you to 
impart them, nevertheless I hope that my letter will not be un 
welcome to you. It has pleased my God to withdraw from 
this world the wife of my kind brother, M. de Normandie. 2 
Our consolation is, that He has gathered her unto Himself; 
for He has guided her even to the last sigh, as if visibly He 
had held out the hand to her. Now, forasmuch as her father 
must needs be informed. 3 we have thought there was no way 

1 See the letter and the note at p. 187. 

2 Laurent de Normandie, sprung from a noble family of Picardy, fellow-country 
man and friend of Calvin, discharged the functions of master of requests and of 
lieutenant of the king at Noyon, before retiring to Geneva. Received inhabitant of 
the town, the 2d May 1547, burgess, the 25th April 1555, lie lived there in inti 
macy with Calvin, who dedicated to him in 1550 his Traitc des Scandales. He 
had married for his first wife Anne de la Vacquerie, of a noble family, which has 
merged in that of the Dukes of Saint Simon, and illustrious under the reign of 
Louis XL, by the first president Jacques de la Vacquerie. A short time after his 
arrival at Geneva he lost his wife, whose edifying death is the subject of Calvin s 
letter to Madame de Cany, and he married a second time (14th September 1550) 
Anne Colladon Galiffe. Notices Gengaloyiques sur les Families de Geneve, torn, 
ii. p. 527. 

a Eloi de la VacquonV. 



206 MADAME DE CANY. 1549. 

more suitable than to request that you would please take the 
trouble to request him to call on you, that the painful intelli 
gence may be broken to him by your communication of it. 
What the gentleman has written to us who lately presented 
our letter to you, has emboldened us to take this step, viz., 
that you had introduced the good man in question to the right 
way of salvation, and that you had given him understanding of 
the pure and sound doctrine which we must maintain. We do 
not doubt, therefore, that you are willing to continue your good 
offices, and that even in this present need. For we cannot 
employ ourselves better, than in carrying this message in the 
name of God, to comfort him to whom you have already done 
so much good, that he may not be beyond measure disconsolate. 
Therefore, Madame, I leave you to set before him the argu 
ments and reasons which you know to be suitable for exhorting 
to submission. Only I shall shortly relate to you the history, 
which will furnish you with ample matter for showing him 
that he has reason to be thankful. And, according to the 
grace and wisdom that God has given you, you will draw 
thence for his comfort as opportunity shall require. 

Having heard of the illness of the good woman, we were 
amazed how she could have been able to bear so well the 
fatigue of the journey, for she arrived quite fresh, and without 
showing any sign of weariness. Indeed she acknowledged that 
God had singularly supported her during that time. Weak as 
she was, she kept well enough until a little before Christmas. 
The eager desire which she had to hear the Word of God, 
upheld her until the month of January. She then began to 
take to bed, not because the complaint was as yet thought 
to be mortal, but to prevent the danger which might arise. 
Although expecting a favourable termination, and hoping to 
recover her health, she nevertheless prepared for death, saying 
often, that if this was not the finishing blow, -it could not be 
long delayed. As for remedies, all was done that could be. 
And if her bodily comfort was provided for, that which she 
prized most highly was nowise wanting, to wit, pious admoni 
tions to confirm her in the fear of God, in the faith of Jesus 
Christ, in patience, in the hope of salvation. On her part she 



1549. MADAME BE CANY. 207 

always gave clear evidence that the labour was not in vain, for 
in her discourse you could see that she had the whole deeply im 
printed upon her heart. In short, throughout the course of her 
sickness, she proved herself to be a true sheep of our Lord Jesus, 
letting herself be quietly led by the Great Shepherd. Two or 
three days before death, as her heart was more raised to God, 
she also spoke with more earnest affection than ever. Even 
the day before, while she was exhorting her people, she said to 
her attendant, that he must take good heed never to return 
thither where he had polluted himself with idolatry ; and that 
since God had led him to a Christian Church, he should be 
careful to live therein a holy life. The night following, she 
was oppressed with great and continual pain. Yet never did 
one hear any other cry from her, than the prayer to God that 
He would have pity upon her, and that He would deliver her 
out of the world, vouchsafing grace to persevere always in the 
faith which He had bestowed. Toward five o clock in the 
morning I went to her. After she had listened very patiently 
to the doctrine which I set before her, such as the occasion 
called for, she said : " The hour draws near, I must needs de 
part from the world ; this flesh asks only to go away into cor 
ruption ; but I feel certain that my God is withdrawing my 
soul into His kingdom. I know what a poor sinful woman I 
am, but my confidence is in His goodness, and in the death 
and passion of His Son. Therefore, I do not doubt of my 
salvation, since He has assured me of it. I go to Him as 
to a Father." While she was thus discoursing, a considerable 
number of persons came in. I threw in from time to time 
some words, such as seemed suitable ; and we also made 
supplication to God as the exigency of her need required. 
After once more declaring the sense she had of her sins, 
to ask the pardon of them from God, and the certainty 
which she entertained of her salvation, putting her sole con 
fidence in Jesus, and having her whole trust in Him, with 
out being invited by any one to do so, she began to pro 
nounce the Miserere as we sing it in church, and continued 
with a loud and strong voice, not without great difficulty, but 
she entreated that we would allow her to continue. Where- 



208 MADAME DE CANY. 15-19. 

upon, I made her a short recapitulation of the whole argument 
of the psalm, seeing the pleasure she took in it. Afterwards, 
taking me by the hand, she said to me, " How happy I am, and 
how am I beholden to God, for having brought me here to die. 
Had I been in that wretched prison, I could not have ventured 
to open my mouth to make confession of my Christianity. Here 
I have not only liberty to glorify God, but I have so many 
sound arguments to confirm me in my salvation/ Sometimes, 
indeed, she said, " I am not able for more/ When I answered 
her, " God is able to help you ; He has, indeed, shown you how 
He is a present aid to His own ;" she said immediately, " I do 
believe so, and He makes me feel His help." Her husband was 
there, striving to keep up in such sort that we were all sorry 
for him, while he made us wonder in amazement at his forti 
tude. For while possessed with such grief as I know it to have 
been, and weighed down by extremity of sorrow, he had so far 
gained the mastery over self, as to exhort his better part as 
freely as if they were going to make a most joyful journey 
together. The conversation I have related took place in the 
midst of the great torment she endured from pains in her 
stomach. Towards nine or ten o clock they abated. Availing 
herself of this relaxation, she never ceased to glorify God, hum 
bly seeking her salvation and all her wellbeing in Jesus Christ. 
When speech failed her. her countenance told how intently she 
was interested as well in the prayers as in the exhortations 
which were made. Otherwise she was so motionless, that sight 
alone gave indication of life. Towards the end, considering 
that she was gone, I said, " Now let us pray God that He 
would give us grace to follow her." As I rose, she turned 
her eyes upon us, as if charging us to persevere in prayer 
and consolation ; after that, we perceived no motion, and she 
passed away so gracefully, that it was as if she had fallen asleep. 
I pray you, Madame, to excuse me if I have been too tedious. 
But I thought that the father would be well pleased to be 
fully informed of the whole, as if he himself had been upon 
the spot. And I hope that in so good a work you will find 
nothing troublesome. St. Paul, in treating of charity, does not 
forget that we ought to weep with those who weep ; that is to 



1549. vi RET. 209 

say, that if we are Christians, we ought to have such com 
passion and sorrow for our neighbours, that we should willingly 
take part in their tears, and thus comfort them. It cannot 
otherwise be but the good man must, at the first, be wrung 
with grief. Howbeit he must already have been long prepared 
to receive the news, considering that his daughter s sickness had 
increased so much, that her recovery was despaired of. But 
the great consolation is, the example which she has afforded to 
him and to all of us, of bowing to the will of God. And thus, 
seeing that she has presented herself so peaceably to death, let 
us herein follow her, willingly complying with the disposal of 
God ; and if her father loved her, let him show his love in con 
forming himself to the desire which she exhibited of submitting 
herself to God. And seeing that her dismissal has been so 
happy, let him rejoice in the grace of God vouchsafed to her, 
which far surpasses all the comforts we can possess in this world. 
In conclusion, Madame, having humbly commended me to 
your kind favour, I beseech our good Lord to be always your 
protector, to increase you with all spiritual blessing, and to 
cause you to glorify His name even to the end. 
Your humble servitor and brother, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

[Fr. copy Library of Genera. Vol. 107.] 



CCXLL To VIRET. 

Various particulars recommendation of Francis Hotman, Jurisconsult. 

7th May 1.549. 

When Ferron was deposed he said you would write on his 
behalf. I have not received anything as yet. He behaved so 
insolently in our assembly that he very much resembled a man 
deprived of his reason. 1 The Lord will direct the matter 
according to His will ; we have resolved on acting so mode 
rately as to show him that he has to do with men and with 

1 Accused of having wished to seduce a servant, Ferron was deposed from the 
ministry on the 5th September 1548. Registers of the Council. 

VOL. II. O 



210 VIRET. 1549. 

servants of Christ. Caesar the comedian annoys us in whatever 
way he can. Hitherto it has so turned out that he has gained 
nothing by it but the utmost disgrace. And yet, among his 
own party he gives himself all the airs of a victor. 1 Haller 
has at length explained what he would desiderate in our con 
fession. This consists of a great many unimportant and trivial 
points. I shall reply to him as soon as I find opportunity. I 
did not send you the letter before it was read to the brethren. 
It is on this account that Hot-man 2 has undertaken this journey 
to you ; he will carry it more safely than otherwise. I do not 
think it proper, nor have I been disposed, to inquire more 
minutely into that situation to which he aspires, except that 
he has resolved to dedicate his work to the Lord and to the 
Church. I especially approve of this resolution. For he has 
strong native talent, is of extensive erudition, and is possessed 
of other valuable qualities. However, I know that you think 
so highly of him that there is no need of me recommending 
him. And, as you are of opinion that his work would be use 
ful, I have no doubt that you would be sufficiently disposed of 
yourself to aid him. I was unwilling, however, to act so, that 
he might think me wanting in my duty to him. I shall only 
add, that he should understand there is nothing nearer our 
hearts than that he should devote his labour to the Church. 

Adieu, brother and most sincere friend. May the Lord 
Jesus preserve yourself, your wife, and your little daughter, 
and send a blessing upon your sacred labours. Salute all 
respectfully in my name. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 

1 In a letter from Calvin to Farel, written on the same day as that to Viret, we 
meet with a passage regarding Amy Perrin : " Csesar, onr comedian, in his last 
mission, exasperated them [the Bernese] exceedingly, and I fear he has com 
menced a serious tragedy among us." MSS. of Geneva, vol. 106. Charged with 
a mission to Berne, he had returned to Geneva more insolent and more intractable 
than ever. 

2 The learned lawyer, Francis Hotman, recently engaged in the evangelical 
cause, had quitted France, his native country, at the advice of Calvin, to retire to 
Geneva. He hecarne, during the same year, Professor of Law at the Academy of 
Lausanne. See La France Proteatante, Art. Hotman. 



1549. BULLINGER. 21 I 



CCXLII To HENRY 

Pleading in favour of the alliance of the Reformed Cantons with France. 

1th May 1549. 

As time does not permit me to reply to your letter now, I 
am merely desirous of telling you that I have scarcely ever re 
ceived anything more pleasant from you, as it served to alleviate 
a very trying domestic grief, which, occasioned by the death of 
my wife a little before, was causing me very much sorrow. For 
I am very glad that hardly anything or at least very little 
hinders us from agreeing now even in words. And, certainly, 
if you think you can so arrange matters, I make no objection 
against endeavours being made to come hither, that you may 
the better become acquainted with all the sentiments of my 
mind. Nor shall it ever be owing to me that we do not unite 
in a solid peace, as we all unanimously profess the same 
Christ. But I have, at present, another reason for writing 
you. 

You partly indicate what has kept you back from joining in 
the French alliance. I confess the godly have just cause of 
alarm in the example of Jehoshaphat, who bound himself in an 
unfortunate alliance with a wicked king, to his own ruin and 

1 The new King of France, Henry II., sought an alliance with the Swiss with 
extreme eagerness. His envoys, Boisrigault, Lianconrt, Lavan, and Menage over 
ran the Cantons, scattering everywhere proofs of his liberality, to obtain a renewal 
of the ancient treaties. Everywhere, says the Swiss historian, their proposals were 
welcomed, except at Berne and at Zurich. In the latter town, Bnllinger rose with 
great energy against this negotiating with a man who was convening a loyal and 
Christian people into a nation of hired murderers. He called to their recollection 
the persecutions of which France had been the theatre, and adjured his fellow- 
citizens to avoid all terms with a persecuting monarch, who was covered with the 
blood of their brethren. Better aware than Bullinger of the dangers which the 
supremacy of the Emperor was spreading over the various states of Europe, and 
over the Reformed Churches of Germany and Switzerland, and hoping, perhaps, 
to obtain by a treaty some relief to the faithful of France, Calvin was in favour of 
the French alliance, and in this remarkable letter attempted to vindicate its legiti 
macy by examples borrowed from the Old Testament. Histoire de la Suiste, torn. 
xi. p. 306, et suiv. 



212 BULLINGEK. 1549. 

that of his kingdom. Yet I do not so understand it, that he 
was punished because he made a league with the King of 
Israel, but rather because he espoused a bad and impious cause, 
in order to gratify that king s desire. Ambition was inciting him 
to an unprovoked attack upon the Syrians ; Jehoshaphat com 
plied with his wishes and rashly took up arms. Add to this, 
that they went forth to battle, the Lord through Micaiah forbid 
ding them. This example does not, therefore, so weigh with me 
that I should pronounce all alliance whatever with the wicked 
to be unlawful. For I reflect that Abraham was not hindered 
by any religious scruples from making a covenant with Abi- 
melech. Isaac, David, and others did the same, and received 
neither reproof nor punishment. I can, however, so far con 
clude, that alliances of this nature are not to be sought after, 
seeing they must always be attended with very much danger. 
But if we be at all incited I should rather say urged to it by 
a just motive, I see no reason why we should be altogether 
averse to it. 

Moreover, as regards the alliance in question, I cannot hold 
that it should be so avoided, from this cause, unless the present 
aspect of the times should compel me to adopt an opposite con 
clusion. You have to do with a professed enemy of Christ, 
and one who is daily venting his rage against our brethren. 
He is too little deserving of trust that could wish that both we 
arid Christ were annihilated. It is absurd that we should enter 
into friendly alliance with one who is at war with all the ser 
vants of Christ without distinction ; that we should seize, as 
that of an ally, a hand polluted with innocent blood. And, 
certainly, I should be unwilling to come to any conclusion on 
the matter, unless it were the express and distinct wish of the 
pious brethren. For his ferocity is indeed extraordinary. 
Besides, I am suspicious of the war with England. For I do 
not think it right to furnish any aid against a kingdom in 
which Christ is worshipped ; and the very injustice of the 
cause, also, is another obstacle. 

But, again, when I consider how our cause has been 
weakened, how great are the calamities which still impend, 
threatening almost the ruin of the Church, I fear much that if 



J549. BULL1NGER. 213 

we neglect those aids which it is not unlawful to employ, we 
may fall into a state rather of excessive carelessness than of 
devout trustfulness. Nor, in truth, arn I ignorant that God is 
especially present with us, and powerfully succours us when 
we are destitute of all human aid. I know, also, that there is 
nothing harder, when he reveals himself through some Egyptian 
shade, than to keep the eye from turning aside ; for if they be 
not fixed on the one God, they rove wickedly and perniciously. 
We must, therefore, endeavour zealously to counteract these 
dangers. Meanwhile, however, we should be on our guard, 
lest if, in this our critical condition, we reject what, without 
offending God, could have aided us, we may afterwards feel, to 
our loss, that we were too careless. My first fear is, that our 
Pharaoh, shut out from all hope of contracting friendship with 
you, may betake himself to Antiochus. How much soever they 
may have weighty grounds of disagreement, this latter is a 
wonderful master at contriving pretexts ; and those who at 
present hold sway at our court, would desire nothing more than 
to incline the mind of a youth, both inexperienced and not 
sufficiently sagacious, to accept of peace on any terms whatever. 
Certainly, if he has not already concluded it he will do so in a 
short time. Nor will there be wanting those who will urge 
him on. And I would there were none among us who would 
hold themselves and us as slaves to Antiochus, should an oppor 
tunity occur for doing so. He will, in truth, attempt every 
thing, the other not only approving of it, but also, in the mean 
time, assisting in it ; because he will suppose that in this way 
he is avenging his repulse. In the meanwhile, cruelty will be 
kindled everywhere through the kingdom itself, for he will, as 
women are wont, direct his own rage to another, a considera 
tion, certainly, not to be accounted last by us of this place. If 
I wished to regard my own life or private concerns, I should 
immediately betake myself elsewhere. But when I consider 
how very important this corner is for the propagation of the 
kingdom of Christ, I have good reason to be anxious that it 
should be carefully watched over ; and, in this respect, it is for 
your advantage, and quiet partly depends upon it. What man, 
imbued with wicked schemes, when he has been estranged from 



214 BULLINGER. 1549. 

you, will not be moved by despair ? But you think that we are 
wanting in men of a discontented and revolutionary character, 
or in those suffering from want, who have, for a long period, 
extended their hands to him. However, as often as I reflect 
particularly upon our wretched brethren who lie crushed under 
that fearful tyranny, my mind becomes soft and more disposed 
to this [alliance], as it the more unquestionably appears benefi 
cial for the alleviation of their sufferings. Why is the rage of 
the tyrant to be removed when he has seen that he is despised 
and scorned ? Is it that thereby the wicked are to have the 
greater license for tormenting the innocent ? Thus, if any 
alliance does intervene, not only will Pharaoh himself be, for 
the present, somewhat softened, and the executioners rendered 
less daring, but it will, indeed, be possible also to extinguish 
the flames. 

I beseech and solemnly implore you then, my dear Bullinger, 
to ponder in time all these considerations ; and if you come to any 
agreement, strive earnestly to have your brethren remembered 
whose condition is so wretched and awful. For although I 
know you have their welfare sufficiently at heart, and am cer 
tain that when the matter is raised, you will, of your own 
accord, be solicitous about it, yet I did not wish to neglect my 
duty. Indeed, such is his fierceness, that no fixed law can be 
laid down for you. I hope it is possible to show, however, that 
some sort of moderation may be exhibited. 

Adieu, excellent man, and much esteemed brother in the 
Lord. Salute especially Theodore, Pellican, Gualter, Vuerduler, 
and the rest of the fellow-ministers. Present my respects to 
your colleagues, and to Des Gallars among the rest. I pray the 
Lord Jesus that He may continue to guide and sustain you by 
His Spirit ; may He bless you and your labours. I have to 
thank you greatly for the volume of discourses which Haller 
sent in your name. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. oriy. autoyr. Archives of Zurich, Gallic. Scripta, p. 11.] 



1549. MADAME DE LA ROCHE-POSAY. 215 

CCXLIIL To MADAME DE LA EocHE-PosAY. 1 

He exhorts her and her companions to live in conformity with the law of God. 

This 10th of June 1549. 

MADAME AND WELL-BELOVED SISTER, As we ought to be 
glad when the kingdom of the Son of God our Saviour is mul 
tiplied, and the good seed of His doctrine is everywhere spread 
abroad, I have been greatly rejoiced in perceiving from your 
letter that His grace and bounty has reached to you, to draw 
you on in the knowledge of His truth, wherein lies our salva 
tion and every blessing. Indeed, it is a kind of miracle when 
He is pleased to make His glorious light shine in the place of 
such deep darkness ; and this I say, that you and your asso 
ciates may be the more induced to value the inestimable 
benefit which he has conferred on you. For if the lies of Satan 
wherewith he has blinded and bewitched the wretched world 
reign everywhere at present, they have their chief seat in those 
unhappy prisons which he has reared up, that he may keep 
souls in a twofold captivity. Acknowledge then that our good 
Lord has reached out a hand to you, even to the depths of the 
abyss, and that in so doing He has expressed an infinite com 
passion toward you. Wherefore it is your duty, as St. Peter 
has told us, to employ yourself in magnifying His holy name. 
For in calling us to Himself, He sets us apart in order that 
our whole life may be to His honour, which it cannot be with 
out our withdrawing ourselves from the pollutions of this world. 
And indeed there ought to be a difference between those who 
are enlightened by Christ Jesus, and the poor blinded ones who 
know not whither they are going. Therefore take heed that 
the knowledge which He has bestowed upon you be not unim 
proved, that you may not be reproached at the great day for 

1 On the back : It is thought that this letter has been written to Madame de la 
Roche-Posay, Abbess of Thouars. A Seigneur of that name played an important 
part in the religious wars of Poitou, but he figured in the ranks of the Roman 
Catholic army. Beze, IliM. Ecd. torn. ii. p. 588. There is a letter from the Re 
formed Church of de la Roche-Posay of the 27th May 1561, addressed to Calvin. 
(Library of Geneva, Vol. 107.) 



216 MADAME DE LA ROCHE-POSAY. 1549. 

having made void His grace. But because I am confident that 
you do so as much as lieth in you, I shall not dwell at greater 
length on that subject. It is quite certain that we cannot be 
too earnestly importuned on this very point. Besides, I believe 
that you will receive this exhortation as you ought, not think 
ing it superfluous, inasmuch as it may be of service to you 
against many assaults which Satan never ceases to make upon 
all the children of God. Now, while he has many ways in this 
world for seducing us out of the straight path, we on our parts 
are so pitiably frail, that we are immediately overcome. 
Wherefore we have much need to arm ourselves completely at 
every point. Moreover, being sensible of our infirmity, which 
makes us so often come short, we should supplement the ex 
hortations which are made to us in the name of God, with 
prayer and supplication, that it would please our heavenly 
Father to strengthen us by His might, and to supply whatso 
ever is lacking. However it may be, let us never seek out 
excuses to flatter ourselves in our vices as the most part do, but 
let us be thoroughly convinced that God s honour deserves to be 
preferred to everything else, yea verily to life itself. And let 
us not think it strange, if for His name s sake we be chased 
from one place to another, and that we must forsake the place 
of our birth, to transport ourselves to some unknown place, for 
we must even be ready to depart from this world whensoever 
He shall call us away. I understand quite well, that in such 
bondage as you now are, you cannot serve God purely without the 
rage and cruelty of the wicked rising up immediately against 
you, and without the fire perhaps being lighted. Such being 
the case, were it even necessary that you should compass sea 
and land, never grow weary in seeking the liberty to regulate 
yourself entirely according to the will of your kind heavenly 
Father. Howbeit, you must remember, that wherever we may 
go, the cross of Jesus Christ will follow us, even in the place 
where you may enjoy your ease and comforts. Lay your 
account with it, that even in the country where you have liberty, 
as well to honour God as to be confirmed by His Word, that you 
will have to endure many annoyances. For this is the very way 
whereby God would make trial of our faith, and know whether. 



1549. MADAME DE LA ROCHE-POSAY. 217 

in seeking after Him, we have been renouncing self. It is right 
that you be informed of this beforehand, so that it may not be 
new to you when the experience of it comes, though I doubt 
not that you and your associates are already prepared for it. 
But the chief thing is to pray God that he would lead you, as 
well to guide you as to uphold by His strong arm, in order 
that as He has begun a work in you, He would continue it 
until He has brought you on to that perfection, after which we 
must aspire until we are gone forth out of this world. And to 
confirm you in this respect, recall to mind continually what an 
unhappiness it is to be in perpetual disquietude and trouble of 
conscience. In this condition of mind, you will naturally abhor 
the wretched state in which you are, and count but dung all 
those delights and all those comforts which you must purchase 
at so sad a price as that of daily offending God. When you 
consider that our life is accursed, and, of course, worse than any 
kind of death, if our state be not approved of God, no bands of 
any earthly comforts will be so strong that you will not easily 
rend them asunder, so as entirely to escape from a kind of life 
which God condemns, especially to live in a place where not 
only you may be free to follow a holy and Christian calling, 
but where you will likewise have the means of exercising your 
self daily in sound doctrine, of which we are so clearly enjoined 
to avail ourselves. Such a recompense of reward may well 
stifle all regret of the flesh-pots and pleasures of Egypt, and 
encourage us rather to follow God in the wilderness than to 
befool ourselves in the practice of those lusts which our flesh 
desires and longs for. 

Meanwhile, Madame and good sister, having affectionately 
commended me to your kind favour, and that of your com 
panions, I pray our good Lord more and more to increase His 
spiritual blessings upon you, to keep you wholly in His obe 
dience, and to have you under His protection and defence 
against all the ambushes of Satan and those who belong 
to him. 

Your humble servant and brother, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

[Fr. Copy. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



218 BUCER. 1549. 



CCXLIV. To BucEK. 1 

Encouragements and consolations desire for the conclusion of peace be 
tween France and England excesses of the ultra-Lutheran party in 
Switzerland and Germany agreement between the Churches of Geneva 
and Zurich. 

June 1549. 

Although your letter was mixed with joy and sorrow, yet it 
was extremely pleasant to me. Would that I were able in some 
measure to lighten the sufferings of your heart, and those cares 
by which I see you are tortured. We all beseech you, again 
and again, not to keep afflicting yourself to no purpose. Yet it 
is neither proper in itself, nor is it in keeping with your piety, 
nor should we desire to see it, that amid such various and 
manifold causes for grief, you should be joyous and cheerful. 
You should make it your study, however, to serve the Lord and 
the Church as far as you have opportunity. You have indeed 
run a long race, but you know not how much may be still 
before you. It may be that I, who have just commenced the 
race, am at present nearer to the goal. But the direction and 
the termination of your course are alike in the hand of the 
Lord. I am a daily witness to many deaths, in order that I may 
be made as active as possible amid the dangers which threaten 
us from many quarters. Just as wars keep you busy where 
you are, so we here give way to sluggish fears. I trust, how 
ever, that the internal tumults are already calmed ; and there 
is a report of a cessation of hostilities between you and the 

1 This letter is without a date, but is evidently related to the early period of 
Bucer s residence in England. Proceeding from Strasbourg on the 5th April 
1549 with Paul Fagins, he reached London on the 25th, and met with a very 
cordial reception at Lambeth, in the house of Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. 
At the desire of his protector, and amid the sorrows inseparable from his exile, he 
immediately undertook a new translation of the Bible, which he was not permitted 
to finish, owing to repeated illness, brought on by the change of climate. He was 
engaged, at the same time, on a revision of the English Liturgy, from which he 
removed everything that appeared to be tainted with Popery, without going as far 
in these corrections as he w r as desired by Calvin, who was pressing him by letter 
to remove the accusations of his life, by showing himself more resolute and firm 
than hitherto. See La France Protestante of M. M. Haag. Art. Bucer. 



1549. BUCER. 219 

French. 1 Would that a plan of stable peace could be agreed 
upon : for we see that trainer of gladiators, who is bringing 
these two kingdoms into conflict, in the meantime laughing 
at his ease, and ready to seize any turn of fortune, in order 
that he may attack the victor with fresh forces, and gather the 
spoils of the vanquished without sweat and blood, and thus 
triumph over and carry off the booty from both. 2 But when 
I reflect on the wicked counsels by which France is ruled, I 
almost despair of this matter. Indeed, they fear him more 
than enough ; but, by haughtily despising others, they do not 
guard themselves against his craft. Arid indeed the Lord is 
by this blindness justly avenging, as I take it, their atrocious 
cruelty to his saints, which is daily increasing. Just as their 
wickedness is gathering strength, and is continually becoming 
worse, so I pray that the English may, with a contrary emula 
tion, make a stand for the genuine purity of Christianity, until 
everything in that country is seen to be regulated according to 
the rule which Christ himself has laid down. As you wished, 
and as the present state of things urgently demanded, I have 
attempted to encourage the Lord Protector ; and it will be 
your duty to insist by all means, if you get a hearing and of 
that I am persuaded that those rites which savour of super 
stition be entirely removed. I particularly commend this to 
you, that you thereby may free yourself of a charge which 
many, as you know, falsely bring against you ; for they always 
regard you as either the author or approver of hah measures. 
I know that this suspicion is fixed too deeply in the minds of 
some to be easily rooted out, even if you do your best. And 
some have been led to calumniate you spitefully for no error 
whatever. This is accordingly damaging to you, in some 
measure fatal, as you can with difficulty escape from it. How 
ever, you must be on your guard, lest occasion of suspicion be 



1 War prevailed at that time between France and England, with Artois and 
Scotland for its theatre. Peace was concluded only the year following (May 1550). 
De Thou, torn. vi. 

2 In allusion to the Emperor, who saw his power increase by the weakness of 
the English and French inonarchs. who were equally interested in opposing his 
supremacy on the Continent. 



220 BUCER. 1549. 

afforded the ignorant : the wicked eagerly snatch at any pre 
text for abuse. I am exceedingly sorry that N. 1 is annoying 
you without cause. Would that he would learn humanity 
sometime ! I am the more ready to pardon him, as he seems 
to me to be so moved by malice, as to be driven by a blind im 
pulse. You cannot credit how bitterly he has wounded us at 
times ; alike the innocent, the absent, and the friendly. When 
Viret was wellnigh overcome by the very great injustice of 
some, and by the perfidiousness of others, he was as violently 
attacked by this individual, as if he had been the most in 
famous traitor to the Church. He would certainly accustom 
himself to mildness if he knew what hurt is done by the in- 
temperateness of his too fervid zeal and immoderate severity. 
You must endure with your accustomed forbearance this and 
other indignities offered to you. The people of Zurich, cer 
tainly, did not approve of his cause. I differ from you some 
what in this matter ; in that, you think injury will be done to 
the opposite party. For while you think that they would 
never labour under such gross hallucinations as to imagine that 
Christ was diffused everywhere, you do not hold what Brentius, 
among others, has written, that when Christ was lying in the 
manger he was, even as to his body, full of glory in heaven. 
And to speak more plainly, you know that the Popish doctrine 
is more moderate and sober than that of Amsclorf, 2 and those 
resembling him, who have raved as if they were the priestesses 
of Apollo. You know how cruelly Master Philip has been an 
noyed, because he observed a certain degree of moderation. In 
their madness they even drew idolatry after them. For what 
else is the adorable sacrament of Luther but an idol set up in 
the temple of God ? I desired, however, to see all these things 
buried. Indeed I have done my utmost among our neighbours 
to keep them from railing ; yet as it afforded them satisfac 
tion, I did not hesitate, the names being suppressed, to condemn 

1 Doubtless on-e of the ministers of the Church of Berne. 

2 Nicolas Amsclorf, a learned German minister, exaggerated the Lutheran 
doctrine regarding Works and the Supper, and wrote a book, in which he en 
deavoured to prove that good works are hurtful to salvation, Bona opera sunt ad 
talutem noxia et perm cwsa. Melchior Adam, pp. 69, 70. 



1549. BUCER. 221 

all the errors to which I was expressly opposed. You certainly 
seem to me to enter with too much subtlety into the discussion 
about place. Others are more seriously offended by your ob 
scurity, which they think you have studied craftily to employ. 
I know indeed that in this they are wrong. But I do not see 
why you should shrink so much from what we teach ; that when 
Christ is said to have ascended into heaven, there is affirmed 
by this expression a diversity of places. For it is not disputed 
here whether there is place in celestial glory, but only whether 
the body of Christ is in the world. As the Scriptures have 
borne clear testimony on that point, I have no hesitation in em 
bracing it as an article of faith. And yet, as you will find 
from our document, 1 this was yielded to the fretfulness of some, 
not without a struggle : for I had framed the words differently. 
Nothing was comprised in this formula which we employed, 
except what I perceived it would be scrupulousness not to con 
cede to others. You wish piously and wisely, to explain more 
clearly and fully the effect of the Sacrament, and what the 
Lord bestows through it. Nor indeed was it owing to me that 
they were not fuller on some points. Let us bear therefore 
with a sigh what we cannot correct. You will find here a copy 
of the document which they sent me. The two paragraphs 
which you feared they would not admit, were readily adopted. 
Had the rest imitated the calmness of Bullinger, I should have 
obtained all more easily. It is well, however, that we have 
agreed about the truth, and that we are at one in the most im 
portant sense. It would be exceedingly appropriate for you to 
modify these two theses somewhat, in order to bring out more 
clearly that you place Christ apart from us who are in the 
world, by a diversity of place ; in the second place, that you 
might discard the more obviously all those false inventions by 
which the minds of men have been led to superstition ; and 
above all, that you might vindicate the glory of the Holy Spirit 
and of Christ, lest aught should be attributed to the ministers 
or to the elements. At the commencement of our delibera 
tions, agreement seemed really hopeless. Light suddenly broke 

1 The common formulary, doubtless, on the Supper, compiled by Calvin, which 
the theologians of Zurich and Geneva were led to adopt. 



222 ANNE SEYMOUR. 1549. 

forth. Our forefathers wished to deliberate with other Churches. 
We agreed without difficulty. N/s dissension must be borne 
with equanimity. Farel, as you will see, writes you at great 
length. Viret dare not, for you cannot believe how unjustly he 
is treated. He salutes you as dutifully as he can, and wishes 
you to excuse him. All my colleagues, also, salute you respect 
fully. There is nothing new here except that Zurich and 
Berne have cut off all hopes of an alliance with France. 1 
Adieu, very illustrious Sir, and father in the Lord, truly worthy 
of my regard. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lai. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 49.] 



CCXLV. To LADY ANNE SEYMOUR. ^ 

Thanks to the Duchess of Somerset, the mother of Anne Seymour exhortation 
to perseverance in the true faith. 

nth Jane 1549. 

As your mother, illustrious lady, lately presented me with a 
ring, as a token of her good-will towards me, which I did not 
at all deserve, it would be exceedingly unbecoming in me not 

1 While Schaffhausen, Basle, and Bienne acceded to the French alliance, 
Zurich and Berne haughtily refused to be the allies of a monarch who was the 
persecutor of the churches of France. Moved by the eloquence of Bullinger, the 
Seigneury of Zurich declared that it would lean upon God alone, and dispense with 
the alliance of the king. Hist, de la /Suisse, torn. xi. p. 308. 

2 " To the Most Noble, Most Gifted, and Most Honourable Lady Ann, Eldest 
Daughter of the very Illustrious Protector of England." 

Anne Seymour, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Somerset, Protector of 
England, was distinguished alike for her illustrious descent, genius, and piety. 
She married in 1550 the Earl of Warwick, son of the Duke of Northumberland, and 
thus apparently sealed the reconciliation of her father with the ambitious head of 
that illustrious house. We read in a letter, from Martin Micronius to Bullinger, 
of 4th June 1550 : " On the third of this month was celebrated a marriage be 
tween the daughter of the Duke of Somerset and the son of the Earl of Warwick, 
at which the King himself was present. This event, I hope, will wonderfully unite 
and conciliate the friendship of those noblemen." Zurich Letters, 1st series, torn. 
ii. p. 569. 



1549. ANNE SEYMOUR. 223 

to show some sign of gratitude, by giving expression, at least, 
to my regard for her. But not being able to find language, 
again, in which to discharge this sort of duty, nothing seems 
fitter than that I should call you to my aid, noble lady, dis 
tinguished no less by your worth than by your descent. For 
as you will be, of all others, the most suitable negotiator with 
your mother, you will be glad to present this mark of respect 
to her, in virtue of your very great affection for her ; and, par 
ticularly, as the address will not, or I am mistaken, be unplea 
sant to her. For I learn you have understood from her words 
that she is agreeably disposed towards me. Now, if my prayers 
be of any avail with you, I would particularly request of you, 
not to take amiss the humble salutation offered, with all sub 
mission, by me to her, that she may, at least, understand, that 
that gift of which I was held worthy was not bestowed upon 
one who knew not to be grateful. Moreover, I made bold to 
use the more confidence with you, as I learned that you were 
not only cultivated in liberal knowledge, (a singular thing in a 
young person of rank of this place,) but that you were also so 
well informed in the doctrines of Christ, that you grant a will 
ing access to His ministers, among whose number, if I mistake 
not, you acknowledge me a place. It remains for me to exhort 
you to pursue your so happy course, even although, as I hear, 
you are willing enough of yourself ; and I trust that the Lord 
who gave you this disposition, will also grant you steadfastness 
to persevere to the end. However, you will take my exhorta 
tion in good part, as incitements are never superfluous, since 
there are so many obstacles and hindrances in the world, and 
so many infirmities in our flesh. Certainly, among so many 
excellent gifts with which God has endowed and adorned you, 
this stands unquestionably first, that He stretched out His 
hand to you in tender childhood, to lead you to His own Son, 
who is the author of eternal salvation, and the fountain of all 
good. It becomes you to strive, with all the more zeal, to 
follow eagerly at His call. Especially as He has, at the same time, 
given you that support of which we see not only the daughters 
of noblemen, but even noblemen themselves, to be often de 
prived. Salute your brother a boy of heroic nature and 



224 FAREL. 1549. 

your very noble sisters. May the Lord enrich you daily with 
His blessing, and may He be the constant guide of the whole 
course of your life. 

Adieu, most excellent lady, deserving of my esteem. Truly 
yours to obey you, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lett. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCXLVL To FAREL. 

Reply by the Protector of England to a letter from Calvin. 

9th July 1549. 

The English messenger 1 has at last returned. He has 
brought a letter from the Kegent, in which he expresses him 
self thankful for my service. His wife sent me a present of a 
ring, not of great value, not being worth more than four crown 
pieces. The members of his family lead me to expect a toler 
ably liberal present from him, in a short time, which I neither 
desire nor long for. For what has, as I hear, given a keener 
stimulus to him, is a sufficiently ample reward for me. Adieu, 
dearly beloved brother in the Lord. May the Lord Jesus keep 
you and continue to bless you in your sacred labours. I infer 
that the quarrel with the prefect is settled, from your not writ 
ing me regarding it. Salute respectfully your family and our 
fellow-ministers. My associates send you their regards : Nor- 
mandie also, and the rest of your friends. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



1 The messenger charged with the letter to the Regent of 22d Octobei 
1549. 



1549. FAREL. 225 



CCXLVIL To FAREL. 

Imprisonment of two brothers of M. de Falais persecution in the Low 
Countries and in France. 

GENEVA, l$th July 1549. 

You know of the letter we have received from Bullinger. I 
was hoping the Bernese were going to give over negotiations. 
At all events, the inhabitants of Zurich see now with what just 
reason we in time past complained of our broken heads. Haller 
lately confessed to me that he would gladly have written, had 
Schirma not been afraid. I certainly excuse what does not pro 
voke such rage. The people of Zurich might have obtained 
their wishes from the Senate, had they not stripped themselves 
of all liberty. For they have so often repeated this old song 
that they should abide by things as they were, that nothing 
further should be done, that something deceptive always 
lurked under the guise of harmony that they are now ashamed 
to say a word on the opposite side. Nothing remains for them 
now but to suppress everything, or follow that new plan of 
yours. I was astonished that Viret did not indicate by a single 
word what was your opinion of them both. Be sure to let me 
know at your very first opportunity what arrangement you 
think should be made. I have nothing further to add except 
that two of M. de Falais brothers are in prison. 1 After the 
Emperor had given them a polite reception, he sent them to 
Granvelle. He received them courteously also. On leaving 
him, they were bound by the officer, and thrust hastily into 
prison. They were then removed to the Castle of Villenord, 
whence no one is brought forth except for punishment. Awful 
persecution blazes now over that region ; let us then assist the 
godly brethren with our prayers. 2 The Frenchman is as mad 
as ever. He wished to be present at the burning of two 

1 The names and fate of these two brothers of M. de Falais are not known. 

2 See the account of the persecutions in Hainault in UHistoire dcs Martyrs, 
p. 184. A woman named Mary was buried alive. A learned Frenchman named 
M. Nicolas, endured courageously the torment of the stake, crying out in the midst 
of the flames: "O Charles, Charles, how long will thy courage endure? 

VOL. IT. 



226 VIRET. 1549. 

[martyrs] lately. 1 May the Lord by His own power put a check 
upon his atrocious ferocity. Amen. 

We all salute you. Salute also, in turn, all our friends, and 
especially our fellow-ministers. I infer that you have heen de 
ceived about Christopher, because you had supposed he was 
going to come hither. Eespectful regards to him. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

De Falais received that sad intelligence with quite heroic 
courage. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 

CCXLYIIL To YIRET. 

Negotiations in reference to the publication of the Consensus George 
Count of Montbeliard. 

GENEVA, 2 QiJt July 1549. 

You ought also to add your judgment to the letter of Bullin- 
ger. The reason which he prefixes for publishing the agree 
ment, has something or other absurd in it. I fear again that 
the same over-scrupulousness will appear in this affair. I shall 
neglect nothing, however, which you and Farel think it useful 
to attempt. 

I have written to Paris concerning the Hebrew professor. 
If one be procured, he can hardly be present on the day of your 
assembly, as I had not fixed upon so short a time, seeing that 
it would have been in vain for me to bave done so, as two 
letters had scarcely reached that place. 

1 One of the martyrs here referred to was a poor tailor, who, led before the King 
and Diana of Poictiers, made a courageous confession of his faith, addressed stern 
words to la favorite, and was condemned to perish in the flames. The king 
wished to be a spectator of his sufferings, "and, to command a better view, went 
to the house of Sieur de la Rochepot, opposite the stake. The martyr remained 
firm, and having perceived the king, he fastened on him a look so fixed and pene 
trating, that the affrighted monarch was forced to retire ; and he afterwards re 
peatedly confessed, that the look of that man incessantly pursued him, and that he 
never again wished to be present at a fine spectacle." Histoire des Martyrs, 
p. 189, Beze, torn. i. p. 79. 



1549. THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF ZURICH. 227 

Count George de Wurtemberg, brother of Duke Ulrich, is 
here. 1 We dined with him yesterday. We had much pious 
conversation together. He had said so much to my honour 
before, that Wendelius was almost making an ado about it. 
Plessiacus will give you an account of the state of France. It 
is better to talk over our affairs than to write about them. 

Adieu, most honest brother, together with your wife and 
little daughter. May the Lord Jesus ever watch over you all. 
Salute the brethren in my name. Excuse me to Renier for not 
having written him. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 106.] 



CCXLIX. To THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF ZuRicn. 2 

Urgent recommendation of the adoption of a fixed formulary in the celebration 
of the Lord s Supper. 

GENEVA, 1st August 1549. 

Although I have repeated occasion to act with you concern 
ing the same matter, yet I do not think I should be afraid of 
seeming troublesome. Since the same subject is a matter of 
common interest to us, it cannot be that you will disapprove of 
what I am engaged in ; and as the perpetual importunity of 

1 George de Wurtemberg, Count of Montbeliard, dispossessed of his estates by 
Charles V. He had obtained from the Seigneury of Berne permission to reside at 
Arau. 

2 See letter p. 194. 

After the long conferences, in which Farel and Fabri took part in the name of 
the Church of Neuchatel, and after a correspondence of many months, the theolo 
gians of Zurich and Geneva came to an agreement on the doctrine of the sacra 
ment of the Supper, and drew up a common formula, which may be seen in 
Hospinien. Hist. Sacr., torn. ii. pp. 369, 370. It is very likely, says Ruchat, 
that this definite formula was the work of Calvin. We recognise his genius in it 
at least, and we find in it the same ideas and expressions met with in his Liturgy 
on the Holy Supper. Hist, de la Ref., torn. v. p. 378. The adoption of this for 
mula was the first step towards the union of the Swiss churches, sanctioned two 
years after the death of Calvin (1566), by the adoption of the famous Helvetic 
Confession. 



228 THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF ZURICH. 1549. 

good men urges me to it a little more zealously than is proper. 
I have oftentimes already given advice regarding a small 
matter, although many were offended, not without a show of 
reason, at my seeming to teach something or other different 
from you regarding the sacraments. Your Church, adorned 
with so many distinguished gifts, is deservedly held in honour 
by those men. They show some [respect] to our Church 
also, and, perhaps, to myself as an individual. So they are 
anxious to obtain assistance from our writings in coming to 
a knowledge of the doctrines of sacred duty, lest any sort of 
discussion should retard their progress. I have thought, 
accordingly, that no remedy was better fitted for removing this 
offence than if, to show our unanimity, we were to enter 
kindly into a consideration of it by means of friendly confer 
ence. For this purpose I have, as you are aware, undertaken 
a journey to you. And our venerable associate, William 
Farel that indefatigable soldier of Christ, and my guide and 
counsellor has not been reluctant to join me as a companion, 
in order to unite with us in bearing truly and faithfully what 
testimony we can on the one side and on the other. But be 
cause, in the present state of the question, I do not carry all 
along with me, I am greatly pained that those, whose peace of 
mind I should wish to regard, continue in a troubled, or, at all 
events, in an uncertain state. And, just as I said at the outset, 
I think I do nothing unseasonable, when I insist on there being 
some public testimony made regarding those points on which 
we are agreed. I have indeed thought it a reward for my 
trouble to draw up briefly and arrange those paragraphs on 
which we have conferred, in order that, if my plan be approved 
of by you, any one may see at a glance, as it were, what we 
have been engaged in, and what we have completed. I cer 
tainly do trust that you will be my witnesses, that I have re 
ported faithfully all that I have brought forward. Piotis 
readers will doubtless observe, that we I mean Farel and 
m y ge lf have with equal care sought perspicuity, unmixed 
with any deceit, and void of all guile. Nevertheless, I should 
wish them, at the same time, to be reminded, that there is 
nothing contained here which our fellow-labourers also, be they 



1549; BULLLNGER. 229 

who they may, whether serving Christ under the rule of the 
Genevese Kepublic, or in the Neuchatel district, have not by 
their signature approved. 

Adieu, most excellent men and brethren, deserving of my 
hearty regard. May the Lord continue to guide you by His 
Spirit in the edification of His Church, and may He bless our 
labours. 

\Lat. Copy, Archives of Zurich, Gest. vi. 105, p. 411.] 



CCL. TO BULLINGER. 1 

Eevisal of the Formulary persecutions in France. 

GENEVA, 13th August 1549. 

I was reminded, when it was too late, of the departure of the 
registrar. For it was not convenient for me to write then 
on account of the Supper namely especially as I was not able 
to do it so satisfactorily as could be wished. Indeed this is 
almost a customary thing with me. But a letter came into my 
possession to-day which you had written just before mine was 
composed. I had delayed writing you a private letter, indeed, 
until a trustworthy messenger might be at hand to convey it to 
you. And although I had not actually come under any obli 
gation, I was unwilling to forego the opportunity which pre 
sented itself. You will ascertain whether the edition with this 
new preface will satisfy the Bernese. Of yourself and your 
associates I have no doubt. For, in my opinion, I have fol 
lowed your outlines and only spread my colours over them. 
But you remember what I lately wrote regarding your two 
paragraphs. I am persuaded there will be no one among you 
who would not, of his own accord, desire my additions. And 



1 See the preceding letter. The negotiations entered into with the Church of 
Zurich, and already near a close, were prosecuted equally at Berne ; hut they 
were encountered there hy insurmountable difficulties, arising from the hesitation 
of the ministers and the policy of the seigneury. Calvin did not shrink from 
any concessions which, without causing injury to the integrity of the doctrine, 
might rally their spirits to union and peace. Hospinien, torn. ii. p. 370. 



230 BULLINGER. 1549. 

they are of especial importance, lest some might think we were 
rather artfully silent, and others justly desire what must neces 
sarily he expressly stated. The third correction will present 
no difficulty save in one or two words. I know the whole 
matter must so commend itself to you and to the rest of the 
brethren, that I shall entirely acquiesce in your decision. 
What you decide upon, therefore, I shall regard as altogether 
satisfactory. I think, again, that you will understand what I 
am aiming at. 

I dare hardly venture to give you anything new from this 
place, there are so many idle rumours daily afloat. This, at 
least, is certain, that numerous dangers are not very far distant, 
unless the Lord counteract them. All that I wish is, that 
Christians may live securely, as they can die securely. The 
Frenchman is so insane, that, as one may say, he wishes, after 
the fashion of the giants, to fight against God. 1 In the mean 
while, the firmness of the martyrs is wonderful. 2 It was a new 
thing for the king, when one of them of his own accord de 
voted himself as a sacrifice, that he might openly address to 
him at least three words for Christ, when he was preparing to 
witness the burning. I do not write to Celio, and perhaps 
he has not yet gone to you. If he is there, I should wish him, 
as previously ordered, to speak to the bookseller regarding the 
money for which I became security. He complains that the 
decision will be unfair. Our friend, however, says the opposite. 

1 In the month of July 1549 the fury of the persecutions was redoubled at Paris 
and in the provinces, and places of execution were so multiplied everywhere, as if 
the King had wished, by additional severity, to remove from memory the Edict 
which he had restored on account of the Yaudois of Provence. Beze, Hist. JEccL, 
torn. i. p. 70, et sidv. Notwithstanding all this violence, says Beze, the churches 
increased and gathered strength in many places. 

2 Among the number of professors burnt on occasion of the public entrance of 
the King into Paris, there is found Florent Venot, of Sedane in Brie, allowed to 
stand for six weeks in a pit at Chatelet, called the Hippocras* Cup, where it was 
impossible either to remain lying or standing and whose firmness overcame the 
cruelty of the executioners. " You think," he said to them, " by long torment, to 
weaken the force of the spirit, but you waste your time, and God will enable me to 
bless His holy name even till my death." Compelled, by a refinement of cruelty, 
to be a spectator of the torment of his brethren burnt at Paris, he exhorted them 
by look and gesture before he ascended the pile prepared for him in the Place 
Manbcrt. Hist, dcs Martyrs, p. 180. 



1549. FAREL AND VIRET. 231 

I remain neutral. But since I have pledged my word, I am 
called upon to pay it. 

Adieu, brother in the Lord, and most honourable and accom 
plished man, together with all your fellow-ministers, whom you 
will salute respectfully in our name. May the Lord be ever 
near you and keep you, and may you be instrumental in ad 
vancing the glory of His name ! Amen. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Archives of Zurich. Gest. vi. 105, p. 417.] 



COLL To FAREL AND VIRET. 

Letter concerning Vergerio history of Francis Spira. 

15th August 1549. 

You have here the letter which I sent to Bullinger. 1 I re 
solved, indeed, not to send it until I should learn that it would 
be agreeable to you. But the messenger, who has just left me, 
having unexpectedly presented himself, led me to change this 
resolution. It might perhaps have been written better by 
another, yet I hope it will appear tolerably satisfactory to you. 
Having the utmost confidence in your carefulness, my dear 
Viret, I have not retained a copy of it. You will see then, 
that a copy of it be put into the hands of Farel, that I may get 
back this my autograph. I know that what I have written is 
nothing but some few trifles or other which I have collected, 
and which are alike unworthy of me to write and of you to 
read, especially as they are circulated by public report. A few 
days ago I received a letter from Paolo Vergerio, with a history 
of Francis Spira, which he desired to be published here. 2 He 

1 The preceding letter. 

2 Francis Spira, a jurisconsult of Padua, having abjured the Protestant faith 
through fear of the tortures of the Inquisition, died if short while afterwards in a 
state of fearful mental anxiety. Paolo Vergerio, an aged Bishop of Pola in Istria, 
who was led to give up his bishopric that he might live in the free profession of 
the doctrines of the gospel, among the Grisons, visited Spira on his deathbed, and 
endeavoured in vain to console this unhappy penitent. The history of Spira, 
written by Vergerio, and translated from the Italian into Latin by Cello Secondo 



232 FAKEL. 1549. 

states that he was compelled to go into exile, chiefly because 
the Pope, enraged by this publication, was laying insidious 
stratagems for his life. He is living at present among the 
Kaetians. He says, however, that he is strongly inclined to 
visit us. 1 The history I have not yet examined thoroughly. 
So far, however, as I may judge of such a communication, it 
seems to be written with a little more prudence and sobriety 
than were those epistles [of his] which Celio translated. When 
I shall have examined it more carefully, I must consider what 
preface I should write to it. Adieu, most worthy brethren and 
friends. May God preserve you and your families, and con 
tinue to guide you by His Spirit even to the end ! Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[ Lat. or ig. autogr. Library of the University of Let/den.] 



CCLIL To F 

Criticism on a work by Farel. 

GENEVA, 1st September 1549. 

You will learn from your brother that the painful case of 

Curione, was published in 1550, with a preface by Calvin. (Miscellanea Gronin- 
yana, torn. iii. p. 109.) We have not met with this edition, which is become 
extremely rare. 

1 We find Calvin s opinion of Vergerio at greater length, in a letter to Farel of 
July 1550. 

2 Endowed, according to the testimony of his contemporaries, with a powerful 
and impetuous eloquence which charmed multitudes, and which, with the strong 
faith with which he was animated, could alone explain his splendid success as a 
missionary, Farel was abler with the tongue than with the pen, and his various 
writings, called forth by circumstances, are in general defective. We find in them 
a few ideas, cast forth at hazard, without plan, in strange disorder, and with a 
superabundance of explanation, in a diffuse and obscure style. It is not uninter 
esting to know the judgment which Calvin pronounced upon the works of his friend, 
and to find in this judgment even a new testimony to the brotherly candour which 
presided at all times over the intercourse of the two Eeformers. See on the writ 
ings of Farel, Senebier, Hist. Litt. torn. i. pp. 148, 149 ; Sayons, Eludes sur lea 
Ecrwains de la Reformation, torn, i., 1st sketch : and Haag, France Protestante, 
Art. Farel. 



1549. FAREL. 233 

Ferron has been renewed. 1 Bullinger, as you will observe, 
writing previous to receiving my letter, had good hopes of pub 
lishing a union. I make honourable mention of you in my 
preface ; even if it should give pain to the wicked, they must 
nevertheless swallow it in silence. I have written nothing re 
garding your book, 2 as I laid the whole burden on Viret. I 
said from the first, what is true, that I mistrusted my own 
judgment regarding your writings, seeing that our mode of 
writing is so different. You know with what respect I regard 
Augustine. Not, however, because I disguise from myself how 
much his prolixity dissatisfies me. Perhaps my style, in the 
meantime, is over-concise. But I am not at present discussing 
which is best. For I have not confidence in myself [to do so], 
for this reason, that whilst I follow my own inclination, I had 
rather pardon than condemn others. Norrnandie who is so 
great a friend of mine, that he is a great friend of yours also 
will furnish the best testimony as to what I think of your book. 
I am only afraid that the involved style and tedious discussion 
will obscure the light which is really in it. I know, and that 
not without pleasure too, that nothing but what is excellent is 
expected from you. I speak without flattery. Your book 
seems to deserve a place among [works of] that class. But 
because the readers of our time are so fastidious, and not pos 
sessed of great acuteness, I should wish the language to be so 
managed, that one might allure them by the fluency of his ex 
pression, and bring forward at the same time, that erudition 
which lies concealed under those coverings of which I have 
spoken. This is my candid judgment. Although I prefer 
acquiescing in the opinion of Viret, yet I could not be altogether 
silent, seeing that you had already insisted on it for the second 
time. Your brother will let you know about our affairs. 

Adieu, brother and very honest friend, with all your fellow- 

1 See Note 1, p. 207. 

2 The only work of Favel s mentioned at this date by Senebier, is the following : 
Le Glaive de la Parole Veritable contre le Boudier de Defense, duquel un Cordelier 
s est voulu servir, in 12mo, Geneva, 1550. It is a vehement reply to a Cordelier 
who had adopted the sentiments of that spiritual mysticism which leads to a denial 
of all morality. It presents, besides, the ordinary defects of the works of Farel 
confusion and prolixity. 



234 VIRET. 1549. 

ministers, especially Christopher, and Michael Faton. May 
the Lord ever guide and watch over you. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

M. Normandie 1 sends kindest greeting to you. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107 a.] 



CCLIII.To VIRET. 

First mention of Theodore Beza poverty of Calvin s colleagues. 

5th September 1549. 

I understand that Eustace, on his return, had some conver 
sation with you regarding two professors whom he knew about. 
While some deference is due to the judgment of a pious and 
learned man, yet I dare not trust it absolutely. Consider the 
matter calmly, therefore, along with the brethren. For I have 
promised that I will write to you in no other way than to give 
you a faithful advice. The Piedmontese author of the long 
epistle is no better known to me than to you ; so we may wish 
him well when he asks nothing more from us. I have written 
to Farel my opinion of his book. 2 But it happened, through 
the negligence of his brother Claudius, that the letter was not 
delivered ; for after he had breakfasted with us, I retired to my 
library, and he went away without saluting me. I have a 
messenger here, however, who will, I hope, set out to-morrow. 
Normandie can tell you how faithfully I endeavoured to send 
Beza 3 to you. I do not care for mentioning others. Yea, and 

1 Laurent de Normandie, a Picard gentleman, and Procurator-general at Noyon, 
had retired to Geneva some months previously, at the request of Calvin, his 
countryman and friend. Registers of the Council, 2d May 1549. " Laurent do 
Normandie retires to this place for the sake of religion, and presses the Council to 
receive him as an inhabitant, which is granted him." 

2 See the preceding letter. 

3 This is the first time the name of Beza is found mentioned in the correspond- 
once of Calvin. Born on the 24th of June 1519, at Vezelay, in Burgundy, he had 
left Paris after a brilliant and dissipated youth, to retire to Geneva. JRegisters of 
the Council, 3d May 1549. " Eight French gentlemen, among whom is Theodore 
IV/a, arrive here and obtain permission to remain/ Beza was, a short time 



1549. HALLER. 235 

the individual in question knows that I have entreated him 
almost importunately. Should he return I will not cease to 
urge him. The monks are wrong, however, in asserting that 
my associates are wealthy. For the only one who may be 
thought rich is involved in debt with three or four : I mean 
Cop. Abel and Des Gallars are rich in books ; Bourgouin 
and Eaymond have excellent daughters, but nothing more. 
But even if they do not speak to him, we will consult the 
good of the Church rather than our regard for him. I think 
you know of Eenier s wishes ; and I know that he is so 
beloved by you and by the right-minded, that you will be 
especially anxious to find work for him adapted to his 
capacity. 

Adieu, most upright brother and friend, together with your 
wife, your little daughter, and your whole family. May the 
Lord keep you and guide you by His Spirit ! Salute the 
brethren earnestly in niy name. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lot. orig. autogr. Library of Gotha. Vol. 404, p. 16.] 



CCL1V. To JOHN 

A reformer s complaints on the malevolence of the Bernese ministers. 

GENEVA, 26th November 1549. 

I beg you, my dear Haller, not to take it amiss that I ask 

afterwards, made Professor of Greek in the Academy of Lausanne, from which 
place he wrote to Bullinger : " The Lord has shewn me this, in the first place, 
for which may I be able to make my boast in Him continually, that I must prefer 
the cross to my country, and to all changes of fortune. In the next place, I have 
received the friendship of Calvin, Viret, Musculus, and Haller ; kind Heaven, the 
friendship of such men ! When I think that these are my friends, so far from 
feeling any inconvenience from exile, I may adopt the saying of Themistocles, 
T had been lost had I not become an exile. " M88. of Archives of Zurich, 
Gest. vi. p. 139. 

1 " To John Haller, Pastor of the Bernese Church." 

John Haller, of the illustrious family of that name, which reflected so much 
honour on Switzerland, was born at Zurich in 1523, and became a minister at the 
age of nineteen, as he informs us himself in his Chronicle. He became the col- 



236 HALLER. 1549. 

you to discharge the present duty for me, as I shall impose a 
new burden on you, by and by, to provide, viz., for the trans 
mission of my letter to Zurich. Conrad Curio, who is at pre 
sent schoolmaster at Zurtolphi, got me to become security for 
him with a certain bookseller. My reminding him of it has 
been hitherto useless, and I am now pulling his ears a little 
more smartly, lest I pay the penalty of his negligence. I send 
a letter to be safely delivered to him at an early period, which 
may be done without trouble to yourself. Had I not been 
convinced of your love toward me, I should not have ventured 
to impose any burden on you. Would that I had the same 
confidence in all ! But I see that Satan has too much influence 
among those who wish to be regarded as ministers of Christ, 
when Hotman 1 was lately refused a place among the deacons, 
for which I can see no other reason than that he was for some 
time my coadjutor. But although I am his familiar companion, 
he ought not [on that account] to injure the pious and the 
learned. Those unscrupulous individuals who go about raging 
so wildly will never cause me to regret the labour which I incur 
in behalf of the Church. They will assuredly bring upon 
themselves equal odium and reproach from all good men. I 
shall defer the rest for two days or four. 

Adieu, distinguished Sir, and very dear brother in Christ, 
deserving of my regard. May the Lord guide yourself and 
your family ! Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. copy Imperial Library of Dupuy. Vol. 102.] 

league of Musculus, at Augsburg, in 1545, was recalled to Zurich three years 
afterwards, and, yielding to the pressing solicitations of the Seigneury of Berne, 
undertook the duties of a minister of that church in 1548. His zeal and talents, 
together with his prudence, which was remarkable in one so very young, raised 
him to the highest offices; and before he was quite twenty-nine, he was chosen 
president of the clergy of Berne, an office which he filled for a long period amidst 
very trying circumstances. Ruchat, torn. v. p. 329, et suiv. 
1 See note 3, p. 207. 



1549. WOLFGANG MUSCULUS. 237 



CCLV. To WOLFGANG MUSCULUS. l 

Prohibition of the Vaudois Conferences remonstrances on the intolerance 
of the Bernese ministers towards those of France. 

GENEVA, 28*7* Nov. 1549. 

If your senate had reasons for forbidding the ministers to 
assemble in future, according to their custom, to confer upon 
the Scriptures, it seems to me that I have formed a correct 
opinion of them. But I deny that this was a useful remedy. 
I have heard that there were never any contentions at Lausanne 
until that madman resolved upon perpetually harassing the 
Church. Every one will admit that such meetings are an ex 
cellent institution ; and experience has hitherto shown that 
they have not been without a tolerable amount of fruit. The 
negligence of those who attend more to other things than to 
sacred literature, is there best detected. Such are at least 
stimulated by shame, and all derive benefit. It is certainly 
unjust that for one man s fault for the wantonness of one 
idler men are to be deprived of a beneficial exercise. It is 
wronging the brethren also, to visit upon all the transgression 
of one individual. Haller once saw an appearance of quarrel 
some wrangling. But who fanned the flame ? who supplied 
the fuel ? It is well known that as long as Zebedee was allowed 
to rage there with impunity, the brethren were harassed with 
perpetual contentions. 2 Why was there not a check put to his 
fury, as there might quickly have been ? Whence arose his 

1 The ministers of the Pays de Yaud were accustomed to meet weekly to con 
sult about religious matters, and for mutual exhortation. This custom displeased 
the Seigneurs of Berne, who abolished it by an edict dated 2d September 1549, 
under pretext that those assemblies, instead of producing edification, engendered 
disputes, divisions, and disorders. The College of Lausanne protested in vain, 
through Viret, against this measure, which obtained the approbation of the lead 
ing ministers of Berne, notwithstanding the strong representations addressed by 
Calvin to Haller and Musculus. Euchat, torn. v. p. 382, ef sniv. 

2 Deposed from the ministry, and appointed Principal of the College of Lau 
sanne, Zebedee ranked among the most violent adversaries of Viret and of Calvin. 
Numerous testimonies to his animosity against the Reformation will be found in 
the sequel. 



238 WOLFGANG MUSCULUS. 1549. 

shameless audacity ? If you do not know, there are too many 
among ourselves who have helped thus to puff up his arrogance. 
What now, if those very men, who long took advantage of his 
rashness that they might continue to harass the brethren, are 
the cause of the meetings being prohibited ? When you in 
veigh so bitterly against all the ministers of our country, you 
seem to me to be forgetful both of your mildness and your 
modesty. As those grievously err who, with the same chalk, 
as they say, whiten the innocent and the guilty ; so, where is 
the justice of blackening all with the same coal ? I admit the 
great deficiencies of many, and I would that the proper amount 
of strictness were exercised. I know that many are wicked, 
wanton, and virulent ; but, believe me, such are now permitted 
to throw off the reins. In the meantime forgive me, if I am 
indignant, that the whole French name is thus cruelly con 
demned. Although I make no distinction of nations here, nor 
am I one who shows indulgence to the vices of my friends, 
yet it is natural that I should be better acquainted than you 
are with their virtues. As to those scripture conferences 
which have hitherto been customary, grant us at least that 
old proverb, " Experience teaches fools." We have now for a 
long time had sufficient proof that the brethren are bene 
fited by the exercise of this style of interpretation. Now the 
less the interchange of opinion, the greater will be the danger 
from pernicious dogmatisms. The slothful will sleep undis 
turbed ; many will somehow or other grow godless, or become 
degenerate. This also has very great weight with me, that all 
good men are groaning under this edict, and the wicked are 
rejoicing. And when you see the College of Lausanne (to 
omit others) suffering so much on this account, it is surely your 
duty to alleviate their holy anxiety, as far as words can do so. 
In other respects also, your being very closely united is not 
more for their interest than for your own, if you wish to benefit 
the Church of God. For, to be frank with you, I was vexed a 
little lately by the rejection of Hotman, as I suspected that 
my connexion with him had done him harm. 

From my confidence in your friendship, I expostulate the 
more freely with you and my friend Haller. For I am per- 



1549. MONSIEUR DE SAINT LAURENS. 239 

suaded that some things which trouble me are displeasing to 
you also. But however that may be, I hope you will put a just 
and friendly interpretation on these complaints. Adieu, most 
excellent and accomplished man, and my revered brother in 
the Lord. May God keep you and your family, and be ever 
present with you and guide you ! Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

My colleagues heartily salute you. 

I thought I had given this letter with others to the messen 
ger, but after he left I discovered my mistake when it was too 
late. I suppose you have not heard that the marriage of the 
Duke of Mantua with the daughter of Ferdinand has been 
celebrated at Papia. It is yet uncertain who is to succeed 
Paul. 1 War is expected in Italy. God grant that we may 
seek peace with Himself ! 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library ofZoffingue. Vol. i. p. 14.] 



CCLVI. To MONSIEUR DE SAINT LAURENS. S 

Statement of leading articles of the Reformed Faith. 

FROM GENEVA, .... [1549 ?] 

MONSIEUR, Although I am personally unknown to you, still 
I believe you will not think it strange that I make so bold as 
to write to you, having been requested to do so by two persons 
who ought to insure me free enough access, I mean Monsieur 
de Saint-Martin and your daughter. Wherefore, also, I shall for 
bear making further excuses, and likewise because I have heard 
that my letters would not be unwelcome to you, but that you 
would have the patience to read and think over the contents, 

1 Pope Paul III. died on the 20th November 1549, of grief and rage, on hearing 
of the treachery of his grandson Octave Farnese, who, to obtain the restitution of 
Parma, joined the cause of the Emperor against his grandfather. De Thou, b. vi. ; 
Robertson, b. x. 

2 The title : To the father of Mademoiselle de Saint-Lorrans. Sans date. 
(1549 ?) This gentleman retired in the following year to Geneva. 



240 MONSIEUR DE SAINT LAUREN S. 1549. 

which gives me good hope that you have the true seed of God in 
you, which only needs to be cultivated in order to sprout and 
produce its fruit. Now, as that is the end I propose to myself, 
that we may attain it, I beseech you above all chiefly to con 
sider, that it is the duty of every Christian, not to consent to 
the abuses which reign in the world, but rather to ascertain 
what is the pure truth of God, with the purpose of adhering to 
it ; further, that you would listen to me, touching the doctrine 
which we hold, not that I would make full and entire decla 
ration of it to you, but I shall merely state in few words the 
summary of the whole, in such wise that it will be easy for you 
to perceive what is our principal object. As to the first, there 
are very many who settle down in their ignorance and supersti 
tion, because they will not take the trouble to open their eyes 
when the clear light is presented to them. Inasmuch as I do 
not hold you to be of that number, without further exhorta 
tion, it suffices me that I have warned you of the fact. There 
is much reason that all Christians should take care how they 
live towards God, so as not wilfully to deceive themselves, 
above all in a matter of such importance as is the salvation of 
the soul. It is notorious that Christianity has been much cor 
rupted and depraved, as well by the negligence of prelates, as 
by that of governors, and that by their stupidity, or avarice 
and ambition. I do not consider that this corruption is only 
in manners or morals, but what is worse, doctrine and truth 
have been turned into a lie. The service of God has been pol 
luted by endless superstitions. The order of Church govern 
ment has been turned upside down, the signs and symbols of 
the sacraments so jumbled together, that all is confusion. If 
everybody does not perceive that, it is because they have not 
brought back all things to the true standard ; but if we com 
pare the religion and doctrine held under the Papacy, with the 
pure ordinance of God, we shall therein discover more contra 
diction than between day and night. Therefore, \ to form a 
right notion, we must not pause to lay stress upon either the 
authority of princes, or on ancient custom, or on one s own under 
standing, but rather look above all, to what God has com 
manded or forbidden, for He has not spoken in secret, but has 



1549. MONSIEUR DE SAINT LAURENS. 241 

desired that His will should be known both of great and small.,- 
When you have once settled this point of submitting yourself 
to be taught of God, to acquiesce in what His Word contains, 
desiring to know what is the right way of salvation, that will 
be already a good step towards arriving at the full knowledge 
of what it is for our advantage to know. 

The second request that I have said I had to make, is that 
you consider calmly the sum of our doctrine, when I shall have 
shortly stated it to you ; for there are many who at once reject 
and condemn it, without having heard what it is, because they 
are prejudiced against us, which warps their judgment. I pass 
over the imputations and crimes which they lay against us, to 
make us odious to all the world ; but do what they will, they 
cannot reproach us with having any other end than to gather 
in the people who have long been going astray, and to bring 
them back to their standard, which is the pure word of God. 
We demand, however, that all differences of opinion be deter 
mined by an appeal to that, and that every one abide by what 
we know to be the will of God. Our adversaries make them 
selves a buckler of the name of the Church, which they falsely 
assume. And it is the same conflict which in their time 
the prophets and apostles had with those who usurped pre 
eminence in the Church, belying in all things the duties of 
their office. But we know that the Church is founded on the 
doctrine of the prophets and apostles, and that she ought to 
be united to Jesus Christ, her Head, who is without vari 
ableness. So therefore it is but a bastard church where 
God s doctrine does not reign as the rule. Following that 
rule, we desire that God may be served according to His 
commandments, and we reject all new-fangled ways invented 
to suit the appetite of men ; for it is not lawful for men * 
to impose law or statute upon conscience, and God moreover 
has reserved to Himself this privilege, to ordain for us what 
soever seemeth good unto Himself. Therefore it is, that we 
are accused of having abolished and trampled under foot the 
ordinances of our mother, holy Church, for example, when we 
say with Isaiah and Jesus Christ, that it is in vain we think 
to find out God by means of human traditions. Then, when 

VOL. II. Q 



242 MONSIEUR DE SAINT LAURENS. 1549. 

we say with St. James, that there is but one Lawgiver, who is 
able to save and to destroy. Well, then, when you had searched 
to the very utmost, you would find that all which is among 
them called the worship of God, is nothing but pure invention 

- forged at their own pleasure. In like manners/because the 
Holy Scripture, treating of our salvation, and wherein rests our 
whole trust and confidence in regard to it, sends us back to the 
sole grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, declaring that we are poor 
wretched sinners, utterly lost and useless for good, we endea- 

_your to bring all the world to partake of this grace ; and that it 
may be acknowledged and magnified as it behoves to be, and 
which cannot be done without casting down the false belief 
that we can do aught to merit paradise. They take occasion 
on this account to accuse us of making no account of good 
works, whereby they do us wrong ; for we are far more careful 
to recommend holy living, than are any of our adversaries. 

. But in order that men may not deceive themselves by an over 
weening confidence, we teach that we are able to do nothing- 
whatever in our own strength, unless God guides us by His 
Holy Spirit, and that even when we had done all, this would 
afford a far too feeble ground whereon to found our justifica 
tion; that we must therefore have continual recourse to the 
mercy of God, and to the merit and passion of Jesus Christ ; 
and that it is there that we must rest our hope, making no 
account of all the rest. Thence it comes, that we say likewise, 
that we ought to address God in all our prayers, for He calls 
us to Himself, and forasmuch as we of ourselves are too vile 
and unworthy to draw near to Him, He hath given us His Son 

_Jesus Christ for our Advocate. Therefore it is, that they re 
proach us with our hostility to the saints of both sexes, and 
that we forbid the honouring of them. But this is absurd, for 
we render to the saints the honour which God assigns them. 
Only we cannot bear that they should be made idols of, being 
set up instead of God, or of His Son our Saviour, which besides 
they do not ask, but on the contrary take to be a great wrong ; 
for those things which, under shadow of devotion, are done 
with the view of pleasing them, they seek vengeance before 
God. 



1550. THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 243 

The sacraments, which ought to serve for our confirmation 
in the truth of God and in His fear, have been strangely per 
verted. When we set ourselves carefully to restore them to 
their true use and first original, they would have it believed 
that we are going to destroy them. But would they only look 
to the ordinance as it has been instituted by the Master, it 
would then be quite evident that the manner of observance 
which we practise, does not derogate in anything from what 
He has prescribed. True it is, we have not the mass as among *" 
them, but we have the Supper such as Jesus Christ has left it 
to us, and our adversaries can say nothing to the contrary, only 
they object their custom as a reason for everything, but we 
have another kind of buckler altogether, which is the com 
mandment that must endure inviolable to the end of the world. 
Do this, saith the text, until I come. Whereby it follows, that ~~ 
whosoever attempt to change anything until the coming of 
our Lord Jesus, prove themselves rebels against Him. I should 
be over-tedious were I to follow out the other details which I 
omit mentioning to you, because it shall well suffice me, if it 
please God to lead you to concur in what I have herein lightly 
handled, in the hope that by more ample reading you may be 
yet more confirmed in the same purpose. And now, therefore, 
Monsieur, having humbly commended me to your kind favour, 
I beseech our good Lord to guide you by His Spirit, to make 
you conform in everything to His will, and to send what He 
knows to be good and wholesome for you. Your servant, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

[Fr. copy. Lihrary of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



CCLVII. To THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1 

Congratulations on the royal favour shown to the Duke of Somerset use to 
be made of his influence for spreading the Gospel in England. 

January 1550. 

MONSEIGNEUR, That I have so long delayed to write to you, 

1 On the back, in the handwriting of Calvin : " To Monsieur the Protector of 
England. Sent." 
This letter was addressed to the Earl of Somerset after his first disgrace. (See 



244 THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1550. 

lias been from no want of good-will, but to my great regret I 
have refrained, fearing lest, during the troubles which have 
been of late, my letters should be the occasion of annoyance. I 
thank my God that He has now afforded me the opportunity 
which hitherto I have been waiting for. It is not I alone who 
rejoice at the good issue which God has given to your affliction, 
but all true believers, who desire the advancement of the king 
dom of our Lord Jesus Christ, forasmuch as they know the 
solicitude with which you have laboured for the re-establishing 
of the Gospel in all its purity in England, and that every kind 
of superstition might be abolished. And I do not doubt that 
you are prepared to persevere in the same course, in so far as 
you shall have the means. On your own part, Monseigneur, 
not only have you to acknowledge the favour God has shown 
you in stretching out His hand for your deliverance, but also 
to bear His dealing with you in remembrance, that you may 
profit by it. 1 I know the regret which you may well enter 
tain, and how you may be tempted to render the like to those 
whom you reckon to have meditated greater mischief against 
you than what has come to pass. But you know the admoni 
tion which Saint Paul has given us on that head, that is, that 
we have not to fight against flesh and blood, but against 
the hidden wiles of our spiritual enemy. Wherefore let us not 
waste our energies upon men, but rather let us set ourselves 
against Satan to resist all his machinations against us, as 
there is no doubt whatever that he was the author of the evil 
which impended over you, in order that the course of the 
Gospel might thereby be hindered, and even that all should 

the letter of the 22d October 1548, and the Note, p. 261.) Set at liberty, the 
6th February 1550, by the favour of the king his nephew, he resumed his place in 
the Privy Council, but losing the title and dignity of Protector. The letter of 
Calvin is without any doubt of February or March 1550. 

1 During his disgrace, which was regarded as a public calamity by the friends of 
the Reformation in England and throughout Europe, the Duke of Somerset had 
sought consolation in reading and in pious meditations. He translated into 
English a work on patience, to which he added a preface containing the expression 
of the most elevated sentiments. He received also exhortations from Peter 
Martyr, and shewed himself no less constant in his attachment to the Gospel, than 
resigned to the loss of fortune and credit, See Burnet, History of the Reforma 
tion, vol. ii. p. 184 ; vol. iii. p. 209, fol. London. 



1550. THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 245 

be brought to confusion. Therefore, Monseigneur, forgetting 
and pardoning the faults of those whom you may conceive to 
have been your enemies, apply your whole mind to repel his 
malice who thus engaged them to their own destruction in set 
ting themselves to seek your ruin. This magnanimity will not 
only be pleasing to God, but it will make you the more loved 
among men ; and I do not doubt that you have such regard to 
that as you ought. But if your humane disposition itself im 
pels you to this course, so much the more may I be confident 
that you will receive kindly what I say, knowing that nothing 
induces me to tender such advice to you, but the love I bear 
you, and the care which I have for your honour and welfare. 
And besides, it is so difficult a virtue so to overcome our 
passions as to render good for evil, that we can never be too 
much exhorted to do so. Moreover, seeing that the Lord has 
directed the issue so much better than many expected, keep in 
mind, Monseigneur, the example of Joseph. It would be diffi 
cult to find in our day such a mirror of integrity. For he, 
seeing that God had turned to good the evil which they had 
plotted against him, is unwearied in showing himself the min 
ister of the goodness of God towards his brethren who had 
persecuted him. This victory will be more glorious than that 
which God has already given you, when He saved and secured 
your person, and your property, and your honours. However, 
Monseigneur, you have also to consider that if God has been 
pleased to humble you for a little while, it has not been with 
out a motive. For although you might be innocent in regard 
to men, you know that before this great Heavenly Judge there 
is no one living who is not chargeable. Thus, then, it is that 
the saints have honoured the rod of God, by yielding their neck, 
and bowing low their head under His discipline. David had 
walked very uprightly, but yet he confessed that it had been 
good for him to be humbled by the hand of God. For which 
reason, as soon as we feel any chastisement, of whatsoever kind 
it may be, the first step should be to retire into ourselves, and 
well to examine our own lives, that we may apprehend those 
blessings which had been hidden from us : for sometimes too 
much prosperity so dazzles our eyes, that we cannot perceive 



246 THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 1550. 

wherefore God chastises us. It is but reasonable that we 
should do Him at least as much honour as we would to a 
physician, for it is His to heal our inward maladies, which are 
unknown to ourselves, and to pursue a course of healing, not 
according to our liking, but as He knows and judges to be 
fitting. What is more, it must needs happen sometimes that 
He makes use of preservative remedies, not waiting till we have 
already fallen into evil, but preventing it before it comes. God, 
besides your native rank, having assigned you a high dignity, 
has performed great things by your hand, and which shall 
possibly be more applauded after your death than they are 
duly appreciated during your lifetime. Moreover, He has 
caused His name to be magnified by you. Now, the most 
virtuous and excellent persons are in greater danger than any 
others of being tempted to forget themselves. You are aware, 
Mon seigneur, of what is written concerning the good King 
Hezekiah, that after having performed such memorable actions, 
as well for religion and the worship of God as for the common 
weal of the country, his heart was lifted up. If God has been 
pleased to prevent that in you, it is a special favour He 
has shown you. Were there no other reason for it, save that 
He would be glorified in your deliverance, and that He would 
be recognised by you, as well as by all in your person, as the 
true protector of His own, that alone ought to be all-sufficient 
to you. 

It remains, Monseigneur, that since He has thus given you 
the upper hand, you do render homage to Him for this benefit, 
as is due. If we are recovered out of a dangerous sickness, we 
ought to be doubly careful, and to honour this merciful God, 
just as if He had bestowed a new life upon us. You may not 
do less in your present circumstances. Your zeal to exalt the 
name of God, and to restore the purity of His Gospel, has 
been great. But you know, Monseigneur, that in so great and 
worthy a cause, even when we have put forth all our strength, 
we come very far short of what is required. However, if God, 
in thus binding you to Himself anew, has meant, in this way, 
to induce you to do better than ever, your duty is to strive to 
the uttermost and with all your energy, so that so holy a work 



1550. THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET. 247 

as that which He has begun by you may be carried forward. 
I doubt not that you do so ; but I am also confident, that know 
ing the affection which induces me to exhort you thereunto, 
you will receive all my solicitation with your wonted benignity. 
If the honour of God be thus esteemed by you above all else, 
He will assuredly watch over you and your whole household, to 
pour out His grace there more abundantly, and will make you 
know the value of His blessing. For that promise can never 
fail, Those who honour me, I will render honourable. True 
it is, that those who best do their duty are oftentimes troubled 
the most by many violent onsets. But this is quite enough for 
them, that God is at hand to succour and relieve them. Now, 
although it is enough for you to look to God and to feel the 
assurance that your service is pleasing to Him, nevertheless, 
Monseigneur, it is a great comfort to you to see the King so 
well disposed that he prefers the restoration of the Church, and 
of pure doctrine, to everything else, seeing it is a virtue greatly 
to be admired in him, and a peculiar blessing for the kingdom, 1 
that in a youth of such tender age the vanities of this world do 
not hinder the fear of God and true religion from ruling in 
his heart. This also ought to be a great help and confirma 
tion, that you discharge the principal service which he desires 
and asks, in serving our heavenly King, the Son of God. 

Monseigneur, having very humbly commended me to your 
kind favour, I beseech our good Lord, that, upholding you in 
His holy keeping, He would increase in you yet more and 
more the gifts of His Holy Spirit, for the furtherance of His 
own glory, so that we may all have whereof to rejoice. 

Your very humble servant, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. orif/. minute. Library of (Jeneva. Vol. 107, a.] 

1 The young King Edward VI. Instructed by the most able masters, this 
prince gave early proof of a strong mind and of a lively piety. When scarcely 
fourteen years of age, he set forth in a discourse, of which a fragment has been 
preserved, the plan of the Reformation in England. He drew up with much care 
a journal of events which happened during his reign. He composed, besides, a 
collection of passages of the Old Testament condemning idolatry and image- 
worship. This collection, written in French, was dedicated by the young King 
to the Duke of Somerset, his uncle. Burnct, History of the Reformation, vol. ii. 
pp. 224, 225. 



248 FABEL. 1550. 

CCLVIIL To FAREL. 

Tidings from Germany aud England recommendation of a domestic. 

GENEVA, 1st February 1550. 

Although you have not had a long letter from me for a con 
siderable time, yet I do not think that even now I have any 
thing new to write to you. All the time that our friend 
Thomas was here, I was either suffering severely from a cough 
or annoyed by catarrh. A violent headache is now tormenting 
me, although it has been easier for the past hour. It is well 
that I am not prevented from labouring, in a kind of way, to 
discharge my necessary duties ; but I usually make but slow 
progress. Much of my time is wasted, at present, by ill health, 
which ought to be devoted to useful labour. We hear nothing 
from Germany, except that the Lord has punished the Emperor 
by the destruction of some of his ships. Would that some 
disease would put a check upon his evil deeds ! You know 
that the tutor of the English king has been set at liberty, and, 
I suppose, you are aware also of what happened to my letter. 1 

The prefect of C having got it from the messenger took it 

into the palace ; he afterwards restored it to the messenger, 
who, before giving it to the king s tutor, presented it to [the 
Archbishop] of Canterbury, to ask his advice. He returned it 
to him again after retaining it two days. The messenger, 
fearing that that was done insidiously, or that he was bringing 
upon his own head the very danger which others were so 
anxiously avoiding, presented it to the King s Council, although, 
as I hear, he was advised to do that by good and wise men. 
I expect an answer immediately. Whatever may turn up, I 
shall see to it that you be made acquainted with it. 

Whether it is owing to the indolence of John Girard that 
your book is not yet printed, 2 or from the confused state of his 
affairs at home, or because he has made deliberate choice of 
many things before it, I dare not affirm. I have certainly 

1 The letter to the Protector, of January 1550. 

2 See Note 3, pp. 226-7. 



1550. FAREL. 249 

spoken to him frequently on the matter, and he has made 
serious protestations about it. Normandie also has repeatedly 
ordered him to get on with it. So the Institute, which should 
have been completed a month ago, is not finished yet. I wished 
to make this brief statement to you, to let you know that I had 
not been neglectful. He is not particularly moved by my re 
proving him, except that he immediately promises to do it 
forthwith. 

Adieu, brother and very worthy friend. May the Lord by 
His Spirit continue to guide you, and may He watch over your 
self and your family ! You will salute your fellow-ministers 
cordially in my name, especially Faton and your colleague. 

The short Treatise on the Sanctification of the Infants of 
Pious Parents, and on Female Baptism, is being printed, 
although it did not require more than two days labour. 1 As to 
what you fear of the venomous creatures which I have irritated 
giving forth some poison, I am quite easy on that score. 
Adieu again. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

I understand that you require a maid-servant, neither 
yourself nor your brothers told me so. However, having 
heard it from others, I wish to tell you that there is a woman 
here who is pious, upright, and careful, and advanced in 
years, who would gladly serve you if she could be of use 
to you. 

All your friends salute you kindly, especially M. Normandie, 
yet this does not detract from the regard of the others 
from that of Yerron, for instance, the writer of the present 
letter. 

[Lot. orig. Library of Gotha. Vol. 404, fol. 5.] 

1 The Reformer having attacked the Interim in one of his writings, he was 
accused of Pelagianism by a German theologian, perhaps Flacius Illyricus. He 
replied to this accusation in a publication entitled, Appendix Libelli de vera 
Ecclesice reformandcB ratione, in qua refutat Censuram quamdam typography 
Ignoti de parvulorum Sanctificatione et muliebri Baptismo. Geneva, 1550. 



250 FAKEL. 1550. 

CCLIX. To FAREL. 

Election of a new Pope. 

3d March 1550. 

I am glad that worthy man has at length so far listened to 
rational advice as to yield to you. One must overlook what 
difficulty he occasioned for some time, only he should try to 
make up for his slowness by assiduity when he has once ar 
rived. This I expect he will be entirely prepared to do. For 
I know him to be an upright man and one who is diligent in 
his business. I know that he will be so commended to you 
that there is no need of words [from me.] His wife will get 
accustomed to it by degrees. He brings two boys with him, 
of whom the one is the son of a very excellent and very upright 
man, the other is a grandson of Pommier s brother. When 
they reach you, let them understand that you will attend to 
them. I shall faithfully discharge my duty to the son of M. 
Michael Schalter. I have just now received your letter. 

The Pope who has been created ought to be an extraordinary 
monster, seeing that the best of workmen have wrought so long 
at the forging of him. 1 Nor indeed could a fitter than Julius 
have been fallen upon, as the moderator of the Council of Trent. 

Adieu, brother and very honest friend. May the Lord 
Jesus sustain you ! Salute the brethren earnestly, especially 
my co-patriot, Christopher Muloti, Faton, and the rest. Adieu 
again. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. oriy. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 

1 The pontifical chair, rendered vacant in the month of November 1549, by the 
death of Paul III., was occupied in the month of February of the following year 
by the Cardinal del Monte, who took the name of Julius III. The irregularities 
of his past life, and the disgraceful accusations which rested on his character, ren 
dered him verv unfit to be a reformer of the Church. 



1550. DRYANDER. 251 



CCLX. To FRANCIS 

Counsels and encouragements collection of commentaries on Isaiah by 
Des Gallars. 

GENEVA, 7th March 1550. 

I am happy that you have returned safely from England. 
If your affairs here are satisfactory and prosperous, and the 
Lord is providing you with employment, I am the more de 
lighted, although, as matters now stand everywhere, it becomes 
us so to walk in the world that we may be willing forthwith to 
depart. England seems as yet unsettled. Elsewhere, what 
ever was satisfactorily established appears now to decay. So 
that, unless we can preserve our patience, we shall nowhere 
find the aspect of affairs so pleasing as to prevent us from long 
ing for a change. This is every day more and more the 
experience of myself, whose struggle you suppose is almost con 
cluded. For I am perpetually disturbed by new contentions, 
and new sources of annoyance and disgust, to such a degree, 
that, were a free choice allowed me, I would prefer any lot to 
groaning continually under so grievous a burden. The Lord 
has adorned you with genius and learning ; He has gifted you 
with a zealous and magnanimous spirit. We must pray that 
He will not suffer these rich endowments to lie unimproved. 
I know, indeed, that hitherto you have endeavoured to make 
your life useful to the Church, and that your attempts have not 
been without fruit. But I desire that your gifts may be more 
fully displayed, and I trust that they will. My meditations on 
Isaiah, which you say are expected, will shortly be published. 
The composition of the work, however, is Des Gallars , for, as I 

1 On the lack: "To the very Illustrious M. Francis Dryander, a Spaniard, at 
Basle, with M. Myconius." 

Dryander left Strasbourg (for England) in 1548. Melanchthon gave him letters 
of introduction to King Edward and to Cramner, by whose patronage he obtained 
a Chair in the University of Cambridge. (Zurich Letters, first series, torn. i. 
p. 349.) At the end of the following year (December 1549) we find Dryander in 
Strasbourg again. What were his motives for returning to the Continent cannot 
no\v be ascertained. See the notice of Dryander, p. &lt;J7. 



252 COLLADON. 1550. 

have but little time for writing, he jots down to my dictation 
and arranges his materials afterwards at home. I then make 
a revision of it, and wherever he has missed my meaning I 
restore it. When my letter reaches you, I expect the treasurer 
of our city will be there also, and will remain for two days. If 
you have any news he will be glad to convey them. I have 
nothing to say to MM. Myconius and Sulzer till they answer 
my last. Remember me, however, to them and to Oporinus. 
My colleagues desire me to salute you cordially. I pray for all 
joy and prosperity to your wife wherever she is. 

Adieu, illustrious Sir. May the Lord continue to guide you 
by His Spirit, and be ever present with you ! Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Archives of the Protestant ^Seminary of Strasbourg.] 



CCLXI To NICOLAS CoLLADON. 1 

Settlement of the Collation family at Geneva. 

12th May 1550. 

I have at present no other reason for writing you than that 
I thought it absurd that a messenger, sent with difficulty hither 

1 " To Nicolas Colladon, a man distinguished for piety and learning." 
Among the numerous French refugees whom persecution led yearly to Geneva, 
there were none more distinguished than the members of the Colladon family, 
originally from Berry, where they occupied an eminent position, and are reckoned, 
even in our own day, among the number of the Genevese aristocracy. Nicolas 
Colladon, to whom the letter of the Reformer is addressed, was the son of Leon 
Colladon, the celebrated parliamentary advocate of Bourges, who, with his brother 
Germain, retired to Geneva in the early part of the year 1551. Long initiated in 
evangelical doctrine, Nicolas Colladon continued to exercise those pastoral func 
tions in his adopted country, which he had previously performed in Berry. In 
1564 he was made Principal of the College of Geneva, and in 15G6 succeeded 
Calvin himself in the chair of theology, without ceasing to discharge his pastoral 
duties with a zeal which, during the plague of 1570, found a perilous opportunity 
of signalizing itself. He spent the last years of his life in the Canton cle Vaud. 
The precise date of his death is not known. Scnebier, Hist. Litt., torn. i. p. 398. 
GalifFe, Notices Genealogiqves, torn. ii. p. 506 ; and Ilaag, France Protestants, 
Art. Colladon. 



1550. COLLADON. 253 

from so intimate a friend, and on business well known to me., 
should return without a letter from me. I was afraid, also, 
at the same time, lest your brother should entertain unpleasant 
suspicions should he hear that I had been altogether silent. 
My friend Laurent at present declines the journey to which 
you urge him ; his excuse is brief, but such as we both hope 
will abundantly satisfy you. I will only add this from him, 
that he was as far as possible from seeking any excuse for not 
visiting you. I assure you that his inclination is in no respect 
altered ; but having seriously pondered the whole matter, I dare 
not advise him to leave his home at present. It is well, how 
ever, that those with whom you invited him to confer are dis 
posed to entertain a removal. 1 And, indeed, they can accomplish 
nothing in this affair without coming to us. For as the girl 
is engaged in marriage here, 2 it would be too hazardous for 
them to remain at home. It will be your duty, therefore, to 
urge them to collect their baggage, and prepare for the 
journey. This may at first sight appear ridiculous, as if, in a 
matter so difficult and perplexing, I fancied everything was 
easily managed. I am not so inexperienced, however, as to be 
ignorant of the obstacles, embarrassments, and delays with 
which you must struggle. This only I wish, since the matter 
admits of no delay, that you would exert yourself vigorously in 
discharging your duty. 

Adieu, beloved brother in the Lord. Salute your relatives 
kindly in my name, both the father and all the families. 
May God direct you with the Spirit of wisdom and fortitude ; 
may He be present with you and further all your pious efforts ! 
Amen. Yours, 

CHARLES PASSELIUS. 

[Lett. wig. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



1 In allusion to the various members of the Colladon family, who were contem 
plating a removal to Geneva. 

2 Anne Colladon, the sister of Nicolas, was on the point of being married to 
Laurent de Normandie. See Note, 1, p. 203. 



254 THE SEIGNEURY OF GENEVA. 1550. 



CCLXII. To THE SEIGNEURY OF GENEVA. 1 

Notice of a publication attributed to Gruet. 

[May 1550.] 

Seeing that it has pleased Messieurs to ask my opinion re 
garding the book of Gruet, it appears to me, that in the first 
place, they ought in regular judicial form to identify the hand 
writing, not so much for the condemnation of the individual, 
who is quite enough condemned already, as for the conse 
quences which may ensue ; as well in order that it may not 
be thought that they have been lightly moved on account 
of an uncertain book, as for the sake of adherents and accom 
plices. 

That being done, I think that the suppression of the book itself 
ought not to appear to be for the sake of burying it out of 
sight, but be accompanied by a testimony that they had looked 
upon it with such detestation as it deserved, and that it was 
done for the sake of example only. 

It is true, that seeing we ought to abstain from all filthy 
communication, and that nothing of that kind ought to proceed 
out of our mouth, such blasphemous and execrable speeches 
ought not to be repeated, as if we had no horror of them at all ; 
but, in obedience to the rule which our Lord has given in his 
law, it is for the common weal that faithful magistrates spe 
cially define the impieties which they punish. Besides, Mes 
sieurs are well aware how necessary it is, for many reasons 
which I leave for them to consider, although God s ordinance 
regarding it ought to be all-sufficient for us. 

1 Three years after the death of Gruet, beheaded for the crime of rebellion and 
of blasphemy, (see the note, p. 212) there was discovered in a garret of his house 
a writing in his own hand, of twenty-six pages, which was brought to the magi 
strates of Geneva. These latter submitted the document to Calvin, who drew up 
his opinion in the Memorial which we here reproduce, as an undeniable evidence of 
the religious doctrines and the morals professed by some of the chiefs of the Liber- 
tin party. 

The writing in question was condemned, the 23d May 1550, as being full of the 
most detestable blasphemies, and was burnt by the hand of the hangman in front 
of the house of Gruet. 



1550. THE SEIGNEUR Y OF GENEVA. 255 

The form, under correction, which we should recommend, is 
that there should be a preamble or narrative something like 
what follows : 

That whereas, in such a year, and on such a day, Jacques 
Gruet, as well on account of hideous blasphemies against 
God, and mockery of the Christian religion, as because 
of wicked conspiracy against the public state of this city, 
mutinies and other crimes and malpractices, had been con 
demned to such a punishment, it has since come to pass that a 
book has been found in his own handwriting, as has been ascer 
tained upon sufficient evidence, in which are contained many 
blasphemies, so execrable, that there is no human creature who 
ought not to tremble at the hearing of them, and wherein he 
makes a mock at the whole of Christianity, so far as to say of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and King of Glory, 
before whose majesty the devils are constrained to bow down 
themselves, that He was an idle beggar, a liar, a fool, a seducer, 
a mischievous wicked person, an unhappy fanatic, a clown full 
of vain-glorious and wicked presumption, who well deserved 
to be crucified ; that the miracles which he had performed 
were nought but sorceries and apish tricks, and that He deemed 
Himself to be the Son of God, in like manner as the Hierarchs 
weened themselves to be in their Synagogue ; that He played 
the hypocrite, having been hung as He deserved, and died 
miserably in His folly, a thoughtless coxcomb, great drunkard, 
detestable traitor, and suspended malafactor, whose coming 
into the world has brought nothing but all sorts of wickedness, 
disaster, and confusion, and every sort of reproach and outrage 
which it is possible to invent : 

He has said of the Prophets, that they have been only fools, 
dreamers, fanatics ; of the Apostles, that they were rascals, and 
knaves, apostates, dull blockheads, brainless fellows ; of the 
Virgin Mary, that it is rather to be presumed that she was a 
strumpet ; of the law of God, that it is worthless, like those 
who have framed it ; of the Gospel, that it is nothing but false 
hood ; that the whole of Scripture is false and wicked, and that 
there is less meaning in it than there is in ^Esop s fables, and 
that it is a false and foolish doctrine : 



256 MELANCHTHON. 1550. 

And not only does he thus villanously attack our holy and 
sacred Christian religion., but also renounces and abolishes 
all religion and divinity, saying that God is nothing, repre 
senting men to be like to the brute beasts, denying eternal 
life, and disgorging execrations, the like of which ought to 
make the hair stand up upon the head of every one, and which 
are of such rank infection as to bring a whole country under 
the curse, so that all people of every degree, having any sound 
conscience at all, ought to ask pardon of God that His name 
has been thus blasphemed among them. 

In conclusion, it appears to me that sentence ought to be 
given in such or similar form as follows : 

That whereas the writer of the said book has been, by judi 
cial sentence, condemned and executed, yet, in order that the 
vengeance of God may not abide upon us for having suffered 
or concealed such horrible impiety, and also as an example to 
all accomplices and adherents of a sect so infectious and worse 
than diabolical, even to shut the mouth of all those who would 
excuse or cover such enormities, and to show them what con 
demnation they deserve, Messieurs have ordained . . &c. 

The sooner this is done the better, for already this unhappy 
book has been too much in the hands of these gentlemen. . . . 

[Fr. orig. autogr. Coll of M. the Chevalier Eynard at Geneva.} 



CCLXIIL TO MELANCHTHON. 1 

Controversies excited in Germany by the establishment of the Interim 
Brotherly reproofs. 

[18th June 1550.] 

The ancient satirist once said, 

" Si natura negat, facit indignatio versum." 

It is at present far otherwise with me. So little does my present 

1 The proclamation of the Interim plunged Germany into a state of extraordi 
nary confusion. Some towns were so bold as to present remonstrances to the 
Emperor, and protested against an arbitrary edict, which reprobated alike the 
partisans of the ancient worship and those of the new. But their voice was not 



1550. MELANCHTHON. 257 

grief aid me in speaking, that it rather renders me almost 
entirely speechless. Besides, as I cannot express in words how 
my mind is affected, being overcome with merely thinking on 
the subject on which I am about to write, I am almost struck 
dumb. I would have you suppose me to be groaning rather 
than speaking. It is too well known, from their mocking and 
jests, how much the enemies of Christ were rejoicing over your 
contests with the theologians of Magdeburg. 1 They certainly 
presented a foul and abominable spectacle, as well to the Lord 
and the angels, as to the whole Church. If no blame attaches 
to you in this matter, my dear Philip, it would be but the dic 
tate of prudence and justice, to devise a means of curing the 
evil, or at least of somewhat mitigating it. Yet, forgive me if 
I do not consider you altogether free from blame. And from 
this you may conjecture how severe the judgments of others 
are concerning you, and how offensive and unpleasant their 
remarks. In the meanwhile, let it be well understood, that in 
openly admonishing you, I am discharging the duty of a true 
friend ; and if I employ a little more severity than usual, do 
not think that it is owing to any diminution of my old affection 
and esteem for you. Although for me to offend by rude sim- 

heard, and the greater number of the towns submitted. There were even theo 
logians compliant enough to legitimize this submission. Of this number was 
Melanchthon, who, by his virtues and his knowledge, deserved the first rank 
among the reformed doctors, but who, deprived now of the manly exhortations of 
Luther, and led away by an excessive love of peace, and by the natural weakness 
of his character, was making concessions which cannot be justified. Led by his 
example, and seduced by the artifices of the Elector Maurice, the Assembly of 
Leipsic declared that in matters purely indifferent we ought to obey the orders of 
our lawful superiors, a dangerous principle, which applied to ceremonies, and led 
to the revival of the grossest and most pernicious errors of the Romish Church. 
Melanchthon himself wrote a great number of the letters of A^/a&lt;po^? [Indifferent], 
in support of this doctrine, and his weakness drew down upon him the most 
violent reproaches from the zealous Lutherans, who accused him of being an 
accomplice of the enemies of the Gospel. Sleidan, book xxii. ; Robertson, book x. 
Moved by these sad news, Calvin did not hesitate to blame Melanchthon in a letter 
addressed to him, in which respect and affection are joined to a just severity. 

1 The town of Magdeburg, then besieged by the army of the Elector Maurice, 
persisted in rejecting the Interim, and the theologians of that Church flooded Ger 
many with pamphlets, in which Melanchthon was not spared. The Burghers of 
Magdeburg, put under the ban of the empire, sustained a long siege, and did not 
submit till the following year. Sleidan, book xxii. 

VOL. II. R 



258 MELANCHTHON. 1550. 

plicity, rather than bespeak by adulation the favour of any man, 
is nothing uncommon or new to you. I. also feel, on the other 
hand, less anxiety about your taking it amiss to be reproved by 
me when I have just cause for displeasure, inasmuch as I am 
well aware that nothing gives you greater pleasure than open 
candour. I am truly anxious to approve all your actions, both 
to myself and to others. But I at present accuse you before 
yourself, that I may not be forced to join those who condemn 
you in your absence. This is the sum of your defence : that 
provided purity of doctrine be retained, externals should not 
be pertinaciously contended for. 1 And if it be true that is 
confidently asserted everywhere, you extend the distinction of 
non-essentials too far. You are not ignorant that the Papists 
have corrupted the worship of God in a thousand ways. We 
have put up with corruptions which were barely tolerable. 
The ungodly now order these same things to be restored, that 
they may triumph over a down-trodden gospel. And if any 
one does not hesitate to oppose this, will you not ascribe it to 
pertinacity ? Every one knows how this is opposed to your 
modesty. If you are too facile in making concessions, you need 
not wonder if that is marked as a fault in you by many. 
Moreover, several of those things which you consider indiffer 
ent, are obviously repugnant to the Word of God. Perhaps 
there are some who insist too positively on certain points, and, 
as usually happens in disputes, make offensive attacks upon 
some things which have little harm in themselves. Truly if I 
have any understanding in divine things, you ought not to have 
made such large concessions to the Papists ; partly because you 
have loosed what the Lord has bound in his Word, and partly 
because you have afforded occasion for bringing insult upon the 
Gospel. At a time when circumcision was as yet lawful, do 

1 In a reply to Flacius Illyricus, who maintained that, rather than tolerate tho 
restoration of the Popish ceremonies, he would plunder and destroy the Churches 
and stir up the people, "vastitatem faciendam in templis, et metu seditionum 
terrendos principes" Melanchthon advocated immovable steadfastness in doctrine, 
submission in everything else "In ceremoniis tolerandam aliquam servitutem, 
quce tamen sit sine impietate." Melch. Adam. Vita Melanchtlionis, p. 344. But 
was it possible to submit to the Church of Rome without deserting sound 
doctrine ? 



1550. MELANCHTHON. 259 

you not see that Paul, because crafty and malicious fowlers 
were laying snares for the liberty of believers, pertinaciously re 
fused to concede to them a ceremony at the first instituted by 
God ? Accordingly, he boasts that he did not yield to them, 
no not for a moment, that the truth of the Gospel might remain 
intact among the Gentiles. In our day, indeed, the enemy has 
not troubled us about circumcision, but that they may not leave 
us anything pure, they are tainting both doctrine and every 
exercise of worship with their putrid leaven. As for the theo 
logians of Magdeburg, you say that they were only raising dis 
putes about a linen vesture. I do not see the force of this. I 
certainly think the use of the linen vesture, with many other 
fooleries, have been hitherto retained as much by you as by 
them. And, indeed, good and pious men everywhere deplore 
that you should have countenanced those corruptions which 
manifestly tend to destroy the purity of all doctrine, and to un 
dermine the stability of the Church. Lest you may perhaps 
have forgotten what I once said to you, I now remind you of 
it, namely, that we consider our ink too precious if we hesitate 
to bear testimony in writing to those things which so many of 
the flock are daily sealing with their blood. I spoke thus, 
indeed, at a time when we seemed to be farther out of the reach 
of missiles [than at present]. And seeing that the Lord led us 
forth into the arena, it became us on that account to strive the 
more manfully. Your position is different from that of many, 
as yourself are aware. For the trepidation of a general or 
leader is more dishonourable than the flight of a whole herd of 
private soldiers. Accordingly, while the timidity of others may 
be overlooked, unless you give invariable evidence of unflinch 
ing steadfastness, all will say that vacillation in such a man 
must not be tolerated. You alone, by only giving way a little, 
will cause more complaints and sighs than would a hundred 
ordinary individuals by open desertion. And, although I am 
fully persuaded that the fear of death never compelled you in 
the very least to swerve from the right path, yet I am appre 
hensive that it is just .possible, that another species of fear may 
have proved too much for your courage. For I know how 
much you are horrified at the charge of rude severity. But we 



260 MELANCHTHOK 1550. 

must remember, that reputation must not be accounted by the 
servants of Christ as of more value than life. We are no better 
than Paul was, who held fearlessly on his way through " evil 
and good report." It is indeed a hard and disagreeable thing 
to be reckoned turbulent and inflexible, men who would rather 
see the whole world in ruin, than condescend to any measure of 
moderation. But your ears should have been deaf to such talk 
long ago. I have not so bad an opinion of you, nor will I do 
you the injustice, to suppose that you resemble the ambitious, 
and hang upon the popular breath. Yet I have no doubt but 
that you are occasionally weakened by those goadings. What ? 
Is it the part of a wise and considerate man to rend the Church 
for the sake of minute and all but frivolous matters ? Must 
not peace be purchased at any tolerable amount of inconveni 
ence ? What madness is it to stand out for everything to the 
last, to the neglect of the entire substance of the Gospel ! 
When lately these and similar remarks were circulated by de 
signing men, I thought and perceived you to be more influenced 
by them than you should have been ; accordingly, I open my 
mind candidly to you, lest anything should mar that truly 
divine magnanimity, which, in other respects, I know you to 
possess. You know why I am so vehement. I had rather die 
with you a hundred times, than see you survive the doctrines 
surrendered by you. Nor do I say this as if there was danger 
lest the truth of God made known by your ministry should 
come to nought, or as if I distrusted your steadfastness ; but 
simply because you will never be sufficiently solicitous lest the 
wicked obtain an occasion of cavilling, which owing to your 
facileness they eagerly snatch at. Pardon me for loading your 
breast with these miserable, though ineffectual groans. Adieu, 
most illustrious Sir, and ever worthy of my hearty regard. May 
the Lord continue to guide you by His Spirit, and sustain 
you by His might ; may His protection guard you. Amen. 1 
Salute, I entreat you, any of my friends that are near you. A 

1 This letter is without date. We discover the date, however, in a letter of 
Calvin s to Valentin Pacaeus, a doctor of Leipsic, of 18th June 1550, where we 
meet with these words : " I make no mention of M. Philip, as I am writing spe 
cially to himself." Calv. Opera, torn, ix. p. 54. 



1550. VIKET. 261 

great number here respectfully salute you. Multitudes, to 
avoid idolatry in France ; are making choice of a voluntary 
exile among us. JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 54.] 



CCLXIV. To VIBET. 

Hope of an early visit from Viret projected excursions in the neighbourhood 

of Geneva. 

GENEVA, 23dJuly 1550. 

When some one or other informed me lately that you in 
tended coming here in a short time, I snatched eagerly at the 
intelligence, just as if you had been bound to come by a pre 
vious agreement. If you do think of coming, I beseecli you, 
again and again, to stay a Sabbath with us, for you could not 
have a better opportunity during the whole year. You will 
deliver a discourse in the city on the morning of the Lord s 
day. I shall set out for Jussy ; you will follow me after dinner, 
and we shall proceed thence to M. de Falais . 1 Leaving him 
again, we shall make a hasty passage to the opposite side, 2 
and rusticate till Thursday with Seigneurs Pommier and De 
Lisle. On Friday, if you choose to make an excursion to 
Tournet or Belle Eive, you will have my company also. You 
need not be afraid of any unpopularity, for matters have calmed 
down somewhat, as you will hear. See you do not disappoint 
me. Certainly many here are expecting you. 

Adieu, again and again, until you come. Salute the brethren, 
and your wife and little daughters at home. May the Lord 
Jesus keep you all and watch over you. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

You will give the letters to M. Vergerio, to be delivered to 
Zerkinden and Haller. 

[Lat. oriy. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.} 

1 See note 2, p. 161. M. de Falais lived during the summer in a country-seat, 
situated at Veigy, a small village of Savoy, a few leagues from Geneva. 

2 On the opposite bank of the lake, where rises the delightful eminence of 
r hambesy, crowned at the present day with beautiful villas. 



262 FAEEL. 1550. 



CCLXV. To FAREL. 

Opinion regarding Vergerio intelligence regarding Bucer letter to Melanchthon 
disputes with Berne literary publications of Calvin. 

July 1550. 

Although I have not been able to secure a messenger for a 
long time, who might convey my letter to you with conveni 
ence and safety, yet I must really confess that I am ashamed 
of my long delay. But you will readily excuse me ; and I can 
with truth declare, that I would gladly have written you on 
different occasions had I been able sooner to find a messenger. 
It is not expedient for us, in my opinion, to be anxious about 
our exculpation with the people of Zurich, lest some ground 
less suspicion should steal in upon them. We shall see by and 
by whether they have any faith in those clouds of theirs. De 
fence will be easy then. Let us, in the meantime, cherish our 
unanimity. Vergerio, Bishop of Pola, 1 is here at present ; he 
will not return to the Grisons, however. I think Yiret wrote 
you concerning him. He came by Lausanne, and spent a few 
days in familiar intercourse with the brethren. There is 
much that is praiseworthy about him ; and I hope that he 
will be steadfast in the right path. As I knew he passed 
through Zurich, I endeavoured to elicit from him whether he 
had heard of aught unfavourable there. I could not scent out 
anything, however. We should therefore keep quiet, unless a 
better opportunity presents itself. Those who come from 
England, say that matters get on well there. I have heard 
nothing of Bucer, except that he seems rather pliant to some. 12 

1 Paolo Vergerio, one of the missionaries of Reform in Swiss Italy. Born of an 
illustrious family of Istria, he had successively studied law and oratory, was made 
Bishop of Istria, and discharged the duties of Pope s legate in Germany. He be 
came a convert to the Gospel through conversations with Melanchthon, abandoned 
his diocese, and retired among the Grisons. He died in 1565. 

2 There is a beautiful letter from Bucer to Calvin, [Calvini Opera, torn. ix. 
p. 58,] dated from Cambridge, and containing curious details regarding the reli 
gious state of England. We find this passage in it relative to the young King 
Edward VI., " Increase in prayer in behalf of the most serene King, who is mak 
ing quite wonderful progress in pious and literary studies." 



1550. FABEL. 263 

There is a fixed opinion in the minds of many regarding him 
which is not easily rooted out. It is not unlikely that the good 
man feels annoyed by this prejudice. And whether he affords 
any occasion for it or not, I cannot tell. We shall have some 
word soon. No change has taken place in Saxony as yet. 
Should you feel disposed to spend a quarter of an hour, per 
haps, in reading an epistle in which I discuss [the question] of 
ceremonies, you will find a copy of it enclosed. I have written 
to Melanchthon also in almost the very same strain, but, owing 
to my negligence, it turns out that I do not possess a copy of 
it. 1 Should you also be inclined to look into those points on 
which I recently advised the Protector of England, I have sent 
that [document] also. Would that time had allowed me to 
seek your advice, rather than show you what I have now done 
regarding the matter. The Collector of Finance 2 of the French 
king, who was in prison, has cost us no further trouble. The 
Bernese ambassadors, lately sent in his behalf, were of some 
use, though of less than I could have wished. They succeeded, 
however, in quieting the mind of the king. Five or six days 
after there comes a most polite letter, in which the king returns 
us his thanks, and courteously asks us to release the captive. 
This was done. By the wonderful goodness of God, we are 
now freed from a source of anxiety which often robbed me of 
my sleep. That new impost which the Bernese are exacting, 3 
annoys us sadly. We are resolved not to pay it. We wish 
it tried at law ; our opponents wish us to bow to their autho 
rity. Thereupon one evil rises out of another. Moreover, this 
awkward circumstance attends it, that I dare not refuse my 
advice to those soliciting it. I commenced Genesis seven days 

1 See the preceding letter. 

2 We find no allusion to this fact in the Kegisters of the Council of that year. 
But Ruchat mentions, after Eoset, the arrest of one Jean Baptiste Didaco, Re 
ceiver-General of Finance at Rouen, who, having been imprisoned at Geneva at 
the impeachment of one of his domestics, was released at the request of the King 
of France, and of the Bernese, after three mouths imprisonment. Ruchat, 
torn. v. pp. 311, 313. 

3 The nature of this tax is not known ; it was set on foot in the localities be 
longing to the ancient territory of the Chapter of Saint Victor, and shared between 
the jurisdiction of the two republics. 



264 KABOT. 1550. 

ago ; may it be auspicious ! In the meantime Isaiah is called 
to press. 1 The printers are at present busy with Paul, but I 
fear they have been longer of beginning than they should. 2 If 
it be not out in nine days hence, it will have other companions, 
for I hope that the book De Scandalis and the Canonical 
Epistles will be printed during the coming winter. Adieu, most 
upright brother, ever to be revered by me in the Lord. Salute 
earnestly your family and all the brethren. May the Lord 
watch over you all and guide you by His Spirit ! 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCLXVL To WILLIAM KABOT. S 

Exhortation to the study of the Scriptures. 

24th July 1550. 

Although we have been unknown to each other by sight, yet 
since you recognise the Master Christ in my ministry, and sub 
mit yourself cheerfully and calmly to His teaching, this is a 
sufficient reason why I should, on the other hand, esteem you 
as a brother and fellow- disciple. But, as I understand from 
your letter, that it is not very long since the Lord shed the 
light of His gospel on you, I could not give a fitter expression 

1 Coiiimentarii in lesaiam Proplietam, In fol. Geneva, 1550. A work dedi 
cated to the King of England. 

2 In omnes Pauli Epistolas atque etiam in Epistola ad Hebraeos Commentarii. 
In fol. Geneva, 1550- With a preface by Theodore Beza. 

3 The title: To William Rabot, " Dictns a Salena" of Avignon. 

It appears from a letter of Rabot s to Calvin, preserved in the Library of Gotha, 
that, exiled from his native country from conscientious motives, this young man 
was then engaged in the study of law at the University of Padua, in company with 
u number of gentlemen, among others Charles de Jonvillers, Franyois and Louis 
de Bude, &c. Their studies were intermingled with religious discourses, which 
contributed to the spread of the Gospel in certain distinguished families, among 
which we remark that of Contarini, originally of Padua. The increasing rigours 
of persecution soon scattered this focus of Evangelism, and led some of those 
youthful missionaries to Geneva, where Charles de Jonvillers, one of their number, 
gained the friendship of Calvin, and became his secretary. Divers M/SS. of Gotha 
and of Geneva. 



1550. FAUEL. 265 

of my love towards you, than by exhorting and encouraging 
you to daily exercises. For we see sparks of piety immediately 
disappear which had shone forth on many occasions ; because, 
instead of increasing the flame, they rather extinguish what 
little light the Spirit of God had enkindled in them, by the 
empty allurements of the world, or the irregular desires of the 
flesh. That nothing of this kind may happen to you, you 
must first of all give devoted submission to the will of the 
Lord, and in the next place, you must fortify yourself by His 
sacred doctrines. But as this is too extensive a theme to be 
embraced in a letter, it is better for you to draw from the 
fountain-head itself. For if you make a constant study of the 
word of the Lord, you will be quite able to guide your life to 
the highest excellence. You have faithful commentaries, which 
will furnish the best assistance. I wish very much you could 
find it convenient at some time to pay us a visit ; for, I flatter 
myself, you would never regret the journey. Whatever you 
do, see that you follow the Lord, and at no time turn aside 
from the chief end. 

Adieu, illustrious and very dear Sir. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. Copy. Archives of the Protestant Seminary of Strasbourg.} 



CCLXVIL To FAREL. 

.Publication of the book on Scandals persecution by the King of France 
Bucer s discouragement. 

GENEVA, 19th Auc/ust 1550. 

How I am to repay you for your letter, I know not, unless 
that, as soon as the Lord shall have enabled me to complete 
the first three chapters of my Commentary on Genesis, I give 
you a reading of it. If it please you, it will be worth the 
trouble of plucking the fruit before the time ; and, besides, I 
shall have the benefit of your judgment on the remainder of the 
context, if you should think there is anything of which I should 
be made aware. The pamphlet De Scandalis, considering the 



266 FAREL. 1550. 

immense fulness of the proof, will be not only short but even 
concise. 1 But then the evidence is all traced back to this conclu 
sion, that there is no reason why ungodly men should bring 
the Gospel into disrepute, and expose it to popular odium, under 
the pretext of stumblingblocks ; and that the weak should be 
strengthened, in order that by the firmness of their faith they 
may overcome whatever stumblingblocks Satan may cast in 
their way. To put so great a check upon error, that should 
any one turn aside from the right path, or stumble or be dis 
heartened, he may be without excuse. Yet I show, at the same 
time, how dreadful a vengeance God will take on the authors 
of offences. Meanwhile, you will attack that monster when 
the signs are favourable, which I confidently trust you have 
already done. 

Whatever good hopes of Henry, Viret led you to cherish, 
they were vain. 2 Rumours of this sort are daily afloat. We 
should, therefore, place no more reliance on them than they 
deserve. It is a sure enough token that the ferocity of the 
beast is in no degree appeased, when our brethren, so far from 
experiencing any alleviation of their sufferings, are more closely 
pursued every day. ANOTHER LION is said to be making cer 
tain extraordinary exertions. 3 We should, therefore, ask God 
to subdue their rage, or, at all events, to waste their strength 
by mutual collision as he has hitherto done that they may 



1 The Treatise on Scandals, one of the most remarkable of Calvin s writings, 
appeared this same year, with a beautiful dedication addressed by Calvin to 
Laurent de Normandie, his old and constant friend. It was published at first in 
Latin, under the following title : De Scandalis quibus hodie plerique absterren- 
tur, nonnulli etiam alienantur a pura Evangelii Doctrina. Geneva, 1550. 
This work was translated into French by Latern during the following year. 
It is to be found in torn. viii. of his Opera, arid in the Eecueil des Opuscules, 
p. 1145. 

2 Henry II. of France, to gain the good-will of the cantons, pretended at that 
time to take a lively interest in the protection of Geneva, menaced by the Duke of 
Savoy and the Emperor of Germany. He even informed the magistrates of the 
republic regarding certain plots, real or imaginary, laid for its destruction. Registers 
of the Council, 1549, 1550, passim. 

3 The Emperor Charles V. published, at that time, his bloody edict against the 
Protestants, Lutherans, Zuinglians, and others, and seemed to be preparing him 
self for a general crusade against the Reformed Churches. Sleidan, book xxii. 



1550. FAREL. 267 

not be able to do any more damage. I am not ignorant of the 
danger from which the Lord has extricated us. Nor need we 
thank that abandoned faction, truly, for not bringing this 
unfortunate, nay devoted, city into utter ruin. But as I had 
all along good hopes of a remedy, nothing gave me great 
alarm. 

It is to be feared that I shall gain some ill-will on account of 
the taxes. 1 For they know that Normandie and I are con 
sulted [on the matter]. I prefer running this risk, however, 
to allowing those to ruin themselves whom I ought to advise. 
I was not able to bring them to a friendly agreement. All I 
could do was, to point out to them the best course. 

My dear Christopher, 2 confessing as you do in the beginning 
of your letter, that you are not standing firm in the faith, I am 
astonished at your refusing to think about the state into which 
you have fallen. Are you and Mirabeau to be here, then, at 
Whitsuntide or not ? I shall write to my godmother concern 
ing her little daughter at rny earliest opportunity. 3 The whole 
of yesterday was spent in some trifling manner, I hardly know 
how. 

I return to you again, my dear Farel. I do not know whe 
ther you have sent Bucer s letter to Viret. Anyhow, I have 
gathered from it that the worthy man is labouring under too 
much moroseness at present. 4 I shall write him a quiet letter 
by and by. There will be silence in future concerning the 
Zurichers ; for I perceive that it only heightens his exaspera 
tion. Seeing that he longs greatly for your [letter], I should 
like him to approve of mine. For that saying of Terence s 
applies to him, that the unfortunate abuse everybody. For 
he makes no secret of thinking, that his old friends neglect him 

1 See note 3, p. 263. 

2 This passage in the letter is addressed to Christopher Fabri, or Libertct, a 
colleague of Farel s at Neuchatel. 

3 Calvin had stood godfather to one of the daughters of Libertet, whose wife he 
habitually called by the familiar name of my godmother. 

4 Saddened by his exile, and tormented by a malady under which he sunk the 
year following, Bucer complained bitterly of being continually the object of an 
unjust suspicion to the theologians of Zurich, and of being neglected by his friends 
in Switzerland. 



268 FAREL. 1550. 

when they do not write frequently. Nor is he deceived in 
Sturm, perhaps, who formerly stood so high in his favour that 
he would have wronged most men before him. 

Adieu, brethren, both very dear to me. May the Lord be 
always present with you, to guide and watch over you. Amen. 
I was more tedious than I imagined on Saturday. For I did 
not wish to give [the letter] to Latern just when I had it 
ready. But, having striven in vain to reconcile him to his wife, 
I sent them both away, not without considerable displeasure. 
Yours, JOHN CALVIN. 

Normandie especially salutes you. Your other friends do the 
same. We have some here at present, by no means our friends. 
Marechal de la Mark, the Due de Nemours, 1 and too great a 
host of that sort. They will decamp a short while before 
dinner. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Gotha. Vol. 404, p. 10.] 



CCLXVIIL To FAEEL. 

State of religion in England Calvin s literary labours arrival of Robert 
Stephens at Geneva. 

GENEVA, loth November 1550. 

As for the circumstances of the English king, I simply 
charged Hugo to inform you, that the success of the Gospel in 
that country was highly gratifying. The French and the 
Germans are allowed to adopt the plain and simple mode of 
administering the sacraments, practised by us. So well dis 
posed was the King himself to religious matters, that he showed 
some kindness even to me. But as you will learn all this better 
from the letter of Utenhoven, I shall not add more. 2 I had 

1 Two of the keenest adversaries of the Reformation in France. 

2 See note 2. p. 269. Having left Strasbourg at the same time as Bucer and 
Fagius, John Utenhoven went to London, where he resided for many years before 
going to exercise the ministry in Poland. See his correspondence with Bullinger, 
,(1549-1554,) Zurich Letters, first series, toms. i. and ii. 



] 550. FAREL. 269 

hardly any communication with the other brother, for hav 
ing gone out of the church with him, I met by accident the 
syndic Corne, with whom I walked on, and while doing so, 
the worthy man slipped away, and did not again make his 
appearance. I am afraid he may have taken it amiss that I 
neglected him for the syndic. But you can easily excuse the 
thing, although an excuse is hardly needed. But to return to 
England. You will gather from the same source certain other 
things, of one of which, I must truly confess, I can by no 
means approve ; viz., that John Laski can be so much influ 
enced by the slightest breezes of court favour ; I fear its winds 
will drive him in all directions. 1 I have not as yet made bold 
to stir up the King himself. As certain parties have repeatedly 
urged me, 2 I have at last resolved upon dedicating Isaiah to 
him ; and as I thought there would be room enough for an 
overplus, I intend adding to it a second work, viz., the Canonical 
Epistles, which was conjoined with the former, and which will 
be out at the same time. I shall accordingly inscribe his name 
on both works. 3 

In truth, that on the Acts and on Genesis, of which you re 
mind me, can scarcely be said to have any existence yet. I am 
ashamed of my slow progress with the Acts ; and the third 
part which has been completed will, I expect, make a large 
volume. I was compelled to lay Genesis aside for some time. 
The revisal of the New Testament has kept me busy for 
four months past. I am dragged reluctantly into a consider 
able part of the Old Testament also. I had reminded our 
printers, in time, to select persons for themselves who, unlike 
me, were fit for and would undertake the work. They have 

1 John Laski, (Joannes a Lasco.) a Polish nohleman, devoted to the cause of the 
Keformation, who had preached successively in Poland, in Germany, and in 
England. In the reign of Edward VI. he rose to great favour in the latter country, 
and was appointed superintendent of the congregation of foreign Protestants in 
London. Zurich Letters, first series, torn. i. p. 187. 

2 " I am glad your Commentary on Isaiah, and also the Canonical Epistles, are 
designed for our king ; and I do not doubt but that, even from your letter to him, 
very considerable benefit will accrue to the English king." Utenhoven to Calvin. 
Paris MSS. Recueil Historiqve de Frame, torn. xix. 

2 See Calvin s letter to the King of England, of January 1551. 



270 FAREL. 1550. 

not attended to my hint, and so their neglect is now my pun 
ishment. I have got Louis de Bude 1 to undertake David, 
Solomon, and the history of Job, but as he will assist me only 
with his own labour, he will not entirely rid me of annoyance. 
I have rolled over the Apocrypha on Beza. What could I do ? 
Many are wanting Bibles to themselves, and it is long since 
there was a single copy to be had. There is no one to under 
take the burden, so the horse s housings fall to the ox. Some 
time has been expended also on the French version of the 
treatise De Scandalis. But I am annoying you to no purpose 
with these trifles ; and, in truth, if I had to give you a reason 
for so doing, I could only deal in absurdities. I can truly 
affirm this, however, that it was not without shame that I read 
that part of your letter in which you laud my industry, being 
abundantly conscious of my own sloth and tardiness. May the 
Lord enable me, creeping along gradually, to be in some man 
ner useful 

I have not received a letter from Bucer for a long time. 
What Vergerio is doing I know not, except that he wrote me 
from Zurich, with certain reasons for not returning at once to 
his own church. My only fear is that he will have enough to 
do, as you know the restless disposition of those people. Robert 
Stephens 2 is now entirely ours, and we shall soon hear what 
storms his departure has raised at Paris. The retiring philo- 

1 Louis de Bude, Sieur de la Motte, brother of John de Bude, was particularly 
versed in Oriental languages, of which he was made professor at Geneva, a short 
time after his arrival in that town. He died in 1552. "We have of his a Psautier 
traduit de VHebreu en Francais. 8vo. Geneva, 1550. 

2 The celebrated printer Eobert Stephens, a man of the purest reputation, who 
lived in an age which failed to recognise his genius, and which rewarded his 
labours with ingratitude. Having become odious to the clergy by his beautiful 
editions of the Bible, and by his desire for reform, and but ill protected by the 
King of France against the vexations of the Sorbonne, he resolved to quit his 
country and remove his presses to Geneva, whither the printer Crespin had already 
preceded him. He arrived there towards the end of the year 1550, with his son 
Henry, who afterwards shed a new lustre on the name of Stephens. He publicly 
embraced the cause of the Reformation, together with the members of his family, 
and honoured his adopted country by the publication of various works of antiquity, 
both sacred and profane. Made a burgess of Geneva in 1556, he lived in con 
stant intimacy with Calvin and Beza, until his death in 1559. Senebier, Hist. 
Lift., pp. 355, 356; Haag, France Protcstante, Art. Estienne. 



1550. MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 271 

sophers will doubtless be quite insane. 1 If the Lord will, I 
shall pay you a visit early in spring, since I did not go during 
the last vintage season, which I hoped, and particularly desired, 
to do. My colleagues, Normandie and his sister, one of the 
Budes, who is here, (for John has gone to France for his father- 
in-law), Trier, one of the Colladons all, salute you most 
lovingly and cordially ; so do very many others. Present my 
best regards to my countryman Christopher, to Michael Faton, 
and to your own family nor do I wish to forget Mirabeau. 
Be not surprised that the sea of Scandals is wellnigh drunk up 
by the draughts I have taken of it. Be it known, also, that I 
was afraid to attempt exhausting it, lest I should drain it dry. 
May the Lord preserve you long in safety, and may He ever 
bless your labours. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[ Lot. orig.autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCLXIX. To MONSIEUR DE FALAis. 2 

Misconduct of a servant of M. &lt;le Falais. 

This 2th of December (1550.) 

MON SEIGNEUR, I thank you in the name of all, for the 
trouble you have been pleased to take in helping us, if per 
chance the bad business which has been going on underhand 
can be set right. 3 I find, however, that the examination will 
not be sufficient to enable us to get to the bottom of it. We 
have of course forbidden all intercourse for the future between 
the young man and that unhappy woman. But it will be a 

1 In allusion to a tolerably numerous party in France, who, on receiving the 
Gospel, believed they might remain united in external communion with the Romish 
Church, and escape persecution by an apparent adhesion to its dogmas. 

2 After leaving Bale, and his establishment at Geneva, (July 1548). This 
seigneur lived in the village of Veigy, situated several leagues from the city, be 
tween Hermance and Les Voirons. 

3 In allusion to the misconduct of a servant of Monsieur de Falais. 



272 MONSIEUR DE FALAIS. 1550. 

more difficult matter to bring home to their consciences their 
past misdeeds. Indeed there is but one witness who depones 
that the brother was incensed at it. Now he denies that he 
had ever perceived it at all. 

Yesterday I was called away from the consistory by some ex 
traordinary business, so that I could not see how they dealt 
with this gallant. And my brethren are at this moment taken 
up with the Visitation^ whither indeed I must also go. How 
ever, I hope that what we have got will serve very well to make 
a beginning. I shall, if it please God, let you know of any 
shortcoming, by word of mouth, humbly thanking you for your 
so liberal entertainment, although I feel always assured of your 
good-will, even had you not said a word to me about it. 

Wherefore, Monseigneur, being constrained to conclude, 1 
beseech our good Lord to have you in His holy keeping, and to 
guide you by His Spirit, as seemeth good to Him, for the glory 
of His name by you even unto the end. I hope that He will 
vouchsafe us grace to celebrate the Supper together, although 
we must be locally separate. And so I commend me to the 
kind favour of yourself and of Madame. 
Your humble brother and servant, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[JFr. or ig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 194.] 



1 We read in the MS. Chronicle of Michael Reset, lib. v. chap. 27, " By advice 
of the ministers, April 3, 1550, it was enacted, that an annual visitation be main 
tained from house to house, for the examination of men and women as to their faith, 
in order to discern between the ignorant, and hardened sinners, and true Christians, 
which in time has wrought great benefit." 



1551. HALLER. 273 

CCLXX. TO HALLER. 1 

Explanations on the subject of the abolition of the great festivals at Geneva. 

GENEVA, Id January 1551. 

I desire you, my dear Haller, not to measure my affection 
for you by my not writing to you and to our friend Musculus, 
of late, to lighten the domestic affliction under which you both 
laboured. 2 There is no need for my occupying many words in 
expressing how anxious I was about your danger, from the time 
that I heard of your houses being visited by the plague. But 
as this remembrance should not be more pleasing to kind- 
hearted and considerate men than the duty of writing, I trust 
that when I inform you that my silence did not by any means 
arise from neglect, I shall fully satisfy you both. The reason 
why I did not write you is this : a report lately reached this 
place regarding your calamity, but I could not accurately ascer- 

1 See the notice, p. 235. 

In a reaction, perhaps exaggerated, against the practices of the Eomish Church, 
the magistrates of Geneva were led to adopt a measure which made a great noise 
among the Swiss Protestants. While Berne and Zurich celebrated the four great 
feasts of the year, according to the ancient Catholic custom, the Genevese abolished 
the week-day feasts, and kept nothing but the Sabbath. This measure, in which 
Calvin had no hand whatever, and of which he, in some degree, even disapproved, 
was made nevertheless the subject of very violent personal declamations against 
him. Some even accused him of wishing to abolish the Sabbath. In letters to 
his friends, Haller, Bullinger, and some others, he thought it his duty to represent 
the true character of the reform effected at Geneva, and his real relation to it. He 
had little difficulty in obtaining the approbation of Bullinger, who replied to him in 
these words : " You have just given the answer which I expected, my dear brother. 
For I know that in matters of that sort, where duty is but little heeded, and much 
ill-will is engendered, you have never been morose. 1 am anxious, indeed, in such 
matters, to see that liberty preserved, which I perceive to have flourished in the 
churches from the very days of the apostles." . . . Calvini Opera, torn. ix. 
p. 63. 

2 The plague, which had cut off Hedio, the pious minister at Strasbourg, made 
great ravages at Berne during the same year. Tt entered the houses of Wolfgang 
Musculus, and of John Haller, although they escaped themselves. A great number 
of the ministers of the Church of Berne sunk under the attacks of this awful 
scourge. Ruchat, torn. v. p. 470. The Chronique of Haller, cited by Hot- 
tinger. 

VOL. II. S 



274 HALLER. 1551. 

tain the extent of its progress. Accordingly, I did not venture 
to take any active measures ; I preferred having recourse to 
prayer ; this I knew both to be more necessary for you, and to 
be desired by you. Besides, the abolition of the feast- days here 
has given grievous offence to some of your people, and it is 
likely enough that much unpleasant talk has been circulating 
among you. I am pretty certain, also, that I get the credit of 
being the author of the whole matter, both among the malevol 
ent and the ignorant. But as I can solemnly testify that it was 
accomplished without my knowledge, and without my desire, so 
I resolved from the first rather to weaken malice by silence, 
than be over-solicitous about my defence. Before I ever 
entered the city, there were no festivals but the Lord s day. 
Those celebrated by you were approved of by the same public 
decree by which Farel and I were expelled ; arid it was rather 
extorted by the tumultuous violence of the ungodly, than de 
creed according to the order of law. Since my recall, I have 
pursued the moderate course of keeping Christ s birth-day as 
you are wont to do. But there were extraordinary occasions of 
public prayer on other days ; the shops were shut in the morn 
ing, and every one returned to his several calling after dinner. 
There were, however, in the meanwhile, certain inflexible in 
dividuals who did not comply with the common custom from 
some perverse malice or other. Diversity would not be tolerated 
in a rightly constituted church : even for citizens not to live on 
good terms with one another, would beget mistrust among 
strangers. I exhorted the Senate to remove this disagreement 
in future by a proper remedy. And indeed I lauded, at the 
same time, in express terms, the moderation which they had 
hitherto exercised. I afterwards heard of the abrogation, just 
as a perfect stranger would. Would that N. 1 had acted less 
ambitiously on former occasions ! For feast-days might have 
been abolished in that entire province. In order that those 
four might return to their old condition and former privileges, 
he contended as keenly against all the French-speaking pastors 



1 Kuchat, who reproduces tins letter, (torn. v. p. 441,) considers that the name 
here suppressed is that of Pierre Kontzen, a minister of Berne, who presided, in 
1538, at the Synod of Lausanne. 



1551. RICHARD LE FEVRE. 275 

as if he had been acting for the good of the Church. You 
would have said that Victor was doing battle with the Orientals 
in behalf of his Easter. When I once asked him why circum 
cision had a right to more honour than the death of Christ, 
he was compelled to be silent. But let us forget the past. I 
am satisfied with having indicated briefly the cause of so sudden 
a change among us. Although I have neither been the mover 
nor instigator to it, yet since it has so happened, I am not sorry 
for it. And if you knew the state of our Church as well as I 
do, you would not hesitate to subscribe to my judgment. Let 
me say this, however, that if I had got my choice, I should not 
have decided in favour of what has now been agreed upon. 
Yet there is no reason why men should be so much provoked, 
if we use our liberty as the edification of the Church demands ; 
just as, on the contrary, it is not fair to take a prejudice against 
our custom. 

Adieu, very excellent Sir and brother, deserving of my hearty 
regard. Salute your colleagues, I pray you, and Mr. Nicolas 
Zerldnden, in my name. My brethren salute you and those 
aforementioned, very heartily. May the Lord by His Spirit rule 
over you, preserve you, and bless you in all things. Amen. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Calv. Lot. Clorresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 62.] 



CCLXXL To KICHARD LE FEVRE I 

Explanations regarding various points of doctrine in dispute between the Romish 
and the Reformed Churches. 

GENEVA, I9tk January 1551. 

MY DEAR BROTHER, As God has called you to give testi 
mony to His Gospel, never doubt that He will strengthen you 

1 Richard Le Fevre, a native of Rouen, one of the martyrs of the Reformed 
Church of Lyons. Seized in that town in 1551, and condemned to death, he 
appealed thence to the Parliament of Paris, and was delivered in transitu hy 
some unknown friends. Surprised, two years afterwards, at Grenohle, he was 
brought back to the dungeons of Lyons, saw his first sentence confirmed by the 
Parliament of Paris, and went cheerfully to the stake the 7th July 1554. He 



276 RICHARD LE FEVRE. 1551. 

in the might of His Spirit ; and that, as He has already begun, 
so He must needs perfect His work, manifesting Himself vic 
torious in you against His enemies. It is true that the triumphs 
of Jesus Christ are despised by the world : for while we are 
under reproach, the wicked are glorifying themselves in their 
pride, but yet are they still confounded by the power of that 
truth which God has put into our mouth, and our hearts are 
also strengthened to obtain the victory over Satan and all his 
supporters, while looking for the day when the glory of God 
shall be fully revealed, to the confusion of the wicked and of 
the unbelieving. All that you have felt and experienced, up to 
the present moment, of the abounding goodness of God, ought 
to confirm you in the assured hope, that He shall not fail you 
in the future ; meanwhile, however, pray Him that He would 
make you understand always better and better what a treasure 
there is in that doctrine for which you contend, so that in 
comparison thereof you may not esteem even your life to be 
precious. Have always, besides, your eyes lifted up on high to 
that kind Lord Jesus, who will be your surety, seeing that you 
are only persecuted for His name. Think upon that immortal 
glory which He has purchased for us, to the end that you may 
be able to endure in patience the afflictions wherein you are. 
Beseech this kind Lord continually that He would give you such 
an issue as He has promised to all who are His own, and that 
according as He has thought fit to try your faith, so He would 
cause you to experience the strength of His promises. And 
that as He is the Father of Light, He would enlighten you to 
such a degree, that all the thick fumes which the wicked raise 
up before you, may not be able to dim your eyesight, and that 
all their quirks and cautions may not be able to darken your 

wrote on the 3d of May to Calvin, "The present is to let you know, that I hope 
to go to keep Whitsuntide in the kingdom of heaven, and to be present at the 
marriage of the Son of God, . . . . if I am not sooner called away by this good 
Lord and Master, whose voice I am ready to obey, when He shall say, Come, ye 
blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you before 
the foundation of the world." (The original autograph letter, Library of Geneva, 
Vol. 109.) During his first captivity at Lyons, Eichard Le Fevre had consulted 
Calvin on some points of doctrine, and had received pious exhortations from him 
regarding them. 



1551. RICHARD LE Jb EVKE. 277 

understanding, that you should ever lose sight of the true Sun 
of Kighteousness, who is the very Son of God. 

When you have to reply to arguments, you do well to answer 
in all simplicity, sneaking according to the measure of your 
faith, even as it is written : / have believed, therefore I shall 
speak. True it is, that all those subtilties which they conceit 
themselves to have, are nought else but silly twaddle ; but rest 
you content with what God has imparted to you of the know 
ledge of Himself, so as to bear clear testimony unfeignedly to 
the truth. For however they may sneer at it, it will be as a 
thunderbolt of confusion to them, when they hear nothing but 
what is founded upon God and His Word. Besides, you know 
who it is that has promised to give a mouth and wisdom to 
His own, which His adversaries shall not be able to withstand. 
Ask of Him that He may guide you, according to what He 
shall know to be good. They will not cease for all that to hold 
you convicted of heresy ; but it has been ever thus with all the 
apostles and prophets, and with all the martyrs. The clerk of 
court will only write what suits his own pleasure, but your 
confession will not fail to be recorded before God and His 
angels, and He will make it profitable to His own as is best for 
them. 

I shall mention briefly some points upon which they have 
endeavoured to trouble you. In order to persuade you that we 
are not justified by the grace of God alone, they have alleged 
that Zacharias and several others are called just. Well, you 
must consider how God has accepted them as such. If on in 
quiry you find that it is on account of His own free grace in 
pardoning all that might have been charged against them, and 
not imputing to them their faults and vices, behold merit en 
tirely excluded ; for in saying that faith alone in Christ justifies 
us, we understand in the first place that we are all of us ac 
cursed, and that there is nothing in us but sin ; and that we 
are neither able to think, nor to do any good, except in so far 
as God governs us by His Holy Spirit, as members of the body 
of His Son. Furthermore, that even when God vouchsafes us 
the grace to walk in His fear, we are very far from discharging 
ourselves of our duly. Now, it is written: Whosoever shall 



278 RICHARD LE FEVRE. 1551. 

not fulfil all whatsoever is commanded, shall be cursed ; and 
therefore we have no other refuge but to the blood of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, who cleanses and washes us in the sacrifice of His 
death, which is our sanctification. Thus God also accepts as 
well-pleasing the good works which we perform in His strength, 
although they must always be tainted with some shortcomings. 
And so in this way, whosoever thinks to rest upon his own 
merits, will find himself as it were suspended in the air, to be 
driven about of every wind. In short, those who think to 
merit anything, would fain make God their debtor, whereas we 
must hold everything of His pure bounty. We shall be rich 
and abounding in merits, if in Jesus Christ : while we are 
strangers to His grace, we need not think to have one drop of 
good in us. If the enemies bring forward the word wages, let 
it not trouble you, for God gives wages to His own, although 
they are in nowise worthy of them ; but inasmuch as he accepts 
the service which HE has enabled them to render, having con 
secrated them in the blood of His Son Jesus Christ, on purpose 
that they may derive all their value from thence. Wherefore, the 
wages which God promises to His faithful ones, presupposes the 
remission of their sins, and the privilege they have of being 
supported as His children. And in truth this word, justifica 
tion, implies that God holds us as just, and therefore loves us, 
the which we obtain by faith alone : for Jesus Christ is the sole 
cause of our salvation. It is true that St. James takes another 
signification, when he says, that ivorks help faith for our justi 
fication; for he means to prove by the effect that we are jus 
tified : neither does he not dispute at all in regard to the 
foundation of our salvation, and wherein our confidence must 
be placed, but only how the true faith is known, so that no one 
may make mistakes in regard to it, glorifying himself in the 
empty name. Should they return to you with further impor 
tunity on this point, I hope God will furnish you wherewithal 
to overcome them. 

Concerning the intercession of the Virgin Mary and departed 
saints, come back always to this principle, that it is not for us 
to appoint advocates in paradise, but for God, who has ordained 
Jesus Christ a single one for all. Also, that our prayers ought 



1551. RICHARD LE FEVRE. 279 

to be offered up in faith, and therefore ordered by the Word of 
God, as saith St. Paul in Komans x. Now, it is certain, that 
throughout the Word of God there is not a single syllable of 
what they say ; wherefore all their prayers are profane and dis 
pleasing to Him. If they further reply to you, that it is not 
forbidden to us, the answer is easy : that it is forbidden to us 
to set about anything according to our own proper fancy, yea, 
in matters of far less moment ; but above all, that prayer is a 
most high privilege, and too sacred to be directed according to 
our fantasy. Nay more, they cannot deny that their having re 
course to the saints arises from pure distrust that Jesus Christ 
alone would be sufficient for them. 

As for their continual reply, that the charity of the saints is 
not diminished, the answer is easy : that charity is regulated 
and limited by what God requires from each individual. Now, 
he desires that the living exercise themselves in prayer for one 
another. Of the departed there is no mention made, and in 
such important matters we must imagine nothing out of our 
own brain, but keep to what is told us in Scripture. 

In regard to what the adversaries allege, that it is said in 
Genesis that the name of Abraham and Isaac was to be in 
voked after their decease, true it is that the text runs thus ; but 
it is pure absurdity to bring it forward for the present purpose. 
That is written in the forty-eighth chapter of Genesis, where 
it is said, that Jacob in blessing Ephraim and Manasseh, the 
sons of Joseph, prayed to God that the names of his fathers 
Abraham and Isaac, and his own, may be called upon these 
two lads, as on the heads of the tribes lineally descended from 
himself. Now, that is as much as if he had said, that they 
were to be reputed and reckoned as being of the number of the 
twelve tribes, and that they should form two heads of tribes, as 
if they had been his children in the first degree ; as also that 
they were born in Egypt. He binds them together by his 
prayer to the lineage which God had blessed and sanctified, 
because at that time they were separate, according to outward 
appearance. And so that form of expression signifies nothing 
more than the bearing of the name of Abraham, and being- 
owned as of his lineage, as it is said in chap. iv. of Isaiah, that 



280 RICHARD LE FEVRE. 1551. 

the name of the husband is called upon the wife, inasmuch as 
the wife is under the shadow and guidance of her husband. 

So far as they bring forward Saint Ignatius, you do not re 
quire much of an answer. There is one passage where he says : 
That Jesus Christ stands for him instead of all ancestry. Arm 
yourself then with that single word, to bring them back to the 
pure doctrine of the Gospel. 

Because I have made use of that expression against the 
Papists, they take advantage of it to say, that I approve and 
value the book whence it is taken. Now, that you may not be 
deceived thereby, I assure you, that it contains such a heap of 
silly folly, that the monks of the present day could not write 
greater nonsense. But seeing that you are not acquainted with 
the Latin tongue, and still less with the Greek in which Saint 
Ignatius has written, (if indeed we have anything which is 
truly his,) you need not enter upon this question. Be content 
to answer them, that you can never go wrong while following 
Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the world. As for the early 
doctors, those who are better read in their writings will be able 
to tell them quite enough to stop their mouths. Let it be 
enough for you to possess the assurance of true faith in the 
Word of Jesus Christ alone, which can neither fail you, nor 
deceive. And it is even thither that all the early doctors send 
them, protesting that they have no wish to be believed, except 
ing in so far as what they speak shall be found conformable to 
what is taught us of God, and which is contained in His 
Word. 

On the subject of the Sacrament of the Supper, when they 
speak to you about transubstantiation, you have a ready 
answer : that all those passages which they bring together, 
even if they could be taken in the sense which they adduce, 
cannot be applied to the mass. For, when it is said, This is 
my body and my blood, it is also then and there added, Take, 
eat ye, and drink ye all of this cup. Now, among them, there 
is but one who eats the whole ; and even at Easter, he gives 
but a part of it to the people. But there is even yet a sorer 
evil, that instead of what Jesus Christ said, Take ; they pre 
sume to offer a sacrifice, which was to be unique and of per- 



1551. RICHARD LE FEVRE. 281 

petual efficacy. And, besides, in order to have some help from 
these words, they ought to maintain the observance of the 
Supper, which they do not. Moreover, you can always protest, 
that you do not deny that Jesus Christ gives us His body, pro 
vided that we look for it from heaven. In reply to all the 
cavils which they may allege, you have only to declare to them 
that which you have seen and heard, well knowing that it is 
from God you have it ; for our faith would be very slender 
indeed, if it were founded only upon men. There is nothing- 
better, then, than continually to meditate the doctrine wherein 
lies the true substance of our Christianity, so that in due time 
and place, you may be able to manifest that you have not be 
lieved in vain. And as I have said from the beginning, if the 
enemies of the truth are stirred by their ambition to contend, 
manifest on your part, that it is enough for you that you glorify 
God in opposing their tricks and sophistries. Content yourself 
with having for your buckler a simple confession of that which 
God has imprinted upon your heart. Least of all need you 
torment yourself, if they deal in impudent calumnies against 
me or others, seeing that they have leave to speak evil without 
rhyme or reason. Let us bear patiently all the reproaches 
and slanders which they cast upon us ; for we are not better 
than Saint Paul, who tells us that we must walk in the midst 
of false accusing and vituperation. Provided we do what is 
right, when they speak evil concerning us, we may bear it with 
unconcern. Besides, when they lay fresh calumnies upon us, 
we may well render thanksgiving to God, that we have a 
clear conscience in His sight and before men, and that we are 
free from all suspicion of evil. And on the other hand, albeit 
that we are wretched sinners, so full of wretchedness and 
poverty, that we groan by reason of it continually ; still He 
does not permit the wicked to speak evil of us, unless falsely ; 
yea, to condemn them from their own mouth, of having in 
vented regarding us that which they had not very far to search 
for, inasmuch as it is in themselves. Let us therefore glory in 
the grace of God with all humility, when we see that these 
poor unhappy men, like drunkards, glory in their shame. If 
you are vexed to hear them speak evil thus deceitfully concern- 



282 RICHARD LE FEVRE. 1551. 

ing me, you ought to be far more deeply grieved to hear them 
blaspheme against our Saviour and Master, to whom belongs 
all honour, since, making full account of all the innocence which 
shall ever be in us, we might well be overwhelmed in utter 
confusion. 

Meanwhile, comfort yourself in our Almighty God, who has 
vouchsafed us the grace to knit us together so entirely with 
His Son, that all the devils of hell, and all the wicked of the 
world, can never be able to separate us. Kejoice, therefore, 
that you uphold His quarrel, with a good conscience, hoping 
that He will strengthen you to bear whatsoever it shall please 
Him you should suffer. We have such remembrance of you in 
our prayers, as we ought to have, in beseeching the God of all 
grace, that seeing it has pleased Him to employ you in the 
maintenance of His truth, He would vouchsafe you all that is 
needful for the discharge of so honourable a service ; that He 
would strengthen you in true perseverance ; that He would 
give you true spiritual truth, so as that you may seek only the 
advancement of His name, without regard to self; and that 
He would show Himself your protector in such wise, that you 
may feel it to your own consolation, and that others also may 
take knowledge of it for their edification. All the brethren 
hereabouts salute you in the Lord, rejoicing greatly that He 
has wrought so powerfully in you, having also compassion on 
you in your captivity, and desiring that it may please this 
gracious God to unfold His goodness and mercy upon you. 
Your brother in our Lord, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. Printed in Htstoire des Martyrs, Edit, of 1597, lib. v. p. 265.] 



1551. VIUET. 283 

CCLXXIL To VIRET. 

Various particulars literary labours of Theodore Beza. 

GENEVA, 24tk January 1551. 

I send you a reading of three letters, that I may not be any 
longer in your debt. For, Toussain commends himself to your 
prayers, and Farel is desirous of your advice, so I thought that 
you would be interested in the letters of both. I wished you 
to know also what answer Haller gave me. I am glad that he 
received me with such moderation, because of the harsh violence 
with which many attack me. But more of all this when I 
shall see you. You cannot believe how much I am displeased 
with the present state of our republic. Indeed, it would be 
more proper at present to call it an oligarchy. Accordingly, 
familiar conversation is not necessary for the discussion of those 
matters. Farel had written me before, that the Synod was to 
meet on the fifth of March. He seems to be wishing advice 
at present regarding a new day [of meeting]. I have written 
to him, however, to abide by the day already agreed upon, if 
he wishes me to be present. 1 John Laski salutes you all. I 
perceive now that I have been twice deceived by Florian. For 
he had false letters of recommendation, which he made use of. 
Excuse me to our friend Beza for not writing him at present. 
He may take his own way with the Apocrypha, but I have 
forewarned him that there will be a greater saving, if he under 
takes a new version of it. If he has any of the Psalms done, 
they need not be waiting for company. 2 Request him, there 
fore, to send some of them, at least, by the first messenger. I 
shall write to Vergerio and the Zurichers by and by. In the 
meantime, if you can find a trustworthy messenger, you will 

1 In an assembly which met at Neuchatel on the 14th of March 1551, the 
number of individuals who should compose the Consistory was fixed, and a collec 
tion of regulations regarding marriage were drawn out. 

2 The Translation of the Psalms begun by Clement Marot, was continued by 
Theodore Beza, who obtained, during this same year, the authority of the Council 
of Geneva for the publication of a part of his work. 



284 THE KING OF ENGLAND. 1551. 

attend to the letter to Bernardin. Adieu, most excellent 
brother, together with your wife and family. Kind regards to 
the brethren. May the Lord keep you all, and guide you by 
His Spirit. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lai. oriy. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCLXXIIL To THE KING OF ENGLAND. 1 

He exhorts him to persevere in the work of the Reformation in his kingdom 
enumeration of abuses, ceremonies, ecclesiastical elections universities. 

FKOM GENEVA, (January 1551.) 

SIRE, If I must excuse myself towards your Majesty for 
having used the boldness to dedicate these books which I now 
present to you, I would need to find an advocate to speak a word 
for me. For so far would my letter be from having credit 
enough to do that, that it would even stand in need of a fresh 
excuse. And, indeed, as I never should have taken upon me 
to address the Commentaries to you which I have published 
with your name, neither should I have ventured now to write 
to you, but for the confidence I had already conceived, that 
both would be well received. For inasmuch as, holding me to 
be among the number of those who are zealous for the advance- 

1 Edward VI., son of Henry VIII. and Jane Seymour, King of England, born in 
1537, died, in his sixteenth year, the 8th of July 1553. Gifted with a precocious 
strength of reason, and a lively sensibility, instructed in the ancient languages arid 
foreign literature, this young prince did not live long enough to realize the hopes 
to which his accession to the throne had given birth. " His virtues," says the 
historian Hume, " had made him an object of tender affection to the public. He 
possessed mildness of disposition, application to study and business, a capacity to 
learn and judge, and an attachment to equity and justice." Devotional reading had 
a particular attraction for this prince, who was heartily devoted to the cause of the 
Reformation. Calvin dedicated two of his commentaries to him : Joannis Calvini 
Commentarii in lesaiam Proplietam, Eduardo VI., Ant/lice Heyi, 8 Cal. Janu- 
ral551." "Joannis Calvini Commentarii in Epistolas Canonicas." The dedi 
cation of the first of these commentaries (25th December 1550,) furnishes us the 
date of the letter of Calvin, written in the month of January 1551, and brought to 
the King by the minister, Nicolas des Gallars. 



1551. THE KING OF ENGLAND. 285 

ment of the kingdom of the Son of God, you have not disdained 
to read what I did not specially present to your Majesty, I have 
thought, that if, while serving Jesus Christ my Master, I could 
likewise testify to the reverence and singular affection which 
I bear you, I could not fail to find a kind and courteous ac 
ceptance. 

Moreover, Sire, holding myself assured that my letter will 
have such a reception from you as I desire, I shall not hesitate to 
pray and beseech you in the name of Him to whom you ascribe 
all authority and power, to take courage in following out what 
you have so well and happily begun, as well in your own person 
as in the state of your kingdom ; namely, the consecration of all 
to God and to our blessed Saviour, who has so dearly purchased 
us. For as regards general reformation, it is not yet so 
well established, as that it should be wise to look on it as 
achieved. And, in fact, it would be very difficult to purge in 
a day such an abyss of superstition as there is in the papacy. 
Its root is too deep, and has expanded itself too widely, to get 
so soon to the bottom of it. But whatsoever difficulties or 
delays there may be, the excellency of the work is well worthy 
of unwearying pursuit. 

I have no doubt, Sire, but Satan will put many hindrances 
in the way before you to slacken your pace, and to make your 
zeal grow cold. Your subjects, for the most part, do not know 
the blessing which you procure for them. The great, who are 
raised to honour, are sometimes too wise in their own conceits 
to make much account of the world, far less to look to God at 
all. And new and unexpected conflicts arise daily. Now I 
hope, indeed, Sire, that God has stored you with such greatness 
and constancy of mind, that you will neither be weakened nor 
wearied by all that. But the thing itself is of so great import 
ance, that it well deserves that one should apply to it far more 
than human strength and energy. And then, after all, when 
we shall have striven to the very uttermost, there will always 
remain more waiting to be done. 

We see how, in the time of the good king Josiah, who has 
the special testimony of the Holy Spirit, that he approved him 
self a prince excellent in faith, in zeal, and in all godliness. 



286 THE KING OF ENGLAND. 1551. 

nevertheless, the Prophet Zephaniah shows, that there was still 
some remainder of bygone superstitions, yea, even in the town 
of Jerusalem. Even so, however you may labour with your 
Council, Sire, you will find it very difficult completely to up 
root all the mischief which would well deserve to be corrected. 
But this ought to be a great confirmation to animate and spur 
you on ; and even if you should not accomplish all that could 
be desired, it is a very sufficient consolation to you when you 
hear that the pains which this good king took, is a service 
pleasing to God, insomuch that the Holy Spirit magnifies the 
reformation effected by him, as if nothing more had been de 
sired. Let me entreat you then, Sire, to reach forward to the 
mark which is set before you in the example of this godly 
king, that you may have the honour, not only of having over 
thrown impieties which are clearly repugnant to the honour 
and service of God, but also of having abolished and rased to 
the ground, whatsoever served merely to nourish superstition. 
For when God would praise as with an open mouth the faithful 
princes who have restored and again set up the purity of His 
service, He expressly adds this word, that they have also taken 
away the high places, that the memory of foolish devotions 
might be utterly obliterated. 

True it is, Sire, that there are things indifferent which one may 
allowably tolerate. But then we must always carefully insist 
that simplicity and order be observed in the use of ceremonies, 
so that the clear light of the Gospel be not obscured by them, as 
if we were still under the shadows of the law ; and then that 
there may be nothing allowed that is not in agreement and con 
formity to the order established by the Son of God, and that 
the whole may serve and be suited to the edification of the 
Church. For God does not allow His name to be trifled with, 
mixing up silly frivolities with His holy and sacred ordin 
ances. Then there are manifest abuses which cannot be en 
dured, such as prayer for the souls of the departed, of putting 
forward to God the intercession of saints in our prayers, as also 
of joining them to God in invocation. I do not doubt, Sire, 
that you are aware that these are so many corruptions of true 
Christianity, I beseech you, in the name of God, that you may 



1551. THE KING OF ENGLAND. 287 

please look to that matter, so that the whole may be restored 
to a sound and wholesome state. 

There is another point, Sire, of which you ought to take a 
special charge, namely, that the poor flocks may not be destitute 
of pastors. Ignorance and barbarism have lain so heavy on 
this accursed popery, that it is not easy to obtain all at once 
men fit and duly qualified to discharge that office. Notwith 
standing, the object is well worth pains, and that your officers, 
Sire, should have an eye upon it, as they ought. Without 
that, all the good and holy ordinances which you can make, 
will scarce avail for the reformation of the heart in good 
earnest. 

Further, inasmuch as the schools contain the seeds of the 
ministry, there is much need to keep them pure and thoroughly 
free from all ill weeds. I speak thus, Sire, because in your 
universities, it is commonly said, there are many young people 
supported on the college bursaries, who, instead of giving good 
hope of service in the Church, rather show an inclination to do 
mischief, and to ruin it, not even concealing that they are 
opposed to the true religion. Wherefore, Sire, I beseech you 
anew, in the name of God, that you may please to take order 
therein, to the effect, that property which ought to be held 
sacred, be not converted to profane uses, and far less to nourish 
venomous reptiles, who would desire nought better than to 
infect everything for the future. For, in this way, the Gospel 
would always be kept back by these schools, which ought to be 
the very pillars thereof. 

Meanwhile, Sire, all honest hearts praise God, and feel them 
selves greatly obliged to you, that it hath pleased you of your 
favour to grant churches to your subjects who use the French 
and German languages. 1 In so far as regards the use of the 

1 The privilege granted by King Edward VI. to the Church of the foreign Pro 
testants instituted at London 1550. The royal patent was thus expressed: 

" Considering that it is the duty of a Christian prince well to administer the affairs 
of his kingdom, to provide for religion, and for the unhappy exiles, afflicted and 
banished by reason thereof, we would have you to know, that having compassion 
of the condition of those who have for some considerable time past been domi 
ciled in our kingdom, and come there daily, of our special grace . . . will and 
ordain that henceforward they may have in our city of London a church, to be 



288 THE KING OF ENGLAND. 1551. 

Sacraments, and spiritual order, I hope that the permission 
which you have been pleased to confer upon them will bear 
fruit. Howbeit, Sire, I cannot help beseeching you once more, 
feeling so deeply how needful it is, not only that you would 
secure the rest and contentment of the godly who desire to 
serve God and to live peaceably in obedience to you, but also 
that you would restrain vagabond and dissolute people, should 
such withdraw into your kingdom. 

I know well, Sire, that you have people of distinguished 
learning at hand, who can make known to you these things by 
word of mouth, far better than myself by writing ; also, that in 
your council you have men of prudence and zeal to suggest all 
that is expedient. Among the others, I have no doubt that 
Monsieur the Duke of Somerset spares no trouble to follow out 
that wherein he has employed himself so faithfully hitherto. 
But I believe, Sire, that all that, shall be no hindrance to pre 
vent your kind reception of what you will recognise as proceed 
ing from a like source. 

To conclude, Sire, forasmuch as I fear to have already 
wearied you with my tediousness, I pray you, in respect of that 
as in everything else, that you would please excuse and pardon 
me of your kind favour, to which very humbly I beg to be com 
mended, having besought our gracious God and Father to 
maintain and uphold you in His holy protection, to guide you 
by His Spirit, and to cause His name to be more and more 
glorified by you. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



called the Church of the Lord Jesus, where the assembly of the Germans and other 
strangers can meet and worship, for the purpose of having the Gospel purely in 
terpreted hy the ministers of their church, and the Sacraments administered ac 
cording to the Word of God and the apostolic ordinance." 



1551. BULLINGER. 289 



CCLXXIV.TO BULLINGER. 1 

He excuses the infrequency of his letters, and urges the publication of the 
Consensus. 

GENEVA, \ltli February 1551. 

ALTHOUGH you readily excuse the fewness of my letters, and 
even, with your usual courtesy, voluntarily relieve me of that 
duty, I nevertheless feel ashamed of my exceeding indolence 
and negligence, in having been less attentive to you than to 
some of my every-day friends. But indeed the reason of this 
is, that others, by their violent importunity, shake me free of 
my listlessness. You, with a more generous indulgence, allow 
me to be silent ; and indeed I am so much exhausted by con 
stant writing, and so greatly broken down by fatigue, that I 
frequently feel an almost positive aversion to writing a letter. 
Would that others had as much of your moderation as would 
enable them to cultivate a sincere friendship at the expense of 
less writing. Our French friends oppress me in this way 
beyond all consideration. It so happens, that by continually 
apologizing, I am getting myself suspected of indolence by my 
particular friends. Add to this, that unless I have a definite 
subject before me, I seem to act absurdly enough when I drag 
in matters known to everybody, as if they were possessed of 
novelty. But as to what you say you wrote me about some 
time ago, without receiving any answer, I cannot make out 
what you refer to, unless as I conjecture, you had sent me some 

1 The agreement concluded two years before, between the Churches of Geneva 
and of Zurich, on the question of the Sacraments, had been a source of joy to all 
the sober-minded in Switzerland and in Germany, who had deplored the excesses 
of the sacramental quarrel. But it displeased the intemperate Lutheran party, 
who accused Calvin of fickleness, and went so far as to charge him with having 
changed his opinions, and with squaring his doctrine to that of Zuingle, since the 
defeat of the Protestant party in Germany. This was nothing but a calumny, 
which is .removed by a comparison of the previous writings of Calvin upon the 
Supper, with the formula drawn up under his care, and which he was desirous 
should be published at Zurich. Euchat, torn. v. p. 379. 

VOL. II. T 



290 BULLINGEB. 1551, 

communication which did not reach me. If such be the case, 
I shall not neglect to look after it, now that you have given me 
the hint. As certain individuals of a malignant, morose, and 
ill-natured disposition, are making an ado about our union, I 
should, if agreeable to you, wish it to be published. 1 I have 
calmly endured, overlooked, and swallowed many things, but, 
believe me, I have failed to observe that it was greatly dis 
pleasing to Satan. If the form of the union is published, I 
trust it will be useful to the Churches of Saxony. However, 
you will, with your accustomed sagacity, determine upon what 
is best. When numbers were asking for copies of it, I would 
on no account allow it to be printed, until I should obtain your 
permission. I wrote you about the matter on a previous occa 
sion, but inferred from your silence that you considered it as 
yet premature. I should wish, however, that you would give 
me your judgment on it. You did me a favour concerning 
the Bull. Had I received it two days earlier, it would have 
been of more use to me. For I had already entered upon 
the composition of the preface, in which that subject is dis 
cussed. I send you a copy of it, if you can find time to read 
it. I wish, however, that you would send it to Vergerio, 
together with the letter, at your earliest opportunity. The 
Bull is possessed of one merit, viz., that the Pope breathes 
out downright tyranny without any show of deceit. We 
must, therefore, as you say, find refuge in prayer. It is 
said that Germany will have rest this year from internal war, 
as the Turk is annoying Ferdinand. But as it is the Lord who 
who quiets all tumults of arms, we should pray Him to put a 
check, in all other respects, upon the savage madness of our 
enemies. 

Adieu, distinguished Sir, and specially revered brother. 



1 Some have erroneously fixed on 1549 as the date of this publication. Delayed 
by the theologians of Zurich, it was only finished in 1551, under the title Con- 
sensio mutua in re Sacramentaria ministrorum Tigurince Ecclesice et D. Joannis 
Calvini Ministri Genevensis JZcclesice. Zurich, 8vo. Caused by Calvin to be 
translated into French the following year, this important document figures in the 
Recueil des Opuscules, p. 1137, with a preface by Calvin to the Ministers and 
Doctors of the Church of Zurich. 



1551. BULLINGER. 291 

Salute your family and your colleagues in my name, and in 
that of my brethren. May the Lord watch over you, be pre 
sent with you, and continue to guide you. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig, autogr Coll. of M. Tronchin of Geneva.] 



CCLXXY. To BULLINGEK. 

Thanks for a document dedication of two commentaries to the King of 
England captivity of Bishop Hooper Movements of the Emperor in 
Germany. 

GENEVA, 12th March 1551. 

I was met by a messenger bearing your letter, when lately 
on my way to Neuchatel. After my return home, I received 
another from a certain Italian, together with the fifth Decade. 1 
You say by way of apology for sending your books, that you 
do not do so in order that I may learn from you ; for my part, 
as I am desirous to make my labours beneficial to all good men, 
so on the other hand, I am glad to profit by the writings of 
others. And indeed intercourse like this is brotherly, when we 
know that the gifts of the Spirit are so distributed among us, 
that no one individual is sufficient for himself. Your gift was, 
therefore, acceptable to me. The publication of our agreement 
was the occasion of very much joy, not only to myself, but also 
to Farel and the rest of the brethren. Would that your letter 
had reached me fifteen days earlier; for it might have been 
issued during these days of the Frankfort fair. How season 
able will the publication be for our beloved France ; exceed 
ingly useful too, I hope. I finished lately my Commentaries 
on Isaiah and the Canonical Epistles. I thought proper to 
dedicate both of them to the King of England. 2 You may 
have a reading of a copy of one of the prefaces which I sent to 
Vergerio. I have added a private letter also, in which I have 
endeavoured to kindle the generous nature of the young man. 

1 Under this title, Bullinger had commenced publishing a series of discourses 
concerning the principal points of the Christian religion. 

2 See the letter to the king, p. 284. 



292 BULLINGER. 1551. 

Meanwhile, we have heard the sad news of Hooper s imprison 
ment. 1 I was somewhat apprehensive of this long ago. I am 
now afraid that the bishops, as if victorious, will become much 
more ferociously insolent. While, therefore, I admire his firm 
ness in refusing the anointing, I had rather he had not carried 
his opposition so far with respect to the cap and the linen vest 
ment, even although I do not approve of these : I recently 
recommended this. He has many and powerful adversaries, 
and I doubt not but they will set themselves violently to 
crush him. But I trust that the Lord will be with him, espe 
cially because, as I am informed, some treacherously oppose 
him, who in other respects pretend to be favourable to the 
Gospel. I congratulate you on the tranquil condition of your 
Church. There are very vile wretches here who cause us no 
small amount of annoyance and disquiet, who will meet, however, 
I confidently trust, with the end which they have merited. 
The plans of the Emperor are a source of concern to many. It 
is justly calculated to excite suspicion that some of his troops 
are being transported across the Alps. 2 Should he invade 
this country, my only comfort is the hope that the Lord will 
take me away from this miserable life. He will not, mean 
while, neglect his own flock, about which I am especially 
harassed. Adieu, very distinguished Sir, and most esteemed 
fellow-minister, together with the brethren ; all of whom you 
will affectionately salute in my name. Des Gallars also par 
ticularly salutes you. May the Lord continue to guide you by 
His Spirit, to protect you with His own hand, and to bless your 
sacred labours. Ainen. 

[Calvin s Lai. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 59.] 

1 Having returned to England the previous year, and having been appointed 
Bishop of Gloucester through the patronage of Cranmer, Hooper was imprisoned 
and suffered a few days of captivity for having refused to wear, at the time of his 
consecration, the sacerdotal dress then in use in the English Church. See his 
correspondence with Bullinger, Zurich Letters, 1537-1558, torn. i. p. 9 ; Burnet, 
vol. i. 

2 After having proscribed the reformed worship in the town of Augsburg, the 
Emperor took up his quarters at Inspruck, among the valleys of the Tyrol, from 
which he could keep an eye at once upon the Council of Trent, Germany, and 
Italy. Robertson, book x. 



1551. BULLINGER. 293 



CCLXXVL To BULLINGER. 

Mention of a letter to the Duke of Somerset Ee-opening of the Council of 
Trent symptoms of War in Europe. 

GENEVA, 10th April 155 1. 

I have received two letters from you within these few days, 
both full of remarkable goodwill towards me, and therefore 
very agreeable. It is well that God has not only bestowed on 
us the same desire to incite the English King and his advisers 
to go on, but has also made our plans so fitly to harmonize. 1 
This circumstance will surely have some influence in confirm 
ing them. I begin now to look every clay for the return of the 
messenger who carried thither my books with the accompany 
ing letter. As soon as he returns, if he report anything worthy 
of mention, I shall take care to inform you of it. Meanwhile, 
I have written to the very illustrious the Duke of Somerset, 
and have shown him that it is impossible but that the Papists 
will become more insolent, unless the disagreement regarding 
the ceremonies be speedily adjusted. 2 I have advised him to 
extend a hand to Hooper. Whatever the Pope may pretend, 
I do not think that the Council of Trent is being seriously 
assembled. 3 The reason for my conjecture is, that the King of 



1 Bullinger had presented the King of England with his third and fourth 
Decade, (see note 1-, p. 291,) with a long letter, in which he reminds the young 
king of the duties which he had to fulfil towards his subjects. " This epistle and 
book were presented to the King by the hands of Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester, 
personally acquainted with Bullinger, to whom the King declared his good acceptance 
thereof, and the respect and esteem he had for the reverend author." Strype, 
Memoir, vol. ii. pp. 390, 394. 

2 The letter here referred to has escaped all our investigations, and appears to 
be entirely lost. 

3 One of the first acts of the new Pope Julius III. was to decree the re-assembly 
of the Council of Trent, on the 1st of May 1551. This session, termed the 
eleventh eight having been held at Trent and two at Bologna was without 
result. The fathers resolved upon fixing that there should not be another assem 
bly until the 1st of September. Fra Paolo, Hist, du Concile de Trente, lib. iv. 
ect. i. 



294 BULL1NGER. 1551. 

France commanded all his bishops to make a careful survey, 
each of his own diocese, and to return completed records of 
each visitation to the metropolitan bishops within six months ; 
and informed them that it was his intention to hold a general 
council of the whole kingdom. No mention was made on that 
occasion of Trent and the Pope. I have no doubt, however, 
but that there was an understanding between them ; namely, 
that the French King should, to gain the favour of the Pope, 
by the pretence of a national council dissolve that at Trent. 
Thoughtful men are of opinion that the names of war have 
been kindled in Italy. The Turkish ambassador is at present 
at the French court to stimulate the king to war. An immense 
fleet threatens Italy or Spain. The Lord will accordingly so 
overrule them, as that they will not be so dangerous to the 
Church. It was. not kind of you, when you knew that my 
course would lie in your direction when on my way to Trent, 
not to offer lodgings to at least one of us. You perhaps expect 
a new Bull which will admit us. 1 We are not, however, of the 
number of those who obtain a place, either from right or cus 
tom, or the favour of the Apostolic See. We may accordingly 
remain at home. Yet there is something for us to do even at 
home. For Christ furnishes material for labour, and Satan 
does not permit us to be idle. You will pardon my haste. 
For when those young Germans offered me their services, they 
gave me only an hour for writing, and it has almost expired. 
Adieu, most accomplished Sir, and very dear brother, worthy 
of my hearty regard. My colleagues respectfully salute you. 
They and I present kindest salutations to Bibliander, Pellican, 
and Gualter, and the rest of the brethren. May the Lord pre 
serve you all by His power, direct you by His Spirit, and bless 
your labours. Our agreement was not so carefully expressed in 
Latin as I could have wished ; but it will soon be printed 



1 An invitation to the Council was, in point of fact, addressed by the Pope to 
the Cantons, with all sorts of flattering words, to induce them to comply. The 
theologians of Zurich, appointed to draw up a reply, had little difficulty in showing 
that the Council was not for the advantage of the Swiss, or for the good of religion, 
and the Keformed Cantons adopted unanimously the conclusions of the theologians, 
and refused to send deputies to the Council. Kuchat, torn. v. p. 426. 



1551. VIKET. 295 

again. Meantime, I have added a French translation to the 
Latin, in which you will not find any blunders. Yours truly, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s LaL Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 60.] , 



CCLXXVIL To ViEET. 1 

Death of Bucer and of Joachim Vadian. 

GENEVA, 10th May 1551. 

Although you have received no letters from me for a consi 
derable time, let me tell you, that you have, on that account, 
been a source of constant and even anxious thought to me. 
The grief which I have suffered at the death of Bucer increases 
my anxiety and fear. I have now again experienced a fresh 
wound from the death of Vadian, whose labour, although of 
wide influence, and calculated to be felt throughout the entire 
Church, was nevertheless of especial use in the state, and of 
great importance among the Swiss and Grisons in parti 
cular. I feel my heart almost like to break when I think of 
the great loss the church of God has sustained in the death of 
Bucer. The Lord grant that I may leave in life all those 
whose death I should mourn, that I may the more joyfully 
leave the world. 



1 The year 1551 was marked by two grievous losses to the reformed churches of 
Europe. Bucer, overcome hy the sorrows of exile, died in England on the 28th of 
February, and the decease of Joachim Vacliau, one of the most brilliant minds of 
that age, occurred at Saint Gall during the same year. The earliest notice of 
Bucer s death is to be found in the Journal of King Edward VI. of England : 
" February 28th. The learned man Bucerus died at Cambridge, who was two 
days after buried in St. Mary s Church, all the whole University, with the whole 
town, bringing him to the grave, to the number of three thousand persons. Also 
there was an oration of Mr. Haddon made very elegantly at his death. . ." &c. 
Zurich Letters, first series, torn. ii. p. 492. Vadian, cut off in the prime of life, 
breathed his last in the arms of his friend Kessler, the poet, leaving behind him a 
name held in deep veneration by his friends and countrymen. Above two thousand 
of the present inhabitants of Saint Gall claim the honour of being descended from 
the burgomaster Vadian. See the notice of him given in the present collection, 
vol. i. p. 451. 



296 FAREL. 155 J. 

Adieu, most excellent brother. May the Lord keep you 
together with your wife and family. Salute all earnestly in. 
my name. 

[JOHN CALVIN.] 

[Calvin s Lot. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 60.] 



CCLXXVIIL To FAREL. 

Renewed expressions of regret for the death of Vadian and Bucer contro 
versies excited by Osiander numerous migrations to Geneva com 
mencement of hostilities in Italy. 

GENEVA, loth June 1551. 

Nicolas 1 has at length returned from England, having been 
detained for eleven days by head winds, and afterwards tossed 
about by so severe a tempest, that he scarcely escaped ship 
wreck. He reports that he was so kindly and affectionately re 
ceived, that I have good reason to congratulate myself that my 
labour was spent to the best advantage. After having de 
livered my letter to the Duke of Somerset, and having said that 
he had another also for the King, the Duke himself undertook 
the duty of presenting it, and on the following day set out for 
the Court. If I am not deceived, the work not only greatly 
pleased the Koyal Council, but also filled the King himself with 
extraordinary delight. The Archbishop of Canterbury in 
formed me that I could do nothing more useful than to write 
to the King more frequently. This gave me more pleasure 
than if I had come to the possession of a great sum of money. 
In the present state of the kingdom, many things are still to be 
desired. Among other evils that are incurable until the King 
shall have attained his majority, there is this one : that all the 
revenues of the Church are devoured by the nobles, and they 
are meanwhile hiring for a miserable pittance, worthless men 
to discharge the duties, or at least occupy the position of pas 
tors. I neverthless will not cease to goad the whole of them. 
I did not allude to the death of Bucer, lest I should open my 

1 Nicolas des Gallars. 



1551. FAREL. 297 

own wound afresh. 1 For when I reflect how great a loss the 
Church of God has sustained in the death of this one man, I 
cannot but feel the deepest anguish. He would have been of 
great advantage to England. I was expecting more from his 
future writings, than anything he had hitherto performed. In 
addition to this, the Church is now destitute of faithful teach 
ers. Yadian had very great influence among the Swiss. 2 
The Lord has taken him away. Osiander is absolutely mad.? 
Let us take courage, however, until we shall have finished our 
course and reached the goal. One thing I fear, that while 
holding a place among the runners, I may set an example of 
slowness. Yet I am not a little comforted by this, that you, 
who have outstripped all others, extend to me so much pardon 
and mild indulgence. It is sufficient, if not led away by the 
unsettled wanderings of others, we hold on in the right way ; 
even although some get far ahead of us, and others lag a great 
way behind. As for our old friend with the new face, 4 I shall 
for my part be careful to encourage him, as you urgently advise, 
and shall give my colleagues a hint to do the same. But believe 
me, he manifests no sincerity. I surmised from the first what 
he was wishing to be at. I concealed that I had detected it ; 
kept my hand on it, as it were. He patronizes, as he used to 
do, persons given over to shameless pleasures. He is in like 
mariner given to defend bad causes. His arrogance and fero 
city are in no degree abated. His cohort runs riot more at 

1 In a letter to Calvin of the 25tli May preceding, Farel gave eloquent expres 
sion to his sorrow at the death of Bucer : " I have at length received the last 
letter of the pious Bucer. What a spirit ! How calmly he sunk down ! We must 
mingle joy with our sorrow, inasmuch as our friend has gone up to God." Library 
of Paris. Rccue.il Historique de France, torn. xix. 

2 A man of distinguished learning, an accomplished statesman, and an ahle 
negotiator, as well as a theologian, and an admirable poet, Joachim Vadian left as 
wide a blank in the political councils, as he did in the churches of his country. He 
had been elected eleven times to the office of Burgomaster of Saint Gall. See 
Melchior Adam, Vital Medicorum Germanorum ; and the Theatrum of Pauli 
Freheri, torn. ii. pp. 1231, 1232. 

3 An allusion to a recent work of Osiancler s On Justification, which gave rise 
to keen controversy in Germany. See the Correspondence of Calvin with Me- 
lanchthon in 1552. 

4 By all appearance Amy Perrin. 



298 FAREL. J55J. 

will than ever. However, I shall so conduct myself, that he 
will easily perceive that I am heartily reconciled to him. You 
have heard, I suppose, what a mournful procession they lately 
made : and yet so shameful a butchering of a most distinguished 
citizen has not restrained their wantonness. As to Christopher s 
asking me to attend their suppers, I have, hitherto, indeed, re 
fused none of them : but when the duties were intrusted to 
Amblard Come, he, by his procrastination, broke in upon 
the established order. I am, in the meantime, much occupied 
with foreigners, who daily pass through this place in great 
numbers, or who have come hither to take up their abode. 1 
Among others, the Marquis de Vico, a Neapolitan, arrived 
lately. Another will follow by and by. Should you pay us 
a visit next autumn, you will find our city considerably in 
creased. A pleasing spectacle to me, if they do not overwhelm 
me with their visits. Viretwas here lately, but he went off 
sooner than I could have wished. There is already open war 
between the Pontiff and the French. 2 There is a rumour, that 
all the Cardinals who sided with the King, have fled from Borne. 
If the emperor is to be involved in this war, he will be forced 
to give some relief to Magdeburg, and those places allied with 
it. Adieu, most upright brother ; salute my friends earnestly, 
both your colleague and the other fellow-ministers. Ours also 
send kindest regards to you, viz., my colleagues, Normandie, 
Bude, Trier, Saint Laurent, the two Colladons, and my brother. 
May the Lord long spare you to us ; may He shine on you 
with His Spirit, bless your holy endeavours, and watch over 
the Church committed to your care ! Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 240.] 

1 The number of refugees daily increasing at Geneva, permission was granted 
them to assemble together for public worship in their own languages. English 
was preached at the Auditoire, Italian at the College, Spanish at Saint Gervais, 
and Flemish in Saint Germain. The unity of the Spirit shone through the diver 
sity of languages. Spon and Picot, Ilistoire de Geneve. 

2 The Pope and the King of France were at that time engaged in a struggle 
about the town of Parma, which the former wished to plunder, and the latter to 
defend in behalf of Ottavio Farnese. The Emperor was not slow in joining the 
cause of the Pope, and peace was not concluded till the following year. 



1551. A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. 299 

CCLXXIX.- To A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. 1 

Sickness of Theodore Beza Calvin s grief. 

302/4 June 1551. 

When the messenger presented himself with your letter to 
Beza, I was seized with fresh alarm, and, at the same time, 
weighed down with a load of grief. For I was informed, the 
day before, that he had been seized with the plague. I was 
therefore not only troubled about the danger he was in, but 
from my very great affection for him I felt almost overpowered, 
as if I was already lamenting his death ; although, indeed, this 
grief did not rise so much from private regard, as from my 
public anxiety for the prosperity of the Church. Indeed, I 
were destitute of human feeling, did I not return the affection 
of one who loves me with more than a brother s love, and 
reveres me like a very father. But the Church s loss afflicted 
me more deeply, when I pictured a man, of whom I had so very 
high expectations, suddenly snatched away from us by death, 
at the very outset of his career a man whose gentle disposi 
tion, polished manners, and native candour, had endeared him 
to all good men. Should you ever happen to make a secret 
and hasty journey hither which I am very anxious you should 
you will find him far superior in those respects to anything 
I have stated. I trust that melancholy foreboding is far dis 
tant, of an event which you say would be an irreparable loss to 
you. Your coining would be the more desirable, as he was 
very anxious to see you when he left. What should we delight 
in but Christ ? Yet I confidently trust that the life of man 
will not be denied to our prayers. For although he has not 
yet escaped danger, yet yesterday s messenger brought us more 
hopeful accounts of him. To-morrow I hope to hear what will 
remove all doubt. Adieu, distinguished Sir, and take in good 

1 This letter, without an address, was written to a friend, perhaps to one of the 
members of the family of Beza in France, during an illness which endangered his 
life, in 1551, and which called forth from the Reformer the mosi touching testi 
monies of his affection. 



300 THE DUKE OF SOMERSET. 1551. 

part this voluntary service of mine, seeing I write with so much 
familiarity to one with whom I am not acquainted. May the 
Lord guide you by His Spirit, and shield you by His pro 
tection ! 

[JOHN CALVIN.] 

[Calvin s Lot. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 60.] 



CCLXXX. To THE DUKE OF SOMERSET. 1 

Protestations of attachment reforms required in the Church of England 
squandering of the revenues of henefices and of the universities. 

FROM GENEVA, this 25t7i July 1551. 

MONSEIGNEUR, I know not how to thank you enough for 
the kind reception which my messenger has met with from you, 
not merely in that you have been pleased to take the trouble of 
offering my books to the King, but for all other proofs of the 
singular friendly affection which you have hitherto graciously 
shown me. As for the youth whom you have taken into your 
service, I should not have had the boldness to write to you 
about him, had I not thought, as was generally expected, that he 
was likely to turn out remarkably well. But so much the more am 
I obliged to you, since I find that my recommendation has been 
of use in this quarter. As however all that I could write would 
be but very feeble compared with what is in my heart, and 
what your benefits deserve, I prefer to desist from further 
comment on them. Only I pray you, Monseigneur, to consider 
me so wholly yours, that had I any way of doing you service, 
it would not be my fault if you lacked proof of more goodwill 
than I know how to express. I would have made these ex 
cuses to you sooner, or rather these thanks, if it may please you 
to hold them such, had it not been for the desire which this 
gentleman had, himself to present my letter to you. And in 
this also, I can perceive the friendship you are pleased to 

1 See the letter to the King of the month of January, p. 284. The minister, 
Nicolas des Gallars, charged to present to the King the letter and the Commen 
taries of Calvin, had met with the most flattering reception at Court.* 

* See Calvin s letter to Farel, p. 296, ante. 



1551. THE DUKE OF SOMERSET. 301 

show towards me, since those who well deserve to have access 
to you, hope to be the more welcome by means of my letters. 

Nevertheless, Monseigneur, I shall not cease to commend to 
your attention that which is of itself dear and precious enough 
to you. It is, that you provide and take heed that God may 
be faithfully honoured and served ; above all, that better order 
be established in the Church than heretofore. Albeit it may 
not be easy to obtain people specially qualified to discharge 
this office ; yet, from what I hear, there are two great 
hindrances against which it would be essential to provide. 
The first is, that the revenues of the universities which have 
been founded for the maintenance of scholars, are ill dis 
tributed ; many being thus supported who openly profess to 
resist the Gospel, so far are they from affording any hopes of 
upholding that which has been there built up with great pains 
and labour. 

The second evil is, that the revenue of the cures is diverted 
and wasted, so that there is not wherewithal to support worthy 
men who might be fit to discharge the office of true pastors. 
And thus ignorant priests are installed, who bring in great con 
fusion. For the character of individuals begets a great con 
tempt of the Word of God ; and thus whatever their authority, 
they cannot exercise it. I pray you, therefore, Monseigneur, 
to advance arid improve the Keformation, and so give it per 
manence ; be pleased to exert all your might in correcting this 
abuse. I quite believe that it has not been your fault that 
matters have not been better regulated in the first instance. 
But since it is very difficult all at once to organize an esta 
blishment as well as might be desirable, it only remains that 
we persevere, so as to perfect in time what has been well begun. 

It ought not to be ill taken by those who at the present 
time derive profit from Church property, that the pastors be 
adequately supported ; seeing that every one ought to strive 
to support them out of his own private means, were there no 
public ones. It would even be to their own advantage to dis 
charge themselves of this debt, for they cannot expect to prosper 
while defrauding the people of God of their spiritual pasturage, 
by depriving the churches of good pastors. And on your part, 



302 VIRET. 1551. 

Monseigneur, I have no doubt, when you have faithfully 
laboured to reduce these matters to order, that God will the 
more multiply His blessings upon you. But since I feel 
assured that you are so well inclined of yourself that I need 
not longer to exhort, I shall conclude, after having besought 
our good Lord, that it may please Him to guide you always by 
His Spirit, to increase you in all well-doing, and to cause His 
name to be more and more glorified by you. Even so, Mon- 
seigneur, I do commend me very humbly to your gracious 
favour. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr. Copy. Library of filmier, Coll. of Simler. Vol. 75.] 



CCLXXXL To VIRET. 

Reply to the attacks of Pighius, and of George de Sicile. 1 

[GENEVA,] 15th August 1551. 

I regret the postponement of the Council, now when it is too 
late. Send for me, however, when you think fit ; although it 
will be much more convenient, in another respect, for you to 
come to us. I send you the ravings of George de Sicile, which 
the Italian brethren wish me to refute. 2 I have declined, how 
ever, as there would be no end to replies if every single dog of 
that sort were to be silenced by a special treatise. It is better, 
therefore, that many do not deem it worthy of a reply. If I 
ever find leisure, I should prefer executing what I undertook 
years ago. By replying to Pighius, I shall put a stop to the 
barking of others. I have nothing to say regarding Matthaeus 
at present, except that, if while presenting the brethren with 
his work, he at the same time warn them of its dangers, I hope 
they will find it agreeable. We can discuss the rest better 

1 Or, of Sicily. 

2 Calvin published his treatise, De JEterna Dei Predestinatione, during the fol 
lowing year, in reply to certain attacks directed against this doctrine hy an Italian 
Doctor named George de Sicile, and the German theologian, Albert Pighius, 
whom he had already assailed in 1543. (See vol. i. p. 350 of the present Col- 



1551. THE MINISTERS OF NEUCHATEL. 303 

when we meet. Adieu, most worthy and upright brother. 
Salute your wife and little daughters, also your colleague, 
Kibet, and the rest of the brethren. You may tell Hotman, 
that I gave a willing audience of two or three hours to a fellow- 
citizen of his, but I fear I was not of much service to him. He 
is too much puffed up with stolid self-assurance, for anything 
to make an impression on him. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCLXXXIL To THE MINISTERS OF NEUCHATEL. 

Arrest of a minister from Neuchatel in France steps for obtaining his release. 

GENEVA, 5t7i September 1551. 

When the melancholy tidings reached this place that 
Hugues, 1 with five other brethren, and a lady of rank 3 had been 
seized in the neighbourhood of Magon, we at once resolved to 
inform you of it, that you might at least aid them with your 
prayers. For there is no use, in my opinion, in troubling our 
selves with the French at present. We know they have a 
judge who is merciful as well as just. Textor is here, and is 
unremitting in his endeavours among [his] friends. If the 
matter proceeds farther, I shall inform you of it ; only keep 
your mind at ease for a few days ; for another messenger 

lection.) Little is known regarding George de Sicile. Suspected by the Catholics 
on account of his professing certain of the reformed doctrines, and by the Protes 
tants from his holding certain heterodox opinions, he was disclaimed alike by both 
of those Churches, and ultimately fell a victim to the Inquisition, at Ferrara. 
MSS. of the Library of Ferrara. 

1 Notwithstanding the interested advances made by the King of France to the 
Swiss Cantons, and despite his alliance with the Protestants of Germany, the per 
secutions did not terminate in France. A minister of the district of Neuchatel, 
originally from the neighbourhood of Mans, named Hugues Gravier, having under 
taken a journey to his native country, was arrested at the bridge of Macon, and, 
after a long imprisonment, condemned to the flames, notwithstanding the interven 
tion of the Seigneurs of Berne in his behalf. He submitted to this cruel torture at 
Bourg-en-Bresse, with wonderful firmness ; and his death, says the historian of the 
Martyrs, was the means of forming a nursery of the faithful throughout the entire 
neighbourhood. Hist, des Martyrs, p. 234, anno 1552. Hist. JZccL, p. 86. 



304 BULLINGER. 1551. 

brought word to-day, that when he left they had good hopes of 
a speedy release. Adieu, most excellent brethren, very dear to 
me. May the Lord be ever present with you, to guide you all 
by His Spirit. We are desirous of commending the Church of 
Lyons to you, which indeed is uncalled for. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

My dear Farel, I do not ask pardon for my slothfulness, as 
if I had rather abstain from writing you, but that you may the 
sooner hasten hither that we may have a conversation. Adieu, 
again and again. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCLXXXIIL TO BULLINGER. 1 

Edict of Chateaubriand, in France attacks on Calvin in Geneva. 

GENEVA, 15th October 1551. 

My slowness in writing to you is owing to the want of mes 
sengers. For I do not care for sending a letter which may 
have lost its interest by being so long in reaching you. When 
Beza undertook to see my letter delivered to you without delay, 
I was unwilling to neglect a duty in which I must confess I 
am too remiss. I do not know how matters are moving in 
England. The matrimonial alliance with France does not, in 
my opinion, forebode so much good as many seem to think. 
Would, at least, that it might mitigate somewhat the fury of 

1 The new opinions made every day fresh progress in France, in spite of the 
rigour of the edicts, and the severity of the judges. Inspired hy the evil spirit 
of Cardinals Tournon and Lorraine, the King resorted to measures of great cruelty. 
The Edict of Chateaubriand, issued on the 27th of June 1551, declared Protes 
tants amenable at once to ecclesiastical and civil tribunals, so that if absolved by 
the jurisdiction of the one, they were liable to condemation by that of the other! 
This was a violation of the laws of the most ordinary justice ; but at a time when 
the Emperor, aided by the heretic Maurice of Saxony, was attacking the Pope, 
the King of France could not give too strong a pledge of his orthodoxy. The blood 
of the disciples of the Gospel flowed like water, to expiate the alliance of this 
persecuting monarch with the Lutherans of Germany. Haag, France Protestante, 
Introduction, p. x. 



155!. BULLINGEK. 305 

his father-in-law. 1 For in order to gain new modes of venting 
his rage against the people of God, he has been issuing atro 
cious edicts, by which the general prosperity of the kingdom is 
broken up. A right of appeal to the supreme courts has 
hitherto been, and still is, granted to persons guilty of poison 
ing, of forgery, and of robbery ; yet this is denied to Christians : 
they are condemned by the ordinary judges to be dragged 
straight to the flames, without any liberty of appeal. It has 
been decreed, that the friends of those whose lives are at stake 
must not dare to intercede for them, unless they wish to be 
charged with patronizing heresy. The better to fan the flames, 
all informers are to receive the third part of the goods of the 
accused. Should any judge appear too remiss, he is liable to a 
penalty. The King s chancellor is to guard against admitting 
such to public offices, or any who may have, on any occasion, 
been open to the slightest suspicion. No one, besides, can 
hereafter occupy the place of a judge, unless he be hostile to 
Christ ; and whosoever would aspire to a public office, must 
furnish abundant evidence of being obsequious sons of the 
Church of Kome ; and should any one [gain office] by decep 
tion, a penalty attaches to those who recommended him. A 
penalty is imposed, besides, on all citizens who may, by their 
suffrages, have raised to the magistracy, any individual known 
to hold, or suspected of holding, the Lutheran doctrines. The 
Supreme Council is bound by law to compel any of their num 
ber, who may seem to have a leaning to our doctrines, to clear 
himself by oath. All are commanded, with more than usual 
earnestness, to adore the breaden god on bended knee. All 
parsons of parishes are commanded to read the Sorbonne 
articles every Sabbath for the benefit of the people, that a 
solemn abnegation of Christ may thus resound throughout the 
land. The goods of all who have migrated to us are to be con 
fiscated, even although they should be sold, or in any way dis 
posed of, previous to their departure, unless the authorities have 

1 There were at that time proposals of marriage between the young King 
Edward, and Elizabeth of France, daughter of Henry II., but the negotiations re 
lative to that match were without result. Burnet, History of the Reformation^ 
vol. ii. p. 282, (Mares Edition.) 

VOL. II. U 



06 BULLINGER. 1551. 

been duly apprised of the sale before their departure was con 
templated. Geneva is alluded to more than ten times in the 
edict, and always with a striking mark of reproach. But indeed 
every place of dissent from the See of Home is referred to. 
This ferocity is necessary, in order that the direst confusion 
may follow. The flames are already kindled everywhere, and 
all highways are guarded lest any should seek an asylum here. 
If any opportunity occurs, we must spare no pains to alleviate 
the sufferings of our brethren. I would already have been on 
my way to you, for the purpose of holding a consultation, had 
I not been excluded access to you, at present, by your en 
treaties. Nevertheless, I beseech you, in the name of Christ, 
that you keep an attentive outlook in all directions ; but I do 
not see what assistance is to be expected from those who sit 
clown so securely amid their own dangers. How ominous ! 
The sword is whetted for our throats, and we, who are all 
brethren, seek to avoid a consultation ! With these warnings, 
it becomes us to accustom ourselves to fix our regards on 
heaven. How I fear we may, by and by, suffer a heavier pun 
ishment for this our inactivity than could be wished ! In 
truth, I am not astonished that they are so slow in checking 
the insult of the enemy, when they take worthless villains to 
their bosom, by whom the Church is torn and wounded, and 
exposed to the ridicule of her enemies. A certain Dominican, 
a minister of the word in a neighbouring village, has emerged 
from the mud under evil auspices. 1 He bawled out openly in 
the assembly that he had a dispute with me and the Church of 
Geneva ; and this without the least provocation. Not content 
with that, he brought forward a paper filled with foul accusa- 

1 Calvin, referring to the same circumstance in a letter to Viret, (Aug. 1551,) 
expressed himself thus : " An ignorant monk, from an obscure village, disparaged 
me. A ridiculous affair. He was a demagogue, who from the front of the plat 
form, bawled out that we were worse than the Papists, and brought forward a 
paper before the Consistory, written by himself, in which he accused me, by name, 
of teaching what was false and contrary to the Word of God ; called me an impos 
tor ; babbled out that those who agreed with me held impious opinions," &c. 
(Calv. Opera, vol. ix. p. 61.) From these last traits, we recognise the same ob 
scure individual, who made bold to bring forward such accusations against Calvin, 
and whose disputes with the Reformer were soon to acquire a sad notoriety over 
all Switzerland. This man was Jerome Bolsec ! See the following letter. 



1551. THE MINISTERS OF SWITZERLAND. 307 

tions, in which I was bitterly reviled for more than twenty 
times. On the matter being known, he was sent home. Em 
boldened by impunity, any satellite of the Council of Trent in 
sults me now with equal ferocity. This is the communion of 
the Church which we daily profess. I omit other matters 
equally dishonourable, which I endure, not without sadness ; 
although I am not so much moved on my own account, as on 
that of the public ; for I see clearly that such a breaking up 
of all orderly discipline, so foreign to Christianity, cannot stand 
for any length of time. 

Adieu, very excellent and highly revered brother. May the 
Lord guide you ever; may His blessing rest on your pious 
endeavours, and may He shield you by His protection ! 

Salute Theodore, Pellican, Gualter, and the rest of the 
brethren earnestly in my name. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orirj. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, n.] 



CCLXXXIV. To THE MINISTERS OF SWITZERLAND^ 

Statement of the controversy with Bolsec regarding Election. 

GENEVA, [October 1551.] 

There is one Jerome here, who, having thrown off the monk s 
cowl, is become one of those strolling physicians, who, by habi- 

1 At a general meeting, held October 16, 1551, the minister of Jussy, Jean de 
Saint Andre, in preaching from the words of St. John, (viii. 47,) " Pie that is of 
God heareth God s words . . . ," took occasion to develop the doctrine of eternal 
election, declaring that " those who are not regenerated by the Spirit of God, con 
tinue in a state of rebellion even to the end, because obedience is a gift accorded 
only to the elect." He had scarcely finished speaking when one of the hearers 
rose up, and pronounced this doctrine false and impious, accompanying his dis 
course with coarse abuse of those who make God the author of sin, and exhorted 
the people to guard against this new doctrine as a detestable piece of folly. This 
man was the old Carmelite monk, Jerome Bolsec, a physician, preacher, and poet, 
who, wandering by turns in France and Italy, had retired to Geneva some months 
previously, where he had already frequently attacked the doctrines of Calvin. Un 
noticed in the crowd, the Reformer, whom Bolsec had thought absent, immediately 
rose up, and by a succession of testimonies borrowed from the writings of Augustine, 
eloquently refuted his adversary. Arrested on account of the temerity of his lan 
guage, and interrogated by the magistrate, Jerome refused to retract, and was 



308 THE MINISTERS OF SWITZERLAND. 15 J I. 

tual deception and trickery, acquire a degree of impudence 
which makes them prompt and ready in venturing upon any 
thing whatever. He made an attempt, eight months ago, in a 
public assembly of our church, to overthrow the doctrine of 
God s free election, which, as received from the word of God, we 
teach in common with you. Then, indeed, the impertinence of 
the man was regulated by some degree of moderation. He 
ceased not afterwards to make a noise in all places, with the 
intention of shaking the faith of the simple in this all-important 
doctrine. At length he openly disgorged what poison was in 
him. For when one of our brethren, not long since, was expound 
ing, after our ordinary custom, that passage in John where 
Christ declares that those who do not hear God s words are not 
of God ; he remarked that as many as have not been born again 
of the Spirit of God, continue in a state of stubborn resistance 
to God, even to the end, inasmuch as the gift of obedience is pe 
culiar to the elect of God, on whom it is bestowed. That worth 
less wretch rose up, and affirmed that the false and impious 
opinion, that the will of God is the cause of all things, took 
its rise during the present century from Laurentius Valla ; but 
that in this he acted wrongly, for he charged God with the 
blame of all evils, and falsely imputed to Him a tyrannical 
caprice, such as the ancient poets fancifully ascribed to their 
Jove. He then took up the second head, and affirmed that 
men are not saved because they have been elected, but that 
they are elected because they believe ; that no one is condemned 
at the mere pleasure of God ; that those only are condemned 
who deprive themselves of the election common to all. In deal 
ing with this question, he inveighed against us with a great 
deal of violent abuse. The chief magistrate of the city, on 
hearing of the matter, imprisoned him, especially as he had 

thrown into prison. The case was brought before the Council, where he boldly 
maintained his opinion, adding, besides, that many of the Swiss ministers shared 
in his sentiments. Before pronouncing a judgment, which the ministers of Geneva 
earnestly desired, the magistrates wrote concerning the subject to three reformed 
towns, namely, Zurich, Berne, and Bale, furnishing them with a list of the errors 
of Bolsec, and asking their advice as to how they should treat him. See the 
Registers of the Council, Oct. 1551 ; Gander, Manuscript History of Geneva, and 
Ruchat, torn. v. p. 456. 



1551. THE MINISTERS OF SWITZERLAND. 309 

been tumultuously haranguing the common people not to allow 
themselves to be deceived by us. On being brought before the 
Senate for trial, he proceeded to defend his error with no less 
obstinacy than audacity. He, moreover, made it his boast that 
a considerable number of the ministers of the other churches 
sided with him ; on which we requested the Senate not to give 
its final decision until, having heard from your church, it should 
ascertain how this worthless wretch had wickedly abused your 
name by making you sanction his error. Overcome by shame, 
he at first did not decline the decisions of the churches, but 
began to jest about having good reason to mistrust you from 
your familiar intimacy with our brother Calvin. The Senate, 
however, according to our request, resolved upon consulting you. 
Besides, and in addition to this, he was implicating your church. 
For while denouncing Zwingle above all others, he said that 
Bullinger was of precisely the ^ame opinion with himself. He 
has craftily watched for a handle of discord among the Bernese 
ministers. We are really anxious to have this plague so re 
moved from our church, that it may not infect our neighbours 
when we have got rid of it ourselves. Although it is of very 
great importance to us and to the public tranquillity, that the 
doctrine which we profess should meet with your approval ; yet 
we have no reason to entreat your confidence in many words. 
The Institutes of our brother Calvin, against which he is espe 
cially directing his attacks, is not unknown among you. With 
what reverence and sobriety he has therein discussed the secret 
judgments of God, it is not for us to record : the book is its 
own bright witness. Nor in truth do we teach anything here 
but what is contained in God s holy word, and what has been 
held by your church ever since the light of the Gospel was 
restored. That we are justified by faith, we all agree ; but the 
real mercy of God can only be perceived when we learn that 
faith is the fruit of free adoption, and that, in point of fact, 
adoption flows from the eternal election of God. But not only 
does this impostor fancy that election depends upon faith, but 
that faith itself is originated as much by man himself as by 
divine inspiration. There can be no doubt, on the other hand, 
that when men perish, it must be imputed to their own wicked- 



310 THE MINISTERS OF SWITZERLAND. 1551, 

ness. But by the case of the reprobate whom God, from His 
own mysterious council, passes by and neglects as if unworthy, 
we are taught a striking lesson of humility. Yet such is this 
Jerome, that he will not admit that God does anything justly 
unless he has palpable evidence of it. In fine, this much is 
fixed and conceded by us all, that when man sins, God must not 
be regarded as having any share in the blame, nor that the word 
sin can in any sense be applied to Him. Yet this does not 
hinder Him from exercising His power, in a wonderful and 
incomprehensible way, through Satan and the wicked, as if 
they were the instruments of His wrath, to teach the faithful 
patience, or to inflict merited punishment on His enemies. This 
profane trifler cries out that we bring an impeachment against 
God when we allege that He governs all things by His provi 
dence. Destroying, in short, in this way, all distinction between 
causes as remote and concealed, on the one hand, and as near 
and patent on the other ; rendering it impossible to regard the 
sufferings to which holy Job was subjected as the work of God, 
but that He may be held as equally guilty with the Devil, the 
Chaldeans, and the Sabsean robbers. Our mutual relationship, 
therefore, demands that you will not consider it troublesome to 
uphold and maintain, by your countenance, that doctrine of 
Christ which has been outraged by the profanity of a wanton 
and ill-disposed man. As we confidently trust that you will do 
this gladly and of your own accord, we consider it useless to 
ply you with anxious and earnest requests ; and, on the other 
hand, should our services be at any time of advantage to you, 
you will ever find us prepared to discharge every brotherly 
duty. Adieu, most beloved and esteemed brethren. May God 
guide you by His Spirit, bless your labours, and defend your 
church ! 

{Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 63.] 



1551. OSWALD MYCONIUS. 311 



CCLXXXV. To OSWALD MycoNius. 1 

Recommendations regarding the dispute with Bolsec request on behalf 
of the Protestants of France. 

LAUSANNE, November 1551. 

I ain compelled to dictate these few lines, being confined to 
bed with a severe headache. The person who is to deliver my 
letter to you is my brother s father-in-law. He will, therefore, 
communicate to me faithfully anything with which you may 
intrust him. Although in so just and sacred a cause I trust 
there will be neither difficulty nor delay, yet, as you have espe 
cially to do with the general answer of the brethren, I beseech 
you particularly, and Sulzer also, to undertake the whole 
matter. 2 Our Senate, indeed, took a correct enough view of 
the case, but it is of great importance to have the mind of your 
church as well as of our own. 

There is another thing, also, which I am exceedingly anxious 
of obtaining from you and the rest of the brethren ; but as there 
is no need for pressing you on the matter, it will be sufficient 
for me to give you a hint of it. Edicts worse than atrocious 
have lately been published by the King of France, in which all 
manner of cruelties are employed for the extinction of whatever 
spark of manliness there is in the kingdom. 3 Not only has he 
increased the rage of those judges and officers who previously, 
in most instances, went farther than they should, but if any 
are more moderate than the rest, they are compelled by violent 
threats to shed, like very gladiators, the blood of the innocent. 
The flames have been kindled already in very many places. 

1 This is Calvin s last letter to Myconius. Struck by apoplexy while in the 
pulpit of the Cathedral of Bale, a few days before the Easter festivals of 1551, 
Myconius never rallied, till he was carried off by the plague in October 1552, in 
the sixty-fourth year of his age. His bereaved widow survived him only a few 
days. Simon Sulzer succeeded him in the office of Antilles which he had filled 
during more than ten years with moderation and wisdom. See Melch. Adam, 
Vitcs Theol. Germ., p. 224 ; Ruchat, torn. v. p. 468. 

2 Alluding to the reply expected from the ministers of Bale, concerning the case 
of Bolsec. See the preceding letter. 

a See letter, p. 304. 



312 CHRISTOPHER FABRI. 1551. 

There is one mode, perhaps, by which his fury may be some 
what appeased : Were those of the Swiss who profess the sound 
and pure doctrine of the Gospel to intercede, perhaps, during 
those commotions of war, their authority might carry the more 
weight. As the cause is a just one, and worthy also of your 
compassion, I shall say no more, convinced as I am that it will 
be to you an object of the deepest interest. Adieu, brother, 
worthy of my heartfelt reverence. Salute all your friends and 
fellow-ministers. May the Lord guide you by His Spirit, and 
protect you by His power ! Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 

CCLXXXVL To CHRISTOPHER FABRIC 

Calvin s dissatisfaction with the reply of the ministers of Bale, and the 
conduct of Monsieur de Falais regarding the affair with Bolsec. 

November 1551. 

I shall attend to your orders. Would that we could obtain 
our wishes ! The ministers of Bale have replied. We have 
found by experience how little advice they can give us. My- 
conius approaches the matter with a certain coldness. There is 
no use, as you say, in his taking credit to himself for wisdom 
from his hesitancy. Yet Sulzer writes just as if it would be 
satisfactory. The Senate had sent their own messenger a short 
time before. I fear they will repeat the same old song. But 
if the men of Berne and Zurich go prudently about the matter, 
we need not take it to heart ; for all depends on this, lest he 
may have been admitted to the Bernese district. I am so much 
ashamed at De Falais, that I can scarcely bear to be taunted 

1 " To Mons. Christopher Fabri, minister of the Word of God in the Church of 
Neufchatel." 

The theologians of Bale were the first to communicate their sentiments regard 
ing the case of Bolsec. In a letter dated 28th November, they openly acknow 
ledged the doctrine which was the occasion of the dispute. They regarded election 
as "the effect of a secret cause, known to God alone, and which man should not 
attempt to fathom." So far as Bolsec himself was concerned, they were inclined 
to treat him with indulgence, deceiving thereby the hopes of the Keformer, who 
desired a triumphant condemnation of his adversary. 



1551. FAHEL. 313 

about his fickleness. 1 If your reply reach us in time, it will 
assist us not a little. Adieu, very worthy and very dear 
brethren. I could not find a messenger up to the present mo 
ment. My dear Fabri, I now at length discharge your orders 
to me. I have not had an opportunity of writing you since the 
brethren determined upon what kind of testimony should be 
giyen to Heroldus. I have been as moderate as I could. Adieu 
again. Convey my best regards to your friends. Entirely 
yours, 

CALVIN. 

[Lat. orlg. auiogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, .] 



CCLXXXVIL To FAREL. 

Recommendation of a schoolmaster complaints against the ministers of 
Zurich. 

GENEVA, 8th December 1551. 

There is little need for my commending the bearer to you, 
as he is, in my judgment, sufficiently known and approved by 
you. It is no ordinary proof of his piety and modesty when I 
state, that not only did he come down to this quarter willingly, 
but came forward even with eagerness, when I was almost pre 
vented, through bashfulness, from asking him to undertake the 
matter. Nor have I any doubt but that he will discharge any 
duty imposed upon him, faithfully and with care. But the fact 
of his being regarded, by competent judges, as a learned and 
skilful physician, will perhaps go farther with your men. Were 
he not known among you, I should give ampler testimony in 
his favour. I only trust that your school may furnish him 
with pupils worthy of his position as a moderately learned 
master. 

I complained lately of the theologians of Bale, 2 who, as com 
pared with those of Zurich, are worthy of very great praise. 3 

1 In the theological disputes between Calvin and Bolsec, M. de Falais declared 
himself in favour of the latter, from whom he received medical advice. He had 
even written a letter to Bale in his behalf. 

2 See the preceding letter, p. 312. 

8 The theologians of Zurich, like those of Bale, did not hesitate to profess adhe- 



314 FAREL* 1551. 

I can hardly express to you, my dear Farel, how much I am 
annoyed by their rudeness. There is less humanity among us 
than among wild beasts. What would happen if we were not 
surrounded with enemies ? What marvellous dulness is it, 
- that when three or four churches are driven together into a 
corner, they do not recognise each other ! In truth, this is 
worse than dishonourable, because groundless rumours are cir 
culated, by which any brother who may be within the bounds 
is hindered from showing us any sympathy. The Senate did 
not consider the pastors worthy of being written to, but to 
heighten the insult, they limited their communication to the 
magistrates. Should you be displeased with the general letter 
of the men of Zurich, let me tell you, that Bullinger s private 
letter to me was not a whit better, although it is preferable that 
you should read it and judge for yourself. It is not fair that I 
should be troubled with his trifles, while he is, at the same 
time, looking down on our wants with supreme contempt. You 
will pardon me, therefore, if you do not obtain what you asked 
regarding the translation of his book. Adieu, very dear bro 
ther. May the Lord Jesus guide you, and watch over you con 
tinually, together with your brethren and the church ! Salute 
Christopher and the rest in my name. Michael will remain 
here till the end of the week. Yours truly, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Latin copy Eccl. Archives of Berne, vol. vi. p. 171.] 

reuce to the doctrine attacked by Bolsec. " Jerome," said they, " deceives him 
self and wrongs Zuingle, if he believes that the latter taught that God himself was 
the cause of man s sinning ; for if he appeared to teach something similar to that 
in his book on The Providence of God, we must, at the same time, consult his 
other writings, where he has plainly established that sin comes by no means from 
God, but from human corruption and voluntary wickedness." Addressed to the 
Councils of Geneva by an oversight which the ministers of that church seemed 
keenly to feel, the answer from Zurich did not appear to Calvin to be a sufficiently 
explicit condemnation of his adversary. See the letter to Bullinger of January 
1552. 



1551. LAELIUS SOCINUP. 315 

CCLXXXVIIL To LAELIUS Socraus. 1 

Kefusal to reply to the curious questions proposed to him by Socinus. 

[1551.] 

You are deceived in so far as you entertain the impression 
that Melanchthon does not agree with us on the doctrine of 
predestination. I only said briefly that I had a letter written 
by his own hand, in which he confessed that his opinion 
agreed with mine. But I can believe all you say, as it is 
nothing new for him to deceive in this matter, the better to 
rid himself of troublesome inquiries. Certainly no one can be 
more averse to paradox than I am, and in subtleties I find no 
delight at all. Yet nothing shall ever hinder me from openly 
avowing what I have learned from the word of Grod; for 
nothing but what is useful is taught in the school of this 
master. It is my only guide, and to acquiesce in its plain 
doctrines shall be my constant rule of wisdom. Would that 
you also, my dear Laelius, would learn to regulate your powers 
with the same moderation ! You have no reason to expect a 

1 Laelius Socinus, founder of the celebrated sect which bears his name, was born 
at Sienna of a distinguished family : his father, Marianus Socinus ; a professor in 
the University of Bologna, was one of the most learned jurisconsults of his age. 
Of a bold and active mind, which found pleasure in the most subtle speculations, 
and which would not stop short of the interpretation of mysteries, Laelius left his 
native country in 1548, and joined the Reformers of Switzerland and Germany, 
whose friendship he won by the politeness of his manners, the purity of his life, 
and his zeal for learning. He resided by turns at Zurich and Wittemberg, and was 
not slow, by correspondence or conversation, to express his doubts on the common 
doctrines, which he skilfully advanced rather in the form of questions than as opi 
nions which he was prepared to maintain and to teach. He was beloved by Bui- 
linger, who did not suspect the heterodoxy of his beliefs, and who wrote to Calvin 
regarding him, " I restrain as far as I can this man s curiosity ;" and Calvin him 
self, after having repeatedly broken off correspondence with Socinus, could not 
forbear renewing it, and giving a friendly reply to the doubts which he had ex 
pressed on the resurrection, baptism, the trinity, &c. (Calv. Opera, torn. ix. pp. 51, 57, 
197.) The letter, which is published here for the first time, throws valuable light 
on the relation of the Reformer to the founder of a sect to which even Socinus 
himself was yet a stranger, and whose doubts were afterwards to be set up as 
dogmas by his disciples. Laelius Socinus died in 1562, before he had completed 
his thirty-seventh year. M Crie, Hist, of lief, in Italy, passim. 



316 BULLINGER. 1551. 

reply from me so long as you bring forward those monstrous 
questions. If you are gratified by floating among those aerial 
speculations, permit me, I beseech you, an humble disciple of 
Christ, to meditate on those things which tend towards the 
building up of my faith. And indeed I shall hereafter follow 
out my wishes in silence, that you may not be troubled by me. 
And in truth, I am very greatly grieved that the fine talents 
with which God has endowed you, should be occupied not only 
with what is vain and fruitless, but that they should also be 
injured by pernicious figments. What I warned you of long 
ago, I must again seriously repeat, that unless you correct in 
time this itching after investigation, it is to be feared you will 
bring upon yourself severe suffering. I should be cruel towards 
you did I treat with a show of indulgence what I believe to be 
a very dangerous error. I should prefer, accordingly, offending 
you a little at present by my severity, rather than allow you to 
indulge unchecked in the fascinating allurements of curiosity. 
The time will come, I hope, when you will rejoice in having 
been so violently admonished. Adieu, brother very highly 
esteemed by me ; and if this rebuke is harsher than it ought to 
be, ascribe it to my love to you. 1 

[Latin copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, .] 



CCLXXXIX. TO BULLINGER. 2 

Thanks for the zeal manifested on behalf of the faithful in France Com 
plaints of the conduct of the Ministers of Zurich in the affair of Bolsec. 

GENEVA, January 1552. 

You have clearly shown yourself to be what you have always 
been, by your unremitting endeavours to mitigate the rage of 

1 This letter, without a date, appears to us to helong to the last months of the 
year 1551. Laelius Socinus was living at that time at Wittemherg. M Crie, 
Hist, of the Kef. in Italy, p. 430. 

2 The magistrates of Geneva, after having received the advice of the leading 
Swiss Churches, which were unanimous alike in their recognition of the doctrine 
of election, and in soliciting indulgence for Bolsec, proceeded with the trial of the 
prisoner, who, having refused to retract his opinions, was solemnly banished on the 
23d December 1551, for having persisted in an obstinate despisal of the judgment 



1562. BULLINGER. 317 

our Pharaoh, and aid our unfortunate brethren. I cannot 
forget how strenuously and faithfully you have always devoted 
yourself to this cause. Still, I have good reason to fear that 
little has been gained by our letters : for the courtiers to 
frustrate them is nothing wonderful. Indeed, I lately learned 
as much, in a quiet way, from the royal ambassador when he 
was here. We would require to send some one, therefore, if 
we wish to be of any use. The matter was taken up at Baden, 
I understand, but their deliberations probably came to naught. 
So confident am I of your watchful attention and faithfulness, 
that I consider it unnecessary for me to stimulate you by a 
single word. 

Would that we were so well satisfied about another matter, 
that we could tender our thanks to yourself and your colleagues 
without any qualification. Inasmuch as we experienced not 
without severe pain considerably less support from you than 
we had anticipated, I prefer bringing my complaint candidly 
before you, rather than nourish my displeasure by keeping it 
to myself. You write that you were astonished why we, 
annoyed by a vile and impious wretch, should ask your opinion 
of a doctrine which he was falsely attacking. In this impres 
sion you have been greatly mistaken, for when he accused us 
of holding impious doctrine, we deferred to your judgment out 
of respect to you. I fail to see why this should annoy you. I 
certainly did not think you would consider any amount of 
labour burdensome, which should bring so very great relief to 
your brethren. You say that it is a serious matter to give an 
unqualified approval of disputations, especially when they turn 
upon a matter which, in the reader s judgment, might be 
handled to better purpose in some other way. And yet, I have 
never supposed, nor do I yet believe, that you belong to the 
number of those who are so well pleased with their own per 
formances, that they cannot peruse without aversion anything 
executed by another ; nor, in truth, did I propose dictating a 

of the Churches to which he had promised submission. (Registers of the Council, 
Dec. 1551. Spon and Picot, Histoires de Geneve.) Calvin did not wish the sen 
tence to be more severe, although he counted on the Swiss Churches taking a more 
energetic course, and in the ardour of his zeal for what he regarded as sound doc 
trine, looked upon all hesitation and all weakness as a cowardly abandonment of 
the truth. 



318 BULLTNGER. 1552. 

formula to you, to which we desired your unqualified assent. 
It was enough ; and more than enough, to have your approval 
of a doctrine which we held to be found in the word of God, 
nor was it our object to discuss it with skill and acuteness ; so 
far from that, the matter, when stripped of all artifice, shows 
that we wanted nothing more than that by refuting the man s 
wicked calumnies, you should bear testimony to our teaching 
only what was drawn from the pure fountain of God. 

You ought not to have feared, I think, that any one was ac 
cusing you of dishonesty, because I asked you not to think it 
troublesome, to give an answer to our magistrates, as if on an 
entirely new subject. For how could they make a public state 
ment regarding a matter, into which no one had made any 
inquiry, although I readily allow it appeared differently to 
you ? Your charging us with the want of moderation and 
humanity, was caused, we think, by your placing less confidence 
in our letter than you ought to have done. Would that Jerome 
were a better man than our letter declared him to be ! Would 
that he attributed all to the grace of God, as you seem to think. 
But for you to plead in defence of a man who seditiously dis 
turbed a peaceful Church, who strove to divide us by deadly 
discord, who, without ever having received the slightest provo 
cation, loaded us with all sorts of abuse, who publicly taunted 
us with representing God as a tyrannical governor, nay more, 
that we had put the Jove of the poets in the place of God, to 
defend such a man, I say, were the extreme of absurdity. How, 
moreover, can he attribute all to the grace of God, when he 
says that grace is offered alike to all, but that its efficacy rests 
with the free will of every one, when he prates about the heart 
of flesh, or the susceptibility of grace, being given to all, but so 
that every one may receive it of his own accord ? Altogether, 
I feel grieved beyond measure that there is not a better under 
standing between us. Indeed I was astounded, on finding 
from your letter, that the kind of teaching which I employ is 
displeasing to many good men, just as Jerome is offended by 
that of Zuingle. Wherein, I beseech you, lies the similarity ? 
For Zuingle s book, to speak confidentially, is crammed with 
such knotty paradoxes, as to be very different, indeed, in point 
of moderation, from what I hold. You are wrong in inferring 



1552. BULLINGER. 319 

that I have promised a new work, in which I undertake to de 
monstrate that God is not the author of sin. When that im 
postor was vexing me with his calumnies, I stated in refutation 
what was true, viz., that I had given sufficient evidence in a 
book which I had published, of my utter abhorrence of such 
blasphemy. I refer to the book published long since against 
Libertines. The dishonesty of that worthless wretch, however, 
induced me to publish in addition what remained of my reply 
to Pighius on Predestination. Should I fall into any mistakes, 
you will be kind enough to set me right. For the rest, I am 
sufficiently alive to the desirableness of my saying what I have 
to say with frankness and candour. Jerome has been publicly 
sentenced to perpetual exile. Certain slanderers have been 
falsely circulating that we desired a more cruel punishment, 
and some have been foolish enough to believe it. Our friend, 
De Falais, whose maid-servant Jerome had cured of cancer, on 
that account espoused his cause so very warmly, that he seemed 
almost infatuated. We easily, and from the first, shook our 
selves free of this annoyance. But at the request of the neigh 
bouring brethren, we were anxious to remove that plague from 
the Bernese district. Now that your answer has been ambigu 
ous, the sorry wretch is making his boast that you countenance 
his error. I only wish I could at present venture to indicate 
the catastrophe of the tragedy, regarding which you desired to 
be informed. You will hear, before long, or I am much mis 
taken, in certain attempts just made, that he has paved the 
way for making still greater disturbances. Now, if I have laid 
bare my inmost feelings in making these complaints to you, let 
that have no weight so far as our reply is concerned. Although 
you disappointed my expectations, I nevertheless gladly offer 
you our friendship. I pass by the others just as if I was en 
tirely satisfied. In conclusion, as my brother s sister is anxious 
about her son who is boarded in your place, I am compelled to 
trouble you about him. I wish you would inquire at his teacher, 
in her name, as to what progress he is making, and if you find 
that he is not realizing the hopes and desires of his father, that 
you will inform me of it at your earliest opportunity. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lnt. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, n.] 



320 FAREL, 1552. 



CCXC. To FAREL. 

Fresli complaints by Calvin against the ministers of Zurich and Berne his 
unpopularity in the latter city advices to Farel. 

GENEVA, 27th January 1552. 

1 received your letter lately, in which you asked me silently 
to repress the feeling of wrong done me by your neighbours. 1 
As for the people of Zurich, the die has been cast three days 
ago. The remedy was in my hands, indeed, until then. But I 
have no inclination to recall those letters which I have lately 
despatched. It was absolutely necessary for me afterwards to 
write to the theologians of Bale, with whose answer, apparently 
so cold and empty, I had good grounds from the first to be 
displeased. But those things advanced by the others were so 
very worthless, that they did not cause me much annoyance. 
You are much mistaken in thinking that the former party are 
about to see their error. Wait rather till they make an ab 
solute renunciation of the election of God. We have experi 
enced the wonderful providence of God in this matter ; for 
without being at the time aware of it, I, by the formula of our 
agreement, have so bound them, that they are no longer at 

1 In their reply to the ministers of Geneva concerning Bolsec, the ministers of Berne 
freely pleaded the cause of toleration : " We do not believe," said they, "that it 
is necessary to treat those who err with too much severity, lest while wishing to 
defend, with too great zeal, the purity of dogmas, we swerve from the law of Jesus 

Christ, that is, from charity Jesus Christ loved the truth, hut he loved 

souls also ; not only those who advanced without declension, but also those who 
went astray. And it is the latter of which the Good Shepherd, in the Gospel 
parable, takes the greatest care/ .... More explicit than the theologians of 
Zurich and of Bale on the doctrine which formed the ground of the debate, the min 
isters of Berne gave a deliverance against the doctrine of predestination : " To 
come," said they, " to the subject of dispute with Bolsec, you are not ignorant how 
much vexation it has caused very many good men, of whom we cannot have a bad 
opinion, who reading in the Scriptures those passages which exalt the grace of God 
to all men, have not sufficient discernment rightly to understand the true mysteries 
of Divine election, attach themselves to the proclamation of grace and of universal 
benevolence, and think that we cannot make God condemn, harden, and blind any 
man, without being guilty of the insupportable blasphemy of making God himself 
the author both of man s blindness and of his perdition, and by consequence of all 
sm ." gee this letter, and those of the Churches of Zurich and Bale, in the Col 
lection of Professor Alph. Turretin, entitled, Nttles Testium, and in Ruchat, torn. v. 
p. 461, ct seq. 



1552. FABEL. 321 

liberty to do damage to the cause. For, in other circumstances, 
as I am informed by one, they would have become the patrons 
of Jerome. Even Bibliander, carried away by a sudden fit of 
excitement, was within a very little of coming to oppose us. 
He is at present engaged in writing something or other. How 
ever, you will find nothing in my letter, if I am not mistaken, 
except what is exceedingly temperate. I had, in truth, enough 
to do in repressing the grief with which I was at that time 
consumed. You will hear from Christopher what Yiret advises 
to be done with the third. As he has an absolute horror of 
going to Berne, I have no special counsel to offer. However, 
the atrocity of the evils by which we are beset, compels us to 
attempt something. And now new matter for a tragedy has 
arisen out of mere nothing. For the chief magistrate of Ter- 
nier, on false and reckless information, eagerly summoned, as 
he is accustomed to do, John de Saint Andre before a public 
tribunal, charging him with having said before a public 
assembly, that whoever received the Supper on Christmas-day, 
receivecr the devil and not Christ. 1 And witnesses were found 
to give evidence against him. In short, Satan will not lay 
aside such fanners as these until he has kindled some dreadful 
conflagration. But I suppose we may rather weep over evils of 
this sort, than hope to prevent them. At least I do not see 
what can be done. If I go to Berne, I fear I shall not receive 
a brotherly welcome from the brethren. Wicked men, who are 
at present exhibiting so much effrontery, while matters are in a 
doubtful state, will then be certain to be more insolent in their 
blasting. And although the pastors hold oat some show of 
friendship, yet I scarcely expect to succeed in inducing them to 
maintain friendly intercourse with us, except by the permission 
of the Senate. You know how defective they are in courage 
and firmness. If they so far comply with our wishes in this 
matter, they will nevertheless think that they have doubly dis 
charged their duty, when they have indicated in a single word 
that they have nothing to complain of. There is much talk in 
the city in the meantime. "While revolving these dangers in 

1 This minister was banished shortly after beyond the territory of the Seigneurs 
of Berne on account of this expression. 

VOL. II. X 



322 FAREL. 1552. 

my own mind, I can scarcely venture to seek a remedy for 
evils which vex me all the more from my very desire for their 
removal. If you hope to find Blaurer of any use to you, you 
should employ him. But I abstain from writing, lest some 
might think themselves wronged by my complaining to him. 
Try him, therefore, and give him advice about what he 
should do. 

In the next place, I have something about which I wish to 
admonish yourself. For I understand the prolixity of your 
discourses has furnished ground of complaint to many. 1 You 
have frequently confessed to us that you were aware of this 
defect, and that you were endeavouring to correct it. But if 
private grumblings are disregarded because they do not in the 
meanwhile give trouble, they may, nevertheless, one day break 
forth into seditious clamours. I beg and beseech of you to 
strive to restrain yourself, that you may not afford Satan an 
opportunity, which we see he is so earnestly desiring. You 
know that while we are not called upon to show too much in 
dulgence to the foolish, we are nevertheless bound to gr^e them 
something to allure them. And you are well enough aware 
that you have to do with the morose and the choleric ; and in 
truth their aversion arises simply from too much pride on their 
part. Yet, since the Lord commands us to ascend the pulpit, 
not for our own edification, but for that of the people, you 
should so regulate the manner of your teaching, that the Word 
may not be brought into contempt by your tediousness. It is 
more appropriate, also, for us to lengthen our prayers in private, 
than when we offer them in the name of the whole Church. 
You are mistaken if you expect from all an ardour equal to 
your own. 

I have dictated this letter in bed. 2 Adieu, most excellent 

1 Farel was a genuine orator. All his contemporaries speak with admiration of 
his eloquent discourses, of his beautiful exhortations, and of his prayers, so fervent, 
that no one could hear them without being charmed. But it appears that his dis 
courses were all extempore ; none of them have been preserved, but they had a 
few of the defects of improvisation. Their fault was prolixity. Calvin, in his pre 
face to the Psalms, paid, among other things, a brilliant tribute to the eloquence of 
liis friend, and to those thunders of the Word (tonitrua) by which he had been 
enchained at Geneva. 2 In Calvin s own hand. 



1552. MADAME DE OANY. 323 

and upright brother. Salute all friends. May the Lord preserve 
and guide you by His Spirit, and bless your labours ! Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orin. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCXCL To MADAME DE CANY. 1 

Rigorous and inflexible spirit of Calvin against heresy Praise of Theodore Beza. 

GENEVA, January 1552. 

MADAME, I am very sorry that the praiseworthy act which 
you did about half a year ago, has met with no better return. 
This is because no good and true servant of God found himself 
within reach of such help, as that received by as wicked and un 
happy a creature as the world contains. Knowing partly the 
man he was, I could have wished that he were rotting in some 
ditch ; and his arrival gave me as much pleasure as the piercing 
my heart with a poniard would have done. But never could I 
have deemed him to be such a monster of all impiety and con 
tempt of God, as he has proved himself in this. And I assure 
you, Madame, that had he not so soon escaped, I should, by way 
of discharging my duty, have done my best to bring him to the 
stake. 2 Nevertheless, if the good we purpose does not come to 
pass, it is quite enough that God accepts our service. He com 
mands us to help all those who need, and above all, those who 

1 "Without date. The end is wanting. We believe that this letter refers to the 
first month of the year 1552. 

2 Who is the personage to whom these words refer, stamped at once by the in 
flexible spirit of the time and the stern rigour of the Reformer ? The historian can 
only offer conjectures : can it be Jerome Bolsec ? But a regular sentence had ba 
nished him from Geneva, and Calvin himself does not appear to have called for a 
more severe judgment against this innovator whom resentment had transformed into 
a vile pamphleteer. " That fellow, Jerome, is driven out into perpetual exile by a 
public sentence. Certain revilers have spread abroad the falsehood, that we 
earnestly desired a much severer punishment, and foolishly, it is believed." (Cal 
vin to Bullinger, in the month of January 1552.) In that age of inexorable severity 
against unsound doctrine, Servetus only appeared at Geneva to expire at the stake, 
and Gentili only escaped the scaffold for a time, by the voluntary retractation of his 
opinions. To name Gentili, Servetus, Bolsec, is to recall the principal victims of 
Calvinistic intolerance in the sixteenth century, but not to solve the mystery which 
attaches to the personage designated in the letter of Calvin to Madame dc Cany. 



324 MADAME DE CANY. 1552. 

suffer for His name. If men are often found unworthy of our 
help, let us be content that the Master acknowledges it all as 
done to Himself ; and that even if men prove ungrateful, He 
will confer so ample a reward, of which we cannot be deprived. 
And in this we enjoy a great advantage over those who, in 
serving their own fancies, persuade themselves that they do God 
service. For when we follow that which He approves, we are in 
no danger of losing our labour. Wherefore, let us not weary 
in well-doing, as likewise St. Paul exhorts us, signifying that we 
should not fail to find much in men that would immediately 
discourage us, did we not look beyond them. And, indeed, 
there is no doubt that our Lord wishes to try our constancy 
when He allows such temptations to befall us. Accordingly, 
he who would shield himself behind the ingratitude of man 
kind, will not be -excused. As regards ourselves, there is much 
need that we should be confirmed against such scandals, for we 
meet them every day. And I have no doubt, that our Lord 
has so confirmed you, that you will not cease exerting yourself 
for His people when the opportunity occurs, and you have the 
means of doing what your duty requires. For seeing that God 
accepts and puts down to His account whatever is done to His 
people, it is to Him that we fall short, and not to men, when 
we do not fulfil this duty. Now, our Lord presents you by us 
with an occasion of showing your perseverance, albeit that it 
is enough for me to have exhorted you in general. 

With regard to the present matter, I prefer to entreat you, as 
I now entreat with all possible affection. It is on the behalf of 
Monsieur de Beze, 1 against whom a certain Monsieur de Sunistan, 
has a lawsuit for the priory of Londjumeau. Upon his retire 
ment, his condemnation was inevitable, for you are aware how 
things go in our favour. Be that as it may, Monsieur de Sun 
istan would have been well content with much less, and has 

1 Theodore Beza, then professor of Greek literature in the Academy of Lau 
sanne. Born the 24th June 1549, at Veselay in Burgundy, he had left Paris after 
a brilliant and dissipated youth, and retired to Geneva the 24th October 1548, 
giving up the possession of the rich benefices which he held of his uncle, the 
Abbe of Froidrnont. Of this number was the Priory of Londjumeau, which became 
the matter of a tedious lawsuit between Beza and the new titular, M. de Sunistan, 
the protege of the Duchesse d Etampes. 



1552. MADAME DE CANY. 325 

obtained more than he could have ventured to wish, seeing that 
the Sieur de Beze has been found liable for the whole of the 
costs, with restitution of the rents. Whereupon he (Sunistan) 
proceeds against the commissioners, who have received them in 
the name of the aforesaid De Beze. To remedy this evil, we 
have bethought ourselves, Madame, of having recourse to you 
as to a refuge which God vouchsafes to us. We hope, indeed, 
that Madame 1 will do much for us. And since it has been 
through her that the said Sunistan has got the benefice, 
this is a reason why she should have authority to make him 
relinquish his claim upon the costs. I assure you, in all 
sincerity, that when he shall have done his utmost, he will not 
be able to get what he seeks. And therefore, Madame, I again 
beseech you, that it may please you to write so urgently to 
the said lady, that she may exert herself warmly to make 
the aforesaid Sunistan satisfied with the presentation. I do 
not make this request so much on my own account, as in the 
name of our Master, who has all credit and power with you as 
He deserves. I say this, not only to excuse the liberty I take, 
but also to obtain more easily from you what I ask. Never 
theless, I protest in truth, if I did not all I could to deliver 
from annoyance the man for whom I speak, I should do wrong 
to Jesus Christ and his Church. Our Lord has so wrought 
upon him, that he has withdrawn, notwithstanding the ease 
which he enjoyed, from the expectation of further advancement. 
But I let that alone in order to speak as to what I have known. 
I shall not even touch upon many virtues, which would have 
won your affections, had you seen them as I have done. I will 
only tell you, that he has received excellent graces from God, 
and has so improved them for the general benefit of the Church, 
that he is truly a pearl. This is why I have said that I less 
regard in this case the private individual, than my duty to my 
Master and His whole household, who have so much interest 
in such a spirit not being quenched by vexations and annoy 
ances. And I am not the only person who think of him thus, 
but all those to whom the honour of God is dear, love and 
value this man as a treasure. I believe that my brother 

1 Anne de Pisseleu, Duchesse d Etampes. She was a sister of Madame de 



32G BULLINGER. 1552. 

De Norinaridie does not write of him to you with less affection 
than I. We agree in this respect as in everything else, so that 
I believe that we both equally love him. You may have some 
taste of his mind by certain passages which he has translated, 
although he has other gifts which are surpassing and far more 
valuable. But I hope, Madame, that the reading of the Psalms, 
which you will receive by the bearer, 1 will of itself be my 
excuse towards you for so pressingly requesting you to be pleased 
to be the means of giving him relief, so that he may follow out 
this work, and also better things besides : and in doing so, you 
will oblige many worthy persons whom I know you would will 
ingly please 

[Fr. Copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCXCII. TO BULLINGER. 2 

Journey of Calvin and Farel in Switzerland steps in favour of tlie Reformed 
in France return to the affairs of Bolsec. 

FROM AN INN AT BASLE, 13//A March 1552. 

When Farel and I left home, we had resolved to visit you. 
At Berne we altered our plan, for the following reason : We 

1 Laurent de Normandie. See note 1, p. 296. 

This passage seems to refer to an edition of the Psalms, translated into French 
verse by Theodore Beza, earlier than that which is mentioned by Senebier. 
(Histoire Litteraire de Geneve, torn. i. p. 289. Septante-Neuf Pseaulmes mis en 
HitUme francaise, Quarante-Neuf par Clement Marot, avec le Cantique de 
Simeon et les Dix Commandements, in 24. Geneve, chez Simon de Bosc, 1556.) 
M. Picot, Hist, de Geneve, torn. ii. p. 7, mentions an edition of the Psalms, pub 
lished in 1551. We know that the first complete edition, for the use of the Re- 
formed Churches, appeared at Lyons in 1562, with the " Privilege clu Roi." 

2 Despite Calvin s disagreements with the magistrates of Berne and the Hel 
vetic Churches, he did not hesitate to undertake a journey to them in the month of 
March 1552, which the seriousness of the circumstances demanded, in order to 
plead the cause, among the Cantons, of the French Protestants, who were then in 
a most deplorable condition. "This year," says Ruchat, "the King of France 
carried his persecution of the Reformers, even to the death, so to speak ; and those 
faithful subjects, who wished only to be allowed to serve God in liberty of con 
science, were subjected to the violence of his officers, who acted like so many un 
chained furies. The flames were kindled, the wheel and the gallows were erected 
at all the tribunals. The Protestant States of the empire, and the four Reformed 



1552. BULL1NGER. 327 

stated in the seriate that there appeared some hope of relief 
for our unhappy brethren ; because the king lately published 
an edict, in which he makes unusual concessions to the Ger 
mans ; for in the first place he puts them on an equality with 
the natives ; and further, by an extraordinary indulgence, he 
grants them the liberty of living according to their own religion. 
Besides, the attempts of the Sorbonne to excite cruelty, have 
less success and favour than hitherto. The death of Chate- 
lain 1 also, who was cat off by an attack of colic, happened 
seasonably for us. The king seems so bent upon war, that he 
does not hesitate to prefer his present convenience to the sense 
less rage with which he formerly burned. There are many 
things, we think, which at present you may safely concede to 
them. It is certain, that in a war so changeable and so com 
plicated as this, though there may be no formal compact, they 
have many common interests involved. Now the miserable 
condition of our holy brethren admonishes us of the necessity 
of watching over them, and urgently demands that we assist 
them to the best of our power. For the king, as if he had 
exhausted his kindness upon the Germans, ceases not severely 
to oppress his own. Moreover, as many opportunities might 

Cantons, were active in their intercessions with the King, by means of special am 
bassadors, in behalf these poor persecuted ones ; but all their prayers were useless." 
(Hist, de la Eef., torn. v. p. 479.) The King, on advising the Cantons to abstain 
from any further approaches to him, declared that he wished to be allowed to re 
main his own master, and to act as he pleased, and for them to refrain in future, 
lest those cities continued this business at their own peril ; . . . . that they 
were at liberty to govern their own cities as they thought proper ; that, for his 
own part, he wished, without let or hindrance, to do the same in his own kingdom, 

because he intended by all means to purge it of those seditious men (Bullinger 

to Calvin, torn. ix. p. 68.) This last epithet was a calummj. Yet he continued, 
nevertheless, to persecute the faithful of France as seditious and as rebels, because 
they desired to serve and to worship God according to His word. 

1 See note 1, Vol. i. p. 415. 

" This good bishop," says Beza, " agreeing to persecute those whom he formerly 
defended as far as he could, was made Bishop of Orleans, whither God attended 
him on his journey. For on the eve of his entree, he went, as the custom was, to 
the Monastery called Saint Iverte, and entered a pulpit to preach ; there was a 
very great number of people present, and whilst uttering harsh throats against 
those termed heretics, he was seized with a colic so sudden and severe, that being 
carried away he died a miserable death on the following night, and made his entree 
elsewhere than at Orleans." Hist. Feel, torn. i. p. 81. 



328 BULLINGEli. 1552. 

escape us, from our ignorance of passing events, it had already 
seemed to us advisable to turn and warn the Bernese to seize a 
favourable opportunity. But now, being taught by much experi 
ence that letters are of little avail, we have besought the Bernese 
senate to despatch an embassy, to assure the king that the cause 
was sincerely advocated ; and that not only from the entreaties 
of others, but of your own inclination, and from the deepest 
feeling of your heart, you are inclined and earnestly desirous to 
plead it. The senate replied, that the occasion seemed not yet 
ripe, for that lately letters had been brought from the king, 
wherein he not only haughtily refused what the four states had 
sought, but fiercely chid them for not considering him a 
clement Christian king. It was stated, also, that letters would 
presently arrive, from which it would appear whether the 
King s mind were changed. The consul promised, however, 
that should a convenient opportunity occur, the Senate would 
by no means neglect this cause. Among other things, also, 
the Senate dissuaded us from going to Zurich, lest unnecessary 
expense should be incurred. We were vexed at this, because 
we would freely confer with you upon other matters, nor would 
you have been displeased at our arrival ; however, that we 
might not seem too rash, we chose rather to be deprived of the 
pleasure of seeing you, and the benefit of your conversation, than 
to attempt anything which might injure the cause. Now both 
of us beseech you ; nay rather all the godly who are suffering 
in France for the testimony of Christ, humbly beseech you by 
our mouth to be diligently watchful for all opportunities. 
Although it is enough to advise you, yet the anxiety under 
which we know them to groan, compels us to add some 
vehemence to our entreaties. But as we shall certainly not 
obtain what we wish, we must exercise moderation, so as not to 
give offence to the King. The edict has forty-seven heads. 
If in regard to four or five of the heads some reasonable relief 
were obtained, the brethren will think themselves not hardly 
dealt with. One for instance requires, that on holidays each 
with his family be present at the mass, and not only that he 
approve that idolatry by his gesture, and defile himself by im 
pious and faithless hypocrisy, but that the articles of the Sor- 



1552. BULLINGER. 329 

bonne be read aloud at the sacrifice ; and thus all will subscribe 
to abominable blasphemies. But it is demanded that there be 
a rigorous examination of this matter. We must beg of the 
King, therefore, that men who pass their lives quietly., giving 
offence to none, shall not be eagerly watched, nor be subjected 
to the captious demands of the priests. The King confiscates 
the goods of those who betake themselves to us, to places, as he 
says, obviously removed from obedience to the Holy See : nay, 
should their property be sold, he orders the purchasers to be 
dispossessed. As to this, we must beg that no man shall be 
considered a criminal, if, having nothing else laid to his charge, 
he willingly and peacefully migrate elsewhere, because he can 
not for conscience sake remain in the kingdom ; provided only 
that they do not betake themselves to an unfriendly country. 
But the first thing to be secured is, that an embassy be resolved 
upon. It will appear afterwards what is to be demanded. 

To the letters which I received when already on horseback, 
I only reply that I had good reason to expostulate, especially 
to a brother, in a brotherly way. Consider what we expected 
from you in the troubled state of our affairs. Consider, also, 
how contrary to our hopes was the answer you gave us ; you 
may see that we had some cause to grieve. You wonder, 
because I utter a moderate and gentle complaint, that we were 
assisted less liberally than we had promised ourselves. How 
ever, I make no objection to my letters remaining buried, if 
they contained anything offensive. 

The little book which I send you, will satisfy you, I hope, 
concerning the whole matter. 1 You may, however, if you 
choose, convey through me your free judgment. My brother s 
father-in-law was to have travelled thither with me ; but since 
God has thrown an obstacle in our way, he writes to his son s 
master to keep him till the end of the year, for but a short 
time now remains. In the meanwhile, it will be the master s 
duty to treat him as a boy who requires a tighter rein and a 
severer discipline. Farewell, most accomplished Sir, and most 

1 Doubtless the writing published by Calvin and his colleagues, entitled, " Con 
gregation faite en VEglise tU Geneve sur la Matiere de V election e"ternelle." 
Geneva, 1552, 8vo. 



330 ORANMER. 1552. 

esteemed brother. Salute warmly, in my name, your brethren 
and fellow-ministers. The Lord guide you by His Spirit, and 
keep you under His protection ! Amen. The Marquis de 
Vico, 1 and Normandie, and our other companions, desire rne to 
greet you heartily. 

Excuse my employing an amanuensis, for I dictate from 
my bed. 

In the name of Farel and myself, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Arch, of Zurich. Gallicana Scripta, p. 16.] 



CCXCIIL TO CRANMER. 2 

Agreement to the proposal for assembling a General Synod for the more 
close union of the Reformed Churches. 

GENEVA, [April 1552.] 

Your opinion, most distinguished Sir, is indeed just and wise, 
that in the present disordered condition of the Church, no remedy 
can be devised more suitable than if a general meeting were 

1 The Marquis de Vico, a Neapolitan nobleman, retired to Geneva. He was 
admitted an inhabitant of the city, " after having promised to submit to the laws 
of the magistrates, and to live in the profession of the Reformed religion." Regis 
ters of Council, 15th June 1551. 

2 Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England, took an 
important part in the Reformation of his country during the reigns of Henry VIII. 
and Edward VI. He laboured assiduously with the Reformers of the Continent, 
who esteemed his learning and honoured his character, to establish a bond of union 
between the foreign churches and his own ; and if he did not live to see his efforts 
crowned with success, he at least left behind him an example worthy of imitation. 
What is most notable in these endeavours is to be found in Cranmer s Letters to 
the leading theologians of Switzerland and Germany, reproduced in the Collections 
of his Works published by the Parker Society. They are likewise to be found in 
the Collection of Zurich Letters, 1st series, vol. i. p. 21-26, from which we borrow 
the following letter to Calvin, which furnishes us with the date of the Reformer s 
reply to the Prelate : " As nothing tends more injuriously to the separation of the 
Churches than heresies and disputes respecting the doctrines of religion, so nothing 
tends more effectually to unite the Churches of God, and more powerfully to defend 
the fold of Christ, than the pure teaching of the Gospel and harmony of doctrine. 
Wherefore I have often wished, and still continue to do so, that learned and godly 
men, who are eminent for erudition and judgment, might meet together, and, com 
paring their respective opinions, might handle all the heads of ecclesiastical doc- 



1552. CRANMER. 331 

held of the devout and the prudent, of those properly exercised 
in the school of God, and of those who are confessedly at one 
on the doctrine of holiness. For we see how Satan is attempt 
ing, by various devices, to extinguish the light of the Gospel, 
which, by the wonderful goodness of God, having risen upon 
us, is shining in many a quarter. The hireling dogs of the 
Pope cease not to bark, in order to prevent the pure Gospel of 
Christ from being heard : so great is the licentiousness that is 
here and there breaking forth, and the ungodliness that is 
spreading abroad, that religion is become a mere mockery ; and 
those who are not professed enemies of the truth, nevertheless 
conduct themselves with an impropriety which will create in a 
short time, unless it be obviated, terrible disorder among us. 
And not only among the common herd of men here does the 
distemper of a stupid inquisitiveness alternate with that of fear 
less extravagance, but, what is more lamentable, in the ranks 
of the pastors also the malady is now gaining ground. It is 
too well known with what mad actions Osiander is deceiving 
himself and deluding certain others. 1 Yet the Lord, as he has 

trine, and hand down to posterity, under the weight of their authority, some work 
not only upon the subjects themselves, but upon the forms of expressing them. 
Our adversaries are now holding their councils at Trent, for the establishment of 
their errors ; and shall we neglect to call together a godly synod, for the refutation 
of error, and for restoring and propagating the truth ? They are, as I am informed, 
making decrees respecting the worship of the host ; wherefore we ought to leave no 
stone unturned, not only that we may guard others against this idolatry, but also 
that we may ourselves come to an agreement upon the doctrine of this sacrament. 
It cannot escape your prudence how exceedingly the Church of God has been 
injured by dissensions and varieties of opinion respecting the sacrament of unity ; 
and though they are now in some measure removed, yet I could wish for an agree 
ment in this doctrine, not only as regards the subject itself, but also with respect 
to the words and forms of expression. You have now my wish, about which I have 
also written to Masters Philip [Melanchthon] and Bullinger ; and I pray you to 
deliberate among yourselves as to the means by which this synod can be assembled 
with the greatest convenience. Farewell. Your very dear brother in Christ, 

" THOMAS CANTUAR. 
" LAMBETH, Wth March 1552." 

Calvin could only subscribe to the wishes so nobly expressed by Crarimer, and 
which harmonized so well with the most elevated sentiments of the Reformer of 
Geneva. 

1 Alluding to the unfortunate controversies raised by Osiander in Germany on 
the doctrine of Justification. 



332 CRANMER. 1552. 

done even from the beginning of the world ; will preserve in a 
miraculous manner, and in a way unknown to us, the unity of 
a pure faith from being destroyed by the dissensions of men. 
And those whom He has placed on His watchtower He wishes 
least of all to be inactive, seeing that He has appointed them 
to be His ministers, through whose labours He may preserve 
from all corruptions sound doctrine in the Church, and transmit 
it safe to posterity. Especially, most illustrious Archbishop, 
is it necessary for you, in proportion to the distinguished posi 
tion you occupy, to turn your attention as you are doing towards 
this object. I do not say this as if to spur you on to greater 
exertions, who are not only, of your own accord, in advance of 
others, but are also, as a voluntary encourager, urging them on ; 
I say it in order that, by my congratulations, you may be 
strengthened in a pursuit so auspicious and noble. I hear that 
the success of the Gospel in England is indeed cheering ; but 
you will experience there also, I doubt not, what Paul experi 
enced in his time, that by means of the door that has been 
opened for the reception of pure doctrine, many enemies will 
suddenly rise up against it. Although I am really ignorant of 
how many suitable defenders you may have at hand to repel 
the lies of Satan, still the ungodliness of those who are wholly 
taken up in creating disturbances, causes the assiduity of the 
well-disposed to be at no time either too much or superfluous. 
And then I am aware that English matters are not so all-im 
portant in your eyes, but that you, at the same time, regard the 
interests of the whole world. Moreover, the rare piety of the 
English King, as well as his noble disposition, is worthy of the 
highest commendation, in that, of his own inclination, he enter 
tains the pious design of holding a convention of the nature 
referred to, and offers a place for it also in his own kingdom. 
And would that it were attainable to bring together into some 
place, from various Churches, men eminent for their learning, and 
that after having carefully discussed the main points of belief one 
by one, they should, from their united judgments, hand down to 
posterity the true doctrine of Scripture. This other thing also 
is to be ranked among the chief evils of our time, viz., that the 
Churches are so divided, that human fellowship is scarcely now 



1552. CRANMER. 333 

in any repute amongst us, far less that Christian intercourse 
which all make a profession of, but few sincerely practise. If 
men of learning conduct themselves with more reserve than is 
seemly, the very heaviest blame attaches to the leaders them 
selves, who, either engrossed in their own siuful pursuits, are 
indifferent to the safety and entire piety of the Church, or who, 
individually satisfied with their own private peace, have no 
regard for others. Thus it is that the members of the Church 
being severed, the body lies bleeding. So much does this con 
cern me, that, could I be of any service, I would not grudge to 
cross even ten seas, if need were, on account of it. If it were 
but a question regarding the rendering of assistance to the 
kingdom of England, such a motive would at present be to me 
a sufficiently just one. Now, seeing that a serious and properly 
adjusted agreement between men of learning upon the rule of 
Scripture is still a desideratum, by means of which Churches, 
though divided on other questions, might be made to unite, I 
think it right for me, at whatever cost of toil and trouble, to 
seek to obtain this object. But I hope my own insignificance 
will cause me to be passed by. If I earnestly pray that it may 
be undertaken by others, I hope I shall have discharged my 
duty. Mr. Philip [Melanchthon] is at too great a distance to 
admit of a speedy interchange of letters. Mr. Bullinger has 
likely written you before this time. Would that I were as able 
as I am willing to exert myself ! Moreover, the very difficulty 
of the thing which you feel, compels me to do what, at the out 
set, I affirmed I would not do, viz., not only to encourage, but 
also to implore you to increase your exertions, until something 
at least shall have been accomplished, if not all that we could 
desire. Adieu, very distinguished Archbishop, deserving of my 
hearty reverence. May the Lord continue to guide you by His 
Spirit, and to bless your holy labours ! 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lett. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 61.] 



334 BULLINGER. 1552. 

CCXCIV. To BULLINGER. 

Fresh details regarding the persecutions in France. 

GENEVA, Whitsunday 1552. 

After having resided for some time at Paris, this pious young 
man retired among you, and, judging from his conduct, I have 
no doubt but that he has really the fear of God in him, and is of 
a truly modest character. He studied the humanities with con 
siderable success, has since entered upon theology, and now, 
that he may make greater progress in this study, he has resolved 
to enter your College and Church. Although he is not inclined 
to trouble you, nor, as I trust, any one else, yet as he appeared 
to me to be a person of pure and simple piety, I did not choose 
to send him away without this testimony. Our two friends 
who lately went among you have not yet returned. Would 
that our pious brethren experienced some relief ! * About two 
weeks ago, two others were put in chains at Lyons. 2 The faith 
ful in Bretagne and Anjou are being badly treated. One was 
burnt lately at Bordeaux ; others saved their lives by a perfi 
dious recantation. He is venting his rage in other parts of the 
kingdom also. We must, therefore, be busy while we have 
opportunity. Adieu, most accomplished Sir and revered bro 
ther. May the Lord be ever near you to guide by His Spirit. 
Salute your fellow-ministers in my name. My brethren salute 
you earnestly. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. Copy Imperial Library, Coll. of Dupuy, 102.] 

1 See the eloquent appeal addressed to Bullinger, ante, pp. 304, 326. The 
latter had written to Calvin, giving him an account of the fruitless efforts of the 
Cantons with Henry II., and of the haughty response of that monarch : " He lives 
who delivered His people from Egypt ; He lives who brought hack the captivity 
from Babylon; He lives who defended His Church against Caesars, kings, and pro 
fligate princes. Verily we must needs pass through many afflictions into the king 
dom of God. But woe to those who touch the apple of God s eye." Galv. Opera, 
torn. ix. p. 68. 

2 See the following Letter. 



1552. THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 335 



CCXCV. To THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS, MARTIAL 
ALBA, PETER ESCRIVAIN, CHARLES FAVRE, PETER NAVI- 
HERES, BERNARD SEGUiN. 1 

Information on various doctrinal points, and assurances of Christian 
sympathy. 

FROM GENEVA, this Wth of June 1552. 

MY VERY DEAR BRETHREN, Hitherto I have put off writing 
to you, fearing that if the letter fell into bad hands, it might 
give fresh occasion to the enemy to afflict you. And besides, 
I had been informed how that God wrought so powerfully in 
you by His grace, that you stood in no great need of my letters. 
However, we have not forgotten you, neither I nor all the bre 
thren hereabouts, as to whatever we have been able to do for you. 
As soon as you were taken, we heard of it, and knew how it had 
come to pass. We took care that help might be sent you with 
all speed, and are now waiting the result. Those who have 
influence with the prince in whose power God has put your 
lives, are faithfully exerting themselves on your behalf, but we 
do not yet know how far they have succeeded in their suit. 
Meanwhile, all the children of God pray for you as they are 
bound to do, not only on account of the mutual compassion 



1 In the month of April 1552, five young Frenchmen, instructed at the school of 
theology of Lausanne, and devoted to the functions of the ministry, made arrange 
ments for returning to their own country. These were Martial Alba of Montauban, 
Peter Ecrivain of Gascony, Charles Favre of Blanzac in Angoumois, Peter Navi- 
heres of Limousin, and Bernard Seguin of La Eeole. After having spent some 
days at Geneva, they set out for Lyons, and met on the way at the Bourg de Col- 
onges, nigh to L Ecluse, a stranger, who offered himself as their fellow-traveller. 
They consented without harbouring any suspicion. Arrived at Lyons, they parted 
with their travelling companion, who pressed them to visit him at his dwelling of 
Ainay. They went thither without any distrust, were arrested and led away to the 
prisons of that jurisdiction. Such was the origin of a long and doleful process, 
which held the Churches of France and Switzerland for a long time in suspense, 
and during which, the bloodthirsty cruelty of the judges was only equalled by the 
constancy of the victims. On the first rumour of the arrest of the five students, 
the Church of Geneva took the matter up, and lavished upon the captives, by the 
voice of Calvin, the most lively testimonies of their sympathy. 



336 THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 1552. 

which ought to exist between members of the same body, 
but because they know well that you labour for them, in main 
taining the cause of their salvation. We hope, come what may, 
that God of His goodness will give a happy issue to your cap 
tivity, so that we shall have reason to rejoice. You see to what 
He has called you ; doubt not, therefore, that according as He 
employs you, He will give you strength to fulfil His work, for 
He has promised this, and we know by experience that He has 
never failed those who allow themselves to be governed by Him. 
Even now you have proof of this in yourselves, for He has shown 
His power, by giving you so much constancy in withstanding 
the first assaults. Be confident, therefore, that He will not 
leave the work of His hand imperfect. You know what Scrip 
ture sets before us, to encourage us to fight for the cause of the 
Son of God ; meditate upon what you have both heard and seen 
formerly on this head, so as to put it in practice. For all that 
I could say would be of little service to you, were it not drawn 
from this fountain. And truly we have need of a much more 
firm support than that of men, to make us victorious over such 
strong enemies as the devil, death, and the world ; but the firm 
ness which is in Christ Jesus is sufficient for this, and all else 
that might shake us were we not established in Him. Know 
ing, then, in whom ye have believed, manifest what authority 
He deserves to have over you. 

As I hope to write to you again, I shall not at present 
lengthen my letter. I shall only reply briefly to the point which 
brother Bernard has asked me to solve. Concerning vows, we 
must hold to this rule, that it is not lawful to vow to God any 
thing but what He approves. Now the fact is, that monastic 
vows tend only to corrupt His service. As for the second ques 
tion, we must hold that it is devilish presumption for a man to 
vow beyond the measure of his vocation. Now, the Scripture 
declares, both in the nineteenth of St. Matthew and in the 
seventh of the First to the Corinthians, that the gift of conti 
nence is a special grace. It follows, then, that those who put 
themselves in the position and under the necessity of renouncing 
marriage for the whole of their life, cannot be acquitted of rash 
ness, and that by so doing they tempt God. The question 



1552. THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 337 

might very easily be spun out to a greater length, by stating 
that we ought to consider, first, who HE is to whom we vow ; 
secondly, the nature of that vow ; and thirdly, the party mak 
ing the vow. For God is too great a Master for us to trifle 
with, and man is bound to consider his own capabilities ; for to 
present a sacrifice without obedience, is nothing but thorough 
pollution. However, this one point may suffice you to prove to 
them that the gift of continence is a special gift, and in such- 
wise special, that for the most part it is only for a season. So 
that he who possessed it for thirty years, like Isaac, may not do 
so for the remainder of his life. Hence you may conclude, that 
the monks, in binding themselves never to marry, attempt with 
out faith to promise what is not given to them. As for their 
poverty, it is quite the reverse of that which our Lord enjoined 
upon his followers. 

Concerning the nature of a glorified body, true it is, that the 
qualities thereof are changed, but not entirely. For we must 
distinguish between the qualities which proceed from the cor 
ruption of sin, and those which belong to and are inseparable 
from the nature of the body. St. Paul, in the third chapter of 
the Epistle to the Philippians, says that our vile or weak body 
shall be made like to the glorious body of Christ. By this 
humble expression or Tapinosis, he points out which of the qua 
lities that we at present bear about with us in our bodies are 
to be changed ; those, namely, which are of the corruptible and 
fading nature of this world. And on this subject St. Augustine 
says, in the Epistle to DardanuSj which in number is the 57th, 
" He shall come again in the same form and substance of the 
flesh, to ivhich certainly he gave immortality ; he hath not taken 
away the nature. In this form he must not be supposed to be 
everywhere diffused" This argument he follows out at greater 
length, showing that the body of Christ is contained within its 
own dimensions. And in fact our glorified bodies will not be 
ubiquitous, although they will have that likeness of which St. 
Paul speaks. As for the passage of the Apocalypse, the words 
are these in the fifth chapter: "And every creature ivhich is 
in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as 
are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Bless- 

VOL. II. Y 



338 THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 1552. 

ing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sit- 
teth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever! 
Now you see that it is a childish cavil to apply this to souls 
in purgatory ; for St. John, by the figure which is called Pro 
sopopoeia, rather conveys that even the fishes blessed God. And 
in regard to the passages of the Doctors, refer your people to 
the 27th Epistle of St. Augustine. To Boniface, where he states, 
towards the end ; that the sacraments have a certain similitude 
of those things ivhich they represent. From ivhence it comes 
to pass, that after some fashion the sacrament of the body of 
Christ may be the body of Christ. Item, that which he treats 
of in the third book, Of Christian Doctrine, where he says, 
among other things in the fifth chapter, " Such is the com 
pletely miserable bondage of the soid in conceiving of the signs 
in place of the things signified, and never lifting up the eye of 
the understanding above the corporeal creature to breathe 
eternal light." Item, in the ninth chapter. " The believer 
knoivs by experience, and understands [agnoscit] to ivhat the 
mystery of baptism, and the celebration of the body and blood 
of the Lord, may be referred, so that the soul can offer reli 
gious loorship, not in the bondage of the flesh, but rather in the 
liberty of the spirit. So to follow the literal sense, and in 
suchwise to conceive of the signs instead of the things sealed or 
signified by them, is a slavish weakness ; that mere symbols 
shoidd be so unprofitablij interpreted, is the result of vague 
error" I do not heap up quotations, because these will be quite 
enough for your purpose. In conclusion, I beseech our good 
Lord that He would be pleased to make you feel in every way 
the worth of His protection of His own, to fill you with His 
Holy Spirit, who gives you prudence and virtue, and brings 
you peace, joy, and contentment ; and may the name of our 
Lord Jesus be glorified by you to the edification of His Church ! 

[Fr. Printed in Hi*toire des Martyrs, lib. iv. p. 225.1 



1552. EDWARD VI. 339 

CCXCVL To EDWARD VI. 1 

Dedication of a new work, and Christian exhortations. 

FROM GENEVA, this 4th July 1552. 

SIRE, Although I ought to fear lest my importunity may 
prove troublesome to your Majesty, and have indeed on that 
account abstained from writing to you more frequently, never 
theless, I have had the boldness to send you, together with my 
letters, a short exposition which I have composed of the 78th 
(87th) 2 Psalm, hoping that you would take pleasure in it, and 
also that the reading thereof might be profitable to you. As I 
was one day expounding it in a sermon to the people, the argu 
ment appeared to me so appropriate for you, that I was forth 
with moved to draw up a summary of it, such as you will see, 
when it shall please your Majesty to devote to it one hour only. 
It is very true, that I treat the subject generally, without ad 
dressing you personally. But as I have mainly had regard to 
you in the writing of it, so in the prudent application and 
appropriation of it, you will find that it contains a very profit 
able lesson for your Majesty. 

You know, Sire, how much danger kings and princes are in, 
lest the height to which they are raised should dazzle their 
eyes, and amuse them here below, while making them forget 
ful of the heavenly kingdom ; and I doubt not that God hath so 
warned you against this evil, to preserve you therefrom, that 
you are a hundred times more impressed with it, than those 

1 Calvin wrote this letter to King Edward VI., when dedicating to him the follow 
ing little work : Four Sermons of Master John Calvin, treating of matters very 
profitable for our time, with a Brief Exposition of Psalm Ixxxvii. Geneva, 1552, 
in 8vo, inserted in the Receuil des Opuscules, p. 824. These four sermons have been 
translated at different times into English. In the first, Calvin exhorts the faithful 
to flee from idolatry ; in the second, he encourages them to suffer everything for 
Jesus Christ ; in the third, he shews how highly believers ought to prize the privilege 
of being in the Church of God, where they are at liberty to worship Him purely ; 
in the last, he shews that this liberty cannot be purchased at too high a price. 

u An error in the original, it is 87 which we must read. 



340 EDWARD VJ. 1552. 

who have no personal experience of it. Now, in the present 
Psalm mention is made of the nobleness and dignity of the 
Church, which ought so to enrapture both great and small, that 
no earthly honours and possessions should hold them back, or 
hinder them from aiming to be enrolled among the people of 
God. It is indeed a great thing to be a king, and yet more, 
over such a country ; nevertheless, I have no doubt that you 
reckon it beyond comparison better to be a Christian. It is 
therefore an invaluable privilege that God has vouchsafed you, 
Sire, to be a Christian king, to serve as his lieutenant in order 
ing and maintaining the kingdom of Jesus Christ in England. 
You see, then, that in acknowledgment of such great benefits 
received from His infinite goodness, you ought to be stirred up 
to employ all your energies to His honour and service, setting 
to your subjects an example of liomage to this great King, 
to whom your Majesty is not ashamed to submit your 
self with all humility and reverence beneath the spiritual 
sceptre of His gospel ; and if hitherto you have done this, so 
that we have cause to glorify God for his goodness, the present 
Psalm will always serve you as a support and a buckler. 
Meanwhile, I humbly entreat you, Sire, that this short letter 
may serve as a protest and testimony to your Majesty of the 
hearty desire I have to do better, if the means were given me. 

Sire, after having very humbly commended me to your kind 
favour, I pray our Lord to fill you with the gifts of his Holy 
Spirit, to guide you in all prudence and virtue, to make you 
prosper and flourish to the glory of His name. 
Your very humble and obedient servant, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Fr. orig. autogr. British Museum. Harl Coll. No. G989, Art. 83.] 



1552. CRANMER. 341 



CCXCVIL TO CRANMER. 1 

Calvin exhorts him to prosecute with fresh zeal the reformation of the Church 
in England, by purging it of the relics of Popery. 

[July 1552.] 

Seeing that, at the present time, that which is most of all to 
be desired is least likely to be attained, viz., that an assembly 
of the most eminent men of learning, from all the various 
Churches which have embraced the pure doctrine of the Gospel, 
after having discussed separately the controverted topics of the 
day, might transmit to posterity, out of the pure Word of God, 
a true and distinct confession ; I nevertheless highly commend 
the plan which you, reverend Sir, have adopted, to make the 
English frame for themselves, without delay, a religious consti 
tution, lest, by matters remaining longer in an unsettled state., 
or not being sufficiently adjusted, the minds of the common 
people should be confirmed in their suspense. And it is the 
duty of all in your country, who have any influence, to direct 
their energies with united zeal toward this object, so that your 
duties may still be special. You see what such a position as 
yours demands, or rather what God may legitimately require of 
you in consideration of the nature of the office which He has 
imposed on you. Supreme authority is vested in you an 
authority which your high rank entitles you to, not more than 
the previously entertained opinion regarding your wisdom and 
integrity. The eyes of many are fixed upon you, either to 
second your exertions, or to imitate your lukewarmness. And 
sincerely do I desire that, under your leadership, they may be 
advanced to such an extent during the next three years, that 
the difficulties and contests of the present time, caused by the 
removing of the grossest superstition, shall have ceased to exist. 
I, for my part, acknowledge that our cause has made no little 
progress during the short period the Gospel has flourished in 

1 This letter bears no date, but it refers to the subject set forth in a preceding 
letter of Calvin s to Cranmer, p. 330, and we have no hesitation in assigning it a 
place in the course of the same year, perhaps in Jvly 1552. 



342 CRANMER. 1552. 

England. But if you reflect on what yet remains to be done, 
and how very remiss you have been in many matters, you will 
discover that you have no reason to advance towards the goal 
with less rapidity, even although the most of the course has, as 
it were, been gone over ; for I need not inform you that I, as 
it were, take note of your assiduity, lest, after having escaped 
danger, you should become self-indulgent. But to speak freely, 
I greatly fear, and this fear is abiding, that so many autumns 
will be spent in procrastinating, that by and by the cold of a 
perpetual winter will set in. You are now somewhat advanced 
in years, and this ought to stimulate you to increased exertions, 
so as to save yourself the regret of having been consciously 
dilatory, and that you may not leave the world while matters 
remain in so disordered a condition. I say matters are still 
in a disorganized state, for external religious abuses have been 
corrected in such a way as to leave remaining innumerable 
young shoots, which are constantly sprouting forth. In fact, I 
am informed that such a mass of Papal corruptions remain, as 
not only to hide, but almost to extinguish the pure worship of 
God. Meanwhile the life of the whole ecclesiastical order is all 
but extinct, or at least is not sufficiently vigorous : take, for 
example, the preaching of doctrine. Assuredly pure and un- 
defiled religion will never flourish, until the Churches shall have 
been at greater pains to secure suitable pastors, and such as 
shall conscientiously discharge the duties of teaching. Satan, 
indeed, opposes his secret wiles to the accomplishment of this. 
I understand that there is still one shameful obstacle, viz., that 
the revenues of the Church have been plundered ; truly an in 
sufferable evil. But iniquitous as this is, there appears to me 
to be another vice of equal magnitude, viz., that out of the 
public revenues of the Church, idle gluttons are supported who 
chant vespers in an unknown tongue. I shall say nothing far 
ther on this point, except that it is inconsistent for you to 
approve of such mockery, and it is openly incompatible with 
the proper arrangements of the Church ; besides, it is in itself 
exceedingly ridiculous. I do not doubt, however, but that these 
considerations will immediately occur to your own mind, and 
will be suggested to you by that most upright man Peter Mar- 



1552. JOHN LINER. 343 

tyr, whose counsel I am exceedingly glad to know you enjoy. 
Difficulties so numerous and so trying as those against which 
you are contending, appear to me a sufficient excuse for the 
exhortations I have offered. Adieu., most distinguished and 
esteemed Primate. May the Lord long preserve you in safety ; 
may He fill you more and more with the Spirit of wisdom and 
fortitude, and bless your labours ! Amen. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 61.] 



CCXCVI1L To JOHN LINER. 

Thanks for the zeal manifested by him on behalf of the prisoners of Lyons. 

This 10th of August 1552. 

VERY DEAR SIR AND BROTHER, We are all bound to give 
thanks to God for having made choice of you to assist our poor 
brethren who are detained in prison by the enemies of the 
faith, and having so strengthened you by the power of his 
Spirit, that you spare no pains in so doing. I say that we are 
bound to give thanks to Him j for we must needs recognise 
this work as His, and that it is He alone who has disposed and 
directed you thereto. You have also reason to rejoice at the 
honour He has done you, in employing you in so worthy and 
honourable a service, and giving you grace to perform it. For 
however despised and rejected of men, the poor believers per 
secuted for the sake of the Gospel may be, yet we know that 
God esteems them very pearls ; that there is nothing more 

1 A letter without address, but evidently, as the date and the contents prove, 
relating to the trial of the five students of Lausanne. (See the letter of the 10th of 
June, and the note at p. 340.) The personage to whom Calvin writes, is doubt 
less John Liner, a rich merchant of Saint Gall, settled at Lyons, who often visited 
the scholars in their dungeon, undertook several journeys on their behalf, and 
was unsparing, during the whole course of the suit, in tokens of most lively affec 
tion. (Histoire des Martyrs, liv. iv. pp. 230, 231 ) John Liner afterwards retired 
to his own country, where he lived to a very advanced age, and corresponded with 
Charles de Jonvillers, the secretary of Calvin, a correspondence which has been 
preserved to our days in the library of Saint Gall. Note, p. 348. 



344 JOHN LINER. 1552. 

agreeable to Him than our striving to comfort and help them 
as much as in us lies. The Lord Jesus declares, that what 
soever shall have been done to one of the least of His people, 
will be acknowledged by Him as clone to Himself. How then 
if we have furthered those who fight His battle ? For such 
are as it were his agents, whom He appoints and ordains for 
the defence of His Gospel. Yea. He declares that a glass of 
water given to them shall not be lost. If then you have 
hitherto had the courage to present so goodly a sacrifice to 
God, strive to persevere. I know well that the devil will not 
fail to whisper in your ear on many sides to divert you from 
it, but let God prove the strongest, as is meet He should. It 
is said that they who comfort the children of God in their per 
secutions which they endure for the Gospel, are fellow-labourers 
for the truth. Be. content with this testimony, for it is no light 
matter that God should uphold and approve us as His martyrs, 
even though we do not personally sutfer, merely because His 
martyrs are helped and comforted by us. And, therefore, 
although many tell you the contrary, do not leave off so good a 
work, or show yourself weary half-way. I feel assured that you 
did not look to men at the first ; follow on then as the servant 
of Him to whom we must cleave to the end. Keflect, moreover, 
how many worthy brethren there are who glorify God for what 
you are doing, who would be scandalized if you altered your 
course. As for the dangers which they set before you, I have 
no fear of their coming to pass, for the good brethren for whom 
you have done so much, feel themselves so indebted to you, 
that were they at liberty, far from being cowardly enough to 
betray you, they would expose themselves to death for your 
sake. You must also consider, that by the support which they 
receive from you, they are the more confirmed, for they have 
no doubt whatever that God has directed you to them, as indeed 
He has. And they have reason to lean still more firmly upon 
Him, seeing the paternal care He shews them. Be of good 
courage, therefore, in this holy work, in which you serve not 
only God and His martyrs, but also the whole Church. 

Whereupon, my very dear Sir and brother, after having 
heartily commended myself to you, I pray our good Lord that 



1552. THE FKENCH CHURCH IN LONDON. 345 

He would increase you more and more with the gifts and riches 
of His Spirit, for the furtherance of His own honour; and 
meanwhile, that He would have you in His keeping. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Fr. copy Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



CCXCIX. To THE FRENCH CHURCH IN LoNDON. 1 

Exhortations to harmony Is it lawful to call Mary the Mother of God, 
and to pray for the Pope ? 

FROM GENEVA, this 27th September 1552. 

VERY DEAR AND HONOURED BRETHREN, As I desire your 
quiet, to the end that, being at peace among yourselves, you may 
be the better enabled and disposed to serve God, and may do 
so with the greater courage, I have grieved for the trouble which 
some inconsiderate people have occasioned you, and grieved 
doubly because they made a cloak of me and of this Church in 
order to trouble you. Now, as they did us injustice in that, it 
appears to me that you ought to have been too reasonable and 
humane to suffer us to be mixed up and implicated in their 
follies. One of them, of whom I had heard complaint made, 
will bear me witness that I have not encouraged him in his 
fault since his return, but have rather endeavoured to make 

1 To the hrethreri of . . . . , without any further indication. The name of 
the Polish nobleman, John A Lasco, moderator of the Congregation of Foreign 
Protestants at London, informs us to what Church this letter was addressed. 

The Reformed Church of London, next to that of Strasbourg the oldest of the 
refugee churches, was formed during the first years of the reign of Edward VI., 
obtained a legal recognition in 1550, had for ministers Francis Perucel, called La 
Riviere, and Richard Vanville, and as moderator an illustrious foreign nobleman, 
devoted to the cause of religious reform, John A Lasco or Laski. Dispersed in 
1553, under the intolerant reign of Mary, it reconstituted itself under the repara- 
tive reign of Elizabeth, and reckoned in the list of its pastors one of the most dis 
tinguished ministers of Geneva, Nicolas des Gallars. In its early commencement, 
that Church, which has been perpetuated to our own day, and to which the greater- 
part of the French Churches of England, of Scotland, and even of America, owe 
their origin and their organization, was troubled by theological disputes, which 
made the intervention of Calvin needful. 



346 THE FRENCH CHURCH IN LONDON. 1552. 

him feel and understand it, although M. A Lasco had written to 
me confidentially that all had been forgiven. I mention this, 
because I have heard that they have been reproached with wish 
ing to make an idol of me and a Jerusalem of Geneva. I have 
not deserved that your Church should treat me thus, and even 
were there twice the amount of ingratitude, I should not cease 
to seek your welfare. But I am constrained to warn you of it, 
for such proceedings are calculated rather to ruin than to edify. 
And however I may seek to bury such matters in oblivion, I 
cannot hinder many from being offended by them. If those 
who have stirred up these conflicts have taken occasion to do 
so from the diversity of ceremonies, as M. A Lasco has informed 
me, 1 they have but ill understood in what the true unity of 
Christians consists, and how every member is bound to conform 
himself to the body of the Church in which he lives. It is 
true, that if a different form has been seen and preferred, it is 
quite allowable in communicating first of all with the pastor, 
to tell him what is thought of it, provided one accommodates 
one s-self to the usages of the place where one lives, without 
clamouring for novelty, but peaceably conforming to any order 
that is not repugnant to the Word of God. Now, how the two 
persons in question have proceeded I know not, unless I give 
credit to the testimony which has been furnished me, namely, 
that there has been a great want of consideration, and that 
they have neither observed due measure nor modesty. But this 
I say, because it is well to set such persons right by gentleness, 
rather than to make matters worse by over-violent remedies. 
Not that I mean to say that they have been too severely dealt 
with, but that I have heard it so reported, although I do not 
believe it. I think that you will not take it ill that I let you 
know this, as it can do you no harm. 

Concerning the other debateable points, I doubt not but 
there may have been somewhat of ignorance in their re 
proving the way of speaking of the Virgin Mary as the 
mother of God, and together with ignorance, it is possible 

1 A Lasco had composed a work entitled, The whole Form and Manner of the 
Ecclesiastical Ministry in the Church of the Strangers, set up at London by the 
very faithful Prince, Edward VT. 



1552. THE FRENCH CHURCH IN LONDON. 347 

that there may have been rashness and too much forward 
ness, for, as the old proverb says, the most ignorant are 
ever the boldest. However, to deal with you with brotherly 
frankness, I cannot conceal that that title being commonly 
attributed to the Virgin in sermons is disapproved, and, for my 
own part, I cannot think such language either right, or be 
coming, or suitable. Neither will any sober-minded people do 
so, for which reason I cannot persuade myself that there is 
any such usage in your church, for it is just as if you were to 
speak of the blood, of the head, and of the death of God. You 
know that the Scriptures accustom us to a different style ; but 
there is something still worse about this particular instance, for 
to call the Virgin Mary the mother of God, can only serve to 
harden the ignorant in their superstitions. And he that would 
take a pleasure in that, shews clearly that he knows not what 
it is to edify the Church. 

As for the name of the Bishop of Kome, that is a foolish 
question to dwell upon. We bestow too much honour upon 
those horned cattle in calling them bishops, for the name is 
too honourable for them. Neither does the title of Pope any 
better suit the brigand who has usurped God s seat. In refer 
ence to this, I would follow unbiassed that which is commonly 
received. The chief practical point of difference is about the 
form of prayer. I know that we must make a due distinction 
between the individual and the abominable and accursed seat (of 
the beast). But I do think that those who pray specially for 
him who bears such a mark of reprobation, have surely much 
time to spare. I lay down laws for no one, but it were much 
to be desired that the sobriety of our prayers should shew the 
reverence we feel for the name of God. I speak with such 
freedom as you ought to bear from a brother, and I hope, too, 
that you will bear with it ; for I shall be quite ready to suffer 
the word of admonition from you whenever you disapprove of 
what I write to you. Moreover, when you have well weighed 
the matter, and that each is willing, without contention, to sub 
mit to the truth, I hope that harmony will easily be established 
amongst us. Furthermore, if this annoyance has been hard 
upon you, have some compassion upon us. who have here daily 



348 THE SEIGNEURS OF GENEVA. 1552. 

far more rude encounters to sustain. And for my part, I 
shall continue to pray our good Lord as I do, that it would 
please Him to increase you more and more in the graces of His 
Spirit, to make your labours profitable, and to strengthen your 
hands in the exercise of the rule which He has committed to 
you. And my brethren will do the same, for I know their mind 
towards you. 

\Fr. Copy. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



CCC. To THE SEIGNEURS OF GENEVA.* 

Reply of Calvin to the Syndics of Geneva in the case of Trolliet. 

6th October 1552. 

The answer of John Calvin, minister of the Word of God in 
the Church of God, presented this Tuesday, the 6th of October 
1552, to our honourable Lords Messieurs the Syndics and 
Council, against the writing produced on the Monday preced 
ing, by the Seigneur Trouillet : 

In the first place, Messieurs, as for what he terms his written 
defence in his disputation against me, I do not understand what 
he aims at, nor for what purpose he says this, unless to acquire 
reputation with the ignorant, from having disputed with John 

1 On the back, in the handwriting of Calvin : " The case against Trolliet." 
Trolliet, of Geneva, a discontented and unsettled spirit, became, first of all a 
hermit in Burgundy, and lived in affectation of sanctity. Soon tired, however, of 
playing this part, he reappeared at Geneva, and solicited the functions of the min 
istry, from which he was warned off by the influence of Calvin, against whom he 
vowed an irreconcilable hatred. Thenceforward, he made himself remarkable in 
the ranks of the libertine party, by the violence of his attacks against the Reformer. 
He arraigned his writings, and offered to prove, that in the book of The Christian 
Institution, Calvin had made God the author of sin These accusations, emulouslv 
repeated by the adversaries of the Reformer, and speciously tricked up with the 
authority of Melanchthon, provoked sharp discussions, which were only half 
appeased by the sentence of the Seigneurs of Geneva, who approved the Christian 
Institution, while at the same time declaring Trolliet, " homme de bien," out of 
consideration for the party to which he belonged. The whole of the papers re 
lating to the controversy of Calvin with Trolliet, are to be found collected in Vol. 
145 of the MSS. of the Library of Geneva. 



1552. THE SEIGNEURS OF GENEVA. 349 

Calvin. And your Excellencies know what the whole pro 
cedure was, namely, that he became confused, having no reply 
to make, except that he did not understand it. Wherefore, it 
would be well that he should get rid of vain-glory, which has 
too much incited him already to give unnecessary trouble and 
annoyance, as well to himself as to others. For had he walked 
as modestly as he ought, according to his measure, this conten 
tion would never have arisen. 

But the worst is, that he pretends to sustain his charge 
against me, and, nevertheless, misrepresents the whole argu 
ment. For the point which was debated on the first day of 
September, was that he charged me with making God the 
author of sin, which I denied with all due protestation, for it is 
an utterly execrable blasphemy. Whereupon he attempted to 
prove it, alleging the passages which he cites in his written 
representation. So that the main point of our case, as he has 
maintained in your presence more than ten times over, lies in 
this, Whether I have made God the cause of evil and of sin, 
or not. And but for this, there was no difficulty Avhatever re 
garding this first point. For I do not disavow anything that 
I have written. But I say that we ought to have a horror of 
applying the word sin, to God ; seeing that in Him there is 
nothing but all equity and justice, even as He is both the rule 
and the fountain thereof. Wherefore I am amazed that he was 
not ashamed of denying it. But be that as it may, if he be 
obstinate in his denial, I require, as right and reason enjoins, 
that it may please you, before going farther, to order your 
secretary to give me an act and extract to that effect. For I 
ought not, and cannot suffer such a reproach to be fastened 
upon me, without clearing myself as 1 ought. Moreover, in 
the sentences which he quotes as extracts from my Institution, 
he does me great wrong, having given them in a detached and 
garbled form. And he even thrusts in and mixes up with the 
doctrine which is avowedly mine, the objections which are 
made to it by blasphemers. He ought to have been much 
ashamed, when I demonstrated that by such means Saint Paul 
might be charged with having called God unrighteous. But 
that he should persist in such a course, is altogether unbear- 



350 THE SEIGNEURS OF GENEVA. 1552. 

able. Again, that which he brings forward on the first page, 
from leaf 461, is wrongly stated, and contrary to my true 
meaning, seeing that he accumulates there what I have said 
about the wicked, whom I reprove and condemn. 1 

However, I am free to confess, that I have stated that God 
not only has foreseen, but also foreordained, the fall of Adam, 
which I maintain to be true, 2 not without good grounds and 
evidences from holy writ. The opposite party, without allud 
ing to the proofs which I bring forward, says that I have 
spoken amiss, and at the same time can allege nothing to shew 
that I have done so, except, indeed, that he is pleased to 
arrive at that conclusion. Judge, Messieurs, whether this be 
equitable. 

On the second proposition : 

As to his accusing me of having written That man is by 
the ordinance and will of God under the necessity of sinning. 
I much wish, as I have so often said, that people would not 
attribute to me that jargon of the monks, which I have never 
used. And indeed it is only those hypocrites who have ever 
twaddled thus. Let then the doctrine, as I state it, be atten 
tively considered, and I am ready to acknowledge that the 

" Since we are all corrupt and contaminate by vice, it cannot be but God must 

hate us, and that not with tyrannical cruelty, but with reasonable equity 

That all the children of Adam come forward to contend and dispute against their 
Creator, because by His eternal Providence, they were devoted, before they were 
born, to perpetual calamity. When, on the contrary, God brings them to know 
themselves, how can they murmur at that ? If they have all been taken out of a 
corrupt mass, it is no way marvellous that they are liable to condemnation. Let 
them not therefore accuse God of iniquity, because by His eternal decree they are 
ordained to condemnation, to which their very nature makes them amenable." 
Institution of the Christian Religion, edit, of 1554, p. 461. 

2 " The first man fell, because God thought it fit. Now, as to why he thought it 
fit, we know nothing. Yet it is certain, that he has not thus decided, unless be 
cause He saw that it would advance the glory of His name Man then 

falls, according as it has been ordained of God, but he falls by his own vice." 
Ibid. edit, of 1551, p. 403. 

"Although that by the eternal Providence of God man has been created for that 
state of misery in which he is, yet notwithstanding he has derived the cause of 
that misery from himself, and not from God. For he perishes only because of his 
having, through perversity, degenerated from the pure nature which God had 
given him." Ibid., p. 464. 



1552. THE SEIGNEURS OF GENEVA. 351 

wicked, sin of necessity, and that such necessity is by the ordi 
nance and will of God ; but I also add, that such necessity is 
without constraint, so that he who sins, cannot excuse himself 
by saying, that he was compelled thereto. And I prove this 
doctrine so clearly from holy Scripture, that it is impossible for 
any living man to resist it. And it amazes me, that the 
adverse party should not display his subtlety in controverting 
what I have said before you, and that he even conceals the 
proofs which I have abundantly brought forward in my books. 
He says that he has maintained contrary opinions, without the 
will or the power to approve of mine. But were he the most 
learned personage in the world, it would be too much to insist 
upon being believed, while simply answering that he neither 
will nor can consent to what is proposed to him. So much the 
less reason is there for a man who is scarcely at all versed in 
the Holy Scriptures, and who is no competent judge in theo 
logical matters, to expect that those to whom God has vouch 
safed grace to understand them a little better, should be re 
proved according to his fancy. ISTow, then, honourable Seig 
neurs, if the proofs which you have heard are not sufficient, I 
offer to make them more complete, as often and whenever it 
may please you. And for the rest, I refer to what is contained 
in the Book concerning the predestination and providence of 
God. 1 

On the contradictions which the Seigneur Trouillet has 
imagined. 

The opposing party thinks that I contradict myself, when I 
teach that a man ought rather to search for the cause of his 
condemnation in his corrupt nature, than in the predestination 
of God ; and does not see that I there expressly state, that 
there are two causes, the one concealed in the eternal counsel 
of God, and the other open and manifest, in the sin of man. 
Now, since he confesses that this is true, he condemns himself 
by his own mouth and sign-manual. And as for me, I will 
ingly accept that confession, which shews plainly that he has 
never understood a single point of the case which he discusses 

1 This is the book : De ^Eterna Dei Predestinatione et Providentia. Geneve, 
1550, in 8vo; translated into French the same yenr. 



352 THE SEIGNEURS OF GENEVA. 1552. 

so boldly. Here, then, Messieurs, is the very core of the whole 
question : that I say, that all the reprobate will be convicted of 
guilt by their own consciences, and that thus their condemna 
tion is righteous, and that they err in neglecting what is 
quite evident, to enter instead into the secret counsels of God, 
which to us are inaccessible. The Scripture, however, shews 
us clearly, that God has predestined men to such ends as he 
chose them to reach. But as to why or how this is done, we 
must remain ignorant, because it has not been revealed to us. 

Touching the contradiction which the adverse party conceits 
that he has brought forward from the second page of the 463d 
leaf, it is marvellous, that after having been so disgracefully 
cast in such a frivolous objection, he should return to it anew. 
I say, in that passage, that it is perverse to pry into the secrets 
of God whereto we are unable to attain, in order to search for 
the origin of the condemnation of mankind, while passing over 
the corruption of their nature, from whence it manifestly pro 
ceeds. However, this does not mean that the counsel of God 
does not overrule in a sovereign degree the disposal of every 
thing, although proximate causes may strike our eyes. That 
were as much as to find a contradiction in these propositions, 
which are all those of holy writ : That man is not nourished 
by his labour, nor by his industry, but by the grace of God 
alone. That it is not the heat or influence of the sun which 
makes the earth fruitful, but the pure grace of God. That it 
is not bread that sustains and nourishes us, but the strength 
which God of his goodness puts into us. And on the other 
hand, that the idle man deserves to starve. Item, that the 
earth will deny us pasturage. Item, that we are sustained and 
strengthened by bread. Now the solution is quite easy when 
we learn to distinguish between the sovereign cause, and those 
which are secondary, and more upon a level with human un 
derstanding. 

As to the passages extracted out of the book of Melanchthon, 1 

1 This is the famous hook of the Common Places (Loci Theologici), translated 
into French under the care of Calvin : The Swnme of Theology, or Common 
Places of Melancldlion, translated from the Latin, hy John Calvin. With a Pre 
face. 1546, in 8vo. 



1552. THE SEIGNEURS OF GENEVA. 353 

I confess that God is not the author of sin. I have even ex 
pressly maintained this article of faith in my books, and as 
warmly as could be required from a faithful servant of God. 
It is therefore superfluous to set up this as a matter of dispute 
between us. Notwithstanding, I must confess, as I have 
formerly declared, that the method of instruction which Me- 
lanchthon adopts, is different from mine. I have also, honour 
able Seigneurs, explained to you the cause of this. It is, that 
Melanchthon, being a timorous man, has accommodated him 
self too much to the common feeling of mankind, that he might 
not give occasion to over-curious people to seek to pry into the 
secret things of God. And thus, as at last appears, he has 
spoken of the present question rather as a philosopher than a 
theologian, having no better authority to rest upon than that of 
Plato. And then evidently he aims at a middle course, as if 
he would confess that he swam between two currents, which is 
what the adverse party ought to take rather more into account. 1 
As for the rest, most honourable Seigneurs, he who would 
place Melanchthon and myself in opposition, greatly wrongs 
both the one and the other, as well as the whole Church of 
God. I honour Melanchthon as much on account of the ex 
cellent knowledge which is in him, as for his virtues ; and 
more than all, because of his having laboured faithfully to 

1 It is not uninteresting to compare this estimate formed by Calvin of Me- 
lanchthon, with the remarkable one contained in the preface to the Common 
Places : " I perceive that the author, being a person of profound knowledge, has 
not chosen to enter into subtile disputations, nor to treat these matters with that 
high degree of skill which it would have been so easy for him to employ. But he 
has brought himself down as much as he could, having only regard to edification. 
It is, certes, the style and fashion which we should observe, did not our adver 
saries constrain us by their cavils to turn aside from this course The 

same about predestination, because he sees now-a-days so many flighty spirits who 
are but too much given to curiosity, and who go beyond bounds in this matter. 
Wishing to provide against this danger, he has proposed to touch only on what 
was needful to be known, leaving all else buried out of sight, rather than by dis 
closing all he could, to give the reins to much perplexing and confused disputation, 
from whence arises no good fruit. I confess that the whole, of what God 1ms been 
pleased to reveal to us in Scripture ought not to be suppressed, whatsoever happens; 
but he who seeks to give profitable instruction to his readers, may very well be 
excused for dwelling upon what he knows to be most essential, passing lightly over 
or leaving out of sight that which he does not expect to be equally profitable." 

VOL. II. Z 



354 THE SEIGNEURS OF GENEVA. 1552. 

further the Gospel. If I find anything to reprove, I do not 
conceal it from him, as he gives me full liberty not to do so. As 
for him, there are witnesses more than enough, who know how 
much he loves me. And I know that he would detest those 
who sought to shelter themselves behind him, to disparage 
my doctrine in any way. Moreover, such sort of people only 
seek to sow tares and scandals to obstruct the course of the 
Gospel. I shall not waste my time in disproving these pro 
positions, brought forward by the adverse party, in which 
Melanchthon gives satisfaction to none of the learned, be 
cause he yields to too tender a caution, not venturing to 
say what he knows to be true, because he fears that all may 
not be capable of hearing it. It suffices that I have produced 
to you letters under his hand, wherein appears what I have 
advanced. But even if license were given to the adverse party 
to form any conclusion he might think proper, and to make 
what resolutions he liked upon the writings of learned men, 
you would be at his mercy as to receiving three Sacraments, 
among which is the confessional, because, forsooth, Melanchthon 
receives them, This I merely mention, that he may learn to 
know himself better, and not be so excessively eager to throw 
himself into the battle-field. 

As for myself, most honourable Seigneurs, having the assur 
ance of my conscience, that what I have taught and written 
has not been the creation of my own brain, but that I have 
had it from God, it must needs be that I maintain it, as I 
think I have fully done, if I would not prove traitor to the 
truth. And should it seem good to you, I offer anew to reply 
more fully, until the adverse party be convicted of having 
falsely accused me, contrary to all truth and reason. 1 

[ The original Minute corrected by Calvin. Library of Geneva. Vol. 145.] 

1 Here is the sentence pronounced on this occasion by the Seigneurs of 
Geneva : 

" Wednesday, 9th November 1552. Having heard in council the worshipful and 
learned ministers of the Word of God, Master William Farel, and Master Peter 
Viret, and after them worshipful Monsieur John Calvin, minister of this city of 
Geneva, and noble John Troillet, also of Geneva, in their depositions and replies, 
now often repeated, touching the Christian Institution of the said Monsieur Calvin, 
arid having well considered the whole, the council has determined and concluded, 



1552. FAREL. 355 



COOL TO FAREL. 1 

Conspiracy of the Libertines energy of the Reformer struggles of Viret 
at Lausanne. 

GENEVA, 2Qth October 1552. 

I occasionally abstain from writing, from having nothing 
important to write about, but my material is in these days 
more abundant than I could wish so much so, that it has 
kept me from writing altogether. For I think it better silently 
to repress the very sad cares which torture me, rather than 
seek consolation by inconveniencing you. Even if I did throw 
part of the burden on your shoulders, I should rather increase 
than diminish the evil. The very act of writing, moreover, by 
awakening the memory, irritates the wound. I was aware that 
our enemies were making secret preparations for an insurrec 
tion, for four months past ; the fire was to be kindled at the 

that all things well heard and understood, it has pronounced and declared, and 
pronounces and declares the said book of the Institution of the said Calvin, to be 
well and holily done, and his holy doctrine to be God s doctrine, and that he be 
held as good and true minister of this city, and that henceforward no person dare 
to speak against the said book, nor the said doctrine. We command both parties, 
and all concerned, to observe this. 

" My said Lords Syndics and Council, 

" BOSET." 

1 While Calvin was eloquently pleading among others the cause of the perse 
cuted faithful of France, he was struggling with an ever-increasing energy for the 
suppression of scandals, and the formation of a new people at Geneva. His 
efforts, however, seemed powerless before the enormity of the evil, and the furious 
resistance of that party, which history has justly branded with the name of Liber 
tine. The cabal of the factious gathered strength from day to day, and disorders 
were committed with impunity. The task of reforming the public morals, cour 
ageously undertaken by the ministers, was almost absolutely fruitless. Ashamed 
of such excesses, but incapable of suppressing them, the Great Council increased 
the severity of its edicts, but had not the power to impose them upon the multitude 
who were banded together against the foreigners. The French were a particular 
object of fury to the factions. They beat them in the streets, and subjected them 
to all sorts of outrages. Most absurd accusations were circulated against them, 
and were believed by the multitude. The presence of Farel and Viret in Geneva 
could not quiet these troubles ; and it was in vain that these courageous ministers 
presented themselves before the councils, "to commend to them the care of religion 
and morals." Chronique of lloset, c. v. pp. 42, 44; Euchat, c. v. pp. 489, 490. 



356 FAREL. 1552. 

next election, in the month of November, when it is customary 
to appoint the chief magistrate. Bernard had given me a hint 
of it. But we were ignorant of the charge by which they 
thought to oppress and even overwhelm us. But the Lord has 
seasonably dragged them forth to the light. They spread a 
rumour among the petty tradesmen, and then bawled out in 
the assembly hall, that forty thousand pieces of gold were de 
posited with three Frenchmen, as a reward for betraying the 
city. They made indirect allusions to the three guardians of 
the poor, among whom was Du Tailly, whom the Lord lately 
called to Himself, and who is very greatly lamented by all the 
pious. Wendel was not ashamed to allege, in the presence of 
the Senate, that there were three hundred thousand. This 
conjecture deceived them, for, when they had hoped, by their 
atrocious calumny to kindle a fire which should consume us in 
a moment, the flame by and by ended in smoke. They are, 
notwithstanding, in the meantime, acting with careless effron 
tery, seeing, as they do, the inactivity of those who ought to 
have mended matters, which they could have done with the 
utmost ease had they possessed a single spark of manliness. 
For what would not the wicked dare when there is impunity 
for all evils ? But I trust that Christ will ere long prove our 
deliverer. 

He 1 has neglected what he had promised to Yiret. I, for my 
part, am doing all I can to refresh his memory. But he is 
amusing himself with us. It were better, therefore, for Viret 
to come of his own accord. The proper time would be, how 
ever, before the Martinalia, when despair will drive our enemies 
to act like the Bacchae if he does not make his appearance. 
But he is drawn away elsewhere. And the affairs which he has 
in hand are to me of so much importance, that I consider it 
sinful to place any obstacle in bis way, or to offer the very least 
hindrance. 2 On the contrary, I feel exceedingly ashamed that 
I have afforded him no more comfort under so great difficul- 

1 Probably Amy Pen-in. 

2 Placed by his character and talents at the head of the Vaudois clergy, Viret 
had to maintain a ceaseless struggle against the encroachments and ecclesiastical 
tyranny of the Seigneurs of Berne. See Euchat, c. v. p. 488. 



1552. YIRET. 357 

ties, than if I had been buried. Although, therefore, most 
anxious that you should encourage us with your presence, it 
must nevertheless be deferred until another occasion, especially 
as it would be better that both of you should be present at 
the same time. I scarcely know what to say regarding Gar- 
nier s letter. 1 The specimen which I had lately of his char 
acter in a private matter, will prevent me in future from 
having any dealings with him. You will say the public posi 
tion of the Church is concerned. Pardon my timidity, for I 
fear very much that no men are more insolent and haughty, 
than those of a servile disposition. Had it been convenient 
for Viret to come here, nothing could have been more useful 
and appropriate, than for us to hold a consultation on the lead 
ing topics, before the matter had proceeded farther. I fear, 
however, that it will be scarcely possible for Viret to be here 
before the completion of the Bernese embassy. Accordingly, I 
have no one to consult with, unless I lay the matter before my 
fellow-ministers. I am persuaded, however, that no settlement 
should be come to until you reach us. 

Adieu, most upright and very dear brother. Salute that 
noble man, the Seigneur de Dammartin, your colleague, and 
the rest of our friends. May the Lord guard you all by His 
protection, enrich you with the gifts of His Spirit, and bless 
you in all things. Amen. Yours truly, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. oriy. autoyr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCCII. To VIRET. 

Literary labours of Theodore Beza. 

GENEVA, 2Qth October 1552. 

After I had written Farel, our friend Gerold undertook, 
at my request, to make a journey thither. There is, accord 
ingly, a letter designed for both of you, which, having read, you 
will show to him at your own convenience. I ask no more 
of you than that you will think of us when it suits you. Your 

1 Minister of the French Church of Strasbourg. 



358 AMBROISE BLAURER. 1552, 

letter was not to be answered until something important bad 
been done, which has not been the case as yet. You will tell 
Beza not to be anxious about the translating of my discourses, 1 
as I have handed over the task to Baduel as if with his per 
mission. Indeed, I felt ashamed, from the first, that his 
valuable time should be taken up with work so very unworthy 
of him time that could and ought to be better occupied. I, 
on this account, embraced the more gladly the opportunity 
afforded me of laying the burden on another. He will be urged 
by and by, by our friend Kobert, to engage in a sort of lucu 
bration in which he will be of greater advantage to the Church. 2 
Adieu, brother and very worthy friend. Salute the brethren 
earnestly, also your wife and little daughters. May the Lord 
preserve you all ; may the Spirit guide you by His wisdom, 
and sustain you by His might. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lett. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.} 



CCCIII. To AMBROISE BLAURER. 3 

Troubles at Geneva sad intelligence from France and Germany steady 
in the promises of God. 

GENEVA, 19tk November 1552. 

As I hope that my dearly beloved brother Beza will be with 
you about the same time that you receive this letter, and as he 

1 Quatre Sermons traictans des matiercs fort utilespour nostre temps. 1552, 8vo. 
Opuscules, p. 824. 

2 Beza published this year a new edition of his Tragedy of Abraham under the 
following title : Le Sacrifice d Abraham, Tragedie Franqaise, separee en trois 
Pauses a la f aeon des Actes de Comedies, avec des Chceurs, un Prologue et un 
Epilogue. 1552, 8vo. 

3 Ambroise Blanrer, of a noble family of Constance, entered in early youth a 
convent, which he soon left to become a preacher of reform, for which he had 
contracted a taste from reading the writings of Luther. Present at the Contro 
versy of Berne with Zwingle, OEcolampadius, Bucer, and Capito, he beheld his 
preaching attended with the most gratifying success, and saw the Gospel victo 
riously established in his native town, where he exercised his valuable ministry 
until the war of Smalkald. Having at that time refused submission to the Interim &gt;, 



1552. AMBROISE BLAURER, 359 

will inform you more fully as to my own state and that of the 
Church than I can in the longest epistle, I shall at present be 
brief. He will tell you the annoyance and disturbance we suf 
fered from some worthless wretches, whose sole power of injuring 
us lies in the impunity and license which is allowed them. But 
God apparently wishes us to be destitute of human aid, that 
Himself alone may protect us. In the meantime, though I 
little expected it, I live a survivor of my native town. The 
city in which I was born has lately been utterly destroyed by 
fire. 1 We are also compelled to hear daily of fearful disasters 
throughout all Picardy, but so far is the King s fierceness from 
being subdued by them, that never was his pride more insult 
ing to God. I wish that I might at length hear from your 
beloved Germany something that might cheer me ; yet as no 
thing now appears but what is saddening, or at least confused, 
I scarcely venture to ask what is doing there. And I suppose 
you also are filled with alarm whenever any news are announced, 
fearing lest some addition be made to the existing evils. Un 
less the Lord stretch forth his hand to us from heaven, the wise 
and far-sighted perceive that these misfortunes, severe and 
bitter as they are, are but a gentle prelude to tremendous cala 
mities. But although Satan is going about everywhere with 
fearful license, yet if we consider the desperate wickedness of 
the world, it is wonderful that God has not given him much 
greater liberty. But we who have our anchor fixed in heaven, 
must sail amid these troubled storms just as in the peaceful 

he left Constance, and retired first to Winterthur, near Zurich, and afterwards to 
Bienne, whilst his unfortunate city, fallen into the hands of the Imperialists, saw 
itself deprived at once of the Gospel and of liberty. Esteemed by Calvin, Blaurer 
witnessed his influence at Zurich and at Berne solicited more than once by the 
Reformer of Geneva. He died in 1567. See Beza, Icones, and Melch. Adam, 
Theolog. Germ., p. 413. 

1 In a letter to an unknown personage, (Opera, torn. ix. p. 238,) Calvin mentions 
this same event, adding to it a curious detail taken from the letter of an eye 
witness : " Among other things, he informed me of a circumstance which I am 
unwilling to withhold from you that a striking spectacle presented itself to him in 
the destruction of our city, viz., that my father s house stood entire after all the 
others had been reduced to ashes. Farther on he adds, I have no doubt but 
that God wished to make this a testimony against all those of our city who, eight 
or ten days before, had burnt in effigy Monsieur dc Normandie." " 



360 MELANCHTHON. 1552. 

liaven ; until the Lord brings us to the blissful rest of His own 
kingdom. 

F promised to hand over to you my letters to Beza. If 

he has not come to you, he will send them to Farel at his 
earliest opportunity. Kobert Stephens has my Commentary on 
John in the press. 1 As soon as he has finished it, I shall cause 
a copy to be sent to you. 

Adieu, most distinguished Sir, and excellent servant of Christ, 
deserving of my hearty regard. May the Lord continue to 
guide you by His Spirit, to shield you by His protection, and 
to bestow upon you every kind of blessing. Salute your fellow- 
minister earnestly in my name. My colleagues both salute you, 
and those who were lately my companions. I desire you to 
convey my regards to the treasurer of your city, and to the 
other pious and wise men. I beseech you very earnestly to re 
member me in your prayers, for I am more in need of this aid 
at present than words can express. Adieu, together with your 
wife and family. Yours sincerely, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. Copy Library of Zurich. Coll. Hottiuger, F. 43, p. 464.] 



CCCIY. TO MELANCHTHON. 2 

Earnest desires for the continuance of their mutual affection disputes with 
Trolliet longing for agreement in doctrine regarding the Communion 
and Election. 

28th November 1552. 

Nothing could have come to me more seasonably at this 
time than your letter, which I received two months after its 

1 Commentarius in Evangelium Joliannis. Geneva, 1553. Fol. Robert 
Estienne. 

2 See Letter, p. 256. Doubly afflicted by the wars which were desolating 
Germany, and by the disorders which were rending the Church, Melanchthon had 
maintained a long silence, which was only broken on the 1st October 1552, by a 
touching letter to Calvin : " Reverend Sir and very dear Brother, I should have 
written you frequently, had I been able to secure trustworthy letter-carriers. I 
should have preferred a conversation with you on many questions of very serious 



1552. MELANCHTHON. 361 

despatch. For, in addition to the very great troubles with 
which I am so sorely consumed, there is almost no day on 
which some new pain or anxiety does not occur. I should, 
therefore, be in a short time entirely overcome by the load of 
evils under which I am oppressed, did not the Lord by His own 
means alleviate their severity ; among which it was no slight 
consolation to me to know that you are enjoying tolerable 
health, such at least as your years admit of and the delicate 
state of your body, and to be informed, by your own letter, that 
your affection for me had undergone no change. It was re 
ported to me that you had been so displeased by a rather free 
admonition of mine which, however, ought to have affected 
you far otherwise that you tore the letter to pieces in the 
presence of certain witnesses. But even if the messenger was 
not sufficiently trustworthy, still, after a long lapse of time, 
his fidelity was established by various proofs, and I was com 
pelled at length to suspect something. Wherefore I have 
learned the more gladly that up to this time our friendship 
remains safe, which assuredly, as it grew out of a heartfelt love 
of piety, ought to remain for ever sacred and inviolable. But 
it greatly concerns us to cherish faithfully and constantly to 
the end the friendship which God has sanctified by the autho 
rity of His own name, seeing that herein is involved either great 
advantage or great loss even to the whole Church. For you 
see how the eyes of many are turned upon us, so that the 
wicked take occasion from our dissensions to speak evil, and 
the weak are only perplexed by our unintelligible disputations. 
Nor, in truth, is it of little importance to prevent the suspicion 
of any difference having arisen between us from being handed 

interest, inasmuch as I set a very high value on your judgment, and am conscious 
that the integrity and candour of your mind is unexceptionable. I am at present 
living as if in a wasps nest. But perhaps I shall ere long put off this mortal life 
for a brighter companionship in heaven." Full of affection and respect for Me- 
lanchthon, whose character he venerated, while he freely blamed him for his weak 
ness and indecision, Calvin made known, in turn, to the German Reformer, the 
struggles of all sorts which he had to undergo at Geneva, and with which the name 
of Melanchthon himself is found mixed up, owing to the astute intrigues of the 
Libertines, who had an interest in involving these two great men in mutual 
opposition. 



362 MELANCHTHON. 1552. 

down in any way to posterity ; for it is worse than absurd that 
parties should be found disagreeing on the very principles, after 
we have been compelled to make our departure from the world. 
I know and confess, moreover, that we occupy widely different 
positions ; still, because I am not ignorant of the place in His 
theatre to which God has elevated me, there is no reason for 
my concealing that our friendship could not be interrupted 
without great injury to the Church. And that we may act 
independent of the conduct of others, reflect, from your own 
feeling of the thing, how painful it would be for me to be 
estranged from that man whom I both love and esteem above all 
others, and whom God has not only nobly adorned with remark 
able gifts, in order to make him distinguished in the eyes of the 
whole Church, but has also employed as His chief minister 
for conducting matters of the highest importance. And surely 
it is indicative of a marvellous and monstrous insensibility, that 
we so readily set at nought that sacred unanimity, by which 
we ought to be bringing back into the world the angels of 
heaven. Meanwhile, Satan is busy scattering here and there 
the seeds of discord, and our folly is made to supply much 
material. At length he has discovered fans of his own, for 
fanning into a flame the fires of discord. I shall refer to what 
happened to us in this Church, causing extreme pain to all the 
godly ; and now a whole year has elapsed since we were en 
gaged in these conflicts. Certain worthless wretches, after 
stirring up strife amongst us, in reference to the free election of 
God, and the sad bondage of the human will, and after creating 
a public disturbance, had nothing more plausible to urge in 
defence of their grievous opposition than the authority of your 
name. 1 And after they had found out how easy it was for us 

1 The dispute with Bolsec had hardly terminated, when a new adversary rose up 
against Calvin in the person of Trolliet of Geneva, a discontented and captious 
spirit, who had originally been a hermit in Burgundy, and lived in an affectation 
of sanctity. He soon tired of this life, and having repaired to Geneva, he desired 
to become a minister, which was refused him owing to the influence of Calvin, 
against whom he vowed an irreconcilable hatred. He became notorious afterwards, 
as a partisan of the Libertines, for the violence of his attacks against the Keformer. 
These invectives, called forth especially by the doctrine of Predestination, and 
specially invested with the authority of Melanchthon, provoked keen discussions, 



1552. MELANCHTHON. 363 

to refute whatever arguments they adduced, they tried to crush 
us, forsooth, by this artifice, by asking, if we were willing 
openly to disagree with you. And yet, such was the moderation 
observed by us, that least of all did they extort what they were 
adroitly seeking to obtain. Therefore, all my colleagues and 
myself openly professed to hold the same opinion on that doctrine 
which you hold. Not a word escaped us, in the whole discus 
sion, either less honourable towards yourself than was seemly, 
or calculated to dimmish confidence in you. 1 Meanwhile, never 
theless, such indefinite and reserved expression of opinion 
cannot but pain me exceedingly ; and it cannot but pain me, 
that opportunity is being left to the evil-disposed for harassing 
the Church, after our death, as often as they please ; while the 
conflicting parties will array against each other the opinions of 
those who ought to have spoken, as with one mouth, one and 
the same thing. It is neither surprising, nor a thing greatly 
to be lamented, that Osiander has withdrawn himself from us ; 
yet he withdrew only after a violent attack. For you were 
long ago aware that he belonged to that race of wild animals 
which are never tamed ; and I always ranked him amongst 



which were only quieted by a sentence of the Seigneurs of Geneva, who solemnly 
approved of the doctrine of Calvin, declaring at the same time, out of regard to the 
party to which he belonged, that Trolliet was " a good man." All the documents 
relative to this controversy are to be found in Vol. 149 of the MSS. of the Library 
of Geneva. 

1 We can judge of this from the remarkable memorial of Calvin to the Seigneurie, 
entitled La Cause contre TroUiet, where we meet with these words : " That party, 
Noble Seigneurs, which is desirous of bringing Mclanchthon and myself into mu 
tual conflict, is doing great wrong to both of us, and in general to the whole Church 
of God. I honour Mclanchthon as much for his superior learning as for his virtues, 
and above all, for having laboured so faithfully to uphold the Gospel. If I find 
fault with him, I do not conceal it from him, seeing that he gives me liberty to do 
so. There are witnesses in abundance on his side, who know how much he loves 
me. And I know that he will hold in detestation all those who, under cover of his 
name, seek to blacken my doctrine." 6th Oct. 1552. (Library of Geneva, vol. 
145.) Calvin s preface to Melanchthon s Common Places may also be consulted. 
Geneva, 1546, 8vo. 

Osiander had published many writings against Melanclithon, in which, by a 
strange reversing of the orthodox doctrine, he attempted to derive Justification 
from God the Father, by forgetting the part which belonged to Jesus Christ as the 
Redeemer. See Seckendorf, and Melch. Adam, p. 229. 



364 MELANCHTHON. 1552. 

the number of those who were a disgrace to us. And assuredly, 
the very first day that I saw him, I abhorred the wicked dis 
position and abominable manners of the man. As often as he 
felt inclined to praise the agreeable and excellent wine, he had 
these words in his mouth : " I am that I am ;" also, " This is 
the Son of the living God ;" which he manifestly produced as 
mockeries of the Deity. Wherefore, I have the more frequently 
wondered that such a despicable person should at all be en 
couraged by your indulgence. In truth, I was particularly 
astonished on reading a passage in a certain preface of yours, 
where, after the proof of his folly at Worms, you commended 
him rather more than enough. But let him retire : it is an 
advantage to us to have got rid of him. I had rather that cer 
tain others were retained. Nevertheless, to pass by these also, 
the opposition which is too plainly manifest in our modes of 
teaching pains me not a little. I, for my part, am well aware that, 
if any weight is due to the authority of men, it were far more 
just that I should subscribe your opinions than you mine. But 
that is not the question ; nor is it even a thing to be desired by 
the pious ministers of Christ. This, in all truth, we ought both 
to seek, viz., to come to an agreement on the pure truth of 
God. But, to speak candidly, religious scruples prevent me 
from agreeing with you on this point of doctrine, for you 
appear to discuss the freedom of the will in too philosophical a 
manner ; and in treating of the doctrine of election, you 
seem to have no other purpose, save that you may suit 
yourself to the common feeling of mankind. And it cannot 
be attributed to hallucination, that you, a man acute and 
wise, and deeply versed in Scripture, confound the election 
of God with His promises, which are universal. For nothing 
is more certain than that the Gospel is addressed to all pro 
miscuously, but that the Spirit of faith is bestowed on the elect 
alone, by peculiar privilege. The promises are universal. How 
does it happen, therefore, that their efficacy is not equally felt 
by all ? For this reason, because God does not reveal His 
arm to all. Indeed, among men but moderately skilled in 
Scripture, this subject needs not to be discussed, seeing that the 
promises of the Gospel make offer of the grace of Christ equally 



1552. MELANCHTHON. 365 

to all ; and God, by the external call, invites all who are willing 
to accept of salvation. Faith, also, is a special gift. I think 
I have clearly expounded this whole question, involved and in 
tricate though it he ; in a hook but very lately published. Indeed, 
the matter is so obvious, that no one of sound judgment can feel 
persuaded otherwise, than that you are giving out what is quite 
different from your real inclination. It increases my anxiety, and 
at the same time my grief, to see you in this matter to be almost 
unlike yourself; for I heard, when the whole formula of the 
agreement of our Church with that of Zurich was laid before 
you, you instantly seized a pen and erased that sentence which 
cautiously and prudently makes a distinction between the elect 
and the reprobate. Which procedure, taking into consideration 
the mildness of your disposition, not to mention other charac 
teristics, greatly shocked me. Accordingly, I do not ask you 
to endure the reading of my book, or even a part of it, because 
I think it would be useless to do so. Would that we might 
have an opportunity of talking over these matters face to face ! 
I am not ignorant of your candour, of your transparent open 
ness and moderation ; as for your piety, it is manifest to angels 
and to the whole world. Therefore, this whole question would 
be easily, as I hope, arranged between us ; wherefore, if an 
opportunity should present itself, I would desire nothing more 
than to pay you a visit. But if it shall indeed turn out as you 
apprehend, it will be no slight comfort to me in circumstances 
sad and grievous, to see you and embrace you before that I shall 
take my departure from this world. Here we enjoy least of all 
that repose which you fancy we enjoy. There is much trouble, 
annoyance, and even disorder, among us. Full in view is the 
enemy, who are continually imperilling our lives by new dan 
gers. We are at a distance of three days journey from Bur 
gundy. The French forces are but an hour s march from our 
gates. But because nothing is more blessed than to fight 
under the banner of Christ, there is no reason why these ob 
stacles should prevent you from paying me a visit. Meanwhile, 
you will greatly oblige me by informing me of your own and 
the Churches condition. Adieu, most distinguished Sir and 
heartily esteemed brother. May the Lord protect you by His 



366 DIMONET. 1553. 

power, guide you by His Spirit, and bless your pious labours. 
My colleague, and many pious and judicious men, reverently 
salute you. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lai. Corresp. Opera, ix. p. 66.] 



CCCV. To MATHTEU DiMONET. 1 

Exhortation to patience and constancy under persecution. 

The 10th of January 1553. 

VERY DEAR BROTHER, Although I have not at present 
to sustain the like conflicts that you have, yet you will suffer 
the word of exhortation from me as if I were your fellow- 
prisoner, and in truth the zeal which moves me to write to you 
proceeds from nothing else. Yet I pray you to consider how 
we ought to refer all to the will and disposal of our heavenly 
Father, who calls every one of us in the order that He pleases. 
Sometimes He spares His children, until He has gradually led 
and prepared them, as we hear it said to St. Peter by the 
Master s own lips, " When thou shalt be old, they shall carry 
thee whither thou wouldst not." But it sometimes happens 
that He chooses novices, or at least such as have not been 
long disciplined to warfare. However that may be, there is 

1 Mathieu Dimonet, a devout Protestant of Lyons, was arrested in that town 
the 9th January 1553. In his letters to the ministers of Geneva he has himself 
related the details of his trial: " On Monday 9 January being in my house in 
presence of the king s lieutenant and the official, who, after they had searched and 
visited my books, found nothing, except a little book of spiritual songs set to 

music " Dimonet underwent a first examination, and was then led away 

to the prison of the officialty. "I have undergone," says he, " great assaults and 
temptations .... for on the one side, they set, before me tortures and death, 
then the shame and dishonour of myself and my relations, the sorrow of my 
mother, who they said was dying with grief, arid many other things .... which 
would have been very hard for me to bear, unless the Lord had strengthened me 
by His Holy Spirit." The prisoner courageously withstood the threats of the 
inquisitor Oritz, and the pressing entreaties of his family. The 15th July 1553, 
quite cheerfully, and praying to the Lord, he endured the torment of death. 
Ifistoire des Martyrs, p. 247. 



1553. DIMOKET. 367 

this advantage that He is no less powerful to put forth His 
strength in the weak, rendering them at once invincible, as to 
continue it to those who have long experienced it. From what I 
hear, you have not been one of the first called to His knowledge ; 
yet God has nevertheless put you among the foremost of His 
witnesses. He has bestowed such strength and steadfastness 
upon you at the first assault, that the enemies of truth have 
taken knowledge of the mark of Jesus Christ, which they can 
not bear. I feel indeed by the sympathy I have for you (as I 
ought) that Satan ceases not. to give you new alarms ; but you 
must have recourse to Him who has made so good a beginning, 
praying Him to complete His own work. If you have many 
trials do not be greatly amazed on that account, even although 
you feel such frailty in yourself that you are almost ready to be 
shaken. Rather learn that it is by such means that God 
would humble you, that His help should be the better recog 
nised by your need of it ; and, moreover, that He invites you 
to call on His name, and to have all dependence on His grace, 
seeing there is need that we be forcibly driven to do so. I 
doubt not but that there may also be firebrands from without, 
who, under cover of friendship and relationship, will prove 
your worst and most mortal enemies, since to save the body 
they will do their utmost to draw the soul downward to per 
dition. And then, men s fancy is a marvellous workshop for 
forging out foolish imaginations, which disturb the true rest 
which we ought to have in the holy calling of our God, who 
commands us to look simply to himself, as indeed we have very 
good reason to do. Therefore we have need to be armed and 
accoutred at every point. But you need not be daunted, 
seeing that God has promised to equip His own according as 
they are assaulted by Satan. Only commit yourself to Him, 
distrusting all in yourself, and hope that He only will suffice 
to sustain you. Further you have to take heed chiefly to 
two things ; first, what the side is you defend, and next, what 
crown is promised to those who continue steadfast in the 
Gospel. The service of God, the boundless grace which He 
has manifested to us in His Son, and all the glory of His 
kingdom, are such precious things, that no mortal man ought 



368 DIMONET. 1553. 

to think it hard to spend his life in fighting against the base 
corruptions, whose reign throughout the world tends to bring 
to nought those blessings. And then, we know what will be 
the end of our warfare, and that He who has bought us will 
never suffer so dear a price as His blood to be lost, if we be but 
signed with it. Now we know how He owns as His own, and 
declares solemnly that He will own at the last day, all those 
who have confessed Him here below. We do not know as yet 
what He has determined to do concerning you, but there is 
nothing better for you than to sacrifice your life to Him, being 
ready to part with it whenever He wills, and yet hoping that He 
will preserve it, in so far as He knows it to be profitable for 
your salvation. And although this be difficult to the flesh, yet 
it is the true happiness of his faithful ones ; and you must pray 
that it may please this gracious God so to imprint it upon your 
heart that it may never be effaced therefrom. For our part, 
we also shall pray that He would make you feel His power, and 
vouchsafe you the full assurance that you are under his keep 
ing ; that He bridles the rage of your enemies, and in every 
way manifests Himself as your God and Father. 

As I hear that our brother, Peter Berger, 1 is in the same 
prison with you, I beg you to greet him from me, and to give 
him my letters as common to you both. Let us go forward, 
until we have arrived at our goal the being gathered together 
into the everlasting kingdom. 

I had forgotten one point, which is, that you should reply to 
adversaries reverently and modestly, according to the measure 
of faith God gives you. I say this because it is not given to 
every one to dispute. Indeed the martyrs themselves were no 
great scholars, nor subtile to enter upon profound disputations. 
Thus humbling yourself under the guidance of the Spirit of 

1 Peter Berger of Bar-sur-Seine, burgess of Geneva, was seized at Lyons three 
days after the scholars of Lausanne, whom he rejoined in the dungeons and pre 
ceded to martyrdom. " Having mounted the stake, he said, Lord, I commit my 
soul to Thee. Then looking up to heaven with steadfast gaze, and crying aloud, 
he said, To-day I see heaven open ; and immediately after, this saint yielded up 
his spirit to God." Ifistoire des Martyrs, p. 234. 



1553. CHRTSTOPHE FABRI. 369 

God, answer soberly, according to your knowledge, following 
the rule of Scripture, " I have believed, therefore I speak." Yet 
let not that hinder you from speaking frankly and plainly, in the 
full persuasion that He who has promised to give you a mouth 
and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to 
gainsay, will never fail you. 

[Fr. Printed in Histoire des Martyrs, lib. iv. p. 247.] 



CCCVL To CHRISTOPHE FABRI. 

Congratulations on the subject of his approaching marriage Calvin s regret 
that he cannot be present at the ceremony. 

GENEVA, 13tk January 1553. 

I am exceedingly glad that you are about to get married, not 
only because it will be for your own private good, but also 
because the brethren have considered it to be for the good of 
the whole Church. 1 And while I do not indeed know enough 
of the lady, yet I confidently trust, from various conjectures, that 
each of you will turn out according to our wishes. We have 
good reason, therefore, to congratulate you, and we feel thank 
ful to God in no ordinary degree. I should gladly have been 
present at your marriage, had I not been detained at home by 
the wickedness of those who cease not to bring destruction upon 
themselves and the community by their madness. 2 I have good 
reason to call it madness, for they have never exhibited more 
unbridled licentiousness. I shall say nothing of their mis- 

1 Christophe Fabri [or Libertet] was on the eve of his second marriage. We 
know nothing of his first wife. In a letter of May 1545, to Fabri, then pastor at 
Thonon, Calvin speaks highly of the entertainment he received from his wife, on 
his return from a long tour in the German Cantons : " I could never get your wife 
to treat us in a plain, homely way. . . . She was willing to take advice. She 
repeatedly requested that I should ask for whatever I chose, as if it were my own ; 
she adhered to her own opinion in this, however, that she entertained us too 
sumptuously ; for there was twice as much food always prepared as there was any 
occasion for. We felt just as much at home as if you had been present." MS. of 
the Library of Neuchatel. 

2 In allusion to the efforts of the Libertine party, put forth with increasing 
violence for the overthrow of ecclesiastical discipline, and which gave rise during 
the same year to a decisive struggle between the Reformer and his adversaries. 

VOL. II. 2 A 



370 CHRISTOPHE FABRI. 1553. 

chievous plots for the destruction of the faith, of their gross 
contempt of God, of their impious conspiracies for the scatter 
ing of the Church, of the foul Epicurism of their whole life ; and 
this, not because these are light evils, but because they are 
not unknown to you. The entire Eepublic is at present in dis 
order, and they are striving to root up the established order 
of things. Had your marriage been a month later, I should 
have had more leisure. I cannot move a foot at present. I 
have not been through the city-gates for a month past, not 
even for recreation. Would that I had less ground for my 
excuse. Assuredly the season of winter would not have 
stood in my way. But we shall pray that your marriage may 
come off well, the effects of which will be felt even here. I 
would not have thought it labour lost to obtain a conversation 
with our beloved Farel and your chief magistrate, at the ex 
pense of the cold and irksomeness of a three days journey. 
But one consideration was sufficient for me, that you wished 
me to discharge a duty which I was as willing to fulfil, as you 
were earnest in desiring it. I hope to find it more convenient 
to visit my friends on another occasion. Adieu, very dear 
brother in the Lord. Farel will pardon me for not writing 
him. Present my very kind regards to him. Louis, minister 
of Veissy, 1 left us lately ; I see that his life has been a burden 
to him for some time past, owing to protracted debility. John 
Macard 2 supplies his place. We must have a quarrel with 
Philip. 3 Salute Maturin and the rest of our friends earnestly 
in my name. May the Lord watch over you and guide you by 
His Spirit. Amen. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orifj. autogr. Library of the Company of NeucJtateL] 



1 A village on the banks of the Arve, a few miles from Geneva. 

2 John Macard, originally from the neighbourhood of Laon in Picardy, took 
refuge in Geneva on account of religion. A man of resolute character, and en 
dowed with a manly eloquence, he rendered eminent service to the Church alter 
nately at Geneva and Paris, and the latter reckoned him among the number of its 
most distinguished pastors. 

8 The minister, Philip de Ecclesia, deposed on account of his disorderly life. 



1553. JOHN CHEKE. 371 



CCCVIL To JOHN 

Calvin apologizes for silence, and enjoins him to use his influence with the King for 
the advancement of the Gospel in England. 

GENEVA, 13th Feb. 1553. 

I have hitherto avoided writing you, most distinguished Sir, 
lest I should perhaps seem anxious to obtain what my own 
inclinations did not prompt. For as the friendships of the 
world are hollow, and ambition and deception everywhere pre 
vail, so that those who cultivate sincerity are exceedingly few, 
it is absolutely necessary for us almost to regard all with sus 
picion whose uprightness of character we have not thoroughly 
tested. I have at length, however, found an exceedingly just 
motive for writing you, inasmuch as I have now frequently 
made bold to write to the King himself, and have never written 
a single letter to you, which was not at all becoming, seeing 
that it was owing to your influence (under the grace of God) 
that myself and the other servants of Christ were permitted 
access to him. And as for the past my excuse is easy, for I 
was at the first afraid lest those whom I was writing to exhort 
might have too little confidence in me if I employed the service 
of others in presenting my letters ; and I was again disinclined 
to give you any trouble, as no familiarity had passed between 
us. If I have in any way offended you in this matter, attri 
bute it rather to my shyness than to my negligence. Nay, 

1 John Cheke, preceptor of Edward VI., King of England, and distinguished 
alike in science and in letters, won the esteem and confidence of his royal pupil, who 
raised him to the rank of knighthood, and who gave him in many ways the most 
precious testimonies of his affection. See Fuller s Church History, B. vii. ; six 
teenth cent., 19, 20. Though a man of sincere piety, Cheke was not possessed of 
a firmness of character equal to the variety of his knowledge and the greatness of 
his talents. He survived his pupil only to make a deplorable manifestation of the 
infirmity of his faith under fear of the scaffold and of martyrdom. Arrested in 
the Low Countries in 1556, hy a secret order of Philip II., he was conducted to 
London, imprisoned in the Tower, and escaped death only hy a solemn retractation. 
He then fell into a profound melancholy, and soon after died, exhibiting sentiments 
of sincere repentance, asking pardon of God and men for the sin of which he had 
been guilty. See Strype, Memoirs, III., i. 515, and Zurich Letters, first series, 
passim. 



372 JOHN CHEKE. J553. 

indeed, it is now a long while ago, that having been led thereto 
by the fame of your rare piety and excellent learning, I must 
have worthily esteemed you. Moreover, this one reason is suf 
ficient to win for you the favour of all good men, viz., that 
England has a king whom you have trained by your labour, 
not only possessing very superior talents, but also a maturity of 
moral excellence beyond his years, who is extending a hand to 
the suffering I should rather in fact say miserable Church 
of G od in these very sad times. Certainly, having deemed you 
worthy of this honour, the Lord has not only endeared you to 
those who experience the present benefit of it, but to as many 
as desire to see the Church of God re-established, or at least to 
see her remains gathered together. If then I bear testimony 
to that affection which I have so long cherished towards you 
in silence, I am persuaded this expression of my regard will 
not be unpleasant to you. And again, while you, in that 
splendid position of yours, do not require the humble offices of 
men like me, and I, in turn, content with my own poor state, 
am averse to impose any burden on you of my own account, 
let us nevertheless cherish towards each other a mutual good 
will throughout this fleeting life, until we find its full enjoy 
ment in heaven. Let us meanwhile, with one accord, make it 
our study to adorn the kingdom of Christ, and, as far as in us 
lies, to extend and watch over it. For we see how numerous 
are its open and malicious enemies, whose fury is already 
kindled, and is growing greater day by day ; and, on the other 
hand, how few is the number of those who have lent their 
name to the Gospel, how few are conscientiously labouring for 
the advancement of the glory of God. We see how much cold 
ness, or rather how much indifference, there is among many 
men of influence ; in a word, how much deadness there is 
throughout the world. And while I believe you will do so of 
your own accord, and stand in no need at all of any foreign 
stimulus, yet, with your accustomed good nature, I have no 
doubt but that you will take in good part what I have laid 
thus familiarly before you, and which it becomes every one of 
us earnestly to call to mind. I have indeed particularly to re 
quest of you, that whenever at any time you think that the 



1553. THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYON. 373 

most serene King could be cheered forward by my exhorta 
tions, to advise me thereon, and, according to circumstances, 
that you will not grudge me your opinion. Adieu, most excel 
lent and heartily esteemed Sir. May the Lord guard you by 
his protection, continue to guide you by his Spirit, and bless 
your sacred labours. JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera ix. p. 68.] 



CCCVIII. To THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS.* 

Exhortations to constancy. Mention of Oritz, the Inquisitor. 

7th March 1553. 

MY BRETHREN, We have been for some days past in deeper 
anxiety and sadness than ever, having heard of the resolve 
taken by the enemies of the truth. When the gentleman you 
wot of passed this way, 2 while he was dining very hurriedly, to 
avoid all delay, I drew up such a form of letters as seemed to 
me expedient to write. God has given, both to you and all 
His people, some farther respite ; we wait the event as it 
shall please Him to dispose it, always praying Him to uphold 
you, and not permit you to fall away ; in short, to have you in 
His keeping. I feel well assured that nothing shakes the firm 
ness which he has put within you. Doubtless, for a long time 
past, you have meditated upon the last conflict which you will 

1 Declared guilty of the crime of heresy, and delivered over to the secular arm by 
the Judge Ordinary of Lyons, the five students made their appeal to the Parliament 
ot Paris, while the authorities of Berne strove in vain to save " leurs escholiers." 
Transferred from dungeon to dungeon, during a trial which lasted for more than a 
year, brought hack at last from Paris to Lyons, to await the sentence of their judges, 
the constancy of these young men never faltered for a single day. At length, the 
1st March 1553, they received the communication of the decree of the Parliament of 
Paris, which gave them over to the stake. Hist, des Martyrs, lib. iv., p. 230. That 
melancholy intelligence soon spread around, and brought mourning to Lausanne 
and to Geneva. 

2 This was the pious merchant, John Liner, of Saint Gall. See the Letter of the 
10th August, p. 348. He was present with the prisoners at the bar of Roanne 
when they received their sentence of death. He set out immediately for Berne, 
in order to try a last application on the part of the seigneury of that town to the 
King of France. Hist, des Mart&gt;/rs, pp. 230, 231. Various MSS. of the library 
of St. Gall. 



374 THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 1553. 

have to sustain, if it be His good pleasure to lead you thereto, 
and have even so fought hitherto that long practice has inured 
you to fill up what remains. It cannot be but that you feel 
some twinges of frailty ; yet, be confident that He whose 
service you are upon will so rule in your hearts by His Holy 
Spirit, that His grace shall overcome all temptations. If He 
has promised to strengthen with patience those who suffer 
chastisement for their sins, how much less will He be found 
wanting to those who maintain his quarrel, those whom He 
employs on so worthy a mission as being witnesses for His 
truth. You must therefore keep this sentence in mind, that 
He who dwells in you is stronger than the ivorld. We who are 
here shall do our duty in praying that He would glorify Him 
self more and more by your constancy, and that He may, by 
the consolation of -His Spirit, sweeten and endear all that is 
bitter to the flesh, and so absorb your spirits in Himself, that 
in contemplating that heavenly crown, you may be ready with 
out regret to leave all that belongs to this world. 

I have received a certain paper containing some very subtle 
arguments of that unhappy animal Oritz, 1 to prove that it is 
allowable to make idols. I do not know whether it is you who 
have sent it me, and whether you would have me to reply to it. 
I have not thought it worth while to do so, because I was in 
some doubt about it, and really I do believe that you have 
no great need of it. But if you like you shall have an answer 
to it by the first. There is one thing which I have to request 
of you : you saw some time ago the letters of a paltry mocker 
of God in this place, who does nothing but trouble the Church, 
and has never ceased to deal in that trade for five years past. 
I wish much that by the first, you would write a word of warn 
ing to make known his malice, as there is really no end to 
him. And this I beseech you, as you love the repose of this 
Church, which is more teased than you can well believe by 
internal foes. 

1 The inquisitor, Nicolas Oritz, who presided at the trial of the five students. 
The paper here mentioned still exists in the library of Geneva, 113, with this 
title : " Copy of a paper of the Inquisitor ffouriz, given to the prisoners for the 
Word at Lyons, to lie conveyed to M. Calvin to retain" 



1553. EDWARD VI. 375 

And now, my brethren, after having besought our good Lord 
to have charge over you, to assist you in everything and through 
everything, to make you taste by experience how kind a Father 
He is, and how careful of the salvation of his own, I pray to be 
remembered in your prayers. 

[Printed Hist, des Martyrs, L. iv., p. 247.] 



CCCDL To EDWARD VI 

Recommendation of a French gentleman, a prisoner for the sake of the Gospel. 

FROM GENEVA, this 12th March 1553. 

SIRE, Although I had a petition to make to you for myself, 
I should not have the boldness to urge it, yet I think that you 
will not take it amiss that I should make a request for another, 
when you are informed of the necessity which constrains me, and 
the merits of the case, which commends itself to you not less 
than to myself. It is, Sire, that there is a French gentleman 
detained prisoner in Paris 1 on account of some intercepted 
letters written by him to one of our friends, who was the king s 
lieutenant in the town of Noyon (of which I am a native), and 
retired to these parts ; 2 added to which the said gentleman was 
already held suspect in the matter of religion. And being a 
man of some rank they kept an eye upon him, which has been 
the occasion of his seizure. Now, if my testimony has any 
weight with your Majesty, I can assure you, Sire, that he is as 
right-minded a man as you could anywhere meet with, excel 
ling in all honour and virtue, endowed with graces which de 
serve to be loved and valued, and above all, confirmed in the 
fear of God. I know very well that this is great praise ; but 
did you know him, Sire, I have no doubt that you would form 

1 This gentleman, whose name is not known, corresponded by letter with Calvin, 
his countryman and friend. Shortly before his arrest he wrote to Calvin on the 
subject of a fire, which had almost entirely destroyed the town of Noyon, sparing, 
however, the house of the reformer : " I have no doubt," said.he, " that God has 
left this testimony against those of your town, who eight or ten days before had 
burnt in effigy Monsieur de Norman die and the rest." Latin Letter of Calvin of 
15th February 1553. 

2 Laurent de Normandie. 



376 EDWARD VI. 1553. 

a like judgment, and discover that I do not exceed due measure. 
Now, as lie is beloved of all, both high and low, even of Mon 
sieur de Yendosme and other princes, there is nothing save the 
cause of Jesus Christ on account of which he can be hated or 
rejected, which cause is so dear to you, Sire, that I hope you 
will not refuse to help him, if there be any means of doing so. 
I am aware that your Majesty cannot aid as might be wished, 
all those who labour and are persecuted on account of the 
Gospel. But should it be your good pleasure to exert yourself 
for him of whom I treat, be assured, Sire, that in the person of 
one man you will console many who are at present greatly dis 
mayed, while the foes of truth are fully intending to triumph 
if they succeed. But not to be too troublesome to your 
Majesty, I shall enter no further upon facts, which, if it seem 
good to you, you can better learn from the statements of the 
gentleman who delivers this. Only I beseech you, in the name 
of God, with all possible affection, yea as eagerly as I would 
on behalf of my own life, that it may please you to grant this 
request, namely, to ask the King of France to let him depart 
out of his country, together with his wife, also detained, and 
with as much of his property as can be withdrawn. In doing 
which you will not only lay me under obligation more and 
more to pray God to prosper you, but an infinite number of 
believers besides. 

Sire, after having commended myself as humbly as I can to 
your kind favour, I pray our good Lord to keep you under His 
holy protection, and to govern you by his Spirit in all prudence, 
uprightness, and strength of purpose, and to make your crown 
to flourish more and more. Your very humble and obedient 
servitor, JOHN CALVIN. 

\Fr. copy. Imperial Library, Coll. Dupuy, vol. 102.] 



1553. FAREL. 377 

CCCX. TO FAREL. 1 

Serious illness and unexpected recovery of Farel Calvin s joy. 

GENEVA, 27th March 1553. 

When I recently performed the last offices of a friend towards 
you, as I indeed thought, I was desirous of escaping the re 
mainder of the grief which was incidental to your premature 
death. I have suffered the punishment which I deserved for 
my overhastiness. And would that I had been the only one 
who suffered it. It made the thing worse, that I involved very 
many good men in the same grief with myself. Consoled, 
however, now by more joyful news, I am forgetting my folly 
and disgrace. And it is certainly proper that this wonderful 
goodness of God should absorb all cause for sorrow. Seeing 
now that your disease has left you, you must endeavour gradu 
ally to recover that vigour of mind which you exercised too 
actively in the most trying conflicts, and to regain possession of 
that strength of body which must needs be worn out and ex 
hausted. Since I have buried you before the time, may the 
Lord grant that the Church may see you my survivor. My 
own private comfort is joined with the public good of the 
faithful in this prayer ; for my warfare will be the shorter, 
and I shall not be subjected to the pain of lamenting your 
death. Yet I am not, in the meanwhile, averse, if it should so 

1 The reading of this letter, filled with the most lively and disinterested testi 
monies of affection for Farel, calls to one s mind the beautiful preface of Calvin s 
Commentary on the Epistle of St. Paul to Titus, dedicated to Farel and Viret : 
" I do not think," says Calvin, " that there have ever been friends who have lived 
together in such fast friendship and concord, as we have done during our ministry. 
I have been a fellow-pastor here with both of you. So far from there having been 
any appearance of envy between you and me, I always regarded us as one. We 
have since been separated. As for you, Master William, the Church of Neuchatel, 
which you have delivered from the tyranny of the Papacy, and won over to Christ, 
called you to be its pastor; and as for you, Master Peter, you stand in a similar 
relation to the Church of Lausanne. Each of us, however, guards so well the 
place committed to us, that by our united efforts, the children of God assemble 
within the fold of Jesus Christ, and are even united in one company." Dedication 
of 29th November 1549. 



378 THE BROTHERS ZOLLICOFFRE. 1553. 

please God, to your life being so long lengthened out, as to 
allow me yet ten years of labour. But let us now live so for 
Christ, that we may be daily prepared to die for him; we 
ought, while we have opportunity to prepare for what will 
befall us. Make it your sole study, in the meanwhile, to take 
care of your health, that you may soon recover. My brother 
will tell you better, orally, than I can here how many friends 
salute you. Adieu, very worthy brother. May the Lord who, 
contrary to our expectation, has restored you to His Church, 
cause you ever to triumph over Satan and the wicked. Much 
health to your fellow-ministers and others. Yours truly, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 69-] 



CCCXI. To CHRISTOPHER AND TO THOMAS ZoLLicorrRE. 1 

Last steps in favour of the Prisoners of Lyons. 

FROM THE HOSTELLERIE IN LAUSANNE, 

28th March 1553. 

VERY DEAR MESSIEURS AND BRETHREN, I write you this 
present letter in much haste, having only just arrived at the 
town of Lausanne. The occasion of my writing is, that Mes 
sieurs of Berne have written so warmly to the king, that if they 
are ever to obtain anything from him, we hope this appeal may 
be final. Now, the prisoners have signified that we are to 
apply to you for the expenses of the journey. We pray you, 
therefore, to consider and determine speedily what had best be 

1 On the back. To my kind brethren and friends, the brothers Christopher and 
Thomas Sollicoffre, merchants of Saint Gall, dwelling at Lyons. Pardon the mis 
take as to the names and the haste. 

The 21st May 1552. The Seigneury of Berne, informed of the arrest of the five 
Scholars of Lausanne, had written to the King of France to solicit the deliverance 
of their " pensionaires." The burgomaster of Zurich, John Hab, obtained an 
audience of this prince and found him inflexible. The following year, March 1553, 
the Bernese solicited anew the pardon of the five prisoners, condemned by the 
official of Lyons and the parliament of Paris. It is to this last intercession, urged 
forward by Calvin and Viret, that the letter of the Reformer to the brothers Zolli- 
cofrre refers. 



1553. THE BROTHERS ZOLL1COFFRE. 379 

done. If you have any fitter messenger to send to court, we 
beg of you to repay him his travelling expenses from Berne to 
Lyons. If you think that he ought to proceed further be pleased 
to enjoin that money be furnished him without delay. May 
God of his infinite mercy prosper the despatch as we hope. I 
have addressed you privately, according to their instructions, 
and I believe that you will not object to be employed in an 
affair of this kind. Whereupon after having affectionately com 
mended myself to you, I beseech our gracious God to have you 
in His holy keeping, to guide you by His Spirit, and to make 
you prosperous. 

Your humble brother and sincere friend, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

You can see the copies of the two letters which Messieurs of 
Berne have written. It might, perhaps, have been desirable 
that the first, dated the 15th March, should have been kept 
back. 1 But the thing is done. The remedy is good, inasmuch 
as the latter is as full as could be desired. Having perused 
the whole, we beg of you to forward them to the prisoners 
aforesaid. Our brother, Peter Yiret, commends himself most 
heartily to you. 

\Fr. orig. autogr. Library of Saint Gall. Vol. 7, p. 211.] 

1 In a letter to the King of the 15th March, Messieurs of Berne had made strong 
complaint of the conduct of the Cardinal de Tournon, who, after having promised 
them to interest himself in behalf of the five students, had, with the utmost rigour, 
instituted proceedings against them. In a second letter, written three days later, 
they represented to this prince the innocence of their scholars, arrested at Lyons 
before they had sojourned there a single day, and condemned to death, although 
they had neither preached, nor dogmatized, nor excited any disturbance in the 
kingdom. They concluded by saying, " We very humbly pray your Majesty to 
bestow them on us as a pure, royal, gratuitous, and liberal gift, which we shall 
esteem as great and precious, as if a present had been made us of an inestimable 
amount of gold and silver." These petitions were of no avail. Inspired by the 
fatal genius of the Cardinals of Tournon and of Lorraine, Henry II. confirmed the 
sentence of the parliament of Paris. 



380 CKANMER. 1 553. 



CCCXIL To CKANMER. 

He entreats his influence in favour of the person already recommended 
to the King. 

March 1553. 

When I lately wrote to you my last letter 1 which may not 
perhaps be put into your hands until after you have received 
the present one nothing was farther from my mind than that 
I should again trouble you so soon. An unexpected necessity 
has arisen, however, which compels me, even before I have 
penned a single friendly letter to you, to solicit you regarding 
a matter of great importance. A certain man, of a noble 
family, has been lately thrown into prison, whose kind heart and 
generous nature render him still more worthy of commenda 
tion for his virtues, than for the nobility of his descent. Think 
ing there was no danger, he had written to a common friend, 
who came among us as a voluntary exile when the royal prefect 
was at Noyon, the town in which I was born. Owing to the 
perfidy of the messenger, the letter was seized. He was arrested 
by a royal order. The Chancellor, and some others, were 
appointed judges extraordinary. Seeing that this occurrence 
has caused many good men to be seized with no ordinary 
alarm, and that the enemies of the whole Church are ferociously 
insulting Christ in the person of a man of sincere piety, it is 
our duty to do all we can to restrain their fury, and bring 
relief to such a distinguished servant of God. I was not at all 
afraid, therefore, of any one accusing me of indiscretion in en 
gaging in the pious duty of commending the life of this person 
to your most serene king. And the same necessity which drove 
me to this, leads me to exhort you to use your interest, as far 
as may be lawful, for furthering the end of my petition. And 
while I am confident that you will be glad to do it of your own 
accord, I nevertheless ask and beseech of you, most earnestly 

1 The letter to which allusion is here made is lost ; and one cannot sufficiently 
deplore the disappearance of documents, which would have shed a fuller light on 
the relations of Calvin with the Reformer of England. 



1553. MAROLLES. 381 

to do it for my sake all the more speedily. Adieu, most dis 
tinguished Sir, deserving in many ways of my hearty reverence. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCCXIII. To MONSIEUR DE MAROLLES. 1 

Christian encouragement and consolation. 

12th April 1553. 

MONSIEUR, I doubt not that you are at present in very 
great perplexity, seeing that the rage of the enemies is daily 
kindling, and dangers increasing more and more. Thus you 
have much need to have recourse to Him who not in vain 
claims the office of comforting His people in their afflictions. 
Although it may be difficult to the weakness of our flesh to 
continue steadfast though we see no end of warfare ; nay more, 
see that things grow worse ; yet when girt about with the armour 
which God bestows upon us, we must not fear but that we 
shall overcome all the devices of Satan. I call " the armour 
of God," not merely the promises and holy exhortations by 
which He strengthens us, but the prayers which are to obtain 
the strength we need. And therefore, Sir, according to your 
necessity, get by heart what Scripture sets before us, both as to 
the present condition of Christians, and the miseries to which 
they must needs be subject, and also as to the happy and desir 
able issue promised them ; and how, moreover, they shall never 
be forsaken in the time of their need. I know long-continued 
maladies being the most harassing that it is extremely hard 

1 Seigneur of Picardy, no doubt one of the ancestors of that illustrious confes 
sor, Louis de Marolles, who expiated in the galleys of Marseilles the crime of his 
resistance to the dragooning zeal of Louis XIV. and the pressing solicitations of 
Bossuet. " The hour of liberty," says M. Charles Weiss, " never struck for that 
unfortunate one. He died in 1692 in the Hopital des Forgats at Marseilles, and 
was interred in the Turkish cemetery, the ordinary burial-place of the reformed 
who died in the galleys, faithful to the last in the religion for which they had 
suffered." Histoire des Refugies Protestantes de France, torn. i. p. 101. See also 
the book entitled Histoire des Souffrances du bien heureux martyr, M. Louis de 
Maroll-s. La Haye, 1699. 



382 MAROLLES. ]553. 

for you to languish for such a length of time. But if the 
enemies of the truth are thus obstinate in their fury, we ought 
to be ashamed of not being at least equally steadfast in well 
doing ; and most of all when it concerns the glory of our God 
and Eedeemer, which, of His infinite goodness, He has bound 
up with our salvation. And I have no doubt that you put in 
practice what the apostle tells you about strengthening the 
feeble knees, and lifting up the hands which hang down. For 
it cannot be but that the first blows dismay, unless we rouse 
our virtue to resist temptation. And as I feel well persuaded 
that you are not slack in bestirring yourself, I am the more 
brief. It is enough for me to have given you a few words of 
advice, and at the same time to assure you that you are not 
forgotten here, but that knowing the difficulties by which you 
are beset, we have .a fellow-feeling of them. I do not mean to 
say that it is such as we ought to have, but it is at least the 
testimony of the true brotherly love which we are bound to 
bear you. Moreover, while praying God that He would 
strengthen your courage and impart His protection, you will 
also have to request that He would guide you with his advice, 
and give you a favourable opening. However scant the means 
He may offer you, you are free, as I believe, to use them, 
and that speedily, lest they escape you. As for the road 
which would be best for you to take, I know not what to say. 
Although I should be very glad to see you, and to enjoy your 
good-fellowship, yet I should not repine, knowing that in 
order to follow after God, and to be the more drawn to Him, 
were you removed to twice the distance from me. I do not 
know the advantages of the other place. As for ours, I must 
not conceal from you that they are so scanty I am ashamed to 
mention them. I wish much, and it would be desirable, that 
there had been wherewithal to have drawn you hither. But I 
ought not to inveigle you by vain expectations, having no other 
desire than your wellbeing wherever it may be. True it is, that 
what some promise themselves in retiring hither, rests, as 
appears to me, on very slender grounds. However, there is 
this to be said, the Christians here have liberty to worship 
God purely, which is the chief point of all. For the present, you 



1553. VIRET. 383 

must commit yourself to Him who has the spirit of prudence, 
to be guided by Him. Wherefore, in concluding, Monsieur, 
after having affectionately commended me to your kind favour 
and prayers, I pray our good Lord to increase you with the 
gifts of His Spirit, to uphold you with His strong arm that you 
faint not, to bridle Satan and all his underlings, so that they 
may not be able to do aught against you, to glorify His name 
by you even to the end. I desire also that Madame may have 
her share in these commendations. And should an occasion 
offer, I especially entreat you to present the like also to Madame, 
your neighbour. 1 Once more, I pray the gracious Father to 
have you all under His care, not merely for the preservation of 
the body, but also for the keeping the soul unpolluted. Your 
brother and humble servitor, 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE. 

[Fr. copy. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



CCCXIV. To ViRET. 2 

Extinction of all hope in regard to the prisoners of Lyons. 

GENEVA, 22d April 1553. 

When the present messenger left Lyons matters stood thus : 
the majority of the judges were disinclined to agree to the 
condemnation of the brethren, inasmuch as the king had 
given no express orders respecting it. The Constable, however, 
stood alone in opposing this. 3 Good men thought accordingly 
that something would require to be done. To me indeed their 

1 This was doubtless Madame de Cany. See note, p. 281. 

2 See the letter to the brothers Zollicoffre, and the notes relative to the last inter 
cession of the Seigneurie of Berne in behalf of the students of Lausanne, p. 378. 
Viret took the most lively interest in the captives, and wrote them a beautiful letter 
a short while before their martyrdom, full of Christian exhortations, which may be 
seen in the Histoire des Martyrs, pp. 248, 249. 

3 The Constable, Anne de Montmorency, governor of Lyonnais, shared with 
Cardinal de Tournon the melancholy honour of having urged on with fury the 
condemnation of those prisoners who had been recommended to his merciful in 
tercession with the king. Hist, des Martyrs, p. 231., MSS. of the Archives of 
Berne. 



384 BULLINGER. 1553. 

labour appears not only useless, but absurd. For there is no 
hope of inducing the Bernese, after their insolent repulse, to 
expose themselves to no purpose to the mockery of the tyrant 
and his court. JSTor in truth would the Lyonnese ask aught of 
the kind from us, if a copy of a letter which I received three 
days ago were put into their hands. Should you deem it 
advisable, you may counsel some of your Bernese friends as to 
what should be done there. But good men will understand 
from our letter that they need give themselves no farther 
trouble. Adieu, very excellent and upright brother, together 
with your wife and family. Salute Beza, your colleague Kibet, 
and the rest of my friends. May Christ ever watch over you 
and guide you. Yours, JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCCXV. TO BULLINGER. 1 

Assurances of respect and fraternal affection. 

April 1553. 

A letter was shown me lately at Farel s, addressed to him 
self, in which you informed him that you were gradually re 
covering from a very severe and all but fatal illness. The life 
of our brother Farel was at that time despaired of ; so much so, 
that on my return I declared everywhere that he was dead. 
We have now to offer our sincere thanks to the Lord, who has 
restored both of you to us and to his Church. I was very glad 
to find from your letter, three days ago, that you are quite re 
covered. Although, to speak the truth, the reading of it would 
have filled me with more joy, had I not ascertained that it was 
written to prevent me from entertaining any hostility towards 
you. Certainly such a thing never entered my mind ; nor do I 
think that Ulmius had any reason for saying so. He came 
twice to me. We conversed together for a long time on various 
matters, freely and familiarly. Mention was made of yourself, 

1 This letter is without a date, but from the allusion to the very dangerous 
illness of Farel, it must have been written in the month of April 1553. 



1553. BULLINGER. 385 

and the whole of your colleagues, but not a syllable escaped 
me, so far as I know, calculated to convey an unfavourable 
opinion of you. On desiring him, however, as he was leaving 
me, to present my regards to you, I omitted Bibliander, inas 
much as he was openly professing hostility towards us. 1 When 
Ulmius 2 seemed to regard this with incredulity, and turned 
away from it as if from an unlucky omen, I briefly explained 
to him the cause of it : that having been tormented here by a 
vile and perfidious character, I led myself to think that we 
were sure of support from you ; that the issue was not what I 
had expected ; that, notwithstanding, our brotherly regard for 
one another remained unchanged, and no token, certainly, of 
alienation had been given by you. I added, moreover, that 
myself and my fellow-ministers, while we had not been so fully 
supported by you as we could have wished, were nevertheless 
inclined to put a favourable construction on it. Also, that 
Bibliander was throwing out threats about being engaged on a 
work against my doctrine, and that he went babbling about 
concerning it, in some violent way or other, among all without 
distinction. Our conversation at length concluded, by my say 
ing, " Bibliander may write what he chooses ; I shall not con 
sider him worthy of a reply." 

But, to return to yourself, most excellent and venerable 
brother, as I would be very far indeed from estimating you by 
the character of that man, so I was never led to believe that 
you entertained any hostility towards me whether publicly or 
privately. If that individual kept up a great deal of offensive 
babbling, and was, as I have said, boasting about his book, 
there was really no reason why I should disguise the matter, or 
make any hesitation about it, for the thing was notorious ; and 
while I am accustomed to say nothing about it to others, I did 



1 Theodore Bibliander, professor of Theology at Zurich. Of an ardent and 
irritable nature, he could not bear to be contradicted, and it is even told of him 
that he challenged to a duel the celebrated Peter Martyr, one of his colleagues, 
owing to some disagreement on the doctrine of predestination. The Seigneurie of 
Zurich dismissed the warlike theologian. Hist, de la Suisse, torn. xii. p. 87. 

2 Is this John ab Ulmis of whom we read in numerous letters to Bullinger? 
Zurich Letters, first series, vol. ii. pp. 377, 458. 

VOL. II. 2 B 



386 THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 1553. 

not think that I required to be silent on it to Ulmius and a 
select few. This, therefore, I have in the first place to testify 
to you and I solemnly declare it that so far am I from regard 
ing you as an enemy, that I desire to remain bound to you for 
ever by all ties of brotherly attachment ; and, confidently 
assured that it will be so, I hail you in no other manner than as 
a loving and inseparable companion in the work of the Lord. 
In the next place, I wish you to believe that I never either 
wrote or spoke anything but what was loving and honourable 
of that man who has publicly earned so much distinction in 
the Church, and has been ever my friend in private. If, there 
fore, you have been vexed at all by this matter, let your mind 
be hereafter at ease. 1 JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. copy. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCCXVI. To THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 2 

He exhorts them to steadfastness unto the end, in the assurance of eternal 
joy reserved in heaven. 

FROM GENEVA, May 15, 1553. 

MY VERY DEAR BROTHERS, We have at length heard why 
the herald of Berne did not return that way. It was because 

1 The end of this letter is wanting. 

2 This letter must have preceded by some days the last conflict of the five 
prisoners. Foreseeing their end near, they wrote, on the 5th May to the Seigneury 
of Berne, to thank them for the testimonials of affection which they had received 
from them. "Kit has not pleased God," they said, "to preserve life by your 
means, it has at least heen prolonged thereby ... in spite of the fury of all 
those who would have desired long ago to put us to death. Since, then, that He 
is pleased that our blood should soon be shed for the confession of His holy name, 
we reckon ourselves far happier than if we were set at liberty, for as he is true 
and all-powerful, He will strengthen us, and will not permit us to be tormented 
beyond our strength ; and after that we have suffered awhile, He will receive us 
into His heavenly kingdom, and will bestow upon us eternal rest with Himself. 
. . . ." It was the 16th May when the five scholars were told to prepare for 
death; they received that intelligence with a pious serenity. The stake was 
set up upon the Place des Terreaux; they proceeded thither, singing psalms, 
and repeating passages of holy writ. " Having arrived at the place of death, 
they cheerfully mounted on the heap of wood, the two youngest first. . . . The 



1553. THE FIVE PKISONERS OF LYONS. 387 

he had not such an answer as we much desired. For the King 
has peremptorily refused all the requests made by Messieurs of 
Berne, as you will see by the copies of the letters, so that 
nothing further is to be looked for from that quarter. Nay, 
wherever we look here below, God has stopped the way. This 
is well, however, that we cannot be frustrated of the hope 
which we have in Him. and in His holy promises. You have 
always been settled on that sure foundation, even when it 
seemed as though you might be helped by men, and that we 
too thought so ; but whatever prospect of escape you may have 
had by human means, yet your eyes have never been dazzled 
so as to divert your heart and trust, either on this side or that. 
Now, at this present hour, necessity itself exhorts you more 
than ever to turn your whole mind heavenward. As yet, we 
know not what will be the event. But since it appears as 
though God would use your blood to sign His truth, there is 
nothing better than for you to prepare yourselves to that end, 
beseeching Him so to subdue you to His good pleasure, that 
nothing may hinder you from following whithersoever he shall 
call. For you know, my brothers, that it behoves us to be thus 
mortified, in order to be offered to Him in sacrifice. It cannot 
be but that you sustain hard conflicts, in order that what was 
declared to Peter may be accomplished in you, namely, that 
they shall carry you whither ye would not. You know, how 
ever, in what strength you have to fight a strength on which 
all those who trust, shall never be daunted, much less con 
founded. Even so, my brothers, be confident that you shall 
be strengthened, according to your need, by the Spirit of our 
Lord Jesus, so that you shall not faint under the load of temp- 
last who went up was Martial Alba, the elder of the five, who had been a long 
time on both his knees in prayer to the Lord. He earnestly requested Lieutenant 
Tignac to grant him a favour. The lieutenant said to him : What would you? 
He said to him : That I might kiss my brethren before I die. The lieutenant 
granted his wish. Then the said Martial kissed the other four who were already 
bound, saying to each of them, Adieu, adieu, my brother. The fire was kindled ; 
the voice of the five confessors was heard, still exhorting the one the other in the 
midst of the flames : Courage, my brothers ; courage. . . . These were the last 
audible words of these five valiant champions and martyrs of the Lord." Hist, 
des Martyrs, lib. iv. p. 231. 



388 THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 1553. 

tations, however heavy it be, any more than He did who won 
so glorious a victory, that in the midst of our miseries it is 
an unfailing pledge of our triumph. Since it pleases Him to 
employ you to the death in maintaining His quarrel, He will 
strengthen your hands in the fight, and will not suffer a single 
drop of your blood to be spent in vain. And though the fruit 
may not all at once appear, yet in time it shall spring up more 
abundantly than we can express. But as He hath vouchsafed 
you this privilege, that your bonds have been renowned, and 
that the noise of them has been everywhere spread abroad, it 
must needs be, in despite of Satan,, that your death should re 
sound far more powerfully, so that the name of our Lord be 
magnified thereby. For my part, I have no doubt, if it please 
this kind Father to take you unto Himself, that He has pre 
served you hitherto, in order that your long-continued impri 
sonment might serve as a preparation for the better awaken 
ing of those whom He has determined to edify by your end. 
For let enemies do their utmost, they never shall be able to 
bury out of sight that light which God has made to shine in 
you, in order to be contemplated from afar. 

I shall not console, nor exhort you more at length, knowing 
that our heavenly Father gives you to experience how precious 
His consolations are, and that you are sufficiently careful to 
meditate upon what He sets before you in His Word. He has 
already so shown how His Spirit dwells in you, that we are 
well assured that He will perfect you to the end. That in leav 
ing this world we do not go away at a venture, you know not 
only from the certainty you have, that there is a heavenly life, 
but also because from being assured of the gratuitous adoption 
of our God, you go thither as to your inheritance. That God 
should have appointed you His Son s martyrs, is a token to you 
of superabounding grace. There now remains the conflict, to 
which the Spirit of God not only exhorts us to go, but even to 
run. It is indeed a hard and grievous trial, to see the pride of 
the enemies of truth so enormous, without its getting any 
check from on high ; their rage so unbridled, without God s in 
terfering for the relief of His people. But if we remember 
that, when it is said that our life is hid, and that we must re- 



1553. THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 389 

8emble the dead, this is not a doctrine for any particular time, but 
for all times, we shall not think it strange that afflictions should 
continue. While it pleases God to give His enemies the rein, 
our duty is to be quiet, although the time of our redemption 
tarries. Moreover, if He hath promised to be the judge of 
those who have brought His people under thraldom, we need 
not doubt that He has a horrible punishment prepared for 
such as have despised His majesty with such enormous pride, 
and have cruelly persecuted those who call purely upon His 
name. Put in practice, then, my brethren, that precept of 
David s, and forget not the law of God, although your life may 
be in your hands to be parted with at any hour. And seeing 
that he employs your life in so worthy a cause as is the witness 
of the Gospel, doubt not that it must be precious to Him. The 
time draws nigh when the earth shall disclose the blood which 
has been hid, and we, after having been disencumbered of these 
fading bodies, shall be completely restored. However, be the 
Son of God glorified by our shame, and let us be content with 
this sure testimony, that though we are persecuted and blamed 
we trust in the living God. In this we have wherewith to 
despise the whole world with its pride, till we be gathered 
into that everlasting kingdom, where we shall fully enjoy those 
blessings, which we now only possess in hope. 

My brethren, after having humbly besought your remem 
brance of me in your prayers, I pray our good Lord to have 
you in His holy protection, to strengthen you more and more 
by His power, to make you feel what care He takes of your 
salvation, to increase in you the gifts of His Spirit, and to make 
them subserve His glory unto the end. 
Your humble brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

I do not make my special remembrances to each of our 
brethren, because I believe that this letter will be common to 
them all. 1 Hitherto I have deferred writing on account of the 

1 Calvin refers here to other prisoners of Lyons, Mathieu Dimonet and Denis 
Peloquin, who kept up in prison a pious correspondence by letter with the scholars 
of Lausanne. 



390 MADAME DE CANY. 1553. 

uncertainty of your state, fearing lest I might disquiet you to 
no purpose. I pray anew our good Lord to stretch out his arm 
for your confirmation. 

[Fr. copy. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, or.] 



CCCXVIL To MADAME DE CANY. 1 

Expression of Christian sympathy under trial. 

This 1th of June 1553. 

MADAME, Although I am not so devoid of compassion as 
not to feel my heart pained, in hearing of the more than ever 
strict captivity in which you are now held, yet I shall not cease 
to exhort you to furnish yourself with courage and constancy, 
according as you feel the trial to be vexatious and hard to bear ; 
for it is just when pressed by Satan and the enemies of the 
faith to the uttermost, that we ought to make the most of the 
grace of God. St. Paul glories in this, that although he was 
chained in prison, nevertheless, the doctrine which he preached 
was not bound, but having its course, and thriving powerfully. 
And, indeed, seeing that it is the truth of God which reaches 
far beyond this world, and upward above the heavens, it is not 
likely that she should straiten herself according to the fancy 
or by the tyranny of men. Consequently, the more the devil 
contrives to torture us by distress, let us strive the more to 
enlarge our hearts by faith, so as to meet all assaults. Our 
Saviour, moreover, has formerly afforded you examples of the 
kind, and gives us all the like daily in divers places ; so that 
we ought to take great shame to ourselves if we are not strength- 

1 In the Fellowship Register of Geneva, (Begistres de la Compagnie de Geneve, 
Vol. A. p. 440,) there is a document entitled, " Let er of a Lady persecuted by 
her Papist Husband, 11 from France, 24th June 1552. That lady was of high 
birth, as these words indicate, " Knowing the house to which she belongs, and the 
great lords of the kingdom to whom she is related, and icho are in great favour 
ivith the king. . . ." This passage appears to us to point at Madame de Cany ; 
see the Note, p. 281. Persecuted by her husband on account of her belief, that 
lady found her only consolation in the letters and exhortations which she received 
in secret from Geneva. Note, p. 391. 



1553. MADAME DE CANY. 391 

ened by them. For were we to grow faint under the strokes 
of the rod, when others are noways dismayed by death, what 
excuse should we have for our cowardice ? You had not counted 
on the possibility of meeting with such rude conflicts at home. 
But you know how the Son of God forewarns us, so that 
nothing should trouble us, seeing that we have been prepared 
for it beforehand. Think, rather, that this is not the end, but 
that God is trying you very gently, supporting your weakness, 
until you have more strength to sustain blows. But be this as 
it may, beware of letting yourself be cast down by indifference 
or despair. Many are overcome, because they allow their zeal 
to grow cold, and run off in self-flattery. Others, on the con 
trary, become so alarmed when they do not find in themselves 
the strength they wish, that they get confused, and give up the 
struggle altogether. What then is to be done ? Arouse your 
self to meditate, as much upon the promises of God, which ought 
to serve as ladders to raise us up to heaven, and make us 
despise this transitory and fading life, as upon threatenings, 
which may well induce us to fear His judgments. When you 
do not feel your heart moved as it ought to be, have recourse, 
as to a special remedy, to diligently seeking the aid of Him 
without whom we can do nothing. In the meantime, strive to 
your utmost, blaming coldness and weakness, until you can 
perceive that there is some amendment. And in regard to this, 
great caution is required so as to hold a middle course, namely, 
to groan unceasingly, and even to woo yourself to sadness and 
dissatisfaction of your condition, and to such a sense of misery 
as that you may have no rest ; without, at the same time, any 
doubting that God in due time will strengthen you according 
to your need, although this may not appear at once. It can 
be nothing strange to you to see the poor Church of God so 
miserably afflicted to see the pride of enemies increase more 
and more with their cruelty. If your mind is in too great per 
plexity, this it is that you should find strange, as a proof of your 
having forgotten what we ought to have rooted in the depths of 
our heart, the duty of conformity to the image of the Son of 
God, patiently bearing the ignominy of His cross, until the day 
of our triumph come. Nevertheless, let not this hinder, but 



392 MADAME DE CANY. 1553. 

rather induce you to follow on in the way, for we must yet be 
sifted even more thoroughly. 

Had I heard, that, being deprived of the little liberty you 
had, you did not cease to have your heart set aright, and 
to persevere in the service of Him who merits well that His 
honour be preferred to all beside, I should have whereof to 
rejoice more fully. However, I do rejoice, whatever be the 
result, in the good hope I have of this : therefore, do not 
wrong me by disappointment. However, you must consider 
most of all what you owe to our gracious God, and to the Lord 
Jesus Christ, who has shown how dear we were to Him, since 
He has not spared Himself for us ; therefore, see to it that 
Satan and his underlings, who have thought to trample your 
faith beneath their feet, be confounded. But as so great a 
victory requires greater strength than your own, take refuge in 
this kind Lord Jesus, who has been made to us the strength of 
God his Father, so that in Him we might do all things. And 
for my part, I shall beseech Him that He would pour out 
upon you the help of His Spirit, so that you may know by 
experience what it is to be upheld by Him, and that He may 
be glorified thereby, praying also that He would take you into 
His holy protection, against the fury of wolves, and the wiles 
of foxes. Whereupon, Madame, after having humbly com 
mended me to your kind favour, likewise to your prayers, I 
shall now make an end. 

Your humble brother and servant, 

J. DE BONNVILLE. 1 

[Fr. copy. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 

1 Pseudonym of the Reformer. 



1553. THE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 393 



CCCXVIIL To THE PRISONERS OF LYONS.* 

He impresses on them the duty of maintaining their confession of the truth 
quietly and modestly. 

This 7tk of July 155B. 

MY BRETHREN, I believe you have been informed that I was 
absent from town when the tidings from your prison arrived, 
and did not return for eight days after. I need not, therefore, to 
excuse myself for having so long delayed writing to you. Now, 
although these tidings have proved sorrowful to the flesh, even 
in consequence of the love we justly bear you in God, as we are 
bound to do, yet must we submit ourselves to the will of this kind 
Father and sovereign Lord, and not only consider His way of 
disposing of us just and reasonable, but also accept it with a 
gentle and loving heart as altogether right and profitable for 
our salvation, patiently waiting until He palpably shows it to 
be so. Besides, we have whereof to rejoice even in the midst 
of our sorrow, in that he has so powerfully aided you, for need 
was that you should be strengthened by His Spirit, so that the 
confession of His sacred truth should be more precious to you 
than your own lives. We all know too well how difficult it is 
for men to forget self. 

1 The dungeons in which Mathieu Dimonet still pined away, contained several 
other prisoners, Denis Peloquin of Blois, Louis de Marsac, gentleman of the 
Bourbonnais, and one of his cousins. 1 1; is to the two last, recently arrived at 
Lyons, that the letter of the Keformer is addressed. The prisoners maintained a 
pious correspondence with those outside their prison. Peloquin wrote to his re 
lations, " . . . My dear brothers and sisters,. ... do not stay yourselves, I 
beseech you, upon the judgment of the world, which is so blinded, that it cannot 
find life in death, nor blessing in cursing. Let us know that the means of being 
confirmed in Jesus Christ ... is that we should carry our cross with him, for 
the servant is not greater than the master. . . ." Louis de Marsac wrote to 
Calvin : " Sir and brother, ... I cannot express to you the great comfort I 
have received . . . from the letter which you have sent to my brother Denis 
Peloquin, who found means to deliver it to one of our brethren who was in a 
vaulted cell above me, and read it to me aloud, as I could not read it myself, 
being unable to see anything in my dungeon. I entreat of you, therefore, to per 
severe in helping us with similar consolation, for it invites us to weep and to 
pray." Histoire des Martyrs, pp. 236, 251. 



394 THE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 1553. 

Therefore it must needs be that our gracious God put forth 
His strong arm ; then, for the sake of glorifying Him we do 
not fear torments, nor shame, nor death itself. Now, since He 
has girded you with His power, so as to sustain the first assault, 
it remains to entreat Him to strengthen you more and more 
according to your further conflict. And seeing that He has 
promised us victory in the end, do not doubt, that as He has 
imparted a measure of His strength, so you will have more 
ample evidence in future, that He does not make a beginning 
only to leave His work imperfect, as it is said in the Psalm. 
Especially when He puts such honour upon His people, as to 
employ them in maintaining His truth, and leads them, as it 
were by the hand to martyrdom, He never leaves them unpro 
vided with the needful weapons. Yet, meanwhile, remember 
to lift up your eyes to that everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ, 
and to think of whose cause it is in which you fight ; for that 
glance will not only make you overcome all temptations which 
may spring from the infirmity of your flesh, but will also render 
you invincible by all the wiles of Satan, whatever he may 
devise to darken God s truth, for I am well assured, that it 
is by His grace you are so settled and grounded, that you do 
not walk at a venture, but that you can say with that valiant 
champion of Jesus Christ, I know on whom I have believed. 

This is why I have not sent you such a confession of faith as 
our good brother Pelocjuin asked me for, for God will render 
that which He will enable you to make, according to the 
measure of mind which He has allotted you, far more profitable 
than any that might be suggested to you by others. Indeed, 
having been requested by some of our brethren who have lately 
shed their blood for the glory of God, to revise and correct the 
confession they had prepared, I have felt very glad to have a 
sight of it for my own edification, but I would neither add, nor 
take away, a single word ; believing that any change would but 
lessen the authority and efficacy which the wisdom and con 
stancy we clearly see to have proceeded from the Spirit of God 
deserved. Be then assured, that God who manifests himself in 
time of need, and perfects His strength in our weakness, will not 
leave you unprovided with that which will powerfully magnify 



1553. THE PRISONERS OF LYONS. 395 

His name. Only proceed therein with soberness and reverence, 
knowing that God will no less accept the sacrifice which you 
offer Him, according to the measure of ability which you have 
received from Him, than if you comprehended all the revela 
tions of angels, and that He will make effectual that which He 
puts into your mouth, as well to confirm His own, as to con 
found the adversaries. And as you know that we have stead 
fastly to withstand the abominations of the Papacy, unless we 
would renounce the Son of God, who has purchased us to Him 
self at so dear a rate, meditate, likewise, on that celestial glory 
and immortality to which we are invited, and are certain of 
reaching through the Cross through ignominy and death. It 
is strange, indeed, to human reason, that the children of God 
should be so surfeited with afflictions, while the wicked disport 
themselves in delights ; but even more so, that the slaves of Satan 
should tread us under foot, as we say, and triumph over us. How 
ever, we have wherewith to comfort ourselves in all our miseries, 
looking for that happy issue which is promised to us, that He 
will not only deliver us by His angels, but will Himself wipe away 
the tears from our eyes. And thus we have good right to despise 
the pride of these poor blinded men, who to their own ruin lift 
up their rage against heaven ; and although we are not at pre 
sent in your condition, yet we do not on that account leave off 
fighting together with you by prayer, by anxiety and tender 
compassion, as fellow-members, seeing that it has pleased our 
heavenly Father, of his infinite goodness, to unite us into one 
body, under His Son, our Head. Whereupon I shall beseech 
Him, that He would vouchsafe you this grace, that being stayed 
upon Him, you may in nowise waver, but rather grow in 
strength ; that He would keep you under His protection, and 
give you such assurance of it, that you may be able to despise 
all that is of the world. My brethren greet you very affec 
tionately, and so do many others. Your brother, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

As this letter will, I hope, be in common to you both, I shall 
merely add, that there is no need whatever for a long exhorta 
tion from me ; it is enough that I pray God that it may please 



396 BULLINGER. 1553. 

Him to impress still better and better upon your heart, what I 
see by your letter, that you already enjoy. However grievous 
it may be to pine so long, if you got no other benefit by it 
than God s showing you that He has not reserved you until 
now without cause, you have good reason not to grow faint nor 
wearied out thereby. And as for the sickness, it is well for 
you to consider, that God in this way wishes to prepare you 
better for a greater conflict, so that the flesh being entirely sub 
dued, may be more able to resign itself. Thus we ought to 
turn to profitable improvement everything that the heavenly 
Father sends us. If you can communicate with the other 
brethren, I pray you to salute them also from me. May God 
uphold you all by His strong hand, preserve and guide you, 
and make His own glory to shine forth in you more and 
more. 

[Fr. Printed in Histoire des Martyrs, lib. iv. p. 253.] 



CCCXIX. To BULLINGEB. 

Expression of regret for the death of the King of England sad condition of 
the German Churches. 

GENEVA, 3d August 1553. 

Paulus an Italian, and a man of tried integrity, on writing 
lately to our friend Count Celso, stated, among other things, 
that he had brought a letter for me from the very honourable the 
Duchess of Ferrara, which he left with you. Seeing that I 
received a letter from Gualter not long since, in which he 
makes no mention of such a thing ; and seeing, moreover, that 
John Liner, a merchant of Saint Gall, on passing through this 
place a short while before, alleged that you had written me 
through a certain Jew, I am really suspicious that you have 
been deceived by him. He was not seen by any one here ; and 
indeed I have no doubt but that he has betaken himself to one 
who is likely to bring him greater gain. If it should turn out 
accordingly that this letter has been lost, I am anxious that 
the Duchess should be informed of it. Inasmuch, therefore, as 
this nobleman, whom she has now employed for many years as 
a messenger to the French king, was about to make a journey 



1553. BULLINGER. 397 

thither, I have requested him to ask you whether anything was 
done with the packet which Paulus left with you, in order that 
he may inform his mistress of it. 

The messengers regarding the death of the English king are 
more numerous than I could wish. 1 We are therefore mourn 
ing him just as if we were already certain of his death, or 
rather mourning over the fate of the Church, which has met 
with an incalculable loss in the person of a single individual. 
We are held at present in anxious suspense as to whether 
matters are to go to confusion. It is meanwhile very greatly 
to be lamented that Germany is being torn by intestine strife, 
by wounds inflicted by each on the other. But it is nothing 
wonderful that the Lord should employ violent remedies for 
such hopeless diseases. All we can do is to pray earnestly and 
unceasingly that He may not permit his Church to be utterly 
overwhelmed, but rather that he may guide her safe through 
the general wreck. 

Adieu, most distinguished Sir, and most revered brother in 
Christ. Salute courteously your fellow-ministers, your wife, 
your sons-in-law, and your daughters. May the Lord shield 
you all by His protection and guide you by his Spirit. My 
colleagues salute you earnestly. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Zurich, Gallic. Scripta, p. 19.] 

1 King Edward VI. died a very pious death on the 6th of July preceding. See 
Burnet s History, Bullinger verified this mournful event to Calvin in the follow 
ing words : " I have received intelligence from England of a very sad occurrence. 
That most pious king departed to the Lord on the 6th of July ; and he departed 
very happily indeed with a holy confession. The hook which I here send you was 
written by him, and published in the mouth of May. You will see from it how 
great a treasure the Church of Christ has lost." Bullinger to Calvin, August 1553. 
Eccl. Archives of Berne. 



398 FAREL. 1553. 

CCCXX TO FAREL. 1 

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 

1 We have already read at p. 16, of the present volume of Calvin s first con 
nexion with Servetus, and of the rupture of that connexion 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 
Dauphine, 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 
lie 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 Trini- 
tatis 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 eifected his escape by deceit. At length he came to 
Geneva, where he went skulking about. He was forthwith recognised, however, 
by a certain person, and cast into prison. Calvin also, whom he treated very un 
handsomely 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-fe 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 Eilliet. Relation du Proces Criminel intente contre 
Servet. Geneve, 1844. 8vo. [Translated into English by the Rev. Dr. Tweedie. 
Edinburgh : Johnstone & Hunter.] 



1553. FAREL. 399 

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 recognised, 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. 1 On the follow 
ing 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, inas 
much 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. 2 Adieu. My colleagues 
again salute you. Bude does the same, and Normande, who 
has now recovered. Present my regards to my brother Claude. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lot. Corresp. Opera ix. p. 70.] 



1 Nicolas de la Fontaine, a servant of Calvin s, was made, conformably to the 
judicial usages then in operation at Geneva, criminal prosecutor against Servetus. 
Registers of the Council, 14th August 1553. 

2 It is curious to read on this point the reply of Farel to Calvin : " In desiring 
to mitigate the severity of his punishment, you act the part of a friend to a man 
who is most hostile to you. But I beseech you so to manage the matter that no one 
whatever may rashly dare to publish new dogmas, and throw all things into con 
fusion with impunity for such a length of time as he has done." In his relentless 
rigour against heresy, Farel did not hesitate to pronounce himself even to be 
worthy of death if he should teach any dogma opposed to the faith. His words 
deserve to be recorded : " When I read Paul s statement that he did not refuse to 
suffer death if he had in any way deserved it, I saw clearly that I must be pre 
pared to suffer death if I should teach anything contrary to the doctrine of piety. 
And I added, that I should be most worthy of any punishment whatever if I 
should seduce any one from the faith and doctrine of Christ." 8th Sept. 1553. 
Calv. Opera, torn. ix. p. 71. 



400 DENIS PELOQUIN AND LOUIS DE MARSAC. 1553. 



CCCXXI. To DENIS PELOQUIN AND Louis DE 

Information regarding various controverted points exhortation to fidelity, even 
unto martyrdom. 

Tliis 22dof August 1553. 

VERY DEAR BRETHREN, Although when writing your letter 
you thought that the enemies of truth were about to sacrifice 
you soon, I do not omit writing to yon, so that if it please 
God that this should arrive in time, you may again have 
some words of consolation from me. It is very well and 
very prudently determined by you to give thanks to God, since 
you know that He has confirmed you anew in His promises, 
giving you such constancy as you have lately felt in your last 
replies. It is indeed of Him alone that you have remained 
steadfast and unflinching. Hence I feel well assured that this 
seal, which bears the true mark of the Holy Spirit, will never 
be effaced. Elsewhere He has wrought so powerfully upon 
Michael Girard, 2 that his former weakness gives all the greater 
lustre to the strength which he has received from above. I 
have no doubt that even the enemies themselves must be con 
vinced that this change did not proceed from man. Con 
sequently there is stronger reason why we should have our eyes 



1 Occupying the same cell during the last days of their captivity, the two 
prisoners were only separated to die. Denis Peloquin was taken from his prison 
the 4th September, and conducted to Ville Franche, where his heroic constancy at 
the stake, excited the wonder and tender sympathy of the spectators. Louis de 
Marsac, with two other victims, ELienne Gravot of Gyen, and Marsac, his cousin, 
who had followed him into his dungeon, " gave thanks to God for the inestimable 
honour which he conferred upon them of suffering for His name." At the moment 
when the three condemned were about to be led to the place of execution, a rope 
was put about their neck, according to custom. " Louis de Marsac, seeing that they 
spared him in that particular, out of some regard to his quality, asked in a loud voice 
if the cause of his two brethren was different from his, adding these words, Alas ! do 
not refuse me the collar of so excellent an order. The lieutenant agreed to his wish, 
and the three martyrs, chanting with one voice the song of deliverance, shortly 
after mounted the pile prepared on the Place des Terreaux, and expired in the 
midst of the flames." Hist, des Martyrs. Lib. iv. p. 254. Hist. Eccl. torn. i. p. 92. 

2 Michael Girard. In a note in the History of the Martyrs. This Michael 
Girard did not persevere. 



1553. DENIS PELOQUIN AND LOUIS DE MARSAC. 401 

open to contemplate the hand of God which is here put forth 
after a wondrous manner, to withdraw his frail creature from 
the horrible confusion into which he had fallen. At the time 
that he followed his own devices, he fancied that he had 
gained much in redeeming for a short period this fading 
miserable life, by plunging himself into the abysses of eternal 
death. It is then a Divine work, that of his own goodwill he 
should have again returned to death, that he might attain to a 
life of uprightness, from which he had not merely strayed, but 
absolutely excluded himself as far as in him lay. For the 
goodness of God has been the more richly displayed, by having 
raised up His creature out of a fall which seemed fatal, yea, so 
as even to triumph by it, and to magnify His glory, as He has 
begun to do, and will I hope carry out to perfection. 

I have seen the confession drawn up by him, which is pure 
and frank, and worthy of a Christian man. Nevertheless, I 
think it right that he should be warned as to some points, in 
order that the adversaries may be the more confounded by his 
making a more distinct reply ; not that what he says be not 
true, but because the malignant always lay hold of the slightest 
occasions to calumniate and pervert what is right. 

On being questioned as to whether the body of Christ exist 
not under the appearance of bread, he answered that this was 
mere blasphemy, annihilating the death of Jesus Christ. Now 
there were two tilings which he ought to have especially re 
proved in the mass : the one is idolatry, seeing that they make 
an idol of a bit of bread, worshipping it as God ; the other 
that they make of it a sacrifice to reconcile men to God. Now 
as Jesus Christ is the only priest ordained of God the Father, 
so likewise has he offered Himself once for all, and his death 
is the sole and perpetual sacrifice for our redemption. Even 
on the first head, it would have been well to protest his 
belief, that in the Supper we communicate in the body and 
blood of Jesus Christ, but that we do so by rising to heaven 
through faith, and not by making Him descend here below, 
taking care to add, that this is no argument in favour of their 
Mass, which is altogether opposed to the Supper of Jesus 
Christ. 

VOL. II. 20 



402 DENIS PELOQUIN AND LOUIS DE MARSAC. 1553. 

Being questioned as to whether the Virgin Mary and the 
saints intercede for us, he answered, that there is but one only 
intercessor and advocate, Jesus Christ ; which is true, for there 
are neither men nor angels who have access to God the Father 
save by this Mediator alone. But it would have been well to 
add, that the office of intercession is not bestowed upon the 
dead, God commanding us to intercede, the one for the other, in 
the present life : nevertheless, because it is not lawful to pray 
to God except in assurance of faith, that nothing remains for 
us but to call upon God in the name of Jesus Christ, and 
that all those who seek to the Virgin Mary and the saints as 
their advocates, act extravagantly, and turn aside out of the 
way. 

Being questioned as to free-will, in order to show that of our 
selves we have no power of well-doing, he alleges the expres 
sion of Saint Paul in the 7th of the Komans : The good that I 
ivould, I do not, &c. JSTow it is certain, that Saint Paul does 
not speak there of unbelievers who are wholly destitute of the 
grace of God, but of himself and of other saints to whom God 
had already given grace to aspire after well-doing. On such 
points he confesses that he felt such a struggle within himself, 
that he could not attain to a full performance of duty. Accord 
ingly this further statement should have been made : If the 
faithful feel their whole nature opposed to the will of God, 
what must be the case with those who are full of pure malice 
and rebellion ? Just as he says in the 8th chapter, that all 
the affections of the flesh are only so much enmity against God. 
And in Ephesians ii., he shows clearly what is in man. Item, 
in the First Epistle to the Corinthians, chapters i. ii., and in 
Komans iii. ; whence it follows, that it is God who works in us 
to will and to do, according to His good pleasure. 

Being questioned concerning vows, he answered, that all our 
promises are but lies. Now, it would have been well to specify- 
that a part of their vows being impossible, they are nothing 
but an insult to God ; as, for instance, when the monks and 
priests renounce marriage : and that generally the whole of 
these vows are nothing but false inventions in order to bastardize 
the service of God, and that we are not permitted to promise 



1553. DENIS PELOQUIN AND LOUIS DE MARS AC. 403 

or offer to Him except in accordance with His word. I believe 
that the said brother will be well pleased to be informed of 
these things, so that the truth of God may be the more vic 
torious in him. 

For the rest, as in the midst of this life we are in death, you 
have now need to be well persuaded that in the midst of death 
you are in life. And thus we see that we must not be governed 
by sense merely in following Jesus Christ, for there is nothing 
more alien to our nature than to plunge ourselves into disgrace, 
and abase ourselves unto death, in order to be elevated to the 
glory of heaven. But in the end we shall feel experimentally, 
that the Son of God has not disappointed us in promising that 
whosoever shall lay down his life in this world shall recover it 
to enjoy it for ever. Wherefore, my brethren, if hitherto you 
have known by experience the value of the consolations which 
this kind Lord Jesus Christ vouchsafes to His own, to enable 
them to welcome all that they suffer in His cause, and the 
value of the help of His Spirit in giving them such courage 
that they faint not, beseech Him to continue both the one and 
the other, and in so praying rest in Him, assured that He will 
fulfil your holy desire. On our part, while you are fighting, 
we shall not forget you. All my brethren salute you. The 
God of grace and Father of mercy have you under His pro 
tection ; and if it please Him that you should endure death 
for the testimony of His Gospel, as seems likely, may He 
show that He has not forsaken you, but rather that while 
appointing you His martyrs, He dwells and reigns within you, 
to triumph in you to the confusion of His enemies, and the 
edification of the faith of His elect ; and may He lead us all 
until He gathers us together into His kingdom. 

Excuse me that I have not sooner replied to you, for I only 
yesterday received your letter which is dated of the twelfth. 
Your humble brother, JOHN CALVIN. 

[Fr Printed in Histoire des Martyrs, lib. iv. p. 244. 



404 THE PASTORS OF FRANKFORT. 1553. 



CCCXXII. To HIS DEARLY BELOVED, THE PASTORS OF THE 

CHURCH OF FRANKFORT. 1 

Request for the destruction of the copies at Frankfort of the book of Servetus. 

GENEVA, August 27, 1553. 

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord 
Jesus Christ, more peculiarly set apart, and my worshipful 
brethren. 

You have doubtless heard of the name of Servetus, a 
Spaniard, who twenty years ago corrupted your Germany with 
a virulent publication, filled with many pernicious errors. This 
worthless fellow, after being driven out of Germany, and having 
concealed himself in France under a fictitious name, lately 
patched up a larger volume, partly from his former book, 
and partly from new figments which he had invented. This 
book he printed secretly at Vienne, a town in the neighbour 
hood of Lyons. Many copies of it had been conveyed to 
Frankfort for the Easter fairs : the printer s agent, how 
ever, a pious and worthy man, on being informed that it 
contained nothing but a farrago of errors, suppressed what 
ever he had of it. It would take long to relate with how 
many errors yea, prodigious blasphemies against God the 
book abounds. Figure to yourselves a rhapsody patched up 
from the impious ravings of all ages. There is no sort of 
impiety which this monster has not raked up, as if from the 
infernal regions. I had rather you should pass sentence 

1 The rigour of the judges of Servetus could not fail to extend to the book 
which served as the basis of the judicial prosecution directed against his person. 
From the confession of the accused, there had been printed a thousand copies of 
the Christianismi Itestitutio, of which a certain number were deposited at Frank 
fort. Calvin did not forget the latter portion of this acknowledgment, confirmed 
besides by a letter from the printer at Vienne, but wrote immediately to the Church 
of Frankfort, desiring the sequestration and destruction of this dangerous deposit. 
A clerk of the celebrated printer, Robert Stephens, then resident at Geneva, was 
charged with this mission, which he accomplished with so very great success, that 
there are only three copies of the original edition to be found at the present day. 
One in the Imperial Library of Paris, another in that of Vienna in Austria, and a 
third in a private collection. Rilliet, Relation du Proces de Servet, p. 9. 



1553. VIRET. 405 

on it from reading the book itself. You will certainly find on 
almost every single page, what will inspire you with horror. 
The author himself is held in prison by our magistrates, and 
he will be punished ere long, I hope ; but it is your duty to 
see to it that this pestiferous poison does not spread farther. 
The messenger will inform you respecting the number and the 
repository of the books. The bookseller, if I mistake not, will 
permit them to be burnt. Should anything stand in the way, 
however, I trust that you will act so judicious!}*, as to purge 
the world of such noxious corruptions. Besides, your way will 
be clear, because if the matter be submitted to your judg 
ment, there will be no necessity for asking the magistrate to 
interfere. And while I am so persuaded of your integrity that 
I believe it would be sufficient to inform you of it ; yet the 
magnitude of the affair demands that I should beseech you, by 
Christ, faithfully to strive to discharge your duty, lest the 
opportunity should slip from you. 

Fare ye well, most honoured Sirs, and very dear brethren. 
May the Lord guide you by His Spirit, shield you by His pro 
tection, and bless your labours. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corrcsp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 71.] 



CCCXXIIL To ViRET. 1 

Troubles at Geneva Berthelier and the chiefs of the Libertins are refused 
admission to the Lord s Table. 

GENEVA, 4?7i /September 1553. 

I was wishing to maintain silence towards you regarding our 
affairs, that I might not augment your grief to no purpose. 

1 A serious conflict came to be raised between the ministers and the magistrates 
of Geneva. A chief of the Libertins, Philibert Berthelier, was excommunicated 
by the consistory for his irregular habits, and appealed to the Council of State, 
which annulled the ecclesiastical sentence, and gave Berthelier authority to go for 
ward to the Supper. The experiment was decisive ; it was made to know whether 
or not Calvin would abandon ecclesiastical discipline, or resist the government. 



406 VIRET. 1553. 

But fearing that you might be more deeply affected by divers 
rumours, I at length thought it better to inform you respecting 
the principal point. When Berthelier, a year and a half ago, 
was interdicted the privilege of the Supper, he complained to 
the senate, and we, to please the scoundrel, were summoned 
before their assembly. After having heard the case, the Senate 
pronounced him to have been rightfully excommunicated. 
Whether from despair or contempt, he has kept quiet ever 
since up to the present time. Now, indeed, that the Syndicate 
of Perrin might not become forgotten, he has wished the Senate 
to restore him, without consulting the Consistory. On being 
summoned a second time, I demonstrated in a long speech, that 
to do so would be to act, not only contrary to what was right, 
but also contrary to law ; nay more, that it was sinful to destroy 
the discipline of the Church in this manner. During my 
absence, however, and unknown to the Consistory, an oppor 
tunity was afforded him of receiving the Supper. As soon as 
I got notice of it, I used all my endeavours to get the Syndics 
to call a meeting of the Senate. I have devoted myself so 
earnestly to the cause, that, in my mind, nothing calculated to 
influence their minds was left undone. I endeavoured, partly 
by vehemence, and partly by moderation, to reduce them to a 
sound mind. I even took an oath, that I had resolved rather 
to meet death than profane so shamefully the holy Supper of 
the Lord ; for that nothing was more intolerable than that 
that individual, mocking and insulting the Church of God by 
his contumacy, should by raising the standard, so to speak, 
incite the worst characters, and those like himself, to indulge 
in the same effrontery. The reply was, that the Senate had 
nothing to change in its former decision. From which you 
perceive, that by this law my ministry is abandoned, if I suffer 
the authority of the Consistory to be trampled upon, and extend 



This letter of the Reformer to Viret, shows us with what energetic resolution and 
heroic constancy he resolved, in this instance, to maintain the honour of Christ. 
The conflict, which mutually divided the representatives of the spiritual and civil 
powers, could only be terminated by the solemn intervention of the Helvetian 
Churches. Registers of Council, anno 1553. See also the various histories of 
Geneva, Spon, Picot, &c. 



1553. BULLINGEK. 407 

the Supper of Christ to open scoffers, who boast that pastors 
are nothing to them. In truth, I should rather die a hundred 
times, than subject Christ to such foul mockery. I need not 
record what I said yesterday in both assemblies, as you will 
get an oral account of it from many. The wicked and the 
abandoned may now obtain, therefore, what they have eagerly 
sought. The calamity to the Church grieves me, as indeed it 
ought. But if God yields so much power to Satan, as to strip 
me of the liberty of my ministry by his violent commands, I 
am satisfied. Certainly, he who has inflicted the wound, will 
Himself find a remedy. And, indeed, seeing that so much 
wickedness has now passed with impunity for many years, per 
haps the Lord is preparing some judgment which I am not 
deemed worthy to see. In fine, whatever may happen, it is 
our duty to submit to His will. 

Farewell, most worthy brethren. May the Lord be ever 
present with you, to guide and protect you. Pray Him, on 
the other hand, to look down upon this unfortunate Church. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 74.] 



CCCXXIV. TO BULLINGER. 

Deep anxiety on account of the condition of the English Churches Conference 
of the Swiss Churches in regard to Servetus. 

GENEVA, 7tk /September 1553. 

With respect to the letter, I had no doubt but tha,t 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 circum 
stances did not turn out here according to his wishes, he crossed 
over to England. I informed him that matters were in a dis 
turbed state in that country, and endeavoured to deter him 



408 BULLINGER. 1553. 

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]. 1 What is to become of so 
great a multitude of pious men, who have betaken themselves 
to voluntary exile in that country ? 2 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 Car 
dinal Pole. 3 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 trouble 
some 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. 

Our Council will, on an early day, send the opinions of Ser 
ve tus to your city, to obtain your judgment regarding them. 

1 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 
BO 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. 

2 " 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 there 
fore. . . ." Letter of Bullinger to Calvin, of 26th August 1553. Eccl. Archives 
of Berne, vol. vi. p. 312. 

3 Cardinal Pole was at that time preparing to leave Home to return to Eng 
land : " 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. 



1553. SULZER. 409 

Indeed they cause you this trouble, despite our remonstrances j 1 
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 ; 2 for I am compelled to conclude, as there are 
many here whom I found on returning home from dinner. 

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, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Lat. orig.autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



CCCXXV. To SuLZER. 3 

Statement of the errors of Servetus, and of the duty of the Christian magistrate 
to repress them. 

j GENEVA, 8th September 1553. 

As Michael Servetus, twenty years ago, infected the Chris 
tian world with his virulent and pestilential opinions, I should 

1 At the session of the 5th September, the Council of Geneva had decided, con 
trary to the wish of Calvin, upon consulting the Churches of Berne, Basle, Schaff- 
hausen, and Zurich, respecting the culpability of Servetus, but this decision was 
realized just a fortnight too late. Killiet, Relation du Proces cle Servet, p. 84. 

2 Eodolph Gualter, minister of the Church of Zurich, and son-in-law to 
Bullinger. 

3 The Lesser Council of Geneva, acting upon the preposition made a few days 
previously, (note 1,) prepared to write to the Churches of Berne, Zurich, Schaff- 
hausen, and Basle, to ask their advice regarding the culpability of Servetus. It 
was not, however, till the 21st of September, that the messenger, charged with 
the various papers relative to the trial, had put into his hands the circular letter 
addressed to the magistrates or pastors of the four towns. These letters were ac 
companied by a copy of the Christianismi Restitutio, a copy of the works of Ter- 
tullian, and one of those of Ireiweus, as well as the questions put to Servetus, 
together with his replies, and the refutation of the ministers. In those circulars, 
the council gave expression to its entire confidence in the intelligence of the 
pastors of Geneva, but desired, before coming to a decision, to have fuller infor- 



410 SULZER. 1553. 

suppose his name is not unknown to you. While you may not 
have read his book, yet you must have heard something of the 
sort of doctrines contained in it. It was he whom that faithful 
minister of Christ, Master Bucer of holy memory, in other 
respects of a mild disposition, declared from the pulpit to be 
worthy of having his bowels pulled out, and torn to pieces. 
While he has not permitted any of his poison to go abroad since 
that time, he has lately, however, brought out a larger volume, 
printed secretly at Vienne, but patched up from the same 
errors. To be sure, as soon as the thing became known, he was 
cast into prison. He escaped from it some way or other, and 
wandered in Italy for nearly four months. He at length, in an 
evil hour, came to this place, when, at niy instigation, one of 
the Syndics ordered him to be conducted to prison. For I do 
not disguise it, that I considered it my duty to put a check, so 
far as I could, upon this most obstinate and ungovernable 
man, that his contagion might not spread farther. We see 
with what wantonness impiety is making progress everywhere, 
so that new errors are ever and anon breaking forth : we see 
how very inactive those are whom God has. armed with the 
sword, for the vindication of the glory of His name. Seeing 
that the defenders of the Papacy are so bitter and bold in be 
half of their superstitions, that in their atrocious fury they shed 
the blood of the innocent, it should shame Christian magis 
trates, that in the protection of certain truth, they are entirely 
destitute of spirit. I certainly confess that nothing would be 
less becoming, than for us to imitate their furious intemper 
ance. But there is some ground for restraining the impious 
from uttering whatever blasphemies they please with impunity, 
when there is an opportunity of checking it. As respects this 
man, three things require to be considered. With what pro- 

mation on the point, by consulting the other Churches. The fate of the prisoner 
evidently depended on the result of this supreme measure. Calvin, addressing 
Bullinger and Sulzer alternately, insisted "strongly on the alleged culpability of 
Servetus, and on the necessity of a punishment, which should be, as it appeared 
to him, a solemn consecration of those truths which had been shaken by the 
attacks of the audacious Spanish doctor. The messenger charged with the letter 
to Sulzer was the Treasurer Du Pau, one of the most devoted disciples of the 
Reformer. 



1553. SULZER. 411 

digious errors lie has corrupted the whole of religion ; yea, 
with what detestable mockeries he has endeavoured to destroy 
all piety j with what abominable ravings he has obscured 
Christianity, and razed to the very foundation all the principles 
of our religion. Secondly, how obstinately he has behaved ; 
with what diabolical pride he has despised all advice ; with 
what desperate stubbornness he has driven headlong in scatter 
ing his poison. Thirdly, with what proud scorn he at present 
avows and defends his abominations. For so far is he from 
any hope of repentance, that he does not hesitate to fling this 
blot upon those holy men, Capito and (Eeolampadius, as if they 
were his companions. When the letters of (Eeolampadius 
were shown him, he said that he wondered by what spirit they 
had been led away from their former opinion. But as I hope 
you will see to it that the impiety of the man be represented in 
the character it merits, I shall not add more. Only there is 
one thing I wish to say to you, viz., that the treasurer of this 
city, who will deliver to you this letter, takes a correct view of 
this case, so that he at least does not avoid the issue which we 
desire. Would that your old disciples were animated by the 
same spirit I 1 

I write you nothing regarding French matters, as I do not 
think there is Anything new here, which is not equally known 
among yourselves, except that there were three pious brethren 
burnt at Lyons on Sabbath last ; a fourth was sent to a neigh 
bouring town to suffer a similar fate. 2 It is scarcely credible, 
seeing that they were illiterate men, how they were, as far as it. 
appeared, enlightened by the Spirit of God to the highest per 
fection of doctrine, and with what courage they were support 
to maintain an inflexible firmness. One at first, overcome by 
fear, had swerved from a genuine confession. When the 
judges resolved upon releasing him, he, having asked forgive 
ness for his insincerity, eagerly offered himself to the flames. 



1 These last words betray Calvin s want of confidence in the Pastors of the 
Church of Berne, with certain of whom he was found to disagree upon certain 
points of doctrine, and who had given expression to principles of great toleration 
in the reply relative to Bolsec. 

2 See letter, p. 400. 



412 A CAPTIVE LADY. 1553. 

Similar fires are kindled, also, in other parts of France ; nor is 
there any hope of relief. Adieu. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 70.] 

CCCXXVL To A CAPTIVE LADY. 1 

He consoles her under her trials, and exhorts her to use every means to secure her 
retreat to Geneva. 

FROM GENEVA, this 13th September 1553. 

MADEMOISELLE AND VERY DEAR SISTER, I am much grieved 
by your affliction, not only because the children of God ought 
to bear each other s burdens, but because I feel the cause for 
which you suffer to be a common one ; for, as I am told, they 
afflict and detain you captive for having wished to follow Jesus 
Christ. You have, however, whereof to rejoice in the good tes 
timony which your conscience renders you in the sight of God, 
that you do not suffer on account of evil doing, but because 
Satan cannot endure that you should break loose from the 
bonds of the servitude in which you have hitherto pined, 
Notwithstanding, you must call upon God, beseeching Him to 
have compassion upon you, and committing yourself entirely 
into His hand, to hope for such deliverance as He shall please 
to send you. Nevertheless, if there were any right and lawful 
means of escaping out of the hands of him who detains you, 
you should ask counsel from God, so that by His Spirit He 
might teach you to take advantage of it. As I am not 
thoroughly acquainted with the facts, nay, as I do not even know 
your person nor your rank, I shall write upon the report of the 
gentlemen who are the bearers of the present letter. They 
have told me that as you were preparing to come hither, nay, 
actually on your way, the thing being discovered, some priest 

1 Notice in the handwriting of Charles de Jonvillers : " He wrote this letter to 
a good young lady, personally unknown to him, who having set out on the way to 
Geneva, was arrested hy a relation of her own, who wished to deprive her of her 
liberty. Two of her brothers came hither to get letters from him. But fearing 
lest they might ask them for their own ends, and to the injury of the young 
lady, he wrote and adopted this style for the express object he had in view." 



1553. A CAPTIVE LADY. 413 

who is related to you, seized upon you, and now detains you as 
in a prison, from whence you have no means of getting free, 
unless you pretend to be willing for a while to live in that 
neighbourhood. Now, they promise to harbour you in their 
house, where you will be free to serve God purely, without mix 
ing yourself up with the idolatries which prevail throughout 
the country. Before giving you any advice as to this, I protest 
that on no account would I induce you to flinch, or to seek out 
any by-way which might turn you out of the strait path 
which God points out to you in His word. Although I have 
heard that God has endowed you with admirable constancy, 
for which I bless and magnify His name, I would yet rather 
strive to increase you still more in such courage than in any 
degree lessen it. For when we are brought to such an extremity 
as to have no way of deliverance from the tyranny of the 
enemies of the truth, save by subterfuges which draw back 
and estrange us from the right path, there is no doubt but that 
God calls us to seal with our blood the confession of faith 
which we owe to Him. For which reason if it were a ques 
tion as to declining either on one side or the other, it were 
better to die. And in order that you may not be shaken by 
threatenings or by anything whatsoever, look to the Son of God, 
who did not spare His own life for the sake of our salvation, 
in order that we might not reckon our life too precious when 
needed to further His glory. Look to that heavenly crown 
which is prepared for those who have fought courageously. 
And above all, beware of drawing back, rather than which, we 
ought to use our utmost endeavours to press forward to the 
mark which God sets before us. But if the means be offered 
you of withdrawing with your brethren, who desire with you 
to worship God with one accord, I do not think that you ought 
to refuse. In conclusion, you have to pray God, as I shall also 
do, that He would bestow on you a spirit of counsel and pru 
dence, to decide what is right and fit for you to do ; a spirit 
of discretion, that you may not be deceived and take evil for 
good ; a spirit of steadfastness to be constant in wholly con 
forming yourself to His will. 

[Copy. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107.] 



414 THE BELIEVERS IN THE ISLES. 1553. 

CCCXXYII. To THE BELIEVERS IN THE IsLEs. 1 

Religious counsels, and announcement of the sending of a minister. 

Tliis \2t7i of October 1553. 

VERY DEAR BRETHREN, We have to praise God, that in the 
captivity wherein you are, he vouchsafes you the strength 
you ask, to worship Him in purity, fearing more the being de 
prived of His grace, than exposing yourselves to the dangers 
which may perhaps be about to occur to you, owing to the 
malice of the adversaries ; for the brother who is bearer of the 
present letter, 2 has declared to us that you have requested him 
to return to you whenever he could ; and that you desire to be 
by all means exhorted to what is right, and confirmed in the 
faith of the Gospel ; and, indeed, now-a-days, there is greater 
need of this than ever. It remains that this holy zeal of 
yours be firm, so that you may continue to advance in the path 
of salvation. As for the man, you know him ; and on our part, 
seeing he has here approved himself a God-fearing man, has 
had his conversation among us holy and without reproach, and 
has also always followed good and wholesome teaching, we 
doubt not that he will comport himself faithfully among you, 

1 " To the faithful dispersed in some isles of France." The peninsula of Arvert 
on the coast of Saintonge, peopled by fishermen and pirates, received the first 
seeds of the Gospel from some refugees driven away by persecution from the 
neighbouring towns. " The seed sown was afterwards fertilized by some monks 
preaching a kind of half truth, as regarded doctrine, and reproving vices ; so that 
in a little time we saw (in that country) a strange alteration." Beza, Hist. Ecd., 
torn. i. p. 101. From the point of Arvert, the Reformation spread into the adjoin 
ing islets, and there made numerous disciples, in spite of the rigours of the Parlia 
ment of Bourdeaux. A great missionary, Philibert Hamelin, regulated this 
movement. From Tours originally, he at first preached the reformed doctrine with 
success at Saintes. Seized in that town, he miraculously escaped death, and sought 
an asylum at Geneva, where he followed the calling of a printer. But the ardour 
of his zeal soon led him to betake himself once more to the perilous apostolate, 
which was to close with martyrdom. He revisited La Saintonge, visited his 
brethren dispersed among the islands, organized their churches, and taken a second 
time, he perished at the stake at Bourdeaux, the 18th April 1557. The journal of 
another glorious missionary of the Reformation, Bernard Palissy, may be consulted 
as to the ministry and death of Hamelin. 

2 Philibert Hamelin. 



1553. THE BELIEVERS IN THE ISLES. 415 

and labour for your edification. As to the advice which he 
has asked of us in your name, this is the order which it appears 
to us you have to maintain, both as to prayer to God in be 
ginning, and as to being taught by him and others that God 
shall give you, and to whom he has bestowed grace to minister 
to you. Thereupon, see that you take courage to separate your 
selves from idolatries, from all superstitions, which are con 
trary to the service of God, and to the acknowledgment and 
confession which all Christians owe to Him, for to that -are we 
called. When, in course of time, God has so prospered you, 
that you are, as it were, an ecclesiastical body maintaining the 
order already mentioned, and that there are some resolved to 
withdraw themselves from prevailing pollutions, then you may 
have the use of the sacraments. But we are nowise of opinion 
that you should begin by them, or even that you should be 
in a hurry to partake of the holy Supper, until you have 
some order established among you. And indeed it is much 
better for you to abstain from it, so that thus you may be led 
to seek the means which will render you capable of receiving it. 
That is, as we have already said, that you may be accustomed 
to meet together in God s name, being as it were one body ; 
and that you may be separated from the idolatries which it is 
not lawful to mix up with things holy. Nay, it would not be 
lawful for a man to administer the sacraments to you, unless 
he recognised you as a flock of Jesus Christ, and found among 
you the form of a church. Meanwhile, take courage, and devote 
yourselves wholly to God, who has purchased us so dearly by 
His own Son, and yield Him the homage of body and soul, 
showing that you account His glory more precious than all 
besides ; and that you set a higher value upon the eternal sal 
vation which is prepared for you in heaven, than you do on 
this transitory life. 

Wherefore, very dear brethren, making an end for the pre 
sent, we shall pray this merciful God to complete what He has 
begun in you, to increase you in all spiritual blessings, and to 
have you in His holy protection. 

CHARLES D ESPEVILLE, 

As well in his own name, as in that of his brethren. 
[Fr. copy. Fellowship Register of Geneva. Vol. A.] 



416 FAREL. ]553. 

CCOXXVIII. To FAREL. 

Acknowledgment of Farel s care for the Church of Geneva. 

GENEVA, Uth October 1553. 

I cannot find words, my dear Farel, in which to thank you 
for the extraordinary interest you take in us, and for your equal 
regard for this Church. I purposely abstained from, or at all 
events was more sparing in writing you, as I was afraid to 
take horseback immediately as you have done. Indeed I did 
not care for troubling you until the very last, as you said that 
it would not be acceptable to you if I should spare you. I cer 
tainly know well enough, and indeed have experienced how you 
like, yea, desire to undertake labour in behalf of the Church of 
God, and how prompt you are in rendering us assistance. Of 
the present state of things here I suppose you have been 
informed by Viret, or rather by my letter to him, which I 
wrote with the intention that you should get a reading of it. 
Our enemies are making general exertions to have some hasty 
decree passed at the meeting of the greater Council, about the 
middle of November. I was thinking that it would be well to 
have Yiret here about that time. Yourself, indeed, I am 
desirous to see here sooner, viz., on occasion of the final sentence 
of Servetus. This will take place, I hope, before the end of 
next week. 1 As, however, the son of Claude Bernard has in 
vited Yiret to his marriage on Sabbath next, I have no doubt 
whatever but that Yiret will accompany you if you come by 
Lausanne. Yet I am unwilling, when there is no pressing 
necessity for it, that you should move a foot unless it suit your 
convenience. 2 I have no doubt but that Yiret will write you 
his mind on the matter, if he can secure in time a trustworthy 
messenger, for I asked him to do so. Earnest salutations from 

1 See the letters, pp. 404, 409. They were then waiting at Geneva for the 
reply of the Swiss churches to the circular letters which had been addressed to 
them concerning the case of Servetus. 

2 Farel arrived at Geneva a few days afterwards, where was reserved for him 
the melancholy mission of accompanying Servetus to the stake. 



1553. FAREL. 417 

all, especially our friend the Marquis, 1 Normandie, and my 
restored friend. Adieu, most upright and very dear brother. 
Salute earnestly your fellow-ministers, and your whole family. 
May the Lord Christ ever guide, preserve, and bless you all. 
Yours, JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. copy. Library of Zurich. Coll. Simler, torn. 80.] 



CCCXXIX. To 

Deliverance by the Swiss Churches regarding Servetus vain efforts of Calvin 
to obtain a mitigation of his punishment. 

GENEVA, 2Qt7i October 1553. 

Behold what will give you some gratification. Instead of 
an epistle, here is a summary which will not occupy long time. 

1 Galeazzo Caraccioli, Marquis de Vico. 

2 The state messenger charged with the delivery of the documents relative to 
the trial of Servetus to the Swiss Churches, had visited in succession those of 
Berne, Zurich, Schaffhausen, and Bale, and had now returned to Geneva with 
their replies. The churches were alike unanimous in their judgment of the theolo 
gical culpability of Servetus, and in their testimonies of affection and confidence 
towards Calvin and his colleagues. Without giving expression to the nature of 
the punishment which should be inflicted on the accused, they were unanimous in 
advising them to rid the Church of a pest, which had already brought ruin to so 
great a number of souls. Their various replies will be found in Calvini Opera, 
torn. ix.p. 72, et seq. The magistrates of Berne, who had counselled toleration to 
Bolsec, manifested an inflexible rigour towards Servetus, exhorting those of Geneva 
not to act unworthily of Christian magistrates. The ministers of Zurich were still 
more decided: "We think," said they, "that you ought in this case to manifest 
much faith and zeal, inasmuch as our churches have abroad the bad reputation of 
being heretical, and of being particularly favourable to heresy. Holy Providence 
at this time affords you an opportunity of freeing yourselves and us from that 
injurious suspicion, if you know how to be vigilant and active in preventing the 
further spreading of that poison, and we have no doubt but that your seigneurs will 
do so." After such replies the sentence against Servetus could not be long doubt 
ful ; and the magistrates in condemning him to death were only the interpreters of 
the stern thought of an age in which persecution, that sad legacy of the Middle 
Ages, was the avowed jurisprudence of all Christian communions. The day follow 
ing that on which Calvin penned these lines addressed to Farel, (27th October 1553,) 
Servetus was led forth to hear his doom pronounced at the gate of the Hotel de Ville, 
and mounted the fatal pile erected at Champel, bequeathing a mournful souvenir 
to the Reformation, and an eternal subject of accusation to the enemies of the 

VOL. II. 2D 



418 MADAME DE PONS. 1553. 

The messenger has returned from the Swiss Churches. They 
are unanimous in pronouncing that Servetus has now renewed 
those impious errors with which Satan formerly disturbed the 
Church, and that he is a monster not to be borne. Those of 
Bale were judicious. The Zurichers were the most vehement 
of all ; for they not only animadverted in severe terms on the 
atrocity of his impieties, but also exhorted our Senate to seve 
rity. They of Schaffhausen will agree. Also to an appro 
priate letter from the Bernese is added one from the Senate, 
in which they stimulate ours not a little. Caesar, the comedian, 
after feigning illness for three days, at length went up to the 
assembly in order to free that wretch from punishment. Nor 
was he ashamed to ask that inquiry might be made at the 
[Council of the] Two Hundred. However, he was without doubt 
condemned. He will be led forth to punishment to-morrow. 
We endeavoured to alter the mode of his death, but in vain. 
Why we did not succeed I defer for narration until I see you. 
Adieu, most upright brother, and distinguished minister of 
Christ. May God ever guide and preserve you. Much health 
to all friends. Ours salute you again. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lat. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 71.] 



CCCXXX. To MADAME DE PONS. 

He encourages her to come out of the spiritual bondage in which she is held. 

The 20th of November 1553. 

MADAME AND GOOD SISTER, If God had given you a hus 
band who had been loyal to you, and had lived in concord 
with you, there would be need to comfort you at present, and 



Reformer. The error of Calvin in the death of Servetus was, we may say, 
altogether that of his age, inasmuch as men of the most conciliating and moderate 
dispositions, viz., Bucer, (Ecolampadius, Melanchthon, and Bullinger, were at one 
in their approval of the condemnation of the unfortunate Spanish innovator. One 
may deeply deplore this error without insulting the Reformation, and combine in a 
just measure that pity which a great victim demands, with respect for those men 
whom an unhappy time made the accusers and the judges of Servetus. 



1553. MADAME DE PONS. 419 

to exhort you to patience. But since he who ought to have 
considered you as dear to him as the half of himself, has been, 
while he lived, a very severe scourge, you have occasion rather 
to acknowledge that in removing him our gracious God has 
acted in mercy towards you. Furthermore, the annoyances 
which you have undergone ought to teach you to humble your 
self under the hand of Him who has thought fit thus to try you, 
n order to make you feel the value of His help, and how His faith 
fulness never fails His people. But all the ill-treatment under 
which you have pined away, has been nothing at all compared 
to that wretched captivity by which you were kept back from 
the worship of God, and kept away from the Son of God, so as to 
be unable to keep faith in the holy and sacred marriage which 
He has contracted with you ; and now you must all the more 
consider, to what end He has set you so much at liberty. Call 
to mind, I beseech you, the continual sighs you have been heav 
ing for so long a time. Although you had many kinds of grief, I 
doubt not that your chief regret was that of not being permit 
ted to devote yourself entirely to the service of God. Consider 
well, whether you have not vowed daily before God, that you 
wished for nothing but the means of getting rid of the servi 
tude in which you were held. Now that your wish is granted, 
rely upon it that God holds you to your promise. It is for you 
to anticipate him, even as your conscience prompts you, without 
incitements from without. And yet further, call to remembrance 
that Saint Paul, in saying that married persons are as it were 
divided, but that widows have nothing to do but to apply them 
selves entirely to God, takes away from you the excuse which 
hitherto you could have alleged. It is certain that nothing 
whatever ought to hinder us from the discharge of what is due 
to our heavenly Father, and to that kind Redeemer whom He 
has sent to us ; but the better the opportunity of each, so much 
the more guilty does he become if he does not the more readily 
discharge his duty. I am well aware that you have regard to 
your children, and I do not say but that this is right, provided 
that the sovereign Father of both you and them be not left out. 
But consider that the greatest benefit which you can confer 
upon them, is to shew them the way to follow God. However 



420 MADAME DE PONS. 1553. 

that may be, it will no longer be permitted you to allege that 
you are under compulsion, and forced to offend, seeing that God 
has opened a door to you which might have been shut. What 
remains for you then but to take courage, yea even so as to 
strive to the very utmost to surmount all the difficulties which 
keep you back : for I know very well that you cannot without 
great opposition dedicate yourself fully to our Lord Jesus. 
But to come to the point, make a right use of the knowledge 
which He has for a long time past vouchsafed you ; and do not 
allow the zeal which He has at one time imprinted by the Holy 
Spirit upon your heart to die away ; and do not knowingly 
quench the holy desire which has burned within you in bygone 
times. Behold how God allows those to slip away who grow 
careless little by little, and how easily He permits them to be 
so utterly depraved that they go to perdition ; and it is just 
that the Lord should thus avenge Himself upon those who 
have preferred the vanities of the world to the treasure of His 
Gospel. Now, while many allow themselves to be seduced by 
such examples, let this serve as a warning to you, to keep all 
the more closely fenced about in fear and solicitude. Finally, 
let the adversity which you have passed through, during a part 
of your life, make you ponder all the more seriously that true 
happiness and perfect glory which is prepared for us in heaven, 
that we may not beguile ourselves with worldly repose, which 
can only be fleeting and highly seasoned with never-ceasing 
care and trouble^, and, worse than all, which makes us un 
mindful of that soul-rest which alone is blessed. But that 
I may not seem to distrust your good-will, I shall conclude for 
the present, after having affectionately commended me to your 
kind favour and prayers, and having besought our merciful 
God that if in times past He has poured forth upon you the 
graces and virtues of His Holy Spirit, He would not only 
continue them, but would increase you therein, and never allow 
you to decline from the straight path, but advance you therein 
still more and more, while in the meantime he holds you under 
His protection. I do not know whereabouts your brother is, 
or if I should give him pleasure by writing to him, which with 
holds me from doing so. Nevertheless, I desire that God would 



1553. VIUET. 421 

hold him with a strong hand, so that he may not be estranged 
from Him. 1 From what I hear, he is a little gone out of the 
way in some things, and has much need to be brought back into 
the straight path ; but as I do not know how to effect this, 
I reserve it for a better opportunity. Once more I commit you 
to the love of our merciful God. Your humble brother and 
servant, CHARLES D ESPEVILLK 

[Fr. Copy.Impl. Library. Coll Dupv.y, Vol. 102.] 



CCCXXXL To ViREi. 2 

Recommendation of several English refugees in Switzerland. 

GENEVA, 20th November 1553. 

Those Englishmen, on leaving this place to resort to you, 
requested me to give them an introduction, in order that by 
your assistance they might secure suitable lodgings. Indeed 
they were anxious to live with yourself or M. Beza, but they 
will not urge this, especially as they were informed that they 
could scarcely expect it. You will, however, receive them as a 
good and kind host should; for I understand that they are 
pious and honourable men, and am confident that they will be 
easily accommodated. The elder, the father of the young man, 
is a person of good birth, and was wealthy in his own country. 
The son merits higher praise for piety and holy zeal ; for, un 
der the reign of King Edward, seeing that the Church suffered 
from want of pastors, he undertook voluntarily the labours of 

1 May not the personage in question be Antoine de Pons, Lord of Maremme. 
He had taken for his first wife Anne de Parthenay, daughter of M. de Souhisc, and 
had embraced the Reformed faith at the Court of Fcrrara. Having afterwards 
married the lady of Montchenu, he fell away from Protestantism, and even became 
one of its persecutors Beze, Hist. Eccl., torn. i. p. 199. 

2 After the accession of Queen Mary to the throne of England, the Continent 
was filled with religious exiles, who did not hesitate to sacrifice their country for 
the- free profession of their faith in a strange land. A great many English Churches 
were established in Germany and Switzerland. Those of Frankfort and Geneva 
were the most important. See on the origin and history of the latter, the Memoir 
published by a Genevcse savant, M. Heyer, in the llccucil de la Societe d JIistoire 
et d Archcologie de Geneve. 1854. 



422 BULLINGEIi. 1553. 

that office. Add to this, that they, with a generous liberality, 
assisted with their entire property our French brethren, who, 
on account of the Gospel, had crossed over to England. We 
must on no account, therefore, deny to these exiles at least a 
similar friendship. You will also inform our friend Beza of 
the intended visit of a friend, who will, I expect, be with him 
to-morrow or soon afterwards. He is brother to Luzarch, 
whom he had formerly at his house older than he, however, 
although not the eldest of the family. Our bold leaders have 
dined together several times since you left. 1 I have not as yet 
witnessed any proof of that intrepidity of which they were 
boasting. Adieu, very worthy brother. Salute M. Beza and 
the rest of the brethren, also your wife, and little daughters at 
home. May the Lord guide and watch over you. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

\Lai. oriy. autogr. Library of Geneva, Vol. 107, a.] 



CCCXXXIL TO BULLINGEK, 2 

Appeal to the Magistrates of Zurich in reference to ecclesiastical discipline 
thanks for the aid afforded hy the ministers of that Church in the affair 
of Servetus. 

GENEVA, 26th November 1553. 

Here is another new labour for you. Those desirous of 
living a life of licentiousness, have not ceased for the past seven 

1 " The whole of the Lesser Council, the gentlemen of justice, M. Calvin, and a 
great number of the more eminent men of the town, dine together, in order to 
cement the peace, and it has heen decided upon that if any one violate it all the 
others may oppose him." Registers of the Council for 1553. 

2 See the letter to Yiret, p. 405. After having solemnly refused the Supper to 
Philibert Berthelier, Calvin presented himself before the Council, and demanded a 
general assembly of the people. The Council could not, he said, annul a discipline 
which the entire people had sanctioned. Intimidated by this step the Council 
adopted the course which it had already followed in the case of Servetus, and ex 
pressed the intention of consulting the other Eeformed Cantons. Charged with a 
secret mission by the Eeformer, his friend John de Bude set out for Zurich, to 
solicit in that place a decision favourable to the views of Calvin. Bullinger was 
active in his exertions to gain over the magistrates of his country, as well as in 
giving Calvin wise counsels of moderation : " We have laboured with all our 



1553. BULL1NGER. 423 

years to oppose the discipline of the Church, which is in a 
tolerable state of efficiency here. We would not, however, have 
been so much annoyed by loose-living men among the com 
mon people, if there had not been leaders who wished to con 
vert this license into a means of power. It has now come to 
this, that whatever church order has hitherto flourished will be 
rooted up if you cannot afford us a remedy. And it is on this 
account that our very excellent brother, M. de Bude, has not 
scrupled to undertake a journey to you, at this trying season of 
the year, in order to acquaint you with the whole business. 
However, the main point is in brief this : that your most illus 
trious Senate give as their reply that the form which we have 
hitherto employed is agreeable to the Word of God ; in the 
next place, that it discountenance innovation. You will learn 
the rest from the circular letter which I have written ; on this 
condition, however, that should you not deem it expedient to 
circulate it more widely, you [communicate it expressly to M. 
Gualter. I leave it entirely to your judgment. Should I 
obtain through you those two chief points, viz., an unambiguous 
confirmation of our regulations by the suffrages of your Senate, 
and a discountenancing in our men of their desire for innova 
tion, it will bring peace to this Church for a long time to come. 
I hope you have received the letter which I sent you lately, in 
which I thanked you all in my own name and that of my 
brethren, for the faithful and pious response which you gave in 
the case of Servetus. The very brilliant commendation with 
which you honoured us, had its own weight with good men. 1 
It has not as yet, as you may perceive, put a check upon the 

might," he wrote to him, " to prevent our Seigneurs from acting in any way dero 
gatory to the excellent laws of your Church ; we have besides exhorted you to con 
tinue faithful, using moderation in all things, lest you lose those whose salvation 
is desired by the Lord, who does not break the bruised reed nor quench the smok 
ing flax." Buttinger to Calvin. 12th December 1553. 

1 While giving an energetic deliverance against the errors of Servetus, the 
ministers of Zurich had paid, in their reply to the Seigneurie of Geneva, a very 
beautiful tribute to Calvin : " We trust that the faith and zeal in a word, tho 
distinguished services among the exiles and the pious of our brother, your pastor, 
Calvin, is too illustrious to be obscured by such very disgraceful calumnies, 
whether in the estimation of your honourable Council, or in that of other good 
men." Calv. Opera, torn. ix. p. 74. 



424 THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF ZURICH. 1553. 

lawless and the abandoned. However, things will be better in 
a short time, I trust, if you will come to our assistance. A 
citizen of yours has conveyed to you the book of Servetus and 
that farrago which you asked for. Of the sad desolation of 
England you know too much ; I shall stop therefore. Adieu, 
most distinguished Sir, and venerable brother. Salute earnestly 
M. Gualter, your wife, your relatives, and the faithful. May 
the Lord shield you all by His protection, and guide you by 
His Spirit. JOHN CALVIN. 

[Calvin s Lai. Corresp. Opera, torn. ix. p. 75.] 



CCCXXXIII. To THE PASTORS AND DOCTORS OF THE 
CHURCH OF ZuRicn. 1 

Account of the struggles at Geneva for the maintenance of ecclesiastical 
discipline appeal to the Pastors of Zurich for their influence with the 
magistrates of that town. 

GENEVA, 2Qth November 1553. 

I feel indeed ashamed, very excellent and sincerely respected 
brethren, at bringing before you again a new topic of considera 
tion, inasmuch as our Council troubled you lately with the case 
of Servetus. There is, however, good grounds for excuse in 
the present instance : for, as the wickedness of certain parties 
is vaunting itself with a headstrong insolence not to be resisted, 

1 See the preceding letter. The Council of Zurich having received the letter 
of that of Geneva, and having consulted Bullinger and his colleagues regarding 
the reply which they would require to make, did not hesitate to give a deliverance 
in favour of Calvin, and against the demands of the Libertines. They accordingly 
exhorted the magistrates of Genera to maintain their ecclesiastical laws, " as good 
and conformable to the prescriptions of the Divine word, and as particularly neces 
sary in an age in which men are becoming more and more wicked." Although 
the discipline then in operation at Zurich differed essentially from that of Geneva, 
in being less rigorous, yet the Seigneurs of Zurich pronounced a eulogy upon that 
of the latter, "inasmuch as it was framed in a manner adapting it to the time, the 
place, and the persons ; and that every Church ought to persevere in those usages 
which she has received and holily established, according to the word of God." 
Ruchat, Hist, de la Reformation, torn. vi. pp. 67, 68. The reply of the Seigneurs 
of Berne was less explicit. They limited themselves to the declaration, that ex 
communication was not in force among them, but that they had certain regula 
tions, of which they forwarded them a copy. 



1553. THE PASTOUS OF THE CHURCH OF ZURICH. 425 

the pious and upright are forced to apply to you for aid ; and 
while I am assuredly anxious above all things to avoid giving 
you trouble., I have, nevertheless, from the necessity of the case, 
thought it my duty not to spare you. From the time of my 
return to this Church, discipline has at least made tolerable 
advancement, if it has not been perfect, or such as could have 
been wished. The Consistory was instituted, and charged with 
the regulation of morals. It possessed no civil jurisdiction, 
but simply the administration of rebuke from the word of God ; 
its ultimate punishment was excommunication. Among the 
other disputes which Satan has been continually stirring up 
during the past three years, the present one has been a source 
of extreme vexation to us ; for a certain wretch, of abandoned 
effrontery, having attempted, contrary to the decision of the 
Church, to force his way to the Holy Table, when he saw that 
we were prepared to offer a determined resistance to his mad 
ness, filled the city with a great tumult. Nor, indeed, had he 
much difficulty in doing so, seeing that he could make choice 
of the irreligious faction to act the drama. And because he 
was not only patronized by those men, who were not ashamed 
to make a noise in defence of Servetus, but also aided and 
abetted by them, he, by their assistance, succeeded, after an 
intense struggle, and by very outrageous behaviour, in prevail 
ing upon the Greater Council rashly to break through the esta 
blished and hitherto observed order of the Church. We again 
opposed them. Those who had fallen into the error, have re 
solved upon consulting the Swiss Churches. And although 
they have not yet written you, yet because it is certain that the 
reply of your most illustrious Council will be in accordance with 
your mind, I have thought that you should be apprised and 
solicited regarding it in time. Accordingly, a very excellent 
and eminently judicious man, and my dearly beloved brother, 
has gladly undertaken a journey to you, in the name of the 
Church, at the cost of great toil and trouble at this severe 
season of the year. Let me earnestly beseech you, therefore, in 
the first place, to reflect, that it should not be treated by you 
as some ordinary matter ; but, that the case proposed for deci 
sion concerns the entire welfare of this Church. And because 



426 THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF ZURICH. 1553. 

I consider that it would be perfidious cowardice in me, so long 
as I occupy my present position, not to contend keenly, even to 
the utmost, in behalf of a holy and lawful discipline, I have 
resolved that I should a hundred times rather leave this life 
not to say this place than suffer to be overthrown, that 
which I am confident is taken from the Word of God. All are 
not agreed at the present time regarding excommunication. 
Nor am I ignorant that there are pious and learned men who 
do not consider excommunication to be necessary under Chris 
tian princes. And yet I am confident that there is no person 
of sound mind, and unbiassed disposition, who would discoun 
tenance the employment of it. To me it is clearly the doctrine 
of Christ. If on any occasion people cannot be got to come 
under this yoke of Christ, after pastors have exerted themselves 
to the utmost respecting it, it is their business then, not ours ; 
but it would be exceedingly base for us to stand by and look 
on, while an edifice which Christ committed to our defence, was 
being overthrown, and utterly razed to the ground. Nor have 
I any fear that you will censure my zeal for its pertinacity, 
when once you have got a thorough understanding of the plan 
which we have followed up to the present time, and of which 
godless men are endeavouring forcibly to deprive us. And 
now, if it shall appear to you to contain nothing but what 
is consonant with the pure doctrine of Christ, I solemnly be 
seech you to use your influence, so that your most illustrious 
Council may bear a similar testimony. For this is of especial 
importance, in order that our men may understand that they 
cannot compass that innovation which they desire, without 
abandoning the example of Christ, or, if this seem too strong, 
without swerving from it. As for whatever is not sufficiently 
set forth in this letter, M. de Bude will explain it in your 
presence. The Lord will be a witness to myself and my col 
leagues, that for four years wicked men have done all in their 
power, to accomplish the gradual overthrow of this Church in 
its present tolerable condition. I saw through their secret 
machinations from the first ; but I did not know what to make 
of it, unless that the Lord was preparing whips before our eyes, 
in order that by inspiring us with fear, He might win us back 



1553. THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF ZURICH. 427 

to Himself. For the past two years, we have been precisely as 
if living among the professed enemies of Christ. The last act 
is now played ; for after many victories, the enemy meditates a 
splendid triumph over Christ, His doctrine, His ministers, and 
in a word, over all His members. I shall not speak of how 
inhumanly, insolently, and barbarously, they have tortured 
those exiles of Christ who had embraced His faith. And, 
indeed, the very perpetrators of those wrongs will not be able 
to deny, with what mildness, modesty, and patience, those who 
found a ready asylum here, have borne all their indignities. 
Their profligacy has now reached such a pitch, that having 
shaken off all shame, they obstinately desire to convert the 
House of the Lord into a brothel. And, in order that you 
may know how foully dishonourable they are, they lately, 
when our brother Farel was here, to whom they are, as you 
know, under so great obligations, and who gave them a free 
and independent advice, were so inflamed with rage, that they 
made bold to threaten him with a criminal prosecution. 1 

I am indeed well enough aware, that it is nothing new for 
factious men, in a free city, to stir up mobs. Yet our Council 
have been deplorably left to themselves, for they demanded of 
the people of Neuchatel that they should deliver up to them 
the father of their liberty, yea, the father of this Church, as 
accused of a capital offence. I feel constrained to proclaim the 
infamy of this city, although I could desire to wipe it off with 
my blood. Farel came : before he entered the city, the officer 
of the Council delivered an official intimation at my house, that 

1 Farel, while preaching at Geneva, had addressed severe language to the 
youths of that city ; and he said they were " worse than brigands, murderers, 
thieves, plunderers, atheists." A crowd of young men presenting themselves 
before the Council, menaced it to its face, and demanded that Farel should be 
summoned from Neuchatel to give an account of his insolent language. A great 
tumult followed this proposition. Some made bold to stand up and call to their 
recollection the services Farc4 had rendered to the republic, and the shame of an 
accusation directed against the spiritual father of the city. Meanwhile, Farel 
arrived, calm as usual. The cry got up of Justice ! Justice ! and the citizens 
leaving their shops, hastened to rally round the venerable pastor, and preserve 
him from all disgrace. He had little difficulty in justifying himself, and even 
Perrin was compelled to proclaim his innocence. Registers of the Council, Nov. 
1553; Reset, torn. v. p. 53 ; and Hist, de la Suisse, torn. xi. p. 381. 



428 THE PASTORS OF THE CHUECH OF ZURICH. 1553. 

he was not to enter the pulpit. I shall not dwell upon the 
rest ; for it is sufficient to let you have a taste of this ingrati 
tude, which will stir the just indignation of all good and honest 
men. And as I have many reasons for not making an open 
lament over our evils., so, of this be convinced, and that briefly, 
that unless Satan receive a check through you, he will fling the 
reins loose altogether. It becomes you, therefore, to make as 
great exertions, as if the welfare of this Church was entirely in 
your hands. Nor let it be ascribed to peevishness in us, if we 
would rather yield up our position than sacrifice our opinions. 
For all good men know, that we have been hitherto over- 
accommodating, in order to obviate troubles, even when there 
could be no doubt at all, that our patience was tried by the 
wicked. But we must not yield them this victory ; nay, we 
must not knowingly and wilfully surrender the entire liberty of 
the Church ; not only because the authority of our ministry 
would fall to the ground, but because the name of Christ would 
be subjected to any the foulest disgrace : an unbridled license 
for all vices would increase with more and more effrontery : the 
condition of the pious would not only become exposed to all 
manner of wrongs, but utterly cast down by suffering, they 
would lie in sad prostration. This makes me all the more con 
fident, that you will do your endeavour to assist, by your sup 
port, the faithful of this place, so that they may worship God 
with a little more peace. Adieu, my very excellent and truly 
revered brethren. May the Lord be present with you, and 
guide you by His Spirit : may He supply you with an abun 
dance of wisdom, sufficient, not only for maintaining your own 
Church, but also for upholding that of others. Fare ye well, 
my very excellent and truly revered brethren. May the Lord 
be ever present with you, to guide and watch over you. 

My colleagues salute you earnestly, and commend this 
Church, with all possible zeal, to your faithfulness and wisdom. 
Yours, JOHN CALVIN. 

It will be desirable to conceal this letter, lest our men hear 
of it. 1 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Archives of Zurich. Gest. vi. 105, p. 515.] 
1 In Calvin s own hand. 



1553. BULLINGER. 429 



CCCXXXIY. TO BULLINGER, 

Fresh details regarding ecclesiastical discipline hope of speedy realization 
announcement of the publication of a book against the errors of 
Servetus. 

GENEVA, 30th December, 1553. 

The messenger arrived six days after I had received your 
letter. The people of Schaffhausen give a pious and judicious 
reply ; those of Bale give a very meagre response ; they offer 
us almost no advice, sending us simply a copy of their edicts, 
without, however, pronouncing any judgment. Our brother, 
Sulzer, earnestly apologizes for not having been able to accom 
plish more. And I can perceive, in various ways, indeed, most 
upright and respected brother, how strenuously you have 
exerted yourself in our behalf ; nor do I doubt but that our 
friend Gualter performed his part also. Whatever may have 
happened, I feel that I owe more to your singular faithfulness 
and remarkable zeal, than I am able to express. But the Lord, 
in whose cause you have made such endeavours, will give you 
his reward. Assuredly my affection for you will not be found 
wanting. Nothing has as yet been done in the Senate, the 
letters being still in the hand of the translator. Seeing that 
we have to do with very base calumniators, they will get up 
various quarrels with us. I expect, however, either victory, or 
a satisfactory winding up of the matter. As soon as anything 
has been effected, I shall see to it that you be informed of it. 
For it will be a matter of common gratulation to us, if the 
event turn out according to our wishes. The pamphlet against 
Servetus, in which I have set forth that argument which you 
wished me to employ, was published at the late Frankfort Fair. 1 

1 This is the book against the errors of Michael Servetus. Opera, torn. viii. ; 
and Opuscules, p. 230. The Registers of Council contain the following intimation 
on the subject of this work : " Calvin has represented to the Council, that at the 
request of the Swiss Churches, he is about to publish a book, containing an 
account of the opinions of Servetus ; and that he has not been so bold as to com 
mit it to the press without the permission of the Council, assuring it that this 
book contains nothing not conformable to the word of God, or dishonourable to the 
city. Agreed to permit Calvin to print it ; llth December 1553." This book, as 



430 FAREL. 1553. 

With respect to those matters which the men at Bale are 
making a clamour about, and of which I complained to you, I 
resolved to spare their reputation, and have done so, lest the 
disgrace of a few men should bring dishonour on the whole 
Church ; a and certainly they deserve to be overwhelmed in 
eternal oblivion. The progress of events convinced me of what 
had not previously occurred to me, viz., that your letter concern 
ing Servetus, should be inserted in the book ; and trusting to 
your kindness, I took the liberty of inserting it. Should you 
not approve of my plan, however, I shall endeavour to remedy 
it. Adieu, very distinguished Sir, illustrious minister of Christ, 
and revered brother. May the Lord continue to guide you by 
the spirit of wisdom and fortitude, and to protect your Church. 
Salute earnestly in my name your colleagues, and your 
family. My colleagues, MM. Celso Martinengo and Bucle, and 
the other brethren, respectfully salute you. Yours truly, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. Copy. Library of Zurich. Coll. Simler, torn. 80.] 



CCCXXXY. To 

Assistance afforded to the faithful refugees in Switzerland reply of the 
Churches on the subject of ecclesiastical discipline. 

GENEVA, 30th December 1553. 

Good men have indeed sent money to be laid out on the 
banished brethren and the exiles. They have ordered one part 
to be distributed among us, and they have designed the other 



establishing the right of magistrates to punish heresy by the sword, has given 
place to the most violent controversies. 

1 Calvin had written, what he then suppressed : De Curione et Similibus. The 
condemnation of Servetus was disapproved of by certain of the professors of the 
Academy of Bale, among whom is to be found the celebrated Italian refugee, Celio 
Secondo Curione, and Sebastian Castalio. 

2 Whilst the number of refugees was increasing at Geneva and the other towns 
of Switzerland, their wants were provided for by liberal charitable donations. 
This was the origin of the Bourse Etrangere founded at Geneva, and whose 
revenues are applied, even in our own day, to the support of poor students, or to 
the establishing of new schools. 



1553. FAREL. 431 

two parts for the poor of Lausanne and your own city. Our 
friend Beza caused twenty-five gold pieces to be handed over 
to them. However, as but few exiles have hitherto gone among 
you, so far as I know, especially of that sort which is so nume 
rous here, might you not, if you are not in immediate need, 
expend at your own discretion what would relieve the necessity 
of others ? I do not ask you, certainly, to make a remission to 
us, but I wished to advise you on the matter, that if it should 
seem proper to you, you might transmit a certain sum to those 
who are in urgent need of money. Nevertheless, I do not dic 
tate any course to you, but fearing, as I did, that you might be 
troubled with some doubts about how to act, I thought it 
better to anticipate them. The messenger has at length re 
turned from the Helvetian Churches. Our Council will meet 
with a disappointment to-morrow in their replies. I expect 
a great deal of quarrelling, the issue of which, however, will 
perhaps turn out more fortunately than the wicked, who are 
now beginning to get crestfallen, had previously calculated 
upon. But there is in the other respect no cordiality. When 
we shall have completed the contests which are in store for us, 
I shall write you the whole more fully. Adieu, most upright 
brother : assist us with your prayers. 

The men of Zurich prudently dissuade from making any 
change. Those of Bale, without interposing any judgment, 
send a written copy of their own edicts. The people of Schaff- 
hausen are the most judicious of all. Our neighbours push it 
coldly aside ; a thing which I expected from the first. Salute 
your brethren and friends earnestly in my name. May the 
Lord be ever with you to guide you. Yours, 

JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. antogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 



432 JOHN A LASCO. 1553. 



CCCXXXYL To JOHN A LAsco. 1 

Expression of sympathy under his trials loud complaints of the intolerance of 
German theologians. 

December 1553. 2 

I have been longer in replying to you, very illustrious Sir 
and heartily revered brother, than you perhaps expected, as I 
thought there would be no harm in delaying. For although a 
young physician set out from this place some time ago for 
your locality, yet as I hardly expected that a letter would reach 
you sooner by him, I thought it better not to give it him to be 
carried to you by a circuitous journey. There was another 
also a short time afterwards, who likewise purposed making a 
round-about journey. Besides, M. Secelius, who had brought 
your letter, went away hurriedly from us, while Messrs. Cheke 
and Morison, then compelled to retire to Italy, were staying 
with me. I was accordingly constrained to allow a very fit 
messenger to go away empty, at least one who would have 
taken the trouble of delivering to you faithfully and in safety 

1 See the note, p. 269, of the present volume. At the death of Edward VI. the 
congregation of foreign Protestants, under the charge of John a Lasco, obtained 
permission to quit London and embark for the Low Countries. A storm dis 
persed their little fleet, and the ship in which a Lasco was, found shelter in the 
Danish port of Elsinore ; but the intolerance of the Lutheran ministers did not 
long respect this asylum. Keceived at first with favour by the King of Denmark, 
Christian III., a mild and pious prince, a Lasco was before long violently attacked 
by the theologians of the court, "VVestphal and Bugenhagen, who represented the 
wandering members of the Church of London as so many infidels, unworthy of 
the name of Christian, and called them the Devil s Martyrs. Led away by their 
counsels, the King ordered the refugees to evacuate the country, and they were 
obliged to re-embark during a tempestuous season, and sail through a thousand 
perils in quest of some more hospitable shore. This shameful violation of hospi 
tality, renewed by the Lutherans of Lubec, Hamburg, and Rostock, excited the 
lively indignation of the Reformed Churches of Switzerland, which we find 
eloquently expressed in this letter of Calvin to a Lasco. Having retired to Fries- 
land, where he had founded several churches a number of years previously, 
a Lasco was not long in directing his steps to Frankfort, where we afterwards find 
him. Krasinski, Hist, llelig. des Peuples Sclaves. C. vii. pp. 135, 136. 

2 Without a date, but written doubtless towards the end of the year 1553. 



1553. JOHN A LASCO. 433 

whatever I should have written. If you now expect me to 
pay you with interest for my tardiness, you will be deceived. 
Nor, indeed, do I suppose you will desire very greatly this sort 
of favour, as it will take up your time without your gaining 
much profit. For I have not a subject of a kind like yours, 
the reading of which, although not at all pleasant, was never 
theless useful and thankworthy to us ; for the narrative of your 
wanderings so afflicted me with grief and sadness, that I easily 
perceived that the events were nevertheless exceedingly worthy 
of being recorded. Nor do I doubt but that many others felt 
the same. It was therefore in my judgment worth your pains 
to write a full account of it ; and it may perhaps be useful to 
give it a somewhat wider publicity. For my own private part, 
I must not regret what has already been productive of fruit ; 
but the information respecting the cruelty of the Danes was 
exceedingly painful and saddening to me. Good God ! that 
the barbarity of a Christian people should exceed even the sea 
in savageness. When the rumour got afloat here that a signal 
had been raised by that king to our unfortunate brethren, who, 
exiled from England, were in search of a new place of retreat, 
so sudden was our joy that this single act was sufficient to win 
for him immortal honour. But I now fear that he has brought 
down upon himself the bitter vengeance of God, no less than 
kindled the deep indignation of all good men. And I feel it 
all the more keenly for his mild disposition to have been 
inflamed by unfortunate instigators, seeing that I had taken 
such a lively interest in celebrating, yea, in publicly proclaim 
ing his generosity. The perfidy of those who ought even to 
have smoothed down hostility, was no less detestable than their 
cruelty. It seems to me, however, that a diabolical fury has 
seized on almost the whole of that maritime region, and has 
swept over Saxony and the adjoining countries, so that they 
show neither bounds nor shame in their mad rage against us. 
You may rely upon it that it has been a joyful and pleasant spec 
tacle to the Papists. We must therefore strive all the more 
silently to repress what one cannot make public without at 
the same time bringing dishonour upon the Gospel. Seeing, 
however, that I had no doubt at all but that the intemper- 
VOL. n. 2 E 



434 JOHN A LASCO. 1553. 

auce of that party was hateful to men of learning and forbear 
ance, I was led to think that I should not be altogether silent ; 
and certainly it was not my fault that some expedient was not 
adopted by us at the very first for putting a check upon them. 
It appeared otherwise to our very excellent brother Bullinger, 
who was placing victory in silence and patient endurance. I 
desisted from pushing the matter, lest my assiduity might 
cause trouble or breed mistrust. Tired of the propriety of 
such a course, he has changed his mind of late, I opine, and 
has exhorted me of his own accord to repel their foul calum 
nies in a short tract. This I have promised to do. But as I 
was busily engaged with Genesis up to the time of the markets, 
and as I required the general assent of those whose defence I 
had undertaken, I have done nothing to it as yet. But as soon as 
I get set about it, I hope to produce a lucubration without much 
delay. But to return to yourself, revered brother, I think you 
have set an example doubly praiseworthy, in that yourself and 
your companions have contended with the savage ferocity and 
haughtiness of that beast with no less calm discretion than 
composed dignity, and have besides preserved the same even 
tenor of moderation as often as others of a similar character 
have turned their cruel attacks against you. So noble indeed has 
been your defence of truth, that, already tossed about roughly 
both by sea and land, you have not thought it a hardship again 
to undergo a new exile for its cause, and by this steadfastness 
you have offered alike a sweet sacrifice to God, and set a use 
ful example to all pious men. I rejoice that the Lord has at 
length looked down upon you, so that you have found a tran 
quil haven, in which you may not only find rest but also employ 
yourselves in profitable labour in the cause of God and of his 
Church. May the Lord enrich that very illustrious lady 1 with 
every blessing, who has extended her maternal hand to you so 
kindly and graciously. JOHN CALVIN. 

[Lat. orig. autogr. Library of Geneva. Vol. 107, a.] 

1 The Countess d Embden, who, after Caiviu s death, engaged in a pious corre 
spondence with Theodore Beza. 




A- 

V 



