been apprehended, in that city. And they defired them to fend him back to Vienne, that their sentence might be executed upon him. When Servetus was at the bar, and the captain came in, the judges afked the prifoner, "Whether he would ftay at Geneva, or go "back to Vienne, with the jaylor, that was

come to fetch him?" Upon which he threw himself on the ground, and, melting into tears, he most earnestly beged of his judges, that they would not fend him back; but try him at Geneva, and deal with him as they should see fit." Here was a scene, "which would have moved the heart of al"most any man, but an Inquifitor! a poor, friendleffe, deftitute foreigner; taken up, "as he was paffing through their city, where " he had done them no injury; and imprifoned, because he was not of the fame opinion with them; with them (I fay) "who differed from the majority, and had lately broke off from the Church of Rome. "And, when he was upon the ground, at "their feet, all in tears, beging earnestly for

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protection and mercy; their zeal had no ears, their hearts no fympathy and relenting. They only kept him from returning "to Vienne, that they might have the glory "of burning him in Geneva. Can mortal "men treat one another thus, and yet hope "for mercy from God?" - But I refrain! though furely it is impoffible to read such paffages

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paffages, without weeping eyes and a bleeding heart!

The jaylor returned to Vienne, and left Servetus behind him; after he had got an attestation, from that miferable wretch, that he had escaped without his affistance.

September 1. Servetus refufed, out of generofity, to name those who were in his debt, in France, though he was much preffed to it; as thinking, very probably, that the government would feize on his effects. On that day, Calvin appeared in court again; and afterwards they had another difpute in writing, which was to as little purpose as all the rest.

September 15. Servetus prefented a petition to his judges, beging they would make an end of the affair; and intimated, "that he was eat up with lice; that his breeches

were torne in pieces, and that he had no "other pair; nor any other doublet, or shirt, "but a very forry one." And, in the conclufion of that petition, he defired Calvin might be profecuted, as being an unjust accufer, and the author of all his miferies.

In another petition, he concludes thus, "I beg of you, my Lords, to do me Justice. Juftice, my Lords, Juftice! From your prifoner at Geneva, September 22, 1553. "Michael Servetus, pleading his own cause.'

All the Petitions were wrote in French. I will give you the last of them intire, which runs thus:

Magni

Magnificent Lords,

"It is now three weeks fince I defired to "have an hearing, but could not obtain it. "I befeech you, for Chrift's fake, not to "deny me what you would not deny a Turk, "when I defire you to do me Justice. I "have feveral things to tell you, that are

very important and neceffary. As for the

"orders you gave, that fomething should be "done to keep me clean, they have not "been performed; and I am more miserable "than ever. Befides, I am very much trou"bled with cold, by reafon of my cholic and rupture; which occafion fome other mi"feries, that I am afhamed to write. It is a great piece of cruelty, that I fhould not "be allowed to fpeak, in order to fupply my wants. For God's fake, my Lords, give fome orders about it, either out of compaffion, or out of duty.

"From your prifon at Geneva, October " 10, 1553.

Michael Servetus."

The magiftrates of Geneva (who were chiefly directed and managed by Calvin, in the whole affair) got letters from the magiftrates, or minifters, of Zurich, Schafhaufen, Bafil and Berne, to authorize and vindicate their procedings.

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When

The

When Calvin had almoft accomplished his defign, he wrote a letter to Farrel, in which he fais, "I hope Servetus will be condemned to death; but I wish the feverity of the "punishment may be foftened." common cant of all perfecutors and Inquifitors! who first bring innocent perfons into diftreffe. And, when they have accomplished their ruine, and deliver up an Heretic Convict, to the civil magiftrate, to be burnt alive, defire they would have mercy upon

bim!

However, Farrel, in his anfwer, is for showing no favor; but fais, that Servetus deferved to die ten thoufand deaths; and intimates that the judges would be very cruel, and enemies to Chrift and his church, if they did not procede, and make an example of him.

Calvin glories in it, that Bucer (though otherwise a moderate man) had faid, in his pulpit, concerning Servetus," that he deserved

to have his entrails plucked out, and to be "torne in pieces." Bulinger intimated, that the magistrates acted bravely, and that punishing fuch obftinate heretics was for the glory of God.

October 26. The judges condemned the unhappy Servetus to be burnt alive, the next

day,

• See Dr. Geddes's Tracts, Vol. I. p. 412. Limborch's Hift. of the Inquifition, tranflated by Mr. Chandler. Mr. Chandler's preface to the hiftory of the inquifetion; and his hiftory of perfecution.

day, together with all his books, both printed and MS. and Beza doth not fcruple to fay, "That it was according to the opinion of all the Helvetian Churches."

Their fentence (after reckoning up the feveral things alleged against him) concludes thus, "For this caufe, and others, mo"ving us thereunto, defiring to clear the Church " of fuch an infection, and to cut off fuch cc a rotten member; having confulted our ci"tizens, and invoked the Name of God, to

give a right judgment, fiting in the place "of our ancestors; having God and the Holy

Scriptures before our eyes, faying, In the "Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of "the Holy Ghost; by this our definitive sen"tence, which we give in writing, we con"demn thee, Michael Servetus, to be bound, "and carried to the place called Champel, " and there to be faftened to a stake, and "and burnt alive, with thy books, both "writen with thine own hand, and printed; "till thy body be reduced to afhes. And "thus thou shalt end thy days, to give an example to others, who would do the

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"like."

"We command you, our Lieutenant, "to caufe our present sentence to be put in "execution."

Servetus had attempted feveral times, during his trial, to have appealed to the counsel of Two hundred; who would, perhaps, have acquitted

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