Jesus Christ, and the modesty to have acknowledged that he had been totally wrong, whenever he had contradicted the assertions of that great man, that he heartily disavowed those opinions which he pronounced erroneous, and humbly submitted himself to him, he might, perhaps, have saved his life: as he could not bring himself to do this, but continued so fatally mad as to maintain doctrines which that reformer condemned, because he was still persuaded of their truth, and refused to pay him any homage, he precipitated himself to his end! It seems there was no way for him to save his life but by forfeiting his integrity, and degrading himself by a mean servility. Valentinus Gentilis, it may be supposed, according to Calvin's views, had more sense and modesty than Servetus; for being imprisoned at Geneva, in 1558, for heresy, at the suit of that reformer, he called him an excellent servant of God, and a great divine: and was merely banished. When the champions for reputed orthodoxy, rob us of our liberty, and actually endanger our lives, it is asking too much to require we should compliment them with the title of men of eminent piety, and flatter them with an enumeration of their excellent qualities. For those who usurp dominion over

L

conscience, and expect every body to give im plicit credit to their dogmas and be subject to their assumed authority, to complain that those who oppose them want modesty, however it may agree with their general character, is certainly very preposterous. Had the pope of Rome been enquired of, he would no doubt have said that Calvin, and all the reformers, wanted modesty when they dared to question the authority of the catholic church over them.

SECTION II.

Servetus is arrested at Vienne, makes his escape, is burnt in effigy with his books, goes to Geneva, is arrested there.

In consequence of William Trie's letters, Dr. Servetus was arrested, on the 4th of April, at Vienne. The Vice Bailiff followed him to the house of a sick gentleman, whom he was attending. He told him there were a great many sick and wounded prisoners in the palace of Dauphine, and begged of him to go along with him and visit them. Servetus consented, and while he was making his visits, the Vice Bailiff sent to the Grand Vicar, desiring he would come and join them. When he arrived, they informed

the Doctor that he was their prisoner, and had to answer to the charges and informations laid against him. They ordered the jailor to use him civilly according to his rank. They left him his valet, called Benedict Perrin, a youth of fifteen, who had been five years in his service. That day his friends had the liberty of seeing him. The two next days he was interrogated. After the second examination, Servetus sent Perrin to the monastery of St. Peter, to ask the Grand Prior if he had brought him the three hundred crowns due to him from St. Andrews, and the Grand Prior came and delivered him the said sum. There was in the prison a garden with a platform, which looked towards the court of justice in the palace; above this platform was a hogsty, whereby one could get down to the corner of the wall, and thence get into the court. Although the garden was always kept shut, yet sometimes prisoners above the common rank were allowed the freedom of it. On the 7th of April, Servetus rose at four o'Clock in the morning, and asked leave of the jailor to walk in the garden. The man observing that he had a cap on his head, and was wrapped in his night gown, gave him the key,

and soon after went with his servants to work in his vineyard.

As soon as the Doctor thought they were at a proper distance, he left his black velvet cap, and his furred night gown, at the foot of a tree, and putting on a hat, which he had concealed under his gown, he jumped from the terrace, got into the court, quickly passed the gate of the bridge of the Rhone, and escaped.

His flight was not known till more than two hours had elapsed. Orders were dispatched every where to apprehend him; but he could not be found. However all his effects were seized. The process having been begun before his departure, was carried on in his absence, and, on the seventeenth of June, he was condemned to be burnt alive in a slow fire. The following is the sentence pronounced against him.

'Between the Procurator of the King Dauphin, pursuer for the crime of scandalous heresy, dogmatisation, composition of new doctrines, of heretical books, sedition, schism, disturbance of union and public peace, rebellion and disobedience to the ordinances made against heresies, breaking and escaping from the royal Dauphinal prisons on the one part, and Mr.

Michael de Villeneuve, physician, formerly detained prisoner in the prison of the Dauphinal palace of Vienne, and at present a fugitive accused of the aforesaid crimes, on the other part.'

'Having seen the pieces vindicating the said heresies, and even the letters and writings of the said Villeneuve, addressed to Mr. John Calvin, preacher at Geneva, acknowledged by the said Villeneuve, his answers, confessions, and denials; the answers and other procedures concerning Balthazard Arnoullet, printer; certain bales and printed books, entitled, Christianismi Restitutio; the witnesses examined upon the said Villeneuve's having composed, and caused to be printed, the said book at his own charge; the reports of the Doctors of Divinity and other notable persons upon the errors contained in the said book and epistles; which errors and heresies are evident from the bare reading of them; acts made upon the said Villeneuve's escaping from prison, and diligence used to apprehend him; adjournment for three days, and defaults obtained upon them; re-examination of witnesses, definitive conclusions of the said Procurator of the Dauphin King, and every other thing which has been

L S