Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
gone , the Judges gave the prisoner leave to buy , at his own charge , such books as he might want . They also allowed him the use of pen , ink * and paper . The next day he pre * sented to the Syndics and Council a petition , consisting of three articles : —* lst , he petitions to be discharged from the criminal accusation of a capital offence , because the apostles and primitive church had no notion of making a criminal process of any doctrine of Scripture , or any questions arising from it t 2 dl y ^ he prays to be discharged , because he had not committed any civil offence : because he had never been seditious or turbulent
because the questions before the Court were difficult \ and because he had never spoke of them in Germany to any more than three , Oecolampadius , Bucer , and Capito ; he ought not to be punished , he said , for proposing questions to divines without sedition . Lastly , he humbly requests , as he was a stranger , and wholly unacquainted with the laws and customs of the republic , that they would grant him counsel to speak for him . The petition was rejected : even the benefit of counsel was denied him ; and it became evident that they were already determined "upon his destruction .
On the last day of August arrived there the Captain of tht Royal Palace at Vienne ( alias the head-jailer ) , with a letter from some of the magistrates of that city to those of Geneva , in which they thanked them for informing them that Servetus had been apprehended , and desired he might be sent back to Vienne , that their sentence might be executed upon him .
When Servetus was at the bar , and this captain or jailer came in , the Judges asked the prisoner , whether he would stay at Geneva , or go back to Vienne with the jailer that was come to fetch him ? " Upon which he threw himself upon the ground , and melting into tears , he most earnestly begged of the Judges , not to send him back , but try him at Geneva , and deal with him as they should see fit * Here was a scene that would move the heart of almost any man but an inquisitor ! A poor friendless destitute foreigner , taken up as he was passing through their city , where he had done them no
injuryand imprisoned , because he was not of the same opinion with them , who themselves differed from the majority , and had lately broken off from the church of Rome ; and when he was upon the ground at their feet , all in tears , begging for protection and mercy , their zeal had no ears , their hearts no
sympathy or relenting ; they only kept him from returning to Vienne , that they might have the glory of burning him at Geneva ! Can mortal men thus treat one anQther , and yet hope for mercy from God ? The jailer of Vienne returned hojue without Servetus , afer
