MICHAEL SERVETUS. 529 



on that account, since by that I shall be a disciple made like to 

 his master." 



Some days afterward Calvin came into court attended by all 

 the ministers of Geneva, and undertook to prove that the teach- 

 ing of the early fathers of the Church was opposed to that of 

 Servetus. After Calvin and the prisoner had had a long dispute 

 as to the meaning of the word persona, the court adjourned, but 

 before doing so the judges gave permission for Servetus to be 

 provided, at his own cost, with such books as he needed, which 

 could be obtained in Geneva or Lyons. Some paper and ink, with 

 which the prisoner was now for the first time furnished, enabled 

 him to send in a petition on the following day. In this he pointed 

 out that the prosecution, as a criminal, of a man on account of 

 the views he held on doctrine was contrary to the Scriptures and 

 to the ancient Church ; and he begged that, as he was a foreigner, 

 wholly unacquainted with the customs of the country, and of how 

 he should proceed, he might be allowed an advocate. But to this 

 very reasonable request, although subsequently repeated more 

 than once, the judges did not accede. 



The Syndics and Council of Geneva now addressed a letter to 

 the authorities of Vienne, asking that the documents connected 

 with the trial of Michael Villeneuve might be sent to them ; and, 

 three days after, they received a letter saying that these docu- 

 ments could not be forwarded, but that, if the prisoner were 

 delivered over to them, the sentence already passed on him would 

 be carried into effect. Servetus was hereupon asked if he pre- 

 ferred remaining in the hands of the Council or to be sent back to 

 Vienne. Knowing full well that a cruel death most certainly 

 awaited him in France, and hoping that no such punishment was 

 in store for him here, he fell on his knees and besought the Coun- 

 cil to do what they would with him, but in no case to send him 

 back to Vienne. 



The trial was accordingly continued. 



Meanwhile, Servetus lay in one of the foul cells set apart for 

 criminals of the lowest class, and we find him writing in a peti- 

 tion, dated September 15th : " Calvin is resolved that I should rot 

 in a prison to please him. I am eaten up with lice. My hose are 

 worn to pieces and I have no change, nor another doublet, and 

 only one shirt, and that in tatters." 



Another petition, dated a week later, ends with the words: 

 " Wherefore, my lords, I desire that my false accuser should be 

 punished pcena talionis, and confined to prison as I am, till he 

 or I be condemned to death or to some other punishment. I am 

 willing to die if he is not convicted both of this and other things 

 which I shall lay to his charge. I beg of you, my lords, to do me 

 justice. Justice, my lords, justice ! " 



VOL. XLI. 39 



