PERSECUTIONS AT CALVIN'S GENEVA
The minutes book of the Geneva City Council, 1541-1549 (translated by Stefan Zewig, Eramus: The Right to Heresy):
Compiled by Jack Moorman.
The apostle John wrote: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see whether they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" 1 John 4:1.
1. During the ravages of the pestilence in 1545 more than twenty men and women were burnt alive for witchcraft.
2. From 1542 to 1546 fifty eight judgments of death and twenty six decrees of banishment were passed.
3. During the years 1558 and 1559 the cases of various punishments for all sorts of offences amounted to four hundred and fourteen.
4. One burgher smiled while attending baptism: three days in prison.
5. Another, tired out on a hot summer day, went to sleep during a sermon: was sentenced to prison.
6. Some workmen ate pastry at breakfast: three days on bread and water.
7. Two burghers played skittles: prison.
8. Two others diced for a quarter bottle of wine: prison.
9. A blind fiddler played and damced: expelled from the city.
10. Another praised Castellio's translation of the Bible: expelled from Geneva.
11. A girl was caught skating, a widow threw herself on the grave of her husband, a burgher offered his neighbor a pinch of snuff during divine service: they were summoned before the Consistory, exhorted and ordered to do penance.
12. Some cheerful fellows at Epiphany stuck a bean into the cake: four and twenty hours on bread and water.
13. A couple of peasants talked about business matters on coming out of church: prison.
14. A man played cards: he was pilloried with the pack hung around his neck.
15. Another sang riotlously in the street; was told 'they could go and sing elsewhere,' this meaning he was banished from the city.
16. Two bargees had a brawl: executed.
The death penalty against heresy, idolatry and blasphemy and barbarous customs of torture were retained. Attendance at public worship was commanded on penalty of three sols. Watchmen were appointed to see that people went to church. The members of the Consistory visted every house to see that people went to church. The members of the Consistory visited every house once a year to examine the faith and morals of the family. Every unseemly word and act on the streets was reported and the offenders were cited before the Consistory to be either censured and warned, or to be handed over to the Council for severer punishment.
The minutes book of the Geneva City Council, 1541-1549 (translated by Stefan Zewig, Eramus: The Right to Heresy):
Compiled by Jack Moorman.
The apostle John wrote: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see whether they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" 1 John 4:1.
1. During the ravages of the pestilence in 1545 more than twenty men and women were burnt alive for witchcraft.
2. From 1542 to 1546 fifty eight judgments of death and twenty six decrees of banishment were passed.
3. During the years 1558 and 1559 the cases of various punishments for all sorts of offences amounted to four hundred and fourteen.
4. One burgher smiled while attending baptism: three days in prison.
5. Another, tired out on a hot summer day, went to sleep during a sermon: was sentenced to prison.
6. Some workmen ate pastry at breakfast: three days on bread and water.
7. Two burghers played skittles: prison.
8. Two others diced for a quarter bottle of wine: prison.
9. A blind fiddler played and damced: expelled from the city.
10. Another praised Castellio's translation of the Bible: expelled from Geneva.
11. A girl was caught skating, a widow threw herself on the grave of her husband, a burgher offered his neighbor a pinch of snuff during divine service: they were summoned before the Consistory, exhorted and ordered to do penance.
12. Some cheerful fellows at Epiphany stuck a bean into the cake: four and twenty hours on bread and water.
13. A couple of peasants talked about business matters on coming out of church: prison.
14. A man played cards: he was pilloried with the pack hung around his neck.
15. Another sang riotlously in the street; was told 'they could go and sing elsewhere,' this meaning he was banished from the city.
16. Two bargees had a brawl: executed.
The death penalty against heresy, idolatry and blasphemy and barbarous customs of torture were retained. Attendance at public worship was commanded on penalty of three sols. Watchmen were appointed to see that people went to church. The members of the Consistory visted every house to see that people went to church. The members of the Consistory visited every house once a year to examine the faith and morals of the family. Every unseemly word and act on the streets was reported and the offenders were cited before the Consistory to be either censured and warned, or to be handed over to the Council for severer punishment.
