The minutes book 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 thy be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" 1 John 4:1
If you believe that John Calvin was a Christian, it is because you don't know what a Christian is.
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 and was sent to prison.
6. Some workman ate pastry at breakfast: three days on bread and water.
7. Two burghers played skittles and were sent to prison.
8. Two others diced for a bottle of wine: prison.
9. A blind fiddler played and danced: expelled from the city.
10. Another praised Castellio's translation of the Bible: expelled from the 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 a pack hung around his neck.
15. 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 visited 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.
Compiled by Jack Moorman.
The apostle John wrote: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see whether thy be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" 1 John 4:1
If you believe that John Calvin was a Christian, it is because you don't know what a Christian is.
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 and was sent to prison.
6. Some workman ate pastry at breakfast: three days on bread and water.
7. Two burghers played skittles and were sent to prison.
8. Two others diced for a bottle of wine: prison.
9. A blind fiddler played and danced: expelled from the city.
10. Another praised Castellio's translation of the Bible: expelled from the 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 a pack hung around his neck.
15. 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 visited 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.
