Rise and Establishment of Protestantism at Geneva - James Aitken Wylie

expressing their concurrence in it. At this supreme
hour one man alone comes forward to attempt a
mitigation of the punishment of Servetus.
Who is that man? He is John Calvin. He
earnestly interceded with the Council, not that the
unfortunate victim might be spared, but that the
sword might be substituted for the fire; but he
interceded in vain. "It is to him, notwithstanding,"
says Rilliet, "that men have always imputed the
guilt of that funeral pile, which he wished had
never been reared."[6]
We must pursue this affair to its appalling and
scandalous termination. Farel, who had been
watching from Neuchatel the progress of the trial,
came suddenly to Geneva at its close. He was
present with the unhappy man when the message of
death was brought him. Up till that moment
Servetus had clung to the hope of acquittal. He was
horror-struck when the dreadful reality disclosed
itself to him. "He was at intervals," says Calvin,
"like one mad--then he uttered groans, which
resounded through his chamber--anon he began to
362