To his dearly beloved, the pastors of the Church at Frankfurt
You have doubtless heard of the name of Servetus, a Spaniard who 20 years ago corrupted your Germany with a virulent publication, filled with many pernicious errors. This worthless fellow, after being driven out of Germany, and having concealed himself in France under a fictitious name, lately cobbled together a larger volume, partly from new bits he had invented. This book secretly printed at Vienne, a town in the neighbourhood of Lyons. Many copies of it have been conveyed to Frankfurt for the Easter fair; the printer’s agent, however, a pious and worthy man, on being informed that it contained nothing but a farrago of errors, suppressed whatever he had of it. It would take too long to tell you the many mistakes - and prodigious blasphemies against God - with which the book is filled. Imagine a compendium of the impious ravings of all ages. There is no sort of impiety which this monster had not raked up, as if from the infernal regions. I had rather you should pass sentence upon the book for yourselves. You will certainly find on almost every single page, what will inspire you with horror. The author himself is held in prison by our magistrates, and he will be punished before long, I trust. But it is your duty to see to it that this pestilential poison does not spread any further. The messenger will inform you of the number and location of the books.
I am, meanwhile, much preoccupied with the foreigners who daily pass through this place in great numbers, or who have come here to live. Among others, the marquis de Vico, a Neapolitan, arrived recently. Another will follow shortly. Should you pay us a visit next autumn, you will find our city considerably increased - a pleasing spectacle to me, if they do not overwhelm me with their visits.
CR XLII, col. 134
Good men have sent money to be spent upon the banished brethren and exiles. They have ordered one part of it to be distributed amongst those here, and have designated the other two parts for the poor at Lausanne and your own city [Neuchâtel]. Our friend Beza has arranged for 25 gold pieces to be handed over to them. However, since very few exiles have so far gone to stay with you, so far as I know, especially of that sort which is so numerous here, would you not, if you are not in immediate need, put yours towards the relief of others in need?
CR XLII, cols. 723-4