Epistolarum et Responsorum editio secunda [...] Interjectae sunt etiam insignium in ecclesia Dei virorum aliquot etiam Epistolae. Eiusdem I. Calvini vita a Theodoro Beza Genevensis Ecclesiae Ministro accuratè descripta

8vo. (64), 693, (19) pp. A-D⁸, a-z⁸, AA-XX⁸, YY⁴ (D⁸ is a blank). Contemporary calf, double blind stamped fillets and ornamental centerpieces on the panels.

Adams, C-390; Index Aurelienis, 130.147; F. Gardy, Bibliographie des oeuvres de Théodore de Bèze, (Genève, 1960), no. 202; J.W. Joliffe, Draft Bibliography of Lausanne & Morges imprints, 1550-1600, (Oxford, 1981), no. 86b; R. Peter & J.-F. Gilmont, Bibliotheca Calviniana. Les oeuvres de Jean Calvin publiées au XVI^e siècle, (Genève, 2000), III, 76/2b.

THIRD EDITION. Although the Lausanne edition is presented as ‘editio secunda', it is in fact the third printing of this collection of Calvin's letters edited by Théodore de Bèze. It was first printed in a folio volume at Geneva in 1575 by Pierre de Saint-André, and reprinted a year later, again in-folio, with a few additions. The Lausanne edition is extant with two variant title-pages: the present one with François le Preux as only printer and the other with Jean de Serens as second printer. It is modeled on the first Geneva edition with the omission of two documents and was reprinted in 1597.

The volume opens with a dedication letter by Théodore de Bèze to Frederick Count Palatine, dated from Geneva, February 1, 1575, which is followed by a notice to the reader, a list of the letters by other senders, a list of the ‘incipits' of important letters by Calvin and others, Calvin's biography by Théodore de Bèze, and a short bibliography of Calvin's writings. There follow 397 documents, of which actually 368 are letters properly, 299 of which are written by Calvin (52, originally written in French, were translated into Latin by Théodore de Bèze: each of this letters has a note on the margin “Ex Gall.”), 88 are written by others to Calvin, and 12 are written by others to others. The volume closes with a comprehensive index of subjects and names.

“Although Calvin himself did not prepare any further substantial part of his correspondence for publication, an edition of his letters was being proposed within a few weeks after his death. On June 14, 1564 Charles de Jonviller, a former secretary of Calvin, raised the matter in a letter to Bullinger (in fact he writes in the plural, presumably associating Calvin's successor, Théodore de Bèze, with himself), requesting Bullinger's cooperation in this project and referring to a similar request in a preceding letter, now lost. Two months later De Bèze completed a biographical sketch of Calvin, published shortly afterwards as Vie de Calvin, in which he referred to Calvin's ‘many letters', which were apt, as he put it, to show Calvin's ‘esprit, dexterité, jugement singulier et graces divines et admirables'. After well over a year, the plans for an edition of Calvin's letters appear to have progressed: De Jonviller now requests Bullinger to carry out the project by preparing for publication the letters of Calvin in his possession. He further informs him that other people had been given the same request, and that he had already received a parcel of thirteen letters, which he had added to his own large collection. And then follows: ‘De Bèze also possesses many letters, which he has accepted on the instructions of Calvin, who indeed shortly before his death ordered that all the manuscripts in his house be handed over to De Bèze'. De Jonviller further informs Bullinger, that it is De Bèze's intention ‘to arrange it in order and to call in me'. These last details would be confirmed ten years later in the preface of the volume containing Calvin's letters, De Bèze's Epistolae et responsa. There he states, firstly, that Calvin had entrusted to him his enormous mass of letters in order to edit what may be profitable for the church, and further, in another preliminary document in this book, that De Jonviller's help in preparing the edition of Calvin's letters had been indispensable [...] Another detail which underlines the importance of that first collection, is the fact that in about 300 cases we are completely dependent on it for the text of Calvin's letters, because the relevant manuscripts have not survived” (Jean Calvin, Epistolae, C. Augustijn & F.P. van Stam, eds., Genève, 2005, pp. 13-14, 18-19).

Calvin's correspondence (consisting of over four thousand letters by him or written to him) is particularly important because through it we have access to him, not just as reformer and theologian, legislator and disciplinarian, but to the man who lived in those troubled days of the sixteenth century; who suffered, loved and rejoiced like any other man, revealing his true character in all phases of his life, from an obscure scholar in Bruges and Paris to the triumphant reformer (cf. J.D. Benoit, Calvin in his letters, Appleford, 1986, passim).

Daniel, François. [Paris, after October 24], 1533 (p. 1)

to Emperors, Kings, Princes and all people. [Basel, second half of May], 1535 (p. 3

from Bucer, Martin. Strassburg, November 1, 1536 (p. 7)

Basel Ministers. Genève, November 13, 1537 (p. 8)

Grynaeus, Simon. Bern, [on or shortly after June 7, 1537] (p. 9)

Capito, Wolfgang Fabricius to Farel, Guillaume. [Strasbourg, end of July 1538] (p. 11)

from Grynaeus, Simon. [Basel, middle of June, 1537] (p. 13)

id. (p. 14)

Farel, Guillaume. [Basel, September, 1538] (p. 15)

Church of Geveva. Strasbourg, October 1, 1538 (p. 17)

Farel, Guillaume. Strasbourg, October 24, 1538 (p. 21)

id. [Strasbourg], March, 1539 (p. 23)

id. Strasbourg, March 15, 1539 (p. 25)

id. [Strasbourg], April 20, 1539 (p. 31)

id. [Strasbourg], April, 1539 (p. 32)

id. Strasbourg, May 19, 1539 (p. 36)

Church of Geneva. Strasbourg, June 25, 1539 (p. 37)

from Jud, Leo. Zürich, February 28, 1540 (p. 41)

Richebourg, Monsieur de. 1540 [but Regensburg, beginning of April, 1541] (p. 42)

Caroli, Pierre. Strasbourg, August 10, 1450 (l. 47)

from Grynaeus, Simon. [Basel], July 31, 1540 (l. 49)

id. [Basel], February 12, [1540?] (l. 49)

Farel, Guillaume. Strasbourg, October 21, 1540 (l. 50)

Bernard, Jacques. [Genève], February 6, 1541 (l. 52)

Viret, Pierre. Ulm, March 1, 1541 (p. 53)

Féray, Claude to Farel, Guillaume. Strasbourg, March 8, [1541] (p. 55)

Bucer, Martin, Capito Wolfgang, Hedio Kaspar, Sturm Johannes, and Bedrotus Jacob to the Church of Geneva. [Strasbourg, October, 1540] (p. 55)

Farel, Guillaume. Regensburg, March 28, 1541 (p. 57)

Bucer, Martin to the Church of Strasbourg. [Regensburg], April 22, 1541 (p. 61)

Luther, Martin to Melanchthon, Philipp. [Regensburg], April 22, 1541 (p. 62)

Farel, Guillaume. Regensburg, May 11, 1541 (p. 63)

id. [Regensburg], May 12, [1541] (p. 64)

from Zwick, Johannes. Konstanz, May 12, 1541 (p. 65)

the German Protestant Princes to Francis I, King of France. Regensburg, May 23, 1541 (p. 66)

Farel, Guillaume. Strasbourg, July (around 6),1541 (p. 68)

id. [August, 1540] (p. 69)

from Bucer, Martin. Strasbourg, October 6, 1541 (p. 70)

Bucer, Martin to the Italians. Strasbourg, September 10, 1541 (p. 73)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, November 11, 1541 (p. 76)

id. [Genève], November 30, 1541 (p. 77)

id. Genève, May 10, 1542 (p. 79)

id. [Genève], June 16, 1442 (p. 81)

n.r. Genève, August 23, 1542 (p. 83)

n.r. Genève, August 29, 1542 (p. 84)

from Sultzer, Simon. Bern, October 21, 1542 (p. 85)

from Bucer, Martin. Strasbourg, October 28, 1542 (p. 87)

from Myconius, Oswald. Basel, February 10, 1542 (p. 87)

from Melanchthon, Philipp. May 11, 1543 (p. 89)

from Farel, Guillaume. Neuchâtel, June 11, 1543 (p. 91)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, September 16, 1543 (p. 97)

to the Ministers of Montbéliard. Genève, October 7, 1543 (p. 98)

from Bucer, Martin. [Strasbourg], October 25, 1543 (p. 101)

from Myconius, Oswald. Basel, November 23, 1543 (p. 101)

Myconius, Oswald. Genève, March 14, [1544] (p. 102)

to the Ministers of Neuchâtel. Genève, November 7, 1544 (p. 107)

from Sultzer, Simon. Bern, November 11, 1544 (p. 110)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, November 25, 1544 (p. 112)

Praefatio in editionen Gallicam Novi Testamenti Neocomi. 1536 (p. 114)

Farel, Guillaume. January 21, 1536 (p. 127)

Melanchthon, Philipp. January 18, 1545 (p. 129)

from Myconius, Oswald. Basel, March 6, 1545 (p. 131)

[Marguerite], Queen of Navarre. [Genève], April 20, 1545 (p. 132)

Melanchthon, Philipp. [Genève], June 28, 1545 (p. 135)

Myconius, Oswald. Genève, July 24, 1545 (p. 136)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, October 2, 1545 (p. 137)

id. Genève, October 13, 1545 (p. 138)

from Theodorus [Dietrich, Veit]. Nürnberg, February 5, 1546 (p. 139)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, July 4, 1546 (p. 140)

Viret, Pierre. [Genève], August 11, 1546 (p. 141)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, September 1, 1546 (p. 142)

id. and [Viret, Pierre]. [Genève, middle of April], 1546 (p. 143)

from Bucer, Martin. March 18, 1547 (p. 145)

Viret, Pierre. [Genève], March 27, 1547 (p. 146)

from Bucer, Martin. [Strasbourg], March 30, 1547 (p. 147)

Viret, Pierre. Genève, May 16, 1547 (p. 147)

id. Genève, May 28, 1547 (p. 148)

id. Genève, July 11, 1547 (p. 149)

from, Bucer, Martin. [Strasbourg], July 29, 1547 (p. 150)

to the Faithful in France. [Genève], July 24, 1547 (p. 151)

Viret, Pierre. Genève, July 24, 1547 (p. 152)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, August 21, 1547 (p. 153)

Viret, Pierre. [Genève], September 17, 1547 (p. 154)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, December 28, 1547 (p. 155)

from Myconius, Oswald. Basel, August 28, 1548 (p. 156)

from Bucer, Martin. [Strasbourg], September 30, 1548 (p. 157)

from Bullinger, Heinrich. Zürich, October 15, 1548 (p. 157)

Protectori Angliae [Seymour, Edward, duke of Somerset]. Genève, October 22, 1548 (p. 158)

Perrin, Ami. [Genève, April, 1548] (p. 170)

from Brenz, Johannes. Basel, October 6 (p. 171)

n.r. [Genève], November 5, 1548 (p. 173)

Brenz, Johannes. Genève, November 5, 1548 (p. 174)

from Farel, Guillaume. Neuchâtel, November 19, 1548 (p. 175)

Bucer, Martin. [Genève, November, 1549?] (p. 177)

id. Veritatem rem esse pretiosissimam (p.179)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, December 12, 1548 (p. 180)

from Bucer, Martin. [Strasbourg?], January 9, 1549 (p. 181)

to the Church of Montbéliard. Genève, January 16, 1549 (p. 183)

from Bucer, Martin. [Strasbourg?], February 7, 1549 (p. 184)

the Ministers of Geneva to Toussaint, Pierre. Genève, February 22, 1549 (p. 185)

from Bucer, Martin. [Strasbourg?], February 20, 1549 (p. 188)

Viret, Pierre. [Genève?], April 7, 1549 (p. 190)

from Viret, Pierre. Lausanne, April 10, 1549 (p. 191)

Sozzini, Lelio. [Genève, June, 1549] (p. 192)

id. [Genève], December 7, 1549 (p. 196)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, December 13, [1549] (p. 199).

id. Genève, April 11, [1549] (p. 200)

Viret, Pierre. Genève, October 24, 1546 (p. 202)

id. In quanta anxietate (p. 202)

Farel, Guillaume. [Genève?], September 8, n.y. (p. 203)

Viret, Pierre. Genève (p. 204)

id. Genève (p. 205)

Farel, Guillaume. [Genève], March 29, n.y. (p. 205)

Carmel, Gaspard. Monasterium [Motier-Travers], June 9, 1550 (p. 206)

from [Bucer, Martin]. Cambridge, Die Pentecostes [May 25], 1550 (p.207)

Paceus, Valentin. Genève, June 20, 1550 (p. 209)

from Bullinger, Heinrich. Zürich, August 30, 1550 (p. 211)

Melanchthon, Philipp. [Genève], 1551 [but June 1550] (p. 212)

Haller, Johannes. Genève, January 2, 1551(p. 214)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, January 4, 1551 (p. 216)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, March 10, 1551 (p. 217)

id. Genève, April, 10, 1551 (p. 218)

Viret, Pierre. Genève, May 10, 1551 (p. 219)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, June, 15, 1551 (p. 219)

n.r. [Perrin, Ami?]. [Genève], June 30, 1551 (p. 220)

Viret, Pierre. Genève, August 9, 1551 (p. 221)

Cranmer, Thomas. Genève, [end of April, 1552] (p. 222)

id. Quando hoc tempore (p. 224,)

to the Minister of Büren. [Genève, 1551] (p. 225)

from Bullinger, Heinrich. Zürich, August 29, 1551 (p. 226)

n.r. Genève, December 23, 1551 (p. 227)

n.r. Utinam nunquam aliud mihi scribendi (p. 229)

from Viret, Pierre. Lausanne, December 24, 1551 (p. 233)

to the Swiss Ministers. Genève (p. 233)

to the Ministers of Basel. [Genève], January, 1552 (p. 235)

Libertetus, Christophorus (Fabri, Christophe). (p. 237)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, July 10, 1552 (p. 238)

from Melanchthon, Philipp. October 1, 1552 (p. 238)

[a Lady to the Ministers of Geneva]. July 22, 1552 (p. 239)

from Bullinger, Heinrich. Zürich, August 15, 1552 (p. 241)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, December 2, 1552 (p. 241)

Melanchthon, Philipp. Genève, December 2, 1552 (p. 243)

Mercerus, Joannes (Mercier, Jean). [Genève], December 5, 1552 (p. 246)

n.r. Genève, February 15, 1553 (p. 248)

Cheke, John. Genève, February 15, 1553 (p. 250)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, March 27, 1553 (p. 251)

Viret, Pierre. Genève, May 8, 1553 (p. 252)

from Farel, Guillaume. Neuchâtel, July 14, 1553 (p. 252)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, July 19, 1553 (p. 254)

id. Genève, July 17, 1553 (p. 256)

n.r. Genève, July 25, 1553 (p. 257)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, August 7, 1553 (p. 258)

id. Genève, August 20, 1553 (p. 258)

to the Ministers of the Church of Frankfurt. Genève, August 26, 1553 (p. 259)

Viret, Pierre. Genève, September 4, 1553 (p. 260)

from Farel, Guillaume. Neuchâtel, September 8, 1553 (p. 261)

Sulzer, Simon. Genève, September 9, 1553 (p. 262)

from Bullinger, Heinrich. Zürich, September 14, 1553 (p. 264)

the Ministers of the Church of Schaffhausen, Vogt, Simpert, Grübel, Sebastian, and Rüger, Jakob to the Senate of Geneva. Schaffhausen, October 6, 1553 (p. 264)

Answer from the Ministers of the Church of Zürich to the Senate of Geneva. Zürich, October 11, 1553 (p. 265)

the Ministers  of the Chuch of Basel to the Senate of Geneva. Basel, October 18, 1553 (p. 269)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, October 26, 1553 (p. 271)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, October 26, 1553 (p. 272)

the Ministers of the Church of Bern to the Senate of Geneva. Bern, [October?], 1553 (p. 273)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, November 26, 1553 (p. 274)

to the Ministers of Zürich. Genève, November 26, 1553 (p. 275)

from Bullinger, Heinrich. Zürich, December 13, [1553] (p. 278)

the Ministers of Zürich to the Church of Geneva. [Zürich, November, 1553] (p. 279)

Angla (?), Agnese. [Genève, 1553] (p. 283)

from Farel, Guillaume. Neuchâtel, February 26, 1554 (p. 285)

from Liser, Caspar. Nürtingen, February 26, 1554(p. 286)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, February 23, 1554 (p. 289)

to the Brethren of Orbe. Genève, March 4, 1554 (p. 290)

from Bullinger, Heinrich. Zürich, June 12, 1554 (p. 292)

from Sulzer, Simon. Basel, July 14, 1554 (p. 293)

from Viret, Pierre. Lausanne, August 2, 1554 (p. 294)

Sulzer, Simon. Genève, August 7, 1554 (p. 294)

Marbach, Johannes. Genève, August 25, 1554 (p. 295)

Liser, Caspar. Genève, August 26, 1554 (p. 297)

Melanchthon, Philipp. Genève, August 26, 1554 (p. 298)

Pollano, Valerando. Genève, August 26, 1554 (p. 299)

Perrucellus, Franciscus. Genève, August 26, 1554 (p. 300)

Vermigli, Pietro Martire. Genève, August 26, 1554 (p. 301)

Sleidanus, Johannes. Genève, August 26, 1554 (p. 302)

n.r. [Genève], September 6, 1554 (p. 302)

n.r. [Genève], October 1, 1554 (p. 304)

from Sulzer, Simon. Basel, October 3, 1554 (p. 305)

from Melanchthon, Philipp. October 14, 1554 (p. 306)

from Vermigli, Pietro Martire. Strasbourg, May 9, [1554] (p. 306)

n.r. [but Toussain, Pierre]. Genève, October 15, 1554 (p. 307)

[Sigismund II], King of Poland. Genève, December 5, 1554 (p. 309)

n.r. [Genève], August 10, [1554?] (p. 315)

n.r. Quod facti mei ratione scripto (p. 317)

n.r. Quum de facie tibi ignotus sum. Genève (p. 318)

n.r. Genève, 1554 (p. 322)

n.r. Quod ad te aperte. Genève (p. 323)

n.r. Cum ex eo tempore. [Genève], February 13, [1554?] (p. 330)

from Vermigli, Pietro Martire. Strasbourg, September 24, [1554] (p. 331)

n.r. [Genève], December 12, 1554 (p. 332)

from Bullinger, Heinrich. Zürich, January 18, 1555 (p. 334)

to the English-speaking parish in Frankfurt. Genève, January 15, 1555 (p. 336)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, February 3, 1555 (p. 337)

Radziwill, Nicolaus. Genève, February 13, 1555 (p. 338)

Melanchthon, Philipp. [Genève], March 5, 1555 (p. 339)

Gaddi, Paolo. [Genève], March 5, 1555 (p. 340)

from [Melanchthon], Philipp. May 12, [1555] (p. 341)

Cox, Richard and associates. Genève, June 12, 1555 (p. 342)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, June 15, 1555 (p. 343)

Vermigli, Pietro Martire. Genève, August 8, 1555 (p. 349)

Garnier, Jean. Genève, August 8, 1555 (p. 351)

Melanchthon, Philipp. Genève, August 22, 1555 (p. 352)

from Farel, Guillaume. Neuchâtel, September 7, 1555 (p. 353)

Viret, Pierre. Genève, Septemberb 9, 1555 (p. 355)

Jordan of Zakliczyn, Spytek. Genève, September 13, 1555 (p. 356)

Melanchthon, Philipp to Bullinger, Heinrich. August 20, [1555] (p. 357)

from Bullinger, Heinrich. Zürich, September 30, 1555 (p. 357)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, October 10, 1555 (p. 358)

Piperinus, Christoph. Genève, October 18, 1555 (p. 358),

[Sigismund II], King of Poland. Genève, [December 24?], 1555 (p. 359)

Lassoczki, Stanislaus. Genève, December 29, 1555 (p. 362)

Tarnovius, Johannes. Genève, December 29, 1555 (p. 362)

Miskowoski, Nicolaus. Genève, December 29, 1555 (p. 365)

Carninski, Staniskaus. Genève, December 29, 1555 (p. 365)

Glauburg, Johann von. Genève, February 28, 1556 (p. 366)

to the Ministers of the Church of Frankfurt. Genève, March 2, 1556 (p. 367)

Fabri, Pierre. [Genève], April 13, 1556 (p. 369)

n.r. [Genève], April 28, 1556 (p. 370)

Pollano, Valerando. [Genève], June, 24, 1556 (p. 371)

n.r. Si tibi minus prolixere respondeo. [Genève], 1556 (p. 373)

Glauburg, Johann von. Genève, June 24, 1556 (p. 375)

Vauville, Richard. [Genève], 1556 (p. 378)

n.r. January 31, 1557 (p. 379)

from Perrucellus, Franciscus. Frankfurt, January 26, 1557 (p. 380)

to the Faithful of Lyons. [Genève], February 1, [1557] (p. 383)

from Utenhove, Carolus. Cracow, February 19, 1557 (p. 385)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, February 20, 1556 (p. 387)

Schalling, Martin. Genève, March 25, 1557 (p. 388)

from Richer, Pierre to unknown recipient. [Brazil], March 30, 1557 (p. 391)

Georg von Württemberg. Genève, May 2, 1557 (p. 393)

Pfarrer, Matthias. Genève, May 19, 1557 (p. 394)

Andreae, Jakob. Genève, August 1, 1557 (p. 395)

Hagenius, Bartholomaeus. [Genève, 1557?] (p. 396)

Melanchthon, Philipp. [Genève], August 3, 1557 (p. 397)

to the Church of Paris. [Genève], September 16, 1557 (p. 398)

to the Faithful in Poland. Genève, October 23, 1557 (p. 401)

Varagle de Busqué, Geoffroy. [Genève], December 17, 1557 (p. 404)

Bigot, [Pierre?]. [Genève], December 29, 1556 (p. 405)

n.r. Me vero angustiae tuae anxium habent. [1557?] (p. 406)

n.r. Me mireris. [1557?] (p. 406)

Aganthius. (p. 408)

Macarius, Joannes. (p. 409)

n.r. Accepi, fratres dilectissimi. [Genève], 1557 (p. 410,)

n.r. Non dubito, dilectissimi fratres. (p. 411)

n.r. [Genève], December 30, 1556 (p. 417)

from Bucer, Martin. July 10, [1557?] (p. 418)

Philip [I], Landgrave of Hesse. Genève, Febeuary 24, 1558 (p. 418)

Diller, Michael. Genève, February 22, 1558 (p. 420)

Ottheinrich, Elector Palatine. Genève, February 22, 1558 (p. 422)

Zevelius, Goswinus. Genève, March 14, 1558 (p. 424)

n.r. April 4, 1558 (p. 427)

from Vermigli, Pietro Martire. Zürich, April 21, [1558] (p. 429)

Blaurer, Ambrosius. Biel, May 14, 1558 (p. 430)

Vermigli, Pietro Martire. Genève, May 22, 1558 (p. 432)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, June 18, 1558 (p. 433)

[Alexandre, Pierre]. Genève, June 20, 1558 (p. 433)

n.r. [Genève], June 21, 1558 (p. 435)

Henrycho [Bullinger, Heinrich?]. [Genève], June 21, 1558 (p. 437)

Seel, Otto. Genève, August 28, 1558 (p. 439)

Sirk, Peter. Genève, August 28, 1558 (p. 440)

Admiralio (Coligny, Gaspard II de). [Genève], September 4, 1558 (p. 441)

to an Abbot. Genève, September 24, 1558 (p. 442)

Ostrorog, Stanislaus. Genève, November 20, 1558 (p. 443)

Uchanski, Jakob. Genève, November 20, 1558 (p. 444)

Tarnovius, Paulus. Genève, November 20, 1558 (p. 446)

from Vermigli, Pietro Martire. Zürich, December 1, [1558?] (p. 447)

Cecil, William. [Genève], February 15, 1559 (p. 448)

from Utenhoven, Carolus. Quesnoy, January 27, 1559 (p. 450)

to the Prisoners of Paris. [Genève], February 15, 1559 (p. 451)

Poppius, Menso. Genève, February 26, 1559 (p. 453)

n.r. [Genève], March 27, 1559 (p. 456)

from Farel, Guillaume. Strasbourg, April 3, 1559 (p. 457)

n.r. [To the Faithful of Metz]. [Genève], July 19, 1559 (p. 458)

n.r. [Colonius, Petrus]. [Genève], July 19, 1559 (p. 460)

from Knox, John. August 28, 1559 (p. 460)

Vermigli, Pietro Martire. Genève, October 4, 1559 (p. 461)

Knox, John. Genève, November 8, 1559 (p. 461)

Tarnovius, Paulus. [Genève], November 15, 1559 (p. 464)

n.r. Benedictus Dominus. [Genève], 1559 (p. 467)

from Vermigli, Pietro Martire. Zürich, September 26, [1559] (p. 472)

Ioan. St. [Sturm, Johann?]. [Strasbourg, end of 1559?] (p. 473)

n.r. [Genève], January 10, 1560 (p. 474)

from Olevianus, Kaspar. April 12, [1560] (p. 475)

[Schenck, Matthias]. [Genève], April 122, 1560 (p. 478)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, May 11, 1560 (p. 479)

from the Valdenses. Bohemia, Ex Carmelo, May 11, 1560 (p. 480)

[Grindal, Edmund], Bishop of London. Genève, May 15, 1560 (p. 481)

Blaurer, Ambrosius. Genève, May 27, 1560 (p. 482)

[Rentigny, Madame de]. [Genève], April 10, 1558 (p. 483)

to the Valdenses. Genève, June 30, 1560 (p. 484)

n.r. [Genève], September 1, 1560 (p. 486)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, October 1, 1560 (p. 487)

n.r. [Genève], October 13, 1560 (p. 489)

Olevianus, Kaspar. Genève, November 5, 1560 (p. 490)

n.r. Quod a nonnullis vestri studiosi. Genève, 1560 (p. 492)

Ad Illustriss. Principem quendam Germaniae Epistola [from Sturm, Johannes to Frederick III, Elector Palatine]. Strasbourg, January 19, 1561 (p. 498)

Knox, John. Genève, April 23, 1561 (p. 503)

Goodman, Christopher. Genève, April 23, 1561 (p. 504)

to the Brethren of Aix[-en-Provence]. [Genève], May 1, 1561 (p. 505)

to the Devout People in France [Prefatory letter to ‘In Danielem Praelectiones]. Genève, August 18, 1561 (p. 506)

from Bèze, Théodore de. Saint-Germain, August 25, 1561 (p. 515)

id. Saint-Germain, August 30, [1561] (p. 521)

from Cruciger, Felix. Ksiaz Wielki, September 3, 1561 (p. 522)

n.r. [Bèze, Théodore de]. September 5, 1561 (p. 523)

Bèze, Théodore de. September 10, 1561 (p. 523)

id. September 23, 1561 (p. 525)

Acanthius [Dorn], Georg. September 24, 1561 (p. 526)

from Bèze, Théodore de. Saint-Germain, September 27, 1561 (p. 526)

Bèze, Théodore de. October 7, 1561 (p. 531)

[Radziwill, Nicolaus]. Genève, October 9, 1561 (p. 532)

[Sarnicius], Stanislaus. Genève, October 9, 1561 (p. 533)

Cruciger, Felix. [Genève], October 9, 1561 (p. 534)

to the Ministers of the Church of Vilna. Genève, October 9, 1561 (p. 534)

n.r. [about Biandrata, Giorgio]. October 9, 1561 (p. 535)

Bèze, Thédore de. October 15, 1561 (p. 537)

id. October 21, 1561 (p. 538)

Bullinger, Heinrich. Genève, November 5, 1561 (p. 538)

n.r. Genève, November 13, 1561 (p. 539)

Salignac, Jean de. [Genève], November 20, 1561 (p. 540)

from Salignac, Jean de. Paris, December 13, 1561 (p. 541)

from Bèze, Théodore de. Saint-Germain, December 30, [1561] (p. 543)

[Morel, François de]. 1561 [i.e. 1562] (p. 546)

from Bèze, Théodore de. Saint-Germain, February 1, [1562] (p. 547)

id. Paris, February 24, [1562] (p. 548)

Oratio Legatorum Pontificis ad Principes Germanos habita Naumburgi die V. Februarij, M.D.LXI (pp. 552-553)

Gibout, Toussaint. Genève, March 14, 1562 (p. 553)

n.r. Utinam, Dilectissimi fratres. 1562 (p. 554)

from Viret, Pierre. Montpellier, March 23, 1562 (p. 559)

from Blaurer, Ambrosius. Winterthur, April 4, 1562 (p. 560)

[Bullinger, Heinrich]. Genève, June 6, 1563 (p. 562)

Crussol, Antoine de. [Genève], July 31, 1563 (p. 562)

to the Brethren in Dauphiné. Genève, July 31, 1563 (p. 564)

Thretius, Christoph. Genève, November 30, 1563 (p. 566)

to the Physicians of Montpellier. Genève, February 8, 1564 (p. 567)

Farel, Guillaume. Genève, May 2, 1564 (p. 568)

Responsio Principum ad Legatos Pontificios. [1561] (pp. 568)

Quae deinceps sequuntur, Theologica fère sunt & ad Responsa magis pertinent (pp. 570-693) – In this part of the volume are found the following letters:

from Blaurer, Ambrosius. Winterthur, January 7, 1560 (p. 601)

Blaurer, Ambrosius.Tempestive domi meae (p. 602)

n.r. Genève, December 2, 1561 (p. 624)

n.r. Genève, August 12, 1561 (p. 625)

n.r. Genève, June 9, 1560 (p. 627)

Olevianus, Kaspar. Genève, December 1, 1563 (p. 627)

n.r. Ecclesiae N. calamitatis. Genève (p. 628)

from Wattel, Matthieu. Montbéliard, September 22, 1562 (p. 630)

Wattel, Matthieu. Genève, September 25, 1562 (p. 634)

id. Genève, June 18, 1562 (p. 636)

id. Genève, October 27, 1562 (p. 637)

n.r. Solemus, si quando ad eos scribendum est. Genève, March 5, n.y. (p. 641)

n.r. Gratias ago Domino. Genève, June 15, n.y. (p. 657)

n.r. Cum & de turbis. Genève, December 10, n.y. (p. 659)

Certorum ministrorum. Quod ad nos perlatum est. Genève (p. 662)

Viret, Pierre. Genève, June 2, n.y. (p. 672)

id. Genève, August 29, n.y. (p. 675)

id. Hic frater accuratiore. (p. 676)

id. Mitto at te litteras Pellicani. Pridie Paschatis (p. 676)

id. Heri mihi sub coenam. Genève, October 13, n.y. (p. 677)

id. De combaudo. Genève, October 18, n.y. (p. 678)

n.r. Ergo perinde ac si. (p. 679)

n.r. Literae tuae, eximie vir, non eo tantum. (p. 681)

n.r. De tuis scriptis duplicem habeo. Genève (p. 685)

n.r. Est ita ut dicis. (p. 684)

Guillaume Farel. Binas abs te literas paucis. [1554?] (p. 693)

Jean Calvin was born in Noyon, a town in the Picardy region of France. His father, who raised himself from simple circumstances to a burgher's position, was a trustee for the cathedral chapter in Noyon. Jean and his older brother received church benefices for their study of theology.

From 1523 Calvin studied first with Mathurin Cordier at the Collège de la Marche in Paris and then devoted himself to the liberal arts at the Collège Montaigu. After a break with the cathedral chapter, his father urged him to give up his study of theology. From then on he began to study law in Orléans.

After the death of his father, he went to Paris in order to deepen his knowledge of the biblical language and classical and Christian antiquity at the newly founded Collège Royale, which was intellectually influenced by Erasmus and Lefèvre d'Etaples.

In 1532 he published his first work (at his own expenses), a commentary on the Stoic philosopher Seneca's tract De clementia. With the coming of Luther's Reformation, Calvin made acquaintance with the French ‘Circle of Reformers', who gathered around Bishop Guillaume Briçonnet of Meaux. The members of this group read both Erasmus and Luther and found the latter to be in no way a heretic, despite his condemnation by the Sorbonne in 1521. A medical doctor from Basel, Nicolas Cop, who was Calvin's friend, was surprisingly named rector of the University of Paris in November 1533. When Cop gave his inaugural address on the beatitudes of Jesus and justification by faith ‘without the works of the Law' the Inquisition stepped in. Because of his association with Cop, Calvin had to leave Paris, fleeing to Basel, where he probably completed his final turn toward the reforming faith and were he was welcomed by the band of scholars and theologians who had conspired to make that city the Athens of Switzerland; especially by Oswald Myconius, the chief pastor, Pierre Viret, and Heinrich Bullinger.

Under the auspices and guidance of Sebastian Münster, Calvin now gave himself to the study of Hebrew. Indignant at the calumny which was cast on upon the reformed party in France, he hastily prepared for the press his Christianae Religionis Institutio (Basel, 1536). The epistle Calvin wrote to open his book is dedicated to Francis I and is revelatory of his attitude toward the church at the time. The ‘pious' (meaning those who are maligned as Lutherans by their enemies) are neither religious zealots, not schismatic, nor sectarians, nor anarchists who seek to attack the church and royal authority. They belong to the ‘true' church of Christ, as opposed to the ‘Church under the papacy'. Thus the Institutio represented a palatable systematic synopsis of Reformation doctrine and its success spurred on the twenty-seven-year-old lay theologian to further self-guided study.

After a short visit to the court of Renée, duchess of Ferrara, on his way back to Basel, an undesired layover in Geneva radically altered his plans. Guillaume Farel, who had already preached the evangelical faith in this free imperial city for four years without being able to give fitting structure to the church, made Calvin swear to become his fellow worker.

In 1537 Calvin created a church ordinance, wrote a catechism and a confession of faith that ‘all citizens must be obliged by oath to follow and to keep'. Nevertheless, the Geneva city council turned against Calvin and the party of pastors and in April 1538 expelled him and Farel.

Calvin was invited by Martin Bucer to Strasbourg, where he took over the leadership of the French-speaking parish congregation. He remained there three years and took part in religious dialogues in Frankfurt, Hagenau, Worms, and Regensburg, where he met Philipp Melanchthon. In the meantime the church in Geneva was admonished to return to the Catholic unity by Cardinal Jacopo Sadoleto, the bishop of Carpentras. Calvin was asked by the expelled reformers to answer the cardinal. The ‘Answer to Sadoleto' made a great impression and in 1541 Calvin was recalled to Geneva, where without delay he wrote a new church ordinance and order of worship, as well as a new catechism, all of which were approved by the city council. He now became the sole directive spirit in the church at Geneva. His duties were thus rendered exceedingly onerous, and his labour became excessive.

Besides preaching every day in each alternate week, he taught theology three days in the week, attended weekly meetings of his consistory, read the Scriptures once a week in the congregation, carried on an extensive correspondence, prepared commentaries on the books of the Scripture, and was repeatedly engaged in controversies with the opponents of his opinions (that with the Spanish physician Michael Servetus, who was burnt at the stake in 1553, remains the most enduring blot upon Calvin's reputation).

Contributing to the dissemination of his doctrines was the Geneva academy founded in 1559. It had two divisions: the schola privata was for elementary instruction, and the schola publica offered more advanced studies, including a curriculum in the liberal arts, biblical languages, and theology. Students came from all over the world: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland, and eastern Europe. Finally, the dissemination of Genevan ideas was facilitated by a series of publishers, such as Henri II and Robert Estienne, Jean Crespin, Conrad Badius, and Jean Rivery.

Calvin's health could not keep pace with the enormous burden of work pressing on him. After a final, painful illness, he died on May 27, 1564, at the age of fifty-five. His wish was to be buried at an unknown place without witnesses or ceremony in the belief that the glory of God should not be overshadowed by honoring people. As a theologian, Calvin exerted a universal and lasting influence, not only in the ecclesiastical arena but also in social and cultural realms (cf. B. Gordon, Calvin, New Haven, CT, 2009, passim).

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