of Unitarians; and such doubtless will continue to be the case, as long as they exercise their own judgments on religious subjects, and refuse to be bound by the decisions of fallible beings like themselves. "Late hoc patet nomen, et varii generis homines designat, quibus hoc unum commune est, quod omnes veræ aliquid distinctionis in divina natura ferre nolunt."*

As this work is intended principally for the use of English readers, it has been thought desirable to prefix a short HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION, containing a review of the ecclesiastical affairs of England, and particularly of the progress of Unitarianism from the Reformation to the close of the seventeenth century, drawn chiefly from contemporaneous sources, in order that the reader may be enabled the more readily to connect the biographical particulars, recorded in the body of the work, with the ecclesiastical history of his own country. A part of this Introduction was inserted in the first two volumes of the current series of the Christian Reformer, under the signature "R. W." It was entitled, "Historical Sketch of the Trinitarian Controversy from the Accession of William III. to the passing of the Blasphemy Act;" and appeared there as part of a work, which the author was preparing for publication, and which he now ventures, with much diffidence, to lay before the world. Some of the

* Mosh. Inst. Hist. Eccles., Sæc. xvii. Sect. ii. P. ii. Cap. vi. § vi.

p. 895.

earlier biographical articles also were inserted in the Monthly Repository for 1831, but without any signature. At the time of their appearance in that work, it was known only to a few persons, that they were contributed by the present writer. The author has since heard them ascribed to the pen of another. In justice to himself, he now feels called upon to claim them as his own.

Many thanks are due to those kind friends, who have enabled the author to commit this work to the press, without the risk of pecuniary loss, by favouring him with their names as subscribers. To these, as well as to a few other friends, who have aided him by the loan of books, which his own library did not contain, and of which he was unable to procure a sight in any other way, he takes this opportunity of expressing his grateful sense of obligation.

VOL. I.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE,

OR

CONSPECTUS OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS ILLUSTRATIVE

OF THE PROGRESS OF ANTITRINITARIANISM,

FROM THE REFORMATION TO THE CLOSE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

A. D.

1527. Martin Cellarius publishes his treatise, "De Operibus Dei," to which Wolfgang Fabricius Capito supplies the Preface.-Lewis Hetzer and John Denck publish a German translation of the books of the Prophets.

1528. Capito falls under a suspicion of Antitrinitarianism. -John Campanus settles at Wittenberg, and teaches that the Son is inferior to the Father.John Denck dies of the plague at Basle.

1529. Lewis Hetzer suffers death at Constance on a charge of blasphemy, Feb. 4th.

1530. The Synod of Petricow prohibits the importation of heretical books into Poland.

1531. Servetus publishes his Seven Books "De Trinitatis Erroribus."

1532. Servetus publishes his Dialogues “De Trinitate." 1534. Sigismund I., King of Poland, prohibits Polish students from resorting to foreign Universities.Claude of Savoy disseminates Antitrinitarianism in Switzerland.

The law against heretics in England is relaxed by the repeal of 2 Hen. IV.

1535. John Valdez advocates the principles of the Refor

A. D.

mation in Italy.-Ordinances against the Baptists, more commonly known by the name of Anabaptists, are published at Cracow.

Several Baptists seek refuge in England after the death of John Van Geelen.

1537. Claude of Savoy returns to the North of Italy. 1538. The Baptists in England are excepted from an act of grace, and severely persecuted. Three men and one woman are condemned to bear faggots at Paul's-Cross; and a man and woman are burnt alive in Smithfield.

1539. Catharine Vogel, the first Polish Unitarian, is burnt alive in the market-place at Cracow.-The liberty of the press is acknowledged by royal ordinance in Poland. The writings of Servetus obtain an extensive circulation in the Venetian territory. 1540. The order of Jesuits is established, Sept. 27th.

The persecution of the Baptists in England continues, and three of them are burnt on account of their religion, April 29th.

1541. Sigismund I. threatens to deprive all who harbour heretical priests with loss of nobility.-Bernardine Ochinus forms an intimate friendship with John Valdez and Peter Martyr.

1542. Ochinus makes his escape from Italy. - Servetus publishes his edition of Pagninus's Bible.-Caspar Schwenckfeldt warns the Protestants of Augsburg and Strasburg of the Antitrinitarian opinions of Claude of Savoy.- Camillus Siculus and Coelius Secundus Curio meet in the Valteline.-Camillus settles at Caspan.-The Synod of Petricow takes measures for the suppression of heresy, and petitions the King to carry into execution his own ordinances against it.

1543. The Diet of Cracow formally grants to all Polish subjects the privilege of studying in foreign Universities.