Jacques Gruet (died July 26, 1547) was a poet put to death in

Geneva , neighboring_municipalities= Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Cologny, Lancy, Grand-Saconnex, Pregny-Chambésy, Vernier, Veyrier , website = https://www.geneve.ch/ Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevr ...

during John Calvin's lifetime in the 16th century.

Family and life

Jacques Gruet was the son of Humbert Gruet, a notary public of Geneva. Humbert died in 1513, and Gruet's mother died after 1522. He also had a sister, Hugonine, who died in 1538. Gruet's business contacts included André Philippe, a noted opponent of Calvin and the son of Jean Philippe, who had been executed in 1540. At the time of his death, Gruet lived in a large house at Place du Bourg-de-Four near Porte du Chastel and St. Pierre Cathedral. In Geneva, he was influenced by

Ami Perrin Ami Perrin (c. 1500 – 1561) was a Genevan leader of the "Libertins" party and one of the most powerful figures in Geneva in the 16th century as chief opponent of religious reformer John Calvin's rule of the city. Perrin's father was a dealer i ...

and Françoise Favre, and opposed to John Calvin's influence in the city and defied conservative laws in the city. He was suspected of attempting to poison theologian

Pierre Viret Pierre Viret (1509/1510 – 4 April 1571) was a Swiss Reformed theologian, evangelist and Protestant reformer. Early life Pierre Viret was born in 1509 or 1510 in Orbe, then in the Barony of Vaud, now in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. He wa ...

in 1535 and was once prosecuted for dancing. He was known for his love of wine and for wearing ''chausses chapplée'', a style of trousers that scandalized the city with their shortness. He may have served as a monk earlier in his life.

Prosecution and death

Gruet was seen as a leader of opposition to Calvin's leadership, although he may not have been a member of the main opposition associations, "The Patriots" and the "spirituals". This group included Gruet, Perrin, the Favre brothers, Claude Franc, François Berthelier, and André Philippe. On June 27, 1547, a threatening note was found on St. Pierre Cathedral which was believed to have been written by Gruet. The note threatened Calvin and fellow minister Abel Poupin, referring to the recent stabbing of another religious leader, Verli de Fribourg. The next day, Gruel was accused and arrested.Berriot 1979, p578 Gruet's home was searched and papers were found which showed Gruet's opposition to the religious leaders of the town.Paul Carus
The Open Court, Volume 10.
Open Court Publishing Company, 1896, p5555-5557, 5568-6670 Imprisoned for a month, he was tortured and confessed to libeling Calvin, but did not name any accomplices. The day of his death, Gruet was marched from his prison at l'Eveche to the ''Hôtel de Ville'', a route which brought him past his own home. He was beheaded on July 26, 1547.Philip Schaff, David Schley Schaff
History of the Christian Church, Volume 7
Scribner's Sons, 1907 p501-504, also available at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc8.iv.xiii.xii.html

Burning of Gruet's writings

In 1549, a book with anti-Christian writings by Gruet was found in Gruet's house. While Calvin himself had not taken direct part in Gruet's trial and execution, he was asked what to do about this book, and together with Geneva religious leaders, it was decided that the book should be burned. The public burning took place on May 25, 1550.Greef, Wulfert
The writings of John Calvin: an introductory guide
Westminster John Knox Press, 2008. p31Van't Spijker, Willem
Calvin: A brief guide to his life and thought
Westminster John Knox Press, 2009. p89

References

Sources

*Berriot, François.
Un procès d'athéisme à Genève: l'affaire Gruet (1547-1550)
" Bulletin de la Société de l'Histoire du Protestantisme Français (1903-) (1979): 577-592. {{DEFAULTSORT:Gruet, Jacques 16th-century births 1547 deaths Writers from the Republic of Geneva Executed people from the Republic of Geneva People executed by decapitation People executed for heresy