Frontiers of the Reformation by Auke Jelsma

Author:Auke Jelsma [Jelsma, Auke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781351935265
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2016-12-05T00:00:00+00:00

III

Acontius

The book had originally been written in London by an Italian, Giacopo Aconcio (or, to use his Latin name, Jacobus Acontius), and been printed in Basle in 1565 by an Italian, Pietro Perna. Basle was at that time a refuge for dissidents and free-thinkers. David Joris was living there, albeit under a pseudonym. Perna, who had fled from Italy, had succeeded in establishing here one of the largest printing-houses of Switzerland, in which most authors with an unusual or debatable view could have their works published. He printed the works of the alchemist Paracelsus, the fierce antagonist of Castellio against the judicial murder of Servetus, the Bible translation by Castellio which on some points was attacked by Calvin, and all writings of Acontius, including the work that was later translated by Johannes van der Heyden, which bore the title: Satanae Stratagemata (Satan's Stratagems).17

Who was Giacopo Aconcio? Originally he was from the area of Trent, born circa 1500, he studied law and philosophy, learnt to build military defences, became skilled in mathematics, gained prominent positions at different courts, joined the Reformation at an advanced age, when he was in his fifties, fled to Switzerland, and arrived in London in 1558/59. Here he joined the church community which had originally been founded by the Dutch pastor Adriaan van Haemstede.

The latter soon came into conflict with the consistories of the Dutch and French refugee churches, when he wished to accept adherents to the Anabaptist teaching as brothers and sisters in Christ. Acontius acted as his lawyer and following van Haemstede's excommunication and banishment, he too was excommunicated, together with businessman and historian Emanuel van Meteren and other prominent members of the Dutch congregation. For Acontius the consequences were less serious than for van Haemstede, because he received a stipend from Queen Elizabeth I and enjoyed enough support in court circles. His sad experience with the way in which Reformed Protestants dealt with conflicts like these were an important reason for his book.18

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