ABSTRACT
In March 1547, Perceval Roguet, a pastry cook and member of the Genevan bourgeoisie, found himself on trial before members of the City Council. Three years earlier, Roguet had had his son baptised at St-Pierre, Geneva’s cathedral, which sat firmly ensconced upon the hill of the city, its silhouette rising above the neighbouring buildings. After attending to this proper introduction of his newborn infant into the Genevan church and society, Roguet had allegedly taken the baby to the home of Pierre Mugnier, the child’s godfather, in a village outside of the city. They remained there for two weeks, and after much effort, Roguet persuaded Mugnier, to arrange for the rebaptism of the infant by a Catholic priest, in the Catholic tradition. All of the witnesses, three women as well as Mugnier, protested against this heretical act of rebaptising a child, but Roguet insisted upon carrying it out. Later, he paid them not to reveal his secret. So set was Roguet on following the old customs that he even left the house during the baptismal ceremony, so as not to taint the rite with the presence of the father. But he sat outside, against the house, and listened to the priest’s words through the window, thus maintaining his control over the situation and, from his accuser’s point of view, confirming his guilty participation in the act. Finally, not only did Roguet arrange this rebaptism, but he also paid the priest to perform a mass, thereby multiplying the sins he was committing in the eyes of Genevan Protestants.
