Niger Francis

Niger Francis

Niger Francis, (Ital. Francesco Negri,) of Bassano, on the dissolution of the society at Vicence, in 1546, of which he is said to have been a member, escaped the vigilance of the officers of the Inquisition, but whether by flight, or by a temporary absence from the Venetian territory, is uncertain. Illgen has shewn, on the authority of De Porta, that Niger was at Chiavenna, a town of Switzerland, about the year 1543, which was three years before the dispersion of the members of that society. He was then living with Stancarus, and made common cause with Camillus Siculus, in the Sacramentarian controversy, which at that time excited much attention among the Grisons.

Mainardi, in a letter to Bullinger, describes Niger as a person of easy disposition, and not sufficiently firm and constant, but in other respects a good kind of man ; and De Porta relates, at some length, how Niger, in conjunction with Camillus and P. P. Vergerius, disturbed the Church at Chiavenna by questions of an injurious tendency, and what trouble he gave to the Ministers of that town, mentioning, at the same time, the fact, that he exercised the office of Tutor in some distinguished families among the Grisons.

It is not known what precise opinions Niger held on the subject of the Trinity ; but Bock has ascertained, that, after he left Chiavenna, he was living in Moravia, with persons holding opinions similar to his own, and that, during his residence in that country, he either joined the Anabaptists, or was favourably disposed towards them.

There is no doubt, that he is the same person, who, under the name of Franciscus Niger, acquired a literary reputation, and wrote on the manners and customs of the Grisons. He is sometimes called Bassanensis, or Bassianus, from Bassano, the place of his birth ; and he published, under the name of Franciscus Niger Bassanensis, "A brief History concerning the Death of Fanino Faventino, and Dominico Bassanensi, who not long ago were impiously put to Death in Italy, by the Command of the Roman Pontiff, for their religious Opinions, A.D. 1550," 8vo. M'Crie says that he has never seen this work (Hist, of the Ref. in Italy, Ch. v. p. 318) ; and, indeed, little more than the title of it seems to be now known. But it is thought, that, if a copy of it should come to light, it may tend to elucidate the brief and imperfect accounts, which we have of the society of Vicence.

Another little book of Niger's, the character of which was satirical, has been referred to under the title "Tragedia di Libero Arbitrio, di F. N. B." Fontani characterizes this book as "empiae diabolica;" and Schelhorn has given extracts from it.

Niger was not, as some have stated, a Preacher ; but confined himself to the instruction of youth.

Verci has given an account of his writings, and refuted the opinion of Quadrio, De Porta and others, that he was a native of Lovero, in the Valteline.

(Vidend. Bock, Hist. Ant. T. II. pp. 409. 482. 548. 581. Be Porta, Hist. Ref. Eccles. Rest. T. I. L. i. C. x. p. 197; L. ii. C. iv. pp. 89. 96. 130—132. C. v. p. 172. Illgen, Symb. ad Vit. et Doctr. L. Socini illustr. P. i. C. iii. p. 39; C. v. p. 69. M'Crie's Hist, of the Ref. in Italy, Chap. iv. pp. 183. 185; Chap. vi. pp. 384, 385, etc.)

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