William Farel was born at Gap, in the province of Dauphiny, in the year 1489. He belonged to a family of rank, and possessed of good fortune. He had three brothers, Daniel, Gautier, and Claudius, and at least one sister. Of his very earliest years nothing is known. Dauphiny had recently been added to the crown of France, and shared in the paternal care of Louis XII., whose reign, notwithstanding its wars, was held in remembrance by his subjects as a golden age. It was the patriotic wish of this prince that his nobility should cultivate an acquaintance with literature and science, instead of devoting their chief attention to field sports and other pastimes. With these enlarged views, the bent of young Farel's mind perfectly coincided. It was not, however, without much difficulty that he prevailed on his parents to gratify his thirst for knowledge. But his distinguished attainments appear to have led them, in the issue, fully to approve of his choice, since they bestowed on the younger branches of the family the same advantages of education.