J. H. Merle D'Aubigné - History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin (Vol. 1-8)

81'Tanto proficiendi studio exarsi, ut reliqua studia quamvis non abjicerem, frigidius tamen sectarer.'—Calv. Præf. in Psalm.

82'Acriter exhortans ut de reformanda atque illustranda Dei ecclesia cogitationem ac curam serio inciperet.'—Flor. Rémond, Histoire de l'Hérésie .

83Leo Colladon died at Geneva on the 31st of August, 1552. His son Nicholas took refuge there in 1553, and in 1556 succeeded Calvin in the chair of divinity. Germain II., made free of the city in 1555, was the compiler of the Genevese code. Galiffe, Généalogie des Familles Genevoises . Haag, France Protestante , article Colladon .

84Théod. de Bèze, Hist. des Eglises Réformées , p. 7.

85Calvin, Commentaire sur Mathieu , ch. x.

86In the reign of Louis XIV. this lordship belonged to Colbert.

87'Contrefont les marmitons.'

88'Nonnullas interdum conciones in agro Biturigum, in oppidulo quod Linerias vocant.'—Bezæ Vita Calvini .

89Bèze, Hist. des Eglises Réformées , p. 7.

90'Nisi me ab ipsis prope carceribus mors patris revocasset.'—Calvinus Volmario, in 2ᵃᵐ Ep. ad Corinth .

91 Commentaire sur Mathieu , ch. x.

92Théod. de Bèze, Vie de Calvin (French text), p. 11. 'In agro Biturigum ... mors patris nuntiata in patriam vocavit.'—Ibid. in Latin text.

93'Repentina mors patris,' says Beza. This sudden death proves that Calvin's father did not die, as some assert, of the long illness described in the letter to Duchemin.

94 Dédicace de la 2ᵉ aux Corinthiens.

Table of Contents

WHEN Calvin passed through the capital on his way from Bourges to Noyon, on the occasion of his father's death, he might have remarked a certain agitation among his acquaintances. In fact, the Sorbonne was increasing its exertions to destroy Berquin, who, forsaken by almost everybody, had no one to support him but God and the Queen of Navarre.

=MARGARET'S SORROWS.=

Margaret, who was at St. Germain-en-Laye, enjoyed but little repose. The brilliant court of Francis I. filled the noble palace with their pastimes. Early in the morning every one was afoot; the horns sounded, and the king set off, accompanied by the King of Navarre, a crowd of nobles, the Duchess of Etampes, and many other ladies, and joined one of those great hunting parties of which he was so fond. Margaret, remaining alone, recalled her sorrows, and sought the one thing needful . Her husband sometimes indulged in gaming, and the queen entreated Montmorency to give him good advice. Henry, who thought his wife rather too pious, complained of this with all the impetuosity of his character. It was not Margaret's only vexation. At first her mother had appeared to take part with the Reformation. One day, in December 1522, Louisa of Savoy had said to her daughter, who was delighted to hear it: 'By the grace of the Holy Ghost, my son and I are beginning to know these hypocrites, white, black, grey, and all colours.... May God, by his mercy and infinite goodness, defend us from them; for, if Jesus Christ is not a liar, there is no such dangerous brood in all human nature.' 95But this princess, whose morality was more than doubtful, had now become reconciled, and even leagued with these 'hypocrites black, white, and grey,' and the king was beginning to give them his support. Thus Margaret saw the three objects of her tenderest affection alienating themselves from God; and remaining at the palace while Francis with his lords and ladies and his hounds was chasing the wild animals, she walked sadly in the park, saying to herself:

Father and mother I have none;

Brother and sister—all are gone,

Save God, in whom I trust alone,

Who rules the earth from his high throne.

All these loved ones I would forget;

Parents and friends, the world, its joys,

Honour and wealth however great,

I hold my deepest enemies!

Hence, ye delights!

Whose vanity

Jesus the Christ has shown to me!

But God, God only is my hope;

I know that he is all in all,

Dearer than husband to the wife—

My father, mother, friend, my all!

He is my hope,

My resting-place,

My strength, my being, and my trust,

For he hath saved me by his grace.

Father and mother I have none;

Brother and sister—all are gone,

Save God, in whom I trust alone,

Who rules the earth from his high throne. 96

=SORBONNE PLOTS AGAINST BERQUIN.=

Whilst Margaret was seeking consolation in God, there came a support which she had not expected. Erasmus was growing uneasy; the letters which he received were full of alarming news; he saw that Francis I., on whom he had so much relied, was stumbling and ready to fall. This would give the victory to the Sorbonne. Having a presentiment that the ultramontanists were daring revolutionists, prepared to sacrifice not only literature and the Gospel, but royalty itself, he laid aside his usual prudence, and resolved to tear the veil from the king's eyes, which concealed the perverted designs of the Roman party, and to show him conspirators in those who called themselves the supporters of the throne. 'These men,' he wrote, 'under the cloak of the interests of the faith, creep into all sorts of dark ways. Their only thought is of bringing the august heads of monarchs under their yoke and of suspending their power. Wait a little. If a prince resists them, they call him a favourer of heresy, and say that it is the duty of the Church (that is to say, of a few apocryphal monks and false doctors) to dethrone him. What! shall they be permitted to scatter their poisons everywhere, and we be forbidden to apply the antidote?' 97

This epistle from the prince of letters, who with so much discernment placed his finger on the sore, soon became known; and when it reached the Sorbonne, the doctors, dismayed that a man so moderate and respected should reveal their secrets so boldly, saw no other means of saving their cause than by striking their enemies with terror. They dared do nothing against the sage of Rotterdam, who was besides out of their reach; but they swore that his friend Berquin should pay for his master. The theologians of the Sorbonne demanded that this gentleman should be brought to trial; Duprat, Louisa of Savoy, and Montmorency supported their petition. There was no means of evading it, and twelve judges were nominated by the pope and by the king. 98These men were greatly embarrassed, for Berquin's irreproachable life, amiable character, inexhaustible charity, and regular attendance at public worship, had won universal esteem. However, as the first president De Selva, the fourth president Pailot, and some others, were either weak or fanatical persons, the Sorbonne did not lose all hope. One alone of the twelve caused any fear: this was William Budæus, called by Erasmus 'the prodigy of France;' an enlightened man, who, while professing a great respect for the Catholic Church, had more than once betrayed certain evangelical tendencies to his wife and children. The twelve judges proceeded with their investigation, without requiring the accused man to be shut up in prison. Berquin went and came as he pleased; he spoke to the judges and parliament, and convinced them of his innocence. But terror began to paralyse the weak minds among them; they were afraid of the righteous man; they would have nothing to do with 'that sort of people,' and turned their backs upon him.

=MARGARET INTERCEDES FOR BERQUIN=

Berquin now resolved to address the king and to get Margaret to support him. 'It was generally reported,' says one of the enemies of the Reform, 'that the Queen of Navarre took wondrous pains to save those who were in danger, and that she alone prevented the Reformation from being stifled in the cradle.' 99Berquin went to the palace, and made his danger known to the queen. He found in Margaret the compassion which failed him elsewhere. She knew that we ought not 'to stand aside from those who suffer persecution for the name of Christ, and would not be ashamed of those in whom there was nothing shameful.' 100Margaret immediately took up her pen, and sitting down at that table where she had so often pleaded both in prose and verse the cause of Christ and of christians, she wrote the king the following letter:—