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

=CHRISTIANS MADE A SHOW.=

Calvin watched the whole business very closely; it might almost be said, after reading his letter, that he had been among the spectators. He censured the behaviour of both scholars and masters. 424'Christians,' he said later, 'are made a show of, as when in a triumph the poor prisoners are paraded through the city before being taken to prison and strangled. But the spectacle made of believers is no hindrance to their happiness, for in the presence of God they remain in possession of glory, and the Spirit of God gives them a witness who dwells steadfast in their hearts.' 425

397Flor. Rémond, Hist. de l'Hérésie , pp. 847-849.

398Sainte-Marthe, Oraison funèbre de Marguerite , p. 45.

399The first edition of the Miroir de l'Ame pécheresse , was published at Alençon, by Simon Dubois.

400Théod. de Bèze, Hist. des Eglises Réformées , i. p. 8. Génin, Notice sur Marguerite d'Angoulême , p. iii. Freer, Life of Marguerite d'Angoulême , ii. p. 112.

401 Les Marguerites de la Marguerite , i. p. 60.

402Ibid. p. 63.

403 Les Marguerites , i. p. 65.

404Ibid. pp. 51, 57.

405Ibid. p. 70.

406Théod. de Bèze, Hist. des Eglises Réformées , i. pp. 8, 9.

407Génin, Notice sur Marguerite d'Angoulême , p. 95, preceding her letters.

408 Marguerite de Valois, Reine de Navarre, étude historique , 1861.

409Acts xix. 19.

410'Quum excuterent officinas bibliopolarum.'—Calvini Epp. p. 2; Genève, 1617.

411 Lettres de la Reine de Navarre , i. p. 282. Freer, Life of Marguerite , ii. p. 118. Castaigne, Notice sur Marguerite .

412Lettre de la Reine Marguerite à Montmorency. Lettres de la Reine de Navarre , i. p. 282.

413 Lettres de la Reine de Navarre , i. pp. 282, 283.

414'Libri, tractatus aut scripturæ quæcunque.'—Raynald, Annales Eccl. xix. p. 514.

415'Fabula felle et aceto, ut ait ille, plusquam mordaci conspersa.'—Calvini Epp. p. 1.

416The word Megæra is made up of the first syllables of Magister Gerardus . 'Megæram appellant alludens ad nomen Magistri Gerardi.'

417'Tunc Megæra illi faces admovens, ut acus et colum abjiceret.'—Calvini Epp. p. 1.

418'Evangelia in manus recepit.'—Ibid.

419Flor. Rémond, Hist. de l'Hérésie , p. 844.

420'Mirabiliter applaudentibus theologis.'—Sturmius Bucero.

421'Quam non figurate, nec obscure, conviciis suis proscindebant.—Calvini Epp. p. 1.

422'Re ad reginam delata.'—Ibid.

423 Lettres de la Reine de Navarre , i. p. 58.

424'Indigna prorsus ea muliere.'—Calvini Epp. p. 1.

425Calvini Opp. passim.

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FRANCIS was not at Paris when the storm broke out against his sister. In the summer of 1533, says the chronicle, 'the king visited his states and lordships of Languedoc, and made his triumphal entry into the city of Toulouse.' 426It was by letter, therefore, that he heard of what was taking place. All were asking what he would do. On the one hand, he had a great affection for the queen; but, on the other, he did not like his tranquillity to be disturbed; he protected learning, but he detested the Gospel. His better self gained the upper hand; his hatred of the absurdities of the monks was aroused; his great susceptibility made him take the affronts offered to his sister as if they had been offered to himself; and one after another he gave Margaret's enemies a forcible lesson.

The first whom he taught his place was Montmorency. When the latter endeavoured to instil his perfidious insinuations into the king's mind, Francis silenced him: 'Not a word more about it,' he said: 'she is too fond of me to take up with any religion that will injure my kingdom. 427Margaret was informed subsequently of the attempt of the grand-master, 'whom she never liked more,' adds Brantôme.

=THE FRANCISCAN FRIAR.=

The second to feel the king's hand was the prior of the Franciscans who had proposed to sew Margaret in a sack and throw her into the Seine. 'Let him suffer the punishment he desired to inflict upon the queen,' he exclaimed. On hearing of this sentence the monks became irritated, and the populace, according to one historian, got up a riot. But the queen interceded for the wretch, and his life was spared; he was simply deprived of his ecclesiastical dignities and sent to the galleys for two years. 428

The play represented against the queen, as well as the priests who had composed it and superintended the representation, next engaged the king's attention; he resolved not to spare them, and at the least to put them in a terrible fright. He issued his orders, and immediately the lieutenant of police marched out and appeared at the head of a hundred archers before the college of Navarre. 429'Surround the building,' he said, 'so that no one can escape.' 430The archers did as they were ordered. For this narrative we are again indebted to Calvin, who continued to take the deepest interest in the whole affair. The orders of the lieutenant were not executed without noise, and some of the professors and pupils, attracted to the windows, had watched the movements of the municipal officers. The author of the drama, who had expected nothing like this, and who was very vain and continually boasting of his pious exploit, happened to be in the room of a friend, joking about the queen and the famous comedy, when suddenly he heard an unusual noise. 431He looked out, and, seeing the college surrounded by soldiers, became alarmed and confused. 'Hide me somewhere,' he exclaimed. He was put in a place where it was supposed nobody could find him: there are always good hiding-places in colleges. 'Stay there,' said his friends, 'until we find an opportunity for your escape.' 432And then the door was carefully shut.

=ARRESTS IN THE COLLEGE OF NAVARRE.=

Meanwhile the lieutenant of police had entered with a few of his archers, and demanded the surrender of the author of the satire against the Queen of Navarre. The head of the college, a man of distinction, profound learning, and great influence, whom Calvin styles 'the great Master Lauret,' and Sturm 'the king of the wise,' did not deserve his name. He refused everything. Upon this, the sergeants began to search the building for the culprit; and professors and students were in great anxiety. But every nook and corner was explored in vain; they found nothing. 433The lieutenant thereupon ordered his archers to lay hands upon the actors in default of the author, and he himself arrested one of the persons who had taken a part in the play. This was the signal for a great tumult. Master Lauret, knowing himself to be more guilty than those youths, rushed upon the lieutenant and endeavoured to rescue the scholar; 434the students, finding themselves supported by their chief, fell upon the archers, and kicked and beat them, some even pelting them with stones. 435There was a regular battle in the college of Navarre. But the law prevailed at last, and all the beardless actors fell into the hands of the police.

The lieutenant was bent on knowing the nature of their offence. 'Now,' said he to the juvenile players, 'you will repeat before me what you said on the stage.' 436The unlucky youths were forced to obey; in great confusion and hanging their heads, they repeated all their impertinence. 'I have not done,' resumed the lieutenant, turning to the head of the college; 'since the author of the crime is concealed from me, I must look to those who should have prevented such insolence. Master Lauret, you will go with me as well as these young scamps. As for you, Master Morin (he was the second officer of the college), you will keep your room.' He then departed with his archers; Lauret was taken to the house of a commissary, and the students were sent to prison.