re
ardent "Lutherans" of Paris the idea of preparing a longer placard,
which should boldly attack the cardinal errors of the papal system of
religion. But, the press being closely watched in the French capital, it
was thought best to have the placard printed in Switzerland, where,
indeed, the most competent and experienced hands might be found for
composing such a paper. The messenger employed was a young man named
Feret, an apprentice of the king's apothecary;[332] and the printing
seems to have been done in the humble but famous establishment of Pierre
Van Wingle, in the retired Vale of Serrieres, just out of Neufchatel,
and on the same presses which, in 1533, gave to the world the first
French reformed liturgy, and, two years later, the Protestant
translation of the Bible into the French language by Olivetanus.[333]
There is less certainty respecting the authorship, but it seems highly
probable that not Farel, but an enthusiastic and somewhat hot-headed
writer, Antoine de Marcourt, must be held responsible for this imprudent
production.[334]

[Sidenote: The placard against the mass.]

Feret, having on his return eluded detection at the frontiers, reached
Paris in safety. He brought with him a large number of copies of a
broadside headed, "_True Articles respecting the horrible, great and
insupportable Abuses of the Papal Mass_." Among those to whom the paper
was secretly submitted, there were some who, more prudent than the rest,
decidedly opposed its publication. It was too violent, they said. The
writer's ill-advised severity would answer no good purpose. The tract
would alienate the sympathy of many, and thus retard, instead of
advancing, the cause it advocated.[335] Remonstrance, however, proved
futile.

Early on the morning of the eighteenth of October, 1534, a placard was
found posted upon the walls in all the principal thoroughfares of the
metropolis. Everywhere it was read with horror and indignation, mingled
with rage; and loud threats and curses were uttered against its unknown
author.

The document that called forth these expressions and was the occasion of
more important commotions in the sequel, had so direct and potent an
influence upon the fortunes of the Reformation in France that it cannot
be passed over without a brief reference to the general character of its
contents. It began with a solemn address: "I invoke heaven and earth in
testimony of the truth, against that proud and pompous papal mas