493
Beza and Peter Martyr invited to France 494
Urgency of the Parisian Huguenots 496
Beza comes to St. Germain 497
His previous History 497
Wrangling of the Prelates 498
Cardinal Chatillon communes "under both Forms" 499
Catharine and L'Hospital zealous for a Settlement of Religious
Questions 499
A Remarkable Letter to the Pope 500
Beza's flattering Reception 502
He meets the Cardinal of Lorraine 503
Petition of the Huguenots respecting the Colloquy 505
Informally granted 507
Last Efforts of the Sorbonne to prevent the Colloquy 508

CHAPTER XII.

SEPTEMBER, 1561-JANUARY, 1562.

THE COLLOQUY OF POISSY AND THE EDICT OF JANUARY 509
The Huguenot Ministers and Delegates 509
Assembled Princes in the Nuns' Refectory 510
The Prelates 511
Diffidence of Theodore Beza 512
Opening Speech of Chancellor L'Hospital 512
The Huguenots summoned 513
Beza's Prayer and Address 514
His Declaration as to the Body of Christ 519
Outcry of the Theologians of the Sorbonne 519
Beza's Peroration 520
Cardinal Tournon would cut short the Conference 521
Catharine de' Medici is decided 522
Advantages gained 522
The Impression made by Beza 522
His Frankness justified 524
The Prelates' Notion of a Conference 526
Peter Martyr arrives 527
Cardinal Lorraine replies to Beza