t impossible to gain the royal ear. In such awe did the
"maitres de requetes"--to whom petitions were customarily entrusted--stand
of the grave and severe chancellor--that venerable old man with the white
beard, whom Brantome likened to another Cato--that none was found bold
enough to present the Burgundian remonstrance. At last the delegates went
to the newly-arrived cardinal, and Lorraine readily undertook the task.
Appearing in the royal council he introduced the matter by expressing "his
surprise that the Catholics had no means of making themselves heard
respecting their grievances." The objectionable edict was read, and all
the members of the council declared that they had never before seen or
heard of it. Cardinal Bourbon was foremost in his anger, and declared
that if the chancellor had the right to issue such laws on his own
responsibility, there was no use in having a council. "Sir," said
L'Hospital, turning to the Cardinal of Lorraine, "you are already come to
sow discord among us!" "I am not come to sow discord, but to prevent you
from sowing it as you have done in the past, scoundrel that you are!" was
the reply.[406] "Would you prevent these poor people, whom the king has
permitted to live with freedom of conscience in the exercise of their
religion, from receiving any consolation at all?" asked L'Hospital. "Yes,
I intend to prevent it," answered the cardinal, "for everybody knows that
to suffer such things is to tolerate secret preaching; and I shall prevent
it so long as I shall have the power, in order to give no opportunity for
the growth of such tyrannical practices. And," continued he, "do you, who
have become what you now are by my means, dare to tell me that I come to
sow discord among you? I shall take good care to keep you from doing what
you have done heretofore." The council rose in anger, and passed into the
adjoining apartment, where Catharine, who had not recovered from a
temporary illness, strove to appease them as best she could. Charles
ordered a new meeting, and, after hearing the deputies from Dijon, the
king, conformably to the advice of the council, revoked the edict, and
issued a prohibition of all exercise of the Protestant religion or
instruction in its doctrines, save where it had been granted at Amboise.
The chancellor was strictly enjoined to affix the seal of state to no
papers relating to religious affairs without the consent of the royal
council.

[Sidenote: Protestantism on th