a
natural manner placed in our hands."[1088] The statement was certainly
far enough removed from the theory of the Romish Church to have
consigned its author to the flames, had the theologians of the Sorbonne
been his judges. But it satisfied the cardinal,[1089] who confessed that
he was little at home in a discussion foreign to his ordinary studies--a
fact quite sufficiently apparent from his confused statements[1090]--and
did not attempt to conceal the little account which he made of the dogma
of transubstantiation.[1091] "See then, madam," said Beza, "what are
those sacramentarians, who have been so long persecuted and overwhelmed
with all kinds of calumnies." "Do you hear, cardinal?" said the queen to
Lorraine. "He says that the sacramentarians hold no other opinion than
that to which you have assented."[1092] With this satisfactory
conclusion the discussion, which had lasted a couple of hours,[1093] was
concluded. The queen mother left greatly pleased with the substantial
agreement which the two champions of opposite creeds had attained in
their first interview, and flattering herself that greater results might
attend the public conferences. The cardinal, too, professed high esteem
for Beza, and said to him, as he was going away: "I adjure you to
confer with me; you will not find me so black as I am painted."[1094]
Beza might have been pardoned, had he permitted the cardinal's
professions somewhat to shake his convictions of the man's true
character. He was, however, placed on his guard by the pointed words of
a witty woman. Madame de Crussol, who had listened to the entire
conversation, as she shook the cardinal's hand at the close of the
evening, significantly said, in a voice loud enough to be heard by all:
"Good man for to-night; but to-morrow--what?"[1095] The covert
prediction was soon fulfilled. The very next day the cardinal was
industriously circulating the story that Beza had been vanquished in
their first encounter.[1096]

[Sidenote: A Huguenot petition.]

[Sidenote: Vexatious delay.]

[Sidenote: The petition informally granted.]

The Protestant ministers, assembled at St. Germain about ten days before
Beza's arrival,[1097] had, with wise forethought, presented to the king
a petition embracing four points of prime importance.[1098] They guarded
against an unfair treatment of the cause they had come to maintain, by
demanding that their opponents, the prelates, should not be permitted to
constitute t