e carried to Poissy for ratification by
the still assembled prelates. Both parties were in earnest in seeking
for common ground on which they might stand. Compelled by the
instructions the bishops had received, to commence with the knotty
question of the eucharist instead of adopting the more natural order of
the articles of the confession of faith, the Romish party inquired
whether, abandoning discussion for the time, both sides might not agree
on the formula which had been drawn up and approved by four of their
number on the twenty-fifth of September, or on some similarly moderate
statement. The question, so far as the formula they referred to was
concerned, was promptly answered by Peter Martyr. The Zurich reformer,
somewhat apprehensive, as he had lately shown, lest his colleagues
should, in their eagerness for accord, make something approaching a
sacrifice of doctrine, greatly to their surprise drew from his pocket a
paper which he proceeded to read: "I reply, for my part, that the body
of Christ is truly and substantially nowhere else than in heaven. I do
not, however, deny that Christ's true body and his true blood, which
were given on the cross for the salvation of men, are by faith and
spiritually received by the believing in the Holy Supper."[1164] A
friendly but laborious discussion, not of ideas nor of doctrines, but of
words, ensued. At length a statement was drawn up sufficiently
comprehensive, yet sufficiently general to admit of being approved in
good conscience by the entire number of theologians.[1165] But the
prelates of Poissy promptly rejecting the article, the next day it was
necessary to renew the deliberation. A second form of agreement was
drafted,[1166] which the Roman Catholic deputies felt confident would
meet with the approval of those who had sent them.

[Sidenote: Premature delight of the queen mother.]

[Sidenote: The article rejected by the prelates.]

[Sidenote: Their demand.]

Although the article itself was to be kept secret until submitted to the
prelates, the tidings that a harmonious result had been reached rapidly
flew through the court and was carried to Catharine herself. Beza and
Montluc were summoned into her presence. In the excess of her joy at the
prospect of the peaceful solution of a difficult problem, and of an
issue of the colloquy which would greatly conduce to her glory and the
firmer establishment of her rule, Catharine even cordially embraced the
reformer, and b