researches among
the MSS. of the Bibliotheque Rationale at Paris, and the Simler
Collection at Zurich, several difficult problems. To these names I may
add those of M. Henri Bordier, Bibliothecaire Honoraire in the
Department of MSS. (Bibliotheque Rationale), of M. Raoul de Cazenove, of
Lyons, author of many highly prized monographs on Huguenot topics, and
of the Rev. John Forsyth, D.D., who have in various ways rendered me
valuable services.

Finally, I deem it both a duty and a privilege to express my warm thanks
to the librarians of the Princeton Theological Seminary and of the Union
Theological Seminary in this city; and particularly to the successive
superintendents and librarians of the Astor Library--both the living and
the dead--by the signal courtesy of whom, the whole of that admirable
collection of books has been for many years placed at my disposal for
purposes of consultation so freely, that nothing has been wanting to
make the work of study in its alcoves as pleasant and effective as
possible.

UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK,
September 15, 1879.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: Meantime I am glad that we may expect before very long,
from the pen of my brother, Charles W. Baird, the history of the
Huguenot emigration to the American colonies in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries--a work based upon extensive research, that will
afford much interesting information respecting a movement hitherto
little understood, and fill an important gap in our historical
literature.]

[Footnote 2: Of the different modes of spelling this name, I choose the
mode which, according to the numerous fac-similes given by Dr. Forbes,
the worthy knight seems himself to have followed with commendable
uniformity.]

CONTENTS

OF

VOLUME FIRST.

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I
Page
FRANCE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY 3
Extent at the Accession of Francis I. 3
Gradual Territorial Growth 4
Subdivision in the Tenth Century 5
Destruction of the Feudal System 5
The Foremost Kingdom of Christendom 6
Assimilation of Manners and Language 8
Growth and Importance of Paris 9