ful
life. Calvin relates it in two letters to Farel, published by Bonnet
(Calvin's Letters, i. 162, 163-165). The reformer had had it from Du
Bellay's own lips at Strasbourg, and had perused the letter in which the
latter threw up his alliance with Montmian, and stigmatized the baseness
of his conduct.]

[Footnote 474: De Thou, i. 539; Crespin, _ubi supra_, fols. 100,
101.--Historians have noticed the remarkable points of similarity this
report presents to that made by the younger Pliny to the Emperor Trajan
regarding the primitive Christians. Plinii Epistolae, x. 96, etc.]

[Footnote 475: Calvin's Letters (Bonnet), i. 228, 229. Strange to say,
even M. Nicolai, otherwise very fair, credits one of these absurd rumors
(Leber, _ubi supra_, xvii. 557). While the inhabitants of Merindol
entered into negotiations, it is stated that those of Cabrieres,
subjects of the Pope, took up arms. Twice they repulsed the
vice-legate's forces, driving them back to the walls of Avignon and
Cavaillon. Flushed with success, they began to preach openly, to
overturn altars, and to plunder churches. The Pope, therefore, Dec.,
1543, called on Count De Grignan for assistance in exterminating the
rebels. But the incidents here told conflict with the undeniable facts
of Cardinal Sadolet's intercession for, and peaceable relations with the
inhabitants of Cabrieres in 1541 and 1542; as well as with the royal
letters of March 17, 1549 (1550 New Style), and the report of Du Bellay.
Bouche, on the weak authority of _Meynier_, De la guerre civile, gives
similar statements of excesses, ii. 611, 612.]

[Footnote 476: Hist. eccles., i. 24; Crespin, fol. 101; De Thou, i. 539;
Bouche, ii. 612. The last asserts that this unconditional pardon was
renewed by successive royal letters, dated March 17, 1543, and June 14,
1544; but that in those of Lyons, 1542, the king had meanwhile, at
Cardinal Tournon's instigation, exhorted the Archbishop and Parliament
of Aix to renewed activity in proceeding against the heretics. Ibid, ii.
612-614.]

[Footnote 477: Given in full by Crespin, _ubi supra_, fols. 104-110, and
by Gerdes., Hist. Reform., iv. 87-99; in its brief form, as originally
composed in French to be laid before the Parliament of Provence, in
Bulletin de l'hist. du prot. francais, viii. 508, 509. Several articles
were added when it was laid before Sadolet. Crespin, fol. 110.]

[Footnote 478: De Thou, i. 540; Crespin, fol. 110.]

[Footnote 479: Crespin,