on to the presence of God, his care to offer up every action to
him, and implore his aid at the beginning of each. Falling sick, he was
despaired of by the physicians, and he himself expected with joy his
last moment. His preceptor, Deage, who had ever attended him, asked him
with tears, what he had to order about his funeral and other matters.
"Nothing," answered he, cheerfully, "unless it be, that my body be given
to the anatomy theatre to be dissected; for it will be a comfort to me
if I can be of any advantage when dead, having been of none while alive.
Thus I may also prevent some of the disorders and quarrels which happen
between the young physicians and the friends of the dead, whose bodies
they often dig up." However, he recovered; and by his father's orders,
being twenty years of age, commenced doctor in laws, with great applause
and pomp, in presence of forty-eight doctors. After which he travelled
through Italy to see the antiquities, and visit the holy places there.
He went to Rome by Ferrara, and returned by Loretto and Venice. To any
insult offered him on the road he returned only meekness; for which he
met with remarkable blessings from heaven. The sight of the pompous
remains of ancient Rome gave him a feeling contempt of worldly grandeur:
but the tombs of the martyrs drew everywhere tears of devotion from his
eyes. Upon his return his father received him with great joy, at his
castle of Tuille, where he had prepared for him a good library of books.

All persons were charmed with the young count, but none so much as the
great Antony Favre, afterwards first president of the parliament of
Chamberry, and Claudius Cranier, the learned and truly apostolic bishop
of Geneva, who already consulted him as an oracle. His father had a very
good match in view for him, and obtained in his behalf, from the duke of
Savoy, patents creating him counsellor of the parliament of Chamberry.
Francis modestly, but very firmly, refused both; yet durst not propose
to his parents his design of receiving holy orders; for the tonsure was
not all absolute renouncing of the world. At last, he discovered it to
his pious preceptor, Deage, and begged of him to mention it to his
father: but this he {292} declined, and used his utmost endeavors to
dissuade the young count from such a resolution, as he was the eldest
son, and destined by the order of nature for another state. Francis
answered all his reasonings, but could not prevail on him