CHAPTER V

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1534-1535.

MELANCHTHON'S ATTEMPT AT CONCILIATION, AND THE YEAR OF THE PLACARDS 159 Hopes of Reunion in the Church 159 Melanchthon and Du Bellay 160 A Plan of Reconciliation 160 Its Extreme Concessions 161 Makes a Favorable Impression on Francis 162 Indiscreet Partisans of Reform 162 Placards and Pasquinades 163 Féret's Mission to Switzerland 164 The Placard against the Mass 164 Excitement produced in Paris (Oct. 18, 1534) 167 A Copy posted on the Door of the Royal Bedchamber 167 Anger of Francis at the Insult 167 Political Considerations 168 Margaret of Navarre's Entreaties 168 Francis Abolishes the Art of Printing (Jan. 13, 1535) 169 The Rash and Shameful Edict Recalled 170 Rigid Investigation and many Victims 171 The Expiatory Procession (Jan. 21, 1535) 173 The King's Speech at the Episcopal Palace 176 Constancy of the Victims 177 The Estrapade 177 Flight of Clément Marot and others 179 Royal Declaration of Coucy (July 16, 1535) 179 Alleged Intercession of Pope Paul III. 180 Clemency again dictated by Policy 181 Francis's Letter to the German Princes 182 Sturm and Voré beg Melanchthon to come 182 Melanchthon's Perplexity 183 He is formally invited by the King 184 Applies to the Elector for Permission to go 184 But is roughly refused 185 The Proposed Conference reprobated by the Sorbonne 187 Du Bellay at Smalcald 188 He makes for Francis a Protestant Confession 189 Efforts of French Protestants in Switzerland and Germany 191 Intercession of Strasbourg, Basle, etc. 191 Unsatisfactory Reply by Anne de Montmorency 193

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