362 THE REFORMATION IN FRENCH SWITZERLAND.
discipline. Calvin was induced, two months later, to leave Basel for Strassburg.
It was during this crisis that Calvin's friend and travelling companion, Louis du Tillet, who seems to have been of a mild and peaceable disposition, lost faith in the success of the Reformation. He left Geneva in August, 1537, for Strassburof and Paris, and returned to the Roman Church. He had relations in high standing who influenced him. His brother, Jean du Tillet, was the famous registrar of the Parliament of Paris ; another brother became bishop of Sainte- Brieux, afterwards of Meaux.^ He explained to Calvin his conscientious scruples and reasons for the change. Calvin regarded them as insuthcient, and warned him earnestly, but kindly and courteously. The separation was very painful to both, but was relieved by mutual regard. Du Tillet even offered to aid Calvin in his distressed condition after his expulsion, but Calvin gratefully declined, writing from Strassburg, Oct. 20, 1588 : " You have made me an offer for which I cannot sufficiently thank you; neither am I so rude and unmannerly as not to feel the unmerited kindness so deeply, that even in declining to accept it, I can never adequately express the obligation that I owe to you."' As to their difference of opinion, he appeals to the judgment of God to decide who are the true schismatics, and concludes the letter with the prayer : '* May our Lord uphold and keep you in his holy protection, so directing you that you decline not from his way.'"^
1 Hermiujard, V. 107 (note 11) : and p. 163.
■^ See the correspondence in Herminjard, IV. 354-3-59 and 384-400 ; V. 103- 109; 161, 162; 180-200. Du Tillet writes under his nom selqneurial De Haultraont to Charles d'Espeville (Calvin). His last letter is dated Paris, Dec. 1, 1538, and closes with the desire to remain " always his friend and brother in Christ." There is also an answer of Bucer to Du Tillet from Strassburg, Oct. 8, 1539 (in Herminjard, VI. 61-70), in which he refutes four objections which Du Tillet had made against the Protestants, viz.: 1) that they seceded from the Church of Christ ; 2) that they rejected good customs and observances of the Church ; 3) that they spoiled the goods of the Church ; 4) that they denied many true dogmas and introduced false dogmas.
CHAPTER XI.
CALVIX IN GERMAXY. FROM 1538-1541. § 85. Calvin in Strasshurg.
I. Calvin's correspondence from 15o8-lo41 in Opera, vols. X. and XI. ;
Hermixjaed, vols. V. and VI.; Boxnet-Coxstable, vol. I. 53 sqq. — Beza: Vita Cab., in Op. XXI. 128 sq. — .-l«n. Calv., Op. XXI. 226-285. Contains extracts from the Archives du chapitre de St. Thomas de Strasbourg.
II. Alf. Erichsox : L'Eglise frangaise de Strasbowg au XVI^ siecle, d'apres des documents ine'dits. Strasb. 1885. Comp. also his other works on the History of the Keformation in the Alsace. — 0. A. Cornelius : Die Riickkehr Calvin^s nach Genf. Miinchen, 1889. — E. Docmergue (Prof, of the Prot. Faculty of Montauban) : JEssai sur I'histoire du Gulte Beyhrme' principalement au XIX^ Siecle. Paris, 1890. Ch. I., Calvin a Strasbourg, treats of the worship in the first French Reformed Church, the model of the churches of France. — Edcard Stricker : Johannes Calvin als erster Pfarrer der reformirten Gemeinde zu Strassburg . Xach urkundlichen Quellen. Strassburg (Heitz & Miindel), 1890 (65 pp.). In commemoration of the centenarj' of tlie church edifice of the French Reformed congregation (built in 1790) by its present pastor.
III. Hexrt, I. ch. X. — Stahelix, 1. 168-283. —Kasipschulte, I. 320-368. — Merle d'Aubigxe, Bk. XI. chs. XV.-XVII. (vol. VI. 513-609).
Calvin felt so discouraged by his recent experience that he was disinclined to assume another public office, and Courault approved of this purpose. He therefore refused the first invitation of Bucer to come to Strassburg, the more so as his friend Farel was not included. But he pelded at last to repeated solicitations, mindful of the example of the prophet Jonah. Farel gave his hearty assent.
Strassburg 1 was since 1254 a free imperial city of Germany, famous for one of the finest Gothic cathedrals, large
1 Or Strasbourg in French. Argenloratum was a Roman military station in the time of Augustus.