§ 170. Bi:ZA AT THE COLLOQUV OF POISSV. «o7
conclusion that the verdict was to be given to the Catholic part}', whatever the arguments might be. Nevertheless, lieza and his associates went through the form of a debate, and courageously held their ground. In characteristic fashion they fii-st knelt, and Beza prayed, commencing his prayer with the confession of sins used in tlie Genevan liturgy of Calvin. He then addi-essed the assembly upon the points of agreement and of disagreement between them, and was quietly listened to until he made the assertion that tlie Body of Christ was as far removed from the bread of the Eucharist as the heavens are from the earth. Then the prelates broke out wdth the Qvy '^ Bla><phemavit ! hlmphemavit ! '' ("he has blasphemed"), and for a while there was much confusion. Beza had followed the obnoxious expression with a remark which was intended to break its force, affirming the spiritual presence of Christ in the Eucharist ; but the noise had prevented its being heard. Instead, however, of 3'ielding to the clamor the queen-mother insisted that Beza should be heard out, and he finished his speech. The Huguenots claimed the \actory, but the Roman Catholics spread the stor}- that they had been easily and decidedly beaten. The prelates requested the points in writing, and it was not till Sept. 16 that they made a reply. The Cardinal of Lorraine was the spokesman. No opportunity was given the Protestants to rejoin, as they were ready to do at once.
On Sept. 24 a third conference was held, but in tlie small chamber of the prioress, not in the large refectory, and a fourth in the same place on Sept. 26. But the Colloquy had degenerated into a rambling debate, and its utterly unprofitable character was manifest to all. The queen-mother did, it is
should not be accepted unless signed by the secretary on each side, liad been refused. With studied indignity the Protestant ministers, who numbered twelve, all distinguished men, were required to appear as culprits brought to the bar, for they were separated by a railing from the prelates and courtiers.
858 THE REFORMATION LiSf FRENCH SWITZERLAND.
true, flatter herself that there might be an agreement, and zealously labored to produce it. But in vain. Her expectation really showed how shallow were her religious ideas.
Beza stayed at St. Germain until the beginning of November,i and then, worn out, and threatened with a serious illness, he sought rest in Paris. There he had a visit from his oldest step-brother, and also a pressing and affectionate letter from his father, who had learned to what honor his son had come, forgave him for his persistence in heresy, and expressed a great desire to see him. Beza started for Vezelay, but on the way met a courier with the intelligence that the Protestants required his instant attendance to help them at a crisis in their affairs, because acts of violence against them had taken place in all parts of France. And Beza, ever subordinating private to public duties, turned back to Paris, and no further opportunity of seeing his father ever came to him.^
§ 171. Beza as the Counsellor of the Hujjtieyiot Leaders.
On the 20th of December an assembly of notables, including representatives from each of the parliaments, the princes of the blood, and members of the Council, had been called to suggest some decree of at least a provisional nature upon the religious question. It was January, 1562, before it convened. It enacted on Jan. 17 the famous law known as the "Edict of January," whereby the Huguenots were recognized as having certain rights, chief of which was that of assembling for worship by day outside of the walled cities.^ The churches which they had seized were, however, not restored to them, and they were forbidden to build others.
1 His leave of absence from Geneva had been much extended in answer to the request of the king of Navarre, Conde, and Coligny. Heppe, 161.
2 Cf. the touching account of these events in Heppe, 158-61.
3 Baird, I. 576 sq.