Chapter I: Front Matter

HISTORY OF THE

RISE OF THE HUGUENOTS.

_VOLUME I._

A REVIEW OF THIS WORK,

_Occupying nearly four columns, appeared in the_ NEW YORK TRIBUNE _of Dec. 30th, 1879, from which the following is extracted._

"It embraces the time from the accession of Francis I. in 1515, to
the death of Charles IX. in 1574, at which epoch the doctrines of
the Reformation had become well-grounded in France, and the
Huguenots had outgrown the feebleness of infancy and stood as a
distinct and powerful body before the religious world. In preparing
the learned and elaborate work, which will give the name of the
author an honourable place on the distinguished list of American
historians, Professor Baird has made a judicious use of the
researches and discoveries which, during the last thirty years,
have shed a fresh light on the history of France at the era of the
Reformation. Among the ample stores of knowledge which have been
laid open to his inquiries are the archives of the principal
capitals of Europe, which have been thoroughly explored for the
first time during that period. Numerous manuscripts of great value,
for the most part unknown to the learned world, have been rescued
from obscurity. At the side of the voluminous chronicles long since
printed, a rich abundance of contemporary correspondence and
hitherto inedited memoirs has accumulated, which afford a copious
collection of life-like and trustworthy views of the past. The
secrets of diplomacy have been revealed. The official statements
drawn up for the public may now be tested by the more truthful and
unguarded accounts conveyed in cipher to all the foreign courts of
Europe. Of not less importance, perhaps, than the official
publications are the fruits of private research, among which are
several valuable collections of original documents. While the
author has not failed to enrich his pages with the materials
derived from these and similar sources, he has made a careful and
patient study of the host of original chronicles, histories, and
kindred productions which have long been more or less familiar to
the world of letters. The fruits of his studious labours, as
presented in these volumes, attest his diligence, his fidelity, his
equipoise of judgment, his fairness of mind, his clearness of
perception, and his accuracy of statement.

"While the research and well-digested erudition exhibited in this
work are eminently creditable to the learning and scholarship of
the author, its literary execution amply attests the excellence of
his taste, and his judgment and skill in the art of composition.
His work is one of the most important recent contributions to
American literature, and is entitled to a sincere greeting for its
manifold learning and scholarly spirit."

HISTORY OF THE

RISE OF THE HUGUENOTS.

BY

HENRY M. BAIRD,

PROFESSOR IN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

_IN TWO VOLUMES._

VOL. I.

_FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FRENCH REFORMATION TO THE EDICT OF JANUARY (1562)._

London: HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXXX.

Hazell, Watson, and Viney, Printers, London and Aylesbury