DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63221#0157
THE MYSTICS OF MEAUX 119
more dangerous race.” A religion such as this, founded on
antipathy and common sense, was hardly of stuff that would
endure. Policy was her real conscience; and when the new
doctrines interfered with that, and endangered State as well
as Church, then they became heresy and she persecuted more
bitterly than anyone. Both she and Margaret were absorbed
by the novel study of the Scriptures. To Margaret, who
did not analyze the people she was fond of, her mother,
whom she began by converting, afterwards figured as the
perfect interpreter of the Bible. In the “ Heptameron ” Louise
is probably portrayed as “ Oisille ”—the wise and calm lady
who directs the conduct and devotions of her companions,
and expounds the Bible to them daily with such charm and
understanding that they are loth to leave her, even for
Boccaccian pleasures.
The attitude of the King resembled both that of his
sister and his mother. He was warm in intellect and eager
to please all parties. But there was another side to his
character. Selfish statecraft, pride of position, and relent-
less cruelty to opponents lay beneath the dazzling surface.
When Reform seemed to threaten his prerogatives, he followed
his mother’s example and punished barbarously. In these
early years of his manhood, however, all was serene, and
Margaret had her way with him. Such love as hers was
rather blind. She constantly gave thanks for his spiritual
progress when he was really acting on the dictates of a
shrewd mind. Happily it suited his views to play the
Patron of the Reformers, whom he called “Mes fils” and
“Hommes d’excellent savoir.” Calvin dedicated his book
to him. So did Zwinglius, Pastor of Einsiedeln and Vicar
more dangerous race.” A religion such as this, founded on
antipathy and common sense, was hardly of stuff that would
endure. Policy was her real conscience; and when the new
doctrines interfered with that, and endangered State as well
as Church, then they became heresy and she persecuted more
bitterly than anyone. Both she and Margaret were absorbed
by the novel study of the Scriptures. To Margaret, who
did not analyze the people she was fond of, her mother,
whom she began by converting, afterwards figured as the
perfect interpreter of the Bible. In the “ Heptameron ” Louise
is probably portrayed as “ Oisille ”—the wise and calm lady
who directs the conduct and devotions of her companions,
and expounds the Bible to them daily with such charm and
understanding that they are loth to leave her, even for
Boccaccian pleasures.
The attitude of the King resembled both that of his
sister and his mother. He was warm in intellect and eager
to please all parties. But there was another side to his
character. Selfish statecraft, pride of position, and relent-
less cruelty to opponents lay beneath the dazzling surface.
When Reform seemed to threaten his prerogatives, he followed
his mother’s example and punished barbarously. In these
early years of his manhood, however, all was serene, and
Margaret had her way with him. Such love as hers was
rather blind. She constantly gave thanks for his spiritual
progress when he was really acting on the dictates of a
shrewd mind. Happily it suited his views to play the
Patron of the Reformers, whom he called “Mes fils” and
“Hommes d’excellent savoir.” Calvin dedicated his book
to him. So did Zwinglius, Pastor of Einsiedeln and Vicar