THE HUGUENOTS IN FRANCE 43 



The Bible was the cause of the Reformation in France, 

 as in all lauds. In the fifteenth centui-y an eager demand 

 had sprung up in France for the Scriptures, editions of 

 which had been printed in Antwerp, some versions in 

 French for the Walloons. The translation that super- Effect of the 



■^ Bible 



seded all others in French was made by LeFevre, who 

 may on this account be ranked as the first of the Hugue- 

 nots. The effects were the same wherever the Book 

 appeared. It was the accidental sight of a copy of one 

 of Gutenberg's Bibles in the library of the Erfurt con- 

 vent that transformed local monk Luther into the Protes- 

 tant World Reformer. So in France, the reading of the 

 Bible by the people was followed by an immediate reac- 

 tion against the superstition, indifferentism and impiety 

 which generally prevailed. There was a sudden awaken- 

 ing to a new religious life. The sentiment of right was 

 created, and a new sense of manhood was born. 



Under the protection of Margaret of Angouleme, wife 

 of the King of Navarre and only sister to Francis I, King 

 of France, the reformation at Meaux proceeded with great 

 rapidity. The gospel was preached from the pulpits, and 

 copies of the Bible were spread broadcast among the 

 people. In the pure light of God's Word the gross 

 superstitions of the Romish church faded as mists before 

 the sun, and the inhabitants of Meaux soon came to value 

 spiritual truths above saintly relics and waxen images. 



But all this did not escape the iealous eyes of the Power of the 



1 . , , , ., ,.-, 1 Church 



church which based its wealth and power on the igno- 

 rance of the people. Strong pressure from Rome was 

 brought to bear on the King, and in spite of the efforts 

 of Margaret, who was distinguished by her humanity 

 towards the Protestants from first to last, the work of 

 stamping out the heresy was begun. Brifonnet, in order 

 to save his life, was forced to aid in the work of blotting 

 out the reforms he had himself helped to institute. One 

 by one the reformers were compelled to leave Meaux and 

 take up their work more quietly in other places. But 



