A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 4 — John Shaqi
A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 4Guizot, François
History
A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 4
Guizot, François
France -- History
On returning to Paris the deputies were beginning to give their fellows
an account of how harsh a reception they met with, when Louis de la
Tremoille, the most respected amongst the chiefs of the army, entered the
hall. He came by order of the king to affirm to the Parliament that to
dismiss the Concordat was to renew the war, and that it must obey on the
instant or profess open rebellion. Parliament upheld its decision of
July 24, 1517, against the Concordat, at the same time begging La
Tremoille to write to the king to persuade him, if he insisted upon
registration, to send some person of note or to commission La Tremoille
himself to be present at the act, and to see indorsed upon the Concordat,
“Read, published, and registered at the king’s most express command
several times repeated, in presence of . . . , specially deputed by
him for that purpose.” Tremoille hesitated to write, and exhibited the
letters whereby the king urged him to execute the strict orders laid upon
him. “What are those orders, then?” asked the premier president. “That
is the king’s secret,” answered La Tremoille: “I may not reveal it; all
that I can tell you is, that I should never have peace of mind if you
forced me to carry them out.” The Parliament in its excitement begged La
Tremoille to withdraw, and sent for him back almost immediately.
“Choose,” said the premier president to him, “between Saturday or Monday
next to be present at the registration.” La Tremoille chose Monday,
wishing to allow himself time for an answer even yet from the king. But
no new instructions came to him; and on the 22d of March, 1518,
Parliament proceeded to registration of the Concordat, with the forms and
reservations which they had announced, and which were evidence of
compulsion. The other Parliaments of France followed with more or less
zeal, according to their own particular dispositions, the example shown
by that of Paris. The University was heartily disposed to push
resistance farther than had been done by Parliament: its rector caused to
be placarded on the 27th of March, 1518, in the streets of Paris, an
order forbidding all printers and booksellers to print the Concordat on
pain of losing their connection with the University. The king commanded
informations to be filed against the authors and placarders of the order,
and, on the 27th of April, sent to the Parliament an edict, which forbade
the University to meddle in any matter of public police, or to hold any
assembly touching such matters, under pain, as to the whole body, of
having its privileges revoked, and, as to individuals, of banishment and
confiscation. The king’s party demanded of Parliament registration of
this edict. Parliament confined itself to writing to the king, agreeing
that the University had no right to meddle in affairs of government, but
adding that there were strong reasons, of which it would give an account
whenever the king should please to order, why it, the Parliament, should
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