Le Clerq was very indignant. He had gone up and down the city in the sight of everybody, he had ransacked the booksellers' shops to lay hold of the heretical _Mirror_; the booksellers, if necessary, could depose against him; but when he found himself abandoned by those who had urged him on, he was filled with anger and contempt. Still, he endeavoured to escape the danger that threatened him, and seeing among the audience several officers of the court, he said in French, so that all might understand him: 'In what words, Sirs, can I sufficiently extol the king's justice?[443] Who can describe with what unshaken fidelity this great prince has on all occasions shown himself the valiant defender of the faith?[444] I know that misguided men[445] are endeavouring to pervert the king's mind, and conspiring the ruin of this holy faculty; but I have a firm conviction that their manœuvres will fail against his majesty's heroic firmness. I am proud of the resistance I make them. And yet I have done nothing of myself; I was delegated by an order of the university for the duty I have fulfilled.[446] And do you imagine that in discharging it, I had any desire to get up a plot against an august princess whose morals are so holy, whose religion is so pure,[447] as she proved not long ago by the respect with which she paid the last honours to her illustrious mother? I consider such obscene productions as _Pantagruel_ ought to be prohibited; but I place the _Mirror_ simply among the suspected books, because it was published without the approbation of the faculty. If that is a crime, we are all guilty—you, gentlemen,' he said, turning towards his colleagues, 'you as well as myself, although you disavow me.'[448] [Sidenote: THE UNIVERSITY APOLOGISES.] This speech, so embarrassing to the doctors of the faculty, secured the triumph of the queen. 'Sirs,' said the king's confessor, 'I have read the inculpated volume, and there is really nothing to blot out of it, unless I have forgotten all my theology.[449] I call, therefore, for a decree that shall fully satisfy her majesty.' The rector now rose again and said: 'The university neither recognises nor approves of the censure passed upon this book. We will write to the king, and pray him to accept the apology of the university.' Thereupon the meeting broke up. Thus did Margaret, the friend of the reformers, come out victorious from this attack of the monks. 'This matter,' says Beza, 'somewhat cowed the fury of our masters (_magistri_), and greatly strengthened the small number of believers.'[450] The clear and striking account which Calvin has left us, has enabled us to watch the quarrel in all its phases. As we read it, we cannot help regretting that the reformer did not sometimes employ his noble talents in writing history.[451]