CHAPTER I Page FRANCE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY 3 Extent at the Accession of Francis I. 3 Gradual Territorial Growth 4 Subdivision in the Tenth Century 5 Destruction of the Feudal System 5 The Foremost Kingdom of Christendom 6 Assimilation of Manners and Language 8 Growth and Importance of Paris 9 Military Strength 10 The Rights of the People overlooked 11 The States General not convoked 12 Unmurmuring Endurance of the Tiers État 13 Absolutism of the Crown 14 Partial Checks 15 The Parliament of Paris 16 Other Parliaments 17 The Parliaments claim the Right of Remonstrance 17 Abuses in the Parliament of Bordeaux 19 Origin and Growth of the University 20 Faculty of Theology, or Sorbonne 22 Its Authority and Narrowness 23 Multitude of Students 24 Credit of the Clergy 25 Liberties of the Gallican Church 25 Pragmatic Sanction of. St. Louis (1268) 26 Conflict of Philip the Fair with Boniface VIII. 27 The "Babylonish Captivity" 28 Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges (1438) 29 Rejoicing at the Council of Basle 31 Louis XI. undertakes to abrogate the Pragmatic Sanction 32 But subsequently re-enacts it in part 33 Louis XII. publishes it anew 35 Francis I. sacrifices the Interests of the Gallican Church 35 Concordat between Leo X. and the French King 36 Dissatisfaction of the Clergy 37 Struggle with the Parliament of Paris 37 Opposition of the University 39 Patronage of the King 41 The "Renaissance" 41