HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. BY J. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNE, D.D, PRESIDENT OF THE THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL OF GENEVA, and VICE- TRANSLATED BY H. WHITE, B.A. TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; M. A. AND PH. DR. HEIDELBERG. THE TRANSLATION CAREFULLY REVISED BY DR. D'AUBIGNÉ, WHO HAF ALSO MADE VARIOUS ADDITIONS NOT HITHERTO PUBLISHED. VOL. I. NEW YORK: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, 530 BROADWAY. 1875. PREFACE. THE history of one of the greatest revolutions that has ever been accomplished in human affairs-of a mighty impulse communicated to the world three centuries ago, and whose influence is still visible on every side-and not the history of a mere party, is the object of my present undertaking. The history of the Reformation is distinct from that of Protestantism. In the former every thing bears the mark of a regeneration of the human race-of a religious and social change emanating from God himself. In the latter we too often witness a glaring degeneracy from first principles, the struggles of parties, a sectarian spirit, and the traces of petty individualities. The history of Protestantism may have an interest for Protestants only; the history of the Reformation addresses itself to all Christians, or rather to all mankind. An historian may choose his subject in the wide field presented to his labours: he may describe the great events which have changed the aspect of a people or of the world; or on the other hand he may record that tranquil onward course of a nation, of the Church, or of mankind, which usually succeeds every great social change. Both these departments of history are of vast importance; yet public interest has ever been more strongly attracted to those epochs which under the name of revolutions, have given fresh life to a nation, or created a new era for society in general. It is a transformation of the latter kind that, with very humble powers, I have undertaken to describe, not without a hope that the beauty of the subject may compensate for my own deficiencies. The term "revolution," which I here |