The Rise of the Hugenots, Vol. 1 | Page 3

to governmental publications, are
the fruits of private research. Several voluminous collections of original
documents deserve special mention. Not to speak of the publications of
the national French Historical Society, the "Société de l'Histoire du
Protestantisme Français" has given to the world, in its monthly Bulletin,
so many hitherto inedited documents, besides a great number of
excellent monographs, that the volumes of this periodical, now in its
twenty-eighth year, constitute in themselves an indispensable library of
reference. That admirable biographical work, "La France Protestante,"
by the brothers Haag (at present in course of revision and enlargement);
the "Correspondance des Réformateurs dans les Pays de Langue
Française," by M. Herminjard (of which five volumes have come out),
a signal instance of what a single indefatigable student can accomplish;
the collections of Calvin's Letters, by M. Jules Bonnet; and the
magnificent edition of the same reformer's works, by Professors Baum,
Cunitz, and Reuss, a treasury of learning, rich in surprises for the
historical student--all these merit more particular description than can
here be given. The biography of Beza, by Professor Baum, the history
of the Princes of Condé, by the Due d'Aumale, the correspondence of

Frederick the Pious, edited by Kluckholn, etc., contribute a great deal
of previously unpublished material. The sumptuous work of M. Douen
on Clément Marot and the Huguenot Psalter sheds new light upon an
interesting, but until now obscure subject. The writings of Farel and his
associates have been rescued from the oblivion to which the extreme
scarcity of the extant copies consigned them; and the "Vray Usage de la
Croix," the "Sommaire," and the "Manière et Fasson," can at last be
read in elegant editions, faithful counterparts of the originals in every
point save typographical appearance. The same may be said of such
celebrated but hitherto unattainable rarities as the "Tigre" of 1560,
scrupulously reproduced in fac-simile, by M. Charles Read, of Paris,
from the copy belonging to the Hôtel-de-Ville, and the fugitive songs
and hymns which M. Bordier has gathered in his "Chansonnier
Huguenot."
No little value belongs, also, to certain contemporary journals of
occurrences given to the world under the titles of "Journal d'un
Bourgeois de Paris sous le règne de François Ier," "Cronique du Roy
Françoys, premier de ce nom," "Journal d'un curé ligueur de Paris sous
les trois derniers Valois (Jehan de la Fosse)," "Journal de Jean
Glaumeau de Bourges," etc.
The revival of interest in the fortunes of their ancestors has led a
considerable number of French Protestants to prepare works bearing
upon the history of Protestantism in particular cities and provinces.
Among these may be noted the works of MM. Douen and Rossier, on
Picardy; Recordon, on Champagne; Lièvre, on Poitou; Bujeaud, on
Angoumois; Vaurigaud, on Brittany; Arnaud, on Dauphiny; Coquerel,
on Paris; Borrel, on Nismes; Callot and Delmas, on La Rochelle;
Crottet, on Pons, Gémozac, and Mortagne; Corbière, on Montpellier,
etc. Although these books differ greatly in intrinsic importance, and in
regard to the exercise of historical criticism, they all have a valid claim
to attention by reason of the evidence they afford of individual
research.
Of the new light thrown upon the rise of the Huguenots by these and
similar works, it has been my aim to make full use. At the same time I

have been convinced that no adequate knowledge of the period can be
obtained, save by mastering the great array of original chronicles,
histories, and kindred productions with which the literary world has
long been acquainted, at least by name. This result I have, accordingly,
endeavored to reach by careful and patient reading. It is unnecessary to
specify in detail the numerous authors through whose writings it
became my laborious but by no means ungrateful task to make my way,
for the marginal notes will indicate the exact line of the study pursued.
It may be sufficient to say, omitting many other names scarcely less
important, that I have assiduously studied the works of De Thou,
Agrippa d'Aubigné, La Place, La Planche; the important "Histoire
Ecclésiastique," ascribed to Theodore de Bèze; the "Actiones et
Monimenta" of Crespin; the memoirs of Castelnau, Vieilleville, Du
Bellay, Tavannes, La Noue, Montluc, Lestoile, and other authors of this
period, included in the large collections of memoirs of Petitot, Michaud
and Poujoulat, etc.; the writings of Brantôme; the Commentaries of
Jean de Serres, in their various editions, as well as other writings
attributed to the same author; the rich "Mémoires de Condé," both in
their original and their enlarged form; the series of important
documents comprehended in the "Archives curieuses" of Cimber and
Danjou; the disquisitions collected by M. Leber; the histories of Davila,
Florimond de Ræmond, Maimbourg, Varillas, Soulier, Mézeray,
Gaillard; the more recent historical works of Sismondi, Martin,
Michelet, Floquet; the volumes of Browning, Smedley, and White, in
English, of