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 lOo HISTORY OF FRANCE. [chap. da Vinci spent his old age at his court and died in his arms, and the French school of painting came into life under him. Great scholars in Greek and Latin adorned the University of Paris, and with learning came inquiry and doubt of the ordinary teaching of the clergy, whose dependence on the crown was fast corrupting them. Lefhire and Farel, two scholars at the University, first began translating the Bible and teaching from their own interpretation. They were welcomed and protected by Francis's sister, the Queen of Navarre, at whose town of N^rac they met with John Chauvin or Calvin, a native of Noyon in Picardy, afterwards the famous reformer, whose book called "The Institutes of Calvin" became the guide of the Reformed in France. Francis, as the enemy of Charles, allied himself with the Lutherans in Germany, and even with the Turks and Moors but, as the friend of the pope, he persecuted the Reformers in France. In fact the French Reformed, carrying out every doctrine to its logical and practical con- clusion, waged war against whatever seemed to them to interfere with spiritual worship, and thus gave great offence. Stones were thrown at sacred images, and most offensive placards against the doctrine of the mass set up, not only in the streets of Paris, but even nailed to the king's own door at Blois. An expiatory pro;ession was made by the king and his court to all the churches in Paris, and several persons found guilty of heresy were first strangled and then burned. The king's sister Mar- garet retreated to Bdarn, and Calvin found a refuge with Rende, daughter of Lewis XII., who had been married to the Duke of Ferrara. He was afterwards invited to pre- side over the Reformed at Geneva. 21. The Seizure of Savoy, 1535. — Far from dropping his plans of revenge, Francis lay in wait for the first chance of another attempt; in 1535 he had a meet- ing at Marseilles with Clement VI), at which a mar- riage was arranged between his second son Henry and Cat/iarine, the only direct legitimate offspring of the house of Medici. It is said that Clement told him that the ruin of the French armies in Italy had been for want of a free passage through the duchy of Savoy, and having thus, as it were, sown two firebrands, Clement returned home and died soon after. The new pope, Paul III., was an imperialist, but the death of the last Sforza led Francis to make another effort, renewing the claim to