The Huguenot Bartholomew Dupuy and his descendants

PERSECUTION OF REFORMERS. 35
carried out. Meanwhile, as the strength of the introd.
Huguenots grew more apparent, and their
position more menacing, the necessity of conciliation
became obvious to the court.
The Queen Regent now turned to Coligny
for advice. The Admiral counseled toleration;
and to show its expediency, presented to her a
list of 2,150 Protestant churches, that asked
for freedom and protection in the exercise of
their religion. From the organization of the
first church in 1555, the Reformed had increased
to 2,150 churches in about six years.
The advice of Coligny was heeded by the
Queen Mother, and the call of a conference
was issued September 3, for the representatives
of both religions to discuss freely before
the King and Court their different doctrines,
and the necessity of a reformation.
The conference convened at Poissy, Septem- Confer-
ber 9, 1561, and lasted about six weeks. Cardi- t?*^.® **
T V . 1 • • 1 Poissy.
nal Lorrame appeared as principal manager
for the Romanists, supported by five other
Cardinals, the Archbishop of Bourdeaux and
Embrun, thirty-six Bishops and a number of
theologians. Theodore Beza came over from
Switzerland, as principal for the Reformers,
supported by Peter Martyi' Vermigli, elcA^en
of the most accredited pastors, and twentytwo
representatives. The young King presided
with his mother at his side, surrounded
hy the splendidly attired princes of the court,
and the Roman representatives. A railing
immediately in front cut them off from the Reformers,
and presented the appearance rather
of a judicial enquiry than that of a free conference.
The meeting was opened by a speech
from Chancellor L'Hopital which showed the
Reformers that they did not meet their adver-