From Rise of Protestantism in France to Publication of the Institutes - James Aitken Wylie

days, who knew only to mount their horse, to
handle their sword, to follow the hounds, or to
figure in a tournament, Berquin delighted in
reading and was devoted to study. Frank,
courteous, and full of alms-deeds, he was beloved
by all. His morals were as pure as his manners
were polished: he had now reached the age of forty
without calumny finding occasion to breathe upon
him. He often went to court., and was specially
welcomed by a prince who delighted to see around
him men of intellectual accomplishments and
tastes. Touching the religion of Rome, Berquin was
blameless, having kept himself pure from his youth
up. "He was," says Crespin, "a great follower of the
Papistical constitutions, and a great hearer of
masses and sermons." All the Church's rites he
strictly observed, all the Church's saints he duly
honored, and he crowned all his other virtues by
holding Lutheranism in special abhorrence.[7]
But it pleased God to open his eyes. His manly
and straightforward character made the maneuvers
and intrigues of the Sorbonne specially detestable
to him. Besides, it chanced to him to have a dispute
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