[13] This letter is the earliest in the series of Calvin's
correspondence. Born at Noyon the 10th of July 1509, educated in
the _belles lettres_ at Paris,--in 1527 he went to study law at the
University of Orleans, which he left soon afterwards, in order to
avail himself of the lectures of the celebrated Alciat at Bourges.
In the first mentioned of these towns, he had for fellow-students
and friends, several young men who were distinguished not less by
their piety than by information and accomplishment. Nicolas Duchemin
was of this number, to whom, at a later period, (1536,) he dedicated
a letter, entitled "De fugiendis impiorum illicitis sacris et
puritate Christianæ Religionis." That letter was translated into
English, (London, 1548, in 8vo.) The original is inserted in the
Latin Edition of Calvin's Works, (Amsterdam, 1671,) in the eighth
volume. Also in the "Recueil des Opuscules," Edition of 1566.
Calvin at the University of Orleans--his early friendships--he
is recalled to Noyon by the illness of his father.
NOYON, _14th May 1528_.
As I do not think that you have hitherto been correctly informed
of the motives and peculiar circumstances which have brought my
punctuality in question, you must at least be willing to admit,
that until now you have known me to be a person rather overmuch
attentive, not to say troublesome, in the frequency of my
correspondence. Nor has my fidelity been so sorely endangered as
to leave me altogether inexcusable. For after calm consideration,
I came to this conclusion in my own mind, that all the esteem
you had conceived for me, during a long acquaintance and daily
intercourse, could not vanish in a single moment; and that a certain
kindly courtesy, as well as shrewdness, is so much your nature, that
nothing is wont unadvisedly to prejudge you. This consideration
makes me feel confident that I may be restored to favour, if any
has been lost. Receive now, I pray you, in few words, the cause of
this delay. The promise made at my departure, that I would return
in a short time, while it was my wish to fulfil it, kept me all the
longer in a state of suspense. For when I was seriously intending
to return to you, my father's illness[14] occasioned the delay. But
afterward, when the physicians gave some hope of his restoration
to good health, I then thought of nought else than the anxious
desire to rejoin you, to which I had previously been very strongly
inclined, but which was much increased after an interval of some
days. Meanwhile, my onwaiting in this duty has been prolonged, until
at length there remains no hope of recovery, and the approach of
death is certain.[15] Whatsoever happens, I shall see you again.
[14] Gerard Chauvin, or Cauvin, father of the Reformer, a man of
strict morals, of good understanding and judgment, which we have on
the testimony of Théod. de Bèze, _Calvini Vita_. Originally of Pont
l'Evêque, he had been promoted, by his ability, to the office of
notary apostolic, secretary to the bishopric, and _promoteur_ of the
Chapter at Noyon. Le Vasseur, "_Annales de l' Eglise Cathédrale de
Noyon_," chap. x. p. 1151.
[15] It seems uncertain whether Gerard Chauvin died this year. The
letters of Calvin, so far as yet appears, contain no other allusion
to that event, which must have exercised a desirable influence on
his life, in drawing him away from the study of law to that of
theology, in which direction all his own tendencies drew him. See
Théod. de Bèze, _Vita Calvini_.
Remember me to Francis Daniel; to Philip,[16] and your entire
household. Have you given in your name yet among the professors of
literature? See that your modesty does not enforce indolence upon
you.--Adieu, dear Duchemin, my friend dearer to me than my life.
[_Lat. copy_--_Library of Berne_. Vol. 450.]
[16] Philippe Laurent, librarian of the library at Orleans.