[404] This letter, written from Strasbourg, has reference, as well
as the following, to the journey which Calvin undertook, in 1543,
for the evangelization of Metz.
A town of the Empire, and the seat of one of the three bishoprics
which the treaty of Cateau-Cambresis incorporated with France, Metz
received betimes the seed of the Reformation. The first missionaries
were John Leclerc and John Chatelain, who suffered martyrdom,
(1523-1524.) The Church, which they had helped to found by their
testimony, enlarged under the cross of persecution. She demanded,
in 1544, the free exercise of religion at the Diet of Ratisbon, but
without obtaining it. The year following, she called Farel. The
intrepid missionary answered the perilous appeal. Driven from the
town by a sedition, he retired to the village of Montigny, where
the Protestants flocked together to wait upon his preachings. The
gates of the town were shut upon them by order of the Roman Catholic
magistrates, and thus they perceived they were driven from their
country. Received with kindness by the magistrates of Strasbourg,
they had recourse to the intervention of the Protestant princes
of Germany to obtain free access to their houses and property,
as well as the free exercise of their worship. It was during
these negotiations that Calvin left Geneva, and rejoined Farel at
Strasbourg.--Bèze, _Hist. Eccl._ tom. iii. p. 431, and following.
Calvin at Strasbourg--exposé of his proceedings with the
magistrates of that town for preaching the Evangel at Metz--the
news.