taken at the Battel of _Pavia_: _Summo galliæ bono, summâ cum suâ
laude_, says _Neveletus_, _Peter Hotoman_ his 18th Child, and [Footnote:
_Maistre des Eaux & Forrests._] _Master of the Waters and Forests_ of
_France_ (afterwards a Counsellor in the Parliament of _Paris_) was
Father to _Francis_, the _Author_ of this Book. He sent his Son, at 15
Years of Age, to _Orleans_ to study the _Common Law_; which he did with
so great Applause, that at Three Years End he merited the Degree of
Doctor. His Father designing to surrender to him his Place of Counsellor
of _Parliament_, sent for him home: But the young Gentleman was soon
tired with the Chicane of the Bar, and plung'd himself deep in the
Studies of [Footnote: _Les belles Lettres._] _Humanity_ and the _Roman
Laws_; for which he had a wonderful Inclination. He happen'd to be a
frequent Spectator of the Protestants Sufferings, who, about that Time,
had their Tongues cut out, were otherwise tormented, and burnt for their
Religion. This made him curious to dive into those Opinions, which
inspired so much Constancy, Resignation and Contempt of Death; which
brought him by degrees to a liking of them, so that he turn'd
Protestant. And this put him in Disgrace with his father, who thereupon
disinherited him; which forced him at last to quit _France_, and to
retire to _Lausanne_ in _Swisserland_ by _Calvin_'s and _Beza_'s Advice;
where his great Merit and Piety promoted him to the Humanity-Professor's
Chair, which he accepted of for a Livelihood, having no Subsistance from
his Father. There he married a young _French_ Lady, who had fled her
Country upon the Score of Religion: He afterwards remov'd to
_Strasburg_, where he also had a Professor's Chair. The Fame of his
great Worth was so blown about, that he was invited by all the great
Princes to their several Countries, particularly by the _Landgrave_ of
_Hesse_, the _Duke_ of _Prussia_, and the _King_ of _Navarre_; and he
actually went to this last about the Beginning of the Troubles. Twice he
was sent as Ambassador from the Princes of the Blood of _France_, and