He denounced such statements as calumnies, begged the Duchess to name the men who had thus aspersed an honorable and loyal company, and called upon her to inflict exemplary punishment upon the slanderers.

With these prefatory remarks he presented the petition.

The famous document was then read aloud .-- Its tone was sufficiently loyal, particularly in the preamble, which was filled with protestations of devotion to both King and Duchess.

After this conventional introduction, however, the petitioners proceeded to state, very plainly, that the recent resolutions of his Majesty, with regard to the edict and the inquisition, were likely to produce a general rebellion.

They had hoped, they said, that a movement would be made by the seigniors or by the estates, to remedy the evil by striking at its cause, but they had waited in vain.