Calvin wrote the preface for it.
It was dedicated to "the poor little church of God." In doctrine it was thoroughly evangelical, replacing the old "eveques" and "pretres" by "surveillants" and "anciens," and omitting some of the Apocrypha.
Encouraged by their own growth the Protestants became bolder in their attacks on the Catholics.

The situation verged more and more towards violence; {197} neither side, not even the weaker, thought of tolerance for both.

On the night of October 17-18 some placards, written by Anthony de Marcourt, were posted up in Paris, Orleans, Rouen, Tours and Blois and on the doors of the king's chamber at Amboise.

They excoriated the sacrifice of the mass as a horrible and intolerable abuse invented by infernal theology and directly counter to the true Supper of our Lord.

The government was alarmed and took strong steps.
Processions were instituted to appease God for the sacrilege.