{203} Apart from the great independents, holding themselves aloof from all religious controversy, the more intelligent and enterprising portion of the educated class had gone over to the enemy.
But the government did its best to supply the want of argument by the exercise of authority.

New and severe edicts against "the heresies and false doctrines of Luther and his adherents and accomplices" were issued.

The Sorbonne prohibited the reading and sale of sixty-five books by name, including the works of Luther, Melanchthon, Calvin, Dolet, and Marot, and all translations of the Bible issued by the publishing house of Estienne.
The south of France had in earlier centuries been prolific in sects claiming a Protestantism older than that of Augsburg.

Like the Bohemian Brethren they eagerly welcomed the Calvinists as allies and were rapidly enrolled in the new church.

Startled by the stirring of the spirit of reform, the Parlement of Aix, acting in imitation of Simon de Monfort, [Sidenote: 1540] ordered two towns, Merindol and Cabrieres, destroyed for their heresy.