"Sic correctæ sunt externæ superstitiones, ut residui maneant innumeri surculi, qui assidue pullulent. _Imo ex corruptelis papatus audio relictum esse congeriem, quæ non obscuret modo, sed propemodum obruat purum et genuinum Dei cultum_."
Part of this letter, but with important omissions, had been published by Dean Jenkyns in 1833. (_Cranmer's Remains_, vol. i. p. 347.) M. d'Aubigné's communication gave the whole of it; and it ought to have appeared in the Parker Society volume of original letters relative to the English Reformation. That volume contains one of Calvin's letters to the Protector Somerset; but omits another, of which Merle d'Aubigné's communication supplied a portion, containing this important sentence:
"Quod ad formulam precum et rituum ecclesiasticorum, _valde probo ut certa illa extet, a qua pastoribus discedere in functione sua non liceat_, tam ut consulatur quorumdam simplicitati et imperitiæ, quam ut certius ita constet omnium inter se ecclesiarum consensus."
Another portion of a letter from Calvin, communicated by D'Aubigné, is headed in the _Record_ "Cnoxo et gregalibus, S. D.;" but seems to be the one cited in the Parker Society, vol. ii. of _Letters_, pp. 755-6, notes 941, as a letter to Richard Cox and others; so that _Cnoxo_ should have been Coxo.
The same valuable communication farther contained the letter of Cranmer inviting Calvin to unite with Melancthon and Bullinger in forming arrangements for holding a Protestant synod in some safe place; meaning in England, as he states more expressly to Melancthon. This letter, however, had been printed entire by Dean Jenkyns, vol. i. p. 346.; and it is given, with an English translation, in the Parker Society edition of _Cranmer's Works_ as Letter CCXCVII., p. 431. It is important, as proving that Heylyn stated what was untrue, _Eccles. Restaur._, p. 65.; where he has said, "Calvin had offered his assistance to Archbishop Cranmer. But the archbishop knew the man, and refused his offer." Instead of such an offer, Calvin replied courteously and affectionately to Cranmer's invitation; but says, "Tenuitatem meam facturam spero, ut mihi parcatur ... Mihi utinam par studii ardori suppeteret facultas." This reply, the longest letter in their correspondence, is printed in the note attached to Cranmer's letter (Park. Soc., as above, p. 432.; and a translation of it in Park. Soc. _Original Letters_, vol. ii. p. 711.: and there are extracts from it in Jenkyns, p. 346., n.p.). D'Aubigné gave it entire; but has placed both Calvin's letters to the archbishop before the latter's epistle to him, to which they both refer.