An English Window on the Huguenot Struggle for Recognition: Nicolas Des Gallars and the Colloquy of Poissy

Abstract

Abstract: The English had a unique window on the Colloquy of Poissy in 1561 through the Parisian pastor of the French-speaking congregation of the Stranger Church in London, Nicolas de Gallars, lately a pastor of Geneva and a delegate to the colloquy, which was a gathering, called by the French Crown, of Reformed pastors, meeting with Catholic prelates to try to reach agreement that would avoid wars of religion in France. It failed at that but was a step ahead in the Huguenot struggle for recognition in France. Des Gallars's letters to the English ambassador to France, Nicolas Throckmorton, provided the English with information on the closed meetings of the colloquy and copies of the major presentations. Besides his unedited letters, Des Gallars wrote an account of the proceedings, which was published in English by “J.D.”