JEHAN DE VARENNES PREACHING.
Froissart gives a short but interesting notice of the preaching of Jehan de Varennes, one of those restless but disinterested spirits who prepared the way for the Reformation. He says:—
“At this time, there was a clerk, well skilled in science, Doctor of Laws, and Auditor of the Palace: he was a native of the Archbishopric of Rheims, and called Sir John de Varennes.
“He was much advanced in the church for the services he had rendered Pope Clement and others, and was on the point of being a Bishop or Cardinal. He had also been chaplain to a Cardinal, called, at Avignon, Saint Peter of Luxembourg. This John de Varennes, beneficed and advanced as he was, resigned all, retaining only for his subsistence the canonry of our Lady at Rheims, which is worth by residence one hundred francs, otherwise not more than thirty.
“He quitted Avignon, returned to his native country, and fixed his abode at the village of Saint Lye, near Rheims, where he led a devout life, preaching the faith and works of our Lord, and praising the Pope of Avignon.
“He declared he was the true Pope, condemning by his speeches that of Rome. He was much attended to and followed by the people, who came to see him from all countries, for the sober and holy life he led, fasting daily, and for the fine sermons he preached. Some, however, said, that the Cardinals at Avignon had sent him thither to support their cause, and to exhibit the holiness of his life, which was devout enough to entitle him to be raised to the Papacy.
“Master John de Varennes would not allow himself to be called the holy man of Saint Lye, but simply the Auditor. He lived with his mother, and every day said mass very devoutly.
“All that was given him—for he asked for nothing—he distributed in alms to the glory of God.”[23]
This miniature is very carefully executed, and exhibits in an interesting manner the arrangements of a conventicle of the fourteenth or fifteenth century.[24] The artist has not failed to make evident that in his day, as in ours, the greater number and most devout proselytes of the popular preacher were females.[Pg 155][Pg 154]