This slender volume, written at the end of the nineteenth century, tells the story of one of the great ladies of the Protestant Reformation, Renee of France, the eldest daughter of Louis XII.

Renee lost her father while she was still a child and grew up with her cousin Princess Marguerite, sister of Francis I. Both ladies took an early interest in poetry and spiritual questions. They were both supporters of church reformers, though Marguerite would never fully leave the Catholic church.

Renee married Ercole II d’Este, Duke of Ferrara. Her early married life was happy, she kept a brilliant court, with poet Clement Marot, and briefly John Calvin. Weitzel has a wonderful description of her visit to Venice, which seems to have been a brilliant success. While having a keen sense of her royal dignity, Renee of France seems to have had a natural sense of empathy that won her friends in almost all corners. Almost. Her discrete support of reformers could not be concealed from Catholic authorities and alienated her husband. The Pope sent a Jesuit theologian named Iago to Ferrara in hopes of winning her back for Rome; but she never admitted Iago into her presence. One cannot help but wonder if Shakespeare knew of this and that is how he got the idea for the name Iago.

During her time in Ferrara the Duchess helped many reformers flee to Geneva, thus further angering Rome. Eventually she moved out of her husband’s house and established her own household. She was forbidden the company of her children. She bore all this with dignity and threw herself into her charities, the one bright spot in her long suffering life.

After her husband’s death she moved to her estate in Montargis France. During the wars of religion she opened her estate for Huguenots and gave refuge to any seeking it. She was firm for liberty of conscious within her estate, punishing any Protestant who interfered with Catholic worship or offering them insult. She was centuries ahead of her time with regard to religious toleration.

He daughter had married Francis, Duke of Guise, a cruel persecutor of Protestants. More than once he sent armies to threaten his mother-in-law and insist that she expel Huguenots living on her estate. Finally Renee was forced to expel the Huguenots living on her estate, but she provided them with wagons to carry their belongings and horse and oxen to pull them, so they were not completely desperate. These refugees were able to travel to another town dominated by Huguenot, and so were safe.

By her timely interventions Renee saved many lives. Through her generosity she provided funds and moral support for the Reformation. Above all, she provided an example of how to live a moral life in a dangerous time.