In the first study of Episcopal reforming activity in France during the period 1190-1789, Michael Hayden and Malcolm Greenshields uncover a wealth of new information on the origins of the Catholic Reformation.

In 1614 the French Estates General met for the last time before the Revolution of 1789. The meeting marks the beginning of the political career of Cardinal Richelieu and provides an opportunity for studying the regency of Marie de Medicis. In another sense 1614 marks the end of the Estates General in its early modern form of three separate estates preparing lists of grievances from the preliminary lists submitted to each deputy by his electors, while attending to the needs of the king. This book provides a full description of that last meeting in 1614, based on extensive research into...