With certain men, in fact, piety consists in making one's self right with a king more powerful than any other, but also more severe and capricious, who is called God.

One proves one's loyalty to him as to other sovereigns, by putting his image more or less everywhere, and punctually paying the imposts levied by his ministers.

If you are stingy, if you cheat, you run the risk of being severely chastised, but there are courtiers around the king who willingly render services.

For a reasonable recompense they will seize a favorable moment to adroitly make away with the sentence of your condemnation or to slip before the prince a form of plenary absolution which in a moment of good humor he will sign without looking at it.[2] Such was the religious basis upon which Francis had lived up to this time.

He did not so much as dream of seeking the spiritual balm which he needed for the healing of his wounds.