> > It is a maxim with me that a Bishop must always be in the wrong. Rev.Sydney Smith 1771-1854, Canon of St. Paul's. Why of course, but only if Roman Catholic between the year "Dot" and the end of the 'Wars of Religion' How could anyone subscribed to this particular mailing see anything but good in the good Reverand Smith. After all did not our ancestors go from those Bishops who gathered their daily tokens from the masses of good French folk by stealth or direct theft and move across the the channel to where more likable Bishops gave them assist right inside the Canterbury Cathedral ? And for free, well almost. I doubt that too many young Bishops of the Anglican faith back in those days could have mustered up the amounts that the "other" Bishops could over in France at that time. The 1,300,000 livre "donation" was not the only time that those illustrious and pious men of the Catholic cloth made such "donations" to the royal family in order to influence against our ancestors. But I should withdraw some comments as they may be taken as too direct for some or I am lacking equal opportunity for those followers of Calvin. Hmm I feel an urge to propose yet another question in regards, to funding and it is in line with this topic ? This Calvin character; ever wondered how he had the money for the bus ticket from Geneve to Paris ? And just who did pay his hotel bills and Visa card payments ? At various time historians seem to portray this wonderful man as though he was just a little struggling theologist, making his way in the world by selling pamphlets. Surely this was not so ? Now I am almost certain that Catherine de Medici was not one of his benefactors? Kind Regards, Peter Leroy