These first four books contain a short consideration of the state of affairs before the Reformation, and afterwards a precise description of the beginning and progress of the Reformation, especially in the person and life of Luther up to the year 1521, and also, though more briefly, in the person and life of Zwingli up to about that time. The history is drawn with much knowledge and mostly from the sources themselves, and is painted with a vivacity and presentation peculiar to French writers, varied by many short, sharp, and witty remarks.