Margaret, the Queen of Navarre and sister of King Francis, did something very bold. She opened the Palace of the Louvre for a public preaching series. She invited her chaplain and close friend, Gerard Roussel, to speak. Roussel preached about righteousness by faith, a message that was part of the growing religious reform movement. Many people in Paris were curious about these new ideas, so they came in large numbers to hear him speak at the palace.  However, not everyone was happy about this.

Across the river, at the University of Paris, the Faculty of Theology strongly opposed these teachings. The university was a powerful Catholic institution, and its leaders did not approve of what Margaret was doing. One of the most vocal opponents was Noel Beda, a well-known scholar and theologian. He believed that the kind of preaching happening at the Louvre was dangerous and went against the traditional teachings of the Church. The more the crowds grew in listening to Roussel, the angrier the university's professors and clergy became. They viewed Margaret's decision to let public preaching of reformist ideas as a serious threat. Many of them, led by Beda, began protesting and crying out loudly. They called for Margaret to be arrested and put on trial for heresy. It all grew very tight with protests and unrest spreading throughout the city. Despite the rising opposition, Margaret refused to back down. She continued to support Roussel and the message he was preaching. The sermons went on, and more Parisians gathered to hear the words of salvation by faith. However, as the conflict escalated, Margaret found herself in real danger. The pressure on her increased, and it seemed likely that she would be arrested.

Just when things were about to take a turn for the worse, King Francis returned to Paris. Seeing the unrest, he stepped in to protect his sister. Instead of allowing her to be arrested, he scolded Noel Beda and his followers. With the King’s support, Margaret was safe, and Roussel could continue preaching. This was a significant moment in Parisian history. It was one of the first times that a large public audience in Paris had been introduced to the message of salvation through faith. Margaret’s bravery in standing up for her beliefs helped spread the ideas of religious reform, even in the face of strong opposition.