CAYET, PIERRE-VICTOR-PALMA - French theologian, born into a modest Catholic family at Montrichard (Turenna) in 1525; died in Paris on 16 March 1610. As a student he embraced Calvinism and, having been educated at German universities, returned to France as Calvinist pastor at Montreuil-Bonnin. Tutor to Enrico di Navarra (1562) and preacher at Pau to Caterina di Borbone
(1584), he followed Enrico IV to Paris, and at his court he became acquainted with Card. Du Perron, who greatly influenced his conversion, which took place on 9 Nov. 1595. For this conversion, although he received the congratulations of Clement VIII, he also had to endure much harassment from his former coreligionists, who accused him of immorality and magic. Professor of Oriental languages at the royal college of Navarra (1596), he was ordained priest in 1600.
Among his many publications, the following deserve particular mention: Copie d'une lettre de maître P. V. C., contenant les causes et les raisons de sa conversion à l'église catholique (Paris 1595, 1596); Le vray orthodoxe de la foy catholique du sacrement de l'autel (ibid. 1596); Vraye intelligence salutaire du sacrifice de la Messe (ibid. 1597). The work Chronologie septennaire (ibid. 1598-1604) is on the Index; it was also censured by the Sorbonne because, among other errors, it maintained that the authority of the pope is not superior to that of the bishops (decree of 18 Nov. 1605).