THE ORATION MADE UNTO THE FRENCH KING BY THE DEPUTIES OF THE Nationall Synod of the Reformed Churc●… of France, upon the death of the marquess d'Ancre, with the Kings answer thereunto, 27. Maij. 1617.  
ALSO, A DISCOURSE OF THE BEGINNING, progression, actions and behaviour of COCHINO, marquess d' Ancre, and his wife GALLIGAIA, with his projects and practices life and death, Compendiously, but more fully expressed then heretofore.  
Faithfully Translated out of the French Copy.  
LONDON Printed by Felix Kyngston for Nathanael Newberry, and are to be sold at his shop under S. Peter's Church in Cornhill, and in Popes-head Alley. 1617.   

AN ORATION MADE TO THE FRENCH KING, BY THE deputies of the National Synod, of the Reformed Churches of France; together with his majesties answer to the same, the 27. of May. 1617.  
THE NATIONALL SYNOD OF VITRY in Britain, having deputed to his Majesty the 20. of May, 1617. these Reverend gentlemen, Pier Hesperien, Pastor of the Church of Saint Foy, in base Guienne; Denis de Bouteroüe, Pastor of the Church of Grenoble in Daulphinois; Albert de Mars, Esquire, Lord of Balene, and Ancient of the Church of Maringues, in high Auvergne; and William Gerard, Esquire, Lord of Moussac, Ancient of the Church of Moussac in base Languedoc, the 27. of the said month, when the Lord Hesperien spoke to the King in this tenor following:  
SIR,  
Behold here prostrate at your feet, in our persons, all your subjects that profess the reformed Religion, represented in the Nationall Synod, by your permission, summoned and assembled, and under your Royal authority, in the town of Vitry, which hath deputed us towards your Majesty, to testify unto you the extraordinary passions of joy, which have and do possess your said subjects, as also the solemn and unfeigned thanksgiving which they have, and daily do give unto Almighty God, in that they now behold your present estate in perfect peace and repose, your authority in full force and vigour, and your Royal person in absolute liberty; and all this, by the no less noble, then sage resolution, which you undertook and executed, for his just punishment, that disturbed your Realm, suppressed your authority; and yet which is worst, exposed your person to most eminent peril and danger. Something indeed very extraordinary concurred with this action, but so as a divine and miraculous hand was not also herein wanting; which (as it were) in a moment turned all the storm into a calm, war, into peace; fear, into all security; danger; into deliverance; and an odious tyranny, into a most just and lawful government. For now (as it were) by a new inauguration of your Majesty in the Crown of France, France herself now clearly discerns that she hath a King, and all the world no less apprehends, that there is a King in France, worthy to reign and rule. Now, that your Royal self holds the rains of the State, all your subjects are ready to yield you, that most humble obedience & submission which they own, but more particularly those of the reformed Religion, who are very prompt and willing, to offer up for your service, their goods, their honours; yea, and their lives themselves. And for this effect the Convocation and assembly; which deputed us to your Majesty was no sooner met and convented, but they solemnly swore and protested, and in the name and behalf of all the reformed Churches within your Realm, enjoined us; representing their several charges, to protest and swear in their names, that we will never go aside, nor start from that most humble obedience and service, which (as your natural subjects) we own unto you. Whereunto we further find ourselves more straightly obliged, by the many and great benefits that we received from the late deceased, Henry the Great, of most glorious memory, your renowned Father; by others, which it hath pleased your Majesty to continue towards us; and by many more, which we daily attend and hope for from you. And though we firmly believe, that the maintenance of your authority and dignity, is our best security; and the establishment of your Crown, our peace and quiet: yet we deem ourselves hereunto yet more nearly bound by the bond of our Religion, and consciences, which conformable to the holy Scriptures, daily teach us, that we must be subject to all superior powers; and that the resisting of them, is but an evident opposition to Gods will and ordinance: who (we know) hath elected, and seated you in your throne; set the Crown on your head, put the Sceptre into your hand, and planted correspondent royal virtues, and sufficiencies for discharge of the same in your noble heart. So that under him, we acknowledge no other Sovereign, but your Majesty. Our firm belief is, that between God and the King, there is no middle, nor third person. To call this received verity into any doubt or question, among us, is taken for convinced heresy; and to make thereof so much as any problematical argument, is reputed an odious and capital crime. This lesson, Sir, we have learned from our Predecessors, which we firmly believe, and divulge all over, both with lively voice, and in writing, recommending the same likewise both by precept and example, to all those that shall succeed us. And therefore we do promise so much again unto our humble selves, in the behalf of your Majesty, that being undoubtedly confirmed and resolved of our fidelity, your Majesty will propagate towards us the benefits of your former edicts: your royal ears will be always open to hear our complaints, and peazing equally the balance, you will be ready to do us justice, as we will likewise be ready every day, to plant more deeply in your royal heart an immutable and constant belief, that we will ever be ready to live and die in the state of your most faithful and obedient servants, and subjects.  
Whereunto the King replied in these words: I thank you all, continue you in my good and loyal service, and be assured that I will be your good King, and maintain you in the privileges of my Edicts. Then taking the letter which the Synod wrote to him, he gave it to Mounsieur de Pont Chartrain, commanding him to read the same, and frame an answer.   

THE LIFE, CARRIAGE, AND PROGRESSIONS OF THE unworthy Marshal d' Ancre.  
Gentlemen:  
IT was a Lynceus (but not the son of Aphareus) one of a more clear and penetrant sight, which observed even in the depth of the King's noble heart, and in the secret thoughts of his faithful subjects, the sighs that they daily poured forth, before his Divine Majesty, to be delivered, together with this whole poor Realm and Kingdom, from the tyranny and oppression, whereinto they were reduced and brought, by the deep subtlety, and insupportable pride of Cochino; in whom questionless (if Metempsychosis, or Pythagorical transmigration could take place) the devilish soul of Aman, the son of Amadathi, the Agagean, resumed another body. But to the end every one may be advertised of the true cause of these sighs, you shall conceive by this brief recital, that Cochino was borne in Florence, of poor and mean place; and as such an one, grew to affect amorously a joiners daughter, who was called Leonora Galligaia, as men said; she being placed at the first as an inferior chambermaid, with the Princess Maria de Medici's, whose close stool she oftentimes cleansed and emptied: within a while her continued services, joined with some liberality of mind and spirit observed in her, brought her to be raised and preferred to be in the said Princess her chamber as an attendant gentlewoman; which Princess at last coming into France, to be joined in marriage with Henry the Great, the said Elinor came along with her, and she was also followed by Cochino; when arriving at Marcelles, a little boy of about twelve years old, was able with all ease, to carry their whole luggage and furniture; being a French youth, and a Parisian borne, who died not long since, of a dyssenterie, or bloody flux, in the street called the Beau-bourg: when the Princess came to be Queen, out of a frank and most noble disposition, she advanced all her followers, and peculiarly the said Elinor; who humbly requested her, that she would permit her to marry the said Cochino, which at last she compassed, with the King's pleasure and consent. Then either of them insinuating themselves more and more into the Queen's favour, they grew to great fortunes and means, by commending unto their majesties divers men's suits; who having occasion to sue unto them, were urged by important occasions and businesses, of what nature or quality soever. God at last, for our own unworthiness, called the King to his mercy, depriving us of that glorious Sun; leaving to succeed him, Lewis the thirteenth, (whom God maintain and prosper) being then but ten years old, who presently, by the general voice and consent of all France, was invested in the flowers de Luce, and acknowledged for King; and the Queen his mother, a lamentable, desolate, and disconsolate Lady, by the same general consent was proclaimed Regent. The natural benignity, and noble inclination of this great Queen, suffered her not to fear, either deceit, or treachery, but being herself of an untainted and innocent soul, she thought every one had the like; especially such as were so far favoured, to come freely into her majesties presence, and had the credit to speak to her in private. Now was the time, when this ambitious Cochino, began by the instrumental offices of his wise, to deprave and detract from the King's loyal and good servants; for presently he then caused Syllery the Chancellor, and his brother, to be dismissed and driven from his presence; and under the cloak and colour of justice, to take from the Parliament of Province, their resplendent Son, under this colour to propagate his ambition; and yet this presently not giving him such full contentment, he must needs take from him the public Seals, for to confer them upon one of his own creatures; then he must needs remove from about the King, Mounsieur le chevalier de Vandosme, his beloved Minion; then his faithful servant Luynes; forthwith his vigilant and careful Physician Erovard, and then his good Counsellors; presently he gave one office to one, another to another: to conclude, at one instant he cast all these Officers in a mould; the Keeper of Seals; the Secretary of Estate, and the Controller general of the Treasuries; by little and little, contesting with the greatest, for the place of chief Gentleman of the King's chamber, using all the power possible to marry his daughter with Mounsieur the Duke of Longueuill: who no ways bending to this contract, was in great danger to have lost his government of Picardy, and all his credit at Court, being enforced to eclipse and retire himself. During these intercourses, that sage Prince, the Count de Soissons was called to heaven; whose government the Queen kept in her own hands, to appease the great jealousies of those that were competitors for the same; constituting therein Cochino, sometimes marquess d' Ancre, and Marshal of France, for her Lieutenant. Here than you see him Lieutenant of Normandy, being Master & Commander of the principal places in the same, which he fortified with Bastions, Ditches, and Cannon, which he conveyed thither out of the Arsenal at Paris. But while these occurrents thus passed, he drained the Bastile of fourteen millions, bitterly checked that Imperial Parliament, about the demonstrations of his disorders, preventing the Princes and great Lords from conventing and assembling therein. At last he found a means that the Princes forsook the Court, and Mounsieur le jay Precedent of the said Parliament, the Kings most loyal and trusty servant, was committed prisoner to the Castle of Ambois, under a colourable and counterfeit pretext: he procured that neither his Majesty, nor his faithful Counsel, gave any ear neither to the manifestation of monsieur the Prince, nor to the complaints and intimations of the other Princes. One of which, that is to say, monsieur de Vandosme, he caused to be imprisoned (but that he made a cunning and subtle escape); so that by these means he laid the foundation of a dangerous war, and of great levies of soldiers, arming near kinsmen one against another, as monsieur de Guise against monsieur de Mayenne his cousin germane, and thus ruinating the King's poor subjects: so that at last, by the wise and discreet courses of my Lords the Dukes de Nevers, de Ventadour, Chancellor Syllery, and other ancient Officers of the Crown, a good Treaty should have been drawn, the King being then at Tours, and the said Lords Princes at Loudun. But because the said Cochino perceived, that the power of these the Kings two faithful servants to his mind, crossed his ambitions, making rather use of his own ministers, and upstarts, whom himself termed Agents of a thousand Frankes, of whom he had to the number of eight hundred; and wonderfully abusing the Queen's exceeding clemency and bounty, as also the fear and jealousy, that both by himself and others he possessed her withal, that she should be careful of herself, and of the King's minority and youth: he caused monsieur the Prince to be taken prisoner on a thursday the first of September, anno 1616: and so consequently all the rest, upon this, dispersing themselves, not daring to return, they were proclaimed Rebels, attainted of high Treason, all their goods confiscated, (part of which came into his own hands) and then three Armies were hereupon raised to take the spoil of them, and so bring them in alive or dead. Mounsieur de Guise went of the one part, to seize on Mounsieur de Nevers, whom he dispossessed of many places: on the other side Mounsieur de Montigny and Mounsieur the Count de Awergne, went directly to Soissons with 40 Canons; Cochino by an imprinted letter, promised to the King forthwith an Army of five thousand foot, and eight hundred horse, which he entertained for four months at his own charge; sending out in the mean while three or four hundred Spies, or Intelligencers, over all the country, especially into Paris, that by this means he might discover and know all such as ordinarily exclaimed against his Tyranny, causing divers gibbets to be erected within the city whereupon to hang his opposites, though they armed themselves but for the King's true and faithful service. While all this thus passed, the King's loyal servants, who saw their Master's captivity, and the unworthy entreaty of his Majesty, being now of years, of greater maturity and ripeness, they convented together, and began to enter into a sacred union, to shake off this yoke of Cochino, and all his assistants, which aimed at the destruction of all the Princes, and so to seize on their goods (I mean not only of those absent and withdrawn, as my Lords de Vandosme, de Nevers, de Longueville, de Bovillon, and de Mayenne, but also of them present) as my Lords the Count de Awergne, de Guise, Ioinuille, the Cardinal of Rheims; then of my Lords the Prince of Conde prisoner, and Count de Soissons very young, but endued with an excellent spirit, and a noble imp of great expectation and hopes, for his Prince and all France; then of the most eminent Officers of the Crown, then of Sieur Erovard chief Physician, one most loyal to his King; of Sieur de Luynes, and at last of the King himself. All this effected, monsieur should have been seated in the Throne very young, the Queen-mother Regent, himself Mayor of the Palace, which dignity he meant again to re-erect; and then in a little time, having all the authority in his own hands, no body opposing nor contradicting him, (all the race of Bourbon clean extinguished, through the sudden death of monsieur the King) Cochino should then have been mounted upon the Throne, and then his wife being made away by some privy practice of his own, he might have married whom he would at his pleasure. Here you may see a well woven web, for the amputation whereof, God, who always preserveth this kingdom, put into the heart of Lewis (beloved of God) the spirit of wisdom and understanding, as he did sometimes into Solomon; and so strengthening the arm of Sieur de Vitry, his faithful Guardian and Captain, caused it to discharge his just choler, upon the head of this Salmonéas, which being too favourably dealt withal, according to the opinion and judgement of the people, when he was buried secretly in the night, they dis-interred at high noon day, and thinking him unworthy of burial, they dragged his corpse to the foot of Pont neuf; there hung up by the feet, on a gibbet he had lately erected: then they cut off his nose, and his ears, plucked out his eyes, couched his head, cut off likewise his arms, and shameful parts: this being done, it was trailed again through the streets of the City, beaten, and laid upon with cudgels, part of it burned before his own house, and some of it once again retrailed and burnt the second time, and what remained was at last thrown into the water. Now, the longer they had been mute, no man daring to speak against him, the more they talked, sung, and writ so loudly, and publicly, that all the streets re-echoed with the exulting joys and outcries of the inhabitants. The blow was no sooner given, but a miraculous change and alteration was observed over all France, especially in Paris; for every one assumed to himself a new form, through such an admirable pleasure and contentment. The Army before Soissons, was presently by the King's commandment dissolved; the Lords de Vandosme, de Nevers, de Mayenne, de Longueville, fell down incontinently at his majesties feet, who received them with a free and royal heart, to the confusion and shame of all Cochinoes creatures; who (at the arrival of that grave and prudent Chancellor, whom his Majesty sent for, and reconfirmed him of his Counsel; of the Lords, de Vair, restored to the keeping of the public Seals, Precedent janin, and Villeroy, together with others, who had been formerly dismissed and chased away by this Haman) vanished, and were dissipated, like mists or fogs at the arising of the Sun's clear beams. Cochinoes' life (sometimes Marquis the Ancre, and Marshal of France) requires a great and entire volume, to express and relate it at large, the which, attending and expecting from the learned pen of Pier Matthew in his History, I have here abridged in as brief a form as possibly I could, for a note and mark unto those, which may peradventure hear talk but of a parcel of his infernal ambition: and to be a just terror to all such Nimrods, from attempting to scale the heavens, and to bandy against lawful Kings, who are the anointed of the Lord, principally against such spirits and minds, void of all gall or bitterness, but clement and tractable, being of the same years that our King Lewis the 13 (beloved of God) is: for whom all France ought daily to pray, that he may be preserved, and blessed, with a most long and happy life. God through his omnipotent holy favour and grace, daily guard and defend him, for us, together with all the faithful Princes, and Officers of his Crown; guiding and instructing his heart, for the maintenance and propagation of his holy Church, and the benefit and comfort of his poor people, Amen.   
FINIS.