The letter of the French King, to the Parliament of Roan, concerning the death of the Marshall D'Ancre Together with an act of the saide Parliament thereupon.

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COR VNVM VIA VNA

THE KINGS LETTER sent to the Parliament of Roan.

By the King.

OVR Trustie & Beloued: Wee doubt not, but that in the sequel of those proceedings vvhich haue passed, since the death of the late King Our most hono∣red Lord, and Father, you haue euidently ob∣seru'd, how Marshall D' Ancre and his wife, a∣busing Our minoritie, and the power which of long time hee possessed with the Queene our

most honoured Lady and Mother, did practice to vsurpe the whole authoritie of our State, to dispose absolutely of all affaires, and to re∣mooue all meanes, from our comming to the knowledge or vnderstanding thereof; A dis∣seigne which they so wrought and effected, that hitherto Wee carried but onely the bare Name, and title of a King: They condemning it as a capitall crime in any of our Officers or Subiects (when they did visite vs in particular) to entertaine vs with any serious discourse. Which God of his infinite bountie giuing Vs the grace at last to discerne, and pointing out vnto Vs as it were with his omnipotent finger, the imminent perill that hung ouer Our per∣son, and State, through such an insatiable and irregular ambition; Wee gaue testimonie at length of our apprehension in this point, and of the singular desire Wee had, to take requi∣site and due order for the same: Yet were Wee enforced in all our exterior actions, to disguise and couer that, which inwardly in heart Wee determin'd and resolued vpon, while it might please the same our good GOD to open Vs a fit way, and conuenient opportunitie, to ap∣ply thereunto some preualent remedy. Vpon

these intentions, not many daies since, it fel out, that sundry persons, both of Our capitall Citie of Paris, as also others of diuerse parts of Our Kingdome, taking occasion, of the said Mar∣shall D' Ancre his absence (who was gone into Normandie, vvith a deliberation there to so∣iourne for some time) addressed them-selues to the Queene Our said Lady & Mother, and to such Ministers as the said Marshall and his wife had established, (who vnder them, at their will and pleasure, should carry and sway all pro∣ceedings within this State) and effectually layd open their reasons to them, why it was most necessary and expedient, that Wee our selfe should readily and seriously assume the sole Administration of our weightie affaires; other∣wise, that our Realme which now began to rise and reuolt in all parts by meanes of this vvant and defect, could not auoyde an absolute and lamentable subuersion.

Whereof Marshall D' Ancre hauing been ad∣uertised, and returning with all expedition, be∣gan to employ his power and policy, not one∣ly to stop the course of these prouident pro∣positions and ouertures, as repugnant to his owne ends, but further he resolued to depriue

Our selfe of all meanes to put them in practice, by certain counsells and courses, which I think yet more fit to conceale, than publish. All which being comne to Our perfect vnderstan∣ding and notice, and considering that besides the danger of Our person, the mortall hatred that almost all our good subiects and seruants did beare towards the vsurped and insolent au∣thority and gouernement of these people, would in such sort exasperate, and obdurate, the mindes of men within Our kingdome, as it would be in danger to growe to an vnquench∣able flame and combustion:

Moued I say, by these iust, and most weigh∣tie considerations, & by the heauenly instinct, that God vpon this occasion put into Our heart: Wee resolued to secure Our selfe of the person of the saide Marshall D' Ancre, giuing expresse charge to Sieur de Vitry Captaine of Our Guards, to apprehend and arrest him within Our Castle of the Louure. The which Our pleasure hee intending to put in execu∣tion, the said Marshall (who according to his accustomed manner, had many followers a∣bout him) himselfe with some other of his com∣pany, made offer to resist: wherupon, certaine

bullets were discharged; of which some light on the said Marshall, so as hee remain'd dead vpon the place.

Afterwards, Wee caused his wife to be ar∣rested, and also his aboue mentioned Ministers; hauing furthermore entreated the Queene Our saide Lady and Mother, to bee con∣tent that from thenceforward, We might take the gouernement of Our State into Our owne hands, and so labour to diuert from it those extreamities and miseries, whereinto it hath beene plunged, by the sinister counsels which shee formerly had made vse of. The accom∣plishment of which businesse Wee hope, God of his gratious goodnes will the more readily grant Vs, in that all our intentions haue no o∣ther ayme or scope, but his glorie, and the good of Our subiects. Which We thought good to aduertise you of, to the end you may make it knowne through all your precincts; adding to these formerly specified, any other reasons you shall thinke fit and conuenient, for con∣taining euery man within the bounds of obe∣dience and dutie; Taking vigilant care, that none may rise, or mutine, within Our said ter∣ritories, & that nothing may disturb the peace,

and quiet, which We desire to haue maintain'd. But if there be any that haue Complaints, or Requests to make, let them bee assured, that if they repaire to Vs, by those mediations and waies, that subiects ought to vse, when they would petition to their King, they shall al∣waies find Vs enclining to whatsoeuer standeth with reason, or iustice.

This Action hath here beene so approued and allowed, that here is nothing but applause, and euery mans benediction vpon Vs for the same, because We attempted it in so due and necessarie a time: and We hope it will receiue no lesse approbation in other places. In the meane while, Wee haue writ to all our Lieu∣tenants, and Generalls of our Armies, to keep them still afoot, that if occasion serue, We may imploy them against those, that will not ac∣knowledge Our soueraigne Authoritie. Wee will shortly dispatch vnto you Letters of in∣struction more at large.

Giuen at Paris, this xxiiii. of Aprill. 1617.

Signed:

Lewis.

And vnderneath:

Pottier.