The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 27 (Alençon) · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. 3. Monſieur Ferrand's Speech made unto my Lord the Cardinal, Duke of Richelieu.
My Lord,
SIth that in our days, and under the Incomparable Wiſdom of Your Government, Peace and Juſtice are ſo Gloriouſly preſerved, that the Greateſt Monarch of the Ʋniverſe, is not only known to be the Juſt King, but alſo the King of the Juſt, by the ſtrict Obſervation of His Edicts and Sacred Orders; The Miniſters and Elders Aſſembled in a National Synod under the Favourable Authority of His Majeſty, and the Good Counſels of Your Eminency, have took the Boldneſs to ſend us unto His Majeſty, as to the Common Father of His Subjects, to render to Him Their moſt unfeigned Thanks, and to Preſent Him Their moſt Humble Requeſts, and in all Humility to demand His Royal Protection againſt thoſe Violences, which do every day Rob and Spoil us of His Favours; and have moſt expreſly charged us, to Implore on this Account, the Succours and Aſſiſtance of Your Eminency: And that Experience we have formerly had hereof, filleth our Hearts with Hopes for the future; Becauſe the Stedfaſtneſs of God and the King's Word, are viſible in the Face of Your Eminency, You being Their moſt lively Protraiture. We cannot be ignorant, My Lord, That Your Eminency is that Intelligence who moves this admirable Monarchy with the greateſt Regularity; That Aſſistant Spirit of this Great Body, which heretofore was like one of the Floating Iſlands, but now Your most Admired Conduct hath bound it ſo▪ faſt with the Chains of the Royal Authority, that in the Greateſt and moſt Aſtoniſhing Tempeſts it abideth firm and immovable. And, it will be with France as with the Land of Licia, which tho' ſubject unto Storms, and dreadful Earthquakes, yet no ſooner are thoſe Tempeſtuous Winds, which cauſed them, diſſipated, but that the Inhabitants thereof, do enjoy for Forty Days together, … moſt Wonderful Calm and Tranquility; but theſe days of our Tranquility ſhall be Prophetical, a Year for a Day; and may Your Eminency's Life be prolonged to a full Century of thoſe Years! And we do proteſt in the Preſence of God, that we own our ſelves bound Eternally to Obey His Majesty, by the Laws of our Birth, and Conſcience, and for His Majeſty's Favours continually accumulated upon us. And therefore we do Addreſs our Prayers without intermiſſion, unto the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth, that he would be pleaſed to keep his Anointed as the Apple of his Eye, His Majeſty being the very Heart and Life of His Kingdom; and that he would take from our days to add unto His, and to add unto Yours alſo, My Lord, whom we reckon next to God and the King, our ſureſt Sanctuary; hoping for ſome Rays and Beams of Your Eminency's good Will to be imparted to us, that may quicken us under thoſe diſconſolating Troubles with which we are menaced, and be a moſt meet and proper Remedy for thoſe Afflicting Evils, which preſs in ſore upon us from every part and quarter of the Land; And Your Eminency's Reward for this ſignal goodneſs of Yours, extended to us, will be the continuance of that Glory You have moſt justly acquired in all Chriſtendom; and we ſhall beg of God in our Prayers, and may the Divine Majeſty actually fullfil them, to pour down upon Your Eminency, an abundant Confluence of his beſt Bleſſings, and that we may obtain this Conſolation to be believed by Your Eminency, that with all ſincerity of Heart and Soul, we are,
My Lord, Your Eminency's moſt Humble and most Obedient Servants,
Banage, Moderator of the Synod,
Coupe, Aſſeſſor,
Blondel and
de Launay, Scribes.