Protestant Exiles from France/Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 15 - Section VI
VI. Le Coq.
Francois le Coq, Sieur de Germain, Counsellor of the Parliament of Paris, was proprietor of the estate of La Ravinière, near Blois. He was the son of Aymar Le Coq, Counsellor of the Chamber of the Edict at Paris; his mother’s maiden name was Marguerite de la Madeleine. He pursued his studies in company with the learned Jean Rou, who in his memoirs highly praises his character and talents. When he was seventeen years of age he could translate the Greek of Theophilus at sight, without deigning to cast his eye on the Latin version. In 1661 he was received as Counsellor of the Parliament with great applause. In 1672 he married Marie de Beringhen, and was thus brother-in-law of Le Duc de Caumont La Force. During the dragonnades, Monsieur and Madame Le Coq were arrested and were shut up in a succession of prisons. In August 1685 they were permitted to go into exile. At the same time the equally unflinching members of the family of De Beringhen were released, and retired into Holland — namely, Monsieur de Beringhen, his father and mother, and the greater part of his family. Monsieur Le Coq’s property in France was confiscated, and was given to a nephew and niece on their apostatizing from the Protestant faith. The nephew was the Marquis de Verac; the niece was the Countesse de la Coste.
Monsieur Le Coq established himself in London. When the Prince of Orange made his entry, Barillon, the French Ambassador, fled from the populace to Le Coq’s house, and thus found a refuge from his alarms under the hospitable roof of a refugee. Another refugee arrived, the Sieur de l’Estang, an officer of William’s guards, bearing orders from his Highness that the Ambassador should quit London within twenty-four hours. A third refugee received orders to accompany him to Dover, to protect him if any tumult should arise. Barillon wrote from Calais, 8th January 1689, to Louis XIV. —
“The Prince of Orange desired that an officer of his guards should accompany me. I was not sorry for it. It seemed to relieve me of some difficulties which are met with on such occasions. He is a gentleman of Poitou, named St. Leger, who retired to Holland with his wife and family. I received all manner of good civility and treatment wherever I passed.”
Evelyn writes as to the 2d October 1689 —
“Came to visit us the Marquis de Ruvigny, and one Monsieur Le Coq, a French refugee who left great riches for his religion, a very learned civil person; he married the sister of the Duchesse de la Force.”
Cet aimable savant homme, ce sage magistrat, Monsieur Le Coq was, through life, a very influential gentleman in London and among the Huguenot refugees.