256.
[286] Achille de Harlay was the representative of a distinguished family, many of whose members were celebrated during four centuries both as magistrates and ecclesiastics.

He was born on the 7th of May 1536, and was the son of Christophe de Harlay, President _de Mortier_ of the Parliament of Paris, one of the most learned and upright magistrates of his time.

Achille was a parliamentary councillor at the age of twenty-two years, president of the Parliament of Paris at thirty-six, and succeeded his father-in-law, Christophe de Thou, as first president in 1582.

During the time of the League under Henri III he made to the Duc de Guise the celebrated answer which covered him with glory and paralyzed the strength of the malcontents: "My soul belongs to my God and my heart to my King, although my body is in the power of rebels." He was imprisoned for a time by the chiefs of the League, after which he returned to the service of the King.

He resigned his office in favour of Nicolas de Verdun, and died on the 23rd of October 1616 at the age of eighty years.
[287] Louis Servin distinguished himself from an early age by his extraordinary learning and his extreme attachment to his sovereign.