born 1555, in or near Caen, France
died Oct. 16, 1628, Paris
French poet and theoretician.
He converted to Roman Catholicism after receiving a Protestant education. In 1577 he became secretary to the governor of Provence, Henri d'Angoulême. His ode to the new queen, Marie de Médicis , made his name widely known, and he became court poet in 1605. His 200-odd surviving letters provide a picture of court life, and his commentary on the poetry of Philippe Desportes (1546–1606) reveal his principles of poetry: that it must demonstrate verbal harmony, propriety, and intelligibility.