was an Office that begun with the Monarchy it self He is sworn by the King himself and is received into the Great Council where he takes place as Secretary of State He has the Priviledge to chuse his Lodging after the Princes Dukes and Peers and Marshals of France have chosen theirs for which reason he is called the last in the Ranks He has a Salary of 2000 l. and an annual Gratuity of 8000 l. All the Officers of the Provost-ship are received by his Majesty upon the nomination of the Great Provost and afterwards take out Letters from the King under the Great Seal directed to the Great Council where they are admitted upon those Letters and qualified Judges The Great Provost Judges of all matters both Civil and Criminal hapning between the Officers of the Kings Houshold among themselves or between them and others which are not so The Jurisdiction of the Provostship of the Houshold is the ordinary Court of Justice for the Kings Houshold and therefore from the beginning was ordered to be kept in the Louvre that so the Kings Officers and others of his Court and Retinue having their natural Judge within the Kings House might not be diverted from the service of his Majesty for some years the place where the Provosts Court used to be kept being taken up by the Queen-Mother it was transferred to the Fort-Eveque or Bishops-Fort At present the Officers of the Provostship have their Auditory in the inclosure of the Great Council-Chamber there they have their Hall of Audience their Council-Chamber their Civil and Criminal Records or Registers and there is the Office of the Ushers of the Provostship The present King by a Brief bearing date the 8th of September 1658. declared that he would settle the Seat or Court of the Jurisdiction of the Provost of the Houshold re-established in the Louvre and that he would cause a convenient place there to be marked out and set apart for that purpose The said Court is kept there three times a Week viz. on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday-Mornings People plead there by a Proctor as in other Courts but in a more summary and concise way In civil matters there lies an Appeal from it to the Great Council but in matters Criminal the Great Provost Judges without Appeal as well as the Masters of Requests and those of the Great Council The Officers of the Kings Houshold and those of his Court and Retinue may by special priviledge bring all their Causes into this Court whether they be Civil or Criminal since the Court was chiefly erected in their favour There needs no Committimus to cite any one that belongs to or follows the Court but only an assignation or warning taken out of the Provosts Court by vertue of a Commission out of the Registry there But as the said persons have the priviledge to bring their actions against their Debtors in this Court or to appeal from their Prosecutors thither they may do it if they please by vertue of their Committimus and at their choice bring their Causes either before the Masters of the Requests of the Palace or of the Requests of the Houshold or before the Provost of the Houshold The Great Provost only has power to apply Seals make Inventories and do all other acts of Justice in the Louvre and in the Galleries and other places thereunto belonging and in other Royal Houses within fourteen Leagues distance of Paris as it was determined a Contradictory Sentence of the Council of the 25 of March 1650. given in favour of the Officers of the Provostship of the Houshold against the Officers of the Chatelet He may also take cognisance of all crimes and particular offences and other Causes pro or con any way relating to the people of the Court and of the Kings Retinne and belonging to the Royal Houses and against Vagabonds and of several other Cases with the consent and advice of the other Provosts When he follows the Court any where he Taxes and sets a price upon all Provisions gives assistance for taking of Lodgings if any resistance be made and doth other things necessary for the civil Government there by his Lieutenants of the Long Robe or in their absence by the Lieutenants and Exempts of the short Robe who call to their assistance the Officers or Magistrates and chief Inhabitants of the place When the Court takes a Journey the Great Provost Commands a sufficient number of Tradesmen and Handicrafts-men to follow it to whom he grants Letters of Priviledge by which they are obliged to furnish the Court and its Retinue with all necessaries who are called the Priviledged Tradesmen and by vertue of the said Letters are impowered to keep open Shop in Paris or elsewhere and enjoy several other Exemptions Of the Officers of Judicature belonging to the Provostship of the Houshold For the better administration of Justice to the Officers of the Kings Houshold and to the rest of his Court and Retinue the great Provost has under him two Lieutenants which are put in by the King but named by the Great Provost and are admitted as such in the Great Council where they are sworn There was formerly but one Lieutenant-General the other being but a particular Lieutenant but by an Edict of the Month of September registred in the Great Council the 7th of November following the King made these two Offices equal so that at present there are two Lieutenants-General for both Civil and Criminal matters they have each of them 400 l. Salary and 600 l. gratuity The first of these exercises his Office the first six Months of the Year where the Kings Court is and the other six Months he keeps the Provosts Court at Paris within the Inclosure of the Great Council-Chamber when the King is abroad and the Great-Council at Paris The other serves the latter six Months of the Year at the Kings Court and the first six Months keeps the Provosts Court at Paris for the causes of those that are Officers of any Royal Houses within his Precinct and priviledged persons and others So that there is always two Seats or Courts of Justice of the Great Provost one at Paris for the better expedition of the Causes of the Officers and priviledged Persons belonging to the Royal Houses and another where the Court is when his Majesty is not in Paris as he never is to stay Note That the two Lieutenants the Kings Proctor and the Register of the Provosts Court are allowed each of them at the Salt-Granary at Paris two Minots of Free-Salt that is for paying only some ancient Duties The Kings Proctor there has a Salary of 400 l. 75 l. Augmentation-Money and a gratuity of 1200 l. He serves all the year round and has a Substitute There is one Register in chief both for Civil and Criminal matters who has 104 l. Salary and 400l gratuity He has under him two Commis or Deputies that have the priviledge to wear both Gowns and Caps at
or Barricado in any place then the Foot-Officers shall have the chief Command Note That in former time when the French King went to Fight they marched under the white Cornet of France Accompanied with several Lords Voluntiers But now it is no more in use This white Cornet was different from the Colonels Cornet of the Cavalry which is also white CHAP. XVIII Of the Great Master of the Artillery THE Present Great Master of the Artillery of France is Lewis de Crevant de Humieres Marshal of France who is stiled Great Master of the Artillery of France and Super-Intendant General of the Powder and Salt-Peter he is likewise Governour and Lieutenant-General of Flanders and of the other Conquests made in the Low-Countries since the Pyrenean Treaty He took the usual Oath for this Office in September 1685. The Great Master of the Artillery bears for a mark of his Office under his Coat of Arms two Canons or Culverins mounted on their Carriages Before the Invention of Canon there was a Great Master of the Cross-bows and Battery-Men called Cranqueneers who had the Super-intendance over all the Officers and Machines for Battery The Cranquins were certain Engines then in use for Battering the Walls and Gates of Towns not unlike those we read of in the stories of all Nations of those and elder times It is the common opinion that this Office has been ever since the time of St. Lewis and in 1411 under Charles the Sixth the Sieur de Hangest was Great Master of the Crossbow-Men in lieu of which afterwards was substituted a Captain-General of the Powder of the Artillery which Title was used till the time of Henry the Great who in the year 1610. Erected it into an Office of the Crown under the Title of Great-Master in favour of Maximilian de Bethune Duke of Suilly his Favourite At present in every Army of France there is a Lieutenant of the Artillery that has Command over all the Equipage of the Artillery and takes care of its conducting who depends of the Great Master The Great Master has the super-intendance over all the Officers of the Artillery as Canoneers Pioneers Wheel-wrights Rope-Makers and other small Officers of which he keeps a Muster-Roll in all the Kings Armies in every one of which he has his Lieutenants although in Cases belonging to their Offices the Marshals of France have likewise a Command over the said Officers It is the Great Master of the Artillery that gives Order for making all works in the Armies as well at Sieges of Towns and in their Marches and he has power over all the Arsenals of France He has also the charge of most of the Tents and Pavilions of the Army and has the Seat of his Jurisdiction in the Arsenal at Paris The Great Master of the Artillery is always Colonel of the Kings Fusileers All cast Mettal found in Conquered Towns or rebellious places at their taking belongs to the Great Master of the Artillery as his Fee who sometimes commands the very Bells to be taken down from the Steeples There are Lieutenant-Generals of the Artillery in the several Provinces and in every Army the principal at present are the Marquiss de la Frezeliere M. de Vigny Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fusileers and Bombardeers and M. de Mets Lieutenant-General of the Artillery of Flanders There is likewise a Comptroller-General of the Artillery M. Camus de Clos Intendant of Catalonia a Treasurer-General M. Stephen Landais a Guard-General M. Michael Pelletier a Commissary General of the Powder M ..... a Secretary-General M. Joachim Fautrier another Secretary M. Lewis Rousseau and lastly one Bayliff of the Artillery and of the Arsenal M. Noel Eustace Pean de Chesnay And because the King of France has his Wars by Sea as well as by Land having treated of the Constable and the Marshals of France who have succeeded in his Authority who are the chief Commanders of his Armies by Land we shall now proceed to speak of the Admiral who has the chief Command over the Naval Forces and all Maritime-Affairs CHAP. XIX Of the Admiral and of the Maritime Forces THE present Admiral of France is the Count of Toulouze Lewis-Alexander of Bourbon Legitimated of France who is stiled Admiral or Great Master of the Seas and chief and super-intendant of the Commerce and Navigation of France being Constituted so in the Month of November 1683. The Great Admiral bears for a mark of his Charge two Anchors passed Salteir-Wise behind his Coat of Arms. The Admiral is one of the Officers of the Crown and Commands in the Wars at Sea with the same Authority as did the Constable formerly and at present the Marshals of France in those by Land The Power of this Office is very Great and was much augmented by King Henry the Third in favour of the Duke de Joyeuse one of his Favourites that was then Admiral The Admiral grants out Commissions to Privateers to Arm and put out to Sea against the Enemies of the State and has Power to make Truce with them upon the Sea for three Weeks of his own private Authority without his leave no Vessels can enter into any Port he has the tenths of all the spoils taken at Sea He is Judge in all Maritime Causes and the Appeals from his Sentences are brought to the Parliament of Paris but he has no Place there by vertue of his Office His Chief Court is kept at the Marble Table in the Palace at Paris whither Appeals are brought from the Judges of his inferiour Courts and he has his Officers that take cognisance of all Delinquencies and Differences that arise as well about Contracts and Agreements made either for Warlike Affairs or for Merchandise Fishing and all other things whatever whether Civil or Criminal putting in under him what Lieutenant he pleases he gives safe Conducts and Pass-Ports by Sea and Licenses for Herring-Fishing and other Fishing and causes Watch and Ward to be kept on the Sea-Coasts when there is occasion by those who are subject to that Duty and appoints Men of War to guard the Fisher-Boats in time of Herring-Fishing The Name of Admiral was borrowed from the Arabians who came by Sea pouring in like an Inundation on the Christians in Europe and after having roved over all the Seas of this Quarter of the World Conquered Spain and from thence made descents into France by the Coasts of Guienne and Poitou during the space of such long Wars the French had frequent Communication with them and he that Commanded in Chief over all the other Commanders of that so potent and formidable Naval Army being commonly called in the Arabian Tongue Amiral Musulmin that is to say Prince of the True Believers for so those Infidels affect to call themselves the French who retained only the first Syllables of that Name took occasion out of the corruption of it to form the name of Amiral i. e. Admiral which is the Title they have ever since applied to
2. The Bishop and Duke of Langres who is Louis-Marie-Armand de Simianes de Gordes 4. The Bishop and Count of Beauvais who is named Toussaint de Fourbin de Janson 5. The Bishop and Count of Chaalons in Champain Lewis Antony of Noailles of the Family of the Duke of that Name 6. The Bishop and Count of Noyon named Francis of Clermont-Tonnerre The six secular ones that are now only represented were The Dukes of Burgundy Normandy Guyenne And Counts of Toulouze Flanders and Champain The Quality of the twelve antient Peers of France is at present but a kind of Ceremonial Dignity by vertue of which those that possess it have a certain Rank or Precedence in France at the Consecration and Coronation of Kings have Place in Parliament and in the general Assembly of Estates and enjoy the Honours of the Louvre Their first Institution is so uncertain that it is impossible to gather out of History their true Original some attributing it to Hugh Capet and some to Charlemaine or Charles the Great But the Original of the Name and Functions of the Peers of France can properly be derived from nothing else then from the common use and custom of Fiess and Tenures which is that the Vassals holding moveable Fiefs fully and directly of the same Lord are called Pares Curiae aut Domus which is as much as to say Peers of the Fiefs or of the Court that are to assist when the Lord takes possession of his Land to be present at those days when causes relating to the Fiefs are pleaded and judged and have several other rights which are analogically common to them with our Peers of France who in like manner assist at the Consecration and Coronation of the King who is the supream Lord are Counsellers in his Court of Parliament which for this reason is called the Court of Peers so that in a word the Peers of France are but as Tenants that hold of the Monarchy and depend immediately on the Crown such as were the seven Peers in the time of Lewis the Young in the year 1179 or in the time of Hugh Capet who reunited to the Crown the Dutchy and Peerage of France or of Paris which he possessed before he was King So that there remained after that but six ancient Peers that were Seculars to which at several times by degrees were afterwards added six other Ecclesiastical Peers over whom Lewis the Young gave the Primacy to the Archbishop of Reims with the Prerogative of Consecrating and Crowning the Kings Since the time of the said Lewis the Young the number of twelve Peers at those great Ceremonies has been always continued till the present But the Secular Peers are as we have said only represented on that occasion there being none now that bear any of those Titles but only now lately the Duke of Burgundy Eldest Son to the Dauphin and the Count of Toulouze one of the Kings Natural Legitimated Sons Their several Functions at the Kings Consecration and Coronation are these The Archbishop of Reims Consecrates or anoints the King with the Oil of the Holy Ampull or Viol kept in the Cathedral of that Name from Age to Age only for that purpose The Bishop of Laon carries the said Viol the Bishop of Langres carries the Scepter the Bishop of Beauvais the Mantle Royal the Bishop of Chaalons the Ring the Bishop of Noyons the Belt The Duke of Burgundy carries the Crown Royal and girds on the Kings Sword the Duke of Guyenne carries the first square Banner the Duke of Normandy the Second the Count of Toulouze the Spurs the Count of Champain the Banner Royal or Standard of War the Count of Flanders the Kings Sword On the day of the Consecration and Coronation and during the Ceremony these Peers wear a Circle of gold in form of a Crown Now because of the six Secular Peerages there are now five reunited to the Crown and that of Flanders is likewise in part reunited and in part remains still in foreign hands therefore there are on such occasions six Princes or great Lords chosen to represent them and to perform their Functions The Order observed at the Coronation of the present King Lewis the Fourteenth now happily Reigning which was on the 7th of June 1654. was as follows The Ecclesiastical Peers that officiated on that occasion were 1. Anne-Marie de Levis de Ventadour late Arch-bishop of Bourges instead of the Bishop and Duke of Laon. 2. Francis de Harlay then Archbishop of Rouen and at present of Paris for the Bishop and Duke of Laugres 3. Nicholas Choart de Buzanval late Bishop and Count of Beauvais 4. Henry de Baradat late Bishop and Count of Noyon 5. Felix Vialar de Herse late Bishop and Count of Chaalons 6. The late Bishop of Soissons as first Suffragan of Reims anointed the King being assisted by the Bishop of Amiens as Deacon and by Monsieur de Bourlon now Bishop of Soissons but then but Coadjutour to the said Bishoprick as Sub-Deacon The other Bishops that were likewise assistants there were the Bishops of Rennes Coutances of Rhodes of St. Paul irois Chateaux or three Castles of Agde and of Leon. Cardinal Grimaldi performed the Office of Great Almoner of France because of the absence of Cardinal Barberin The Hostages given for the Holy Ampull or Viol were the Marquesses of Vardes of Richelieu of Biron and of Coislin since Duke and Monsieur de Manciny at present Duke of Nevers held up the Kings Train Those who represented the Secular Peers were 1. The Duke of Anjou now Duke of Orleans represented the Duke of Burgundy 2. The late Duke of Vendome the Duke of Aquitain or Guyenne 3. The late Duke of Elbeuf the Duke of Normandy 4. The late Duke of Epernon the Count of Champagne 5. The Duke of Rouanez Gouffier the Count of Flanders 6. The Duke of Bournorville the Count de Toulouze The late Marshal d' Etrées performed the Office of High Constable the late Marshal d' Hospital carried the Scepter the late Marshal du Plessis-Pralin the Crown the late Marshal d' Aumont the hand of Justice The late Chancelour Seguier officiated his own place the Marshal Duke of Villeroy performed the Office of Great Master or High Steward of France the late Duke of Joyeuse did his Office of High Chamberlain and the Count de Vivonne who had the Reversion of one of the places of chief Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber after the Duke of Mortemar his Father performed the Function of First or Chief Chamberlain He is at present Marshal Duke de Vivonne CHAP. IV. Of the particular Lords that are at present Dukes and Peers according to the Order of their Verification being in all 29. Names of the Dukedoms and the date of their Verification 1. USês in 1572. 2. Ventadour in 1594. 3. Suilly in 1606. 4. Luynes in 1619. 5. Les diguieres in 1620. 6. Brissac in 1620. 7. Chaunes in 1631. 8. Richelieu in 1631. 9. St.
from all parts of the Kingdom to plead The Provinces out of which Causes are at present brought to Paris are The Isle of France La Beausse Higher and Lower Sologne Berry Auvergne Lyonois Forets the Countries of Aunis and Rochel Anjou Angoumois Maine Perche Picardie Champain Brie Tourain Nivernois Bourbonnois and Maconnois and Tournay with the Adjacent Country The Lands also Erected into Dutchies and Peerages are also obliged to Answer at the Parliament of Paris which is the Court of the Peers The Chief President of this Parliament is M. Nicholas Potier de Novion 2. That of Toulouze Instituted by Philip the Fair in the year 1302. and made Sedentary by Charles the Seventh in 1443. This Parliaments Jurisdiction extends over High and Low Languedoc High and Low Vivarais Velay Gevaudan And the Countries of Albigeois Rouergue Laurageois Quercy Foix and a part of the Lower Gascony The first or Chief President is M. Gaspard de Fieubet 3. Roüen which is the Sovereign Court of Normandie was Established under the name of an Exchequer by Philip the Fair in 1302. and was made perpetual by Lewis the Twelfth in 1499. though it bore not the name of a Parliament till the Reign of Francis the First in the year 1515. It extends to all the whole Province of Normandy The Chief President is M. N .... d' Amfreville 4. Grenoble Instituted by Charles the Seventh in 1452. and at the same time made Sedentary It comprehends Dauphiné or the Dauphinate The Chief President is M. Nicholas de Prunier 5. Bourdeaux which sits at present at Marmande Instituted in 1462. by Lewis the Eleventh and at the same time made Sedentary This Parliament has under it the Countries of Bourdeaux Medoc Saintonge Perigord Limosin Basadois Agenois Condomois Albret Landes Upper Gascony and part of Biscay The Chief President is named M. Charles-Denys d'Olide 6. Dijon Instituted in the year 1476. by Lewis the Eleventh and made Sedentary at the same time It is only for the Dutchy of Burgundy The Chief President is M. Nicholas Brulard des Bordes 7. Aix Established by Lewis the Twelfth in 1501. and made Sedentary at the same time This Parliament is for all Provence by which name it is also called The Chief President is M. Arnold Marin 1. Rennes held at present at Vannes by Henry the Second and made Sedentary at the same time in the year 1553. It was removed to Vannes in October 1675. This Parliament is called the Parliament of Brittany because there is no other Provence under its Jurisdiction It is Semestral i e. One half of the Counsellers serve the first six Months and the other half the last six Months The Chief President is M. Lewis Philipeaux de Pontchartrain 9. Pau Instituted and made Sedentary in 1519. by Henry the First King of Navarre and Prince of Bearn Great Grandfather to Henry the Great King of France and Navarre It comprehends the Bishopricks of Lescars and Oleron The Chief President is M. N. Dalon 10. Mets Instituted by Lewis the Thirteenth in the year 1633. and made Sedentary at the same time It is for the Country of Messin and the three Imperial Towns of Mets Toul and Verdun The Chief President is M. William de Sêve 11. Besançon the present King re-established the Parliament for the County of Burgundy or Franche Comté first at Dole the 17th of June 1674. and since that removed it to Besançon The Chief President is M .... Jobelot The Parliament of Rouen was for a time made Semestral or six Monthly after the Rebellion that happened in Normandy in 1640. But since that that Alteration was abolished and the Parliament restored to the State it was in before The Parliament of Aix was once likewise made Semestral To the Parliaments may be added the other Sovereign Councils which though they are not dignified with the Title of Parliaments yet give Sentence without Appeal which are 1. The Council of Rousillon the Counsellers of which wear Scarlet Robes The Chief President there is M. de Sagare who is likewise Keeper of the Kings Seal there Commissary of the Crown Lands and Judge of the General Captainry or Government 2. The Council at Arras which is Soveraign in Civil Causes 3. That of Tournay 4. That of Pignerol 5. That of Alsatia transferred from Ensisheim to Brisac the 23d of September 1675. CHAP. XXXI Of the Parliament of Paris called by way of Excellence The Parliament THE Court of Parliament of Paris is composed of ten Chambers viz. The Grand Chamber The Tournelle-Civil the Tournelle-Criminal Five Chambers of Inquests and two Chambers of the Requests of the Palace The Presidents au Mortier or of the Mortar-Cap so called from the Fashion of the Caps they wear which are made in the Form of a Mortar when they give Audience and the Counsellers when they march in Ceremony or Assemble about publick Affairs in presence of the King are Clothed in Scarlet with Facings of Black-Velvet which was wont to be practised at the pronouncing of the solemn Sentences four times a year viz. The Day before Christmass Eve the Tuesday before Easter the Day before the Eve of Whitsunday and the 7th of September At their return from giving Audience the Chief President and the Presidents au Mortier are Reconducted by the Ushers in Waiting with their Wands in their hands to the Higher Holy Chappel The Officers of the Parliament and other Officers of Judicature are habited all alike viz. In Cassocks or long Close-Bodied Coats and Square-Caps At the first Institution of the Parliament one Moyety of the Counsellers were of the Short Robe and the other Moyety of the Long but at present they are all of the Long. The particular solemn Ceremonial Habits of the Court of Parliament are for the Presidents Scarlet Mantles Furred with their Mortar-Fashioned Caps The Chief President wears two gold Galoons upon his Mortar-Cap by way of distinction from the other Presidents who have but one Galoon The Counsellers and the Advocates and Proctors General wear Scarlet Robes red Chaperons or little Hats Furred with Ermines The Chief Recorder or Registrer a Scarlet Robe with its Epitoge or small Cloak and the Register or Recorder of the Presentations and the four Notaries and Secretaries of the Court wear also Scarlet Robes and the Chief Usher a Scarlet Gown with a Cap of Cloth of gold Formerly All the Bishops of France had ordinarily Place and Voice in Parliament They still use the Title of Councellours to the King in his Councils The Archbishop of Paris and the Abbot of St. Denis in France are Counsellers by their Places in this Parliament where they place in ordinary and a deliberative Voice Four of the Masters of Requests have likewise the same Priviledge as also the Honorary Counsellours of this Parliament The Parliament of Paris has this particular preeminence above the rest that it alone is called the Court of the Peers where the Dukes and Peers of France ought to be sworn
and where they are to be judged too when they are impeacht of any Crime And though in the last Reign it was seen that de facto the Marshal de Marillac was Judged by Delegated Commissaries and the Duke of Montmorency by the Parliament of Toulouze the Parliament of Paris pretends That these two Acts were done against their Priviledges Secondly The Counsellers of the Parliament of Paris pretend a Priviledge to sit in all the other Parliaments without allowing the same Priviledge reciprocally to the Counsellers of the other Parliaments in the Parliament of Paris yet it is to be remarked That the Priviledge of sitting in the Parliament of Paris was granted to the Counsellers of the Parliament of Toulouze by an Ordinance of Charles the Seventh in the year 1454. which the Parliament of Paris refused to verifie whereupon the Parliament of Toulouze made a Decree in the year 1466. by which they Ordained That the Counsellers of the Parliament of Paris should have no Admittance into the Parliament of Toulouze till they had obey'd the abovesaid Ordinance made in their Favour Thirdly The other Parliaments not having that extent of Jurisdiction as the Parliament of Paris have but one Chamber of Inquests the Parliament of Toulouze but two whereas the Parliament of Paris has six The Parliament of Paris opens every year the next day after St. Martins Day in this manner The whole Body being in their Scarlet Robes go to a solemn Mass Celebrated on that occasion in the Great Hall of the Palace after which the Advocates and Proctors are sworn in the Grand Chamber and the Bishop that said Mass has that day Place and a deliberative Voice among them The Parliament continues sitting from that time till the 7th of September after which follows the Vacations During which Recess nevertheless there sits a Chamber called the Chamber of the Vacations which takes Cognisance of those Causes that require speedy dispatch and Criminal Affairs In the five Chambers of Inquests all Processes or Suits are Judged concluded and received by Writing that they may the better discern whether the Appeals made to this High Court of Parliament be made reasonably or no. The fourteen Presidents of the Chambers of Inquests and of those of the Requests which are two are but Counsellers that have accepted that Commission and when the Parliament is met and marches in State they take place among those of the Grand Chamber according to a Regulation of Parliament of the 1st of September 1677. By which it is Ordain'd That in Assemblies Processions and other publick Solemnities these Presidents shall be preceded only by two Counsellers of the Grand Chamber of which the first is to be Titular and the second may be only Honorary As for the Presidents of the Inquests and Requests among themselves they are to take place in their march according to their standing and the order of their admission The Court called the Tournelle-Civil established by Lewis the Great in 1667 and 1669. Judges of all Appeals in civil matters to the value of 1000. Livers or Pounds French and of an Estate of 50 Livers yearly rent It is composed of one President wearing the Mortar-Cap six Counsellers of the Grand Chamber and of four Counsellers out of every Chamber of Inquests who go thither by turns once in three Months The Kings Declaration for this purpose of the year 1669. bears date the 11th of August and was Registred in Parliament and in the Chamber of Accounts the 13th of August The Tournelle-Criminal Judges of all Appeals in Criminal matters excepting those made by Gentlemen and other persons of State which are to be judged in the Grand Chamber it is called the Tournelle because it is composed of two Presidents with Mortar-Caps ten Lay-Counsellers of the Grand Chamber and of two Counsellers out of every Chamber of Inquests which go thither every one Tour à Tour that is in their respective turns once in three Months excepting only those of the Grand Chamber which are there six Months from whence it is called the Tournelle At present there are four Presidents with Mortar-Caps The two Chambers of Requests of the Palace are of the Body of the Parliament according to what Charles the Fifth writ to Cardinal Vivazer in the year 1450. where he says that the Requests are de Gremio Curiae They Judge of all personal Possessory and mixt Causes between priviledged persons that have Committimus's whether they be Officers that are Commoners at Court or others There likewise the Requests of the Houshold composed of the Masters of Request we have spoken of above who take a like cognisance of the Causes of priviledged persons that enjoy Committimus's at whose choice it is to plead either before the Masters of the Requests of the Houshold or before those of the Palace In old time Justice was administred without Appeal by the Bayliffs and Seneschals that the King sent into the respective Provinces for that purpose which were chosen out of the ablest Sages of the Law of his Houshold but since the Parliaments have been Instituted or made fixed and sedentary Appeals are admitted to the Parliaments from the Sentences rendred by the said Bayliffs and Seneschals In fine the Parliament at present consists in all 1. Of one Chief or first President who is named Nicholas Potier Knight Lord of Novion c. and seven other Presidents called Presidents au Mortier or wearing Mortar-Fashioned Caps who are John de Coigneux Marquiss of Montmeliand c. Lewis de Bailleul Marquiss of Chateau-Gontier John-James de Mesmes Count d' Avaux John de Longueville Marquiss of Maisons Charles Colbert Brother to the late Great Minister of State of that Name formerly Ambassadour in England and at Nimmeguen c. and at present Secretary and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and lastly Lewis de Molé Lord of Champlatreux of thirty Clerks or Clergymen Counsellers of Lay-Counsellers of two Advocates and one Proctor-General of 19 Substitutes or Deputies of three Registrers or Recorders in the Chief Registers Office viz. One Recorder Civil and Prothonotary in Chief one Recorder of the Presentations and one Recorder Criminal and of eight other Secretaries and Notaries called the Notaries and Secretaries of the King and of the Parliament two Recorders for the Audiences and Council of the Tournelle five other Deputy Recorders in the five Chambers of Inquests one Recorder in Chief of the Requests of the Palace two other Deputy Recorders under him in each of the two Chambers of Requests 1. First or Chief Usher twenty eight other Ushers of the Parliament and of the Chambers of Inquests and of the Tournelle Eight Ushers of the Requests of the Palace The number of Advocates is not fixed but the Proctors are four hundred in number they have both of them a Dean over them CHAP. XXXII Of the Chamber of Accounts THE Chamber of Accounts is composed of 1. First or Chief President ten other Presidents seventy Masters of the
Declarations of War Treaties of Peace Contracts of Marriage of the Kings and Children of France with their Apanages or Portions all Re-unions and Alienations of Crown Lands Letters of Naturalization and Amortising Legitimations Gifts Pensions Gratuities and generally all Letters of Grace or Pardon And the Creations of Dutchies Peerages Principalities Marquisates Counties Vicounties Baronies Chatellanies and Courts of High Justice together with all Letters of ennobling and Confirmations and Restorations of Nobility having the power not only to pass and verifie the gift of it but to liquidate or discharge the Kings Finance or Revenue for the Indempnity thereby from the Kings Dues as also that of the Parishes in which the new ennobled persons were Taxable before the said Letters and for that reason the Title of their Nobility is and must necessarily be established by the verification of this Chamber All verifications are made here too for the noble Partages or Portions of noble or Gentlemens Children in the Parliaments and for the Exemptions from Taxes at the Court of Aids The Children of France have power to erect a Chamber of accounts in the principal place of their Appanages or Lands allotted them for their maintenance but they cease in case they happen to Revert to the Crown for want of Heirs Male And they most commonly oblige their Treasurers to give up their Accounts in the Chamber of Accounts at Paris This Chamber likewise verifies all Priviledges granted to Towns or Provinces Amortisings Affranchisements or Freedoms Naturalizations Permissions for Fairs and Markets Gifts Sales and Engagements of Crown-Lands The Presidents Masters of Accounts Correctors Auditours Kings People that is his Advocates and Proctor-General and Treasurers of France are subject to be examined at every Semestral or half yearly Assembly The other Proctors as also the Ushers are likewise subject to an Examination but not before any other then Commissioners expresly deputed for that purpose The first or Chief President and the other Presidents of this Chamber are reconducted by the Ushers in Waiting for the time being with their Wands in their hands till they come before the Lower Holy Chappel CHAP. XXXIII Of the Court of Aids THE Court of Aids is composed of six Presidents and of forty Councellours divided into three Chambers In the first is the first or Chief President and the eldest of the other Presidents with fifteen Councellers of the longest standing In the second Chamber there are two Presidents and thirteen Councellers and in the third two Presidents and twelve Councellers The Court of Aids was erected soon after the Parliament was made Sedentary at Paris And excepting only the Parliaments of Paris and Toulouze it precedes in antiquity all the other Parliaments It was established after a general Assembly of the Estates under King John about the year 1355. by Charles the Fifth then Dauphin and by vertue of a particular Prerogative the Books of Accounts of the Royal Housholds and of those of the Princes of the Bloud are Registred in this Court. And all the Officers named upon the Rolls of the said Books have no other supreme Judges to have recourse to in relation to the Aids or Taxes but those of this Court though their Seats or Dwellings be within the Precincts of the Jurisdiction of the other Courts of Aids The Jurisdiction of the Court of Aids extends to take cognisance off and judge without Appeal of all Causes relating to the Taxes Aids Gabelles and Impositions and of all Farms and Dues to the King the Cognisance of Titles of Nobility does likewise belong to this Court Their Solemn Habits are thus The Presidents wear Black-Velvet Robes and the Councellers and Advocates and Proctors-General Scarlet ones The Chief President of this Court at his rising from Audience is Reconducted as far as the Higher Holy Chappel by the Ushers then in Waiting Next to the Court of Aids at Paris that of Montpelier was establisht by Charles the Seventh in 1437. it is joined to the Chamber of Accounts of the same Country That of Rouen is for Normandy that of Glermont-Monferrand in Auvergne was establisht by Henry the second in 1557. There is another at Bourdeaux for Guienne That of Provence is joined to the Chamber of Accounts for the same Country There is likewise one at Grenoble in the Dauphinate and another in Burgundy that is joined to the Chamber of Accounts at Dijon The present Chief President of this Court is Nicholas le Camus Lord of La Grange c. and besides the forty Councellers there are belonging to it two Advocates and one Proctor-General four Substitutes two Recorders or Registers four Secretaries one Chief Usher and seven other Ushers and three Honorary Councellers CHAP. XXXIV Of the Court of Monies or Coynage UNder the very first Race of our Kings there were three Generals of the Monies of France who were made Sedentary at Paris at the same time as the Parliament The like Offices were Created in the reign of Philip the Fair and in some other Reigns and annexed to the Chamber of Accounts from these Generals of the Monies or Coins as they are stiled were separated in the year 1358. They have judged without Appeal both in Civil and Criminal matters within their Jurisdiction ever since the year 1551. under Henry the Second who gave them the Title of the Court of the Monies or Coinage They take place in all Solemnities next after the Court of Aids Their Habits on solemn occasions are these the Presidents wear Black-Velvet Robes the Councellers the Kings Advocates and Proctor-General and the Chief Recorder Black-Satin ones and the Chief or first Usher one of Black Taffaty This Court gives Audience on Wednesdays and Saturdays to the Advocates and Proctors of the Parliament and sits in a Room above the Chamber of Accounts from whence the Chief President of it is reconducted every day by the Ushers as far as the bottom of the great Stairs before the lower Holy Chappel as is the Chief President of the Chamber of Accounts This Court Judges without Appeal of all Causes relating to Monies Metals Mines and Weights and the Officers and Artificers employed therein as also of all things that concern the fabrick title currantness value and policy or regulation of all Monies or Coins and receives the Appeals made from the Judgments or Sentences of the Chambers of the Monies and of other Judges depending of it There are two Presidents and several Counsellers whose Offices are fixt that go every year to visit the Provinces In this Court are kept with great care the Original Standard weights of France from which are taken those of the several Towns of the Kingdom One of the Councellers who is at present M. Chassebras du Breau has been deputed and authorised ever since the year 1668. to look after the keeping a general Uniformity in all the Weights and marks of France and accordingly causes all publick weights when they are conformable to the Kings Standard to be markt with
comprehends a certain Territory in which Taxes are levied by Officers Elected for that purpose which is thence called an Election where all Causes relating to the said Levies or Taxes are pleaded primarily and at the first instance as they term it CHAP. XL. Of the Election of Paris THE Election of Paris comprehends 440 Parishes The Officers of the Court of this Election who sit in the Court of the Palace Assess and Rate the Taxes and judge all differences which arise about Taxes Aids Entries or Duties of Importation of Goods or Merchandises into Paris and about the five great Farms and in general all contestations that happen about the Imposition and Levying the Kings Revenues of what nature soever they be excepting only those of the Kings Crown Lands and Gabelles or Revenue on Salt The Appeals from their Sentences are made to the Court of Aids The days of Audience for the Kings Farms are Mundays and Thursdays in the Morning and for the Taxes on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Morning The Officers belonging to the Court of the Election of Paris are A President who is Laurence de Chenevieres one Lieutenant one Assessour sixteen Counsellours Elect one Advocate and Proctor for the King one Substitute two Registrers one Chief Usher three Ushers-Audiencers eight Ushers of the Taxes and eight Proctors There are also in this Election two Receivers of Taxes c. One Honorary Counsellour Elect. CHAP. XLI Of the Granary of Salt at Paris THE Magazin or Granary of Salt at Paris is near the River at the end of the Pontneuf or New-Bridge where the Seat of the Court is established that was Erected to judge of all Contestations hapning about the Gabells or Duties on Salt and about the distribution of it and levying his Majesties Duties Appeals are made from this Court to the Court of Aids The Audience days in this Court are Wednesdays and Saturdays and in Winter Mundays too from the first of October to the first of February on the same dayes the Salt is distributed out to the people in the Afternoon The Officers belonging to this Court are Two Presidents three Granateers or Granary-Keepers three Comptrollers two Lieutenants two Comptrollers and Keepers of the Measures two Advocates and two Proctors for the King three Registrers these Registrers may make Deputies for the exercise of their Offices three Ushers Audiencers six Ushers and Serjeants of the Gabels eight Proctors thirty Measures of Salt sixty Carriers or Porters of Salt whereof thirty are of old and thirty of new Creation they are called the sworn Hanoüards ten Runners of Salt ten Bruisers twelve Comptrollers and Visiters of the Barillage or Barels of the Salt-Pits and Salt-Fish one Receiver at the Salt Granary and one Commissioner for business one Captain one Lieutenant some Brigadeers and fifteen Guards both on Horseback and on Foot Next to the ordinary Royal Courts of Judicature follow those of the City CHAP. XLII Of the Guildhall or Town-House of Paris NExt to the Governour of Paris who is now the Duke de Gêvres the other Officers of the Guildhall or Town-House called the Hotel de Ville are The Provost of the Merchants who is at present M. de Fourcy President of the third Chamber of Inquests four Echevins who are in the nature of Sheriffs twenty six Counsellours of the City the Kings Proctor for the City one Recorder one Receiver for the City sixteen Quarteniers together with Dixeniers or Decurions and Cinquanteniers which are certain Officers which are set over Wards and Precincts distinguished into the different numbers of 16 10 and 50. intimated in the Titles aforegoing There are 300 Guards called Archers belonging to the City who are divided into three Companies their Colonel is John Fournier There are likewise several Officers for Policy and keeping good Order as well for the Merchandises and Wares brought thither and for regulation of their Conveyance by the River and of all things vended at the several Keys and other places of Sale The Provost of the Merchants who is as 't were the Mayor of the City has a Jurisdiction in ordinary at the first Suit as well over the Rents of the City and over all causes and differences between the Townsmen and the Officers of the City in things relating to the Policy or good order of it or about the Wages and Salaries of the Officers These City-Magistrates set prices on all Wares and have the over-sight and inspection of all the Ports or Keys and of all Wheat or other Grain Wine Wood Coal Billets Hay Fish Apples Nuts and other Commodities The Officers of the Chatelet as we have remarked above are likewise Judges in matter of Policy and good Order and have power to set a price on Commodities CHAP. XLIII Of the Judges Consuls THE Judges who are called Judges and Consuls hold their Court of Judicature behind the Church of St. Mederick They take cognisance of all Causes that relate to trading or dealing between Merchant and Merchant or Letters of Exchange Promises Obligations or Contracts made between Partners or Associates for Merchandises of what nature or condition soever they be Their Jurisdiction was establisht at Paris by King Charles the Ninth in the year 1563. Their Sentences may be appealed from to the Parliament when the summ in question amounts to above 500 Livers For this Court there is an Election made every year of one Judge and four Consuls out of the Body of the Merchants who before they enter upon the exercise of their Functions take the usual Oath at the Parliament there belong further to this Court one Registrer and four Ushers There was formerly another Court called the Citizens Parlour to which this Court succeeded and there are still six Officers that retain the Title of Serjeants of the Citizens Parlour The Merchants have still a place where they meet in the Palace underneath the Dauphins Hall to confer about their Affairs which is much in the nature of the publick Changes at Lions Roüen Toulouze and London The six principal and original Bodies or Corporations of Merchants in Paris which are like the Companies in London under which all the other Trades are comprehended are 1. The Drapers 2. The Spicers or Grocers and Apothecaries 3. The Mercers 4. The Skinners or Furriers 5. The Bonneteers or Cap-Makers And 6. The Goldsmiths The Booksellers and Wine-Merchants injoy also the like Priviledges as those of the six Companies CHAP. XLIV Of the Generalities of France THE Generalities are the general Offices of the Treasurers General of France established for the facilitating the receiving and levying of the Monies arising from Taxes and other Impositions called by the name of Taillons or lesser Taxes and subsistance Money They are in number twenty three in all viz. Seventeen that are divided into Elections and six of the Countries governed by their peculiar Assemblies of Estates which are not divided into Elections but Assemble their own Estates something like the Parliaments of England to