been in the King's Power to take Advantage of any favourable Juncture if he cou'd not have dispatch'd his Orders without summoning a Meeting of the Chambers The Ease and Interest of the People on which these Innovations were pretended to be grounded was a meer frivolous pretext and never were they so miserably oppress'd as in those unhappy Times These were the convincing Reasons that Colbert urg'd to his Majesty and in complyance with which that Monarch laid aside the usual Custom of keeping his Seat of Justice in the Parliament and of sending the Princes with his Edicts to the Chamber of Accounts and the Court of Aids And besides he sav'd 100000 Livres which he must have given to the Duke of Orleans and 50000 to the Prince of Condé All the Edicts pass'd without dispute And the Parliament was afterwards humbl'd to such a degree that Colbert contented himself with sending the Edicts to that Assembly by one of the Conmmissaries of his Nephew Desmarets And by this means the Rates of Offices in that Company fell so low that they are now sold for 70000 Livres About the same time a stop was put to the Prosecution of the Farmers and an Amnesty was granted 'em by an Edict in December 1665 on condition they shou'd pay the Summs at which they were assess'd But all these important Affairs of State cou'd not make Colbert forget the embellishment of Versailles The Architecture was already brought to perfection there was nothing wanting to compleat that vast Design but suitable Furniture and the Ornaments of the inside and these he resolv'd to make the Object of his next Care He settl'd a Manufactory at the Gobelins and committed the Management of it to le Brun as the only fit Person for such an Employment That place was already famous for dying of Scarlet the Water of the River of Gobelins being endu'd with a peculiar quality to brighten the Colour and give it that shining Lustre which dazzles the Eye of the Beholder There Colbert order'd Tapestry-Hangings to be made for the King's use after le Brun's Designs And in the same place he employ'd Artists about Inlaid Stone-Work of such exquisite and costly contrivance that a square Foot of it amounted to above 1000 Crowns Only precious Stones were made use of in this Work and some of 'em were cut so small that 't was almost impossible to discern 'em before they were put in their proper Places This kind of Work is very tedious by reason of the hardness of the Materials and it requires several Years to finish one Square There he also caus'd those vast pieces of Goldsmith's-Work to be made that were since carry'd to Versailles such as Tables Stands Pitchers Bathing-Tubs Boxes for Orange-Trees and Candlesticks which were equally admirable for their Largeness and the Curiousness of the Sculpture In the same place there was a Gondola built for the Canal of Versailles and all the Ornaments were wrought for the great Gallery The Pilasters Cornices and generally all the parts of the Architecture and the Body of the Work is of Lapis Lazuli garnish'd with Ornaments of Brass gilt according to Mansard's Design The great Pannels between the Pilasters are full of large Looking-Glasses the Junctures of which are hid by Branches of Ornaments and Grotesque Figures spread over the Glasses with so artful a Negligence that twenty of the largest of 'em seem to be only one Piece The difficulty of bringing those large Glasses from Venice made Colbert set up a Glass-House in the Fauxburg of St. Anthony which he committed to the inspection of Ranchin Secretary of the Council of Finances Pecquot Clerk of the Council of Casualties and Poquelain Thither the rough and unwrought Glasses are brought from Normandy and there they are polish'd and sold There also the Quicksilver is laid on those that are design'd for Looking-Glasses which are less chargeable and some of 'em much larger than those that are brought from Venice tho' they are not so fine At the same time he settl'd a Manufactory of French Point to lessen the excessive chargeableness of the Point of Venice and Genoa the price of which was risen so high that one pair of 〈…〉 was sold for 7000 Livres The Count of Marsan youngest Son of the Count of Harcourt having sent to Brussels for Mademoiselle du Mont his Nurse with her four Daughters Petronille Manque Lisbette and Janeton She intreated that Prince for a Reward of the Care she had taken of him during his Infancy to obtain a Privilege for her to set up a Manufactory of French Point at Paris The Count spoke to Colbert in her favour who liking the Proposal settl'd her in the Fauxburg of St. Anthony and gave her one of the King 's Hundred Switzers to guard her Door Immediately she apply'd her self to the prosecution of her Project and gather'd together above two hundred Young-Women among whom were several Daughters of Persons of Quality by whose assistance she made such fine Work that the Venice-Point was generally slighted The Manufactory was afterwards remov'd to St. Saviours-street and at last to Chaumont-House near St. Denis's-Gate Mademoiselle du Mont having marry'd her eldest Daughter to a Norman call'd Marsan went to Portugal with Manque and Lisbette and left the charge of her Manufactory to Mademoiselle de Marsan But as all Modes and Fashions are subject to frequent changes in France People grew weary of this sort of Point both because of the difficulty of blanching it for they were forc'd to raise the Embroidery at each Washing and because its thickness made it seem less becoming on the Face There was Spanish Point made with little Flowers which being very fine was esteem'd more graceful by the Ladies And at last the Mechlin-Lace coming in fashion that Manufactory was entirely laid aside Tho' Colbert had no reason to doubt of his Master's Favour he thought fit to secure his Fortune by powerful Alliances On the 2d of February 1667 he marry'd his Daughter Joan Mary Teresa to Charles Honoré d' Albert Duke de Chevreuse Peer of France Knight of the King's Orders Count of Montfort Baron of Chars Lord of Marigni Maran c. and Captain-Lieutenant of his Majesty's Light-Horse The Duke de Chevreuse is the Son of Lewis Charles Albert Duke de Luines Marquess d' Albert Count de Tours Baron of Rochecorbon and Samblancey Knight of the King's Orders and Colonel of the Regiment of Auvergne who after the death of his first Wife Louise Mary Seguier the only Daughter of Lewis Seguier Marquiss d'O which happen'd on the 14th of September 1651 took for his second Wife in the Year 1661 Ann de Rohan Daughter of Hercules de Rohan Duke of Montbason and of Mary d' Avaugour his second Wife Charles Marquiss d' Albert Grandfather of the Duke de Chevreuse Favorite of Lewis XIII and Constable of France procur'd the Baronies of Luines Rochecorbon and Samblancey to be erected into a Dutchy and Peerage by the Title
comes to Paris 20 His Amours with Mademoiselle de Scudery 21 He writes the History of the French Academy 22 He serves Fouquet ibid. And afterwards Colbert 23 The Council of the Finances erected 24 The New Regulation of the Finances Page 24 Colbert hated and affronted 26 His violent Proceedings against the Officers and Farmers of the Revenue 27 He settles the East and West-India Companies 29 Enlarges and beautifies the Tuilleries ibid. A Description of the King's Statue made by Cavalier Bernin 30 Colbert repairs S. Germain and other Royal Houses 31 The Castle of Clagny describ'd ibid. An Account of Versailles 33 c. of Trianon 63 of the Aqueduct of Versailles 64 c. of a Church built by Colbert 68 of Marly 70 c. of Colbert's Palace at Sceaux 76 Colbert's Care to adorn the City of Paris 78 The Academy of Painting and Sculpture erected by his Interest 79 Of the Origin Constitution and Progress of that Society 80 c. A Catalogue of le Brun's Pieces 87 An Account of the Academy of Sciences with the Works and Inventions of its Members 88 c. A Description of the Parisian Observatory 91 c. The uniting of the two Seas undertaken 97 An exact Account of that Work 98 c. Colbert purchases the Office of Treasurer of the King's Orders 106 Of the Institution of the Orders of S. Michael and of the Holy Ghost 106 107 The Prices of Offices regulated 108 The Authority of the Parliaments lessen'd Page 108 c. Several fine Pieces of Workmanship made by Colbert's Order for the Embellishment of Versailles 111 112 He sets up a Glass-House 112 And establishes a Point-Manufactory 113 His Daughter marry'd to the D. of Chevreuse 114 He undertakes the Reformation of Courts of Justice but without Success 115 The Causes of the Litigious Wrangling of Lawyers and other Inconveniencies relating to the Civil Code with their proper Remedies 116 c. Proposals concerning the Government of the City of Paris and the Redressing of several Abuses that are usually committed there 123 c. Of lewd Women 125 126 Of Gaming 127 Of Lending Money on Pledges 128 Of Regulating the Prices of Bread Wine Flesh c. 128 129 Colbert examines the Usurpation of Noble Titles 130 Of the Treaty at Aix la Chapelle 131 132 Colbert made Secretary of State 133 Suppresses several Offices ibid. Excludes Protestants from the Courts of Justice 134 Proposals for several New Regulations concerning Criminal Courts 135 c. Reflexions on two Edicts 142 Colbert's Severity to the Parliament of Tholouse 143 He procures the Erection of an Ensuring-Office Page 144 Another of his Daughters marry'd to the Duke of S. Aignan 146 The Inconveniencies of Mark'd Paper ibid. Colbert sends his Son the Marquess de Seignelay to travel 147 He suppresses Private Courts of Justice ibid. Of the Treaty of Nimmeghen 149 Colbert made Minister of State ibid. An amorous Adventure of the Marquess d' Ormoy Colbert 150 151 Colbert's Sister made an Abbess 152 An Account of the Casting of Great Guns for the Navy ibid. Colbert's Care to advance his Family 154 He marries his Youngest Daughter to the Duke de Mortemar ibid. The Marquess de Seignelay twice marri'd 156 Colbert's Brother negotiates and concludes the Treaty of Marriage between the Dauphin and the Princess of Bavaria 157 And is made Secretary of State 158 Colbert's Incivility to a Lady ibid. The Marquess de Seignelay accompanies the King to Picardy 159 Colbert excludes Protestants from the Royal Farms 160 His Son the Abbot made titulary Archbishop of Carthage and Coadjutor to the Archbp. of Roan ib. The Ceremonies of his Reception at Rohan 161 Theses dedicated to his Majesty and presented in magnificent Boxes adorn'd with Emblematical Figures 162 A Frigat built after a New Model Page 163 Encrease of Trade at S. Malo 164 The Duke of Mortemar's Expedition with his Majesty's Galleys 165 The Chevalier de Bethune takes a Pyrate of Salley 166 The Marquess du Quêne chases some Vessels of Tripoli into the Port of Chio 168 The Articles of the Treaty of Peace between the French and the Divan of Tripoli 169 Colbert's Kindness to his Nephew Desmarets 170 Of Colbert's Three Sisters ibid. The King views several Curiosities at Paris 171 The Marquess de Seignelay goes to Dunkirk ib. A brief Account of the present King of Morocco's Accession to the Throne his Wars and Conquests 172 The various Customs and Habits of his Subjects 172 173 Some of their Religious Rites with their Opinion concerning Christ 174 The King of Morocco sends an Ambassador to France ibid. Some Instances of the Wit and Politeness of that Envoy 175 Colbert promotes his Brother Edward Francis ib. A short Description of Tournay 176 The Marquess du Quêne's Expedition against Algier ibid. An Account of the Fortifications of the Town and Port 177 An exact Relation of the Bombarding of that City 178 c. An Algerin Ship taken by the French Pag. 185 Fine Horses brought from the American Islands 186 Gabaret's Voyage to Martinico ibid. A Description of that Island and Granada 187 Of Mount S. Martha the highest Hill in the World ibid. Of the Nation of Pigmies that inhabit the Skirts of the Mountain 188 Portobelo describ'd 189 Description of Havana 193 Of the Bay of las Matanças in the Island of Cuba 194 Of the Streight of Bahama 195 A desperate Action of 4 or 5 Englishmen 196 The French King sends the Count of S. Amand Ambassadour to the King of Morocco ibid. His Arrival and Reception at Tetuan 197 He sets forwards to Alcazan 203 And arrives at Salley 204 Of the Manner of Rejoicing and Sacrifices of the Moors 205 A particular Relation of the first Audience and of the Discourse that pass'd between the King and the Ambassadour 206 An Account of the Presents 209 Of the Audience of Leave and the Conclusion of the Treaty 210 The King of Morocco's Person and Habit describ'd 210 211 Of his Forces and Guard 211 An Instance of Moorish Severity 212 The Ambassadour returns to Tetuan ibid. Colbert regulates some Abuses Page 213 And procures an Edict about the Payment of Debts 214 The Marquess du Quêne's second Expedition against Algiers with a particular Account of the Bombarding of that City 215 c. The Algerines beg a Peace and restore the French Slaves 222 Colbert's Death and Burial 223 His Monument 224 Verses on that Occasion ibid. His Library ibid. How his Offices were divided after his Death 225 The Marquess de Seignelay's Character 226 His first and second Marriage ibid. He beats his Wife 227 Of Colbert's pretended Descent from a Scotch Family 228 The Preferment Disgrace and Death of one of his Sons who was made a Knight of Malta 228 229 An Instance of the Archbishop of Rohan's Affection to his Mistress 229 The Causes of the French King 's quarreling with the Republick of Genoa 229 230 An Account of the Bombarding of that City ibid. c. The Conditions impos'd on the Genoese 234 Of the Arrival and Negotiation of the Ambassadors of Siam 235 The New Regulation of the African Trade 236 The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes 237 The King is magnificently Regal'd by the Marquess de Seignelay Page 237 c. The Duke de Mortemar compels the Tripolins to restore their French Slaves 241 242 An Embassy from Tripoli to France 243 The Marquess de Seignelay made Minister of State 244 His Death ibid. A Story of one of his Mistresses ibid. Of the Dissection of his Body 245. Pontchartrain made Minister of State ibid. The Marquess de Louvois's Offices 246 Of Colbert's Children who are alive at present ibid. The END of the TABLE * History of Emeric Count of Tekeli p. 2. * So called from a certain Cap they usually wear * This name is given to publick places of Resort such as Hide-Park where Persons of Quality take the Air. * The Toise commonly contains six Feet * A fine sort of Clay or Plaister * Somewhat more than a Pint. * The Provost of the Merchants may be called in some sense Mayor of Paris Which is a kind of Cloth
alterations of the Wind So that there was only a Passage for small Vessels by reason of the Shallowness of most of the Lakes Inlets and parts of the Sea where they enter And therefore to accomplish the intended Communication of the Seas 't was necessary to make a fit Harbour for all sorts of Ships In order to the Execution of that Design the Lake of Thun was chosen as being the largest and deepest of all those Lakes and not far from the Cape of Sete 'T is of great extent and is twenty five or thirty Foot deep in several places 'T is equally safe and commodious for sailing and in case of necessity might serve for a Harbour For these reasons 't was thought fit to bring the Canals that come from Naurouse and communicate with the Ocean to the Lake on one side and a Canal was also dug between the other side and the Mediterranean The last Canal is two Toises deep sixteen broad at the Surface and eight at the Base and about eight hundred in length The whole Work was begun in 1666 after Riquet had undertaken to warrant the Success and was finish'd before his Death which happen'd in the beginning of October 1680. tho' it was not brought to the utmost degree of Perfection till afterwards by the care of his Sons Bonrepos Master of the Requests and Caraman Captain of the Guards and his two Sons-in-Law Grammont Baron of Lanta and Lombreâ—il Treasurer of France at Tholouse After so many and so useful Designs for the Publick Good so happily accomplish'd Colbert thought he might justly aspire to some distinguishing Marks of Honour and in that Design on the 27th of August 1665 he purchas'd the Office of Treasurer of the King's Orders vacant by the Death of Nouveau Superintendant of the Post-Office The Order of St. Michael was instituted on the first of August 1469 by King Lewis XI the number of the Knights being fixt to thirty six tho' it was afterwards encreas'd to one hundred All the Knights of the Holy Ghost are made Knights of St. Michael some days before they receive the Collar of their own Order The Order of the Holy Ghost was instituted at Paris on the first Day of the Year 1579 by Henry III. in memory of his having been advanc'd to the Crown of Poland and afterwards to that of France on the Festival of the Holy Ghost The late King Lewis XIII conferr'd it on fifty Lords in the Year 1633. There were seventy created in 1662 and seventy four in 1669. The Badge of the Order is a Cross of Gold fasten'd to a blue Ribban four Fingers broad and one embroider'd with Silver with the Holy Ghost in the middle on the Justaucor The four Officers are the Chancellor Master of the Ceremonies Great Treasurer and Secretary who wear the same Badges that are used by the Knights even after they have sold their Offices The liberty which the Sons of the Farmers of the King's Revenue had obtain'd to possess Employments in the superior Courts had rais'd the price of those Offices so high that the Trade was considerably decay'd The Office of Counsellor in the Court of Aids was sold for 40000 Crowns that of Counsellor in the Great Council for 50000 of Counsellor in the Parliament for 70000 of Master of the Court of Accounts for 80000 of Master of Requests for 100000 and that of President à Mortier for 400000. The King by Colbert's advice publish'd an Edict in December 1665 by which the Rates of these Offices were fixt that of President à Mortier at 400000 Livres of President in the Chamber of Accounts at 300000 of President in the Court of Aids at 200000 of Master of Requests at 150000 but was afterwards encreas'd to 200000 of Counsellor in the Parliament at 100000 of Counsellor in the Great Council at 90000 of Counsellor in the Court of Aids at 80000 Livres of President à Mortier in the other Parliaments and President in the Chambers of Accounts at 40000 Crowns of the Counsellors at 20000 Crowns except those of Rhoan that were rais'd to 70000 and of Mets who were reduc'd to 36000. These Regulations were not at first attended with the desir'd Success for the Purchasers eluded the Force and Design of the Edict by private Bargains which rais'd the Prizes very high above the appointed Rates And therefore Colbert perceiving that there was no other way to moderate the Prizes of those Offices resolv'd to lessen their Jurisdiction During the King's Minority the Superiour Courts were ambitious of raising their Privileges in imitation of the Parliament of England that claims a share in the Royal Authority The King himself carry'd his Edicts to the Parliament and sent 'em to the Chamber of Accounts by his Uncle the Duke of Orleans and to the Court of Aids by the Prince of Condé The Edicts were order'd to be register'd in the King's Presence after which the Parliament examin'd 'em and agreed to 'em with several Limitations by that means assuming a kind of Sovereign Power not much different from that of the Crown 'T is true the Parliament of Paris according to its Original Institution had a right to take Cognizance of all the Affairs of the Kingdom and that Body being compos'd of the Three Orders represented the States-General of France At that time the Authority of the Parliament was both useful and innocent Nor could the Power of the King be invaded by that Assembly since they met only at a certain time of the Year and their Session was confin'd to Six Weeks But after Lewis Hutin had render'd the Parliament a perpetual and fixt Court he reduc'd its Authority to a Right of judging the Differences of Private Persons And this Abridgement of its Jurisdiction became still more necessary when Henry II. expos'd the Offices to Sale for Merit was no longer a necessary Qualification of the Members of that Assembly and the Secrets of the State could not be safely entrusted to young and unexperienc'd Persons Besides 't is certain that if the Power and Jurisdiction of the Sovereign Courts had not been restrain'd within their ancient Bounds France had not been at present a Monarchical State the Government wou'd have been reduc'd to an Aristocracy and the King made a Doge of Venice For 't is only that unlimited Power he now enjoys that has enabl'd him to execute those great Designs which make his Reign the Subject of our Admiration The Abuses that crept into the Administration of Affairs during the Regency made the Government subject to two Inconveniencies that wou'd have infallibly ruin'd the best contriv'd Projects Secrecy and Diligence are two necessary Qualifications in all those that are intrusted with the Management of great Attempts neither of which cou'd have been expected if the King had been oblig'd to take the Advice of the Parliament For what Method cou'd have been taken to prevent the divulging of those Deliberations that depended upon the Votes of so many Persons nor had it ever
last constrain'd to deliver 'em all to the Marquess 'T was stipulated by the Treaty with the Divan of Tripoli that all the French that were to be found in their Squadron or on board any Ship that had come out of their Port that Year shou'd be set at liberty that Captain Courcillier's Ship which had been taken under French Colours and was at that time in the Port of Chio with 16 Guns mounted shou'd be restor'd with her Men Arms and Ammunition That the Ship call'd Europe taken under the Colours of Majorca and then in the Port of Chio shou'd remain under the Authority and Protection of the Captain Basha till it shou'd be decided whether she ought to be reckon'd a French Vessel That no Tripolin Ships shou'd search any Vessel Trading under French Colours nor injure or molest the Persons Ships or Goods of those who shou'd produce a Pass-port from the Admiral of France That all Strangers who shou'd be found on board any Vessel bearing French Colours shou'd remain free and unmolested both with respect to their Persons and Goods and likewise Frenchmen who shou'd happen to be embark'd on Vessels under strange Colours tho' Enemies to that State That neither French Slaves nor Prizes taken by the Enemies of that Kingdom shou'd be permitted to be sold in the Ports of the Kingdom of Tripoli that a French Consul shou'd be settl'd there and that no Prize shouâ—d be taken within ten Miles of the Coast of France Colbert was not unmindful of James Desmarets de Vauburgh Brother to the Intendant and Abbot of that Name for to recompense the care he took to ease him in the Discharge of his Ministry he bought for him one of the Places of Master of Requests vacant by the Death of Peter Forcoal Desmarets was by his Uncle's Interest admitted to the Exercise of that Office tho' he was not above 25 Years old as he had already been receiv'd into the Parliament as the Age of 22. He marry'd afterwards the Daughter of de Voisin another Master of Requests who had successively executed the Offices of Intendant of Picardy Normandy and Tourain The Ceremony of the Marriage was perform'd in St. Bennet's Church and the Feast of the Wedding was kept in the House of Daniel Voisin the Bride's Uncle who had been Provost of the Merchants Vousy the Intendant's Fourth Brother was first Lieutenant then Captain of a Ship and was now made Captain of the Guard There were two other Brothers one of whom di'd in Candie and the other perish'd at Sea And of the Three Sisters Two are Nuns at Nôtre-Dame de Soissons and the other was marry'd to Andrew Jubert de Bouville Master of the Requests who was since made Intendant of Limosin but by reason of his indiscreet Zeal in the Defence of the Lieutenant-General of Limoges who was accus'd of Bribery and Exaction was suspected by the whole Province to have shar'd the Booty with him whom he protected On the 16th of December 1681. the King came to Paris and visited the Orchard or Nursery of Fruit-Trees for the Use of the Royal Houses from whence he went to the Louvre where he saw his Cabinet of Pictures and from thence to his Library in the Street Vivienne where the Coadjutor of Rohan shew'd him the most curious Books and the Cabinet of Ancient and Modern Medals and engrav'd Agats His Majesty went also to the Academy of Sciences the Chymical Laboratory and the Rolling-Press for Prints and expressed a great deal of Satisfaction at the Sight of so many Marks of Colbert's Diligence in ordering all things that were committed to his Care At the same the Marquess de Seignelay went to Dunkirk to be present at the Tryal of some newly-invented Machines the Success of which gave a fair Prospect of great Advantages in time of War The Frigat call'd Echole was set apart by his Order for the Instruction of the young Officers of his Majesty's Ships and the Marine Guards and disarm'd by the Chevaler le Bret of Flacourt who had commanded her and cruis'd six Weeks on the Coast about Rochefort And the same Officer was made Captain of the Marine Guards on that side The Terrour which the King's Galleys had spread over all the Mediterranean occasion'd an Embassy to his Majesty from Mula Ismael King of Morocco and Brother of Muley Axid who was called King of Tafilet That Country is of a considerable Extent being part of the ancient Numidia at present call'd Biledulgerit and is situated between Fez and the Mediterranean The above-mention'd King of Tafilet who was one of the greatest Conquerours in Afric as he was one day managing his Horse struck his Head against the Branch of a Fig-Tree and receiv'd a mortal Blow of which he died some days after tho' others say he was poison'd by one of his Concubines But whatever was the occasion of his Death 't is certain that when he felt it approaching he deliver'd his Sword as the Badge of Royalty to his Brother Mula Ismael telling him that his two Sons the Eldest of whom was but 4 and the other 3 Years old were incapable of sustaining the Weight of a Crown and that he foresaw that all the Countries he had conquer'd wou'd revolt after his Death Nor was he mistaken in his Prediction for the People took Arms and Mula at the Head of the Negro's and some other Troops was oblig'd to re-conquer the Kingdoms of Fez and Morocco the Principalities of Tetuan Salley and Arcassa and a Part of the Kingdom of Sus. His Subjects are compos'd of several Nations of which I shall only name some of the most remarkable The Cities are inhabited by the Moors who are the Posterity of the ancient Saracens The Barbarians live in houses conver'd with Stubble on the vast Mountains of Atlas which cross the whole Country The Alarbs or Arabs possess the Plains and are divided into Tribes The Head or Oldest Man of a Family is the Commander and is call'd the Checq or Captain They pass their whole Life in Tents made of Wooll and Goat's Hair and the Plains are strew'd with their Adoüards which are a sort of Hamlets consisting of 40 or 50 Tents set up together in a round Figure and some of the most numerous Tribes inhabit 50 Adoüards To all the Conquests I have already mention'd Mula Ismael added that of Mammora on the Ocean which he took from the Spaniards and of Tangier the Metropolis of Mauritania Tingitana which the English were forc'd to abandon He is of the Race of Mahomet surnam'd Cherif whose Name he bears in his Signet in the Arabic Tongue together with that of the Saviour of the World whom the Moors call Cydy Nayssa but only acknowledge that he was a great Prophet In the same Signet is the Name of GOD and of Mahomet the Author of their Religion for all other Coats of Arms are forbidden by their Law which expresly prohibits all sorts of Figures They pretend to be the only
d' Avaux and while he was at Nimmegen his Brother procur'd for him the Office of President à Mortier in the Parliament of Paris vacant by the Resignation of Nicholas Potier Lord of Novien who was made first President At the same time John Baptist Colbert was made Minister of State and forgetting his Birth and the Modesty he had till then affected assum'd the Title of Grandeur His Office of Counsellour of State in Ordinary was given to Claude Pelletier Counsellour of State de Semestre or for six Months and Bignon formerly Advocate-General in the Parliament of Paris was made Counsellour de Semestre At the same time Colbert obtain'd the Reversion of the Office of Secretary of State for his Eldest Son the Marquess de Seignelay and that of the Superintendancy of the Buildings for his Younger Brother Julius Armand Colbert Marquess of Ormoy This Marquess who was no Enemy to Love cou'd not resist the Charms of Mademoiselle de la Sale a Young Lady of Quality but of small Fortune and the Youngest of Three Sisters She cou'd not boast a regular Beauty for her Mouth was somewhat large and her Complexion too ruddy but she had the Advantage of a fine Sett of Teeth and Sparkling Eyes her Hair was of a lovely light Ash-colour she sung prettily danc'd with a becoming Grace and her pleasant Humour made her Conversation very agreeable Her large Stature and fine Shape appear'd with Advantage in the Habit of a Man in which Dress the Marquess of Ormoy made her often come to Versailles and even gave her a Key to the Park that she might go there to wait for him It happen'd one day that she made use of her Key to introduce her into that Place when the King had given Orders to suffer no Person whatsoever to enter Bontemps Governour of the Park perceiving her at a considerable distance took her for a Man and coming up to her ask'd her how she came thither So unexpected a Salutation put her out of Countenance and not being able to conceal her Sex she told him that her Mother having attempted to force her Inclinations in the Choice of a Husband she came to beg his Majesty's Protection and the Governour assur'd her that he wou'd do her all the Service he cou'd and speak to the King in her Favour Nor was he unmindful of his Promise for he acquainted his Majesty with the Adventure whose Curiosity at the hearing of so rare an Accident was so great that he went along with Bontemps into the Park to discourse with her She repeated to him the Story she had invented to conceal her Intrigue with the Marquess and he promis'd to enquire into the Matter and to secure her from any Violence that shou'd be offer'd to her In the mean time he told her that 't was fit she shou'd have some regard to the Decency of her Sex and desir'd her to go to Bontemps's House who wou'd furnish her with a more suitable Dress and after Dinner conduct her to a Convent where she shou'd be safe from her Mother's Persecutions In obedience to the King's Desire the Governour carry'd her home with him where having chang'd her Habit she was put into one of his Majesty's Coaches and conducted by two Soldiers of the Guard to the Monastery of Benedictin Nuns at Argenteüil where she liv'd two Years at the King's Charge who being afterwards inform'd that the Relation she made him of her Fortune was a mere contriv'd Story order'd her to be set at Liberty after which she return'd to her Mother In the mean time so long an Absence had wrought such a perfect Cure on the Marquess that he never thought of renewing his Intrigue and she repair'd the Loss of that Lover with fresh Conquests Colbert's Sister made a better use of the Company and Example of the Bernardin Nuns for she was admitted into their Society at Port-Royal a Convent of the same Order Her own Piety and Modesty recommended her no less effectually than her Brother's Interest to his Majesty who made her Abbess of Lys near Melun She receiv'd the Benediction at Port-Royal from the Archbishop of Paris in May 1667 and the whole Court assisted at the Ceremony After Colbert had considerably augmented the number of the King's Vessels his next Care was to furnish 'em with Artillery About six Years before there was a Manufactory of Iron-Guns set up in some Forges in Nivernois those especially that are next to the City of Nevers and River of Loire But the hope of Success in that Undertaking was much abated after 't was discover'd that the Metal of the Mines in that Country was so little fit for such an Use that the cast Pieces were not able to abide the Tryals which the King's Commissioners requir'd to be made of 'em before they wou'd receive 'em on Board At last in 1678 two Strangers and a Man of Dauphine undertook to correct the Fault of the Metal and for the accomplishment of their Promise submitted to a Tryal which was perform'd by Commissioner Du-Clos with a great deal of Exactness and Rigour All the Guns that were made by the Strangers burst at the first Shot and those that were cast by the Native of Dauphiné were thrice discharg'd without receiving any Damage But this Trial did not satisfie Du-Clos who cou'd hardly give credit to his own Eyes he appointed two other Days when they were charg'd and shot off with the greatest Exactness imaginable and the same Success as before Yet he still suspected the Event till on the third Day he saw 'em bear the Shock of twenty Discharges that were made one after another without suffering the Guns to cool At last one and twenty of 'em were sent to Brest to be put on board the Ships and were there try'd by the Captains with as much exactness as if they had never been discharg'd before For most of the other Guns that were brought from Nivernois were so shatter'd and weaken'd by Du-Clos's Tryal that they cou'd not endure a second at Brest without bursting to pieces Prior Frantot was the Inventer of this Secret he had four Brothers kill'd in the King's Service and was a Soldier himself till several Wounds he receiv'd in the Wars oblig'd him to leave that Profession Several other ingenious Persons came afterwards to assist him in his Work at Nevers and a Gentleman of his own Country brought thither a certain Powder being a Secret of his Invention to refine and purifie the Mines Nicholas Desmarets the eldest Son of Mary Colbert Sister of the Minister of that Name had for some time serv'd his Uncle in the Quality of his Chief Commissary tho' he was already one of the Masters of Requests and marry'd to the Daughter of Lewis Bechamel Secretary to the Council But Colbert resolv'd to raise his Nephew's Fortune higher and procur'd him the Office of Intendant of the Finances vacant by the Death of Claude Marin And by the same Minister's Interest James
Desmarets the Intendant's Brother was made Agent of the French Clergy with the Abbot of Bezons a Preferment that is usually a Step to a Bishoprick James Nicholas Colbert the Minister's second Son Licentiate of the Sorbon Abbot of Bec and Prior of la Charité was the same Year receiv'd into the French Academy in the room of Esprit and in the presence of several Persons of Note Anthony Martin Colbert his third Son who follow'd Arms was admitted Knight of Malta very young tho' 't is plain by the Account of his Descent in the begining of this Work that he cou'd produce but very slender Proofs of his Nobility but his Father's Grandeur supply'd that Defect and his Proofs were receiv'd without a rigorous Examination Some time after he obtain'd the Commandery of Boncourt and was afterwards made Colonel of the Regiment of Champaign On the 12th of February 1679 Mary Ann Colbert the Minister's youngest Daughter was marry'd at St. Germain en Laye to Lewis de Rochechoüart Duke of Mortemar and Peer of France who had obtain'd a Right of Survivorship to the Office of General of the Galleys and was the Son of Lewis Victor de Rochechoüart Duke of Vivone Peer and Mareschal of France and Governour of Champaign and Brie and of Antoinette Louise de Mesmes Daughter of Henry de Mesmes Lord of Roissy second President in the Parliament of Paris and of Mary de la Vallée-Fossez Marchioness of Everly Abbot Colbert was receiv'd Doctor of the Sorbonne in the following April and the Ceremony of giving him the Cap was perform'd by Francis de Harlay de Chanvalon Archbishop of Paris The Treaty of Nimmeghen having put an end to the War Colbert gave Orders to du Mets Keeper of the Royal Treasury to repay the Summs that were lent in 1674 by the Officers of the Civil Government to his Majesty for supplying the necessities of the State and those who were unwilling to receive their Reimbursements had Rents assign'd ' em The Archbishop of Paris perceiving that Colbert's Power and Favour with his Master encreas'd daily took occasion to oblige him in the Person of his Nephew the Abbot Desmarets on whom he bestow'd a Canonship of Nôtre-Dame vacant by the Death of the Abbot Salo Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris Charles Colbert at his return from Nimmeghen took possession of his Office of President à Mortier in the Parliament of Paris in September 1679. The Marquiss de Seignelay having had only one Daughter who died in her Infancy of his first Wife Mary Margaret Marchioness of Alegre was marry'd a second time on the sixth of the same Month to Catharin Teresa de Matignon Daughter of Henry Count of Thorigny his Majesty's Lieutenant-General in Normandy and of Frances de Luthumieres On the 11th Colbert carry'd all the Company that were present at his Son's Marriage to Sceaux and regal'd 'em with a magnificent Treat The Family of Matignon is one of the most ancient Houses in Normandy and the Count of Thorigny can reckon five or six Knights of the Order among his Ancestors since the time of Maréchal de Matignon who was one of the greatest Men of his Age. His Mother Eleonora of Orleans was a Princess of the House of Longueville and Daughter of Mary or Margaret de Bourbon Henry IV's Aunt The Marquiss de Seignelay after a short stay with his Bride took Post for Marseilles where he arriv'd on the 25th of the same Month and having visited the Arsenal took a Review of eight Galleys that were ready to depart after which he proceeded on his Journey to Dauphiné stopping at Toulon and some other Places where his Presence was necessary and having seen the above-mention'd Guns of a new Invention at St. Servais above St. Marcellin on the Banks of the Isere he return'd to Paris by the way of Lyons During his abode at Toulon he order'd two Companies of one hundred Men each by the name of Soldiers Guardians of the Ships to be levy'd under the command of the Captain of the Port and of the Chevalier de Levy Aid-Major of his Majesty's Naval Forces The last of these Officers rais'd his Company of one hundred chosen Men who had serv'd in the Marine consisting of twenty five Sergeants as many Corporals and fifty private Centinels all neatly cloath'd At the same time the President Colbert took Journey for Munich to treat of the Dauphin's Marriage with the Princess of Bavaria Assoon as he had concluded the Match he sent an Account of his Negotiation to his Brother who receiv'd it before that which was directed to his Majesty came to the Hands of Pompone Secretary of State who was gone into the Country where he had order'd some Buildings to be erected Colbert went immediately to Compliment the King on the happy success of the Treaty who was extreamly surpriz'd that he had not the first notice of it and when Pompone came afterwards to give him an Account of it his Majesty told him that he might return home since he was so full of Business and that in the mean time he would take care to put another into his Place who wou'd be more diligent in the performance of his Duty 'T is thought this Affair was concerted between the two Brothers and that a Courier was dispatch'd to Colbert before there was one sent to Pompone to lay a Snare for that Minister that his Disgrace might be a step to the Advancement of the President 's Fortune However 't is certain that Colbert obtain'd the vacant Place for his Brother and perform'd the Duties of it during his Absence There was no need of this new Accession to that vast Load of Business he was oblig'd to sustain for his Mind was so fatigu'd with such a multiplicity of Cares that notwithstanding his accustom'd Gravity he chose rather to commit an Action that was equally inconsistent with his Dignity and the Rules of Civility than to bear the importunity of a Lady of great Quality who was one Day urging him to do her a Piece of Service which he judg'd to be impracticable The Lady perceiving his Inflexibility threw her self at his Feet in the Hall of Audience in the presence of above one hundred Persons and bursting forth into Tears cry'd out I beg Your Grandeur in the Name of God to grant me this Favour And he kneeling down over-against her reply'd in the same mournful Tone I conjure You Madam in the Name of God not to disturb me Francis de Roxel de Medavy de Grancey Archbishop of Roüen having demanded a Coadjutor to assist him in the Government of his Diocess Colbert obtain'd of the King the Nomination to that Dignity for his Son the Abbot And while that Prelate was expecting his Bulls from Rome his Brother-in-Law the Duke of Mortemar began his Travels to Italy with a resolution to visit all the Courts in that Countrey He began with that of Savoy and from thence passing to Parma and Modena he went to Bologna