King of France who had a Jesuit for his Confessor the other Kings Successors of this Prince make use of them since and the greatest part of other Monarchs and Potentates The 28th of April 1675. the Senators and Sheriffs of the famous Town of Messina specially impower'd in the name of all the Inhabitants took on their knees the Oath of Fidelity to the Invincible Loüis the Fourteenth King of France and of Navarre from the hands of Loüis Victor de Roche-Choüard Prince of Tonnai-Charente Duke of Vivone and Lieutenant-General for his Majesty in the Town here mentioned and in the other places of the Isle of Sicily since Mareschal of France At this Ceremony and other important actions assisted Francois-Auguste de Valavoir Marquess of Vaux Melchior de Thomai Lord of Chateauneuf and others The French soon got possession of lands by the taking of Scaleta Augusta Taormina Merilli and other places In the same year 1675. the 19th day of the month of July the Shrine of Saint Genevieve was carried processionally about the Town of Paris for fair weather which was obtain'd as soon as recourse was made to her Prayers before the obstinate Rains laid waste the Country and the Corn for above two months the hopes of the Labourer and Vineyard-keeper were fallen It was twenty three years that the Relicks of this Saint had not been carried An. 1676. the 22th of April happen'd the great Naval-fight in Sicily as far as Augusta and Messina betwixt the French Fleet and those of Holland and Spain The French gain'd a great Victory Michel-Adrien Ruiter was so dangerously wounded that he died some days after The Sieur du Quesne signaliz'd himself there and shew'd the braveness of the French who since some years are become firm Sea-men The King of France declar'd War against the King of Denmark the 28th of August of the same year because contrary to the Treaty of Peace at Copenhagen An. 1660. betwixt Sweden and Denmark for the performance of which his most Christian Majesty gave his Guarentie his Danish Majesty did not cease from making War on the King of Sweden who had not contraven'd to this Treaty of Peace An. 1677. on Ash-wednesday there was a defeat of a Squadron of fourteen Dutch Vessels in the Port of Tobago by the Comte d'Estrées Vice. Admiral of France This Island Tobago which is one of the Isles Antilles in America gave the name to Tobacco or has taken that This simple was formerly call'd the Herb Nicotian because the Physician Nicot brought it into Europe Some call it the Herb of the Queen for having been first presented to the Queen of Spain It is extreamly in use in moist Countries because it dries and sometimes too much After Meals Pipes and Tobacco are set upon the Table the men and women think they are not able to live without it because the Tobacco evacuates as they say the evil humours of the brain Joüin de Rochefort relates that in the Town of Worcester he was askt whether in France the Scholars when they go to School carry Tobacco as those of England He tell us that when the Children go to School they carry in their little Bag with their Food a Pipe fill'd with Tobacco and that at the hour of taking it every one lays down his Book to kindle his Pipe and that the Master takes with them and teaches them to hold their Pipe and to smoak All sorts of persons are seen to smoak in Flanders even to the religious men and women The Bull of Jubilé of the holy year which is celebrated from twenty five to twenty five years was publisht at Paris at the beginning of the month of March in the year 1677. At the same time also wâ—s publisht the Jubilé of the Exaltation of cuâ— holy Father Innocent the Eleventh The first Jubilé lasted two months the other a fortnight whereof we have spoken in the Tract of Italy At the beginning of April Cambray and St. Omer were reduc'd to the Obedience of his most Christian Majesty St. Omer the second Town of the County of Artois is seated on the River Aa The 11th of April Philip of France got the Battel of Cassel The 14th of July the King receiv'd a Courier from the Marshal de Navaille who commanded the Army in Catalonia bringing news of a great advantage gain'd by the Kings Army over the Spanish Troops commanded by Comte de Monteri Vice-Roy in Catalonia In the same year the Town of Arles which was once the Capital of the Kingdom of Arles and of Burgundy rais'd for the glory of the King in the middle of the Place a stately Obelisque which was found buried in the Gardens of Madam de l'Hote scituate in the Trenches of the Town The Sieur Roubin Member of the French Academy of this Town presented the Draught to his Majesty The Obelisque is fifty two foot high without comprizing the Pedestal which is seven foot diameter all of a piece The 25th of October of the same year 1677. Messire Etienne Daligre Chancellor and Keeper of the Seals of France died at Versailles in the house of Chancery aged eighty five years and a half The 27th the King created Chancellor and Keeper of the Seals of France Messire Michel le Tellier who took the Oath presented him by his Majesty the 29th following The indefatigable Marshal de Crequi who has gloried in exposing himself for a long time in the dangers of War whereof he carries many honourable marks on his body for the service of our Monarch has perform'd according to his wont Military actions worthy of his Courage and Valour and particularly in the Campagne of 1677. against the Imperialists The taking of the Town and Citadel of Fribourg in Brisgaw by this Marshal deserves to be particulariz'd This important place opens the Hereditary Countries takes from the Emperour a part of his Dominion Fribourg has belong'd to the Dukes of Zeüringuen and afterward to Comte Egon of Fustemberg for having married Agnes their Heiress his Descendants were Masters of it to the year 1386. The Inhabitants of the Town gave up themselves to the Duke of Austria Marshal Horn and the Duke of Weimar besieg'd and took this place three times for the Swedes An. 1632 1634 1638. Marshal d'Humieres reduc'd to the Kings Obedience the Town of Saint Guillain by his Valour and Forecast the tenth of December of the same year 1677. This place is about two leagues from Mons its Abbot is Lord Spiritual and Temporal and the Abbey is the chief of Hainalt The 12th the Count d'Estrées having taken the Forts which the Hollanders held in the Isle of Gorea at Cape-Vert made himself Master after a long Navigation of the Isle of Tobago and of many Duch Men of War. An. 1678. the first day of March the Town of Gand Capital of the Country of Flanders was invested by the Marshal d'Humieres and taken by his most Christian Majesty on composition the ninth of the same month and
Confessors to whom he gives the power of Absolving from all Crimes and even in cases that are reserved to himself The opening of the Holy Door is an Hieroglyphick of the opening of the Churches Treasure whereof the Pope is the dispenser four doors are open'd to shew that persons are call'd from the four parts of the world The Doors are washt to intimate that those persons gain the Jubile who are cleansed from their faults and defilement by the vertue of the Sacraments and by the application of the Merits of Jesus Christ over the Holy Door they set the Name of the Pope that opened it last and the time The shutting up of the Jubile THe end of the year of Jubile being elaps'd the Pope on Christ mass-Eve goes in Procession from the Apostolick Palace to St. Peters Church where after Vesperas are sung his Holiness appoints three Cardinals to go and shut the other three holy doors and at the same time himself accompanied with the Clergy and with all that is great and splendid in Rome marches processionally goes forth at the holy door blesses the Materials appointed to wall it up which is not open'd but the year of the Jubile lays the first stone with some pieces of Gold and of Silver and says in Latine what I turn into English Through the Faith and through the vertue of our Lord Jesus Christ Son of the living God who said to the Prince of the Apostles Thou art Peter and on this Rock I will build my Church we lay this first stone for shutting this Holy Door which ought to be again thus shut in this year of Jubile In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost In what sence the Title of Holiness is attributed to the Pope against the Protestants THe Pretenders to Religion who love always to cavil and to mix Controversy in their Discourse conformable to what is said by the Latine Poet Navita de ventis de Bobus narrat Arator Enumerat Miles vulnera Pastor oves not able to endure that we give the Pope the Title of Holiness nor that we call the Doors before mentioned Holy thinking it a Blasphemy I answer them that they blame what they do not understand they ought to consider that there are three sorts of Holiness the first by Nature and Essence which is increated infinite incomprehensible and incommunicable to all other persons but to those of the most Holy Trinity The second by Consecration which is found in animate and inanimate things it is diversly caused by Prayers and Blessings by Oyl and by Unction The third Holiness consists in an Habitual Grace inviolable to sin The Catholicks do not say that the Pope is Holy by a Holiness of Nature or of Essence which belongs but to God alone who is the sole Original final Sovraign of all Holiness the Popes understand it so they own themselves sinners before God implore his mercy and make a confession of their sins When we call the Pope the Holy Father it is by Consecration the Priests the Prophets and the Kings were Anointed and Consecrated under the ancient Law as well as the new and now the Popes and the Abbots are blest Churches Altars Tabernacles Crosses Chalices and Bells are holy things with a Holiness of Consecration which is an exteriour Sanctification If the Roman Church be call'd Holy why shall we not call him Holy that presides in it If the Body be called Holy the Head is not Profane The great Priest Aaron wore on his Tiara a Plate of Gold where these words were Engraven Holiness to the Lord. Let us proceed to the other remarks and disquisitions Other Splendid Ceremonies IT 's at Rome where we see Seven other very curious and remarkable Ceremonies the Canonization of Saints the Coronation of the Pope that of the Emperour of Kings of Empresses of Queens and the Creation of Cardinals A touch in the Honour of Rome IF it be said of this Capital of the world that at present Rome is sought for in Rome because it has lost that vain splendour which it drew from its ancient Roman Emperours we say also that what she holds no longer by her Arms she possesses by Religion Sedes Roma Petri quae Pastoralis honoris Facta Caput Mundi quicquid non possidet Armis Religione tenet It 's said of St. Peters Church at Rome and of St. Sernin at Tolouse Non est in toto Sanctior orbe locus Three desires of St. Austin ST Austin wisht to see Three things Jesus Christ on the Earth St. Paul in the Chair and Rom◠the Triumphante The Dominion of the Pope THe Vatican which is the Palace of St. Peter the Palace of St. John Lateran Castelgandolphi Mont-Cavallo otherwise Montquirinal and the Castle St. Angelo belong to the Pope he possesses the Patrimony of St. Peter the Dukedom of Spoleto Marcha Anconitana Romandiola the Dutchy of Benevent in the Kingdom of Naples the Dukedoms of Ferrara and of Vrbin Ceneda in the Marca Trevisano Montaldo and San Stephano on the side of the River of Genoa and the Country of Avignon in France c. You must observe that the Countess Mathilda made the Holy Sea Heir to her Lands which have since been call'd St. Peters Patrimony When the Roman Emperour is at Rome he lodges in the Vatican which is the Imperial Palace Civita Vecchia is famous for it's Port it s there where his Holinesses Galleys are they are no longer at Ancona because they were too remote from Rome Places of Pleasure TIvoli Frāscati the Villa of Pamphilio those of Burghesi of Farnesi of Aldobrandini of Montalto of Ludovisio of the Duke of Florence of the Prince Palestrini and of Matthei are very famous places of pleasure We see there the Gardens adorn'd with all rare pieces the Lodgings richly furnished the Galleries and privy Closets full of all that is curious and splendid in Rome Mazarini's Palace is of the number of the most beautiful it belongs at present to the Duke of Nevers Pope Clement the Tenth much embellisht the Bridge St. Angelo by causing to be placed on it twelve fair Statues of white Marble admirably well done and of a great height each on its Pedestals St. Peter and St. Paul stand first and on each side of them at fit distances to the end we see five Angels holding in their hands some Instrument of the Passion of our Saviour This Bridge has two fair Galleries with Iron Ballisters The Gate del Populo formerly called Flavius Gate is at present a Master-piece they call it the Gate of the People because of its nearness to the Monastery of St. Mary of the People it is of the invention of Michael Angelo The Town-hall was formerly the Capitol The Castle St. Angelo is called by this name because an Angel appeared on the top of it with a naked Sword in his hand which he put up in its Scabbard shewing by that that God was appeas'd This
having put their Bishop in prison and governed the Ship of St. Peter eleven years four months and eighteen days some say eleven years and a half He called into his Council St. Bruno Founder of the Order of the Charthusians He called the Council of Clairmont in Auvergne where he made the Enterprize of the holy War succeed which he called the Croizade because those that listed themselves were all crossed wearing a Cross sewn on their Habits He died An. 1110. Calixtus the Second was named Guy others say Guigue He was a Burgundian Uncle to Adelais Queen of France and near Cousin to the Emperour Henry He was Archbishop of Vienne in Daulphiné Suger Abbot of St. Dennis says that the night before his Election he saw as a Prognostick of his future Election a great Person that gave him the Moon to keep under his Archiepiscopal Cope fearing lest the Church might incur some danger by the death of Pope Gelasius He soon found the truth of this Vision seeing himself soveraign Pontife His Election was made whilst he was in the Abbey of Clugny An Anti-pope appeared at that time in Italy called Bourdin who was taken notwithstanding his intrenching and fortifying himself the Souldiers that took him mounted him on an old Camel and walkt him about the Streets publickly in derision with his face turn'd towards the Tail which they made him hold as a Bridle and afterwards he was confined to a perpetual imprisonment Calixtus assembled a Council at Rheims possest the Holy See about six years died the 19th of December 1124. In the time of his Pontificate St. Norbert founded his Order called Proemonstratensis from the place where he retired himself which is in the Diocess of Laon. Vrban the Second of the Town of Troy in Champagne was the Son of a Cobler and called James Pantaleon he recompensed the defaults of his birth by the eminency of his Learning and Vertue After having been Canon and Archdeacon of Laon and afterwards of Liege he was made Bishop of Verdun from Bishop he became Patriark of Hierusalem from Patriark Legate in divers places and then afterward Pope The Prophetick Motto was Hierusalem Campaniae When any one reproached him with the lowness and obscureness of his Birth he answered That the Nobility which is acquired by the gifts of the Understanding is more valuable than that which comes from Birth alone and that it consists in Vertue Those that are born Noble may say to their advantage and with truth that Jesus Christ was a Gentleman and the holy Virgin a Gentlewoman It is very true when Nobleness of Bloud is joyned with that of Vertue it is Perfection Superiours of an ignoble Birth may object that St. Peter who had the government of the Church was no Gentleman This Prelate after three years of the Pontificate left this mortal life the last day of September and according to Onuphrius the second day of October 1264. Clement the Fourth called before Guy Foucaut according to du Chesne was Native of the Town St. Gilles in Languedoc and according to Father Gautruche a Jesuit of a Village near Narbonne He was Bishop of Puy Archbishop of Narbonne and Cardinal by the Title of St. Sabine and Legate in England St. Loüis made him Counsellor of State because he was greatly skilled in the Laws Some think that he was elected Pope the 5th or 11th of February 1265. He crowned at Rome Charles of Anjou King of Naples and of Sicily with the ordinary Ceremonies in St. John Lateran's He had in his Arms an Eagle holding a Dragon in his Talons His Prophetick Motto was Draco depressus He died the 29th of November 1268. after three years and a half being Pope Martin the Fourth formerly Simon de Brie was Native of Mont-pincé or of the Village de Suci He founded the Chapter of Champeaux which is in the Diocess of Paris He was Treasurer and Canon of St. Martins of Tours and Cardinal by the Title of St. Cecil was elected Pope the 22th of February 1282. Under his Pontificate the year of his Election the French had their Throats cut throughout all Sicily This Massacre was called the Sicilian Vesperas because it was committed at the hour of Vesperas on an Easter-day O cruel Vesperas Peter of Arragon having an Army on foot under pretext of going into the Holy Land usurpt the Country at the sollicitation and detestable enterprize of a young Italian Gentleman a sworn Enemy to the French. The Pope struck with a mortal grief excommunicated the Sicilians and those of Arragon for their Attempt and black Treason This Prelate created many Cardinals amongst others the Dean of the Church of Nostre Dame at Paris called Geofry de Barbo a Burgundian The Prophetick saying on this Pope was Ex Telonio Liliacei because he was Treasurer of St. Martins of Tours others say Liliacei Martini believing that this Church was adjudged the midst and the centre of France the Kingdom of Flower-de-luces God took him out of this World at Peruse the 28th or 29th day of March 1285. Two Miracles happened at his Burial Clement the Fifth born at Bourdeaux had for his Father Beraud Chevalier Lord of Villandrault Before his Exaltation he was called Bertrand Gout de Gutto He had in his Arms three Bars Gules in a Field Or the Prophecie was de Festis Aquitanicis The Cardinals continued ten months in the Conclave for the creation of this Prelate before Bishop of Cominges then Archbishop of Bourdeaux whereof he performed the Function even till they had brought him the Decree of his Election with the Letters of the whole Colledge He took solemnly possession of the Apostolical Chair at Bourdeaux in the Cathedral-Church of St. Andrews caused himself to be crowned at Lyons the greatest part of the Cardinals rendered themselves there pursuant to his Orders the Kings of France of England and of Arragon assisted at this Ceremony The Italian Cardinals thinking to lead him to Rome he transferred the Holy Sea to Avignon where it continued seventy years or seventy two from Clement to Gregory the Eleventh who re-established it at Rome Anno 1375. At his first promotion of Cardinals he created ten all French-men In the third he made Cardinal William de Maudagout Archbishop of Embrun who was born at Sevenes above the Town Vigan The Castle of Maudagout is at present Protestant and encompassed with Chesnut-trees His Arms are yet to be seen over the great Gate Clement built the Castles of Villandrault Budos and la Brede He governed the Church eight years ten months and some days died Anno 1314. in the Castle of Roguemaure scituated on the Rhone in the Diocess of Avignon and not of Nismes as some persons have said His Body reposes in Guyenne in the Church of the Canons of Vzeste whereof this Prelate was the Founder See here a remarkable thing related by Andrew de Chesue in the Life of the Popes Clement whilst he was yet Archbishop of Bourdeaux having deposed Gautier
Dame du Mount Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Hierusalem great Post-master and Superintendant of the Posts and Stages of France c. has given an infinite number of manifest proofs of his Consummated skill in Military Discipline It seems as though he had exercised himself in it all his life-time this shews that great men are capable of all things his name is known throughout the whole Earth the Hollanders Spaniards and others when the War was at the highest declared that he went like Lightning when the Service of his King and Country called upon him He possesses the eminent qualities of his Father the Chancellour of France Poitou la Marche Lionnois Dauphine Catalognia and Roussillon Pignerol Lorrain Alsatia the places Conquered and yeilded the Fortifications of these Generalities the War the Taxes raised for the support of the Souldiery and the Artillery are things belonging to his Charge M. Colbert MEssire John Baptist Colbert Chevalier Marquess of Seignelay Baron of Moneteau Beaumont Cheni Ormois Sceaux and other places Counsellor in ordinary to the King in his Councils and of the Royal Council General Controuler of the Kings Revenue Superintendant of the Navy Arts and Manufactures of France Minister and Secretary of State. He has acted vigorously for the subsistance of the Armies of the French Monarchy in finding means to raise such Moneys as were necessary which are the Nerves of War. He has the prudence of the Serpent as it is express'd in his Arms. Cardinal Mazarine considering his Desert before he died wisht the King to make use of him as his Minister for his fidelity and for his service His admirable Conduct daily manifests it self both in general and in particular even to the education of his Children and of his Illustrious Relations Messire Charles Edoüard Colbert Marquess of Seignelay is the eldest of the House he makes himself daily admir'd in the diversity of his Employs and Affairs wherewith he is taken up in his Majesties service he is Secretary of State Superintendant of the Maritine affairs both in the East and West I saw Anno 1677. Messire Julius Armandus Colbert Lord of Ormais at the age of fourteen years defend publick and general Theses of Philosophy in the University of Paris under the Presidency of his Brother the Abbot Messire Jacques Nicolas then Prior of Sorbonne to the admiration of all that there is of Great and Learned in the Kingdom I cannot hold from saying of this noble Defender in his Orient what was said of St. John Baptist at his birth Quis putas puer iste erit It 's a rare thing to see a Brother perform that Office under a Brother and with so wonderful a presence of understanding These are Prodigies and Marks of their great Genius It may well be said on this occasion Fortes creantur fortibus and with the Oracle Corona senum filii filiorum gloria filiorum patres eorum I shall not be more large lest I offend the modesty of the Father and of his Children I shall onely say that this wise Manager of the Kings Revenue has in his division Paris the Isle of France and the Country of Soissons as far as Noyon Orleanois Blezois the Kings House the Clergy what regards the Sea Trade and Manufactures As I write this Article the admirable and elegant Sermon which the Illustrious Abbot his Brother made one day on the Feast of St. John Baptist comes into my mind Paris rendered it self that day at Sceaux to hear it This Sermon was followed with many others in the Capital City of the Kingdom and always with excellent success This Abbot is Doctor of the House and Society of Sorbonne and Coadjutor to the Archbishop of Roüen since the second of Feb. 1680. M. Colbert Croissi MEssire Charles Colbert Chevalier Marquess of Croissi Minister and Secretary of State President of the Parliament of Paris formerly Master of Requests and Intendant of Justice has acquired the Political and Geographical knowledge of all the States of the World that of Ancient and Modern History and of all the Interests of the Princes and Potentates of Christendom in his Ordinary and Extraordinary Embassies at Rome in England Spain at Aix la Chappel and in quality of Embassadour and Plenipotentiary at Nimigen for the general Peace of Europe and at Bavaria for the Marriage of Monseigneur le Dauphin with the Electoral Princess and in other important Negotiations Holland shewed him the joy they received after the Peace concluded to see him in their Country and he manifested his by his profuse liberality of his Gold and Silver to the People in some Towns. This Minister having seen so many Countries and Nations and all Courts it may be said of him what Homer said of Vlysses in the beginning of his Odysses according to the translation from the Greek into Latine Multorum autem hominum vidit urbes mores novit Champagne and Brie Provence Britany Berry Limosin Angoumois Xaintonge Bearn Bigorre the three Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun the Principality of Sedan and the Forreign Countries which are also in his division have all a veneration for his Conduct and Generosity He succeeded to Messire Simon Arnaud Chevalier Lord of Pomponne in his Charge of Secretary and Minister of State which he demised in the Month of December An. 1679. The Councels THe Councels are composed of the Chancellour Keeper of the Seals of France of the Marshal Duke de Villeroy Chief of the Royal Council for the Kings Revenue of Twelve ordinary Councellours of State Three Councellors of the Church and Three of the Sword Twelve attending every six Months The King regulating the Councel An. 1673. added the Controuler General of his Revenues and the two Intendants of them to have place in the Councels des Parties as they have in those of the Revenue The Councellours of State are chosen by his Majesty being such as have past the greatest part of all the Offices of the Robe having been Intendants of Justice or Ambassadors or first Presidents of the Parliaments these are at present the best and most sought-for Offices of the Kingdom and which come nearest the King who gives such persons daily the best employs and Commissions of greatest importance for the service of himself and the State. To these Councels the Masters of Request have access which are to the number of Eighty whereof Twenty serve each Quarter after having been honoured with many Commissions and Intendancies they are preferred by his Majesty to Employs of the highest nature where he designs them The two Intendants of the Revenue are Messire Vicount Hotman and Messire Nicholas des Marests Colbert The first has been Councellor in the grand Councel Master of Requests and Intendant of Justice in Guyen and in Tourain Proctor-General of the Chamber of Justice and afterwards honoured by the King with a place in his Councels and with the Commission of Intendant of the Kings Revenue and of Justice in the generality of Paris
Episcopal See. Toul eighty six from Mansuet to Messire Jacques de Fieux Prince of the Empire Verdun ninety four or ninety five from St. Sanctin to Messire N. de Bethune Bishop and Count of Verdun and Prince of the Empire He succeeds Messire Armand de Monchi d' Hoquincourt The Rank and Seats of the Prelates THe Archbishops and Bishops have Rank and Seat in the General Assemblies of the Clergy according to the antiquity of their Consecration The Prelates which are Dukes and Peers of France have the precedency above the others at the Ceremony of the Consecration of the Kings and in the Seats of Parliament and enter with their Coaches into the Court of the Louvre Agents General of the Clergie of France THe Clergy has two Agents General at Court to mind Eccesiastical affairs the Archbishops and Suffragan Bishops name them alternatively They hold their Charge five years because at each General Assembly of the Clergy two are created who are deputed each by the Province which names at his turn Messieurs the Abbots of Maretz Colbert and of Bezons Doctors of Sorbonne were created Agents An. 1680. having been nominated the one by the Archbishop of Rheims and the other by him of Narbonne Bourges and Vienne gave Agents An. 1675. It is observ'd that there is no Prelate who has been Agent-General of the Clergy but that he understands affairs for as men do business so business makes men The Clergy has also its Treasurer call'd otherwise Receiver-General Those that would know the continuation and succession of all the Archbishops and Bishops of France must read a Book of a great labour in four Volumes in Folio compos'd by the Sieurs de Sainte-Marthe entituled Gallia Christiana there are seen there a great number of Popes Bulls the day of the creation of the Prelates their Qualities their Arms the names and the number of Abbeys This Work was printed An. 1656. and is worth a thousand other Impressions There is to be seen also another Book on this subject which has for Title Series Episcoporum Pierre Frison has given the publick Gallia Purpurata Since some time the King seldom gives Archbishopricks to Ecclesiastical persons if they are not actually Bishops These Archbishopricks contain many Suffragans under them our Conquests increase the number The sole Province of Languedoc has had to this time twenty two Bishops and as many Barons entring yearly into the Estates The Duke of Verneüil is Governour of this Province the Marquess de Cauvisson the Comte de Roure and the Marquess de Montanegue are Lieutenants General for the King and Messire Henry d'Aguessau Master of Requests and President of the Grand Council is there Intendant of Justice Polity and Finances He succeeds Messire Claude de Bezons Counsellor of State in Ordinary who liv'd there a long time and who manag'd well the Kings affairs We shall remark in favour of this Province that the Law of Aubeine or Escheatage has no place here by priviledge and exemption of the King nor in the Vicounty of Turenne Laurence Bouchet Advocate in the Court of Parliament of Paris is formal in the point in his Book entituled La Bibliotheque ou Tresor du droit des Francois in which are treated civil criminal and beneficial matters govern'd as well by the Ordinances and Customs of France as decided by Decrees of Soveraign Courts summarily extracted from the most famous French Lawyers and Practitioners and compar'd in many places with the Laws and Customs of Foreign Nations This book was printed at Paris An. 1629. There may be seen also thereon the book of the Province which contains its Priviledges The ordinary List of the Parliaments of France and the time of their erection PAris Tolose Grenoble Bordeaux Dijon Roüen Aix Rennes Pau and Metz. There are added Tornai and Dole its Parliament was plac'd at Bezancon An. 1674. Perpignan has a soveraign Council which judges without appeal as also Pignerol Brisac and other places That which the French call Parliament that is to say conference and debate concerning things belonging to Justice the Spaniards name Soveraign Council and the Savoyards the Senate The Parliament of Paris was made of constant Session on the place by Philippes le Bel An. 1302. and according to Chorier An. 1288. It was before liable to be remov'd from place ro place The 19th of May 1678. Loüis the Fourteenth nominated Messire Nicolas Potier Chevalier Lord of Novion and of Vilbon President of the Cap to the place of first President of this Parliament This place has been long due to his Merit to his Integrity to his great Lights and to that long experience of the Parliament-house which he has acquir'd with an indefatigable and wholly wonderful Assiduity He has rendred himself considerable on all occasions and particularly on those great days which he held at Clermont in Auvergne 1665. Tolose was instituted by the same Philippe le Bel and in the same year as Paris An. 1302. and made fixt An. 1443. and according to Chorier An. 1320. Its first President is at this day Messire Gaspart de Fieubet Grenoble by the Dolphin Loüis Son and Successor of Charles le Bel who confirm'd Anno 1453. by his Letters-Patents that which the Dolphin had done Its first President at this day is call'd Denis le Goux de la Berchere Bourdeaux by Loüis the Eleventh An. 1462. Bourdeaux and Grenoble sit by turns That of Bourdeaux was transferred some years since to Condom and afterward to Marmande from Marmande to la Reole This Parliament has at present for its first President N. d Olide by the voluntary demission of Messire Arnaud de Pontac Dijon by the same King Loüis the Eleventh An. 1476. Messire Loüis Laisne Chevalier Lord de la Margrie after having been many years Counsellor to the Grand Council Master of Requests and having exercis'd divers Intendances of Justice Polity and Finances in Guienne Normandy Burgundy and had many important Commissions in Languedoc for the Kings service and in his Armies was created for his merit first President of the Parliament of Dijon An. 1653. and has kept the place with all the Splendour Honesty Honour and Understanding imaginable so far that his Majesty judg'd him necessary in his Council where he has been one of the most employed in the Affairs of State and of the Finances Messire Nicolas Brulard has been some years first President of this Parliament Roüen was establisht by Loüis the Twelfth An. 1499. The Author of the book entituled L'Etat de la France sets this Parliament after that of Tolose he speaks in these terms The Soveraign Court of Normandy regulated under the name of Echiquier by Philippe le Bel An. 1302. was made perpetual by Loüis the Twelfth An. 1499. though it did not bear the name of Parliament but under Francis the First An. 1515. Messire Claude Pellot is here President since his Intendances of Justice Aix An. 1501. by Loüis the Twelfth Late Messire Geofrey Camus