be more than two together without having any Command there then they chuse their Quarters according to their standing And next to the Marshals of France the Dukes and Peers take place for in Armies Dukes and Peers are Lodged always after Marshals of France But in following the Court out of an Army this Order is observed First their Majesties are Lodged then other Royal Persons then the Princes and Princesses then the Great Officers of the Crown after them the Dukes and Peers and lastly the Marshals of France The Chancellour is Lodged next after the Princes and in marking his Lodging the word Pour or for is used the meaning of which we have already explained Besides all which which are called the Ranks there are the Preferred of which we have spoken The Marshals and Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings are also employed by his Majesties special Command to provide Lodgings for the Assemblies of the States General of the Kingdom when any are called or for the States of any particular Province when the King is to be present at them as likewise for the Assemblies of the Clergy which is to be understood when they assemble in any other place but Paris for there no Lodgings are marked for them Likewise when the persons composing any Soveraign Courts or other publick Bodies are to meet at St. Denis in France by the Kings Order and according to Custom to assist at the Funeral Pomps or Solemnities made at the Burials or Anniversary Services for Kings Queens and Princes or Princesses of the Blood or others the Marshals and Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings go thither some dayes before to provide them Lodgings The King too usually sends the said Marshals and Harbingers of his Lodgings to meet Foreign Princes and Princesses that come into or pass through his Kingdom to order and prepare Lodgings for them every where as they pass The Title and Quality of Squires has been conferred and confirmed upon the Marshals and Harbingers in Ordinary of the Kings Lodgings by several Orders of the Council of State Next the Marshals and Harbingers of the Lodgings is the Captain of the Guides with his Company who is a necessary Officer in Journies Of the Captain of the Guides The Office of Captain of the Guides for the Conducting of his Majesty formerly enjoyed by one is now exercised by two Brothers who part between them the following Salary and Profits viz. 2000 l. Salary paid quarterly by the Treasurers of the Houshold 600 l. a Month extraordinary during any Voyage or Journey and 300 l. when the Court is at any of the Royal Houses they eat at the Kings Serdeau's or Water-Servers Table with the Gentlemen Waiters The Captain of the Guides when the King is on his march along the Country is always to keep by one of the Boots or Portals of the Kings Coach to be ready to tell his Majesty the names of the places Cities Castles Towns and Villages upon the Road if he ask them or resolve any other Question concerning them There are commonly at least two Guides on Horseback that wear the Kings Livery that ride a little before his Majesty to Conduct him and place themselves ordinarily at the head of the Light-Horse If there be any need of repairing the High-ways for the Kings Passage the Captain of the Guides usually lays out what is needful for that purpose and is repaid again at the Treasure-Royal For fear the Officers of the Goblet or of the Mouth should fail to come up to the place where the King is to eat when he is travelling along the Country the Captain of the Guides sometimes gives them notice in what part of the Way his Majesty has a mind to Dine He has power to settle Guides to Conduct his Majesty in every Town of the Kingdom and after he has given his Grants to the said Guides they are admitted as such before the Marshals of France These Guides wear the Kings Livery and are exempted from Billeting of Souldiers The Captain of the Guides is sworn by the High Constable of France when there is one or otherwise by the Eldest Marshal of France Of some other Officers necessary in Journies which depend on the Great Master of the Houshold viz. One Waggon-Master of the Kings Equipage that Conducts all the Equipage and commands all the Captains and takes his Orders from the Office of the Houshold This Office was Created in 1668. He has an allowance of 100 l. a Month out of the Chamber of Deniers when the Court is on its march along the Country and 50 l. a Month when it is at Paris and 400 l. besides extraordinary Wages for the extraordinary pains he takes for the Kings Service in doing what is order'd him by the Office allowed him upon the last Bill of every Quarter One Aid or Helping Waggon-Master whose Office was also Created the same year 1668. who has when the Court is at Paris 25 l. a Month and when it is on the march 50 l. a Month allowed him at the Chamber of Deniers We have already spoken of the Captain of the Mules of the Chamber in speaking of the said Chamber of which he depends Two Captains of the Carriages of the Kings Houshold who have a Salary of 300 l. a piece paid by the Treasurers of the Houshold and besides at the Chamber of Deniers an allowance to them for the maintenance of fifty ordinary Horses at the rate of 23 d. a day for each Horse 57 l. 10 d. a day or 21045 l. a year They Conduct all the Carriages of the seven Offices when the Court marches either in Person or by their Servants One Captain-Keeper and Guardian-General of the Tents and Pavilions of the Court and of his Majesties Pavilions of War who has a Salary of 800 l. and 50 l. a Month extraordinary in time of Service and One Keeper of the Tents of the Courts of the Kitchins and of his Majesties Stables who is allowed 50 l. a Month at Paris and 100 l. a Month in the Country at the Chamber of Deniers CHAP. XX. Of the Judge of the Kings Court and Retinue who is the Provost of the Houshold or Great Provost of France THE Provost of the Kings Houshold or Great Provost of France is the ordinary Judge of the Kings Houshold The Title of Great Provost implies two things For first He is Judge of the Kings Houshold and Secondly He is Captain of a Company of a hundred Guards called the Guards of the Provostship which is another part of his Office in the Kings House We shall speak of him here only as in the first quality reserving the latter till we come to the Military Officers of the Houshold His Office is one of the ancientest of the Kings Houshold and one may say that in the Jurisdiction which he retains of administring Justice to all the Kings Officers and other Persons that follow the Court he has succeeded the antient Count or Mayor of the Palace which
Montausier we have already spoken La Valiere otherwise called Vaujours is a Dutchy and Peerage Erected in 1667. in favour of Madamoiselle de la Valiere and verified in Parliament the same It now belongs to her Daughter the Princess of Conti. Of Rouanez and Chevreuse we have likewise spoken apart CHAP. VIII Of the Ancient Counties and Baronies Erected formerly into Peerages most of which since reunited to the Crown POitou a County and Peerage Erected by Lewis Hutin in 1315. The County of Beaumont le Roger made a Peerage by Philip de Valois in 1338. Given to the House of Boüillon The County of Mortaigne made a Peerage in 1331. by Philip de Valois The County and Peerage of Clermont by the same in the same year The County and Peerage of Macon in 1359. by Charles Dolphin and Regen while his Father was absent in England The County and Peerage of Maine in 1360. by King John The County and Peerage of Soissons by Charles the Sixth in 1404. enjoyed by a Prince of the House of Savoy The County and Peerage of Saintonge or Xaintonge in 1428. by Charles the Seventh The County and Peerage of Auxerre by Charles the Seventh in 1435 and verified in 1436. The County and Peerage of Foix by Charles the Seventh in 1458. The County and Peerage of Eu by the same in 1458. It belongs to Madamoiselle of Orleans of Monpensier The County and Peerage De Foret held by the Dukes of Bourbonnois The County of Perche Erected into a Peerage by Charles the Ninth in 1566. The County and Peerage of Dreux Erected by the same in 1569. The County and Peerage of Evreux given to the House of Boüillon in 1652. Baronies and Peerages reunited to the Crown Chateauneuf in Timerais held so by Charles of Valois and Charles his Son in 1314. Mante and Meulan Erected by Philip de Valois Coucy Perone Montdidier Roye and Ham by Charles the Sixth in 1404. Mortaigne near Tournay by Charles the Sixth in 1407. Beaujolois held in Peerage by Peter Duke of Bourbonois La Fêre in Tartenois Erected by Lewis the Twelfth in 1507. Colomiers is an ancient Peerage and a principal Member of the Dutchy of Nemours It was lately revived again in favour of the late Duke of Longueville but now Extinct CHAP. IX Of the Orders of Knighthood in France THE Orders of Knighthood were always used as honourable recompenses and marks of the Kings favour to such as had signalized their service to their Prince and the State Kings likewise have been used to confer them on such as have the honour to be of Kin or allied to them or considerable persons in the State It being needless to speak here of all the Orders of Knighthood that have been instituted in France it will be sufficient to tell you that there was formerly the Order of the Star Instituted in memory of the Star that Conducted the three Kings or wise Men of the East to Bethlehem by Robert the Devout King of France in the year 1022. which is attributed to by some to Hugh Capet but more commonly to King John because after a long disuse he reestablished it in the year 1351. The Knights of this Order were the Figure of a Star wrought in gold with five rays upon their left Breasts The Great Collar of the Order was made like a Chain of gold wreathed with three Links fastned or knotted together with Roses of the same Enamel'd with white and red and in the time of King John the Knights wore at the end of the said Collar or upon their Cloaks a golden Star with this Inscription or Motto Monstrant Regibus stra viam This Order growing common as some say even in the time of King John the Restorer of it and others in the time of Charles the Seventh and thereupon observed by Lewis the XI to be grown into contempt with the people the said King tototally supprest it by taking the Collar of the Order in presence of several of the Knights of it and putting it with a Black Ribband about the Neck of his Captain of the Watch which is even to this day a badge of that Office from whence he is stiled le Chevalier du Guet or Knight of the Watch upon which nobler persons disdaining to own it any longer the Order ceased CHAP. X. Of the Orders of Knighthood at present subsisting called the Kings Orders AT present there are only two Orders of Knighthood subsisting viz. of St. Michael and of the Holy Ghost which are usually called the Kings Orders The Order of St. Michael was Instituted the first day of August in the year 1469. by King Lewis the XI in honour of St. Michael the Archangel He Ordained that this Order should consist of thirty six Knights which should be obliged in accepting it to quit all other Orders they might have received from Foreign Princes unless they were Emperours Kings or other Sovereign Princes who only were priviledged to wear it together with the other Orders of which themselves were Chiefs or Soveraigns with a Proviso nevertheless that the Brotherhood by common consent might modifie this regulation according to their pleasure And in like manner he provided that the Kings of France should be free to wear the Orders of other Princes with this Order The Knights of this Order wear a golden Collar wrought all in the form of double Sea-Shells interlaced one with another in true Lovers Knots composed of double points of silk tag'd with gold at the end of which hangs a Medal on which is Engraven a Rock upon which is figured St. Michael Fighting with the Dragon But Francis the First changed these Laces called true Lovers Knots into Cords of gold of the fashion of those worn by the Cordelier Fryers because he bore the name of the Founder of that Order All the Knights of the Holy Ghost are obliged by way of preparation to take this Order the Eve before they are to take that of the Holy Ghost for which reason their Arms are Encompassed with the Collars of both the Orders and they are called Knights of the Kings Orders in the plural number Of the whole number of those that had formerly received the Order of St. Michael the King selected and retained a hundred on the 12th of January 1665. of which a List was Printed since which his Majesty has reformed several of them as you may see in the following List The Order of the Holy Ghost was Instituted at Paris on New-Years Day in the year 1579. by Henry the Third King of France and Poland as an Eternal-Mark of his Piety and thankful acknowledgment he desired to render to Almighty God for the repeated and signal Favours he had received from him on the day of Pentecost or of his sending the Holy Ghost for that on that day he was Born was Elected King of Poland and succeeded to the Crown of France by the Death of Charles the Ninth He likewise stinted the number of these
Knights to thirty six but their number has now been a long time unlimited the late King Lewis the Thirteenth in the year 1633. at Fountainbleau gave the Order to fifty of his Lords and at the last Promotion that was made in 1662. there were Installed threescore and ten The Knights of this Order wear at present a silver Cross set on Orange-Coloured Velvet upon the left side of their Cloaks and Suits in the midst of which is a Dove Embroidered in silver with rays of Silver and at the Corners Flowerdeluces also of Silver with another Cross all of gold hung about their Necks with a Sky-Coloured Ribband which Cross is Enameld with white on the sides having at the Corners Flowerdeluces and in the middle the Figure of a Dove on both sides The Great Collar of this Order is composed of Flowerdeluces of gold Crowned with golden Flames Enameld with red enterlaced with three Cyphers likewise of gold Enamel'd with white The first Cypher is an H and a double A all double which may be read upward or downward the H standing for Henry the Third the Letter L for Lewise of Lorrain his Wife and another for something which is as yet a mystery The Cross of the Order is of Gold in the midst of which there is a Dove Enameld with white on one side and on the other side the Image of St. Michael On the last of June in the year 1594. Henry the Great took out of the Collar of the Order the Cyphers of Henry the Third his Predecessour and caused to be put in their place Trophies of Arms interlaced together and intermingled with Crowned H's Some assert that this Order was first Instituted by King Lewis of Scicily and that Henry the Third did but renew it The Knights upon the day of their reception or Instalment are clad in Cloth of Silver with Breeches tuckt up white Silk Stockings and Pumps of white Velvet their Bonnets of Black-Velvet and their Cloaks made with a Cape after the ancient Fashion of Black-Velvet uncut and their Ruffs stiff-starched When they are received their Capes are taken off and a long Green-Velvet Cloak is put on their Shoulders trailing on the ground wrought all over with Trophies of gold for the Knights and Flames for the Officers and lined with Orange-Coloured Satin They kneel down before the King who taking their joined hands between his own strikes them gently over the Shoulders with his Sword and Kisses them on the Cheek When the King Confers this Order in any Church he goes and sits down near the Altar in the middle of the Officers of the Order then the Great Master of the Ceremonies of the Order Accompanied with the Usher and the Herald goes and gives notice to the Lords which are to receive the Order who presently advance towards his Majesty one after the other or else by two and two and kneeling down take the usual Oath holding their two hands between his Majesties in the manner aforesaid and touching the Book of the Holy Gospels which is held by the Chancellour After which the Provost and Great Master of the Ceremonies present the King with Cloaks and Mantles to Invest the Knights and then his Majesty taking the Collars of the Order from the hands of the High Treasurer puts them about the Knights Necks saying to them these words Take from our hand the Collar of our Order of the blessed Holy Ghost c. In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost CHAP. XI Of the Knights of the Order and Militia of the Holy Ghost 1. THE King Soveraign of the Order 2. The Dauphin to whom the Officers of the Order carried the Blue-Ribband presently after his Birth on the first of November 1661. Since which the King made him Knight on New-Years Day in 1682. 3. The Duke of Burgundy to whom the Great Treasurer of the Order being the Marquiss of Seignelay carried the Cross and Blue-Ribband presently after his Birth on the 6th of August 1682. 4. The Duke of Anjou had it likewise presently after his Birth on the 19th of December 1683. And 5. The Duke of Berry soon after he was Born on the last of August 1686. 6. The Duke of Orleans who had likewise the Blue-Ribband soon after his Birth and was afterward made Knight Where note that the Kings Sons Grand-Children or Brothers are Born Knights and wear the Blue-Ribband presently after their Birth though they be not fully and actually received as such till the King thinks fit The last King made a Promotion of Knights of this Order in the year 1633. of which remain only two Knights viz. the Duke of St. Simon and the Marquiss of St. Simon Of the Knights promoted in 1662. The Present King with the greatest Ceremony that perhaps was ever practised on the like occasion made a Promotion of several Knights of this Order in the year 1662. in which number were two Princes of the Blood nine Prelates and fifty nine other great Persons and Commanders Besides the King sent the Collar of his Orders of his Ambassadours at Rome and in Spain to Julius Cesarini Duke of Castel-Nove a Roman Baron and to the Prince of Conty Father of the present Prince of that Name and to the seven other Lords absent in the Southern Parts of France who repairing immediately to the then Prince of Conty who was Governour of Languedoc and kept his Residence at Pezenas were Installed the same year in Nôtre-Dame Church at Pezenas with the same Ceremonies that had been used in the Great Augustines Church at Paris the Order being Confer'd on them by the Duke d' Arpajon who was sent thither on purpose by the King where Monsieur Martineau and des Prés as Herald and Usher of the Orders officiated their Places Some dayes before the Ceremony of Installing the said Knights at Paris the King gave the Cross of the Order of the Holy Ghost to the late Duke of Beaufort in the Month of December 1661. who was then going out upon an Expedition to Sea who upon his return in 1663. received the Collar of the Order from his Majesty upon the Feast of the Assumption in the Chappel of Germains en Laye Those of them that are still alive are 1. Prince of the Blood 1. The Prince of Condé Prelates 1. The Archbishop of Arles 2. The Bishop of Mets. 3. The Archbishop of Paris 4. The Archbishop of Lyons Other Commanders are 1. The Duke de Chaunes 2. The Duke de Luynes 3. The Duke de Crequy 4. The Duke of Nevers 5. The Duke of St. Aignan 6. The Marquiss de Vardes 7. The Count de Beringhen 8. The Duke de Montausier 9. The Marquiss de Polignac 10. The Marquiss de Pompadour 11. The Marquiss de Gamaches 12. The Marshal Count d' Estrades 13. The Count de Guitault The rest are dead Since that his Maiesty was pleased to Confer the said Order on the Duke of Mecklenburg on the first of November 1664.
in the Chappel of the Louvre The Great Almoner of France who is a Commander of the Kings Orders by his Place and who is at present the Cardinal of Bouillon took the Oath in that quality the 12th of December 1671. On the 29th of September being St. Michaels Day in the year 1675. the Duke of Nevers by Commission from the King gave the Order of the Holy Ghost to the Duke of Bracciano of the House of the Vrsini to the Duke of Sforza and to the Prince de Sonnino Brother to the Constable of Colonna at Rome On the 17th of December 1675. the King and the Knights of his Orders begun to wear the Blue Ribband over their Coats whereas before they always wore it underneath and the next day the King held a Chapter of the Order wherein the Present King of Poland and the Marquiss of Bethune who has the Honour to be his Brother-in-Law were proposed and admitted into the Order and the latter of the two received the Order from the Kings hand on Sunday the 22th of December in the Chappel at the Palace of St. Germains en Laye You may please to observe that formerly those two Lords that held up the two ends of the Communion-Cloth on his Majesties side whilst his Majesty was kneeling before the Altar to receive the Sacrament were ordinarily two Knights of the Orders but now it is not so much regarded whether they be Knights or no And if the Dauphin happen to be in presence then he alone holds up both the ends of the said Cloth on the Kings side and did so several times before he was made Knight and when he was but a Blue-Ribband Man and but a Candidate of the Order All Knights of these Orders Assistant at the Kings Consecration and Coronation especially the next day after when his Majesty receives the Habit and the Collars of the Orders from the hands of the Archbishop of Reims or such other Prelate that Consecrated him The Knights of the Kings Orders upon the Festival Days of the Order go in the Morning to the Kings Chamber and march two and two before him from his Chamber to the Chappel And if upon such days his Majesty chances to go to some Church that is any thing distant then the Knights go beforehand to the said Church where they receive the King at the Door on the inside and then all the Knights march by two and two before his Majesty with their Officers at the head of them accompanying him to his praying Desk and the King commonly giving them leave to sit down they go and seat themselves in the places prepared for them CHAP. XII Of the Officers of the Kings Orders 1. THere is the Chancellour of the Order who is M. de Louvois 2. The Provost and Master of the Ceremonies M. the President Meme Brother to the Count d' Avaux 3. The Great Treasurer the Marquiss of Seignelay 4. The Secretary M. Chateau-neuf These four Great Officers wear the Cross of the Order fastned to a Blue-Ribband and put about their Necks and Embroidered on their Cloaths as do the Knights 5. The Herald King at Arms of the Order is Bernard Martineau called M. du Pont. 6. The Usher of the Order is M. des Prés 7. The Under-Treasurer of the Order is M. Damond Besides which there are two General Comptrollers Their Office is to receive the Deniers of the mark of gold of the Offices of France of which the Under-Treasurer gives up an account every year before the Great Treasurer of the Order They are also Officers of the Order and may wear the Cross of the Holy Ghost though with some distinction and enjoy the same Priviledges as do the other Officers that were Created at the first Institution of the Order There is likewise a Genealogist of the Kings Orders who is M. Cotignon de Chauvry Chief President of the Court of Monies CHAP. XIII Of the number of the Knights of the Kings Order under the Title of the Order and Militia of St. Michael in the Year 1678. with other things concerning both this Order and the Additional Orders of Nôtre Dame de Mont-Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem THE Knights of the Order of St. Michael in the year 1678. were seventy four in number The two eldest of these enjoy the Priviledge of Committimus under the Great Seal The King has named since other Knights in the room of those Deceased and to compleat the number of a hundred to which his Majesty reduced it by the reformation he made in the year 1665. who will be received in the first general Chapter which shall be held by the Kings Order when they have made proof of their Nobility and good Services His Majesty has been pleased to honour some Strangers with the Collar of this Order and among others the Count of Padua M. Vbaldo Cima d' Ozimo at Rome and the late Dutch Admiral Ruyter But Strangers are not comprehended in the said number of a hundred In the year 1666. The King Commissionated the late Duke of Noailles Peer of France and Captain of his Life-guards M. de Beringhen Chief Querry and Commander of his Orders and the late Mr. Colbert Secretary of State Comptroller-General of thē Finances and then Commander and great Treasurer of his Orders to survey and examine the Proofs and Evidences of the Nobility of the Knights of the Order of St. Michael which were put into the hands of Mr. Cotignon de Chauvry Genealogist of the Kings Orders The King commonly Commissionates one of the Knights of his Orders to assist at the general Chapters of his Order of St. Michael and to receive those which are to be received with the usual Ceremonies according to the intention of his Majesty after they have made due proof of their noble Extraction and of their Services And at the holding of every General Chapter the King sends a new Commission to one of the Knights of the Holy Ghost and though his Majesty be pleased to continue sometimes the same Person yet he may change if he please at every new Chapter for he of the said Knights of the Holy Ghost that is named for that purpose can plead no prescription from thence for his being continued perpetual Commissioner of this Order of St. Michael In the year 1608. King Henry the Great Instituted an Order which he named the Order of Nôtre Dame de Mont-Carmel i. e. of our Lady of Mount-Carmel in memory of the ancient Order of the Dukes of Bourbon dedicated to the B. Virgin and in the Month of October the same year he joined thereto the ancient Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem It is composed all of French Gentlemen They wear a Golden-Cross Cantoned or quarter'd with four Flower-deluces edged with a white Hem in the midst of which on one side upon a white Enamel is represented the Virgin and on the other a St. Lazarus upon an Enamel of Green This Cross is tyed to a
Revenues excepting the Regal Right or Due It also takes Cognisance of the Duties belonging to the King from Cathedral and Collegiate Churches upon the account of his joyful arrival to the Crown and of those due from Archbishops and Bishops when at their Instalments and Consecrations they swear Fidelity to the King of those arising from the Indults or Fees so called of Cardinals and other Prelates of the Kingdom from the Indult of the Officers of the Parliament of Paris From the appellations of the Provostship of the Houshold of the Warren of the Louvre and from those of the Chamber of the General Reformation of the Hospitals and Houses for the sick in France from the Commissions of the Chief Physian for the Reports of dead Bodies drowned and wounded and all Statutes or Orders of the said Chief Physician concerning Pharmacy from the Execution of or offences against the Statutes or Orders of the Kings Chief Barber and from Appeals concerning the Persons Estates or Priviledges of the Great Orders of the Kingdom as are those of Chiny the Cistercians the premonstrated Monks Grandmont the Trinity the Holy Ghost Fontevrault and St. John of Jerusalem From the withdrawing concealing and imbezeling Ecclesiastical Goods or Estates and Immunities and Franchises or Liberties of Ecclesiastick Persons and from several Appeals concerning the ancient Substitutions of the Great Houses of the Kingdom The Solemn and Ceremonial Habits used in the Grand Council are Robes of Black-Velvet for the Presidents and Black-Satin Robes for the Councellours Advocates and Proctor-General and the Recorder or Registrer The Great Council is a Court that Judges without Appeal and that follows the King whenever it pleases his Majesty The place where the Grand Council is held is in the Cloister of the Church of St. Germains l' Auxerrois at Paris near the Louvre And because the Chancellour is not only the Head and Chief of all the Kings Councils but also the Head of the Chancery since he has the Seals in keeping Now we have treated of the several Councils it will be most proper in the next place to speak of the Officers of the Chancery in their order and to explain what their Offices are CHAP. XXV Of the Councellours and Secretaries of the King House and Crown of France and of their Finances or Revenues THE Councellours so stiled as above are in number 240 and have his Majesty for the Chieftain and Soveraign Protector of their Company ever since the first Institution of it and his Majesty has the first Purse of the profits of the Seal The first of them is called their Dean These Secretaries-Councellours were reduced and united into one only Body and Company by an Edict of the Month of April 1672. by which they are maintained in all their ancient Priviledges and Exemptions of this number are the four Principal Secretaries of State the four Secretaries of the Council of the Finances or Revenues the four Registrers of the Council of Parties and the Chief Registrers or Recorders of the superiour Companies of the Kingdom Their principal Function is to be present and assisting at the application of the Seal and to dispatch and sign all Letters that are presented to the Lord Chancellour to be sealed they read to him all Letters of Pardon Remission and other Graces and Favours which he grants or refuses The Chancellour is Judge of all matters that relate to their Places and Functions and the Sentences given by them in Council run in this tenour The King in his Council by the advice of the Lord Chancellour has Order'd and does Order c. All the Offices of the Chanceries throughout the Kingdom excepting only those of the great Audiancers of France the 240 Secretaries of the King and some others are at the disposal and nomination of the Chancellour and of his Parties Casual CHAP. XXVI Of the Great or High Chancery of France FIrst There are in it four Great Audiencers that officiate quarterly each one in their quarter The Great Audiencers of France are the first Officers of the Seal Their principal Function is to view and examine the Letters that are to be sealed which are to be carried or sent to them the day before they are to be sealed by the Kings Secretaries abovesaid that they may present them and report them to the Chancellour and tax them at the Controll The four Great Audiencers of France the four Comptrollers-General the four Keepers of the Rolls of the Offices of France the four Conservatours of the Hypotheques and the Treasurers of the Seal are by their places Secretaries to the King perform the Functions of such and enjoy all their Priviledges and Exemptions There are four Comptrollers-General of the Audience of the Chancery of France that serve likewise quarterly The principal Function of the Comptroller-General of the Chancery of France in the time of his Waiting is to take and lay before the Wax-Chafer the Letters that are ready for the Seal and when they are sealed to receive them again from the hands of the Wax-Chafer and put them into the Chest for that purpose without imbezeling or fliding aside any one of them And he is to put to his Comptroll and Paraphe or Mark all along the sides after the Great Audiencer has taxed them as it was Order'd by the Edict of the Month of April in 1664. There are four Keepers of the Rolls of the Offices of France that officiate likewise quarterly Their Chief Function is to have and keep the Rolls and Registers of all the Offices of France that are sealed of what nature soever they be The Kings Secretaries that dispatch them are to send or carry the said Letters to them before they pass the Seal that they may present them and make their Report of them to the Chancellour It is in their hands that all oppositions to the sealing of them or dispatching them in the Offices whether it be upon the account of a Hypotheque or any other title or pretence are to be made of which they keep a Register and for which they are responsable in Case the Offices be sealed contrary to those oppositions because that if the said Offices that is what passes in them should be sealed without being charged with those oppositions they would be discharged of all Hypotheques There are under these four Deputy-Keepers of the Rolls whose places are united to theirs There are four Conservatours of the Hypotheques or of the Rents upon the Town-House or Guild-hall and on the augmentations of Wages that officiate quarterly Their Duty is to do the same thing in relation to the Rents and augmentations of Wages that the Keepers of the Rolls do in respect of the Offices that is to say to present and report to the Chancellour all Letters of Ratification of the acquisition or purchase of those Rents or augmentations of Wages that the Kings Secretaries have dispatched and signed to receive the oppositions made against the sealing and dispatching the said
this Family still maintain a Rank comformable to their Extraction as they formerly did enjoying the same Honours and Prerogatives as the fore-mentioned Families This Family has had several Alliances with our Kings with the Emperours and with the Kings of England Scotland Spain Arragon and Navarre and if Anne the Heiress of Brittany who was afterward Queen of France and Wife both to Charles the VIII and Lewis the XII had died without Children there was no Family nearer to succeed to that Dutchy than this But the better to particularize in Order those which at present remain of this Illustrious Family we shall make this Observation That they descend all from these three following Heads or Chiefs 1. From the late Henry Duke of Rohan 2. From the late Peter Prince of Guémené 3. From his late Brother Hercules of Rohan Duke of Montbazon 1. The late Henry Duke of Rohan Prince of Leon left by Margaret of Leon his Wife Daughter to the late Duke of Suilly Margaret of Rohan his only Heiress who died the 9th of April 1684. In her the Dutchy of Rohan as well as the Vicounty of Leon fell to the Distaffe as they call it in France She Married Henry Chabot Lord of St. Aulaye the last in Rank of the Barons of Jornac and Grand-Child to Admiral Chabot and died the 27th of February 1655. by whom she had a Son and three Daughters viz. 1. Lewis de Rohan-Chabot Peer of France of whom we shall speak among the Dukes and Peers 2. Anne Chabot de Rohan Married the 16th of April 1663. to Francis of Rohan Prince of Soubize 3. Margaret Chabot of Rohan Widow of the Marquiss of Coëtquen Governour of St. Malo who died the 24th of April 1679. 4. Joan-Pelagia Chabot of Rohan called Madamoiselle of Leon She was Married to the Prince d' Epinoy the 11th of April 1668. II. The late Peter of Rohan Prince of Guémené Count of Montauban Elder Brother of the late Duke of Montauban Married Magdalene of Rieux Daughter to the Lord of Chateau-neuf by whom he had Anne of Rohan who was Married to the late Lewis of Rohan her Cousin-German as we shall show further in due place III. The late Hercules of Rohan Duke of Montbazon Count of Rochefort Knight of the Kings Orders Peer and Great Huntsman of France Governour of the City of Paris and Gentleman-Usher to Queen Marie of Medicis who died in the year 1654. Married to his first Wife Magdalene of Lenoncourt Daughter and sole Heir of Henry of Lenoncourt and the Lady Francise Laval and to his second in the year 1628. Marie of Brittany Daughter of the Count of Vertus By both which he had the Children following His Children by the first Wife were 1. Lewis of Rohan the Seventh of that Name Prince of Guémené Duke of Montbazon Peer and Great Huntsman of France Knight of the Kings Orders who died the 19th of February 1667. in the 68th year of his Age He Married Anne de Rohan Princess of Guémené his Cousin-German above-mentioned who died the 14th of March 1685. by whom he had one Son viz. Charles de Rohan Duke of Montbazon Peer of France Count of Rochefort and of Montauban who Married Joan Armanda of Schomberg Daughter and Sister of the two late Counts and Marshals of that Name by whom he has these following Children 1. Charles of Rohan Prince of Guémené Duke of Montbazon who Married to his first Wife Madamoiselle de Luyne Marie-Anne d' Albret who died the 21st of August 1679. and to his second on the 2d of December the same year Charlotte-Elizabeth de Cochefilet called Madamoiselle de Vauvineux 2. John-Baptist-Armandus of Rohan called The Abbot of Rohan 3. John of Rohan called the Prince of Montauban who in 1682. Married N .... de Bautru Nogent Widow of the Marquiss of Ranes Lieutenant General of the Kings Armies 4. Anne of Rohan called Madamoiselle of Guémené 5. Elizabeth of Rohan called Madamoiselle of Montbazon Born the 25th of March 1643. 6. And Madamoiselle of Montauban 2. The late Marie de Rohan Dutchess Dowager of Chevreuse who died the 13th of August 1679. was Daughter to the same late Hercules of Rohan by the same Wife She was first Married to Charles D' Albot Duke of Luyne Peer Constable and Great Falconer of France Knight of the Kings Orders Principal Gentleman of the Kings Bed-Chamber and Governour of Picardie who died in 1621. By whom she had Lewis-Charles d' Albert Duke of Luyne who was first Married to Lewise-Marie Seguier Daughter of the Marquisse d' O by whom he had several Children and since to the abovesaid Madamoiselle of Montbazon The same Marie of Rohan after the Death of the said Constable of Luyne was Married again as we have said to Claudius of Lorain Duke of Chevreuse and had by him three Daughters of whom there remains only Henriette of Lorain Abbess of Joüare The Children of the said late Hercules of Rohan by his second Wife were one Son and two Daughters viz. I. Francis of Rohan Prince of Soubize Count of Rochefort in Iveline Lieutenant-Captain of a Company of the Kings Gens d' armes Governour of Berry and Lieutenant General of the Kings Armies who on the 16th of April 1663. Married his Cousin Madamoiselle de Rohan Lady of Honour to the Queen By whom he has had several Children the Eldest of which is 1. Lewis of Rohan of Soubize who was Baptized at the Royal Chappel at St. Germains en Laye the 16th of February 1675. Their Majesties being pleased to stand for his Godfather and Godmother 2. Hercules-Meriadec of Rohan Abbot of St. Taurin of Evreux called the Abbot of Rohan 3. Anne-Margaret of Rohan of Soubize who is a Nun in the Convent of the Benedictin Nuns of Nostre Dame de Consolation in the Street called the Rue de Chasse-midy in the Suburbs of St. Germain at Paris 4. Madamoiselle de Frontenay N. ◠de Rohan 5 6. Two Boys more II. Constance Emilia of Rohan who was Married by Proxy on the 18th of May 1683. to Don Joseph Rodrigo de Camara Son of Don Miguel de Camara Count de Ribeyra-grande Grandee of Portugal This Don Joseph-Rodrigo de Camara is of the Privy Council to the present King of Portugal Governour and Captain-General and Lord of the Island of St. Michael and of the Town de Poule-Delgade The Ceremony of the Espousals was performed the day before at Versailles in the Kings Great Cabinet in Presence of their Majesties of my Lord the Dauphin and my Lady Dauphiness of Monsieur and Madame and of all the Princes and Princesses and principal Lords of the Court She arrived in Portugal in the Month of October 1683. Of the Family of Tremoille I. The late Prince of Tarente Charle-Henry de la Tremoille Duke of Thoüars Peer of France Knight of the Order of the Garter bore Arms in Holland and was General of the Cavalry of the States of the United Provinces and Governour of Bois le
and their Attendants and First Of the Great Almoner of France THE Present Great Almoner of France is the Cardinal of Boüillon who by his Place is Commander of the Kings Orders He was named to this Office of Great Almoner of France the 10th of December 1671. And after having taken the usual Oath on that occasion to the King accordingly took possession of it the 12th of the same Month. He succeeded therein the late Cardinal Barberin Nephew to Pope Vrban the VIII High Chamberlain of the Holy Church Archbishop and Duke of Reims and first Duke and Peer of France who died the 3d of August 1671. He has of ancient standing Wages fixed in the general Pay-Book of the Houshold 1200 l. a year and 1200 more under the name of a Pension 6000 l. for his Table and Livery 3000 l. paid him by the Treasurer of the Mark of Gold on the 1st of January and 3000 more by the same Treasurer as Commander by his place of the Kings Orders making in all 14400 l. French which is about 1108 l. Sterling The Great Almoner of France is by vertue of his Place Commander of the Kings Orders And He or his Great Vicars are commonly appointed to make the Inquests of the Lives and Manners of the Knights of those Orders and to receive their profession of Faith Roillard and Loiuseau and some other Authors affirm that he is an Officer of the Crown This Office is in France the Solstitium honorum or highest Pinacle of Ecclesiastical Honour and has accordingly been almost always honoured with the Purple and possest by Cardinals Though in all times there always was a Head of the Court-Clergy yet he never bore the Title of Great Almoner of France tell the time of Francis the First who Created Antony Sanguin Gardinal of Meudon Great Almoner of France though even in the time of Charles the VIII Geffrie of Pompadour Bishop of Perigneux began to take that Title as appears in the Chamber of Accounes by the Account he gave of the Kings Alms in the year 1489 but was not followed in it till the said Reign of Francis the First The Great Almoner takes an Oath of Fidelity to the King He gives the usual Certificates of the Oaths of Fidelity taken by all new Archbishops and Bishops in France and in partibus infidelium as likewise by any General of the Order by Grand Priors of the Order of Malta in France who are Grand Priors of France by those of St. Giles or of Provence of Champagne of Aquitain and of Auvergne and by some Abbots for formerly all Abbots and Abbesses did likewise take Oaths of Fidelity to the King He likewise presents to the King the Book of the Holy Gospels when he is to swear solemnly to any Alliance as appeared in the Church of Nostre Dame at Paris at the Renewing of the Aliance with the 13 Swisse-Cantons performed the 18th of November 1663. He marches at the Kings right Hand in all Processions and when the King permits any Officers to sit down in his Presence during Sermon or other Church-Service the Great Almoners Seat is on his Majesties right Hand The Great Almoner has the Charge of Goal Deliveries usually made by Kings at their coming to the Crown at Kings and Queens Coronations at their Marriages at their first Entries into any Cities of the Kingdom at the Birth of any Children of France at the great Annual Festivals at Jubilies upon any signal Victory or Conquest and upon other occasions 'T is he that Disposes of the Revenue appointed for the Kings Alms and that gives Order for the making the necessary Ornaments ordinarily used in the Chappel he goes when he pleases and performs the Service as at the Kings rising and going to Bed to assist at the Kings Prayers at Royal Feasts or at the Kings ordinary Meals to crave a Blessing and give Thanks and at Mass where he takes the Kings Prayer-Book from the Clerks of the Chappel of the Oratory to present it to the King as likewise the springsing Brush when Mass is done to give the King some Holy Water He Accompanies the King when he goes to the Offertory from his praying Desk to the Altar The same Functions are also performed by the Chief Almoner or in his absence by the other Almoners He does likewise other Functions if he please to be present at all the Ceremonies that are done as on the days the King touches for evil He administers the Communion to his Majesty and other Sacraments of which he has need He is the Bishop of the Court as the Abbot of Peyrat one of the Kings Almoners shows in his Antiquities of the Chappel Royal and performs several Episcopal Functions in any Diocess where-ever it be that the Court is without asking leave of the Bishops of the places He Baptizes the Dauphins the Sons and Daughters of France the Princes and all others for whom the Kings and Queens or any Children of France are please to stand Godfathers or Godmothers for whether in person or by Proxy He affiances and marries in the Kings Palace Princes and Princesses You are to observe that on a Communion-day the Great Almoner with his Crosier and Miter gives the Absolution without asking leave of the ordinary or else appoints another Bishop to do it in his stead according to the practise used in Cathedrals 'T is he if he be in the Chappel that gives the King the Gospel and the Pax to kiss on certain Festivals and when his Majestry Communicates He gives the Ashes to their Majesties and the usual Dispensation for eating Eggs and Flesh in Lent The Abbot of Peyrat in his Book of the Antiquities of the Chappel Royal brings Examples to show that the Great Almoner gives permission to the Court Clergy to Contract and Marry and Officers in the Kings Service without any need of their going to a Parish Church He apoints those of the same Clergy to hear the Confessions of the Kings Officers especially on the great Festivals of the year and at Easter and to administer the Sacraments to them when they desire it and when they are sick The power of the great Almoner extends it self yet further out of the Kings Chappel and Household He has the disposing of all places in the Hospitals of France and he has power to appoint Vicars throughout all the Provinces and Diocesses of the Kingdom to take an account of the Revenues of the said Hospitals but he appoints one Vicar General who has power over the rest The Great Almoner has likewise power in the University of Paris over the 17 Lecturers of the Royal Colledge over the Colledge of Mr. Gervase and over that of Navarre He has the gift of the Scholars and Principals Places in those Colledges where he has the right of Visiting He has also the Super-Intendance of the Hospital of the Fifteen-score blind People at Paris of that of the sixscore blind at Chartres and of
that of the Haudriettes at Paris which are now the Nuns of the Assumption It will not be amiss to place here the Form of the Oath of Fidelity or Allegiance which the Bishops in France take to the King upon the Holy Gospels The Form of the Oath of Allegiance taken by the Bishops I Swear Sir by the Most Holy and Sacred Name of God and Promise to your Majesty That I will be to you as long as I live a Faithful Subject and Servant That I will procure your Service and the good of your State with all my power That I will never be present in any Counsel Design or Enterprize to the prejudice of either and that if there comes any thing of that kind to my Knowledge that I will make it known to your Majesty So help me God and these Holy Gospels CHAP. XII Of the first Almoner and other Almoners according to their Quarters THE first Almoner when he pleases in the absence of the Great Almoner performs all the same Functions and he Administers the Oath of Fidelity to the other Officers of the Chappel and of the Oratory which the other Almoners do not do In the absence of the Great Almoner he likewise gives to Bishops and other Ecclesiastical Dignitaries a Certificate of their having taken the Oath of Fidelity or Allegiance to the King during Mass He has 1200 l. per annum Wages paid by the Treasurer of the Houshold and 6000 l. more for his Table at Court paid by the Masters of the Chamber of Deniers On Sundays if he be at Chappel he presents Holy Bread to the King to the Queen to the Dauphin and Dauphiness to Monsieur the Kings Brother and to Madame Then the Almoners of that Quarter give it to the other Princes and Princesses of the Blood or to those that are Legitimated which are near the Kings Foot-Cloth The first Almoner and another of that Quarter hold the two Corners of the Communion Napkin on that side next the Altar when the King receives and commonly two Knights of the Orders or two other Lords hold the two other Corners on his Majesties side But if the Dauphin happen to be there then he only is to hold the Communion Napkin on his Majesties side The Master of the Oratory has 1200 l. per annum Wages paid by the Treasurers of the Houshold and 3600 l. more for his Table at Court paid him by the Masters of the Chamber of Deniers The Kings Confessor who is the Reverend Father la Chaise a Jesuit has 1200 l. a year by Name of Wages 2654 l. at the Chamber of Deniers and 3000 l. more to maintain his Coach On the great Festivals of the year and when the King Communicates the reverend Father Confessor is always at Church near his Majesty Clothed with a Surpliss under his Mantle On other days he assists if he pleases at the Kings Mass but without a Surpliss By an Order of Philip the Long made at St. Germain en Laye in the Month of June 1316. The Kings Confessour has power to Order all Letters for Collating of Benefices to be made ready for the Royal Signature and Seal and the Great Almoner those of Royal Gifts and Alms according to Mr. Tillet Tom. 1. f. 434 435. By a Charter of the same Philip the Long made at Bourges the 16th of November 1318. All persons were forbidden to speak to the King while he was hearing Mass except his Confessour who might speak to him only about things concerning his Conscience And after Mass he might speak to him about the business of Collating of Benefices The King has eight other Almoners whereof two wait every Quarter and of those two at least he that is to wait that Day is to be present at the Kings Rising Dinner and Mass during which last the Almoner of the Quarter or some other is to hold his Majesties Hat and Gloves or in their absence the next Chaplain or Clerk of the Chappel to be found in the way is to receive them The Almoners are to be afterward at the Kings Supper and at his going to Bed to perform the following Ceremonies as to open the Nave on the Table if there be one and to take it away when Supper is done to crave a Blessing and to give thanks The Almoners are present on solemn Festivals and when the King Communicates Clothed with Rotchets under their Mantles both at Mass and at Vespers They Preach in Rotchets both before the King and else where They administer the Communion to the King They go and present the Holy Bread they also deliver Prisoners give Dispensation in Lent to eat Eggs and Flesh give Ashes to the King Queen and other Royal Persons they give Holy Water to the King and Queen when Mass is done and in fine in the absence of the Great or the first Almoner perform all Functions which they should do They have each a Salary 300 l. a piece for serving the King and their Diet at the Table called the Almoners Table And for serving at the Dauphins by turns one year in two they have half the Wages they have in the Kings Service and half a Pistol a Day for their diet which one year with another makes 600 l. to each besides their diet at Court I shall not mention those many titular Preachers and Almoners that the King is pleased to admit only ad honores because they have no rank here There is one Chaplain in Ordinary who has 1200 l. a year under the name of Wages and 1098 l. for his diet at the Chamber of Deniers Besides whom there are eight Chaplains that serve quarterly two to each Quarter Who are to say every day excepting the High-Mass dayes a low Mass before the King they serve commonly Weekly and he that is not in Waiting any Week in the Kings Service may if he pleases when he is present at the Kings Mass kneel in Mass-time next behind the Almoners on the Kings right hand They serve also the Dauphin and his Children They have each 240 l. Wages a year for three Months waiting in the Kings Service and their diet at the Almoners Table during their said three Months Service and 120 l. to serve by turns at the Dauphins and their diet at Court at the Deservers or Water-Servers belonging to the Dauphin They have likewise 120 l. Recompense for serving every other Year at the Duke of Burgundies and 270 l. for their diet at the end of their quarter And besides you are to take notice that at the Dauphins they are allowed half a Pistol a day a piece for their diet every day there is no Table kept which one year with another makes 495 l. yearly Revenue to each besides their diet at Court and some other profits The Chaplains besides the ordinary Ceremonies go before they begin Mass and give their Majesties Holy Water and when Mass is done they present the Corporal on which they have Celebrated to their Majesties
Oath to the Great Almoner Besides these there are the Almoners belonging to the great and little Stables and to the other Bodies of the Kings Houshold and the Chaplains belonging to the several Companies of Guards and of the Gentlemen-Musqueteers and others of which we shall speak in their places The New Chappel of the Louvre was Consecrated the 18th of February 1659. by the late Bishop of Rhodes since Archbishop of Paris and that of little Bourbon pull'd down in the Month of August the same year The Kings Ecclesiastical Officers keep always on his Majesties right hand in the Chappel and the Bishops Abbots and Ecclesiastical Officers of the Queen on his left Now on his Majesties right hand the Great Almoners Place is next to the Kings Person then follows that of the first Almoner on the right hand of the Great Almoner As for the Kings Father Confessour he places himself at the Great Almoners left hand more within the Kings Praying-Desk The Master of the Chappel-Musick takes his place on the left hand next adjoining to the Kings Praying-Desk The rest of the Almoners rank themselves to the right-hand-ward from the foot of the Kings Praying-Desk toward the Altar and after them the Chaplains and Clerks of the Chappel and Oratory and the other Clergy of the Kings Houshold every one in their Order CHAP. XIV Of the Great Master of the Kings Houshold and those who depend on him and of the Stewards of the Houshold THE Prince of Conde is at present Grand Master of the Kings Houshold and his Son the Duke of Enguien has it in Reversion The Grand Master has yearly under the name of Wages 3600 l. for Liveries 42000 l. paid quarterly for his Collations 1200 l. and 1800 l. for his Steward Under the first Race of our Kings the Great Master of France was called the Mayor of the Palace who was a Lieutenant-General over the whole Kingdom and according to the ancient Disposition of the State as there was a Duke placed over twelve Earls and sometimes a Duke over whole Provinces so the Mayor of the Palace was the Duke of Dukes and stiled himself Duke or Prince of the French His Authority was not confined only within the Kings Houshold where he disposed of all Offices but he had a great power over all Officers of War and Justice over the Managers of the Revenue and Treasury and indeed over all Affairs of State and grew so great at last that it Eclipsed the Kings and gave Pepin who was but Mayor of the Palace opportunity to assume the Crown which having done and fearing that if he continued any longer any such great Authority as this in an Officer his own practice might be returned on him and his Successors he suppressed this Office of Mayor of the Palace and Erected in its stead that of Seneschal for the Government only of his Household reserving all the other powers of that former Office to himself Yet it has happened since that the Seneschal for all that has taken upon him some Command in the Armies even so far as to have the Guard of the Kings Person Some have called him the Great Gonfanonïer or Standard-Bearer This Office became Hereditary to the Counts of Anjou from the time of Geffry Grisegonelle to whom King Robert gave it about the year 1002. and those that exercised it about the King held it in Fee of those Counts to whom they did Homage for it and paid certain acknowledgments as going to meet the Count of Anjou when he came to the Palace Lodging him letting him serve the King c. and furnishing him in the Armies with a Tent big enough to hold a hundred Knights as Hugh de Cléries reports at large This Officer also retained still a part of the power of the Mayors of the Palace in other things and decided all differences arising among the Attendants of the Court and among the Officers of the Houshold After the Kings Death he throws his Staff upon the Coffin before all the rest of the Officers Assembled together to show that their Offices are expired but the succeeding King ordinarily restores them out of his special Grace and Favour The Great Master Regulates every year the expence of the Mouth of the Kings Houshold He has an entire Jurisdiction over the seven Offices the most part of which places he disposes of and the Officers thereof take the Oath of Allegiance to the King between his hands Nevertheless the Great Masters have voluntarily resign'd the Office of Intendant of the Gobelet and of the Mouth into the Kings hands ever since Monsieur de Soissons Great Master of the Kings Houshold under Henry IV. refused to trouble himself any longer with the care of them He receives the Oath of Allegiance from the first Master of the Houshold from the Master of the Houshold in Ordinary and from twelve Masters of the Houshold that wait Quarterly from the Great and Chief Pantler Cup-Bearer and Carver from the thirty six Gentlemen Servitors from the three Masters of the Chamber of Deniers from the two Controulers-General from the sixteen Controulers Clerks of Offices from the Master of the Kings Chappel-Musick and from the Master of the Kings Oratory from the Almoners of the Kings Houshold from the Great Master the Master and the Aid of the Ceremonies from the Introductor of Ambassadours and from ........ from the Kings Master of the Horse in Ordinary and of the twenty other Masters of the Horse that serve quarterly from the four Lieutenants of the Guards of the Kings Gate from the Keepers of the Tents c. When he serves in Ceremony and that he goes along with the Meat he marches nearer the Kings Meat than all the Stewards of the Houshold carrying his Staff strait and bolt upright like a Scepter and the other Masters of the Houshold hold theirs more downward in his presence It is he likewise that at all Great Ceremonies presents the first wet Napkin to the King The Office called the Kings Office or Counting-House is kept under the Authority of the Great Master CHAP. XV. Of the first Master of the Houshold and of the other Masters under him THE first Master of the Houshold is at present the Marquiss de Livry who has a Jurisdiction over the seven Offices as far as relates to their Service but has not the disposal of their places He may also receive the Oath of Fidelity from the Offieers of the Cup or Goblet and of the Mouth and of the other Officers and in the Great Masters absence of those other Officers which ought to perform that Ceremony to him He has his Lodging in the Louvre and has yearly for Wages 3000 l. for Liveries 7968 l. and for the Counters 60 l. He keeps the Great Chamberlains Table and has the last course of it for his Fee The priviledge of the said Table is an acquisition that has been made to this Office by some preceding First Masters of
the Houshold When the King has at any time received the Communion he presents to the Priest a Cup of Wine for his Majesty and at the same time a Napkin to the King to wipe his Mouth But if a Prince of the Blood or any Prince Legitimated be present then that Prince presents the Napkin The first Master of the Houshold or the Master of the Houshold then in Waiting goes along with the Broth that is carried to the King when he takes any He receives the Kings Orders concerning his Majesties Diet and the hours he prescribes for his Repasts and gives notice of them to the Officers of the Goblet and of the Mouth The next Officer is the Master of the Houshold in Ordinary who has yearly 1200 l. ordinary Wages 1420 l. Liveries and 60 l. for the Counters In the absence of the first Master of the Houshold he doth the same Functions as he both in the Kings-Office or Counting-House and in his Household It was Order'd in 1669. that whenever the King being at a Ball a Comedy a Balet or an Opera or the like should take a Collation without sitting down at Table that the Master of the Houshold in Ordinary should serve his Majesty In the absence of the Captain of the Guards he renders for him the same Honours at the Great Masters Table There are twelve more Masters of the Houshold that wait three and three by quarters who formerly had 900 l. a piece yearly of the Treasurers of the Houshold but now they have but 450 l. besides which they have at the Chamber of Deniers each Man 300 l. at the end of their quarters waiting and 64 l. for Counters besides several other profits and he that serves the Dauphin in the same quality has 225 l. Wages at the Treasure-Royal and 150 l. more at the end of his quarters waiting out of the Chamber of Deniers His Majesty by a Declaration in April 1654. reduced the number of the Masters of the Houshold to twelve and that of the Gentlemen-Walters or Servitors to thirty six By another Declaration of the 17th of October The Masters of the Houshold are stiled Counsellers and Masters in Ordinary of the Houshold Knights and Squires They may bear their Coats of Arms timbred and enjoy as do their Widows after them an exemption from all manner of Taxes and Impositions whatever They have a Command over all the Offices called the seven Offices and in the Kings House when they Conduct the Meat to his Table they carry Staves garnished with silver and gilt Vermilion having on the tops a Crown set with Flower-deluces They present to the King the first wet Napkin with which his Majesty washes his hands before he eats and they yield this honour to none but the Princes of the Blood the Legitimated Children of France and the Great Master They are present at all business that passes in the Kings Office or Counting-House as we shall show afterward In the absence of the first Master or Master in Ordinary they go every Night to ask his Majesty what hours he will please to eat at next day and especially when the Court is upon a Journey they ask the King the time and place he would please to dine at that they may give Order to the Officers of the Goblet and of the Mouth to provide accordingly The Officers of the seven Offices and several others that are accustomed to take the Oath of Fidelity in the presence of the Great Master may take it in an Assembly of this Office and then those who preside there which are the Master of the Houshold in Ordinary or the Masters of the Houshold then in Waiting may in the absence of the Great Master or the first Master receive the said Oaths of Fidelity On Fish-Dayes a Master of the Houshold is to be present at the taking in of the Fish When the King is to give any Holy or Blessed Bread in any Parish or Society the Master of the Houshold in Waiting that day holding his Staff in his hand is to accompany the Holy Loaves to the Church which are commonly six in number The Almoner that goes to present them from his Majesty marches between the Master of the Houshold and the Comptroller at whose left hand goes the Treasurer of the Offerings The Masters of the Houshold keep the Table called the Masters of the Housholds Table or else eat at the Table of the ancient Great Master and at the Dauphins they keep the Table of His Highnesses Ser-d'eau or Water-server that is his Deserver or Voider that takes away when Meals are done Of the Great Pantler Cup-Bearer and Carver These three Officers are always present at great Ceremonies where they have Rank as they had at the Kings Coronation c. They have 600 l. a year each as Wages paid them on the Book of the establishment of the Household in which they are only stiled First Pantler First Cup-bearer and First Vsher-Carver We shall tell you their Offices in speaking of the Gentlemen-Waiters or Servitors who daily their Functions The present Great Pantler is Timoleon Count de Cosse of which Office it is observable that there remains still an ancient Custom in the Kings House that upon every New-Years-Day and on the four principal Feasts in the Year as soon as the King is gone out of his Chamber to go to Mass the Serdeau or Voider cries aloud three times either out of a Balcony or from the Stairs head M. such a one Great Pantler of France lay the Cloth for the King The Great Cup-bearer is an Office set up instead of the Great Bottler or Butler which was antiently one of the Principal Officers of the Crown from the time of Charles the Great to a considerable time after the rise of the Kings of the third Race he used to Sign all Charters and Letters Patents and to be present at all Assemblies as other great Officers are The Great Vsher-Carver is the last of the three The Great Pantler has a Jurisdiction at the Palace which is at Paris what Westminster-Hall has here as we shall shew further when we come to speak of that All the Bakers of Paris are obliged on every next Sunday after the Epiphany to go and do homage to the Great Pantler between the hands of his Lieutenant-General and to pay him as they call it the good Denier Besides all Master-Bakers newly made free are bound likewise to come and present the Rosemary-Pot to the Lieutenant-General for the Great Pantler Of the Gentlemen-Waiters The Gentlemen-Waiters perform by turns the Functions of the three next abovenamed Officers They are always called Gentlemen-Waiters to the King because they serve none but Crowned Heads Princes of the Blood and Soveraign Princes when the King is pleased to entertain them In the Letters Patents for their places they are stiled Esquires and by a Declaration of the King of the 17th of October 1656. they may take the Titles of Knights and Esquires
then he keeps the Door of the Anti-Chamber The Serdeau or Water-Server receives all the Dishes that are taken off the Kings Table which are carried thence to the Office or else to the Gentlemen-Waiters Hall commonly called the Serdeau's Hall where he serves up the same Dishes to the said Gentlemen-Waiters and to those who have their Diet at the same Table with them Under the Serdeau there are likewise several Servants that attend the Office and the Gentlemen-Waiters Servants eat afterward of what is taken from their Table Of the Kings-Office or Counting-House The Kings-Office or Counting-House which is of the nature of the Green-Cloth with us and is held twice a Week on Tuesdays and Fridays in which these following Officers have Voice and Place viz. The First Master of the Houshold the Master of the Houshold in Ordinary the Masters of the Household serving quarterly then the Masters of the Denier-Chamber or Chamber of Deniers and their Substitutes the Comptroller-General and his Substitutes the Comptroller in Ordinary of the Mouth and the Comptrollers-Clarks of Offices We have spoken of the former let us now speak of the rest There are three Masters of the Denier-Chamber or Treasurers of the Houshold who serve by turns and are present at all Debates and Consultations about the Government of the Officers and regulation of the Expences of the Houshold and other matters of concern They have 1880 l. a piece yearly Wages 5300 l. Liveries 64 l. for Counters and 2650 l. Wages more at the Dauphins They are to sollicite and see themselves paid the allowance assigned for defraying the Expences of the Mouth of the Kings Houshold and to pay the Officers for such Expences They pay also the Liveries they have their Ordinary at the Master of the Houshold's Table or else at that of the ancient Great Masters and he that serves at the Dauphins eats at his Highnesseses Sirdean's or Water-Servers Table They have every one their Substitutes and if they please under the Title of Officers who assist them at their Offices and officiate for them in their absence having their Diet as their Masters either at the Master of the Housholds Table or when they serve at the Dauphins at his Highnesses Serdeau's or Water-Servers Table There are two Comptrollers-General that serve each six Months who have 900 l. a piece Wages 1355 l. for Liveries and 64 l. for Counters and at the Dauphins for Liveries antient Wages and binding up the accounts they have in all 2065 l. The Comptrollers General settle and controul all the Expences of the Mouth in the Kings Houshold One of them or his Deputy that is in Waiting is always in the Office with Pen in hand They take all the setled Accounts of Extraordinary Expences of which a Roll is made every Month. They deliver the Extracts of the said Accounts so setled to the Merchants that furnished the Commodities in order to their payment by the Masters of the Chamber of Deniers and after the Comptroller-General has got the Original Roll of the said Accounts Signed by the Great Master and has Entred it upon his Register he gives the said Original to the Master of the Chamber of Deniers The Comptroller General during the six Months he is in Waiting do's likewise Accompany the Kings Broths and receives his Majesties Orders about his eating as the Masters of the Houshold do They have every one their Substitute and if they will in quality of an Officer who assist them at their Offices and Officiate for them in their absence When it happens that his Majesty Dines in Publick and that the Master of the Houshold does not reform the Ceremony of carrying his Staff there the Comptroller-General waies on his Majesty at Table in the absence of the first Master of the Houshold The Comptroller-General in the time of his Waiting is to take care of all his Majesties Gold and Silver and Vermilion Plate and Vessels which he gives in Custody to the Keepers of the Plate and Vessels and other Officers The Comptrollers General and their Substitutes have their Diet at Court at the Master of the Housholds Table and when they serve at the Dauphins at that of his Highnesses Serdeau or Water-Server There is besides a Controuler in Ordinary of the Mouth and of the Goblet or Buttry who has 2000 l. Wages and 3000 l. a year Liveries at the Kings and 1000 l. more for Liverles at the Dauphins He is to be present at the taking in of all Provisions of Fish and Flesh for the Kings Mouth and before they are served up to his Table he Examines whither all the particular things set down in the Account of the smaller Expences be made use of or no. Besides He keeps an Account of Novelties in Provisions for the King and of Fruits Comfits and Sweet Wines c. which are to be put into his hands and in fine he has an Eye and Inspection over all the Expences of the Mouth or Goblet and other Expences of the Houshold When the King eats in publick without the Ceremony of having the Staff born by the Master of the Houshold the Comptroller in Ordinary of the Mouth sets the Meat on his Majesties Table and when several are to serve the Comptrollers Clerks of Offices likewise place some Dishes but the Comptroller of the Mouth serves on the Kings side He has his Ordinary at the Master of the Housholds Table while he is in Waiting on the King and at the Dauphins Serdeau's or Water-Servers when he waits there There are sixteen Comptrollers-Clerks of Offices that draw up the Rolls and Bills of the Extraordinary expences of the Kings Houshold and have Voice and Place at the Board of the Office They have every one 600 l. Wages and about 1500 l. Liveries yearly These Rolls which are in Parchment contain a daily Account ready sum'd up of all the Expences of the Kings Houshold and are Signed by the Masters of the Houshold And the Roll which is made on the last day of every Month contains the whole Expence of all that Month which only is Signed by the Great Master For the extraordinary Expences there is a Monthly Account of them kept which is cast up and setled at the Office and Signed by the Great Master by the first Master by the Master in Ordinary and by the other Masters of the Houshold then in Waiting upon which Bills of Accounts so setled and verified in the Office the Masters of the Chamber of Deniers payes those Expences to the Purveyors and Merchants to whom they are due The said Comptrollers Clerks of Offices are of the Body of the Office At Feasts and extraordinary Entertainments they wait at the Kings Table with their Swords by their sides and set the Dishes on the Table themselves Under the Masters of the Houshold and other Superiour Officers they have Command over the seven Offices of the Houshold the Officers of which are bound to obey them as far as it concerns
armed Chair and Table for the Mouth each 400 l. Six Serdeau's of which before Three Landrers of the Kitchin of the Mouth and of the common Kitchin who have each 300 l. Wages at the Treasurers of the Housholds and 414 l. 16 d. at the Denier-Chamber The Duties of the Officers of the Kitchin of the Mouth The Ushers of the Mouth receive the Orders from the Superiour Officers and give them to the other Officers They receive the Meat and give an account of what is served up They carry the King his Broth and his Breakfast every Morning The Master Cooks after them is next in place and has Charge of the Entries or first Dishes The Hastners or Rosting-Cooks tend the Rost-meat The Potagers or Boiling-Cooks the Broths the Porters are those that bring the Wood and Water they likewise bring and keep clean the ordinary Kitchin-Furniture The Groom of the Cupboard carries with him provision for one Meal while the King is travelling in the Country The Groom of the Chase in Ordinary carries with him on a Horse cold Meats for the King and serves them himself to his Majesty The Advertisers follow the King along the Countries to give notice when he is to be at any place and at what hour he intends to Dine or Sup. The Menu or particulars of what is delivered to the Groom of the Chase when he waits are four dozen of Loaves at 4 l. 8 d. a quarter of Veal of 16 l. at 4 l. and a quarter of Mutton of 12 l. at 3 l. both sliced in Bread 7 pounds of Salt Beef and a Gammon of Bacon sliced in Bread a quarter of Veal whole of 16 l. and a quarter of Mutton of 12 pound likewise whole at 3 l. a hot Turky-Pie containing two Turkies at 6 l. 15 d. a Partridge-Pie of three Partridges 6 l. 15 d. eight larded Fowls in Bread 14 l. On Fish-Dayes four dozen of Bread at 4 l. 8 d. and 300 hard Eggs at 12 l. Thus much for the Officers that are concerned about preparing the Kings own Meat and Drink we shall place next those that belong to his Family with the other Officers that are dependances on both Which are called the common Officers because they furnish and serve the whole Household Of the rest of the seven Offices called the Common-Offices or Offices of the whole Houshold And first 3. Of the Common-Pantry In the Common-Pantry which is the third of the seven there are thirteen Chief-Pantlers who had formerly 400 l. a piece years but at present but 300 l. Twelve Aids or Helpers who formerly had 300 l. but now but 225 l. Six Grooms who have each 600 l. Two Landrers who have each 200 l. Wages at the Treasurers of the Housholds and 576 l. 9 d. at the Denier-Chamber The three Servants of the Pantry of antient establishment whereof one is called the Deliverer have allowed them at the Denier-Chamber for furnishing the Tables 720 reckoning therein 60 l. of augmentation for the New Table of the Great Master and the Chamberlains Table 4. In the Common Buttry There are twenty Chief-Butlers who formerly had 400 l. and now have but 300 l. a piece yearly allowance Twelve Aids or Helpers who formerly had 300 l. but now but 225 l. yearly Wages One Master of the Cellars who has 400 l. Wages and his Diet at Court all the year Four Grooms of the Bottles serving by turns two each half year at 600 l. Wages Two Grooms of the Vessels who have now 600 l. and formerly 660 l. Wages In the Account-Book or Establishment of the Chamber of Deniers the Grooms of the Common Buttry have 125 l. allowance every quarter for what they furnished in ordinary The Servants of the Common Buttry have 64 l. 10 pence a quarter for what they ordinarily furnish and the Servant Deliverer of the Common-Buttry has over and above 72 l. 4. In the Common Kitchin otherwise called The Great-Common Kitchin There are twelve Ushers who had 400 l. but now but 300 l. Wages Eight Master-Cooks at the same Wages Twelve Hastners or Rosting-Cooks at the same allowance paid them by the Treasurers of the Houshold and 8 l. a piece besides at the Chamber of Deniers Eight Boiling-Cooks or Pottagers at the same allowance besides 12 l. a piece at the Chamber of Deniers Twelve Children of the Kitchin or Under-Cooks at the same allowance as the Boiling-Cooks Four Pastry-Cooks at 300 l. a piece Two Herbmen who have 200 l. a piece paid as Wages by the Treasurers of the Houshold and 300 l. more augmentation Money at the Chamber of Deniers because of their ordinary Groom Two Keepers of the Vessels at 600 l. Eight other Ushers of the Common-Kitchin who had formerly 300 l. but now but 225 l. Wages Three Grooms of the Cupboard serving each four Months a piece at 600 l. Four Grooms of the Spits at 600 l. Two Falotiers or Faggot-Porters that serve six Months a piece They have 75 l. for every Burden paid by the Treasurers of the Houshold and 1098 l. at the Chamber of Deniers besides 732 l. more at the Dauphins Three Landrers which are the same that serve the Kitchin of the Mouth at 300 l. One Brasier who is allowed at the Chamber of Deniers for furnishing and keeping in order the necessary Vessels of that kind belonging to the service of the Goblet the new Table of the Great Master and that of the Great Chamberlain and of the Great and Little Common-Kitchins 1720 l. yearly which is 430 l. a quarter The four Turn-Spits of the Great-Common Kitchins have at the Chamber of Deniers 30 l. a piece for a Suit of Cloaths 6. In the Common-Fruitry there are One Chief-Fruiterer in Ordinary at 1200 l. Twelve other Chief Fruiterers at 400 l. each Four Grooms at 600 l. 7. In the Fuel or Wood-Office that furnishes Wood and other Fuel in the Kings Houshold Are twenty chief Masters of the Fuel-Office who had formerly 400 l. and have now but 300 l. Wages at the Kings and 75 l. at the Dauphins Fifteen Aids or Helpers who had formerly 300 l. have now but 225 l. at the Kings and 50 l. at the Dauphins The Duty of the Fuel-Officers is to furnish all the Wood that is burnt in the Kings House as well in his Majesties own Chamber Antichamber and Closet as in his Kitchin and in all the other Offices and all the Halls not excepting the Halls of the Guards and in both the French and Suisse Guard-Chambers They likewise furnish what Coal and Straw is necessary They have the priviledge of going first in to the King for they go in and light a Fire in the Kings Chamber a little before his Majesty is waked so that by that means they have the first Entry as they call it to his Person They are likewise to take care the whole day of all the Fires made in the Kings Apartment and stay till he goes to Bed When the King is travelling they
serve quarterly and in their Certificates of Service are called Valets de Chambre Their Salary yearly is 300 l. and 37 l. 10 d. Gratuity Their Office is every day to help the Valets de Chambre to make the Kings Bed They are obliged to take charge of the Kings Houshold-Stuff in the time of their Waiting when his Majesty is abroad in the Country or in the Field and to put up or take down his Furniture When the Court is on the march into the Country or the Field there always goes to a first and second Chamber that is Furniture of all forts for two Chambers because one would not be enough The first of these Chambers or the first Suit of Furniture is sent away always the Night before the King begins his Journey that so the King when he comes next day to the place where he is to lie at may find his Chamber ready furnished and the next day the Furniture for the second Chamber keeps on its march outright to the second Stage of the Journey and so along to the end of the Journey and back again and of the two Upholsters that are then in Waiting one conducts the first Chamber and the other the second He that waits at the Dauphins is allowed forty pence or ten Groats a day for his Diet. There are likewise four Clocks or Watchmakers that in their Patents are stiled Valets de Chambre and eat at their Table their Salary is 200 l. a piece Of the Yeomen of the Chamber There are six Yeomen in Ordinary of the Chamber they have under the notion of Wages together with other allowances 658 l. yearly They wait always in the Chamber to be ready to receive the Orders of their Superiours or in their absence from the King himself They take care of the Wax-Lights in the Kings Chamber and in his other Apartments and what is left of them is their Fees every where but at Versailles They open the Bed-Chamber Door every Morning before the Ushers come They have their share in all Gratuities given by Governours and Lieutenants of Provinces c. when they take the Oath of Fidelity to the King in his Bed-Chamber as is aforesaid They have a Table a part and in the year 1675 his Majesty by fresh Patents was pleased to confirm all former Grants made to them they as other Officers of the Bed-Chamber are Sworn by the Chief-Gentlemen of the said Chamber When the King or any other persons of Quality play at any Game in the Kings Bed-Chamber or any where else in his Apartments they have the profits of the Box unless it be at Versailles They are to make ready several necessary things in the Chamber as Tables Carpets and Seats for the Councils that are held in the Kings Chamber and for the Council of Finances or of the Treasury which is likewise held in his Majesties Chamber and they furnish Pen Ink Paper and Sand for which they are allowed 200 Crowns they lie always near the Kings Chamber and just by his Chests or Trunks they go and carry word to the Officers of the Kitchin when his Majesty has a mind to have any Broth or to Breakfast and to the Officers of the Wardrobe to bring the Kings Cloaths and every Night they light the Lamp that is placed in a Corner of the Chamber and burns all Night There likewise belong to the Bed-Chamber two Chair-men for business who have 600 l. Salary out of the Privy-Purse and 200 l. Gratuity at the Treasure Royal. The Table-Carrier likewise carries a Chair of State out of thé Bed-Chamber for the King when he goes to High-Mass Tenebras or elsewhere There is one Rubber in Ordinary of the Kings Chamber and Closets who enjoys his place by Commission Who has 540 l. yearly paid him by the Chief Valets de Chambre The Porters of the Bed-Chamber Are nine who carry and remove on all occasions the Kings Beds and other Furniture of his Chamber and Wardrobe They serve quarterly three the first quarter beginning at New-Years-Tide and two every of the other quarters Their yearly allowance counting all things amounts to 340 l. a year They have some Servants under them Besides there is a Captain of the Mules of the Chamber who has several Servants under him that Conduct and Load and Unload the Chests of the Kings Chamber and Wardrobe Other Officers assuming also the Title of Valets de Chambre Are the Painters Shoomakers Joyners Glasiers Lock-smiths Carvers and other like Tradesmen and Artists as likewise others belonging to the Wardrobe c. Of the Wardrobe or the manner of the Kings Dressing and Undressing There is at present but one Great Master of the Wardrobe He has likewise the Honour to have place in his Majesties Coach He has by way of Salary together with other allowances 19600 l. yearly He has the Charge of the Kings Cloths Linnen and Shoes and Stockings and what he leaves off he has for his Fees In the absence of the Princes the Great Chamberlain and the Chief Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber he gives the King his Shirt and in the Morning when his Majesty Dresses himself he puts on his Wast-Coat his Blue-Ribban and his strait Coat and presents him his Sword and at Night when he is going to Bed he presents him his Night Wastcoat Cap and Handkercher and asks him what Cloths he pleases to wear the next day You are to take notice That the Kings Handkercher is always presented him upon a Vermilion guilt Salver which is a kind of Plate-Stand Upon great Festival and Solemn Days he fastens on his Cloak the Collers of his Orders after he is Drest He has an Apartment in the Kings Lodgings What place he has at Audiences and other Solemnities I have already told under the Articles of the Great Chamberlain and chief Gentlemen Next are two Masters in Ordinary of the Wardrobe that serve by turns each of them his year Of their Salary and other allowances I find no account They take the Oath of Fidelity to the King in Person And in the absence of the Great Master of the Wardrobe and his Superiours they give the King his Shirt and do other things that he should do They are likewise present at Audiences of Ambassadours and mount upon the highest part of the Cloth of State He of them that is in waiting has an Apartment in the Kings Lodgings In the Morning when the King rises he presents him his Cravat his Gloves his Cane and his Hat The King himself empties the Pockets of the Suit he leaves off into those of the Suit he intends to put on but the Master of the Wardrobe is to hold those Pockets to him while he empties them At Night when the King goes out of his Closet the Master of the Wardrobe waits for him at the Door and takes his Gloves his Cane his Hat his Belt and Sword When his Majesty goes to Bed he first kneels down at his Praying-Desk which is by
that under the said Count of the Stable or Constable took care of the Horses For some time there were several of these Squires or Master of the Horse of equal Command in the Kings Stables as in the time of Philip the Long when there was no Great Master but only four Masters of the Horse entred in the Book of the Establishment for though the same King in 1319. made one Henry de Braybant Great and Chief Marshal of his Stables yet he had not the Title of Great Master neither do we find any mention of the said Title till the reign of Charles the Seventh who made Pothon de Saintrailles and Tanneguy du Chatel Great Squires or Masters of the Horse of France The Great Master of the Horse or Grand Squire or Querry of France for so his Title imports in French carries as a Mark of his Office the Royal Sword in the Scabbard with the Belt both which are covered with Purple-Velvet set with Flower deluces of Massy Gold and the Handle of it is of Massy Gold with Flower-deluces of the same the Buckles of the Belt are likewise of Gold And he bears the Figure of the said Sword on each side of his Coat of Arms. He takes the Oath of Fidelity to the King Himself and he receives it from almost all the rest of the Officers of the Stables He has by his place the power of Deposing of almost all the vacant Offices in the great and little Stable of the Haras or Nursery of Horses and their Dependencies As of the Places of Gentlemen of the Horse or Querries of his Majesties Great Stable of Bearers of the Swords of State of Heralds and Pursuivants at Arms of Cloak-Carriers and Carriers of Gabans or Felt-Coats or Cloaks of Governour Under-Governour and Tutor of the Pages of the Stables of the Almoners Chief Valets Harbingers Coach-men Farriers Great Foot-men Grooms and other places of Officers that actually serve in the great and little Stables and in the Haras or Nursery of Horses of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Riders of both Stables of the Hoboys Violins Bag-Pipers Trumpeters Drummers and Flutes and of all Tradesmen and Workmen that make or furnish any thing to either of the Kings Stables And though the Great Master happen to be imployed elsewhere out of Court or out of France it self nay though he should happen to fall under the Kings Displeasure and be made a Prisoner of State yet till the very Day of his Death he has ever been known to retain the power of Disposing of the said places the Respect of the Kings of France to the dignity of this Office being so great that they have not yet taken it from any in possession of it till they took their Lives as was well seen in the time of the late King Lewis the Thirteenth during the Disgrace of Monsieur de Belle-garde and the Imprisonment of Monsieur de Cinq-mars The Great Master of the Horse has the management of all Monies allowed for the Expences of the Kings Stables and Nursery of Horses as likewise for the maintenance of the Gentlemen-Querries Pages and Officers serving and retained in the Stables and of the Great-Horses Race-Horses and Horses belonging to the Kings Coaches and Waggons and for the Wages Fees Gratuities and Payments of all the Officers of the Stables and of the Merchants or Tradesmen for necessaries they have furnished for any use thereunto belonging as also for Liveries and other Cloths order'd for any of the said Officers and for the Hoquetons or Coats Strait-Coats and Cloaks of the Kings Life-guard-men for the Coats of his Guard of 100 Suissers for the Strait-Coats of Guards of the Gate for the Coats called Hoquetons of the Guards of the Provost of the Houshold and for the Campagn-Coats of the Musketeers and lastly for the Expences of Coaches Waggons and Coverings of the Mules of the Kings Chamber and of the other Offices of his Houshold All the Officers above-named are sworn by him and cannot enjoy any Priviledges and Exemptions annexed to their places till they be Entred upon the Establishments that are fixed and signed by him No Querry or Professor of Horsemanship can set up an Academy to instruct young Gentlemen in Warlike Exercises or any other things proper for noble persons to learn without the Order and Permission of the Great Querry or Master of the Horse of France first obtained The Office of Post-Master General was annexed to that of Great Master of the Horse but was dismembred from it by Henry the Great and still remains so being at present enjoyed by the Great Secretary of State Monsieur Louvois who has as Post-Master General 1200 l. a year Board-Wages paid at the Chamber of Deniers The late King had once promised Monsieur Cinq-mars then Great Master of the Horse to re-annex the Post-Masters Office to that of the Great Master of the Horse but the said Monsieur Cinq-mars being afterwards Imprisoned and Executed for High-Treason that intention came to nothing The Great Master of the Horse has the Honour to have place in his Majesties Coach next the Princes of the Blood and when he is abroad on Horseback he rides next his Person He makes use of the Pages Footmen and Horses of the Kings Stables at his pleasure When the King is on the march for any Warlike Expedition or in the Body of an Army the Great Stable is lodged nearest him before the little Stable but in any Journey wherein he marches not upon any Warlike design nor in a Body of an Army the little Stable is placed nearest his Majesties Lodgings When the King makes his first Entry on Horse-back into any City within his Kingdome or into any Conquered Town where he is to be received with great Ceremony the Great Master of the Horse rides directly before the Kings Person carrying his Majesties Royal Sword in a Sheath of Purple-Velvet set with Flower-deluces of Massy Gold hung in a Belt of the same Stuff and Colour and on a Horse Caparison'd with the same And the Canopy born over his Majesties Head on that occasion is his Fee He rode in this manner at the Solemnity made for the Majority and at the Entry of their Majesties into Paris and it is to be noted likewise that at the Ceremony of the Majority he took his Seat in the Palais or Parliament-House on the right hand of the Great Chamberlain who always sits at the Feet of the Kings Bed of Justice He also bears the said Sword at Funeral Solemnities At the publick Entries of Kings and other great Solemnities He Orders the Trumpeters Hoboys Violins Flutes Tabourins Sackbuts Cornets and Drums to sound and Play for the greater State and Solemnity of the Feast At the Kings Death all the Horses of the Stables and Nursery and all the Harness and Furniture belonging to them fall to the Great Master of the Horse Every time the King Orders any Money for making any new Coaches for himself he
Houses Royal as also of those which are to be made upon the Portals and of Triumphal Arches and other Works for the solemn Entries of their Majesties into any Towns or upon any other account whatsoever He has a Salary of 1800 l. paid Quarterly at the Treasure Royal. CHAP. XIX Of the Great Marshal of the Lodgings or Knight-Harbinger and of the other Marshals of the Lodgings and Harbingers THE Great Marshal of the Lodgings is Monsieur Lewis Doger de Cavoye he has 3000 l. Salary 4000 l. Board-Wages at the Chamber of Deniers 600 l. a Month extraordinary allowance and several other perquisites His Office is to receive the Kings Orders concerning his Lodging and those of his Court and to communicate them to the other Marshals of the Lodgings and Harbingers There are twelve Marshals of the Lodgings or chief Harbingers who have every one a Salary of 800 l. a yearly gratuity of 400 l. and 900 l. extraordinary and when the Court is on the march a hundred pence a day for their Diet which is paid them from the day they have Orders to set out They serve quarterly three every quarter and in the time of their Waiting have their Diet at three different Tables the first at the old Table of the Great Master the second at the Table of the Masters of the Houshold and the third at the Almoners Table They have besides in the Armies every one their rations or allowances of Ammunition-Bread They are sworn by the Great Marshal of the Lodgings or Knight-Harbinger and bear in the Kings House Canes after the fashion of a Majors Staff or else a Staff garnished with Silver at top and bottom with the Arms of his Majesty on the Pommel and this Inscription N ..... Marshal of the Kings Lodgings The Staff of the Great Marshal of the Lodgings is garnished with Silver both on the handle and the top having on the Pommel or Handle the Arms of France and the rest of the Handle set with Flower-deluces wrought in Diamonds Three Marshals of the Lodgings or chief Harbingers and four other Harbingers when they come out of Waiting with the King enter into Waiting with the Dauphin and have there the same allowance they had with the King There were formerly four Harbingers of the Body but they were suppressed in 1680. in whose room the King established eight Harbingers in Ordinary quarterly Waiters who wait two every quarter so that whereas there were before but forty there are now forty eight Harbingers quarterly Waiters serving by twelve a quarter which have every of them a Salary of 240 l. 120 l. gratuity 450 l. extraordinary and when the Court is on the march a Crown a day for their Diet from the day they set out and in the Armies their rations of Ammunition-Bread The places of all these are in the Kings Gift and they are all sworn by the Great Marshal or Knight-Harbinger of the Lodgings At the beginning of every quarter the three Marshals of the Kings Lodgings in Waiting agree together to separate the twelve Harbingers for that quarter into three Bands allotting four to each Band. 1. One of these Harbingers who is ordinarily the eldest or Foreman makes according to the stile of this Court the Body or the Gross that is to say 't is he that in the presence of the Marshal of the Lodgings or chief Harbinger marks out with Chalk First The Kings or the Kings and Queens joint Apartments Secondly The Offices Thirdly The eating Halls or Dining-rooms and Fourthly The Apartments of those that are preferred in the Kings Lodgings First By the Kings Apartments are meant the Kings Bed-Camber Anti-Chamber Closet Wardrobe Guard-Chamber and other necessary Apartments for the Kings or Queens persons Secondly By the Offices are meant the seven Offices as the Goblet the Kitchin c. afore-described Thirdly By the Eating-Halls or Dining-rooms are meant the Hall of the new Table of the Great Master otherwise called the Hall of Monsieur the Duke and that of the Great Chamberlains Table which two Tables ought to be within the Kings Lodgings when there is room enough or else as near as may be Next the Hall of the Great Masters old Table and that of Masters of the Housholds which are sometimes called the first and second Tables of the said Masters The Serdeau's Hall or the Kings voiding Hall the Almoners Hall the Quarterly Waiters Valets de Chambers or Bed-Chamber-mens Hall There was likewise the Chief Valets de Chambres or Bed-Chamber-mens Hall but it was taken away on the first of January 1681. Fourthly Under the name of the Preferred in the Kings Lodgings are comprehended the Great or High Chamberlain the Chief-Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber the Great Master of the Wardrobe the Captain of the Guards and the Master of the Wardrobe In case the Lodging be so scanty that after the King is Lodged there remain but one single Apartment the Captain of the Guards ought to have the preference of it before all others and if there remain two then the Chief-Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber is to have the First and the Captain of the Guards the second but if there be three then the Great Chamberlain is to have the preference before the two others When the Queen marches with the King the Marshals or chief Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings after they have given Order for marking out Apartments for the Queen are to cause other Apartments to be Chalked out in their Majesties Lodgings for her Ladies in this Order viz. First For the Super-intendant or Stewardess of the Queens Houshold Secondly For the Lady of Honour Thirdly For the Tire-Woman or Dressing-Lady Fourthly For the Ladies of the Palace Fifthly For the Chief-Gentlewoman of the Bed-Chamber And sixthly For the other Gentlewomen of the Bed-Chamber And if after the Queen be lodged there remain but one Apartment more then the Chief-Gentlewoman of the Bed-Chamber ought to have it before any of the other Ladies and Female-Officers The Harbinger which makes the Body when there is room enough marks out to in the same House Apartments for the Chief-Physician Chyrurgion and Apothecary of the Body The Harbingers of the Queens Body or of the Dauphins or Monsieurs cannot Chalk out any thing that belongs to that they call the service of the Body But it belongs to the Kings Harbinger that makes or heads the Body to do it so that they cannot mark any places for the seven Offices but those that are appointed them by the Kings Harbinger that makes the Body that is as is above explained that is the Eldest or Foreman of the Band or Company 2. Another Harbinger is to take care to chalk out all the Ranks and Preferred without the Kings Lodgings By the Ranks are meant First The Lodgings for the Princes Secondly For the Great Officers Thirdly For the Dukes and Peers Fourthly For the Marshals of France the Secretaries Ministers of State and other Persons of Quality And by the preferred without the Kings
Audiences and two other Deputies to take informations under the Lieutenants of the Short-Robe in the Field and out of the Kings Quarter and then they are obliged within twenty four hours to put up their informations into the Registry or Recorders Office and to cause their Prisoners to be brought up to be Examined by the Lieutenants of the Long-Robe and in their absence by the Lieutenants and Exempts of the short one who only have power to take cognisance of and judge criminal Causes among the Kings Retainers and in his Quarter All the Officers above-mentioned are Commoners or Tablers in the Kings Houshold and on the four chief Festivals of the year are allowed Bread Wine and Meat Candles on Candlemas and Corpus Christi days and Prayer-Books and Cloth in the Holy Week There are also twelve Proctors called Postulants One Chief Usher and twelve other Ushers that wear the Kings Livery and carry in their hands a blue Wand with Flower-deluces at the end They are Exempt from Taxes Subsidies and Loans and enjoy all the other Priviledges of the Commoners of the Kings Houshold There are likewise two Notaries and Keepers of the Royal Notes that follow the Court And One Usher Trumpeter at 272 l. 10 d. Salary And One Executioner of Criminal Sentences Besides these there are other Officers as they call them of the Short-Robe that are a kind of Medium between Civil and Military Officers which we shall add here viz. One Lieutenant-General Four Lieutenants officiating each two quarters in a year who have a Salary of 400 l. and a gratuity of 600 l. Four other Lieutenants quarterly Waiters The Lieutenant of the quarter beginning in January has the liberty if he will to serve and bear the Staff in the quarter beginning in July he of July quarter in January he of April in October and he of October in April In the absence of the Great Provost they receive Orders immediately from the King When the Lieutenant of the Sword or of the Short-Robe of the Provosts Court has a mind to go up to the Seat of the Audiences at Paris he sits on the right hand of the Lieutenant-General that is of the Long-Robe and that presides there and the Kings Proctor as a Counsellour by his place sits on his left This has been practised several times and lately on Saturday the 30th of August 1681. When the Sieur Barbier Lieutenant-General of the Long-Robe had at his right hand the Sieur Tournier Lieutenant of the Short-Robe and the Sieur Le Roy de Gomberville Proctor for the King on his left and in the absence of the Lieutenant-General of the Long-Robe the Lieutenant of the Sword presides and has the Kings Proctor on his left hand There is likewise another Lieutenant of the Provostship that ordinarily waits on the Chancellour where he has his Diet and 5500 l. Salary and gratuity They are likewise Commoners of the Houshold and enjoy the same Priviledges with other Officers of the same As for the Exempts and Guards belonging to the Provostship we shall speak of them among the Military Officers of the Kings Houshold There are belonging to the Provostship besides these one Chaplain called the Chaplain of St. Barbara One Marshal or Harbinger of the Lodgings Three Treasurers of the Provost-ship that pay all the Officers of it both Civil and Military they serve by turns each one his year CHAP. XXI Of the Great Master the Master and Aid or Assistant of the Ceremonies THE Great Master of the Ceremonies of France is Jule Armand Colbert Marquiss of Blainville he was sworn the 30th of January 1685. His Salary is 3000 l. He is sworn by the Great Master of the Houshold under him there is One Master of the Ceremonies who has 2000 l. Salary and is likewise sworn by the Great Master of the Houshold and One Aid or Assistant of the Ceremonies at 600 l. Salary The Great Master Master and Assistant or Aid of the Ceremonies exercise their Offices jointly at Royal Solemnities bearing in their hands a Staff of Ceremony covered with black Velvet with the handle and top tipt with Ivory The Assistant of Ceremonies is also sworn by the Great Master of the Houshold They are to be present at Coronations of Kings and at the opening of Assemblies of the Estates at Christnings and Marriages of Kings and Princes at the first and last Audiences of Ambassadours both Ordinary and Extraordinary at the conducting of Queens or Princesses and at their Obsequies and Funeral Pomps where they order all and take care to give every one their Rank and Precedence due to their quality They are clad in different habits almost at every one of those different Ceremonies When the Great Master the Master or the Aid of the Ceremonies go to carry any Order or Message to any of the Soveraign Courts after they have saluted them they take their place among the Counsellours but with this difference that if it be the Great Master of the Ceremonies himself he takes place above the last Counsellour but if it be the Master in Ordinary or his Aid he takes his Seat after them all and then upon a sign made to him by the chief President he speaks to them from his Seat with his Head covered his Sword by his side and his Staff of Ceremonies in his hand At the first and last Audiences of Ambassadours the Great Master the Master or Aid of the Ceremonies marches on the right hand of the Ambassadour a little before him from the bottom of the Stairs to the Guard-Chamber where being come he advances before him to give notice to his Majesty There is likewise an Exempt of the Kings Guards appointed to wait at Ceremonies who in the Book of the Establishment is called Major of the first Company of the Guards Commanded at present by the Duke of Noailles CHAP. XXII Of the Introductour of Ambassadours THere were formerly two of these Introductours or Conductours but by the present King they were reduced to one who is stiled the sole Introductour of Foreign Princes and Ambassadours to his Majesty who at present is Monsieur Michael de Chabenat Knight and Count de Bonneville c. His Salary is 1200 l. But he has another under him at a like Salary The Introductour of Ambassadours both for Audiences and all other things relating to his Office receives Orders only from the King He conducts receives and introduces into the Chamber of their Majesties or of the Children of France and Princes and Princesses of the Blood any other Kings Soveraign Princes and Princesses or Cardinals Ambassadours Ordinary and Extraordinary Gentlemen Envoys Residents Agents Heads of the Orders Foreign Deputies bearing any Character or making any publick Figure and generally all Foreign Persons of Quality when they come to the Kings Palace for Audience He likewise Conducts the Wives of any such persons abovesaid to the like Audience of the Queen CHAP. XXIII Of the Secretary of the Houshold and the Treasurers
that pay the Officers of it THE Secretary of the Houshold who is at present the Marquiss of Seignelay the late Great Colberts Eldest Son who has as Secretary of the Kings Houshold 3000 l. Salary and 1200 l. as Secretary of the Chamber besides 6000 l. Board-Wages and 1200 l. for his first Commis or Clerk In all the Books of Establishment the Treasurers are placed after all the rest of the Houshold in this Order 1. There are three Treasurers of the Epargne or Spare Treasure that is to say the Treasure of the Kings clear Money all charges of the state born that are intituled Keepers of the Treasure Royal they wait by turns and pay all the Treasurers of the Kings Houshold 2. Three Treasurers of the Kings Offrings Alms and Devotions These Treasurers have no Comptroller 3. General Treasurers of the Houshold that serve by turns every one his year they are allowed each 1800 l. Board-Wages at the Chamber of Deniers 'T is upon the Certificates of these Treasurers that credit is given in all the Provinces throughout the Kingdom for maintaining the Kings Officers in their Priviledges as Exemption from Taxes Committimus c. They take the Oath of Fidelity in the Chamber of Accounts To these belong two Comptrollers Three Treasurers of the Cash or Pay-Office of the Chamber serving by turns Three Treasurers of the Kings Pocket or private Expences and of the affairs of his Chamber They pay the Expences of the Kings Cloaths and Furniture and the Fees allowed several Officers for their Cloathing We have already spoken of the Masters of the Chamber of Deniers and the Comptrollers-General of the Cash or Pay-Office of the Chamber and of the private Expences in treating of the Chamber Two Treasurers of the Stables that pay all the Expences and Officers of the Stables and one Comptroller of the same Four Treasurers of every Company of Life-Guards which make twelve in all besides the Quadriennial ones Three Treasurers of the hundred Suissers Three Treasurers of the Provostship of the Houshold three Treasurers of the Gend'armes or Men at Arms. The Treasurers of the other Companies as of the light Horse the Musketeers the Gentlemen au bec de Corbin or Gentlemen Pensioners Three Treasurers of the French-Guards and their Comptrollers Three Treasurers of the Suisse-Guards The Treasurers of the casual Revenues Two General Treasurers of the Ordinary of the Wars that pay all the old Regiments The Treasurers of the Extraordinary of the Wars that pay all the new Regiments Three Treasurers of the Game and of Hunting Three Treasurers of the Buildings One General Treasurer of the Vessels or Navy One Treasurer of the Gallies A Treasurer of the Bridges and Causeys and many others All these Treasurers receive their money every Month at the Treasure Royal except those of the Life-Guards who receive theirs once a Week for as for their other appointments they are not paid till the Years end Note That the Salaries and appointments of the Kings Officers cannot be stopt in the hands of the Treasurers according as it has been determined by several Orders and among others by an Order of the Privy-Council of the 5th of June 1657. CHAP. XXIV Of the Kings Pleasures and the Officers thereunto belonging FOrmerly instead of the Great Huntsman the Great Falconer and the Great Wolf-Hunter there were only entred upon the Books of Establishment of the Houshold Hunters Falconers Partridge-Catchers Fowlers Wolf-Hunters and other Officers necessary for the Game And there used to be two great Hunting-Seasons observed in the Year viz. at the risings of the Parlement or Assises which were held but twice a year I. Article Of the Great Hunter or Huntsman This Officer has a Salary of 1200 l. 10000 l. appointment and for his Dogs 6387 l. 10 d. which is in all 17587 l. 10 d. a year besides other Gifts from the King Almost all the Offices and places here under-named are in his disposal when vacant He is sworn by the King himself and gives Grants to the other Officers of the Venery or Hunting-Office He was formerly called The Great Forester He has the super-intendance over all the Officers of the Kings Hunting-Office The first Great Hunter was William de Gamaches under Charles the Sixth or long before as some will have it one Hugues Sire or Lord of Lesigems Under him are these Officers viz. One Lieutenant in Ordinary of the Hunting-Office whose Salary is 1000 l. Four Lieutenants Quarterly-Waiters put in by the King whose Salary is 1000 l. Four other Lieutenants ordinarily Waiting at the said Office Four Deputy-Lieutenants Quarterly-Waiters at 500 l. Salary One other Deputy-Lieutenant Forty seven Gentlemen Hunters and four other Gentlemen Hunters in Ordinary One Servant of the Dogs in Ordinary on Horse-back Salary 400 l. Four Servants of the Dogs in Ordinary on Horse-back Quarterly-Waiters Salary 200 l. Eighteen Servants of the Bloodhounds at 150 l. Salary Fifteen Servants of the Dogs Quarterly-Waiters at 100 l. and two other Servants of the Dogs at 60 l. Four Harbingers at 150 l. Four little Servants or Boys in Ordinary to look after the Dogs that lie under the same roof with them at 80 l. apiece Two Pages at 600 l. Two Farriers at 75 l. One Chyrurgion at 150 l. One Gelder of Dogs and Curer of Madness at 75 l. One Porter or Carrier of the Hunting Bed Three General Treasurers before-mentioned whose Salary with all other profits amounts yearly to 9300 l. each They take the Title of Counsellours to the King Three Comptrollers of the Hunting-Office of Hunting-Nets and of the Falconry who have each 2065 l. 13 d. 4 deniers Salary 1. The first and chief Hunting of France is that of the Red Deer 2. That of the Wild-Goat and Fallow-Deer 3. That of the Hare and Fox 4. That of the Wolf 5. That of the Wild-Boar There is a Pack of Hounds for the Wild-Goat to which belong two Lieutenants who have 800 l. apiece yearly allowance One Baker who has 60 l. Salary and 4925 l. for feeding and maintaining the Dogs Three Prickers or Markers who have 683 l. 6d and 8 Deniers or a half-penny Three Foot-Servants of the Dogs at 275 l. each and several other Servants of the Dogs at 300 l. apiece One Page at 600 l. There is a Company of Horse-Guards of the Kings Pleasures within the extent of the Plains Woods and Thickets near or within ten Leagues of the City of Paris under the Command of the Great Hunter under whom there is Lieutenant at 600 l. and a Deputy Lieutenant at 300 l. yearly Salary And six Archers or Horse-Guards at 150 l. a Man There is likewise a Pack of Scotch-Hounds for the Hare to which belong A Lieutenant who has 1000 l. Salary and 150 l. for a Page A Baker at 60 l. a Pricker or Marker of the Dogs who has 647 l. 10 d. Salary and 70 l. for Cloaths A foot Servant of the Dogs at 216 l. and a Page as abovesaid
one sole Master Palmer or Tennis-Court Master and Racket-Bearer to the King in his Royal Houses who presents the Racket to the King but when the Dauphin is there he gives it to the Dauphin who presents it to the King He has a Fee of 50 l. paid by him by the Chief Valet or Yeoman of the Chamber every time the King or the Dauphin playes and a Lewis of gold being about the value of 17 s. 4 d. English every time the King or the Dauphin changes Rackets There are likewise five Markers of the Court or Racketeer-Palmers to the King following the Court. They have a golden Lewis profit every time the King or the Dauphin plays paid by the Chief Valet or Yeoman of the Bed-Chamber Besides they are paid out of the Privy-Purse four Pistols on New-Years-Day as much on May-Day and as much on St. Lewis's Day each Pistol consisting of but 7 l. French or 11 s. 8 d. English Note That the same Palmers and Markers wait too when the King or the Dauphin play at Shittle-Cock with Rackets CHAP. XXV Of the Priviledged Tradesmen and Handicraftsmen following the Court and furnishing it with all kind of Merchandises FIrst There are twenty Wine-Merchants selling Wine both by Whole-Sale and Retail Fourteen Vintners or Sutlers Four Glassmen Twenty Butchers Twenty six Poultrers Rosting-Cooks and Fishmongers Eight Pastry-Cooks Twelve Sellers of Hog-meat Ten Bakers Two Sellers of Ginger-Bread and Starch Ten Verdurier-Fruitrers or Sellers of Herbs and Fruits Four Confectioners Fourteen Cooks for Extraordinary Entertainments and to work in the Houses of the chief Courtiers Eight Violins Four Chyrurgions Six Apothecaries Twenty six Taylors Twenty six Mercers Jewellers and Grocers Eight Linnen-Drapers Nine Glovers and Perfumers Fourteen Shoemakers Nine Coblers otherwise more decently by them named Solers of Shoes Eight Skinners or Furriers Six Curriers and Belt-makers Six Embroiderers Eight Lace-Sellers Four Haberdashers of small Wares or Jacks of all Trades Two Feather-men Six Sellers of second-hand Stockings Four Brokers Two Farthingale-makers Two Sellers of Parchment Five Hatters Six Girdlers Eight Sword-Curlers Three Spurriers Ten Sadlers Four Cutters and Scratchers Two Joiners Two Clock and Watchmakers Two Goldsmiths Two Booksellers Twelve Furnishers of Hay Straw and Oats Four Armorers Six Arquebusiers or Gun-smiths Two Painters and two Guilders and Engravers All these Tradesmen have their Grants from the Provost of the Houshold who is Great Provost of France who is Judge Guardian and Conservatour of their Priviledges and in their Grants they are declared free acquitted and exempt from all Duties exacted at Bridges Ports Passages Importation Exportation and all Gabels and other Duties or Impositions whatsoever The first priviledged Merchants that follow the Court are the twelve Wine-Merchants called the Celler of twelve besides their Deputy or Deputies which they keep at the Celler called the Celler of twelve These Wine-Merchants commonly attend very diligently at Paris and at the Royal Houses nigh Paris but in Journies and at Fountainbleau it self which passes with them for a Journey two of these Master Wine-Merchants serve either two whole Months together or else the space of two Months at several times as for Example if the two in Waiting had served but one Month at Fountainbleau the same two are obliged to serve out another Month the first Journey that is taken These places are sold for about 25000 l. apiece and the Officers possessing them have so confirmed them to themselves by agreement with the Great Provost that when they die he disposes not of their places but gives leave to the next Heir either to succeed in them or to sell them but for this Priviledge every one of the twelve pay him an annual Tribute of 400 l. which is a kind of a Paulette or Continuation-Fee They have the sole Priviledge of selling Wine in Bottles to those that follow the Court. The twenty five Vintners or Sutlers that follow the Court are lodged always at the Sign of the White-Cross and are bound to dress Victuals for people as well as to sell Wine whereas the Wine-Merchants of the Cellar of twelve sell only Wine Their Places are sold at about 12000 l. There is a Chaplain of all the Merchants following the Court commonly called the Chaplain of St. Barbara which says Mass for them every Sunday at present at the Convent of the Penitent Women or of the Order of St. Mary Magdalen at Paris where every of them in his turn presents the Holy-Bread Note That none of these Priviledged Merchants and Artisans nor those neither of the Kings Wardrobe and other Royal Houses can enjoy their Priviledges any otherwise but from the day their Grants or Commissions were registred in the Register-Book of the Provost-ship of the Houshold as it has been determined by an Order of both the Privy and Great Council There are likewise several other Tradesmen set down in the Book of Establishment as the Printer for Musick and others Before we end this Chapter of the Priviledged Merchants it is not amiss to add this remark that besides these there are others called Veterans or old Standers who after a long times service though they quit their places still enjoy the same Priviledges as when they were actually in Office as some do that were formerly the Kings Barbers who still enjoy their Priviledges and by vertue of the same keep open Shop But they commonly when they go off get Letters from the King whereby they are declared Veterans CHAP. XXVI Of the Priviledges of the Commoners or those that are tabled in the Kings Household THE Domestick Officers and Commoners of the Kings Houshold and other Royal Housholds have from all Antiquity enjoyed several Priviledges and Immunities but because it would be too tedious to recite all the Decrees and Declarations made and repeated several times in confirmation of their Priviledges we shall only quote some of the latest date which will be as significant as if they were all inserted at length Priviledges common to all the Kings menial Officers and Servants in general First As to their exemption from Taxes though that priviledge has been sometimes suspended in time of War but it was re-established again by a Declaration of the 26th of November 1643. which was verified in the Court of Aids the 10th of December the same year which exempts the said Officers from paying Taxes Taillons or lesser Taxes Subsistance-money in lieu of Billeting Souldiers and all extraordinary Impositions for any thing of their own growth But he that would enjoy this exemption must get an Extract of his being entred on the Establishment which is at the Court of Aids Signed by the Register or Recorder of that Court in the usual manner and he must be registred as such in the Office of his Election and published in his Parish Church The Declaration runs thus Having considered that it would be in some sort to debase the Lustre of the Royal Family and of our Blood to retrench the Priviledges of the Officers
thereunto belonging and deprive them of that mark of honour to the tenderness of their affection and the fidelity of their services for these causes notwithstanding the Edict of November 1640. We Declare that all our Domestick Servants and Commoners the four Companies of our Life-Guards the Archers or Guards of the Provostship of our Houshold the hundred Suissers of our Guard the Officers of our Stables Hunting Falconry and Wolf-Hunting those of the Queen Regent our most honoured Lady and Mother of the late Queen Mary our most honoured Lady and Grandmother of our Dearest Brother the Duke of Anjou of our Dearest Vncle the Duke of Orleans and of our Dearest Aunt the Dutchess of Orleans his Wife at present living and of his former Wife deceased of our Dearest Cousin her Daughter and of our Dearest Cousin the Prince of Condé of our Companies of Gensdarmes or Men at Arms and light Horsemen consisting of two hundred Men apiece the Company of our Guard of Musketeers on Horseback and that of the Guards of our said Lady and Mother named and comprised in the Establishments to be by us Signed and agreed to and Counter-signed by our Secretary of State and of our Commandments who has the department of our Houshold shall enjoy the Priviledges and Exemptions granted and given to them in all times and from all Antiquity because of their Services and the same we grant to their Widows as long as they shall continue so Provided nevertheless that if any of the aforesaid Officers shall make any Traffick with Merchandises and keep Inns or manure any more than one Farm of their own and that with their own hands or hold any Farms of others whether in their own Names or in those of their Domesticks or Servants they shall be liable to be taxed towards our Taxes in every of the Parishes where the Lands or Heritages by them so manured shall lie In another Declaration given at Poitiers in the Month of January 1652. His Majesty says We confirm by these Presents all the Priviledges Franchises Liberties Immunities Exemptions and Affranchisements granted to the Officers of the Royal Housholds entred upon the Establishments of the Court of Aids and to their Widows during their Widow-hood Willing that they be henceforward held quit and exempt from all manner of contributions whether it be Loans general or particular made or to be made as well by us as by any of the Cities of our Kingdom likewise for furnishing Provisions or Ammunition for the War for Fortifications Reparations Charges and Conducts Taxes Aids and Impositions c. and of all other Subsidies Dues charges and subventions in general whatever they be made or to be made in any sort and on any occasion whatsoever though it be not here particularly specified and declared They are exempt from the Duty called the Duty of Aids for the Wines of the product of their own grounds by a Decree of the Council of State of the 16th of December 1654. By a Decree of the Council of State of the 20th of January 1644. The King declares his intentions to be that no Officers shall enjoy Priviledges and Exemptions from Taxes but those that actually serve and that receive at least 60 l. for their Wages and Appointments and not a great number of honorary and titular Officers that have obtained Briefs of some Offices but serve not and have no Wages nor the Keepers of the Plains and of the Game which his Majesty pretends shall be taxed with the common Taxes excepting the Keepers of the Game of St. Germains Fountainbleau Blois Limours Montâ—â—â—hery and Boisgency There are a great many other Decrees and Orders that say almost the same thing the Decree of the Counsel of State of the 14th of March 1654. maintaining the Kings Officers those of the Queen Mother the Duke of Anjou and of the Duke and Dutchess of Orleans exempt from the greater and lesser Taxes Subsistance money c. and other publick charges There are other Decrees of the Great Council in Conformity to the Edicts and Declarations of the King of the 22th of February 1673. and the first of March 1675. importing an Exemption from Lodging or Billeting of Souldiers for the Officers of the Royal Housholds their Persons their Houses Farms Tenements Farmers Domesticks and Servants There are likewise several Decrees and Declarations in favour of the Queens Houshold in particular and of that of Monsieur and of some of their Officers as also for those of the late Duke of Orleans The Kings Declaration of the last of January 1647. which was Registred in the Court of Aids the 19th of March the same year imports a re-establishment of the Priviledges and Exemptions of the Widows and Veterans of the Officers of the Royal Housholds in the same manner as the Commoners of his Majesties own Houshold enjoy the same In a Declaration set forth by the King in the Month of July 1653. It is said that the said Officers possess fully and entirely their Officers so as that the Coheirs with them in other things cannot pretend any share therein either upon their Salaries or upon the value of their Offices if sold which being in the Kings sole Disposition cannot be reputed of the nature of those goods that are liable to be divided among the Heirs and Successours of Families As for what concerns the point of Precedence of the Kings Officers and of the rank they ought to have in publick Assemblies whether general or particular several Kings by their Declarations and Decrees have Order'd that they shall march and place themselves immediately after the Counsellers of the Bailiwicks Seneschals and presidial Courts before the Officers of the Elections of the Salt-Granaries Judges not Royal and all others that are inferiour in degree to the said Counsellers as it was Ordained by Henry the Fourth by a Declaration of the 22th of March 1605. in favour of the Valets or Yeomen of the Bed-Chamber and other Officers of the Chamber Cabinet and Anti-Chamber and by Lewis XIII First By a Declaration of the 27th of July 1613. in favour of the Marshals of the Lodgings the Harbingers of the Body and the Harbingers in Ordinary to his Majesty Secondly By another of the 20th of December verified in the Great Council in favour of the Life-Guards And thirdly By his Letters Patents of the 12th of February 1618. and by a Decree of the Great Council dated the 27th of May 1630. and by the present King by another Decree of the said Council of the 29th of May 1653. The Priviledges of the Court-Clergy The Clergy of the Kings Houshold and other Royal Housholds have the Priviledge to be always reputed resident at their Benefices during the time of their Service and are allowed two Months to go to and come from their Benefices and that by several Bulls of Popes Declarations of Kings Decrees of Parliament of the Great and Privy-Council c. And they are paid the full Revenues of their Canonries
into six Divisions or Parcels called Escouades consisting of sixteen men each whereof one is chosen by the Captain to be Corporal of the rest There are two of these Divisions ordinarily in Waiting at a time that is to say one by day and the other by night which are relieved every Sunday by two other Divisions so that in three Weeks time the whole Company does Duty round of which each Couple of Divisions are a Week upon Duty and rest the other Fortnight The Division that does duty in the night is called the Division of the Watch whereof twelve are called the Suissers of the Straw-Bed because in the night they lie on the Straw-Beds in the Guard-Chamber among the French Life-Guard Men. Those of the other Division appointed for the Day-guard a little before night go off the Guard in order out of the Kings Palace with an Officer at the head of them and go and lie at their own Quarters and the next Morning precisely at eight a Clock they Rendevouz again at the Captains Door or some other place appointed them and march in the same order back again into the Kings Palace with an Officer at the head of them where they are received by the twelve Suissers of the Watch that have lain with the French Life-Guard Men the foregoing Night who receive them in Arms making a Lane for them to pass through in their Guard-Chamber they are intermixed with the French Guards out of Policy to prevent Treachery that if one Nation should be corrupted the other might discover them or defeat their purpose They lie but twelve of them at a time in the French Guard-Chamber because by reason of their number there is hardly convenience for more the others have a Hall apart and separated as far as convenience will permit from the French Guard-Chamber and remain there only in the day time upon Sundays and other Holy-Days observed in the Diocess where the Court happens to be as likewise at some Extraordinary Solemnities as at the first and last Audiences of Ambassadours and other like occasions all the six Divisions wait all together in a Body on the King Out of this Company the Captain by the Kings Order Selects six to wait on the Queen when there is one viz. one out of every Division who are then Commanded by the Officer of the French Life-Guards then in Waiting on her Majesty which fix besides their allowance in the Kings Service have every one 18 d. a day from the Queen besides their Watch Bread and Wine and Wood and Candle and they always wear the Kings Livery except when the Queen is a Widow and Regent of the King and then they wear Mourning and their number is augmented to twelve These places are commonly purchased of the Captain by six of the Company The Dauphiness is likewise allowed six Suissers viz. one out of every Division drawn out for that purpose every Month by the Captain who in the time of their duty in that Service are allowed besides the Kings pay 10 d. a day When the Court removes to any distance leaving the Duke of Burgundy or other of the Dauphins Children behind the Captain of this Company detaches six Suisser's to wait on each of them One Suisser is likewise appointed by the King to wait on the Lord High Chancellour who upon that account is exempted from going upon the Watch and other Military Functions of this Company The Great Master of the Horse also who is the sole Orderer of all the Liveries of the Kings Houshold may keep a Suisse of his own in the same Livery with the Kings or if he pleases he may take one of the hundred but if he take one of them he so taken by him must either in Person or by some of his Companions perform his Watch and other duties of the Company when it comes to his turn When the Chancellour dies he that succeeds him is not obliged to make use of the same Suisser that waited on his Predecessour but may if he please ask the King for any other he has a mind to The Captain of this Company has always one of the said Company too to wait on him There are three Treasurers that are paid by the King to pay the hundred Suissers every Month their Months pay beforehand so that on the first second or at furthest on the third day of every Month the hundred Suissers receive their full pay for the Month then begun wheresoever the Court happens to be There belong besides to this Company one Almoner one Physician one Chyrurgeon one Apothecary one Merchant furnishing Cloth Stuff and other necessaries for their Cloaths and three Taylors The Chyrurgeon Apothecary and Taylors have the priviledge to keep open Shop at Paris or elsewhere though not Masters and the Taylors are allowed ten Crowns for making each Suissers Suit At the Kings Coronation the Commission Officers of this Company are Clothed in White-Satin with Cloth of Silver underneath the Slashes The Harbingers are in Blue and the rest of the Suissers in Velvet They are likewise allowed Extraordinary habits at other great Solemnities when their Colours march as at Kings Marriages and Christnings of the Dauphins or first Sons of France and at the first Entries of Kings and Queens into any of their great Towns or Cities Ever since the year 1679. they have reassumed their ancient Habit which they wear every Sunday and Holy-Day They wear Velvet Bonnets incircled round with Plumes of White Feathers with little tufts before composed of four Sprigs of Feathers of the same Colour starched Laced Ruffs and Cloths flashed upon Taffety which swells out of the slashes the Hilts of their Swords are gilt and very large and fastned to them with Eâ—â—s or rather other kind of Sword-Supporters after the ancient Mode fringed on the sides they wear Fringed-Gloves Blue and Red Garters and Roses of the same Coloured Ribbands on their Shoes their great Coats called Brandenburgs are garnished with red and white Buttons with Tails all of the Kings Livery in one of their hands they bear Halbards upon which is wrought a golden Sun which is the Kings Devise or particular Emblem and in the other hand great Canes garnisht with Silver at both ends They with their Officers march before the King when he is walking on Foot or passing leisurely along either in his own House or in the Town where he for the time being resides Every day when the King goes to Mass the Suissers of this Company place themselves in two ranks making a Lane from the Quire to the outward Door of the Church or Chappel where he is and on Sundays and Holy-Days they appear in the same order with their Velvet Bonnets and Habits of Ceremony or Holy-Day Cloaths with their Drums and their Flute which they sound as soon as the King comes and march thus to the middle of the great Churches into which the King goes and to the very Door and inclosure of the Quire the
before had but 14 d. a day have now 18 d. a day Of the Guards of the Gate Of these Guards there is a Captain who has a Salary of 3000 l. paid by the Treasurers of the Houshold and 4000 l. Board-Wages at the Chamber of Deniers He is sworn by the King himself and receives from him the Staff of Command Under him are Four Lieutenants quarterly Waiters who enjoy their Places by Patent from the King but are sworn by the Great Master of the Houshold and have each of them 500 l. Salary and 50 l. Gratuity and during the time of their Waiting eat at the Masters of the Housholds Table Fifty Guards of the Gate that serve by Quarters viz. Thirteen of them each of the two first Quarters and but twelve of each of the two last Quarters of the year They enjoy their Places too by Patent and are sworn by their Captain They are reckoned among the first and most ancient Guards of the Houshold which is the reason that this Company is yet to this day entred upon the Book of the General Establishment of the Houshold and accordingly receive their pay from the Treasurers of the Houshold and not from peculiar Treasurers of their own as do the other Companies of Guards Every day at six in the Morning the Guards of the Gate receive from the hands of the Life-Guard Men the Keys of the Gates of that Court where the Kings Lodgings or Apartments are within which they place Sentinels and at six at Night they return the said Keys again to the Life-Guards By the Court where the Kings Lodgings are I mean the principal Court of the Palace where he is as the Oval Court at Fountain-bleau He that stands Sentinel at the Gate holds a Carbine on his shoulder as do all the rest of this Company that are on the Guard who likewise stand to their Arms and place themselves in Ranks making a Lane near the Gate when his Majesty any other Royal Persons or any Ambassadours in going to or coming from their first and last Audiences are to pass by They also stand to their Arms in the same manner about the Gate within the Court of the Louvre or other Royal Palace where the King is exercising the Company of Gentlemen Musketeers during the whole time of the said Exercise in that Court The Guards of the Gate are to let none pass into the Palace with Arms but the Life-Guards only but are to stop all that offer to go in with Blunderbusses Firelocks Pikes Powder or any other Arms but Swords They all wear blue Coats laced with large gold and silver Galoon and trimmed with Buttons of Massy Silver Formerly they used to wear Jackets or Hoquetons like those worn at present by the Great Provosts Guards save only that upon the four great Skirts of them they had two Keys Embroidered Salter-wise and Swivels which are both of Buff. Their Belts at present are edged about with gold and silver Galoon and in the middle of their Swivels there is before and behind a golden Flower deluce and an L of the same for Lewis being the Kings Name and above them two Keys placed Salteir-wise and tied with a red Ribband all which is wrought in Embroidery enterlaced with Palms and Lawrels and Crowned with a Crown Royal. The Guards of the Gate in the time of their Waiting never take off their Swivels wherever he goes unless it be when he goes into the Kings Anti-Chamber or into the other Chambers Closets and Apartments of his Majesty At the end of their Quarters Waiting they receive 200 l. Wages from the General Treasurer of the Houshold and 40 l. Gratuity at the Treasure Royal. At Easter Whitsontide All-Saints Christmas Martlemas and on Shrove-Tuesday they have Portions of Bread Wine and Meat from the King which gives them the priviledge of Tablers or Commoners of the Kings Houshold they that are in Waiting at the like times on the Queen or the Dauphin have the same allowance from them At New-Years Tide the King gives them that are in Waiting that quarter 50 l. 5 d the Queen 32 l and the Parliament of Paris as much for which they give an Acquittance The other Sovereign Courts likewise and the Guildhall of Paris pay them some certain summs for they give also Acquittances Upon St. Lewis's Day which is his Majesties peculiar Festival the Kings allow them 40 l. out of the Privy-Purse of the Chamber Besides which they have a Fee of ten Crowns from the Treasurer of the Offrings every time the King touches for the Evil But however on the four great Festivals of the year they are paid the said allowance on that account whether the King touches or no. Those that are in Waiting share amongst them the Gifts and Liberalities made to them by the New Dukes and Peers and Marshals of France and other Officers of the Crown at their first Entry into the Kings Palace in their Coaches or Sedans by vertue of their new Dignity They have likewise Wax-Candles at Candlemas Torches on Corpus Christi Day and Prayer-Books in the Holy Week given them They are Exempt from Taxes and from the Imposition on Salt in those Provinces where it is established and from all Subsidies and Billeting of Souldiers They have the Priviledge of Committimus and take out Letters of State when they have need of them By an Order of the Privy-Council dated the 19th of November 1668. the King has confirmed the quality of Esquires to the Guards of the Gate and by a Declaration of the 17th of June 1659. and Letters Patents of the 3d of May 1675. registred in the Great Councel on the 27th of July following The King was pleased to Order that the Guards of the Gate should have the precedence in all honours done in the Church and in all other places and Assemblies before all the Officers of the Elections of the Granaries of Salt and Judges not Royal and in general before all others inferiour in degree to the Counsellers of Bayliwicks Seneschalsies and Presidial Seats or Courts of Judicature Now it being the Duty of the Guards of the Gate in the Day time and of the Life-Guard Men from six a Clock at Night to distinguish those to whom the King is pleased to permit the Honour of going into the Louvre or other of the Kings Palaces in their Coaches or Sedans and to keep all others from entring in that manner It will not be amiss to subjoin in this place The Order and Rank of Precedence observed in admitting and placing of those to whom the King permits the honour of entring into his Royal Palace in their Coaches or Sedans No Body is to enter into the Kings Palace in a Coach in the Morning before their Majesties be awake and at Night as soon as the King is in Bed all the Coaches within the Palace are to go out and Monsieurs is set up under the Gate or Porch of the Palace Next to the first Coaches
which are allowed 365 l. apiece Wages and their Diet and 120 l. towards Cloaths and other little things under the Chief Querry or Master of the Horse there are One Querry in Ordinary at 600 l. and four Querries quarterly Waiters at 400 l. yearly Salary one Querry Cavalcadour or Rider who Commands in the Stable in the absence of the Chief Master of the Horse and that tenders his hand to the Dauphiness in the absence of the Querry in Ordinary and of the other Querries quarterly Waiters He has 400 l. standing Wages 800 l. Board-Wages 200 l. for a Servant and 600 l. in lieu of Fees at the admission of Pages and is allowed a Horse out of her Highnesses Stables every time he has a mind to ride out One Cash-Keeper or Pay-Master of the Stable who has 90 l. standing Wages and 800 l. Board-Wages Four Manteau-Carriers waiting quarterly who have each 150 l. yearly Wages 91 l. 5 d. for their Diet during their Quarters waiting and 60 l. gratuity and while they are in waiting they have Horses allowed them out of the Stable Four Harbingers quarterly Waiters who have 150 l. standing Wages and 20 d. a day or 91 l. 5 d. during their quarters waiting for their Diet and 60 l. gratuity and in their Waiting time they are allowed Horses out of the Stable when her Highness goes abroad into the Country One Head Groom in Ordinary who has 600 l. for his Wages and Diet and 84 l. more in lesser Fees Four other Head-Grooms who have each 365 l. for Wages and Diet a Livery-Coat once in two years and 86 l. more in other little Fees and Allowances Under them there are several other helping Grooms Four Farriers at 90 l. each they serve quarterly and during their quarters service are allowed besides 450 l. for Shoing and Physicking the Horses and 16 d. a day for a Journey-Man or Servant and both they and their Servants wear her Highnesses Livery and are allowed Horses out of her Stable when her Highness Travels One Keeper of the Moveables and of the Keys of the Wardrobe of the Stables who has 240 l. standing Wages and 365 l. Board-Wages and is lodged at the Stables and is allowed a Horse when her Highness Travels Other Officers belonging to the Stables are Two Chyrurgeons serving by the half year at 200 l. One Upholster who is to furnish 71 Beds at 3 d. a Bed who holds his place only as long as no Body shall offer to do it cheaper Four Taylors by Commission who are paid at a certain rate for all the Cloaths they make for the menial Servants of the Stable and six other Tradesmen who are allowed only 110 l. apiece bare Wages without any further allowance for their work Of her Highnesses Coaches Chairs or Sedans and Litters and the necessary Servants belonging to them The Dauphiness had from the beginning two Coaches called the Coaches of the Body and since the Queens Death the King has added a third To the first belong two Coachmen and one Postilion and to the two others one Coachman and one Postilion to each The two Coachmen belonging to the first serve quarterly every other quarterly Both the Coachmen and Postilions of her Highnesses Body and those of her other Coaches have all the same standing Wages Profits and Appointments that is to say the Coachmen have 365 l. each standing Wages a Suit of Cloaths every year and a great Coat or Cloak every two years and 125 l. in other little Fees and Profits and the Postilions the same standing Wages the same allowance of Cloaths and 82 l. besides in other little Fees and Appointments Her Highness has one Chair or Sedan to which belong four Chair or Sedan-Men who have every of them 365 l. standing Wages a Suit of Cloaths every year and a Coat or Cloak every two years 50 l. in other little Fees and 60 l. gratuity by an Order for that purpose Two Litters of the Body and another to each of which belong two Muleteers who have the same Wages and Appointments the one as the other viz. 365 l. standing Wages a Suit of Cloaths every year and a great Coat or Cloak every two years and 66 l. in other small Fees and Appointments Her Highness has besides one Coach called the Querries Coach one called the waiting Gentle womens Coach one called the Maids of Honours Coach one called the Maids of Honours Womens Coach and three other Coaches who have each of them a Coachman and Postilion with the same Wages and Appointments as abovesaid To the Waiting Gentle-Women belong four Foot-men who have every of them 72 l. standing Wages a Doublet and Trunk-Breeches every year and a Coat or Cloak every two years and 50 l. in other little Fees and Allowances To the Maids of Honour belong likewise two Footmen who have the same Wages and other profits as her Highnesses own Footmen Of her Highnesses Pages and Footmen There is one Governour of the Pages who has 200 l. standing Wages 200 l. Gratuity and 600 l. in lieu of the ancient Fees allowed at the admission of new Pages now taken away besides which he has a Table all the year long a Servant and a Horse maintain'd and his Firing and Candle The Pages are twelve in number who have all their Diet Firing Washing Lodging and Horses at the Stable where they are also waited on and instructed in all gentile and noble accomplishments and have every of them besides 260 l. standing Wages besides their Livery-Suits every year and Cloaks every two years Note That the Queens and Dauphinesses Pages have hanging Sleeves behind their Doublets as have the Pages of the Kings Bed-Chamber There is one Tutour of the Pages who has 320 l. standing Wages and his Lodging Diet and washing with them he is allowed two Billets or Logs and two Fagots during the six Winter-Months and two Faggots only during the six other Months and every day a quarter of a pound of Candles He has for his Fees what the Pages leave off and 20 l. out of what is allowed for every of their Shoes and Stockings One Almoner or Chaplain of the Pages who has his Diet there and his Fire and Candle all the year and a Servant and a Horse maintain'd for his Service One Professour of the Mathematicks 300 l. One Fencing-Master 180 l. One Vaulting-Master one Writing-Master and one Dancing-Master at 180 l. each There are two Servants of the Pages they have a Suit and Cloak out of those the Pages leave off and what the Pages please to give them at their Admission and the profit of the Flambeaux One Landrer of the Pages who holds his place by Commission One Master of the Houshold or Marshal of the Table of the Pages Sixteen Footmen serving quarterly eight every other quarter who have every of them 365 l. standing Wages one Doublet and one pair of Trunk-Breeches every year in Summer one Cloak every two years and 130 l. in other
Flame-Coloured Ribband The Great Priors and other great Officers of this Order wear this Cross tyed to a great large Flame-Coloured Ribband tied Scarf-wise and on the left side of their Cloaks or Coats another Cross composed of four Flames Cantoned with four Flower-deluces and in the middle the Image of the B. Virgin Environ'd with Rays of Gold all in Embroidery The Present King Confirmed the Rights Estates Commanderies Priviledges and Exemptions of this Order in the Month of April 1664. and in December 1672. The King is likewise Chief and Soveraign of this Order On the 8th of January 1668. the Marquiss of Nerestang took the usual Oath to the King for the Office of Great Master of the Royal Order of Nôtre Dame de Mont-Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem both on this side of and beyond the Seas After which his Majesty put on upon him the Collar and Cross in the Presence of his principal Lords and at the same time he took his leave of his Majesty to go and Command a Squadron of Ships designed for the Guard of the Coasts of Brittany But he voluntarily resigned this Office into the Kings hands again in 1673. The Marquiss of Louvois was received Vicar General of this Order the 18th of February 1673. at the Carmelites Convent called les Carmes des Billettes where the Assemblies and Ceremonies of the Order are kept and Celebrated On New-Years Day in the year 1669. the Duke of Orleans received into the number of his Life-guards twelve Knights of St. Lazarus which are as 't were the Cadets or young Noblemen of his Guards There are five great Priories and 140. Commanderies of this Order viz. 28 Commanderies to each Great Priory to which his Majesty commonly nominates some of his Land or Sea-Officers or Commanders which have been wounded or which have render'd him considerable Services The General and Conventual House of this Order is the Commandery of Boigni near Orleans The Great Priories are as follows 1. The Grand Priory of Normandy the Grand Prior is the Chevalier de Montchevrueil Colonel of the Kings Regiment and Brigadier his Seat is at the Mont aux Malades or Mount of the sick people near Roüen 2. The Great Priory of Brittany the Great Prior is the Chevalier de Chateau Regnaud Commander of a Squadron of Men of War He resides at Auray and has annexed to his other Commanderies that of Blois 3. The Great Priory of Bargundy the Great Prior is M. de Bullonde His Seat is at Dijon 4. The Great Priory of Flanders the Great Prior is M. de la Rabliere Marshal in the Camps and Armies of the King and Commander of Lile where his Seat is 5. The Great Priory of Languedoc the Great Prior is M. de Rivarolles The Council established for taking cognisance of the affairs of this Order sits in the Arsenal at Paris those that compose it are 1. The Marquiss of Louvois Vicar-General and President of the Order 2. Florent d' Argouges Chancellour of the Order received in 1685. 3. M. Du Verdier Proctor-General of the Order received in 1672. 4. De Turmenies Sieur de Naintel Treasurer of the Order 5. Camus de Beaulieu Secretary and Recorder of the Order 6. M. William Seguier Dean of the Order received in 1638. 7. The R. Father TousseinT St. Luke Carmelite Almoner of the Order received in 1664. And five Counsellours Besides this there is also a Chamber-Royal established at the same Arsenal that takes cognisance of the reunion of Estates and of the property of stocks of Money Heritage and other rights which have been usurped upon this Order and alienated from the designed use which said Royal Chamber is composed of nine Counsellours to whom are subservient one General Proctor who has his Deputy or Substitute and one Registrer or Recorder Besides these abovesaid Orders of Knighthood there are in France many Knights of Malta and Great Priors and Commanders of that Order that possess there many rich Lordships with great Priviledges and Immunities for that they are obliged by their Order to expose themselves continually for the common defence of Christendom against the Turks and Infidels But there being Books enough that treat ex professo very largely and particularly of them It will be needless for me to insist upon any further description of them in this small Book In old time before these particular Orders of Knighthood were instituted this word Chevalier or Knight was used to signifie some great precedent merit from whence it comes to pass that Gentlemen of Quality and of ancient Families still to this day assume that Quality and write themselves Messire N. Knight and Lord of Messire being a Title intimating Nobility and Chevalier or Knight being reckoned a worthier Title than that of their Mannours or Seignieuries of which they are Lords And of these Knights there were two sorts or Orders viz. Bannerets and Batchellours the Banneret was he that could raise men enough of his own Vassals to follow his Banner the Batchellour was such a one as went to the Wars under another Mans Banner and under these was the Esquire which is a quality still taken by the last and lowest rank of Nobility there CHAP. XIV Of the general Dignities of the Kingdom and first of the High Constable THE High Constable was the first of all the Officers of the Crown and next to the King was Sovereign Head of the Armies of France and took place immediately next after the Princes of the Blood chiefly in Parliament At first he was no more than the Great Master of the Horse is now as appears by the Etymology of the word which is Comes Stabuli i. e. Count of the Stable On the sides of his Coat of Arms he bore as a mark of his Dignity two naked Swords with the points upward held by a right-hand armed with a Gantlet coming out of a Cloud He was sworn by the King himself At publick Entries of Kings the Constable marched foremost before his Majesty on his right hand holding a naked Sword And when the King sate on his Bed of Justice or in the Assembly of the general Estates he sate before him on his right hand The Power of this Officer was much augmented by the Successours of Hugh Capet when the Office of Mayor of the Palace was supprest and though there were Constables before Hugh Capet yet they had till then no power in the Armies If we may believe M. du Tillet who sets down the Constables according to their Succession the first to be found in History was Froger of Châlons under Lewis the Gross who therefore may well be called the first Constable he being the first that ever enjoyed that large power the Constables enjoyed after that time to whose Command in the Armies the very Princes of the Blood were subjected He that first Exalted the Power of Constable to a Soveraign Command over all the men of War not excepting the Princes of the Blood was Matthew
more than was the Constable The Provosts of the Marshals or Provost Marshals are Royal Judges established in every Province under the Authority and dependance of the Marshals of France They have Jurisdiction over all Vagabonds and people that are no House-Keepers and in many Cases over them that are House-Keepers too if they commit any Robberies on the High-way if they be Incendiaries Coiners of false money or be guilty of wilful Murther and other Crimes The Marshals of France were at first but two in number but since that the necessity of Affairs has given occasion sometimes to the doubling of that number There were four under Charles the Seventh who were afterward reduced to the old number Francis the First finding himself obliged to maintain three or four Armies to oppose the great Enemies which he had always to deal with revived again the number of four and soon after added a fifth who was Francis of Montmorency Son of the Constable of that Name by way of recompence to his Father for the Office of Great Master of France which he had resigned by his Orders to the Duke of Guise but with this condition that this fifth place should be supprest upon the Death of the First of the five that should die The Duke of Mayenne made three during the time he was head of the League and Henry the Great when by the acknowledgment of his Subjects he came to be peaceable Possessour of the Kingdom Created two of those three Marshals of France viz. Vrban de Laval Sieur de Bois Dauphin and Claudius de la Chartre Lewis the Thirteenth never limited the number of them and the Present has augmented it with several new ones Those of them that are still alive and that keep the Court of the Constablery at the Marble Table are these that follow according to the years of their Promotion Being The Marshals De Crequi in 1668. De Bellefonds in 1668. D' Humieres in 1668. De Schonberg in gone now to Portugal 1675. De Duras in 1675. De Vivonne in 1675. De la Feuillade in 1675. De Luxembourg in 1675. De Lorge in 1676. D' Etrées in 1681. Every of these Marshals is stiled Monseigneur-Messire or My Lord Messire in the List of them in the Court of the Constablerie and Marshals of France in the Palace at Paris which Title of Messire implies antient Nobility personal and eminent worth and something of a Soveraign Command The Marshals of France deceased whose Memory is still fresh were The Marshals De Guebriant deceased in 1643. De Bassompiere in 1646. Two Marshals de Chatillon whereof one died in 1646 the other in 1649. De Gassion in 1647. De Chaune in 1649. De Brezé in 1650. De Rantzau in 1650. De la Force in 1652. De Schonberg in 1656. De la Mothe Houdancourt in 1657. De Hocquincourt in 1658. De Castelnau in 1658. De Foucault in 1659. De l' Hopital in 1660. De Fabert in 1662. De la Meillerage in 1664. De Clerambaut in 1665. D' Estampes in 1668. D' Aumont in 1669. D' Etrées in 1670. De Schulembergz in 1671. The Famous de Turenne in 1675. De Plessis Prâlin in 1675. De Rochefort in 1676. D' Albret in 1676. De la Force the Son in 1678. De Grammont in 1678. De Grancy in 1680. De la Ferté Senneterre in 1681. De Navailles in 1684. De Estrades in February in 1686. There are several Widows of Marshals of France which still enjoy the Honours of the Louvre and other Priviledges we have mentioned to belong to them CHAP. XVI Of the Colonels-General Camp-Masters c. AFter the Death of the Duke d' Epernon which hapned on the 23d of July 1661. the Office of Colonel-General of the Infantry was supprest The Colonel-General used to bear behind his Coat of Arms as a mark of his Office four or six Standards of the Kings Colours which are White Carnation and Blue The Colonel-General of the light Horse is the Count of Auvergne Marquiss of Bergopzoom Lieutenant-General of the Kings Armies And the Camp-Master General is at present the Baron de Monctar the Lieutenant-Colonel is M. John d' Estampes Baron of Bellebrune The Colonel-General of the Suissers and Grisons is the Prince de Maine Monsieur de Mazarques was Colonel-General of the Corsicans but at present there are no Corsicans in the service And the Baron D' Eguenfeld was Colonel-General of the Foreign Troops but since his departure there has been no other substituted CHAP. XVII Of the Troops of the Kings Houshold of the Gensdarmes of the Light-Horse and of the other Regiments of Cavalry and Infantry THE first Troops of Cavalry are those of the Kings-Houshold of the Life-Guards Gensdarmes the Light-Horse of the Kings Guard and the Musketeers on Horseback which is called the Kings Houshold to which there is lately joined a Company of Granadeers on Horseback Commanded by Mr. Riotort We have set down before the four Companies of the Life-Guards the Company of Gensd'armes or Men at Arms that are of the Kings Guard of which the King is Captain and the Prince de Soubize Lieutenant-Captain as likewise the Company of Light-Horse of the Kings-Guard and another Company of Gensd'armes Commanded by the Duke de Chevreuse as Captain-Lieutenant and the two Companies of Musketeers on Horseback We come now to the other Forces First there is the little Gend'armerie or that which is simply called the Gend'armerie without other addition which comprehends 1. The Scotch Gensd'armes 2. The English Gend'armes 3. The Burgundian Gend'armes 4. The Flemish Gend'armes 5. The Queens Gend'armes 6. The Queens Light-Horse 7. The Dauphins Gend'armes 8. The Dauphins Light-Horse 9. The Gend'arms of Anjou 10. The Gend'arms of Orleans 11. The Light-Horse of Orleans Monsieur de St. Germain is Provost of the little Gend'armerie The Princes or eldest Sons of the Kings of Great Brittain having as Princes of Scotland a right to the Command of a Cavalry in France there was a Company of the Kings Scotch Gensd'armes Commanded by the Duke of York as Duke of Albany and in his absence by the Marquiss of Livourne as Captain-Lieutenant The Baron of Thauriac was Sub-Lieutenant the Ensign the Count d'Onseigne and the Guidon Monsieur Champrond 2. The English Gensd'armes which are now most Irish whose Captain-Lieutenant the Count de la Guette the Sub-Lieutenant the Chevalier de Crollis the Ensign Mr. O Brian and the Guidon the Marquiss of Beavau 3. The Burgundian Gend'arms whose Captain Lieutenant is the Marquiss of Flamanville 4. The Company of Flemmish Gensd'arms Created the 22d of November 1673. the Count de Masin is Captain-Lieutenant M. Gouffier de Rosamelle Sub-Lieutenant The King is Captain of all the abovesaid Companies whose Captain-Lieutenants Command over all the Camp-Masters The Queens have also their Companies of Gensd'arms and Light-Horse and so has the Dauphin besides which there are the Gensd'arms of Anjou and the Gensd'arms and Light-Horse of
Councels which are likewise Officers General of the whole Kingdom CHAP. XXI Of the Kings Councels and Ministers of State Of the Chancellour of France THE Chancellour is the Head-Officer of Justice and of the Kings Councels and into his hands he has wholly deposited it that he may distribute and dispence it impartially to all his Subjects with the same Power and Authority as he might do himself in Person for this reason the Seals of France are committed to his Custody which he makes use of in the Administration of Justice and in conferring of Gifts Graces and Offices as he thinks most reasonable for the good of the State He presides in the Kings Councels 'T is he that on all occasions declares the Kings Pleasure and when his Majesty goes to Parliament to sit on his Bed or Throne of Judgment he sits before his Majesty on his left hand He wears a Robe of red Velvet lined with Scarlet Sattin and at publick Ceremonies a Cap fashioned like a Mortar covered with gold and adorned with Pearls and precious Stones Before him march the Ushers of the Chancellery carrying on their Shoulders Maces of guilt Silver and the rest of the Ushers after them The present Chancellour is M. Lewis de Boucherat Knight Lord of Compans and other places who after having Officiated the Places of Corrector of the Accounts of Counsellour in the Parliament and Commissary in the Requests of the Palace Master of Requests Intendant of Justice or Lord Chief Justice in Languedoc Honorary Counsellour in the Parliament of Paris and both Counsellour of State and Counsellour in the Councel Royal several years and rendred very considerable Services to the State and so acquired the universal approbation of all people by his indefatigable Industry and his great Capacity and Zeal for the service of his Majesty and of the publick was at length upon all these Considerations named to the Chancellorship by his Majesty on the Feast of All-Saints in the year 1685. who was pleased to Seal his Patents deliver him the Seals and swear him into the said high and important Office the 3d of November following The Chancellour of France bears as a mark of his Dignity a Mortar-fashioned Cap of Cloth of gold set with Ermines upon the Crest of his Arms out of which with the Figure of a Queen coming out of it representing the Kingdom of France holding in her right hand a Scepter and in her left the Great Seals of the Kingdom and behind his Coat of Arms two great Vermilion gilt silver Maces passed Salteir-wise with a Scarlet Mantle set with rays of gold towards the top and furred with Ermines This Office was instituted as some say by Clotair the First and the first Chancellour was Bodin in the year 562. He was antiently called the Great Referendary and Keeper of the Royal Ring and Seal When a Keeper of the Great Seal is made at any time he has the same Authority given him as a Chancellour only with this difference that a Chancellour is not deposable but by arraigning him at the Bar and taking away his Life whereas the Keeper of the Seals is an Officer changeable at the Kings Pleasure The Original of the word Chancellour comes from this All Letters Patents and Charters formerly passing through his hands when they were not well drawn up or that any thing were found in them not conformable to Law and Custom he used to cross them out by drawing certain strokes and bars cross them Lattice-wise which in Latin are called Cancelli from whence comes the word Cancellare and the English word at this day used to signify making void any Writings viz. to Cancel and from thence the word Chancellour Sometimes he is called for distinctions sake Summus Cancellarius i. e. High Chancellour because there were and are several other Chancellours We shall speak of the other Officers of the Chancery when we have described the Kings Councils CHAP. XXII A general State and account of the Kings Councils and of the persons that compose them THE Affairs hapning daily being different and various different Councils have been provided to debate and resolve them in as the Council of War the Council of Dispatches the Council of State and of the Finances or Revenues Of the Council of War The Great Council of War sits commonly in the Kings Chamber where he himself unless some great indisposition hinder him is present with such Princes of the Blood Marshals of France and Great Lords as he thinks fit for their experience in Military Affairs to assist thereat Of the Council of Dispatches and the Secretaries of State This Council is kept in the Kings Chamber in his Majesties Presence and at it are usually present the Dauphin Monsieur the Duke of Orleans the Lord Chancellour the four principal Secretaries of State and those that have the grant of the reversion of their Offices The matters there treated of are the affairs of the Provinces and all other things both Foreign and Domestick of which the Secretaries of State then present make their Reports who likewise are to keep Memorials of all the resolutions taken there and are afterward to see them duly dispatched according to their several Departments or Provinces There are four Principal Secretaries of State and of the Commandments of his Majesty who divide among them all the affairs of the Kingdom and have every one their several Functions and business according to their respective departments These four Secretaries at present are 1. Michael-Francis le Tellier Son to the late Chancellour of France Marquiss of Louvois He is likewise Knight Commander and Chancellour of the Kings Orders of Knighthood Great Vicar General of the Order of Nôtre-Dame of Mount Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem Post-Master General and Super-intendant and Orderer General of the Royal Buildings and Protector of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture 2. John-Baptist Colbert Knight Marquiss of Seignelay c. Son of the late great Minister of State of that Name He is likewise President perpetual Chief and Director-General of the Company of the Commerce of the East-Indies and Great Treasurer of the Kings Orders of Knighthood 3. Peter-Baltasar Phylippeaux de la Vrilliere Marquiss of Chateau-neuf upon the Loire 4. Charles Colbert Knight and Marquiss of Croissy who is likewise Secretary of the Kings Orders and Finances President à Mortier or President wearing the Mortar Fashioned Cap in the Parliament of Paris formerly Ambassadour in England and since Plenipotentiary at the Treaty of Nimmeguen and in Bavaria for the Marriage of the Dauphin Their Departments are as follows The Departments of the aforesaid four Principal Secretaries of State are thus laid out 1. Mr. Louvois has for his Department The three Months of February June and October and the affairs of Poitou la Marche Catalonia and Rousillon Pignerol Lorain and the three Bishopricks Alsatia the places yielded or Conquered in Flanders Artois and Hainaut the Fortifications of the Places Conquered or recovered
Letters whether it be on the account of Hypotheques or Titles and they are to keep a Register of them and make mention of them upon the said Letters that they may not be sealed without being charged with the said oppositions because they are responsible for them and that if they should be sealed without opposition the Acquirers or Purchasers would be discharged of all Duties and Hypotheques according to the Edicts and Declarations set forth or that purpose and have the same Security as they could have by a Decree in a Court of Justice These Conservatours have likewise four Principal Deputies whose places are united to theirs There are four Keepers and Depositaries of the Minutes of the Expeditions of the Chancery that serve quarterly Their Chief Office is to keep a Register of the Letters that are sealed in the Chancery of France and to keep the Minutes of them that are signed by the Kings Secretaries that dispatched them and to place the Registring of them and the date on the backside of the principal Letters and to put the Visa or attestation of view on the backside of the ordinary and common ones as it was order'd by the Edict of the Creation of the said Offices There is at present but one Treasurer of the Seal though there be several Commissioners or Deputies under him whose places are united to his There are four Wax-Chasers and Hereditary Sealers that serve by the quarter in the Great Chancery of France and by the Month in the Chancery of Paris The Office of these Wax-Chasers is upon Sealing-Days to go into the great Chancery of France and fetch the Seals out of the Chancellours Closet to carry them thence before him to the Sealing-Table and when the Seal is open to Seal with it Of the Vshers In all times there has been a Royal Usher bearing a Mace that used to execute the Kings Orders This Officer was Created and made a standing Officer under the Title of Usher in Ordinary in the Chancery of France in the Month of December in the year 1473. to wait on the Person of the Chancellour and Execute his Orders as likewise the Sentences and Ordinances of the Council and of the superiour Courts He was then the sole Usher of the Council the Grand Council and the Court of Chancery being then the only Council the King had he was afterward made first Usher of the Grand Council In 1597. there was Created another Usher in Ordinary to the King in the Great Chancery of France and in the Month of March 1655. two more with the same qualities Honours Rights Powers Functions and Priviledges as the old one These four Officers at great and solemn Ceremonies are to wear Robes of Violet-Crimson Velvet with double hanging Sleeves and in their Ordinary Service Black Velvet Gowns with a Bonnet or Cap of the same and a golden Chain about their Necks adorned with golden Flower-deluces They carry the four Maces next before the Chancellour They are to be always attending in his Palace to receive his Orders and on sealing days they meet in his Chamber to accompany him when he goes to the Sealing room they march before with their golden Chains on and the Wax-Chafer in the midst of them carrying the Trunk where the Seals are laid up into the Hall where the Table for that purpose is made ready and as soon as the Chancellour is seated in the Sealing-Hall they are to shut the Door and to suffer none to come in but those Officers that are Priviledged so to do They Command Silence in the said Hall and when the Sealing is over Conduct the Chancellour back again into his Chamber with the same Order And because they were antiently the first Ushers of the Council that always used to execute all Orders from the King and Sentences and Expeditions of the Council as well whilst attending the Court as in the Provinces and Superiour Courts they still hold Society and keep one common Purse with the now Ushers of the Council for and of all Fees for signification and other Executions of the Kings and Chancellours Orders Their Places are in the gift of the Chancellour and pay him an annual Duty There is one Harbinger of the Chancery of France who is put in by the Great Audiencers and Comptrollers-General of the Chancery and pays them an annual Duty He is to go one of the foremost with the Marshals of the Lodgings of France when the Chancellour follows the Court and takes his Departments or Lodgings from the Marshals of the Lodgings of France which afterward he distributes and shares out among the Great Audiencers Comptrollers-General and other Officers of the Great Chancery He has a right or share distribution of Fees in the Sealing-Office but he meddles not with Lodging the Council There are two Trunk-Carriers in the Chancery of France that serve by the half year who are put in by the Great Audiencers and Comptrollers General of the said Chancery and pay them an annual Duty Their Function is to go and take and receive the Chancellours Order what day he pleases to pitch on for a Sealing day and to give notice of it to the Great Audiencer the Comptroller-General and other Officers whose presence is necessary in the Sealing-Office They prepare the Table the Trunks the Carpets and the Chairs on Sealing-Days they take away and shut the Trunks they pass the silk and strings through the Letters and Charters and they have a right to a share in the distribution of the Fees and Perquisites that happen in their six Months waiting There are two Wax-Furnishers of the Great Chancery And one Hereditary Servant Wax-Chaser of all the Chanceries of France who has power to put in Deputies under him in the other Chanceries although he that now is has reserved to himself this Priviledge only in the Chancery of Paris and some others The Function of this Officer is to take care on Sealing-Days to heat the Water to soften the Wax which he tempers and works behind the Wax-Chaser and then lays it in bits before him big enough for a Seal As a necessary Officer he has his Lodging at the Court and at the Chancellours when he follows him He has a share in the distribution of Fees at the Sealing-Office There is one Messenger of the Great Chancery whose particular care it is to go to the Register Office of the Grand Council and take out the Sentences or Decrees that are to be sealed in Chancery He then carries them to the Seal-Office takes them out when Sealed and returns them into the Proctors hands who give him something for his pains In time of any Court-Journies or Voyages He has priviledge to come and go to and from Court and to carry all sorts of Letters and Packets He is put in by a Patent from the King All these Officers of the Great Chancery enjoy the same Priviledges as the Kings Sec̄retaries and those that are tabled in his Majesties Houshold
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
several Offices are become Hereditary upon condition of paying every year a certain Duty or Fee which is therefore called the annual Duty or the Paulette But if it happen that any Officer having not paid the aforesaid Duty die before he resign his Office or survives not forty days after his Resignation of it then the Treasurer of the Parties Casual has power to dispose of the Office for the Kings profit The Sieur Peter Richer Treasurer of the Kings Casual Revenues at present exercises alone the three forementioned Offices CHAP. XLIX Of the Universities of France 1. PAris is the most famous University in the whole Kingdom whether it be for Divinity Law Physick the Arts or several other Exercicises after Paris are reckoned these following Universities viz. Those 2. Of Toulouse 3. Bourdeaux 4. Poitiers 5. Orleans famous for the Civil Law 6. Bourges 7. Anger 's 8. Caen. 9. Montpelier famous for Physick 10. Cahors 11. Nants 12. Reims 13. Valence 14. Aix 15. Avignon 16. Pont à Mousson 17. Perpignan 18. Douay 19. Dole 20. Fribourg in Brisgan And besides these there are several other Towns in the Kingdom where there are very good Colledges though they bear not the Title of Universities as at Rouen Tournon and la Flêche where the Jesuits or other Communities instruct Youth There is one likewise at Juilly managed by the Fathers of the Oratory who have divers others in several Towns But to inform you of the exercises performed in all these Universities it will be enough to give you the Description of those done in the University of Paris which is the Mother of the Rest after whose pattern the others are model'd Of the Exercises used in the Vniversity of Paris In this University are reckoned four distinct chief Faculties which are called the four Faculties which are 1. The Faculty of Theology or Divinity 2. The Faculty of Law 3. The Faculty of Physick And 4. The Faculty of Arts. We shall speak CHAP. L. 1. Of the Faculty of Theology or Divinity THeology has always flourished in this University ever since its first Institution but it has been more especially in recommendation since the time of Peter Lombard Bishop of Paris that died in 1164. who is commonly called the Master of the Sentences because he composed a Book of them It flourished much too here in the time of St. Thomas Aquinas about the year 1265 who composed a Summary of Divinity and several other works and now in Vogue and Reputation more than ever Although they have priviledge to teach Divinity in other Universities yet there are no where more Renowned Schools for that Faculty than in the Colledges of the Sorbonne and Navarre The greatest part of the Doctors have not fixed in any House or Colledge yet there are many of the House and Society of Sorbonne and many of the House of Navarre But those that only take their Degrees there are only Doctors of the Sorbonne or of Navarre and not of the House There are some likewise that have only the priviledge to claim Hospitality in the House of the Sorbonne who are called either Sorbonici Hospites Sorbon-Guests or è familia Sorbonica of the Family of Sorbonne but not Socii Fellows of the Society of Sorbonne As the House of the Sorbon founded in 1254. in the time of St. Lewis by one Robert de Sorbonne is the most famous in its kind for persons of most Eminent Learning and Vertue that compose its Society the Beauty of its magnificent Building adds a Luster to it The admirable Structure of its Grand Halls where Acts are kept and Lectures Read as well as that of the whole Body of the House but more especially of its Church in which there is a Dome of a very extraordinary and lofty height sufficiently set forth the Magnificence of the late Cardinal Duke of Richelieu who has immortalised himself by this work and made of it as 't were a Temple Dedicated to his Memory He lies there Buried having been Provisour of the said House The Provisour both of the House of Sorbonne and of that of Navarre at present is the Archbishop of Paris CHAP. LI. 2. Of the Faculty of Law IN ancient time all Churchmen and Councellers were Commanded to instruct themselves well in the Canonical Constitutions for fear they should ignorantly offend against any of them The Schools called the Decretal Schools where at the present the Canon Law is taught and of late time the Civil Law too are in the Street called la Rue de St. Jean de Beauvais There are six Regents that read publick Lectures viz. Three on Mornings and three in the Afternoons The present King has newly set up a Chair for the teaching of the French or Municipal Law at Paris in the Colledge of the three Nations Mr. Launay one of the ancient Advocates is the Lecturer having sworn by the Chancellour in the Month of November 1680. At Bourdeaux there is likewise another Professour of the French Law established in the Month of July 1681. And there is another at Cahors CHAP. LII 3. Of the Faculty of Physick THE third Faculty is that of Physick which is as ancient as the Institution of the University Several eminent Persons have made this Science flourish in this University since its Institution and among others the Learned Fernelius Chief Physician to King Henry the Second The Physick Schools are in the Rue de la Bucherie where they have been ever since the year 1469. and in the year 1608. a Great Anatomical Theatre was Erected there There is besides one Demonstratour and Operatour of the interiour parts of Plants and of all other Medicines and of Chyrurgical Operations at the Kings Physick-Garden at Paris who is Joseph du Verney Physician of the Academy of Sciences CHAP. LIII 4. Of the Faculty of Arts of the Rector and of the four Nations THE Faculty of Arts is the Mother of all the Rest and for which Schools were first Founded The Head of the whole University who is called the Rector is always chosen out of this Body and never out of the other Faculties This Rector has so great a power over the other Faculties that he can make them cease all publick Acts and Lectures and on the days he makes his solemn Processions which is four times a year he forbids the Preachers to go up into the Pulpit For these solemn Processions all the Faculties assemble in the Maturins Convent in the Rue St. Jaques and from thence march in order to the Church appointed by the Rector who is accompanied thither by the Doctors of the three superiour Faculties by the Masters of Arts and a great number of Religious Men. He being the Head of that University which the Kings of France treat as their Eldest Daughter as it is reported takes place of all sorts of Persons excepting the Princes of the Blood and ought at publick Acts in his University take place of the Popes Nuntio of Ambassadours Cardinals
de Starembourg Vassenar Ambassador Extraordinary 5. From Malta the Bayliff de Hauteville c. Ambassador from the Grand Master of Malta Envoys according to the Order of their arrival in France 1. From Portugal Dom Salvador Taborda Envoy Extraordinary 2. From Sweden M. Liliencroot 3. From Denmark M. Meyercroon 4. From Spain M. Delval 5. From the Emperour Count Cobkowitz Envoy Extraordinary 6. From England Mr. Skelton Envoy Extraordinary Other Envoys and Residents are 1. The Resident of the Elector of Cologne and States of Liége M. Waldorf 2. An Envoy Extraordinary from the Elector of Brandenburg M. Spanheim 3. From the Duke of Mantua the Count Balliani 4. The Envoy of Modena is the Abbot Rizini 5. The Envoy Extraordinary of Genoa is the Marquiss Girardo Spinola The Agents are 1. An Auditor of the Nunciature the Abbot Laury 2. The Agent for the Elector Palatine and other Princes of the Empire is M. John le Breton 3. And for the Elector of Brandenburg the Hans Towns and Landgraviate of Hessen M. Bek And for the Dukes of Weymar M ..... When one Ambassador is relieved or succeeded by another at the arrival of the new they both go together to Court whereas they are going to their Audience he that is relieved still takes the upper hand of the new one but when they come back from their Audience the new Comer or Successour takes place of the other But if an Ambassador only in Ordinary be sent to relieve one that is Ambassador Extraordinary the Extraordinary Ambassador takes the upper hand both in going to and coming from Audience FINIS THE TABLE A. ACademy of France Page 510 Admiral of France 371 Admiralty of France 482 Administration of Justice 451 Aids 496 Air of France 5 Almoner of France Great 61 Almoner of France First c. 66 Ambassadors of France 513 in France 515 Antichamber 134 Apothecaries Kings 141 Arch-Bishopricks 404 Arch-Bishops 406 Arquebuse or Fire-Arms Carrier 120 Attire 17 B. BAilywick of the Palace 483 Bastile 170 Birds of the Chamber 132 Bishopricks 404 Bishops 406 Buildings 10 C. CAmp-Master 356 Captains of the Guards 234 of the Guides 184 Carver 80 Castle of Blois 172 of Chambor ibid. of Compiegne 169 of Monceaux 171 of Plessis le Tours 173 of Vincennes 170 Cavalry of France 357 Ceremonies c. 151 Chamber of Accounts 461 of the Treasury 473 Chamberlain of France 107 Chancery of France 397 Chatelet or Castle of Paris 484 Children of France 24 Chyrurgions Kings 140 Clergy of Kings Houshold 73 Climate of France 2 Cloak-Carriers 118 Closet of Antiquities 131 of Arms ibid. of Books 130 of Dispatches ibid. Commodities of France 5 Common Buttry 99 Fruitery 101 Kitchin 100 Pantry 99 Complexion of the French 15 Comptrollers of the Counting-House 90 of the Privy-Purse 129 Computation 18 Constable of France 348 Constablry 478 Councils of the King 379 of Dispatches 380 of Finances or Revenues 383 call'd the Grand-Council 393 of State 388 of War 379 Counsellors and Secretaries of the Finances or Revenues of France 396 Counties and Baronies c. reunited to the Crown 331 Counting-House 89 Court of Aids 466 of Bazoche 484 of Monies or Coynage 468 of Masonry 483 Cupbearer 80 D. DAuphin of France 24 his Houshold 272 his Childrens Servants 292 Dauphiness 25 her Houshold 280 Diet of the French 16 Dimensions of France 2 Division of France ibid. Dogs of the Kings Chamber 133 Dukes and Peers 315 Dukes and Peers with the Names of their Dukedoms and the date of their Verification 320 Dukes and Peers whose Patents are not yet verified 323 Dutchies or Dutchies and Peerages not verified at Paris 322 Dutchies and Peerages Extinct and not Extinct 324 E. ELection of Paris 487 F. FAculty of Arts 505 of Divinity 502 of Law 504 of Physick ibid. Family of de la Tour d' Auvergne of which was the Famous Godfrey of Bouillon 49 Family of Grimaldi de Mourgues or of the Prince of Monaco in Italy 51 Family of Rohan 52 Family of Tremoille 56 Fewel or Wood-Office 101 Flight of the Magpie 133 Foot-Guards 265 Fountainbleau 164 G. GAbels 496 Genealogy of the Royal Branch of Bourbon 21 General of the Gallies 375 Generalities of France 491 Gens d' Armes or Men at Arms of the Kings-Guard 261 357 Gentlemen-Waiters 81 Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber 111 Gentlemen of the Kings-Houshold 137 Gentlemen Pensioners 271 Goblet or Kings own Buttry 93 Governments in France 417 Granary of Salt at Paris 488 Greyhounds of the Chamber 132 Guards de la Manche or of the Sleeve 230 of the Gate 252 of the great Provost of the Houshold 259 without the Gate 261 Guildhall or Townhouse of Paris 489 H. HArbingers or Fouriers 58 Hawking 203 Heralds at Arms 152 Historiographers of France 508 House of Longueville 38 of Lorrain 39 of Savoy setled in France 46 Hunting 198 I. INfantry 357 Inhabitants 11 Introductor of Ambassadors 194 Institution of Parliaments in France 451 452 Judges Consuls 490 K. KIng now Reigning 9 Kings Houshold 61 Kings Pleasures 197 Kitchin of the Mouth 96 Knights of the Holy Ghost 337 Knights of the Order of St. Michael of Mont Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem 343 L. LAnguage of France 14 Laws 11 Legitimated Children of Henry the Great and their Descendants 35 Legitimated Children of the present King 33 Life-Guard-Men 237 Light Horse of the Kings Guard 264 Light Horse 357 Lords in France that bear the stile of Princes 59 Louvre 159 M. MAdame and her Family 28 her Houshold 307 Madrid Palace 161 Manners of the French 11 Maritime Forces 371 Marshals of France 351 Marshals of the Lodgings c. 175 Marshalsy of France 478 Master of the Kings Houshold Great 74 Master of the Kings Houshold First 77 Master of the Artillery 368 Master of the Ceremonies 193 Master of the Horse 143 Masters of Requests 388 Measures of the French 8 Military Officers of the Kings Housholds 223 Money 7 Monsieur and his Family 28 his Houshold 294 his Guards 305 Musick of the Kings Chappel 72 of the Chamber 135 Musqueteers on Horseback of the Kings Guards 269 N. NAmes and Surnames 17 Name of France 1 Name of the King 19 Nobility of France 313 Number of the Inhabitants 14 Numbring the French Manner 18 Nursery of Horses or the Haras 151 O. OAth of Allegiance taken by the Bishops 65 Officers under the title of Valet de Chambres 121 124 Officers for Journeys 185 Officers of the Kings Orders 341 Officers whose Incomes are yearly returned into the Exchequer or Treasure Royal 498 Order observ'd when the King dines in publick 83 Order of the Kings March 239 Orders of Knighthood in France 333 Orders of Knighthood call'd the Kings Orders 334 Order of Quartering an Army 182 P. PAntler 80 483 Park 167 Parliament of Paris 455 Peers of France 315 316 Physicians Kings 139 Porters of the Bedchamber 124 Precedence in the Kings Court 256 Prerogative of the King 19 Princes of the Blood 29 Priviledges of the Commoners Tabled in the Kings Houshold 216 of Chyrurgions 221 of the Court Clergy 220 of Lifeguard-Men 222 of all the Kings Officers ibid. Provost of France 186 Punishments in France 14 Q. QUerries 154 R. REcreations 17 Religion 11 Riches of France 6 Royal Houses 159 Royal Housholds 272 S. SEcretary of State 380 of the Housholds 195 Seven Offices 93 Soil of France 5 St. Germains en Laye 162 Stables Kings 148 Stature of the French 15 Stranger-Princes in France 39 Style of the King 20 Suisse Guards 241 Regiment 266 Surveyor of Royal Buildings 158 T. TAxes 493 Taylors Kings 128 Title of the King 21 Trade of France 6 Tradesmen following the Court 213 Treasurers of France 470 Treasury-Royal 499 Troops of the Kings Houshold and Officers 223 357 V. VAlets de Chambre 113 Versailles 171 Virtuosi of France 510 Universities of France 501 Ushers of the Chamber 114 W. WAterservers or Serdeau's 82 Waters and Forests 474 Woolf-Hunting 211 Y. YEomen of the Chamber 123 Climate Bounds Dimensions and Figure Division Air. Soil Commodities Riches and Trade Money and Coins Weights and Measures Buildings Inhabitants Laws Religion Manners Punishments Number Language Stature and Complexion Diet. Attire Recreations Names Computation and Numbring * Sire a Title anciently given to most great Lords who were petty Soveraigns though now only to Kings Wages Prerogative Oath Office * A Box containing the Kings Plates Napkins Knives c. Functions and Prerogatives * The Nave is the Box containing the Kings Plates Napkins Knives c. * Caraffes are large Glasses in form of those used for Vinegar at our Tables Function and Priviledges Their Functions and Priviledges A Stick used in the Pallmall Antiquity of this Office Present Functions and Priviledges Oath 1 * A Security given to save harmless or for the true Title of Lands c. * A sort of Cistercian Monks * A certain Jurisdiction so called * Both Sword-men and Gown-men * The sixth part of a Penny †A Measure being something above half a Bushel * A Denier is the twelfth part of a Penny