without his care in thus shewing them to the light to these Volumes he hath added learned Prefaces which are a great help to the Curious But after the incomparable Book which Father Dom Jean Mabillon has publisht two Years ago nothing further can be wisht for it is Entituled De Re Diplomatica in Folio with a great number of Figures of antient Charters which this Learned Author has deciâ—er'd after the happiest way that can be and thereupon he hath made most learned Remarques to teach us how to know if they be Counterfeits which will appear an easie thing to him who has read this Book Those who have perused it can never sufficiently admire the Pains and Patience of the Author in making such Learned Discoveries as are in it and there is hardly any Work in which there appears more solid Judgment than in this which is the cause that of the small number of Authors which we can reckon among the Learned he is one of those who is most esteem'd and hath the greatest Reputation We have also from his hand several Volumes of Analects or Fragments in Octavo which he continues daily with much care There are also in this Society many other Learned Men who are continually employed upon divers subjects from whose hands we shall have in a little time the Works of St. Ambrose One may say further to their Commendation that there is not any Religious House where Idleness is more strictly avoided than in this We must know that this Abby hath been in former times often Ruin'd at the Incursions of Foreigners it then standing out of the Town The Normans and the Danes have Pillaged and Burnt it three or four times and it hath stood out some Sieges like a Fortified Town It was at that time enclosed about with deep Ditches and strong Walls which from one space to another were defended with round Towers most of which of later time have been pulled down to build the Houses round about it and there remain but two which are at the Gate on that side next the Rile St. Benoist In regard it is difficult to observe the course of the Streets in St. Germains Quarter as we have done in other parts of the Town because things are not here in a Row as elsewhere We shall therefore speak of the observable places severally endeavouring however as near as we can to describe them to the Curious in the 〈◊〉 course and thereby to spare their pains as 〈◊〉 as may be The Palace of ORLEANS OTherwise call'd The Palace of Luxembourg because it stands in the same place where formerly stood a Hôtel of that name Of all the Houses in Paris and even in the whole Kingdom there is none more regular better design'd for Architecture or more magnificent than this Palace Mary de Medicis Widow of Henry IV. caused it to be built and for that purpose made use of the ablest Artist of her time named Jacques de Brosse the same person who designed the Portal of St. Gervais of which I have already spoken That great Queen spared no Costs to leave Posterity a Monument of her magnificence All Foreign Travellers do agree that in all Italy there is nothing to be seen where Art hath been observed with more exactness and where more Grandeur and Majesty appears than in this building It is composed of a great Square Court at the further end of which is the main Body of the Building accompanied at the ends with four Pavillions and in the middle the Avant-corps which makes a fifth set off with Pillars On each side of the foresaid Court are two long Galleries a little lower than the rest of the Building each supported with 9 Arches under which one may walk dry round about the Court The Front of all this Palace is after the manner of an open Gallery with a kind of Dome in the middle supported with Pillars under which is the great Door butting upon the Ruë de Tournon at the upper part of which Street this Palace is situated which adds much to the beauty of its Avenuâ— At each end of the Galleries and also of the two Tarrasses which run along the fore-part of the Court are two other great Pavillions which stand in the same Line with the Face of the Building The Architecture of this Palace consists of Pilasters except about the great Portal and on the Garden side before a little Dome which serves for a Chapel where are some Pillars which stand off from the Work The Orders observed in this Work are the Tuscan and the Dorick with an Attique above and on the Garden side over the Tuscan and Dorick is an Ionick which makes a third Order compleat with Balustrades round about the top as also Frontons and Faces on which are great Statues in cumbent postures supporting Crowns This excellent Architecture is still more beautiful by reason of the Bossage that runs all over the Work no other Ornaments being necessary All that you see here is according to the plain and true Rules of Art which is the cause that all those who are any thing knowing in Architecture take more delight in considering this Palace and observe more beauties in it than those who regard only the things without knowing the true value This Palace is at present inhabited by two illustrious Princesses Daughters of the late Duke of Orleans only Brother of Lewis the XIII On the left hand as you come in are the Apartments of Mademoisell d'Orleans and on the right those of Madam the Dutchess of Guise her Sister In the first mentioned are several excellent Plasons and very rich Furniture in the last among other things you ought to see the Gallery painted by the Famous Rubens of Antwerp who was invited from Flanders on purpose to paint it These Paintings are great Pictures on the Pannels between the Divisions in which are represented the principal actions of Henry the IV his Life more especially those in which Mary of Medicis had any concern No Man can desire to see any thing more exactly designed or better perform'd but that which is most to be admired is the excellent Colouring which this famous Master used in his Works in which thing he surpast all others Often do the Young Painters come and study in this Gallery and in regard it is all throughout of his manner they may easily here learn the Ideas of Excellent Peinture The Garden was formerly very beautiful and full of little Groves and cover'd Walks but several hard Winters having killed many of the Trees it hath been thought necessary to cut up the rest to make room for others which they have already begun to plant at the end of the great Walk before the Parterre they designed to make a Fountain so much of it as is already made is of a very good kind of Architecture It is a kind of Niche adorn'd in the fore-part with four great Tuscan Pillars charg'd with Congelations on which are Sea-Gods holding
hath represented the Assumption This is one of the finest things that he ever did St. Germain's Fair is kept near St. Sulpice at the end of the Ruë de Tournon it begins at the Feast of the Purification 2 Feb. and lasts to the first Day of Lent nay it continues often to Easter The place is not extraordinary it is composed of several cover'd Walks disposed in a square form and crossing one another Here the Shop-keepers and Merchants keep their Stations and sell here generally all kind of Merchandize whatsoever Tradesmen are priviledged to come to this Fair from all parts There are some Shops here full of very rich Commodities and very curious things And in that of M. Herot you may meet with some Pictures of very great price Monsleur the Abbot Bourdelot dwells in the Ruë de Tournon whose profound Learning has gain'd him mighty reputation Every Wednesday he holds Conferences in his House and the principal Discourses are in the Physicks In the Ruâ— Gerance behind St. Sulpice is the Hôtel da Leon belonging to the Marquess of Sourdiac who built it after the Designs of the Sieur Robellini but it being unfinished we see but a small part of those Beauties which would have appear'd in case the Work had been continued From hence we go to the Premontrez whose House stands in a 〈◊〉 place as you enter into the Ruë de Seve at the meeting of Six Streets Their Church is small the Portal is of the Sieur Dorbay's Work The Queen-Mother gave wherewithal to raise it And these Fathers owe theâ—r Establishment to that pious Princess Further on is the Abbaïe aux Bois of the Cistercian Order They were removed hither from Picardy about Sixty years since Near this is The Hospital for Distracted people call'd Les Petites-Maisons here you may see a Crucifix of great esteem and done by an excellent Master In the same Street also is the Hospital call'd Les Incurables the lower Rooms of which Hospital are curiously vaulted and the Diseased people lookt after very carefully The Church hath nothing in it extraordinary It is contrived in the middle of the Apartments equally distant from the Men and Women They receive none into this House but such as are afflicted with incurable Diseases From the Ruë de Seve you pass into the Ruë de Grenelle which begins at the Carrefour or open place of the Red Cross near the Premontrez The first thing you take notice of in this Street is the Hôtel d'Auvergne in which dwells Monsieur the Count d'Auvergne Colonel General of the Light Horse of France Brother of the Duke of Boüillon and Nephew of the famous Monsieur de Turenne This Hôtel is not extraordinary well built but the Garden is large and very pleasant Further on at the Corner of the Ruë du Bacq stands a large House and very convenient habitation in which the Spanish Embassador used to live Near this place dwells a Sculptor at whose House you may see several Bas-reliefs not ill designed they are of the manner of one named Vanobstal originally of Bruxelles who was the first that brought the gust of Bas-reliefs into France out of Italy There are some things of his at Versailles which are very much esteem'd more especially those over the Doors of the Grotto Beyond this is the Hôtel de Navailles a well built House it consists of one great square Pavillion high raised and overlooking all the adjacent Gardens which renders the aboad very pleasant Here formerly dwelt Monsieur de Cogneux who built it From hence you come to The House of the Sieur Roland one of the most knowing and Curious Men of all Paris in Buildings This House as also the Gardens which have all the delights one can desire are worth seeing Here are Fountains Arbours Perspectives and Parterres of the best sort The Apartments are neatly furnish'd and all things handsom especially the Stair-case which is of a singular design and well approved by the Curious At the end of this Street in the adjoyning Fields you discover The Hotel Royal called Les Invalides OF all the King's Buildings there is not any in which there appears more of magnificence and piety together than in this since all that prodigious expence which hath been bestow'd on this Work is solely intended for the maintenance of crippled Souldiers who being disabled to serve any longer in the Army would be forced to lead a Languishing and Miserable life were it not for the support which they find in this House where they are supply'd with all things and may end the course of their Lives in the Exercise of Christian Piety But that which is not a little surprising is that all this vast Edifice was compleated as it now is in less than Eight Years and in the height of the War About the Year 16** they began to lay the first Foundations of this curious Structure which at present makes one of the Chief Ornaments of Paris It is exactly square and contains in its Circumference five Courts of the same Figure one great one in the middle and two lesser on each side all which are compaâ—t about with Apartments in which the Souldiers have their several Lodgings That in the middle is much greater than the rest and the buildings about it are of a handsom Symmetry They are composed of two rows of Arches one above the other which makes so many Corridors or Galleries by means of which you may walk dry round the Court. The top of the Buildings are adorn'd with Ornaments representing Trophies of Armes and such like things which make a very handsom Show At the end of the Court just opposite to the principal Entry is the Portal of the Church composed of two ranks of Pillars the first or lowermost of the Composite order and the second of the Corinthian Here you may enter into that part of the Church which is appointed for those of the House as for those who come from abroad they are building another part already somewhat advanced and this will be incomparably more magnificent The Model in little may be seen in a Pavillion raised on purpose if it be performed according to this Model nothing can be seen more glorious or of a greater design It will be a Dome very high raised under which the great Altar is to be placed which will be enricht with all the most beautiful Ornaments which the most studied Architecture can produce The Covering is to be gilt like that at Val de Grace but they intend this to be more regular and better perform'd both for the disposition and the Ornaments You ought to see the Infirmaries which are divided from the rest of the House but not far off The Beds are neat and the Sick receive there all the help and assistance that is necessary they are served by the Lazar's who make it their particular profession to wait upon the Sick in all parts of the Town as well as in this House But that which
preserve a great quantity of curious Arms of all sorts among others the Armour of Francis I. which he wore at the Battel of Pavie where one may discern on the cuirasse the Blows which he received before he would yield himself a Prisoner to the Spaniards to whom he dearly sold his Liberty There is also a Fusil or small Gun which the City of Paris presented to Monseigneur the Dauphin and which is here preserved because it was the first Fire-Arms he ever shot in In fine the Curious and all others may here find rarities enough to satisfie their eye for beside the singular Beauty of the Work one may here see a mighty quantity of Gold and Silver which is a very great entertainment to such who are apt to be dazled with the Splendor of the metal and consider that more than the excellency of the Work Of late the King hath caused the finest things in the Garde-Meuble to be removed to Versailles yet still there remains a great number that are well worth seeing The Palace of the Tuilleries Having seen these things you ought to go next to the Palace of the Tuilleries which extends it self along the Garden in one continued Line it is composed at the ends of two great square Pavilions adorned with Pilasters of the Composite Order and of one great Pavilion like a Dome in the middle under which is the great Hall and Stair-case that leads to the Apartments It is to be observed that the middle of this Building namely the great Pavilion the two Terrasses and the two lesser Pavilions at the Ends were built at the charges of Katharine de Medicis who was very skilful in Architecture as we perceive by these Buildings which are all of a most curious proportion after the Ionick and Corinthian Orders there are three Ranks of Pillars with an Attick over head For this work she employed Philibert de Lorme and John Bulan the prime Masters of their Age. The rest of the Buildings were performed by Henry IV. and Lewis XIV who in our days hath repaired this Palace as we now see it There stood once under the Pavilion in the middle a great Stair-case which was one of the finest things of its kind in the whole World for its disposition and for the strange boldness of the Work Which Stair-case was built after the designs of the forementioned Pilibert de Lorme but of late to the great regret of the Curious it has been taken down for the meliorating the Prospect of the Tuilleries to the Court and for employing the Great Hall to the enlargement of the Kings Apartment Which Apartment as also that of the Queen and that of Monseigneur the Dauphin are enrich'd with excellent Paintings of the ablest Masters of France In a Gallery which reaches the whole length of the Kings Apartment on the Court-side you may see several Cabinets enrich'd with Mignatures and Chissel-work extremely fine with several Tables of inlaid Stone-work very beautiful among others one very large upon which is the representation of a Salamander which was the device of Francis I. and therefore this is supposed to have been his Table Here are also some of Sicilian Marble of one Piece of a wonderful variety of Colours This Gallery hath often served for the Reception and Audience of Ambassadors and at such times it hath been adorn'd with Rich Tapistry and other precious moveables In the Rooms below are preserved abundance of antient Statues and the Bust of this King made by the Cavalier Bernin when he came from Rome to draw the Designs of the Louvre One may see there also the Plans raised of all the strongest places of Europe which have been drawn out with all care and exactness that is possible The other moity of the Building on that side next the Rüe St. Honorè contains the Chappel which is not yet finished and the Theater otherwise called la Salle des Machines in which the Court was formerly entertain'd with Comedies of which Psyche was the last which after it had been Acted for many years did still draw a world of admirers But since the invention of Opera's came to us from Italy serious Playes though mingled with musick and Entries of Ballets have given place to Song and continued Musick on whatsoever Subject it be This Theatre without contradiction is the most magnifick of Europe not excepting that of the Duke of Parma so much boasted of One cannot desire any thing to be better contrived Every Person may see and hear extreme conveniently The Room behind the Stage for the Machines is very large As for the Decorations no Costs have been wanting all the House is painted in Marble Colours The Galleries are supported with Pillars whose Capitals and Pedistals are gilded as is also the Ceiling which is curiously Carved The Prospect of all this Palace is into the Garden of the Tuilleries to which Garden this Palace also serves as a most Magnifick Perspective every one of its Allies being answered with a face of the Building of most beautiful Architecture This Garden is at present one of the most regular of Europe though it be not as yet adorned with Statues as in time it will be There is in it an open Theatre with all the necessary parts thereunto belonging as the Ancients contrived them and which we see in those of Rome Trees are planted here which serve in the like manner with the Ordinary Decorations in other Theatres It is extreme great and may contain a great number of People On the other side of the great Ally stands the Statue of Truth raised upon a great Pedestal It is the Work of a famous Sculptor called Ville Franche who came from Cambray Monsieur le Nostre continued the Works in the Tuilleries and it is he also who manages those admirable Garden-Works at Versailles You must by no means neglect to see his Cabinet which is very well furnished with Pictures and Busts of Marble most of which came out of Italy among others one may easily observe a Picture of indifferent size done by Dominicain representing Adam and Eve in the Terrestrial Paradise this is esteemed one of the finest Pieces in all Paris We ought to observe that the old Louvre is joyned to the Palace of the Tuilleries by the great Gallery which extends it self all along the River at the end which was begun first there are several Paintings and other Ornaments of the design of Monsieur Poussin but they being found too small for the Place where they stand the Work never proceeded further but remained imperfect as it is the beginning of this Gallery is the work of Philibert de Lorme and the rest of Metezeau he who undertook that great service at the Ditch of Rochelle which was the chief occasion of the taking that Rebel Town Upon this subject the following Epigram was made in his honour Haeretico palmam retulit Methezaeus ab hoste Cum rupellanas aggere cinxit aquas Dicitur Archimedes terram
which are built round that Church-yard were built as reported out of the Confiscate Goods of the Jews when they were expelled Paris under the Reign of Philip Augustus In probability there is not any one place in the whole World in which more dead bodies are interred which caused the Spanish Ambassador who resided in Paris during the League to advise the Citizens at such time when the Famine pressed them cruelly to grind the Bones of the dead in this Church-yard to make Bread but this Counsel was not followed coming from a drolling Spaniard M. de Mezeray so well known of the Learned for his delicate History of France is here Interred You may see in this Place a Pyramid adorn'd with Bass-releifs much esteemed on the top of which is erected a Cross this was set up in the last Age during the horrible Confusions of the League There is in the same place a Skeleton of the Workmanship of Permain Philon. Further on is The Cross du Tiroüer where as it is said Queen Grunehault was by the Command of Clotaire drawn at the Tail of a Wild horse But this is not well proved and it is much disputed among the Historians whether this Queen was the most illustrious or the most wicked of her Age. For there are as many that speak well of her as ill St. Gregory the Great Pope Gregory of Tours Fortunatus Bishop of Poictiers Paulus Aemilius du Tillet the Bishop of Meaux and Pasquier in his Enquiries of France are all full of her Encomiums Those who condemn her are Aimoin Gaguin Minister-general of the Mathurins Belle-Forest du Haillant and Vigner whose Authorities are of great force in History So that it will be difficult to affirm any thing positively of this great Princess who has been more spoken of than ever any Queen of France hath been Something lower are The Fathers of the Oratory whose house stands in the same place where formerly was the Hôtel de Bouchages Tho their Church is not yet quite finished it is however already extreme handsom and of a design very Regular They have here on their great Altar a Tabernacle of a magnifick sort of Architecture the Pillars are of an admirable Sicilian Marble It is a Dome raised very high with four Porticoes supported with six Pillars of the composite order which stand out from the Work the Ornaments of which are perfectly well wrought and the Proportions exact A great Fabrick after this Model might well please the most difficult Persons in matters of Architecture The Cardinal de Berulle is Interred in one of the Cha pels where his Tomb may be seen and on it his representation in white Marble He was their Founder as all men know These Fathers have a very handsom Library The place in Truth is a little too dark but that does not impair its value in regard it contains a great number of excellent Volumes both Printed and Manuscript among which are a good number of Greeks and Arabians given them by Monsieur de Sancy Ambassador of France to the Porte Who during the time of his Embassie made an exact search and collection of such Greek Rarities which had scaped the Barbarity of the Turks Such a Library this could never be better disposed of than into the custody of these Fathers there being among them some Persons of most profound Learning as appears by their Works so much sought after and bought up by all Scholars One might mention here Father Cointe and Father Senault both which have left the World such excellent Writings the one in History the other in Moral Philosophy Father Malbranche who composed the Enquiry of Truth Father Thomassin who wrote the Discipline of the Church in three Volumes in Folio Father Dubois who by order of Monseigneur the Arch-Bishop is now about the Ecclesiastical History of Paris This Congregation hath also furnished us with the ablest Preachers as Monsieur the Bishop of Agen so famous by the name of Father Mascaron the Course of whose Sermons were most emphatical Father le Boust and Father Hubert who Preach'd a Lent at Nostre-Dame to a marvellous concourse of People and the last year at Court not to mention Father Morin and divers other famous Preachers who lived not long since As you leave the Fathers of the Oratory and pass on along the Rüe St. Honorè you ought to visit The Palais Cardinal which the People now call the Palais-Royal because the King was here Educated when young The Hôtel de Sillery stood formerly in the little Court which is before the Gate which Cardinal Richlieu caused to be pulled down to give the better sight to the Palace he had then caused to be built here after the dessigns of the Sieur Mercier who had been esteemed a very able Architect had he raised his Buildings something higher and that is the only fault of this Palace extremely convenient in all things else It is composed of two square Courts of which the first and least is compassed about with Battlements and the second is divided from the Garden by a row of Arches which support an open Gallery which reaches from one Wing to the other through these Arches which are inclosed with Iron Grates you have a Prospect into the Garden which was form'd as it is by Monsieur le Nostre after the same Model with the Tuilleries As for the Apartments they are all most beautiful and convenient and all the Court resided here a long time during the Regency Above all we ought to see the Gallery where Cardinal Richlieu caused to be painted all the famous men of France From the time of Suger Abbot of St. Dennis down to the time of his Ministry That is in effect the whole French History from Lewis the young to the Reign of Lewis XIII Monsieur the Duke of Orleans dwells here at present thô the House belongs to the King to whom Cardinal Richlieu bequeathed it in his Will together with five hundred thousand Crowns and that Curious Suit of Tapistry which is exposed on the great Feast of Corpus Christi You must not forget to see the Cabinet of Monsieur the Chevalier de Loraine where are curious Pictures of the best Masters it is near the Garden which adds not a little to its beauty In a Hall belonging to this Palace is the Theatre where they represent the Opera of famous M. de Lully which draws to it continually a mighty concourse of People lovers of Musick No part of Europe yields more pleasing Objects be it for the Dances or for the Symphonie or in fine for the singularity of the Habits but that which is most considerable is the wonderful agreement of the French Musick with the Italian which was once thought a thing impossible and yet even in this M. de Lully hath been mighty successful Nor has the Age been ungrateful to his extraordinary Parts for he draws a very great Revenue from the Representations of these Pieces The Verse is ordinarily
composed by Monsieur Quinault of the French Academy Monsieur Corneille the younger hath also made some things and Belâ—rophon is of his writing From hence you go to The Hospital of the Quinze-Vingts which St. Lewis caused to be built in his time for 300 blind Gentlemen whom he brought with him out of the Holy Land where they had lost their Eyes in fighting against the Sarazens Over the Gate oâ— this Hoâ—pital there stands a Statue of that Holy King which thò of ill Workmanship resembles him very much as the Antiquaries pretend Further in the same Street is St. Roch the Parish Church for all this Quarter in which there is a very exquisite Crucifix wrought by Monsieur Anguerre A little higher stands the Convent of the Jacobins wherein is nothing very remarkable unless it be the Library which is one of the finest in Paris After this you may take notice of the Portal before the House of Monsieur Pussort Counsellor of State it is lately built of the Ionick Order with an Attick over head in which are the Arms of the Owner This is a small piece of Architecture very well esteemed The inside of the Fabrick is handsom especially on that side next the Garden which is very curious and pleasant Near this on the same side is The Convent of Feüillans Henry III. first brought them out of Languedoâ— in number sixty with the blessed John de la Barrâ—ere Author of the Reform of St. Bernards Order At first they were lodged at the Boâ—s de Vinâ—â—nnes till this house which was building for 'em should be finished The great Gate which fronts upon the Rüe Saint Honorè is but newly built it is composed of four Corinthian Pillars that support a Fronton on which are the Arms of France The first Court which serves as a Paruis or open Place before the Church is very well and the Building over the Gate where you enter is not ill contrived The Portal of the Church is one of the most Regular of all Paris and it was the first Essay of Monsieur de Mansard Here are two Orders of Pillars Ionick and Corinthian fluted and set off with Ornaments Within the Church are some Chappels handsom enough among others that of Monsieur the Marquess of Rostaing adorn'd almost like that at St. Germain l'Auxerrois with Pillars and Busts of Marble On one side of the great Altar you may see a Tomb after the ancient manner It is of white Marble with a great Urn of the same curiously wrought tho it has no Epitaph yet we may conclude from the Arms in the fore part of it that it belongs to the Illustrious House of Rohan The Quire behind the great Altar where the Religious Sing is adorned with Pictures representing the Principal Actions of our Saviours Life These Fathers have very Magnisick Ornaments which with all their Plate also were given by several Persons of Quality They have a Library not very numerous but however there are in it very curious Pieces In their Cloister you will find divers Paintings representing the Life of St. Bernard their Founder Among these Religious there are some famous Preachers As the Reverend Father Dom. Cosme at present Bishop of Lombez the Reverend Father Hieresme and some others As you go from hence you pass before the Capuchins where there is nothing remarkable and so on to The Nuns of the Assumption These Nuns had their abode formerly in the Street called Ruë de la mortellerie where they were Hospital-Sisters under the name of Haudriettes their House in that place having been founded by one Stephen Haudry Esquire to the King St. Lewis to Harbor and they to serve the poor and sick as Historians tell us But being too much straitned for Room in that street they removed to this place where they changed their name as well as Situation Of late years they have raised here several Noble buildings especially their Church which is a Dome or Cupulo after the Roman manner very high the inside of which is adorned with Corinthian Palasters supporting a Cornish over which is a Row of Windows between which hang certain pictures representing the Life of the Holy Virgin well painted But the Plafon or Painting within the Ceiling of the Dome is that which is most remarkable it was done by M. de la Fosse and represents the Assumption with the Angels carrying and following the Blessed Virgin into Heaven all which is both for the boldness of the painting and the design the finest that can be and one of the most finish'd things of Paris The Nuns Quire is very handsom but is difficult to see by reason of the great Grate that divides it from the Church which Grate is no ill imitation of that at Val-de-Grace As you go out you ought to take notice of the Portico supported by eight Corinthian Pillars with a Fronton and a Cornish the Carving Work of which is not yet finished All this Building was designed by M. Herard director of the Academy of Painters which the King maintains at Rome Having seen these things you need to proceed no further this way there being nothing considerable in the Fauxburgh of St. Honorè unless it be the Workhouse of Monsieur Anguerre where you may see some works in Sculpture and a young Garden or Nursery which in Spring time has very curious Flowers This last belongs to the King who caused it to be made here from hence to furnish the Tuilleries with such Flowers as are needful to set of the Parterres there is also in this place a great number of Orange-Trees well kept and preserved Over against the Nunnery of the Assumption is the Hôtel de Luxembourg belonging to Monsieur the Marechal of Luxemburg who inhabits here The Garden is extreme pleasant Next to this are the Capuchin Nuns founded by Henry IV. in pursuance of the pious intention of Loüise de Loraine Widow of Henry III. They live very austerely On one side of their Gate a Fountain has been erected on which are these two Verses of Monsieur de Santeüil Tot Loca Sacra inter pura est quae labitur Vnda Hanc non impuro quisquis es ore bibas Through Sacred Cells has this pure Water pass'd With lips as pure do thou this Water tast The Hôtel of Vendôme is near this and takes up a long Space in the Street It was built by the Duke of Vendôme natural Son of Henry IV. who always lived here The inside is very beautiful The Front of the great Stair-case which is of the dessigne of M. Mansard is adorn'd with many Pillars which as you come in make a delicate shew The Garden is great but neglected as is all the rest of the House The Duke of Vendôme Governor of Provence and Grandson of him above-mentioned lives at present in the Temple with Monsieur the Grand Prior of France his Brother Having thus run through the Street of St. Honorè let us now enter upon the next
Quarter which is called la Butte St. Roch. The Quarter de la Butte St. Roch. To view this Quarter in Order you should begin at the Ruë de Richelieu where as soon as you enter you have on the right hand The Palais Brion People give it that name because the Duke of Amville Earl of Brion for some time made his abode here This Building is part of the Palais Royal and was begun by the Cardinal of Richelieu who designed it for his Library But some years since the King hath given it to two Academies that of Painting and that of Architecture The first of these was established by M. des Noyers under the direction of M. de Chambray Brother of M. de Chant-Loup from whose pen we have several excellent pieces in print among others The Parallel of the Ancient and Modern Architecture Palladio translated into French c. This Academy was re established by Monsieur the Chancelier Seguier after whose death that beautiful Catafalque at the Fathers of the Oratory was erected to his Memory as to their Protector Monsieur Colbert succeeded him in this Charge and in the affection he bore them Every day here is exposed a naked man which is the Model by which the young Scholars design in order to attain from Nature her self the great Art of Painting an Art that requires a most assiduous Study The great Hall where they meet is full of abundance of Pictures done by the most able Masters in the Academy and of all those pieces that have been won for Prizes which are here distributed to raise emulation among the young Artists and of the Master-pieces of those who have desired to be admitted into the Academy The Representations and Busts of several persons who have contributed to the establishment of this Academy are here also preserved And in regard Painting is not the only thing here exercised but Sculpture also they have got hither from Rome the models in Plaister of the most famous Statues of Antiquity as that of Flora of Hercules in the Palace of Farneze of Venus of the two Wrestlers and of several others Here are also several Bass-reliefs and Sculptures better than ordinary The names of those who are the present Members of this Academy are Monsieur le Brun Escuyer principal Painter to the King Chancellor and chief Rector of the Academy Rectors M. Anguier Painter M. Girardon Sculptor Adjuncts to the Rectors M. de Séve the Elder P. M. des Jardins S. Counsellors Professors M. Beaubrun P. Professor and Treasurer M. Buister S. M. Mauperché P. M. Buiret S. M. Coyel P. Professors M. Regnaudin S. M. Paillet P. M. de Séve P. M. Blanchard P. M. de la Fosse P. M. le Hongre S. M. Coyzevaux S. M. Hoüasse P. M. Tuby S. M. Audran P. M. Jouvenet P. M. Montaigne P. Adjuncts to the Professors M. Corneille the Elder P. M. Rabon S. M. Monier P. M. Massou S. M. Verdier P. M. Licherye P. M. de Mameur P. Professors in Geometry Perspective and Anatomy M. Leclerc Engraver Professor in Geometry and Perspective M. Friquet P. Professor in Anatomy Counsellors M. Rousselet Graver M. Yvart P. M. Tortebat P. M. Rabon P. M. Silvestre G. M. Edelinck G. M. Baptiste Monoyé P. M. Herault P. M. Vandermeulin P. M. Audran G. M. Guerin Secretary M. de S. Georges Historiogapher M. Joblo Assistant to the Professor in Geometry M. le Maire P. M. Vleugels P. M. Valet G. M. Picard G. M. Huilliot P. M. Genoelle P. M. Legros S. M. Mainer S. M. Vignon P. M. Mazeline S. M. Hallier P. M. Garnier P. M. Bourguignon P. M. Mignard P. M. Lalemant P. M. Cotelle P. M. Armand P. M. Baudet G. M. Nocret P. M. de Trois P. M. Corneille P. M. Bonnemer P. M. Facus P. M. Tiger P. M. Lambert P. M. le Comte S. M. de Fredemontagne P. M. Lespingola S. M. Natiè P. M. Cheron P. M. Parossel S. M. de la Mare Richard P. M. Boulogne P. M. Allegrein P. M. Loir G. M. Masson G. M. Manier S. M. Flamand S. M. Vancleve S. M. Vanbecq P. M. Rabon P. M. Beville P. M. Cornu S. M. Boulongue the younger P. M. le Blon P. M. Toutin P. M. Coypel P. M. Benoist P. M. Arnoul P. M. Giffard G. M. Person P. M. Alexandre P. M. Prou S. M. Carrè P. M. Hallè P. M. Lemoine P. Decorator In a lower Gallery they keep a many Busts and ancient Statues which the King hath sent for out of Italy There is a very considerable number of them which are placed in Ranks one degree higher than another as in an Amphitheater in which place there stands also a Model in Plaister of that beautiful Pillar which the Roman Senate Consecrated to the Memory of the Emperor Trajan which is the best Monument that remains of the ancient Grandeur of Rome by this we may see the Perfection to which the Ancients had brought the Art of designing The King caused this Model to be made at a very great expence It hath cost near two hundred thousand Franks Francis I. had made the same thing with a design to have raised such another Pillar at Fontainebleau but Death preventing the Stones â—ay by neglected and were after made use of to build a stable M. Felibien hath the care and oversight of these things to place them in their proper stations No man understands these matters better than himself as appears sufficiently by his Works We shall say in its proper place how much the Learned are obliged to him for those Books with which he has enrich'd the Publick as his Dictionary of the Arts his lives of the Painter which he has published in four Volumes perfectly well writ besides which we have hardly any thing on that Subject in our Language with several other pieces on divers subjects of Archi tecture and Painting The other Academy established in this Palais Brion is that of Architecture which takes up all the Apartments at the further end of the Court This Academy the King erected in the year 1672. and placed it under the Authority of the Superintendant of the Buildings of which the illustrious Monsieur Blondel is the Director Who had the honour to teach the Mathematicks to the Dauphin of whom we shall speak more at large when we come to treat of his Cabinet It is he also who makes the publick Lectures of Architecture in this place The Hall where the Members of this Academy assemble is adorned with curious designs and one may easily distinguish from the rest the Model which the Chevalier Bernin made of the Louvre when the King sent for him from Rome on this account In the middle of the Court is placed a Horse of Brass a little bigger than the life This the King caused to be brought from Nancy It stands upon a Pedestal and remains here till it be removed to some place where it may be more exposed to publick View When you go from hence you
Science the Reader will not be displeased to see their names and they are M. Duclos Physician M. Carcavi Mathematitian M. Huguens M. M. Blondel M. M. Perault P. M. du Hamel Secretary to the Academy M. The Abbot Gallois M. M. Mariotte M. M. Casâ—â—ni M M. du Vernay P. M. Bourdelin Chymist M. Dâ—daâ—t P. M. Borelli M. M. de la Hire M. M. Pothenot M M. Sedileau M. M. The Abbot de Lanion M. M. Couplet M. The Names of those Members who are deceased since 1666. About which time this Academy was first established by Monsieur Colbert at the Solicitation of M. Duclos and M. the Abbot of Bourzay are M. de la Chambre P. M. Frenicle M. M. Pequet P. M. Roberval P. M. The Abbot Picard M. M. Gaïer P. M. Marchand P. In their Hall is a great Burning-glass which does wonderful effects when exposed to the Sun in a Cabinet near this they have a Momie brought from Egypt but of late they have not shewn it it being broke All their Rooms are filled with Books every Author being obliged to give a Copy here to obtain his Priviledge which makes the Number augment daily The Rue des Petits Champs From the Rüe Vivien of which we have been treating let us now turn to the Rüe des petits Champs which lies at the end of the other The first thing which we find remarkable in this Street as you enter from the Rüe St. Honorè is The Hôtel de la Vrilliere the abode of Monsieur de la Vrilliere de Château Neuf one of the four Secretaries of State This Hôtel is one of the fairest of Paris and best exposed to view by reason it fronts full upon the Rüe des Fossez The Portal is supported with Pillars of the Dorick Order with two great Statues upon Pedestals above The forepart of the house is in manner of a Terrase and joyns the two Wings The Court is exactly square and the outside of the Buildings hath all the 〈…〉 be desired the Ornaments being 〈…〉 exceeding just and regular proportion For the Apartments beside their Gilding and Sculpture they are adorned with most magnâ—â—â—ck Furniture among other things one may there â—â—e a Suit of Tapistry representing the twelve Months of the year of a most singular design The Gallery is full of excellent pictures of the ablest Masters There is one piece of Bassan highly esteemed and admired by all the Curious This Beautiful House is the Design of Francis Mansard Almost cross the way is The Hôtel de Emery in which Monsieur Fouquet dwelt for some time and after him Monsieur the Mareschal de Turenne It is one of the most capacious houses that you can meet with M. Perrault Controller of the Buildings uses one part of it which he has fitted up extreme neatly After this you come to The Hôtel de Ceneterre which hath this peculiar that it is encompassed on all sides with Streets It is vast and Commodious and the Garden extream pretty The Sieur le Févre of Orleans was the Architect that built it The Furniture is Magnifick Going still forward in the same street you come to The Hôtel Colbert where dwelt the deceased Monsieur Colbert Minister and Secretary of State and Controller general of the Finances or Revenue There appears in this Fabrick much regularity with an excellent Gust and very peculiar The Court is square and the Buildings about it of such a neat contrivance that you can hardly meet with the like elsewhere The Apartments are disposed with wonderful Judgment But that which is most observable is the Portal on the Court-side which is formed Vault-fashion extreme skilfully with the Kings Bust in the farther part of it of Chevalier Bernini's hand This piece of Work is in its kind one of the best performed and handsomest things that can be seen The Library is none of the least considerable Ornaments of this Hôtel it is one of the fairest that we have at present for the number of Books but chiefly for the very considerable Manuscripts which are not to be met with else where Among others there is a very Ancient Bible of the time of the Emperor Charles the Bald with a great many Volumes of Negotiations in the time of Monsieur the Cardinal Mazarine which take up all that end of the Gallery next the House Monsieur the Abbot Baluze is the Library-keeper which Learned Person is so well known through all Europe that it is needless to say any thing here in his commendation He hath published several Works which sufficiently discover his profound knowledge among others Capitularia Regum Fancorum in three Volumes in Folio certain Learned Dissertations on several contested Subjects and in fine some Pieces which time had concealed and which with great Study and pains he daily brings to light under the Title of Miscellanea to which he prefixes proper Prefaces by which we are acquainted with the Lives and Merits of the Authors Most part of these excellent things he draws from the Manuscripts of this Library On one side of this House lies The Hôtel de Boüillon la Marq. Of late this is joyned to the Hôtel Colbert and as it is now re-built it is much more commodious and neat than formerly The House of M. de Menars Master of Requests in the Generality of Paris is in the same Row next the Rüe du Mail. You may here see the famous Library of the Messieurs de Thou The Name of those Illustrious Persons to whom it hath belonged cannot but raise our esteem and curiosity for such a Collection and by the printed Catalogue we may easily perceive the number and rarity of the Books M. Quesnel who hath the care of them hath placed them in the exactest order that can be desired and this Library hath lost nothing of the Beauty and Reputation which it formerly had when it belonged to Messieurs de Thou which makes us hope that it may also e're long be publick as it was formerly Returning again from the Rüe de petits-Champs you go to The Palais Mazarin There is no place in Paris where you will meet with more Curiosities or see richer Furniture than in this Palace The front of the Building on that side next the Court is of Brick and Free-Stone with two Statues of white Marble which shew curiously as you enter The Stair-case on the right hand leads to the Apartments composed of many Chambers whose Cielings are adorned with Gilding and Pictures of the best Masters of the Age As for the Furniture it is in all the Rooms Magnific and it is continually changed with the Season of the year In one of the Chambers all the Goldsmiths Work as a great Branch for lights the Chenets and several other things were all design'd by the famous Cavalier Bernini which is infinitely more esteemed by the curious than the Metal of which they are wrought After you have gone through several Chambers on the same floor hung with rich Tapistry
also to teach the young Clerks the Ceremonies of the Church hence it is that at the four times appointed yearly for Ordination all those who are to be presented to the Arch-Bishop for Orders ought first to pass here eleven days in exhortations and instructions during which time these Fathers are obliged to entertain them freely for on this condition they enjoy the Revenue of divers Lands that lye about their House The Rue St. Martin This Street is one of the longest and straitest of Paris In the beginning of it you find the Church of St. Jacques de la Boucherie remarkable for its high Tower built out of the Confiscate Money of the Jews when they were expelled Paris It is said that Hamel a famous Chymist was here interred who found out the secret of the Philosophers Stone in the Reign of Philip Augustus But it is more credible to believe those who think that the Jews being driven from Paris he made use of that Money which they had entrusted in his hands and with it built the great Tower of this Church and the Charnel-houses of St. Innocents as we have already observed in its place John Ferne Physitian to Henry II. is also here interred He was without dispute one of the learnedst Men in that Science that ever was in France as one may easily conclude from those wonderful Cures which he performed in the Royal Family chiefly on Catherine de Medicis By which one may see the power of Art over Nature it self when a Person hath once attained the true Mastery in that Profession His Epitaph is is behind the Quire in these words Deo Immortali Opt. Max. Christo Jesu Hominum Salvatori Sacrum Johanni Fernelio Ambianensi Henrici II. Galliarum Reg is Consiliario primo Medico nobilissimo atque optimo reconditarum penitus abditarum rerum Scrutatori Explicatori subtilissimo multorum salutarium Medicamentorum inventori verae germanaeque Medicinae restitutori summo ingenio exquisitaque Doctrina Mathematico in omni genere Philosophiae claro omnibus ingenuis artibus instructo temperatissimis sanctissimisque moribus praedito Socero suo pientissimo Philibertus Bariotius supplicum Libellorum in Regia Magister magnique Regis Concilii Praeses affinitate gener pietate filius moerens posuit Anno à Salute mortalibus restituta 1558. Obiit XXVI Aprilis An. M. D. LVIII Vixit Annos LIII Sacred to the Immortal God and to Jesus Christ the Saviour of Mankind To the memory of Joh. Fernel of Amiens Counsellor and chief Physician I may add the noblest and the best to Henry II. King of France the searcher out of the most hidden and abstruse matters and the most ingenious explainer of them the inventer of many excellent Medicines the restorer of the true and genuine art of Physick an incomparable Mathematician an universal Philosopher and an absolute Scholar and besides all this of a holy and unblameable life to the memory of his most pious Father-in-Law Philibert Bariot Master of the Requests and President of his Majesties great Council in Affinity his Son-in-Law but in Duty his Son with much sorrow erected this in the year from the Redemption of the World 1558. He died April 26. in the year 1558. Aged 53. The Crucifix which stands over the Door as you enter into the Quire is the Work of Sarazin and much esteemed The Church of St Mederic was formerly called S. Peters but St. Mederic a Monk of S. Bennet's Order Native of Autun in Burgundy dying here in the reputation of Sanctity this Church took his name after the same manner as other Churches had done on like occasions At present it is Collegiate composed of twelve Chanons who are obliged to go to the grand Processions at Nôtre-dame by reason this Church depends on that Cathedral St. Julien des Menestriers Where at present a Community of Priests inhabit Formerly this was an Hospital erected by two famous Musicians or Minstrels in the year 1330. for the Relief of poor sick Women Cross the way stands the Hall or Office of the Company of East-India Merchants remarkable for certain Figures over their Gate After that you come to The Hôtel de Vic which has been repaired very lately and does now belong to divers particular persons Next you have St. Nicolas des Champs founded by King Robert whose Palace stood near this place on the very same Ground where now is S. Martins This is the Parish-Church of a very large Parish and full of People M. Gassendi one of the most famous Philosophers of this last Age is here interred in a Chappel belonging to Monsieur de Monmort Monsieur Bernier so well known for his profound Learning and for those famous Travels which he made into the Indies where he abode some time hath translated his Works into French for the ease and satisfaction of those who do not understand the Latin Tongue Near this is St. Martin des Champs This Monastery is compassed about with high Walls and Battlements after the ancient fashion with Towers from space to space as they built in old time the Church and rest of the Covent have all the marks of great Antiquity But the great Altar is according to the Modern and designed by Mansard It is composed of four Corinthian Pillars of Marble of a disposition and proportion worthy so great a Master The Order of St. Bennet have been a long time possessed of this house And Monsieur the Abbot de Lionne Son of the Secretary of State is Prior hereof which is a very considerable Revenue Some think this house was founded by Philip the first or by his Father King Robert both which kept their Court in this place But we read in some Authors that there were here even at that time very ancient Buildings and that those Kings did only repair them for their own habitation The Gate of St. Martin as well as the Fauxbourg on this side of the Town take their names from the Priory of which we have been speaking This Gate was built in the year 1674. almost at the same time with that of St. Denis It is a kind of Triumphal Arch consisting of three passages of which that in the middle is higher than the other two The work hath about fifty foot of Front and as much in heighth the Architecture is of that sort which is called Bossage rustique carved with Bas-reliefs over the Arches above which is a great Cornish of the Dorick Order and over that an Attick on which are these Inscriptions LUDOVICO MAGNO VESONTIONE SEQUANISQUE BIS CAPTIS ET FRACTIS GERMANORUM HISPANORUM BATAVORUM EXERCITIBUS PRAEF ET AEDIL. PONI C C. ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXXIV To LEWIS the Great Besanzon and the Franch Comté being twice taken and the Armies of the Germans Spaniards and Dutch being routed The Praefect and Aediles caused this to be set up in the Year from the Redemption of the World 1674. On the side next the Faux-bourg you may read this LUDOVICO
MAGNO QUOD LIMBURGO CAPTO IMPOTENTES HOSTIUM MINAS UBIQUE REPRESSIT PRAEF ET AEDIL. PONI C C. ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXXV To LEWIS the Great Who having taken Limburg silenced every where the vain threats of his Enemies The Praefect and Aediles caused this to be set up in the year from the Redemption of the World 1675. The Rampart that leads from this Gate to that of St. Denis is planted with a large walk of Trees which in some years time will make a most pleasing place where to take the Air. The design is to continue it round about the Town behind the Temple and so to the Port St. Anthoine The Work is already so far advanced that Coaches may conveniently pass from the Porte St. Denis to the Bastille The Publick is obliged for these advantagious Works to M. Blondel who designed it thus In the Faux-bourg you may see the Church of St. Laurence formerly an Abby of the Benedictin Order but at present a Parochial Church whose Parish extends a good way into the Town The Portal of this Church is very handsom and the Altar is of a very particular design contrived by the Learned M. le Pautre so well known for his excellent Works in Architecture The Ornaments and Statues belonging to this Church deserve to be well observed The Fair of St. Laurence begins on the Feast day of this Saint Aug. 10. and usually lasts a whole Month. Not long since it was used to be held in the Faux-bourg but the Fathers of Saint Lazare having built up in a piece of Ground belonging to them certain Houses and Shops proper for this purpose the Tradesmen found it convenient to remove thither which yields those Fathers a considerable Revenue Over against this is The Convent of the Recollets a neat Place Here you ought to see some Paintings of Father Luc a great imitator of Raphael among others the Picture belonging to the great Altar Their Library is also very handsom and the Books neatly bound Behind this Monastery stands the great Hospital of St. Lewis It was sounded by Henry IV. in the year 1607. For those who were visited with the Plague At present the Convalescents or those sick who are recovering of the Hôtel-Dieu are removed hither for some Weeks to take the Air. Mont-Faucon is in the adjoyning Fields This was formerly the place where they Executed Malefactors but serves at present for their Burying-place After we have gone thus far we ought to return again and enter the Town at the nearest Quarter The Rue St. Avoye Saint Lewis whose Piety was resplendent in all things built in this Street an Hospital for old decrepid Women who were attended by Beguines or Maids who observed the Rule of St. Begue a Native of Flanders whose Church being dedicated to St Avoye this Street took the same name and hath kept it notwithstanding the alteration of the Hospital which hath been since converted to a Monastery of Nuns of the Order of St. Augustin Before you enter into this Street you ought to visit the fair House of the Sieur Jaba in the Rue de St. Mederic It is very regularly built the front on that side next the Court is adorned with Pilasters and the Gate is in Bossage with Sculptures which make a very handsom shew The inside is after the same manner and this house being taken all together may pass for one of the handsomest that we can see Here are some very good Pictures And the Master knows such as well as any in Paris From hence we pass into the Rüe St. Avoye where in the first place you come to the House of the Sieur Titon neatly built A little higher and near the Fountain in a House at present belonging to M. de Marillac which promises no great matters by the outside you ought to see the Stair case the only thing in all the house that deserves your particular observation If you examine it as you ought you will find that there can be nothing imagined finer and that the disposition is extreme singular All the Curious do agree that there are but few things in Paris that come near it and tho it be but of Plaster it notwithstanding excells those which have been built with much care and richer Materials Further on the same side of the Way is the Hôtel de Montmorency which still keeps the name of those illustrious Masters to whom it formerly belonged Here lives at present Monsieur the President de Mesmes Tho the outside be Gothick yet the apartments both above stairs and below are of a very handsom disposition the Rooms are en enfilade and look upon the Garden here is also one of the best furnished Libraries And really this house hath some delights which you will hardly meet with elsewhere Cross the way is the Hôtel de Avaux built by the deceased Monsieur the Comte de Avaux so well known for those famous Embassies in which he was formerly employed The Building is great and raised with magnificence The Court is exactly square enclosed with four Wings of Building adorned with great Corinthian Pilasters reaching from the ground to the top of the Edifice which makes the fairest and the greatest object one can desire as you come in you see into the Garden through the doors quite cross the house Passing still further in the Rüe Michel le Compte which lies on the left hand dwells a Sculptor named Bertrard in whose house you will find some pieces very well designed he is best in Bas-reliefs of Plaster for Chimney-pieces and he hath made some that are well esteemed Returning again into the Rüe de St. Avoye at the end of that Street you come to The Temple This old Building still keeps the name of the Knights Templers of Jerusalem to whom it formerly belonged It is well known what a cruel disgrace befel them under the reign of Philip the fair The Croisades or Pilgrimages to the Holy Land being ceased by reason of the Turks general Invasion in all parts of Palestine these Knights whose Institution was to conduct the Pilgrims to the Holy Places thought themselves excused from that Office any longer in which there was such apparent Danger Hereupon they amassed up vast Riches and withal became so proud and dissolute that as Historians say Pope Câ—ement V. and Philip the fair agreed together to ruin and utterly abolish the whole Order as a punishment for their Crimes and scandalous Debauchery They began with the great Master who with two of his Companions the most illustrious of the Order the Pope under a specious pretext sent for out of the Isle of Cyprus As soon as they were come to Paris they were committed to Prison and being cruelly tortured till they confessed those infamous Crimes which were pretended to be proved against them they were at last condemned to be burnt alive at the place now called the Greve It is reported but with no great assurance that at the instant
of their Execution Molay who was the great Master cited the Pope and the King to appear before God in a years time Whether this Circumstance be true or not certain it is that the Pope died in less then forty days and the King hardly lived to the years end From that time the Temple came to the Kings possession by Confiscation who for some time kept here their Court but afterwards gave it to the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem who at last made this their Provincial House for the French Province Monsieur the Commandeur de Vendome is at present Grand Prior which brings him yearly a Revenue of above 20000 Crowns This place is very spacious inclosed about by ancient Walls supported with Towers the House which the Grand Prior inhabits was built of late time by Monsieur de Souvray Grand Prior also he was Son of the Mareschal de Souvray Governor to Lewis XIII But death prevented him from compleating the Edifice so much as is done is of the design of the Sieur de Lisle an able Architect who had built quite round the Court and made a Gallery supported by Pillars of which we see the beginning had the Master lived the Lodgings are at the further end of this Court with two Stair-cases in the two Pavilions of the two Wings All these things are of a very handsom Symmetry Within the inclosure of the Temple you ought to see the house of Monsieur Fremont de Ablancour a Jeweller Formerly there were many Jewellers who inhabited in this place and made counterfeit Jewels very neatly but of late years they have not been admitted to be here any longer Yet it is still to be observed that all the Artists who work here are exempt from the Jurisdiction of the City Companies And this is the reason that abundance of People who are no Free men and have not served their time take refuge within the Privilege of this Place Over the way is the Monastery of The Nuns of St. Elizabeth Whos 's Portal hath two rows of Pilasters with Statues and other Ornaments well contrived The inside of the Church is very well The Gate that leads into the Fields on this side the Town is taken down and there is no doubt but another will be raised in the place as handsom as the rest which have been new built elsewhere The Rue du Grand Chantier To see this Street in Order you ought to begin at the little Rüe des Deux Portes in which you will see a new-built house belonging to the Sieur Provost one of the Kings Secretaries who has bestowed a great deal of Care and Charges to make it so handsom as it is in one of the vilest places in all Paris On the Court-side it is adorned with Ionick Pilasters and Sculpture well performed The Stair-case which stands in the middle of the Building is as light as it can be according to its Situation But that which is most singular and the handsomest thing in the house is a great Closet the Wainscot of which is set off with Pilasters gilt the Pannels between which are of inlaid Work representing Vases full of Flowers and which is still more observable the Cieling piece and the Parquet are of the same workmanship All these pieces appear so much the finer as they are the scarcer to be met with they being almost the only things of this kind in Paris In the Street at the end of this you have the House called Les Billetes Here formerly dwelt a Jew who by a most execrable impiety burnt the Consecrated Hoast having strook it through in several places with a Penknife But by a singular Miracle it was gathered up by an old Woman who unexpectedly came into his House at that time and by her was carried to the Curate of St. Johns Church where ever after it was preserved with great Veneration This wicked Jew was for this Fact burnt alive and his House given to the Carmelite Fathers where they have since that continued The Learned Papirius Masson whos 's Writings are so well known among all Scholars is here interred The Knights of S. Lazarus do here use to make their Assemblies And the Members of the French Academy perform here the Funeral Services for those who die out of their Society The Rüe des Billetes ends at the Rüe S. Croix de la Bretonnerie so called from a Convent that stands there founded by St. Lewis in the year 1268. In which he placed Religious Mendicants of the Order of St Augustin but since that time several eminent and pious persons having conferred upon them considerable Maintenance they no longer beg because they will not hinder those who have greater need but live upon their Revenues The Wainscot Work of their Altar is very pretty but that which is most remarkable is a Bas-relief of Marble over the Seats where the Religious sit this was done by Sarazin and is highly esteemed From hence you enter into The Rüe du grand Chantier the first thing that you see here is The Hôtel de Guise built by the Princes of that Family who bore so great a share in all the Transactions of these last Ages that what relates to them makes the greatest part of the History of that time especially in the Reign of Henry III. who put to death Henry Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his Brother in the Castle of Blois where the Estates were then assembled and this he did in order to cure those Tumults and disquiets which at that time so much disturbed the Peace of France This Hôtel takes up a great deal of Ground The Gate is built after the old manner with two great round Towers The Apartments are very handsom since the considerable Reparations that have been made of late Once we might have seen here most magnific Furniture among which was a Suit of Tapistry representing the twelve Months of the year of most exquisite Workmanship this is at present at the Kings Garde-Meuble or Wardrobe and Monsieur Colbert hath caused it to be Copied Madamoiselle de Guise who at present dwells in this Hôtel hath one of the best furnished Cabinets in Paris for Curiosities In it are several pieces of Filagrame enriched with Jewels and several Miniatures extremely fine You may see there also divers pieces of Wooden Work of St. Lucie representing several Subjects of Devotion cut extremely fine not to speak of several other Curiosities little inferiour to these Cross the way is The Church of the Fathers de la Mercy a neat place The Portal will be very handsom when finished and the Altar is of a sort of Wainscot not ill wrought The Institution of these is to go into Barbary and redeem Captives like the Mathurins And this they do by the assistance of Pious People who furnish them with considerable Sums for this purpose The Hospital of the Enfans Rouges or Red Boys built for poor Orphan Children by Margaret Queen of Navarre Sister
which place happened the Murder of Lewis Duke of Orleans Assassinated by the Duke of Burgundy which caused all those Divisions between those two Houses and was the Original of those horrible troubles which troubled France during many years and never ended till towards the conclusion of the Reign of Charles VII Near the Capuchins du Marais in the Street called Rüe de Touraine is a great piece of Perspective in the Garden of the Sieur Turmeny It is a Sun-dial placed on a Piece of Rustick Arehitecture among Trees which at a distance makes a very handsom shew Over the Fountain in the Rüe de Poitou not far from hence you may read this Inscription Hic Nymphae agrestes effundite civibus urnas Vrbanas Praetor vos dedit esse Deas 1675. You Country Nymphs pour here your Water down The Provost makes you Deities o' th' Town 1675. From the old Ruë du Temple yo go to the great Street of St. Lewis passing through the Ruë de la Couture St. Gervais in which is a magnific house built by the Sieur Aubert where lives at present the Venetian Ambassador This house is one of the fairest and most capacious and the Stair-case one of the best contrived that can be seen All the Ornaments of this building are very becoming The Rue St. Louis The first thing you discover at the end of this Street is the Convent of the Nuns of Calvary of St. Bennet's Order The Church is very handsom the Altar adorned with Pictures representing in three pieces the History of our Savious Passion As you go on you come to The Hôtel of the Cardinal de Boüillon Great Almoner of France This was formerly called the Hôtel de Turenne Here is a piece of Architecture of the invention of the Sieur des Argues worthy of admiration Here is at present a numerous Library and magnific Furniture On the same side of the way is The Hôtel de Guenegaud great and very well built with several other Houses as far as the place Royal which are all of an agreeable Symmetry and make this Street very uniform throughout Of late years they have built here a Fountain and placed upon it two Tritons in Sculpture under whom are these Verses of Monsieur de Santeüil Foelix sorte tua Naïas amabilis Dignum quo flueris nacta situm loci Cui tot spendida tecta Fluctu lambere contigit Te Triton geminus personat aemula Conoha te celebrat nomine Regiam Hanc tu sorte superba Labi non eris immemor O happy Nymph happy thy lot Who hast this beautious Province got Where all thy Waters as they flow New lustre to the buildings owe. Two rival Tritons sound thy praise And high thy watry Empire raise But Nymph take heed thou dost not grow So proud that thou forget'st to flow The Place Royal. This place was built in the Reign of Henry the Great The Houses that are erected about it are very beautiful and of the same symetry They take up all that Ground which was formerly the Gardens belonging to the Palais des Tournelles which stood on the side of the Rampart in which Palace Francis II. and several other Kings his Predecessors kept their Courts But after that unhappy accident which befel Henry II. who was wounded to death by the Earl of Montgemmery in the fatal Turnament then celebrated in the Rüe St. Antoine upon the Marriage of Isabel of France to Philip II. King of Spain Catherine of Medicis Widow of the deceased King sold this Palace which had been first built by Charles V. to divers particular Persons who turned it into many Tenements but the whole Street which runs along near the Rampart still keeps the ancient name The place of which we were speaking is exactly square composed of six and thirty Pavilions raised of the same Symmetry the materials are of Brick and Free-stone raised upon a long row of Arches under the shelter of which one may walk round the place In the middle of these Buildings they have left a great void piece of Ground which at present is about to be converted into a Garden and is to be inclosed with a Palisade of Iron into which none may enter but those belonging to the Houses about the Place who only are to have keys Report says this Work will cost a hundred Pistolls for every House which we may easily believe if we consider the vast quantity of Iron which it will require In the middle of this Garden stands the Statue in Brass of Lewis XIII on Horseback raised on a great Pedestal of white Marble on the four sides of which you may read the following Inscriptions In the forepart POUR LA GLORIEUSE ET IMMORTELLE MEMOIRE DU TRES-GRAND ET TRES-INVINCIBLE LOUIS LE JUSTE XIII DU NOM ROI DE FRANCE ET DE NAVARRE ARMAND CARDINAL DUC DE RICHELIEU SON PRINCIPAL MINISTRE DANS TOUS SES ILLUSTRES ET HEUREUX DESSEINS COMBLE D'HONNEURS ET DE BIENFAITS D'UN SI GENEREUX MONARQUE A FAIT ELEVER CETTE STATUE POUR UNE MARQUE ETERNELLE DE SON ZEIE DE SA FIDELITE ET DE SA RECONNOISSANCE 1639. To the Glorious and Immortal Memory of the most Great and most Invincible Lewis the Just XIII of that name King of France and Navarre Armand Cardinal Duke of Richelieu his Principal Minister in all his Illustrious and Happy Designs being loaden with Honours and Benefits from so Generous a Monarch hath caused this Statue to be erected as an eternal mark of his Zeal Fidelity and Gratitude 1639. On the hinder part next the Minimes LUDOVICO XIII CHRISTIANISSIMO GALLIAE ET NAVARRAE REGI JUSTO PIO FOELICI VICTORI TRIUMPHATORI SEMPER AUGUSTO ARMANDUS CARDINALIS DUX RICHELIUS PRAECIPUORUM REGNI ONERUM ADJUTOR ET ADMINISTRATOR DOMINO OPTIME MERITO PRINCIPIQUE MUNIFICENTISSIMO FIDEI SUAE DEVOTIONIS ET OB INNUMERA BENEFICIA IMMENSOSQUE HONORES SIBI COLLATOS PERENNE GRATI ANIMI MONUMENTUM HANC STATUAM EQUESTREM PONENDAM CURAVIT ANNO DOMINI 1639. To Lewis XIII Of France and of Navarre the most Christian King To the Just the Pious the Happy the Conqueror and the Triumpher always August Armand Cardinal and Duke of Richelieu His chief Minister of State To his excellent Master and most bountiful Prince as an eternal Monument of his Faithfulness Devotion and Gratitude for those innumerable Benefits and great Honours conferred upon him caused this Statue to be erected in the year of our Lord 1639. On the right side POUR LOUIS LE JUST SONNET QVe ne peut la Vertue que ne peut le Courage Jay domté pour jamais l'Heresie en son fort Du Tage imperieux â—'ay fait trembler le bord â—t du Rhin â—usqu ' à l'El're a crû mon heritage Je sauvé par mon bras l'Europe d'eselavage Et si tant de travdun n'eussent hâsté mon sort Jusse attaque â— ' Asie d'un pieux effort Jeusse du sainte Tombâ—â—â— vange le long servage Armand le
Saviour in the seventy seventh year of his age March 10. 1678. To his dear Friend Nicolas le Camus Chief Officer of the Exchequer erected this Monument There are also in this Library certain pieces of Opticks made by the famous Father de Niseron a Parisian one of the most knowing Men in this Science that hath perhaps ever appeared in this Age. He hath left us a Volume of that Art very much estemed it was he also who caused to be painted in the Dortoir of this House the Figures of St. John and the Magdelain which Figures extend the whole length of the two Galleries and which they cannot see in their true proportion but from a point marked for you to stand in This Learned Person had enriched the Publick with many other things had not death taken him from us in an Age wherein he did but begin to discover his wonderful wit and parts The Refectory of this Convent is very handsom and of late years has been painted round about with Landskips and Solitudes which entertain the thoughts of the Religious while they are at their meals with Ideas remote from the affairs of this World It is well known that these Fathers live in great austerity and that the design of their institution hath taken in almost all that is rigorous in the other Orders Before you leave the Marais du Temple you ought to observe that the greatest part of the Houses in this Quarter have been built within these fifty or sixty years and that the Ground on which they stand was formerly a marish and employed in great Gardens which furnished Paris with Roots and Kitchin Herbs At present it is a handsom Quarter whose habitations are very conveniently built and therein a great number of Persons of Quality inhabit The Rue St. Antoine After you have seen the Maraise du Temple you ought to pass next to the Ruë St. Antoine one of the longest and handsomest Streets of all the Town and which is ordinarily appointed for Shews and Entries for Embassadors It was through this Street that the Queen made her first Entry and through which that famous Carousel in the year 1661. made their glorious March The Popes Legate who came hither in the year 1664. for whom a most Magnifick Entry was appointed passed this way to the Church of Nôtre-Dame In the past Ages this Street was also used for the like matters Our Kings did here use to run at the Ring and make their Justs and Turnaments but since the fatal Accident that befel Henry II. these Sports have been left off To see this Street in Order we ought to begin at The Greve This is the only place in Paris where they make the publick shews of Joy and Triumph Here are made the Bonfires on the Eve of St. John Baptist and at other times when France hath gained any Victories over her Enemies The Hôtel de Ville takes up one side of this Place It was built in the Reign of Francis I. who laid the first Stone himself The Architecture is however a little Gotique that is to say it is not altogether according to the gust of the present age in which the old Roman and Greek proportions are studied with more care and exactness Artists endeavouring every day to re-establish this curious Science in the same perfection that it had under the Reign of Augustus The Statue of Henry IV. is placed over the Gate represented on Horseback in Demi-bosse upon a Ground of black Marble The Horse was copied from that of Marcus Aurelius at the Capitol The Court is but small and enclosed with Buildings of the same symmetry Under one of the Arches at the further end of the Court there is a Statue of the King in the Habit of Hercules treading under foot that Discord which would have disquieted the beginning of his happy Reign On the Pedestal which is of Marble as is also the Statue they have cut some Inscriptions but such as are not thought material to be repeated here in regard they contain nothing remarkable nor recount any passage of History that can be useful to the curious In the Rooms there are some Pictures representing the Prevosts des Marchands and the Eschevins of the past Age and of this also in their proper habits At the two ends of the great Hall over the two Chimneys there are placed the Portraits of the King in his Royal Robes and his Scepter in his hand In this Hall they Assemble to elect their Prevosts des Marchands and Eschevins The Windows that look upon the Greve at publick Shews and Rejoicings are filled with Persons of the greatest Quality who are sometimes treated here very magnificently at the Charges of the City To make the Entry into the Greve more convenient they have within five or six years last past opened a way from the Pont de Nôtre-Dame to this place all along the River which they have adorned with a very handsom Key of Free-stone They have also built on this Key several Houses of the same Symmetry inhabited by good Tradesmen This beautiful Enterprize was begun under the Prevost-ship of Monsieur Pelletier at present Controller-general of the Finances and all that was performed under his administration has been as well for the Publick good as for the Beauty of the City The People have as an eternal mark of their acknowledgment given this place the new name of le Quay Pelletier though through a modesty that hath had but few examples he himself would never suffer his name to appear in any of those Works which have been raised by his order As you enter on that side next the Bridge of Nôtre-dame you will see the following Inscription in black Marble over which is the Kings Picture in a Medaillon AUSPICIIS LUDOVICI MAGNI HANC RIPAM FOEDAM NUPER ET INVIAM NUNC PUBLICUM ITER ET ORNAMENTUM URBIS F. CC. PRAEF ET AEDIL. ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXXV By the Favour of Lewis the Great the Provost and Aediles have made this Bank which was before dirty and unpassable a fair Street and the Ornament of the City In the year from the Redemption of the World 1675. As you go from the Greve you pass by the Church of St. John formerly a Chappel depending on that of St. Gervais and which was built as some will have it in the Reign of Charles the Fair in the year 1326. That which deserves particular observation is the Vault that supports the Organs which is of a manner really very hardy and the little door next the Cloister which is of the Ionick Order The following Epitaph will not be unpleasant to the Curious to read for they will find it extraordinary it is near the Crucifix of this Church Cy repose Alain Veau celui auquel l'integrité fidelité au maniment des Finances sous le Roi Francois I. Henri II. Francois II. Charles IX a pour une heureuse recompense acquis sans envie ce beau titre
de Tresorier sans Reproche Il deceda le I. de Juin 1575. Passant priez Dieu pour lui Here resteth Alain Veau whose Integrity and Fidelity in his management of the Finances under King Francis I. Henry II. Francis II. and Charles IX hath as a happy recompence gained him without Envy the glorious Title of the Treasurer without Reproach He deceased June 1. 1575. As you pass by pray for him A little further is the Church of St. Gervais It is one of the ancientest Parishes in Paris as may be seen in the History of St. Germain Bishop of this Town who lived in the year 578. In favour of which he wrought here a Miracle as Fortunatus Bishop of Pottiers reports in his History The Body of this Church is very well built but according to the Gothick way with high raised Roofs and Chappels round about in one of which under the Croisée on the left hand you may see some Paintings after the manner of le Sueur who was one of the best Painters of this Age next to the famous Poussin and of whom we shall have occasion to speak more at large hereafter the Paintings in the Windows which represent the Martyrdom of St Gervais and the Picture over the Altar are of his hand The Tapistry which they expose here on the great Feasts are very well wrought the Originals from which these were Copied are in the Nave of the Church and were painted by the said le Sueur and Champaigne They represent the History of St. Gervais and St. Protais and the manner how their holy Bodies were found at Millain through the Prayers of St. Ambrose who mentions this matter in his Epistles But this is not that which ought most to employ the Curious the magnificent Portal will entertain their view with much greater pleasure and make them acknowledge that they cannot elsewhere see any thing more handsom or regular It is composed of three Greek Orders one over the other viz. of the Dorick the Ionick and the Corinthian whose proportions are so handsom and so exact that in the judgment of the famous Cavalier Bernin himself there is nothing more finished and perfect in all Europe The Pillars are fluted without any other Ornaments than what are proper to themselves These three Orders compose a Fabrick of a very great heighth and perfectly pleasing to the sight Had the place before it been larger nothing had been wanting to set off this Work in all its magnificence The Reputation of this Building belongs to the Sieur de Brosse he who made the designs for the Palace of Luxemburg and the Temple at Charenton However we must not think him the only Artist we must know that Clement Mâ—tezeau was employed with him this is he who undertook the Ditch of Rochel as hath been already mentioned when we treated of the Gallery at the Louvre and who was one of the ablest Architects of his time He was born of a considerable Family at Dreux and was much esteemed by Cardinal de Richelieu who perfectly well understood Persons merit Monsieur de Fourcy Counsellor in the Parliament and Intendant-general of the Buildings under Lewis XIII Father to Monsieur the President de Fourcy a person more renowned at present for his Merit and Probity than for the dignity of his Charge was at that time honorary Church-warden of this Church It was he that undertook this great Work together with M. de Onon and M. de Saint Genis his Collegues in the Office Lewis XIII laid the first Stone and in a very little time this marvellous Structure was finished as we now see it From this Church of St. Gervais to the middle of the Rüe St. Antoine is nothing considerable You pass before the Church-yard of S. John where is at present a Market-place Here formerly stood the Hôtel of Pierre de Craon who murdered the Constable Olivier du Clisson in the Reign of Charles VI. whose House was demolished and rased to the Ground in the year 1392. as a punishment for that Fact After this you come to The Hotel de Beauvais which shews a very handsom Front to the Street adorned with three Balconies The Masons Work is en Bossage with very neat Ornaments The Gate is large and tho the Court be but very small it is however compassed about with Buildings where the several Orders of Architecture are well observed The Stair-case is supported with Pillars and embellished with many Ornaments As for the Apartments they are extreme pleasant and compassed about with a long Balustrade of Iron leading quite round the Court into which the doors open As often as there hath been any great Sight to be held in the Rüe St. Antoine this fair house hath been made use of by those of the Royal Family At the famous Carousel that was in the year 1661. a great number of Princesses and Ladies of the Court placed themselves here to see that magnificent Train pass by from the Place Royal where they assembled to go to the open place before the Palace of the Tuilleries in which they were to perform their Courses Over against this stands the Church of little St. Antoine which hath nothing in it of Beauty and its very simplicity hath made it sufficiently known that it formerly served for an Hospital and was founded for those who were afflicted with that Epidemical Disease called St. Anthonys Fire A Distemper which hath been now ceased this two or three Ages The Confraternity of St. Claude hath been a long time established in this Church but it is much decayed from what it was in former times for it is evident that under the Reign of Charles VI. their Founder all the great Lords of the Court caused their names to be here inrolled after his Example and made considerable Presents in favour of this Saint The Community of these Fathers is but small and does not ordinarily exceed the number of twenty Religious men they are Chanons regular of S. Augustin and bear on their Breasts the Letter T. much like a Cross The head of their Order is in Dauphine not far from Vicnne On the same side of the way is The Hòtel de St. Pol where formerly our Kings inhabited as some Historians would make us believe But at the same time others would have it that the Palace des Tournelles was so called before it was rebuilt by Francis I. who caused a great number of small Towers to be placed there upon the Walls In short this Hôtel is at present inhabited by Madame de Chavigny widow of the Secretary of State so called It is one of the greatest Houses in all Paris The Apartments look upon the Garden and are magnificently Furnished The Pictures and such like beautiful Ornaments are here in abundance The Court is great and can contain many Coaches However one thing is wanting in this House and that is a great Stair-case Monsieur de Chavigny had a design to have built one and continued some
upon the Steps without the least obstacle The first Apartment is composed of several Chambers one beyond another from all which you have a delicate prospect upon the River on the Garden side in such sort that in a clear day one may see six or seven Leagues into the Country which is a very considerable pleasure In these Apartments you may see some Cieling-pieces of the best sort of Painting especially in the last Chamber which is all of Sueur's work who in an age but very little advanced gave great hopes in time to equal the best Painters of Italy as one may perceive by the last Pictures which he made Those things of his which are to be seen in this house are the best that ever he did chiefly the Paintings in the Alcove representing the Muses in a Consort of Musick the Cieling-piece is almost of equal Beauty The Moveables of this Apartment are extreme rich From thence you ought to go into the Gallery which is on the same Floor All that is devised ordinarily to adorn the fairest Galleries may be found in this gilding upon Sculpture curiously wrought with a Ceiling enriched with Pictures of the best Masters among which are several of le Sueur of whom I spoke before which one may easily distinguish from the rest although those which are not of his hand are not however to be neglected being very well painted The door by which you enter into this Gallery is sustained on the inside with two Corinthian Pillars all over gilt the sides are almost of the same fashion with Païsages and Pilasters of the same Order between which are placed Busts of Marble upon Tables of the same the end of the Room does determine in a little Terrase in manner of a Balcony which commands all over the River The Apartments below are not so well adorned tho they also have their Beauties In the Garden are to be seen some Statues handsom enough And you ought not to forget to see the Orangerie which in Winter is in a Hall where one may walk about very conveniently Near to which place there is another separated only by a great partition that is glased through which one has the pleasure in the midst of Winter to see the Vertue of the Orange-trees The face of the house on the Garden side is of the same Symmetry and Order of Building with that in the Court which thing gives this house an air of grandeur at a great distance and which shews extremely fine as one comes to Paris by Water from Charenton Near this is The house of Monsieur de Bretonvilliers another President in the Chamber of Accounts This house is yet better situated than that of which I have been speaking in regard it stands upon the very point of the Isle and the River is on both sides of it It is also much more great and spacious The Masonry tho it be of no set Order of Architecture because of the many Ornaments that are there placed is notwithstanding extreme handsom to the eye The Stair-case is on the left hand in one of the Corners of the Court built with much solidity as is all the rest of the house there has been no sparing of Vaults in those places where there appeared any occasion This house is truely great and contains in it all things necessary for the entertainment of a great Lord. The outward Court is parted from the rest in such manner as it cannot cause the least inconvenience As to the beauty and delights of the inside they are more considerable than that of which I treated last in regard its Prospect is farther extended and that it seems from the Windows of this House that all the Boats that come continually to Paris are coming to land at its door and here it is that they separate on the one side or the other to go either to the Port St. Paul or to the Port de la Tournelle where usually they unload their Burthens The movables are magnisick consisting of Beds most richly embroidered Chenets Tables Sconces Looking-glasses and Ornaments for the Chimneys of Goldsmiths work of Tapistry heighthened with Gold and Silver all things are there in abundance The Pictures are also of the best sort since they are of Monsieur le Bruns hand who is at present the chief Painter of the Kingdom The Gallery which is on the left hand is all of his Work the sides of which instead of Wainscot are coverd with Paintings in fresquo such as employ the Curious a long time in beholding them who take a mighty pleasure to discover in these pieces that which they usually seek for in Italy with so much concern and pains The Apartments below Stairs are very pleasant There are Baths and a Hall extreme convenient for Summer by reason of that fresh air which is there gathered In fine nothing is wanting in this house and one may find there all the conveniences that can be desired of what sort soever he who caused it to be built having not spared the greatest of expenses to render it such as it is Leaving this house we ought to pass along the Key called Quay Dauphin otherwise the Key of Balcones almost all the Houses that are built here having Balcones before the Window among the rest one ought to be observed more especially which is that in which at present dwells Monsieur the Abbot of St. Croix Master of Requests it was built with much care by the deceased Monsieur Hesselin who was one of the most curious persons of his time and it was designed by the Sieur le Veau The Front is of a very handsom design without crowding in of insignificant Ornaments And on the inside there are very beautiful Cielings with Chimney-pieces of the best sort of Workmanship The Court is in truth a little too obscure but this defect is advantagiously repaired by the Symmetry of the Building on that side and by the curious prospect from thence Near this is the house of Monsieur Roulier the Stair-case of which is extreme handsom it is supported with Ionick Pillars and adorned with Bas-reliese The face on the side of the Court is embellished with Architecture handsom to perfection It was built by Monsieur de Alisi Having seen this House we ought next to go to The Church of St. Lewis tho it be not yet finished That which is begun is of a very fine sort of Architecture The Porta is supported with Dorick Pillars And when this Church is compleated it will deserve to be compared to the best of the kind for the design and regularity with which it is carried on The Sieur du Vau gave the first design M. Champagne an able Painter being Churchwarden hath the care of the Ornanaments of the Architecture there and Monsieur le Duc hath carried on the Work in such manner as we now see it Leaving the Isle Nostre-Dame we go over the Bridge de la Tournelle built of Free-stone after the same Model
shewed all the Favour that could be And in Gratitude they have rendered him famous to Posterity not only as the most knowing Emperor of that Age but also the Bravest and most Glorious In the mean time the University have taken him for their Patron and on the Day of his Feast the Exercises cease in all Colledges We shall say nothing of its antient Splendor nor of the Credit and Authority which it formerly enjoyed It is well known that most of the great Affairs have been transacted by the advice of this University and that Kings have not disdain'd to Consult it in their most pressing Occasions Popes themselves have in a manner appeal'd hither and have often sued for the Suffrages of this University to authorise their Elections and support them against Competitors Monsieur Duboulay in the History which he hath made of this University in three Volumes in Folio makes mention of many Illustrious Persons who have issued from hence It hath been so numerous and so full of Scholars that we ought not to omit observing here one surprising thing which happened under Charles VI. That Prince being fallen into a Distraction publick Prayers and Processions were appointed to be made for his Recovery All the Companies and Communalties went afoot in Procession to St. Denis in France and the Parliament as the principal Body of the Kingdom begun this Act of Piety The University had also their appointed day to go thither and Juvenal des Vrsins records That all the Scholars were obliged to assist with their several Heads and Members who belonged to them He adds That they all made so great a number of Men that the beginning of the Procession was entering into the Church of St Denis when the Rector who went last was hardly gone out of the Church of the Mathurins where they first met together The number of Scholars and Colledges is now very much diminished Formerly one might have reckoned one Hundred at present you can hardly find Thirty Among which there are only nine that maintan Exercises Des basses Classes of the lower Classes and they are The Colledge du Plessis The Colledge d'Harcourt The Coll. de Navarre The Coll. de Beauvais The Coll. of the Cardinal le Moyne The Coll. de la Marche The Coll. de Lizieux The Coll. des Grassins The Coll. of Clermont wholy employed by the Jesuits of which we shall speak by it self It is needless to insert the names of the others where they do not teach they are but little known and serve only for the Lodgings of certain Scholars called Boursiers who live there upon the Pensions which the Colledge allows them yearly The University had also its own Jurisdiction apart and if any of its Members had committed any Crime it was not permitted for the Publick Judge to condemn them Of this you may read an Example in an Epitaph in the Mathurins Cloister Two Scholars having done certain Crimes worthy of Death were Executed by Sentence of the Provost of Paris The University conceiving themselves wounded in this Sentence suspended their Exercises and by this means obliged the Provost of Paris to bring back the Bodies of these two Scholars to the Mathurins after he had himself taken them down from the Gallows at Montfaucon where they there hung and after he had kist their Cheeks tho they had been Executed above four Months There are many Examples of this sort But since that time things are very much changed and though at present the University is full of Persons of great Learning yet her Credit and Authority are mightily diminished especially since about the middle of the last Age she has suffered some Losses which she will have much ado ever to repair In the mean time this hinders not but that the Sciences flourish here more than in any other part of Europe and are here taught with much Success and Profit The University is divided into four Faculties and over them all they have for their Head a Rector who is chosen every three Months Formerly they chose him every six Weeks but of late four times a Year hath been thought often enough The four Faculties are DIVINITY LAW PHYSICK The ARTS Divinity is profest only in the Sorbonne and in the Colledge of Navarre For the Law as it is divided into the Civil Law and the Canon Law so there are Professors for both in a Colledge which stands in the Rue Saint Jean de Beauvais About two years since the King hath founded a new Chair for the French Law possest by Monsieur de Launay who makes his Lectures in the Colledge of Cambray near St. Bennet's Fountain There is but one Colledge for Physick and that is in the Rue de la Bucherie where there is an Amphitheater as the Physick Bills call it in which they often make Dissections of humane Bodies As for the Faculty of the Arts which is the last that is subdivided into four Nations The Nation of France the Nation of Picardy the Nation of Normandy and the Nation of Germany the last of these was put in the room of that of England excluded by reason of those cruel Wars which have been between the French and English These four Nations are again subdivided into other Provinces which would be too long to recite This is what may be said in general of the University of which I shall say more in describing the remarkable Places therein I begin this Quarter at the Key called Quay de la Tournelle from whence you pass before a House built by the late Monsieur Martin In which Madam de Miramion so well known by all pious People hath about eight years since settled a new Company of Nuns who live under the Rule of St. Austin of the Congregation of St. Geneviéve Of this new Company she is the Foundress The House is well built and deserves to be seen Near this is The Hôtel de M. de Nemond one of those Presidents who are called Presidents a Mortier in which House you will see very good Furniture but above all a Library well furnisht which this Illustrious Magistrate often visits From hence you pass into The Rüe de Bernardins which lies on the left hand in which Street are several very pretty Houses among others one wherein lives Monsieur du Vaurouy Here are some Paintings of the last Age well esteemed A little further you will enter into The Colledge of the Bernardins which serves for all those who are of the Order of Cistertians It is an antient Foundation but that which is most observable is the great design of Pope Bennet XII who was formerly a Religious Man of this Order and who desired to render his name Illustrious in building this Colledge of a Surprising Magnificence The Walls that enclose the Ground are of a wonderful thickness and solidity and one would think that the Holy Father would rather enclose a Cittadel than a Colledge of Religious Men the Chapter-House is perfectly well Vaulted over-head
and at present serves for their School But that which is more Beautiful is the Structure of their Church which ought to be considered as one of the fairest Gothick Buildings in all France its Roof is of an extraordinary heighth with Chappels on each side True it is that but part of this great Work is finisht by reason of the Holy Father's Death which happened too soon however by his Last Will be appointed That what he had begun should be compleated and to that end he left a Summ of Money but that falling into the Hands of Robbers on the way as they conveyed it into France during those Troubles which happened in the Reign of Charles VI. the Work remained imperfect as it now is One the side next the Sacristy you ought to ask to see a little turning Stair-Case very curiously contrived in which two People may at the same time ascend and descend without being seen to each other This is by two winding Ascents like a Snails Shell managed one upon the other in the same round Space or Room Thâ—s piece is admired by such Curious Persons who have seen it in regard there are but very few Parallels When the General of the Cistertians comes to Paris he usually makes his abode in this House We ought to observe that several Religious Orders have a right to have Colledges in this University whose Members may take Degrees and pass Doctors but some others have neglected this advantage or the University hath not granted it to them for special Reasons As you go out of the Bernardins on the left Hand you find the Church of St. Nicolas du Chardonnet newly Rebuilt of a very handsom Design This Church is so called in regard it stands on a piece of Ground formerly over-run with Thistles in French called Chardons Which Ground the Monks of Victor gave for the building of a Parish Church much wanting in this Quarter The Church is not yet quite finisht All that is Curious here is a Chappel where Monsieur le Brun hath begun to Work You may here see the Tomb of his Mother designed by himself and wrought in Marble by the Sieur Baptiste on which there are very delicate Figures All this Quarter hath nothing very remarkable From hence you go to the Carmes at the Entry of St. Geneviéve's Hill near the Place-Maubert which is one of the greatest Markets of all Paris The Carmes of the Place-Maubert I Have already said when I treated of the Celestins that the Carmes or Carmelites were Founded there by Saint Lewis which Order he brought with him out of Palestine But in regard that place was so far distant from the University and in respect of the overflowings of the Seine they thought it convenient to come and Inhabit in this Place in the Reign of Philip the Long whose Queen Jane did by her Testament in the Year 1349 leave them great Riches among other things she gave them her Crown of Gold set about with divers Precious Stones of considerable Value also the Flower-de-Lys of Gold which she received at her Coronation her Girdle set with Pearis and all her Silver Vessels together with the Summ of Fifteen Hundred Florins of Gold which in those days amounted very high They made use of all this to build their Church and their Covent which have nothing very handsom There is in this Church a great Devotion to our Lady of Mount-Carmel to which resort a very great number of People who are devoted to the Holy Virgin in order to gain certain Indulgences and this is every second Sunday of the Month. Not long ago they Rebuilt their Great Altar after a design very singular it is supported with Pillars of Free-stone Painted like Marble which make a very handsom shew On St. Geneviéve's Hill as you go to the Abby of that name you pass before The Colledge of Navarre the Fairest and most Spacious of all Paris it was Founded by Queen Jane of Navarre Wife of Philip the Fair as appears by the Inscriptions under the Statue of that King and Queen on the side of the great Gate which are as follows PHILIPPUS PULCHER CHRISTIANISSIMUS Hujus DOMUS FUNDATOR PHILIP the Fair the most Christian King Founder of this House Under the Queen's Statue JOANNA FRANCIAE ET NAVARRAE REGINA CAMPANIAE BRIAEQUE COMES PALATINA HAS AEDES FUNDAVIT 1304. Jane Queen of France and Navarre Countess Palatine of Champaign and la Brie Founded this House 1304. In the middle are these two Verses Dextra potens lex aequa fides tria lilia Regum Francorum Christo Principe ad astra forunt Valour just Laws Religion Flowers of France Christ being the guide to Heaven's top advance This Colledge was formerly the most renown'd of all the University The Sons of the greatest Lords of the Kingdom were here put to Pension and that their Commerce with other Schollars might not waste their Allowance they then received none but Pensioners But this Method is changed at present and now they admit to their Exercises all sorts of Scholars indifferently Divinity is taught here as hath been already said and four Professors have Salleries to read their Lectures two in the Morning and two in the Afternoon Monsieur the Arch-Bishop of Auch is Provisor of this Colledge They have here a Library given by Queen Jane of Navarre which was formerly of great Reputation before the use of Printing It contains several very curious Manuscripts This Colledge has produced more Famous Men of Learning than any other The Chief of whom is Pierre d'Ailly Cardinal by the Title of Saint Crisogon and Arch Bishop of Cambray who was a great Benefactor here as is to be seen by an Inscription in the Chapel He is interred at Cambray In the middle of the same Chapel is the Tomb of the illustrious Thomas de Clemengis a Famous Doctor in Divinity and on it is this Inscription Qui Lampas fuit Ecclesiae sub Lampade jacet A Light o' th' Church under this Lamp doth lye John Textor is also here interr'd The other Famous Men are Gerson Joannes Major Almainus de Castro Forri Papillon Gelin de Villers and Pelletier The last of which was the great Master of this Colledge and was present at the Council of Trent Of late they have had Monsieur de Launcy a Famous Critick who hath Composed several Volumes of the Ecclesiastic History and who perhaps hath best understood of all of this Age the Annals of the Church as appears by his Works so much sought after by the Learned He hath also writ the History of this Colledge Note that this Hill was formerly called Mons Locutitius but for what reason is not known Higher on the Hill where this Colledge stands is the Abby of St. Geneviéve and next to it The Church of St. Estienne du Mont a Parish Church This Church is of so old a Foundation that it is not certainly known in what time it was first Built That Building which we
see at present was undertaken in the Reign of Francis the First and after it had remain'd a long time imperfect it was not finished till under Henry IV. Queen Margaret of Valois his first Wife gave a Summ of Money for making the Portal herself laying the first Stone on the Twelfth of August 1610. This Portal is curiously wrought and they have bestowed there a profuse number of Sculptures which had made a much better show if they had been manag'd and disposed with more care The inside of this Church is very neat and lightsome the Roof is very high and well extended There are between Pillar and Pillar certain Arches that support Galleries of Communication and turn about each Pillar with much Art The Tribune over the entrance into the Quire is very hardy as are also the little Stairs that go up thither which wind about the thick Pillars of the Croisée The Chapel of the Holy Virgin behind the great Altar is also well Built But that which the Curious ought to observe more carefully than all is the Pulpit which is of excellent Workmanship adorn'd with Sculptures and Bas-reliefs of a wonderful Design and Performance The Statue of Sampson supports the whole Body of the Work about whom are placed several little Figures of Christian Virtues Upon the Canopy over-head is a great Angel holding Two Trumpets All these things are perfectly well design'd and this Pulpit is without contradiction the most Beautiful of all Paris It ought to be known that Monsieur Pascal one of the greatest Wits that France ever had Author of that Incomparable Book called Penseés sur la Religion Thoughts upon Religion and of several others of the same Beauty and Learning is Buryed in this Church La Sueur a famous Painter of whom I have already often made mention is also here interr'd From hence you may pass into the Church of St. Geneviâ—ve through a Door of Communication behind the Pulpit but this is not the ordinary way The usual Entrance is by the great Gate which is in the open place before the Church St. Geneviéve du Mont. BEfore we write of the Curiosities in this House something ought to be said of its Foundation Clovis as some believe was the first Founder and Dedicated it to St. Peter and St. Paul whose names it bore a long time He placed here Secular Canons who inhabited this House till the Reign of Lewis the Young in the Eleventh Age at which time the King constrained them to take the Rule of St. Austin and to live in Community they having till then led very irregular Lives To establish this new Reform some Persons were brought over from St. Victors and Monsieur de Mezeray acquaints us with the Reasons which occasioned that King to do this He says That of old time beyond Memory there were certain Secular Canons in this House who had been by the Solicitation of King Robert the Religious freed from the Visitation of the Bishop and placed immediately under that of the Holy See But it happenning that Pope Engenius the Fourth flying for refuge into France and Lodging in this House there happened a Dispute between the Canons and the Holy Father's Officers on occasion that the Canons would have taken to themselves an Imbroidered Carpet which the King presented to his Holiness to hang before his Prie Dieu or Seat in the Church they pretending that it ought to belong to and remain in their Church The Controversie was so hot that they fell from Words to Blows and the Canons being the stronger Party assaulted the Pope's Officers so home that they were some of them Kill'd The King himself coming thither to appease the Tumult thought he should have been Wounded in the disorder To punish the Canons for this their insolence the King agreed with the Holy Father to Expel them from this House and to give the care of the Reform to Suger Abbot of St. Denis who thereupon drew off 12. Canons Regular from St. Victors and placed them here in the room of the others After this manner the Chapter was changed into an Abby whose first Abbot was called Odo Since that time the Rule of St. Austin hath always been observed here with much Purity and this House is become the Chief of all the Congregation in France The Abbot of which with his four Assistants is the Head of the Order This Abby had formerly a peculiar Jurisdiction like that of St. Germain des Prez but in regard this was found to be the cause of much Disorder and Confusion they were all united to the Body of the Châtelet Many Kings have been Benefactors to this House but the greatest was King Robert who built the old Cloister which was taken down under Francis the First who inclosed for them 17 Arpens or Acres of Land The House hath been often ruined by the Normans and the Danes while it was out of the Town but the Devotion which the Parisians had for St. Geneviéve their Patroness was the occasion that the Ruines made by those Barbarous People were repaired again in a very little time after The Body of St. Geneviéve is in the Shrine behind the great Altar supported by 4 Ionick Pillars of an extraordinary sort of Marble The Chest is of Silver-gilt enricht with Precious Stones of very great value Father du Breüil who hath Composed a Volume Of the Antiquities of Paris tells us That this Shrine was made by the Liberalities of several pious Persons and that the Goldsmiths Work came to One hundred fourscore and thirteen Marks of Silver and Eight Marks and an half of Gold to gild it The Queen Mother deceased whose Piety will be a long time remember'd in divers Parts of Paris enricht this shrine with Nosegays composed of Precious Stones of a very considerable price There hang round about several Lamps of Silver and divers Figures of the same Mettal which are all so many Vows made by sundry People to this Saint All that is of more than ordinary Curiosity in this Church is the Tomb of Clovis the first Christian King it stands in the middle of the Quire his Figure which lies along upon the Tomb is the same which was made for him after his Death Some years since they have raised it two Foot and a half to make room for this Inscription CLODOVAEO MAGNO REGUM FRANCORUM PRIMO CHRISTIANO HUJUS BASILICAE FU NDATOR SEPULCHRUM VULGARI OLIM LAPIDE STRUCTUM ET LONGO AEVO DEFORMATUM ABBAS ET CONVENT MELIORI OPERE CULTU ET FORMA RENOVAVERUNT To Clovis the Great The First Christian King of France Founder of this Church This Sepulchre which was formerly built of ordinary Stone And defac'd by Time The Abbot and Convent have rebuilt with greater Cost and Beauty The Scepter which he holds in his Hand and the Crown on his Head appear to have been added of later time Antiquarles need no longer doubt of the Antiquity of the Flower-de-Lys if they could but believe the
Frontiers of his Kingdom especially in Italy he left the Work to be done by his Son Henry the Second who neglected or at least had not a Conveniency of doing it The Professors all the while read their Lectures in the Colledge of Cambray and remain'd in this Condition till under the Reign of Henry the Great who in the Year 1609. on the 23. of November sent the Cardinal du Perron the Duke of Suilly first Minister the President de Thou and a Counsellor of Parliament named Monsieur Gillot to view the Situation of the place and if there was sufficient Room to raise the Building projected It should have been composed of a main Front and on each Hand two Wings with a Court in the midst of which should have been a Fountain The lower Rooms were designed for Schools and the first Story on one side for the Royal Library which was then at Fountainbleau and is at present kept in the Rué Vivien The Professors also should there have had their Lodgings which would have been of great advantage but these excellent Projects were never executed by reason of the Tragick Death of that great King of whom France was rob'd in a time when she least expected it Queen Mary of Medieis his Illustrious Wife to second the Zeal of the King her Husband resolved to finish what he had begun and to that purpose she her self with her Son Lewis XIII at that time but nine Years old went to the place The Young King laid the first Stone and the Work was carried on with fervency but in the end it was once again broke off and remains as we see it having never been thought of to be continued from that time to this There is but one side finisht and that stands in the same place where formerly stood the Colledge called de Treguier The Professors are paid by the King and are a kind of Body distinct from the University to which however they are subject They enjoy the same Priviledges with the Officers of the King's Household and the Rector of the University is not permitted to dispose their places nor to prohibit their Exercises which he may do to all other Professors They have always been persons of singular Note and extraordinary Merit The most Famous have been in the Greek Tongue Adrian Turnebe Native of Andeli in Normandy who dyed in the Year 1565 being but Fifty three Years of Age. Denis Lambin succeeded him and hath left behind him many excellent Works In the Hebrew Tongue Francis Vatable originally of Picardy he hath writ several Commentaries upon divers Authors much esteem'd Gilbert Genebrard Doctor in Divinity of the Order of St. Bennet and Prior of St. Denis de la Chartre near the Pont Nostre-Dame He was Elected Arch-Bishop of Aix in Provence and dyed in March 1597. There are extant several Works of his the Catalogue of which are at the end of the Book Entituled La Liturgie Sainte The formerly mentioned Calignon was another Professor here for this Tongue he hath composed a Grammar which is much esteemed Ralph Baines an English-man who writ three Books of Commentaries on Solomon according to the Hebrew Phrase which he Dedicated to Henry the Second In the Mathematicks there have been Oronce Finé Native of the Town of Briançon in Dauphiné and Paschal du Hamel who succeeded him In the Latin Eloquence Barthelemy Latomus and John Passerat The two most famous among those who have taught Philosophy here were Francis Vicomereat originally of Verona and Peter de la Ramée of Cuth in Vermandois who lived about the Year 1568. Finally those who have most excelled in Physick are Vidus Vidius Jacques Silius of Amiens and John Rioland These are those whose Names are of greatest Note on the account of the Learned Works which they have left behind them One can hardly find out any one Colledge that has produced more Learned Men than this although it be of no great Antiquity Over against this last mentioned Colledge is The Commandery of St. John de Latran which depends on the Order of Malta It is a great piece of Ground full of Houses ill built in which lodge all sorts of Workmen not Masters who may here manage their several Trades without being disturb'd by the Jurates of the City That which is here worth seeing is the Tomb of Monsieur de Souvré this is he who dyed Grand Prior of France and who built some years before his Death that fine House at the Temple While he was only Commander of St. John de Latran he caused this Tomb to be raised in the Church It is all of Marble his Effigies lying upon a great Urne of the same accompanied with two Terms rising out of their Guénes which are Channell'd and very well wrought All this Monument is exactly Beautiful and of a very singular Design It is the Work of Monsieur Anguerre one of the ablest Sculptors that France ever produced The Body of Monsieur de Souvré is not interr'd in this place but only his Heart There is nothing else remarkable The Church in which this Monument is Erected is very antient and ill built As you leave this place and go on in the Ruë Saint Jacques you come to The Colledge du Plessis which was formerly call'd the Colledge of St. Martin by reason that its first Founder Geoffrey du Plessis Secretary to Pope John XXII had a very great Devotion to that Saint But the Cardinal de Richelieu to Eternize the Founder's Memory restored it to his Name and after he had Rebuilt it magnificently he caused it to be called The Colledge du Plessis de Richelieu This Colledge hath the best contrived and handsomest Lodgings of all the University and is also the fullest of Pensioners and Scholars The Doctors of the Sorbonne have the Direction of this Colledge and place the Principal and Regents A little higher in the Street is The Jesuits Colledge OVer the Gate you read this fair Inscription COLLEGIUM LUDOVICI MAGNI The Colledge of Lewis the Great It was formerly called the Colledge of Clermont being built for the Scholars of that Town in imitation of some other Colledges of the University In the last Age Messire Guillaume Duprat Bishop of Clermont being at the Council of Trent on behalf of this Kingdom of France contracted there a particular Friendship with certain Fathers Jesuits whom he met with at that Assembly he conceived so high an esteem of their Learning and Piety that at his return he brought them with him into France to instruct our Youth in humane Learning but more especially in the Purity of the Romish Religion which at that time was disturb'd with the Heresie of Luther and Calvin This Prelate brought in his Company to Paris Father Paquier Broüet with several others of that Society whom so long as he lived he entertained in his own House but at his Death left them by his Testament Three thousand Livres of Rent and a very considerable
Church before the Chappel of our Lady de bonne delivrance here in which there is a very great Devotion Over against this is The Convent of Jacobius formerly called Friers Preachers of the Order of St. Dominick whose first Foundation is alledged to be in the life time of that Saint who lived in the Year 1217. under the Pontificate of Honorius the Third and in the Reign of Philip Augustus Historians say that St. Dominick took great pains about the Extirpation of the Heresie of the Albigenses who caused great disorders in Languedoc and at the same time he sent two of his Religious to Paris who were Lodged in a place called The Citizens Parlour in the same place where now this Convent stands They were called Jacobins from the Ruë Saint Jacques Their Church as it now is was built by order of St. Lewis if we may believe Belleforest a faithful Historian Here are many Tombs of great Lords who for the most part were Princes of the Blood Royal of France But in regard I did not design to search into Antiquities I shall not here express their Names which may be found in Father du Breüil I will only observe that among these famous Monuments is that of Humbert the last Sovereign Prince of Dauphiné whose Title was Dauphin of Vionnois the Tomb stands before the great Altar History says That seeing himself Childless he sold this Province to Philip Augustus for a small Summ of Money and himself embraced a Religious Life at Lyons and enter'd into the Order of St. Dominick where he liv'd in very great Esteem with all good Men and was chosen to be Prior of this Convent and afterwards Patriarch of Alexandria This is his Epitaph Hic jacet R. Pater Dominus amplissimus HUMBERTUS primo Viennae Delphinus deinde relicto Principatu Frater nostri Ordinis Prior in hoc Convenru Parisiensi ac demum Patriarcha Alexandrinus perpetuns Ecclesiae Rhemensis Administrator praecipuus bujus Conventus Benefactor Obiit anno Domini 1345. Maii 22. Here lies the Reverend Father and Most Honourable Lord HUMBERT First Dauphin of Vienna after that leaving his Principality he became Brother of our Order and Prior in this Convent at Paris and at last Patriarch of Alexandria perpetual Administrator of the Church of Rhemes and chief Benefactor to this Convent He Dyed in the Year of our Lord 1345. May 22. This Church hath nothing but what is ordinary yet is the great Altar very handsomly contrived it is adorn'd with black Marble and the Armes of the Cardinal of St. Cecily Brother of Cardinal Mazarin which you see about it speak it to be built at his Costs and this he did in regard he was of this Order Over the Door going into the Sacristy is a Picture of Valentine's representing the Nativity of the Holy Virgin which Piece Cardinal Mazarin gave to be placed over the great Altar but when he perceived it to be too little he left it to the Church and it hath been placed here ever since It is one of the most Beautiful pieces in all France and the Curious esteem it highly Felibien in his Book which he Composed of the Lives and Works of the most Famous Painters tells us it is one of the best Pictures that ever came out of Italy into France On one side of the great Altar stands the Chappel of our Lady of the Rosary The Wainscot Work of which is very handsom Here is a very great Devotion by reason of the Indulgences which are here to be gain'd every first Sunday of the Month. In the Cloister are several Paintings but they are of no great Note so also is their Library which is not very numerous yet it hath been made use of by very Famous Doctors They preserve here one thing of great Curiosity and that is the Pulpit of Great St. Thomas of Aquiu the Angel of the Schools It is made of Wood and inclosed in another of the same material that it may not be injured by time A General of this Order was at the charge of making that in which it is inclosed and not along ago these Fathers have caused a small Room to be made at the end of the Library where this Pulpit is conveniently exposed to sight 'T is well known that St. Thomas of Aquin formerly profest Divinity in this Convent and in the great School which we see at this day he made his Lectures It hath been Rebuilt at the beginning of this present Age through the Alms which these Father 's collected in a Jubilee Several Preachers of this House have acquired great Reputation in the World Among others Father Chaussemer who is esteemed one of the most Profound and Eloquent that we have at present he Preached this Lent at Nostre-Dame after he had perform'd the like at the Louvre The deceased Monsieur Coëffeteau who hath composed a very Curious Roman History past here the greatest part of his Life with many others whose names would be too long to insert here Before you leave the Rüe Saint Jacques you ought to know that here inhabit many Booksellers who sell almost all of them the Works of the Messieurs du Port-Royal all the Works of Monsieur Arnault generally esteemed by all Learned Men Here you will find the several pieces of the French Academicians many Foreign Books the several pieces that concern the Gallicane Church all Monsieur Maimbourg's Writings here also are sold Father Bouhour's Books those of Father Rapin of the Bishop of Meaux of the Abbot Fléchier Almoner to Madam the Dauphiness who Translated the Life of Cardinal Commendon and composed for Monseigneur the Dauphin the History of Theodosius the Great and four Funeral Orations Many other Books proper for the perusal of curious Persons are here also to be met with In this Street also are many Gravers and Sellers of Prints who have in their Shops great store of Maps and Printed Pictures Of which I shall say no more in this place At the end of this Volume I may perhaps set down a Catalogue of such Books as are best Writ in our Language for the use of Strangers who oftentimes for want of better information buy very scurvy Books instead of such as may be of use and advantage to them in their study of the French Tongue Without the Porte St. Jacques in the Fauxbourg of that name you may observe many fine things and in a greater number than in any other Faux-bourg about the Town On the left Hand as you enter is the Convent of the Nuns of the Visitation which makes no great shew The Church it self is no bigger than an ordinary Hall Yet is their Altar one of the richest that can be seen on the Feast Days these Nuns sparing no Costs to adorn it with Candlesticks Lamps Vessels Figures and a Thousand such like things which are all of Silver and most of them very weighty But the place being none of the best contrived these rich
things appear not so well as they might do elsewhere Going still forward you pass before The Parish Church of St. James from which all this Quarter takes its name It hath been repair'd in such manner as we now see it by the late Dutchess of Longueville Sister of Monsieur the Prince who was one of the most pious and Charitable Princesses of this Age. The Portal is of the Dorick Order very well perform'd and had that Virtuous Princess lived she had doubtless given wherewithal to finish the Work But she dyed about four years ago in the Convent of Carmelite Nuns to the regret of abundance of poor People who subsisted by her Almes The Seminary of St. Magloire is near the last mentioned place This was formerly an Abby of St. Bennet's Order which was first Founded in the same place where at present stands St. Bartholomew's Church near the Pallace But those good Religious Men being troubled with the noise and Clutter of that place changed their habitation in the Year 1138. and came to dwell here which was at that time a good way out of the Town where there was already a Chapel built and dedicated to St. George After that in the Year 1549. The Monks of St. Bennet did altogether quit this House and transfer'd themselves to other Houses of the same Order the Revenue of this being given to the Arch-Bishop of Paris And in the Room of the Monks they placed here certain Penitent Nuns but they continued not long In fine the Priests of the Oratory were introduced here in the beginning of this present Age whose Institution is to instruct the Young Ecclesiasticks in the Functions of their Ministry Further in this Street are the Vrsuline Nuns whose Church is but small yet is their Altar of a very handsom design and adorn'd with Pillars of black Marble These Nuns teach freely young Girles not only to Read and Write but also several sorts of Works proper for them which is of great advantage to the publick They were first Founded here in the Year 16â—7 by Mademoisel de Saint Beuve a Lady of extraordinary Piety and Queen Anne of Austria laid the first Stone of their Church in the Year 1620. June 22. The Feüillantines are on the same side of the way they are Nuns of St. Bernard's Order reform'd by the blessed John de la Barriere and were first established in Paris 1622. through the Sollicitation of Queen Anne of Austria Their Church hath been some Years ago rebuilt anew with considerable Expence It is very lightsom and the Portal is not ill contriv'd It was designed by the Sieur Merot One of their Benefactresses hath contributed largely to the Charges Over the great Altar is a very good Copy from Raphael of the Holy Family the original of which is in the King's Cabinet The Grate of their Quire is adorn'd with Copper gilt Nor far from thence are the English Benedictines who have also built a new Church which is really something of the least but in recompence of that it is very well adorn'd It is set off with Pilasters and the Altar is accompany'd with Pillars and Figures which shew very handsomly the Wainscot Work of the Stalls for the Monks is very pretty and the little Chapel of the Holy Virgin which stands over against the Door is very neat The Religious who inhabit this House are originally English and are come for refuge into France on the account of Religion The late Queen-Mother gave them great Alms as did also many other persons of Piety and some English There is a Person of Quality inter'd with them who hath been a Benefactor as may be seen by his Epitaph On the other side of the way are The Carmelite Nuns THis was sometimes call'd Nostre-Dame des Champs The Church belonging to these Nuns is one of the oldest in Paris most Antiquaries believe it to be one of those which St. Denis Founded Some modern Authors write that it was formerly a Temple of the Goddess Ceres or else of Mars but for this opinion they have no very good Foundation For we find nothing in the antient Historians to warrant such a Conjecture It is much more certain that it appertain'd a long time to the Order of St. Bennet and that it was a Priory depending on the great Abby of Marmoutier near the City of Tours Whose antient Title to this place is still in being and the Bishop of Orleans who is Abbot there receives from hence Four or Five thousand Livres per annum In the Year 1604. were placed here certain Carmelite Nuns of St. Teresa's reform whom the Cardinal de Berulla fetch'd himself out of Spain at such time when this Reform began to be so famous in Christendom for its great austerity This House was the first in all the Kingdom that took the Rule of St. Teresa and from hence it is that all the other Convents of Paris and in the other parts of France took their original At present this Nunnery is very numerous and there are in it many persons of the greatest Quality who quitting the World come to end their days here Their Church is one of the fairest and most magnificent that can be seen the main Body of the Building is in truth very antient but the modern Ornaments within it make sufficient amends for that As you go in you may observe that it is all painted in imitation of black Marble vein'd with White and that the Balustrades or Partitions of the Chapels are of a Wainscot extraordinary finely gilt But the most curious things of all are the great Pictures placed under every Window in Frames richly Carved and gilt There are six of these Pictures on each side each representing some principal Passage of the New Testament They are the Work of the famousest Painters of this Age. The First on the left hand as you enter representing the Miracle of the Five Loaves was done by Stella The Second represents the Feast at the House of Simon the Leper where the Magdalen perfum'd our Lord's Feet and this was done by Monsieur le Brun. The Third representing the triumphal entry of our Lord into Jerusalem is the Work of de la Hire The Fourth is the Story of the Samaritan Woman and is also done by Stella the Colours and the Drapery of this Picture is excellent The Fifth is Monsieur Brun's and the Sixth representing the Transfiguration is Hire's Those on the other side were all done by Champaign and that able Master never made any better Pieces than these as one may easily observe The Altar of this Church stands very high and is all of Marble as well the body of the Work as the Pillars which are of the Corinthian Order their Capitals of Brass gilt The Tabernacle is all of Silver and represents the Ark of the Covenant on the forepart of which there is a great Bas-relief very well Carved On Feast Days this Altar is adorn'd with Vases Candlesticks and divers things of
Scholastica of white Marble On the Frise is this Inscription in Letters of Gold JESU NASCENTI VIRGINIQUE MATRI To the Child JESVS and his Virgin Mother The Front of the Portal is of two Orders of Pillars the Corinthian and the Composite with all their proper Ornaments If the outside appears great the inside is still infinitly more magnificent All the Church is paved with Marble of divers Colours And the compartments are correspondent to the Cartouches of Sculpture and to the Guillochis or Flourishings in the Roof where there are several Bas-tailles of admirable Workmanship This Roof is of Stone as white as Marble and it is throughout enriched with Ornaments of the best sort in which Monsieur Anguerre has surpast all On each side of the Nave are Three Chapels divided asunder by Two great Pilasters which support the Cornish that runs round the Church and supports the Arches of the Roof The Quire is directly under the Dome at the further end of the Nave from which it is parted only by a grate of Iron gilt Four great Arches support the Dome and the great Altar is placed under the futhermost Arch. It is of a very singular design composed of Six great twisted Pillars of the Composite Order They are of black Marble vein'd with white of which sort there are hardly any others to be found in Europe they are raised upon Pedestals of Marble also and they are all over enriched with Palms and Feüillages of Brass gilt which make a wondrous beautiful Show One may truly say that the contrivance of these Pillars is in some respects more magnificent than those of the great Altar at St. Peter's in Rome which were designed by the Cavalier Bernin These excel in number and in the beauty of the Workmanship They stand in a great Circle raised about two Foot and make a kind of Pavillion open on all sides forming Six Consoâ—nes at the feet of which are Angels holding Censingpots These Pillars are joined together by great â—estons of Palms about which little Angels hold certain Scrowles in which are writ several Verses of the Gloria in Excelsis Deo Glory be to God on high The whole is of the best sort of gilding without any Colours Upon the Altar which is placed in the middle of these Pillars the Infant JESUS is represented lying in his Cradle all of white Marble accompanied by the Holy Virgin and St. Joseph these are all of Monsieur Anguerre's Work and reckoned among the best things that ever he did Behind the great Altar you see a Grate in a kind of Pavillon of Marble also To this place the Nuns come to make their Prayers when the Holy Sacrament is exposed The inside of this place is very beautiful but in regard it is difficult to be seen I shall not here say any thing of that subject Between the Arches which support the Dome in the Corners stand the â—our Evangelists in Sculpture well worth your exact Observation and a little lower are as many gilt Balconies placed over the like number of little Chapels which are contrived out of the thickness of the Work But tho' all these things are admirable yet these are not the chief Rarities the Painting on the inside of the Dome will give much more pleasure to the lovers of Art it represents the Glories of the Blessed in Heaven who are placed in several Groupes the Apostles the Prophets the Martyrs the Virgins and the Confessors each of which are distinguisht and known by some particular remarks the Kings the Patriarchs the Heads of Orders the Fathers of the Church St. Bennet and St. Schâ—lâ—stioa in the lower parts are placed the Altar and the Candlestick of Seven Branches and in a word all that the Scripture discovers to us of Paradise In the upper part the sight loses it self in an infinite space which appears full of confused and faint Objects by reason of a vast distance and a great light that strikes out from the highest of all All this delicate Painting is in Fresco and the Work of M. Mignard who did the Hall and Gallery at St. Cloud In the Frise at the bottom you may read this Inscription ANNA AUSTRIA D. G. FRANCORUM REGINA REGNIO RECTRIX CUI SUBJECIT DEUS OMNES HOSTES UT CONDERET DOMUM IN NOMINE SUO Ecc. A. M. D. C. L. ANNE of AUSTRIA by the Grace of God Queen of France and Regent of the Kingdom to whom God subdued all her Enemies that she might build a House in his Name On the right Hand and on the left of the great Altar are the two Grates which take up all the void space between the side Arches They are of an extraordinary greatness and the like were never made of the bigness besides they are wrought with such delicate Art as if the Iron had been as soft and easie to form as Lead That on the right side encloses the Nuns Quire from the Church which is large and well Wainscotted They have in it a small Organ which they use on Festivals at such time as they sing their Service Musically which they perform to the great pleasure of their hearers they having among them some very excellent Voices On the other side is a great Chapel all hung with Mourning in the middle of which is erected a Hearse of black Velvet upon Four or Five Steps here are reposited the Hearts of the Queen-Mother their Illustrious Benefactress the Queen whom we have so lately lost with others of several Princesses of the Blood Royal among the rest that of Madam the Dutchess of Orleans Before we leave this place we ought to observe the Cyfer which is at the bottom of the steps of the Altar composed only of two Letters L. and A. encompassed about with Palms and other Feüillages of white Marble There are here many other things worth observation which would be painful to set down in writing but the Curious when they come hither will easily find 'em out The inside of the Convent corresponds exactly well to the magnificence of the Church The several Cells and the Offices are regularly disposed and built with solidity particularly the Apartment of the Queen-Mother disposed in such manner as may befit a Câ—puchin Nun. The Nuns are very austere for they observe the reformed Rule of St. Bennet They choose their Abbess from among their own Community whose Authority is only Triennial Their chief Revenues arise from the Abby of St. Corneille in Compiegne which is annext to this House As you go from hence you must not forget to observe the outside of the Church and the Ornaments about the Dome which appears of a very great height it is cover'd with Lead with great Bands gilt and on the top a Balustrade of Iron round about the little Lanthorn open on all sides over that is the great Ball and thereupon the Cross All these things are set off gloriously with Gildings and which way soever you enter into Paris this Dome is so
which led into that Street was wall'd up The Street which lies before the House does still retain the old name and it is for this reason that it was first called the Rüe d'Enfer or Hell Street But since these good Fathers became possest of the place they quickly expell'd the evil Spirits and St. Lewis having a great esteem of the Austere and Holy Life that they led made them a Visit with his whole Court and confer'd upon them sufficient Lands and Demesnes for their Subsistence Many persons did contribute to the building of their House which takes up more Ground than any other Religious House does at present in all the Town and Suburbs of Paris Besides that the Cells are large and that they have each a separate Garden they have also a great Close containing many Arpens of Land which encompasses the whole House The Church hath nothing in it extraordinary except the Seats of the Religious which were made about two Years ago and are the finest wrought that were ever yet seen The Wainscot is perfectly handsome and adorn'd with Sculpture that makes a delicate appearance These are composed of small Corinthian Pilasters which support the Cornish one of the Fathers of the House designed them and managed the Work They now begin to place some Pictures between the Croisées The first which hath been placed here is done by M. Audran the second by Monsieur Coipel and in time the whole Quire may be furnisht in this manner which will considerably beautifie the Church The little Cloister which lies on one side of this Church is the only thing that is rare and singular belonging to these fathers It is adorn'd with a Dorick Architecture of Pilaster fashion Between the Arches are several Pictures representing the Life of St. Bruno their Founder and in certain Cartouches adjoyning to each Picture the Life of that Saint in Latin Verses The Pictures which hang at the Corners of the Cloister represent the views of several remarkable places among others of the City of Rome of the Grand Chartreuse near Grenoble of Paris on the Louvre side as it shew'd before the old Tower was taken down and the Port-neuve which stood not far from the Pont-rouge the rest are only fancies of the Painter All the Painting of this Cloister was done by Le Sueur who never did any thing finer than these Pieces here Of late days they have contrived Wooden Shuts in which they shut them up that they may not be injured as certain persons who envy the Merit and Reputation of that incomparable Man have attempted to do They do not open these Pictures but upon certain Days or when Curious People desire to see them It is apparent that better Paintings than these cannot be yet had he lived we should have had from him things infinitely more perfect but his fate was like that of Raphaël who dyed in an Age when his admirable Genius began to make him known That which remains to be seen in this House is the Refectory which is very lightsom Here the Religious never Eat but upon Festivals Sundays and Thursdays upon other days they take their repasts in their several Cells which are disposed in a square place round about their Church-Yard or Cemetery These Cells are composed of Four or Five small Rooms all on a Floor Boarded throughout and very simply furnisht Some of these Fathers have by them very curious Libraries the Father Vicar hath one which is much esteemed Some of them employ themselves industriously in divers Works thereby to pass more easily their time of Solitude which is very rigorous in regard they are never permitted to go out of the House nor to receive any Visits but at certain hours And it is well and judiciously observed by one of our Historians that the principal reason why these Fathers have preserved the purity of their first Institute better than the other Orders is because they have always shun'd with extream care the great Commerce of the World and the Visits of Women Two Dangerous Rocks for the Monastick Life Near the Carthusians stands the little Convent of the Feüillans in which is nothing extraordinary But not far from this Convent dwells M. who hath a very neat Garden of the design of M. le Nostre From hence you descend to the Porte St. Michael which was taken down two Years since to enlarge the Passage which before that was very strait and inconvenient In the same place where the Gate stood is built a Fountain under a great Arch in manner of a Niche with a small Portico of the Dorick Order beneath but the Ornaments are not yet quite finished Here you come into the Ruë de la Harpe and so you may go on to the Colledge of The SORBONNE THis beautiful House requires to be treated of with a particular application in regard it is one of the principal Ornaments of Paris as well for the great reputation of those Learned Men which come from hence as for the beauty of the Architecture in its buildings Cardinal de Richelieu beautified it as we see it at present Before that it was but an old Colledge consisting of very mean building yet was it however a place of mighty great Reputation It was first Founded by Robert de Sorbonne Almoner to St. Lewis who furnisht him with means wherewith to perform the Work as apears by the following Inscription in the Church graved on a Brass plate LUDOVICUS REX FRANCO RUM SUB QUO FUNDATA FUIT DOMUS SORBONAE CIRCA ANNUM DOMINI M CCLII Lewis King of France by whose Favour this House of the Sorbonne was Founded about the Year of our Lord M CCLII The Cardinal de Richelieu who took all occasions to Immortalize his Name caused this Colledge to be Rebuilt and spared no Costs to make it truly magnificent For this purpose he employed the Sieur Mercier an able Architect who after some Years time brought the work almost to the point of perfection as we see it however it was not quite finisht by him for he dyed before he could give it his last Hand That which we are first to observe is the square place before the Church Door and hath a Passage into the Ruë de la Harpe This place is in truth not large by reason of some Houses built before it belonging to the Colledge des Tresoriers however this hinders not but that it is very handsom On both hands it is fronted with very fair Houses On one hand is a great Body of Lodgings stone built of Two Stories high in Bossage Rustick and here is the Divinity School for those Scholars who come from abroad to hear the Lectures which are made here by Six Doctors Three in the Morning and Three in the Afternoon who change from hour to hour This School is great and high and it is sometimes made use of when a Thesis is maintain'd by some Person of Quality On the Right Hand in this Court is the Chapel
Year of Salvation 1582. on the Calends of November You may also read in the same Chapel the Epitaph of his Eldest Son and of several other persons of this Family who are here interr'd In St. Anthony's Chapel near this are the Tombs of several Ancestors of the Chancellor Seguier to whom France owes a great part of her Renown in Learning These Illustrious Fathers of a Son no way degenerating were of the same name with him Peter Seguier and did execute in their times the principal Charges in Parliament as may be seen by the Inscriptions in this Chapel On the same Church you may read the Epitaph of the Princess of Conti who deceased in the Year 1668. and whose Piety is still Reverend in the Eyes of the whole World This is in the Quire on one side of the high Altar Upon the Monument is placed a handsom Figure of White Marble representing Hope Afflicted it was wrought by M. Girardon Felow the Figure is this Inscription A LA GLOIRE DE DIEU ET A LA MEMOIRE ETERNELLE D'ANNE-MARIE MARTINOZZY PRINCESSE DE CONTY Qui detrompée du monde dés l'âge de XIX ans vendit ses pierreries pour nourrir pendant la famine de 1662. les pauvres de Berry de Campagne de Picardie pratiqua toutes les austeritez que sa santé put soussrir demeura veuve à l'âge de XXIX ans consacra le reste de sa vie à élever en Princes Chretiens les Princes ses Enfans à maintenir les Loix temporelles ecclesiastiques dans ses Terres se reduisit à une dépence tres-modeste restitua tous les biens dont l'acquisition lui fut suspecte jusqu ' à la somme de D. CCC mille livres distribua toute son épargne aux Pauvres dans ses Terres dans toutes les parties da Monde passa soudainement à l'éternité aprés XVL. ans de perseverance le IV. Fevrier M. DC LXXII âgée de XXXVI ans Priez Dieu pour elle LOUIS ARMAND DE BOURBON PRINCE DE CONTI ET FANCOISLOUIS DE BOURBON PRINCE DE LA ROCHE-SUR-YON ses Enfans ont posé ce Monument To the Glory of God And the Eternal Memory of ANNA-MARIA MARTINOZZY Princess of CONTY Who being undeceived and weaned from the World at the Age of Nineteen Years sold her Jewels in the Famine 1662. for the relief of the Poor in Berry Champagne and Picardy practised all the Austerities which a Religious and Holy Life can endure became a Widow at the Age of 29. Years and consecrated the rest of her Life to the Education of her Sons like true Christian Princes and to the maintaining the Laws Temporal and Ecclesiastick in her Lands reduced her self to a mean expence restored all the Goods she had which were any ways suspected by her to be unjustly gotten to the Summ of Eight hundred thousand Livres distributed all the Overplus of her Revenue to the Poor in her Lands and indeed in all parts of the World and after Sixteen Years of perseverance past suddainly to Eternity on the Fourth of February M. D C. LXXII Aged Thirty six Years Pray to God for her Lewis Armand de Bourbon Prince of Conti and Francois-Louis de Bourbon Prince de la Roche-Sur-Yon her Sons raised this Monument In all this Quarter there is nothing considerable but only the Hôtel de Thou where formerly lived the Famous persons of that Name who also built it The Famous Library of which we formerly made mention and which Monsieur de Menars purchased some Years ago did for a long time remain in this House The Hôtel de Megrigni is not far off this is also in the Rüe des Poitevins This last is built with much regularity and though the Apartments are not very spacious yet are they convenient In the Rüe Haute-Feüille at the further end next the Cordeliers stands the Colledge of the Premonstrantes In this Colledge the Religious of that Order study in the way to attain their degrees in the University The Church hath been considerably repair'd of late Years by the care of Monsieur Colbert Abbot and General of this Order who hath caused it to be adorn'd within throughout with a handsom Wainscot The Convent of Cordeliers THis Monastery was built about the Year 1217. in the Pontificate of Pope Honorius the III. while St. Francis was yet living at Assisium in Italy Some of the Religious Men of the new Order which that great Saint did institute came into France the first who arrived at Paris were Lodged in the Houses of certain Burgesses but afterwards at the Solicitation of the forementioned Pope who writ to William then Bishop of this City in their behalf they were taken notice of and in the Year 1230. Eudo Abbot of St Germain des Prez gave them the place where they now inhabit at this day The Kings of France did after this become great Benefactors to them St. Lewis gave more than all he caused their Church to be built not as we see it at present but as it was before the Fire which happened here in the Year 1580. and reduced all into Ashes and part also of the Convent ruining many Marble Tombs of several Princes and Princesses of the Blood-Royal which then stood in the Quire but can hardly now be remember'd However according to the report of Giles Corozet these were the Principal namely that of Mary Queen of France Wife of Philip the hardy Son of St. Lewis of Jane Queen of France and Navarre Wife of Philip the Fair and Foundress of the Colledge of Navarre as we have already said the Heart of Philip the Long and others whom it would be to no purpose to mention The Body of the Cordeliers is one of the most numerous of all Paris There are always here resident a great number of Students who come hither from divers parts of the Kingdom in order to take their Degrees of Doctor in Divinity which makes them considerable among themselves We have seen very great Men come from this House among others Nicholas de Lira esteemed the most knowing of his Age in the Tongues but more especially in Divinity and John Scot surnamed Doctor Subtilis who through his profound Science hath raised a Singular Tenent taught and read in their Schools which notwithstanding is founded on the Principles of Aristotle The only Curiosity to be observed in the Convent of these Fathers is their new Cloister which contains near a hundred Chambers all very neat and very lightsome it is Square and in the middle is a small Garden adorn'd with a Parterre and a Fountain The Four Coridors or Walks which compose this Cloister are vaulted and adorn'd with the Armes of those pious Persons who did contribute to the Charges of the Building which were not small The Refectory the Chapter-House and the Library are worth seeing as for the Church it hath nothing Curious There are in it two famous Brotherhoods one of
the Pilgrims of Jerusalem and the other of the third Order of St. Francis who have here their several Chapels As you go forth you ought to observe the Statue of St. Lewis over the Door which Antiquaries think to be one of the likest to that great King that we have This Quarter hath been of late time much improved and beautified they have made two new Streets that go into the Fossez of the Hôtel de Conde In that next the Convent of the Cordeliâ—rs is contrived a little place or open Court before the Church door which is not inconvenient this Street is called Ruë de l'Observance and the other Ruë de Tourain because of the adjoyning Hôtel de Tours Near this place did formerly stand the Porte Saint Germain which some years ago was pulled down In the place of which is erected a Fountain with this Inscription URNAM NYMPHA GERENS DOMINAM TENDEBAT IN URBEM HIC STETIT ET LARGAS LAETA PROFUDIT AQUAS 1675. The Nymph was hastning with her Vrn to Town Here she stood still and joyful pour'd it down 1675. THE FAUX-BOURG SAINT GERMAIN SInce the taking down of the four Gates which divided this Faux-bourg from the rest of Paris it hath been call'd The Quarter of St. Germain 's And doubtless this is the fairest and largest of all the other Quarters on the account of its extent the number of its fair Houses and the quantity of its Inhabitants on those accounts this one Faux-bourg may be compared with some great Towns in Europe which are much talk'd of according to the Opinion of Strangers themselves to whom the dwellings here appear so pleasing that they prefer this part of the Town to all the rest of Paris and they have reason for so doing since all things abound here and the Air is very pure the Houses being divided from one another by several Gardens Besides other advantages all sorts of Exercises are taught here and perhaps there is not in the whole World any one Town in which one may reckon no less than Six Academies as you may in this Quarter filled for the most part with all the illustrious Youth of France and Germany who come hither to learn all things that can make a Gentleman accomplished and capable of gaining Reputation in the World Sometimes in one Winter there has been reckoned here Twelve Foreign Princes and more than Three hundred Earls and Barons not counting a much greater number of ordinary Gentlemen whom the reputation of France draws hither with a mighty desire to learn our Language and those Exercises which are no where taught in their parts with equal perfection The Six Academics bearing the names of the Six principal Riding-Masters who Teach at them are Monsieur Coulon near Saint Sulpice M. Bernardi near the Hôtel de Condâ— M. de Long-prect at the end of the Ruâ— St. Margurriie M. de Rocfort in the Ruë de l'Vniversity M. de Vandeüil in the Rüe de Seine M. On the Fossez de Monsieur le Prince This Quarter takes its Name from the Abby Royal of St. Germain des Prez in the midst of it which is one of the Ancientest and Richest of the Kingdom Of which we must speak in a particular manner The Abby of St. Germain des Prez KIng Childebert Son of the Great Clouis was the Founder Monsieur de Mezeray reports the particulars of the Foundation and tells us That that King being in Spain in the year 543. in a War against the Visigoths he laid Siege to the Town of Sarragossa in which they were refuged the Inhabitants finding themselves severely prest by the French and thinking in imitation of the ancient Romans to move their Enemies by some surprizing Action they concluded to make a Procession about their Walls in which they carried the Coat and other Reliques of St. Vincent At this sight Childebert was so effectively concern'd that he yeilded so far that he was contented to depart with certain Presents which the Bishop made him among other things that Coat and those Reliques of St. Vincent which he brought with him to Paris and to the honour of them built the Church of which we are now about to speak This Abby hath had several Names it was sometime called St. Croix because of a piece of that Holy Wood placed here among the other Reliques which he brought with him at present it bears the name of St. Germain who was Abbot here and Bishop of Paris and is here interr'd On his Festival day which is the 28th of May they expose to publick view his Shrine which is of Silver gilt adorn'd with a great quantity of Precious Stones It is of a Gothick kind of Work but as curious and handsome as one can see All that remains of Childebert's Building is the principal Gate at the end of the Church and the great Steeple over it which appear very ancient The Statues of the Kings and Queens which are on the sides of this Gate are of such a design as discovers that in that Age the Gust of good Sculpture was not known for we can hardly distinguish whether the Statues represent Men or Women The Tomb of the aforementioned King is in the middle of the Quire raised about two foot and an half with some Inscriptions added to it when they removed it hither from St. Germain's Chapel where it formerly was behind the Quire This translation hapned about thirty or forty years ago when the Church was Repair'd and Beautified as it now is At the same time they made over it a Vault of Stone instead of one of Wainscot as was before and adorned the Pillars that supported it with Corinthian Capitals This Church is not lookt upon at present as any Curiosity yet is the Disposition of its parts well enough The Great Altar is in the middle of the Croisée and so contrived that one may go round it In the forepart of this Altar is a Table of Silver gilt which is a great Ornament and is shewed only on Festival Days It is adorn'd with the Figures of the Apostles and a Crucifix in the middle of an ancient sort of Work not unhandsom This was the Gift of William Abbot of this House whose Body was found intire not long ago tho' he had been buried several Ages The Quire where the Religious sing is behind in which their Stalls or Seats are of a very handsom Workmanship At the Feet of Childebert's Tomb you may read the following Epitaph of Monsieur the Duke of Verneüil natural Son of Henry the Fourth who before he marryed with the Dutchess of Sally was Bishop of Metz and Abbot of St Germains The Epitaph was made by the Learned Dom. Jean Mabillon SERENISSIMO PRINCIPI HENRICO BORBONIO DUCIVERNOLIENSI Cojâ—s COR HOC LOCO POSITUM EST OPTIMO QUONDAM PATRONO SUO BENEDICTINA RELIGIO QUAM VIVENS SEMPER IN CORDE HABUIT CUI MORIENS COR SUUM COMMENDAVIT HUNC TITULUM P. ANNO M. Dâ— LXXXII To the Illustrious
and Benefits By his Victory shewing himself their King And by his Clemency their Father He had his Court in his Camp His Palaces In his Tents And his Shows In his Triumphs He had Children in lawful Wedlock Of which he was afterwards deprived Lest if he should leave behind him a greater than Himself He himself should not be the greatest But if a less his race should degenerate His Religion was equal to his Valour Nor did he sight less for the next World Than for this Hence were Monasteries and Hospitals Built at Warsaw The Temples of the Calvinists Destroyed in Lithuania The Socinians driven out of the Kingdom That none might have Casimir For their King Who would not have Christ For their God The Senate from Various Sects Was reduced to the Communion Of the Catholick Faith That they might obey the Laws of the Church Who made Laws for the People Hence was the famous Title of ORTHODOX Given him by Alexander the Seventh Finally having out-gone The highest pitch of Humane Glory When he could do nothing more illustrious He willingly laid down his Crown In the Year M. DC LXVIII And then those Tears Which his Reign had never extorted from any Flow'd from the Eyes of all Who Bewailed the Departure of their King As it were the Death of their Father When he had spent the residue of his Life in the Offices of Piety At length hearing of the loss of Caminiec That he might not out-live so great a Calamity Being wounded with the Love of his Country He dyed The XVII of the Calends of January M. DC LXXII His Royal Heart he left to the Monks of This Monastery Of which he had been Abbot As a Pledge of his Love Which they lamenting inclosed In this Tomb. In one of the Chapels behind the Ouire you may further observe two Tombs of Marble belonging to two of the House of Duglas one of the principal Families in Scotland Having seen these things there remains nothing more of singular note in the Church On Festival Days the divine Office is here Celebrated with great Pomp and Majesty and there is scarce any Company of Regulars who perform better The Order of St. Benet hath been in the Possession of this House ever since it was first Founded by King Childebert And the Church according to the opinion of some Historians stands in the same place where was formerly a Temple dedicated to the Goddess Isis whose Statue remain'd here till the last Age at which time an old Womâ—n being seen saying her Prayers before it it was by order of the Superiours removed out of the Church and broken to pieces In the inward parts of this Convent the Refectory is worth seeing which is great and one of the fairest of the Kingdom It hath lights on both sides The Glass of which is very handsome tho' old At the end of this Room is a Stair-case that leads up to the great Dortor which Stair-case is a hardy piece of Building And you must not neglect to visit the Chapel of our Lady behind which is something of the same design with the Holy Chapel at the Palais Report says That both were built by the same Architect who lies buryed here But without tarrying long in viewing thesâ— things you ought to go to the Library which takes up all the upper Room of that Arm of the Cloister next the Church It is in truth none of the fullest but in recompence of that all the Books are the choicest and of the best Editions that can be met with In the last Age when there was not such plenty of Libraries as at present this here was esteemed the principal Library of Paris And at this day if it doth not continue all out of the same reputation for Printed Books yet for Manuscripts none will dispute the precedency of which we can no where meet with so great a Quantity nor such Choice ones unless it be in the King's Library These Manuscripts are kept at the further end in a little Chamber by themselves which Room is full of them from the top to the bottom Here are some of all Subjects but chiefly of Religion by means of which great Lights several faults of Printers and ill Copiers have been discovered and amended In a little Press in the great Library they preserve several Volumes more choice and rare than the rest amongst which is one called The Psalter of St. Germain it being supposed to have been used by that Saint who lived about the Year 560. in the Reign of Childebert King of France and Justinian Emperor in the East Formerly this Book was kept in the Sacristy among the Reliques but in regard it was so often desired to be seen by curious persons it was removed hither It is written in Letters of Gold and Silver upon a Purple coloured Velom and contains all the Psalms of David There is also in the same place a very ancient Missal which according to all appearance is more than 900. Years old Certain Tablets of the Antients made of small Boards of Cedar with a kind of Wax or Varnish finely spread over them upon which they writ with their Stile or Steel Bodkin and several other singularities of such sort which deserve to be considered above all one great Volume full of Attestations of the Belief of several Greek Bishops touching Transubstantiation Which Attestations the Learned M. Arnauld with much pains procured from Constantinople by the means of Monsieur de Nointel Ambassador from France to the Port for Authorities against those of the pretended Reformed Religion who maintained that the Greek Church was of their Opinion Having said thus much of the Library the Reader will not be displeas'd if I give some account of those Excellent Works which the Learned Monks of this House have lately publisht of which the most useful and most considerable is St. Augustin's Works which they have interpreted and corrected according to the most antient and authentique Manuscripts in all the Libraries in Europe of which they have had an account We have already received five great Volumes to which the publick have given an universal applause and they are continually employ'd about publishing the rest with the same Purity One may justly say That there has not been any thing undertaken in this Age of greater importance and advantage to Religion in regard all the Disputes that of late Years have happen'd among Divines on the subject of Grace have risen from the different interpretation of that Father The Church is obl ged to these Learned Monks who deserve no less Glory for their Pains than they have had Trouble in the undertaking before they could bring the Work to this Condition Father Dom Luc d'Achery a Monk of this House hath publisht the Spicilegium and hath continued it to the Thirteenth Volume in Quarto in which he hath collected together several antient Pieces hitherto hid in the Libraries of his Order and which had been lost in oblivion
Vases with a great Cartouche in which are the Armes of France and those of Medicis impaled There is nothing more very remarkable unless it be the Balustrade of white Marble in the forepart of the Tarrasses which inclose the Parterre but it is not yet finisht From hence you ought to go and visit The Hotel de CONDE ' HEre lives Monsieur the Prince first Prince of the Blood with all his Illustrious Family The building of this House is not extraordinary It was formerly the Hôtel de Reiz and being built at divers times by snatches as conveniency would allow the Symmetry was not over carefully observed but as to the Furniture it is difficult to see any elsewhere more magnificent or more numerous There are Pictures done by all the excellent Masters extraordinary Tapistries which did formerly belong to the illustrious House of Montmorency and Jewels fairer than in any House of Europe Here is also a Library very numerous in which you may meet with some very curious Books and Writings extream rare But that which you ought most to endeavour to see is the Garden which in a space of Ground small enough shews all the beauties and singularities which Art and Nature joyned together can produce There are here certain Rooms or Arbours made by Hollanders with abundance of Industry At the end of each walk stands a small Triumphal Arch of the same work In Summer this Garden is full of Oranges and Jasmins which makes the Walk here in the Evening most delicious In the Ruë Vaugirad which â—uns along before Luxembourg House stands the Little Hôtel de Bourbon otherwise called the Little Luxembourg which Cardinal de Richelieu caused to be beautified for his Niece the Dutchess of Aiguillon with great Expence as one may easily perceive by the Excellent Plafons and more especially that in the great Hall which cost a great price Here was in those days very magnificent Furniture and all sorts of Curiosities extreamly rare but they have been since dispersed into several hands upon the Death of that Dutchess Hard by and on the same side of the way are the Nuns du Calvaire of Saint Benet's Order here Founded in the Year 1020. by Queen Mary of Medicis Their Church and Convent hath nothing of extraordinary no more than The Convent of the Nuns du Precieux Sang which stands in the same Street A little higher is The Convent of the Carmes Dechaussez or discalced Carmelite Friers THis Monastery was Founded about the beginning of the last Age by the Liberalities of certain Burgesses of Paris who bestowed a small House Situated in this place on the Carmelite Friers who came from Spain and brought into France the Reform which St. Teresa had made in the Order of Mount Carmel In the Year 1613 they began the Foundation and Mary de Medicis laid the first Stone of their Church as we may perceive by this Inscription which was set over the place MARIA MEDICAE A MATER FUNDAMENTUM HUJUS ECCLESIAE POSUIT 1613. Mary de Medicis the Mother laid the Foundation of this Church 1613. Chancellor Seguier declared himself their Protector and became a great Benefactor among other things he gave them wherewithal to build their great Altar which is of a very handsome design adorned with Corinthian Pillars of black Marble and several Figures representing the principal Saints of this Order All the Church is of the Tuscan order of building yet in truth it is none of the most regular In the middle there is a Dome painted in the top by a Chanon of the Church of Leige named Bertolet who was no bad Painter as one may well judge by this Work which represents the Assumption of Elias in a Chariot of Fire and his Mantle falling on his Disciple Elisha who receives it with open Arms. There are in this Church two Chapels that deserve a particular consideration The first of which is on the left hand under the Dome and Dedicated to the Holy Virgin in which there is a Statue of white Marble the finest that can be seen It was made at Rome by a Disciple of the Famous Cavalier Bernin and cost a great expence to bring it from thence It is not easie ever to meet with a better figure than this It represents the Holy Virgin sitting and holding her Infant on her Knee who smiles and extends his little Arms to embrace her All that one can wish to see in a compleat and finisht Statue is to be found in this and all Men ought to consider it as the best Piece in the Kingdom The Niche in which it stands over the Altar is of the Design of Cavalier Bernin it is adorn'd with four Corinthian Pillars of a vein'd Marble The other Chapel is over against this and dedicated to St. Teresa as appears by the Picture in the middle This Chapel is adorn'd with Marble Pillars of a composite Order but very singular with Festons on the Freese but this is the Architects own fancy and there are but few examples of such Work However the whole is very handsom and pleasing to the view The Balustrades of these two Altars and that also of the great Altar which stands between 'em are of a choice sort of Marble The rest of the Church hath nothing at all extraordinary unless it be the white painting with which it is all over painted which has a Gloss and shines like Marble It is said that these Fathers have a Secret to make it thus and that they are not willing to discover the mystery to any In the inner part of the House there is nothing remarkable but the Library which tho' it be but little and the number of Books very small yet it ought to be seen if it were only for the delicate prospect which it hath over the Neighbouring Fields These Fathers have the handsomest Gardens and the best kept in all Paris which is not to their small advantage for in regard they eat no Flesh they have from their own Gardens sufficient of Roots and Pulse and the like whereon to subsist without buying In a Street at the end of this which is call'd the Ruë du Regard is a small House lately built whose prospects are all upon the Neighbouring Gardens and is extream neat and handsom The Fortress where the Academists of M. Bernardy exercise is not â—ar off It stands near the Walls of the Palais d'Orleans inclosed in a little piece of Ground and serves for this use only Here they make their attaques as regular as if at the taking of a place of the greatest importance In the Ruë Cassette near the Carmes of which I have been speaking is The Monastery of the Nuns of the Holy Sacrament who owe their Foundation to the late Dutchess of Orleans Second Wife of Monsieur Gaston of France Duke of Orleans â—on of Henry the IV. and Brother of Lewis the XIII This Illustrious Princess who was of a most exemplary Piety was their great Benefactress and
gave them wherewithal to build their Church and their great Altar which last is of a very handsom Wainscot work Marble painted and the Ornaments gilt all which shows very handsomly but this is all that is here to be seen â—very Thursday they sing here a Salutation of the Holy â—acrament at which a great number of Devout Persons assist and offer up their Pâ—ayers In the Street call'd Ruë du Pot de fer which also butts against the Ruë Vaugirard is The Noviciat of the Jesuites THE Church of these Fathers is but small but in recompence of that it is one of the handsomest and best designed for Architecture in Paris It is said that one of the Fathers of this Society named Father Marlange drew the design and having well observed the faults of that in the Ruë St. Antâ—onie of Father Rant's designing he alter'd many things This Father being consulted with about the work of this Church would not meddle till the General had given him permission to do what he thought proper without being obliged to observe the orders of any one whatsoever of the Society After this he undertook the building which is not so big as the other but it infinitely surpasses it in Regularity The Portal is of Pilasters of the Dorick Order and over them the Ionick Order The inside is also of Dorick Pilasters supporting a Cornish between the Triglifes of which are several Ornaments representing the Instruments of our Lord's Passion The great Altar is but very plain of Jovners Work adorn'd with two Corinthian Pillars But that which sets off this Altar infinitely beyond the fairest of the Kingdom is the great Picture which you see there of the famous Poussin one of the best which that able Master ever did All the Curious esteem this piece extreamly and look upon it as the best in France for exactness of design Notwithstanding the objection of some Criticks who say the Ear of St. Francis Xavier who is here represented on his Knees working a Miracle is bigger than it ought to be After you have seen the Church you ought to ask to see the Chapel of the Congregation which lies on the left Hand of the Door as you come in It is adorn'd with a gilt Wainscot and Pictures from space to space and in the Ceeling a Plafon well Painted On the Festivals the Altar is adorned with a rich Furniture of Silver which the Members of this Society have given The whole House is very Commodious tho' it be of no great extent by reason it is all enclosed by four Streets on every side The following Inscription is cut on the first Stone of the Church which was laid by the late Duke of Verneüil D. O. M. S. FRANCISCO XAVERIO INDIARUM APOSTOLO ANNO CHRISTI M. DC XXX PONTIFICATUS URBANI OCTAVI ANNO SEPTIMO REGNI LUDOVICI DECIMI TERTII ANNO VIGâ—SIMO GENERALATUS R. P MUTII VITELESCHI ANNO DECIMO QUARTO AEDIS FACIENDAE PRIMUM LAPIDEM POSUIT S. P. HENRICUS DE BOURBON EPISCOPUS METENSIS S. R. I. PRINCEPS ABBAS S. GERMANI DECIMO APRILIS To Almighty God To St. Francis Xavier Apostle of the Indies In the Year of our Lord M. DC XXX In the Seventh Year of the Pontificate of Urban the Eighth In the Twentieth Year of the Reign of Lewis the Thirteenth In the Fourteenth Year of the Generalate of the Reverend Father Mutius Vitelesco Henry of Bourbon Bishop of Mets Prince of the Empire and Abbot of St. Germains laid the first Stone of this Church on the Tenth of April Posterity ought to know that Monsieur Desnoïers Secretary of State built this Church at his own Expence The next thing of Note is The Church of S. Sulpice the only Parish Church in all the Quarter of â—t Germains and upon this account it is the greatest of Paris This was formerly but a small piece of building as is easily to be observed by the remaining part of the Nave which as yet is not quite pull'd down which was so small that it could not contain the tenth part of the Parishioners On this account about 25. or 30. Years ago they begun the new Edifice which we see at present an undertaking so large and the expence so great that the Quire is hardly yet finished with all the Liberalities the Parishioners can raise So much as is done is the whole Quire which is of a noble design The inside is supported with high Arches and between Arch and Arch Corinthian Pilasters over which a Cornish that supports the Vault which is perfectly well made and very solid tho' very high Round about between the Quire and the Chapels is a long Corridor which is capable of holding a great number of People who may from thence behold all that is done at the great Altar where divine Offices are performed with great edification especially on the Festival days At one of the Pilasters standing between two Chapels you may read the Epitaph of the famous Monsieur de Marolles Abbot of Villeloin the greatest Translater into our Language we ever had and who enriched it with abundance of Authors which were never before in French Monsâ—eur the Abbot de la Chambre his intimate Friend and Executor of his Will caused it to be set up in this place to his Memory It is a Medaille of white Marble and in it his Picture on which a weeping Cupid leans holding in his Hand a Torch reversed This is the Inscription MICHAELI DE MAROLLES ABBATI DE VILLELOIN GENâ—RIS NOBILITATE MORUM CANDORE RELIGIONE SINCERA VARIA ERUDITIONE CLARISSIMO QUI OBIT OCTOGENARIO MAJOR PRID. NON MAR. AN. 1681. PETRUS DE LA CHAMBRE MARINI â—ILIUS TESTAMENTI CURATOR AMICO OPTIMO MONUMENTUM POSUIT To Michael De Marolles Abbot of Villeloin Famous for his noble Birth the sweetness of his Disposition the sincerity of â—is Religion and the Variety of his Learning who dyed being above Fourscore Years old the day before the Nones of March 1681. Peter de la Chambre the Son of Marinus his Executor erected this Monument to his best Friend He was perhaps the ablest person of his Age in the knowledge of Prints He had Collected a very great number which are now to be seen in the King's Cabinet Amian Marcellin was the last Author which he Translated at the end of which Book you may see a Catalogue of all the pieces that have been published in his name In the rest of this Church there is nothing extraordinary unless it be a little Stair-case of one direct Line winding like a Snail shell from the bottom to the top It is all of Free stone and very high it reaching to the Roof of the Church The Seminary House of St. Sulpitius is near the Church the building iâ—â—reat and spacious and was raised at the expences of Mousieur de Bretonvilliers who also hath furnished it at his own Costs Observe here especially the Chapel the Plafon of which was Painted by M. le Brun in which he
Strangers ought to observe more especially are the four great Refectories which are on each side of the middle Court where you will see painted in Fresquo the principal Sieges and Battels which France has gain'd against her Enemies Few Pictures are more exactly design'd or can shew more variety and life than these the sight of which things cannot choose but give a very great pleasure to those who were concern'd in the Actions represented There is in this House a certain Souldier works in Tapistry whom you ought not to forget to visit As you go out you may observe the Front of the building with the great Court before it compast about with a dry Ditch and a Wall of Freestone from which you have a delicate Prospect They keep Guard at the Gates here in the same manner as in a Citadel thereby to preserve the Souldiers in Health and free from Idleness The Discipline which they observe in this House is admirably exact and the Fathers of the Mission who have the Care and Conduct of the place acquit themselves very worthily All that remains of Note in this Quarter after you have seen the Invalids is The Hôtel in which dwells Monsieur the Commandeur de Haute-Feüille Embassador from Malta in a Street behind the Peutes-Maisons Here you may see very Curious Pictures with many other great Rarities which can hardly be met with elsewhere Near this in the Rüe du Bac is the Seminary of the Foreign-Missions where of late they have built a Church the Roof whereof is very surprizing it is indeed but low because they design to raise a second Church upon this It is the Invention of the Sieur du Buisson an able Architect From this House are sent Missionaries into the Indies to Preach the Gospel there to Infidels in which office they acquit themselves with a very great Zeal and their endeavours are blest with marvellous Success as we perceive by the Relations of Monsieur the Bishop of Heliopolis and all the other Travellers that come from those parts who relate most surprizing things In the Rüe St. Dominique is the Noviciat of the Reformed Jacobins whose Church is now building and will be none of the least handsom of Paris The Sieur Bulet who is the City Architect hath undertaken the building of this Church as also of the Houses round about which bring these Fathers a considerable Revenue and are well built On the other side of the way is The Hôtel de Luines heretofore call'd the Hôtel de Chevreuse whose name has been changed since the death of the Dutchess of Chevreuse on whose account it was first built The Apartments are very handsom and convenient and the Sieur le Muet made the design In the same Rüe Saint Dominique you may perceive a new House built by order of the Hôtel-Dieu whose Porch is very pretty it stands at the further part of the Court and is supported by Dorick Pillars which shew curiously as you enter The whole House is of the design of the Sieur le Duc. In the Petite Rüe Guillaume stands a large House in which dwells Monsieur Talon Advocat General the Structure is extream handsom the Apartments very pleasant having all their prospects upon the adjoining Gardens the Court is great and in fine it appears that there were no costs spared in the building but that which gives it the best Ornament is the excellent Library in it composed of the rarest and scarcest things both for Manuscripts and Printed Books The Hospital call'd La Charite THis Hospital is situated in the outermost part of the Town in which the Curious must not expect to find any pleasing Sights but Poor Sick People who are served very neatly by the Brothers of the Order of St. John of God who mind no other business but to assist and comfort these poor People and to procure for them freely all such things as they need Here are three or four great Rooms full of Beds on each side In their Church you may see the Tomb of P. Bernard who dyed in the Reputation of Sanctity his Statue here represents him to the Life kneeling Near the Door of this Church on that side next the Rüe Tarane is a new built Fountain of a very handsom design on which these Verses of Monsieur Santeüil are graven QUEM PIET AS APERIT MISERORUM IN COMMODA FONTEM INSTAR AQUAE LARG AS FUNDERE MONSTRAT OPES M. DC LXXV This Fountain for the needy built doth shew Your Charity should still like Water flow M. DC LXXV In the Rüe des Saints Peres adjoining is the Hôtel de Brissac whose building is very regular Here is a Gallery with several Apartments very delightsom The Hotel de S. Simon is in the same Street This is very well placed having the great Street call'd the Rüe Tarane over against it which gives it an advantagious View It was built by M. Salvois who made use of the Sieur Gittar's designs The House where now dwells the Princess of Wirtemberg is not far from hence The Garden behind which hath a delicate air Almost over against the last mention'd House stands another which tho' it makes outwardly no great show yet at the further part of the Court there you may see a piece of Perspective very well Painted wherein at a distance you discover a Triumphal Arch ◠l'antique which shows well afar off THE RUE DE L'UNIVERSITE YOU must observe that this Street changes its name in three places all along by the Garden Walls of St. German's Abby it is called the Rüe du Columbier further about the middle it is call'd the Rüe Jacob and at the end the Rue de l'Vniversité It is full of handsom Houses and most new built But the most remarkable and the greatest Curiosity to see is The Cabinet of Monsieur Blondel Before we speak any thing of the Rarities in this rich Cabinet it is convenient to say somewhat of those excellent Works which Monsieur Blondel hath written This learned person is so well known among all Scholars that it would be difficult to say any thing in his commendation which is not known already It is sufficient to give the Reader an Idea of his merit and profound Knowledge to say only that the King made choice of him to teach the Mathematicks to Monseigneur the Dauphin and appointed him Director of the Royal Academy of Architecture establish'd in the Palais Brion and composed as all men know of the ablest Men of the Kingdom in this Science The names of the present Members are M. Blondel Director Maréchal de Camp to the King's Armies and Mathematick-master to Monseigneur the Dauphin M. Perault M. le Vau the Elder M. le Pautre M. Gittard M. Bruan M. D'Orbay M. Mansard M Filibien who is the Secretary and has publish'd several excellent Works as we have already mention'd in the first part of this Book P. 38. where we treated of the Kings Antique Statues at the Palais Brion Monsieur Perault of
to those of the famous Moliere for Comick All Strangers agree however that the French Scene is the handsomest and most magnificent of Europe as well for the decoration of the Theater as for the Beauty of the Pieces there represented the Comedians moreover spare no Costs to satisfie the Spectators in the richness of their habits There are some among them who compose Plays themselves which makes them more expert and enables them more thorowly to understand the Character which they represent From the Ruë Mazarin you may turn into the Ruë de Guenegaud in which dwells Monsieur the Abbot de la Roque Author of the Journal des Sçavans which he publishes every Fifteen days The Curious receive this piece with extream satisfaction since he shews so great care to enrich it with all the fine things he can collect M. de Salo Counsellor in the Parliament was the first who began this Journal in the Year 1665. and gave the Idea to Strangers who found the invention so profitable and so pleasant that they have imitated the same thing in divers parts of Europe M. the Abbot Gallois continued the Journal for some years after from 1666. to 1674. at which time M. the Abbot de la Roque undertook the Work in which he hath always labour'd since then with such success as has acquired him a very great Reputation in the World He holds at his House every Thursday Conferences at which many Learned Persons meet and propose to him the Discoveries they have made in the Arts and Sciences From this Street you go upon the Key of the Augustines which begins at the Pont Saint Michael and runs all along the River as far as the Pont-Neuf The Convent of the Grand Augustines THE House of these Fathers is of no greater Antiquity than that of the other Mendicants of which I have already spoken Historians say that they came to Paris about the Year 1270. and that they were then call'd the Hermites of St. Augustine Their first Habitation was near the Gate of Mont-martre in the Street call'd Rüe des Vieux Augustines which still keeps that name and while they dwelt in that Quarter they made use of the Church of St. Mary Aegyptian which is still remaining They changed their abode some years after and came into the Rüe des Bernardins where there is at present St Nicholas du Chardonnet but finding that place no more Commodious than the former they shifted once again and came at last to this place intending to associate with the Penitents called Sachets who were apparel'd in a kind of Sackcloth and were placed by St. Lewis on the Bank of the Seine in the same place where the Convent stands at this day This habitation the Sachets left entirely to them and became themselves dispersed into divers places The Church belonging to these Father was not built till the time of Charles the Fifth called the Wise as one may observe from the Inscription placed at the Foot of his Statue placed at the entrance of the great Door on the Right Hand Primus Francorum Rex Delphinus fuit isle Exemplar morum Carolus dictus bone Chrisle Merces justorum dilexit fortiter isle Hic patet exemplum tibinam compleviâ— honore Hoc praesens Templum Deo diteâ—ur honore This King of France first Dauphin was in Fame Example of good manners Charles by name He loved full strongly the reward o' th' just The reason 's pâ—ain and grant it me you must For he this Church t' Almighty God did frame The Church was dedicated by William Chartier Bishop of Paris in the year 1453. assisted by a great number of Prelates who performed this Ceremony with much Solemnity The Great Altar is a modern Work it is but two years since it was finisht M. le Brun made the Design which is not much different from that of St. Severin you may observe that the Joyners Work of the Quire is of the best sort in Paris as is also the Tribune between the Quire and the Nave adorn'd with black Marble Pillars of the Corinthian Order On each side of the Door under this Tribune are two Chapels one dedicated to the Holy Virgin and the other to St. Nicholas of Tolentin The Pulpit is also adorn'd with certain Carvings gilt and the Bas-reliefs which are round about are carefully preserved they being wrought by Germain Pilon yet these Fathers have been not long since perswaded to gild them In this Church are several Tombs of illustrious Persons among which Philip de Comines is the most famous he lived under Lewis the Eleventh and was his principal Secretary The Memoires which he hath left us are so excellent and so profitable that they have been translated into Latin with Commentaries and Notes upon them And M. Godefroy Historiographer of France hath printed a French Edition of them at the Louvre according to the Original in the Language of the time which he hath illustrated with many curious Remarks That learned Man is buried with his Wife in a little low Chapel behind the Altar belonging to the Knights of the Holy Ghost and one cannot see his Tomb unless the Sacristan open the Door of the place in which it is it not appearing outwards You must not forget to observe the great Picture in this Chapel representing the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Holy Virgin and the Apostles it is the Work of a Famous Painter There is another Picture on the side of the same bigness representing Lewis the Thirteenth in his Ceremonial Robes giving the Collar of the Holy Ghost to a Lord assisted with the principal Officers of the Order in their proper Habits also In this Chapel are perform'd the Ceremonies of the great promotions and Henry the Third made choice of this place when he first Instituted the Order of the Holy Ghost on the last day of December 1579. as did appear by an Inscription which was not long since taken away but this is a Copy Fortissimis prudentissÃmis utriusque militiae Equitib Priscae nobilitatis bello pace optimè de Rep. meritis HENRICUS III. Galliae Poloniae Rex augustus divini Spiritus apud Christianos Symbolum pro equestri Stemmate esse voluit jussit decrevit plaudente venerante populo vota pro salute Principis nuncupante ob singularem ipsius pietatem LUTETIAE PARISIORUM KAL JANUAR M. D. LXXIX To the most Valiant and most Wise Knights both of the Sword and the Gown of Noble Birth who have deserved well of the Common-Wealth both in War and Peace Henry the Third the august King of France and Poland has Willed Commanded and Decreed That the Symbol of the Holy Ghost among Christians should be the mark of his new Order of Knighthood the people applauding reverencing and praying for the Health of their most pious Prince Paris the First of January M. D. LXXIX You ought not to neglect to read the Epitaph of the Learned M. de Sainte-Beuve a Parisian
appointed the Foundation of this Colledge bought this place for that purpose and caused those Buildings to be pull'd down which obstructed the form of that Plan which the Cardinal himself had drawn out The Key which was broken off in this place was continued as far as the Pont-Rouge and at last they raised the Buildings in such manner as we now see them of a most curious Ordinance without They consist of two great Pavillions square and very high adorn'd with Corinthian Pilasters which standing in a Demi-Circle enclose a small Place or open Court at the further part of which is the Portal of the Chapel raised upon some steps and adorn'd with six Corinthian Pillars which make a kind of Portico Over all the Work which stands something higher than the Wings are placed twelve Statues representing the four Evangelists the Fathers of the Greek Church and the Fathers of the Latin Church these serve for an Ornament to the Dome which rises above them and is enrich'd without with all the Ornaments one can desire as gildings upon the Lead in manner of Festoons and Feâ—illages over the Slates which are cut and placed like the Scales of Fishes The inside of the Church is not in the splendor at present which it is like to have in time And the Tomb of Cardinal Mazarin which is to be placed here is not yet begun On the Frise over the Portal you may read this Inscription JUL. MAZARIN S. R. E. CARD BASILICAMET GYMNAS F. C. A. M. DC LXI Julius Mazarin Cardinal of the holy Roman Church caused this Church and School to be built in the Year M. DC LXI The inner part of this Colledge is very spacious it is composed of two Courts the first of which and also the least is adorn'd with two Portico's one of which leads to the Church in the other is the Stair-case that goes up to the Apartments of the foremost buildings The other Court is very great and all the buildings run along one side only in which are convenient Lodgings for a very great number of People The Schools are below in the Ground Rooms level with the Court But these things ought not to detain you long you ought to see the Library which is composed of Thirty five thousand Volumes collected together by Cardinal Mazarin with great Care and Charges They are placed in excellent order and the Presses are wrought of Wainscot adorn'd with Pillars and Sculpture This Library is of great length and it takes up one of the Pavillions that runs out upon the Key Monsieur de la Potrie one of the most intelligent men of the Kingdom in Books hath the care of this Library and shews it to the Curious very obligingly It is said that it will be made publick and that people will have allowance to study there on certain days every Week as is done in that of St. Victor's but no body knows when this will be The Revenue which is appropriated for the maintenance of this Colledge is considerable For beside the Abby of St. Michael en Herme which is of a great Rent there are several Houses in the Rüe Mazarin from which arises a very great Summ of Money The Design of Cardinal Mazarin was to entertain here the Gentlemen of those four several Nations whose Country hath been so long time the Theater of War and that they might be here Instructed in all those Exercises that are proper for Persons of Quality Here are to be Sixty in all Fifteen from the parts about Pignerol for Italy as many out of Alsatia for Germany Twenty out of the Catholick Low Countrys and Ten from Roussillon that so these people being acquainted with the French manners may have an affection for that Nation from whom they have received such Benefits The Doctors of the Sorbonne are to have the Government of the Colledge and to teach here Humanity Here is also to be taught the Riding the great Horse and there is already a place set out for a Manege or Rideing School They are also to be taught to Dance to handle their Armes to Vault the Mathematicks and all belles Lettres or Polite Learning And these Gentlemen have all this and all sort of Entertainment gratis without costing them one â—arthing which makes this Foundation esteem'd as one of the best and most useful that could be invented On the Key that runs along the River side is placed this Inscription in black Marble fronting towards the Louvre composed by M. Blondel LUDOVICO MAGNO RIPAM HANC UT RIPAE ALTERIUS DIGNITATI RESPONDERET QUADRO SAXO CC. PRAEF ET AE DIL ANN. M. DC LXIX M. DC LXX To LEWIS the Great That this Bank might answer the Grandeur of the other the Praefect and Aediles caused it all to be built of square Stone in the Years M. DC LXIX and M. DC LXX On the same side is the Hôtel de Crequi In which Monsieur the Duke of Crequi Governor of Paris and one of the four principal Gentlemen of the Chamber makes his abode You may see here very Curious Pictures and very rich Furniture The Hôtel de Boüillon is next whose Apartments are magnificent adorn'd with Plafons Here is no sparing in furnishing the House with the best sort of Ornaments The House which makes the Corner of the Rüe des Saint Peres at present possest by Monsieur the Marechal d'Humieres Governor of Flanders It is a very regular building and wants nothing but a little more Room to make it lighter Further on is the House of the late President Perault Intendant of Monsieur the Prince which has been built with much Cost You ought above all to see the Gallery which fronts the River open on both sides correspondently and adorn'd with several Pictures representing the principal Persons of the Royal Family of France with a long Genealogick Chart in Vellom of the House of Bourbon in which are the Portraits of all those Princes from St. Lewis down to the present Reign in miniature In the Garden are some very good Statues two Gladiators colour'd like Brass the Venus Medicis and a young Bacchus of the same kind with some others very well cast off from the Antiques at Rome The great Iron Arbour is remarkable for its heighth and for its being the first that ever was made of this sort We ought not to forget the Chapel in which is a Picture done by Albert Duret and highly esteemed with some Copies of the Sacraments from the Famous Poussin This is a general account of what is here remarkable not mentioning the Furniture which was very neat during the Master's Life who past for one of the Curiousest and best Judging men of the Kingdom We come next to the Theatins Cardinal Mazarin was their principal Founder having left them at his death a great Summ of Money for the building of their Church which was begun with much Cost but is since left off imperfect the enterprâ—ze being much greater than the Legacy which was
Parisiensis referuntur in festo Assumptionis B. Mariae Virginis in 12. 1662. Traditio antiqua Ecclesiarum Franciae seu totius Imperii Occidentalis quae in ipsius Martyrologio ad festum Assumptionis B Mariae Virginis referuntur Vindicata 1672. There are also some other Books ascribed to him Entituled Recüeil de Maximes veritables importantes pour l'institution du Roi. Codicille d'Or ou petit Recüeil tirè de l'Instution du Prince Chrâ—tien composé par Erasme mis en Francois sous le Roi Francois I. a present pour la deuxiéme fois aves d'autres petites pieces 1665. in 12. Traitè de la restitution des Grands precedé d'unâ— Lettre touchant quelques points de la Morale Chrètienne 1665. in 12. De Reformandis horis Canonicis ritâ— constituendis Clericorum muneribus Consultatio 1643. in 12. This last mention'd Book is a most curious piece He hath also compiled together the Works of Monsieur Guy Coquille containing many Curious Tracts relating to the Liberties of the Gallican Church in two Volumes in â—olio He had a numerous Library but gave it away to the Chapter about two years since on Condition that it be publick and that all sorts of People may have liberty to come and study in it freely It is at present in a house in the Cloifter behind the Draw-wells on that side next the Church and we may e're long see it considerably augmented some other of the Canons having promised to add their â—ooks to it It ought to be observed that the Canons of this Church rise at midnight to go to Matines which they still say at that hour according to the ancient usage of the Church There are some antient Men among these hanons who for 30. or 40. Years together have not omitted one single time and this is almost the only Church in the Kingdom that hath Religiously continued this pious Custom tho' so painful and troublesom especially in Winter The Canons places are of no great Revenue yet they are much esteem'd because they are very honourable On Festival days you may see here very rich Ornaments Their Silver Vessels or Altar Plate is of the best Workmanship It consists of six great Candlesticks and a Cross made by Monsieur Baslin Over the Copper Pillars behind the great Altar is the Shrine of St. Marcel one of the first Bishops of Paris It is of Silver gilt adorn'd with precious Stones and Enamel of a delicate Colour On Whit-sunday they expose here a Suit of Ornaments of Crimson Sattin Embroidered with Pearls some of which are very large This was the gift of Queen Isabel of Bavaria Wife of Charles VI. Which Present she made in order to obtain of God her Husbands Cure being afflicted with a troublesom Distemper The fair Suit of Tapistry which they display here on the great Festivals representing the Life of the Holy Virgin is the gift of M. le Masle Prior of Roches Chanter of this Church and Secretary to the Cardinal de Richelieu the same who gave his Library to the Sorboune The Statue which we see on a Pillar on the left hand of the great Altar represents Philip Augustus whose Wife is interred here in the Quire as is also a Son of Lewis the Gross who refused to be Bishop of this Church because he would not by his own promotion hinder that of the famous Peter Lombard who was chosen in his stead The Tomb of Copper raised about one Foot from the Ground near the Quire Door belongs to a Bishop of Paris named Odo de Sulli in whose Pontificate this Church was finish'd he lived in the Reign of Philip Augustus and died in the year 1208. In the Chapels behind the Quire there are more Tombs the most considerable of which are those of the House of Gondi originally of Italy who came into France with Catharine de Medicis the Cardinal de Retz who died about 3. years since Abbot of St. Denis and had been Arch-Bishop of Paris was the second Cardinal of this Family The Chapel of the Virgin which is on one side of the Door that leads into the Quire is adorn'd with many Silver Lamps and abundance of other curious Offerings that have been made here Some years ago they placed before the great Altar that huge Lamp of Silver given by the late Queen-Mother which weighs 120. Marks a Mark is 8 Ounces and is six Foot in Diameter This Chapel of the Virgin has been sometimes called the Sluggards Chapel because of the very late Masses which were said here for such as lay long a bed It was the only place in Paris that enjoyed this priviledge contrary to the Custom of the past Ages when it was forbid to say Mass after 10. a Clock Over against this is the Statue of Philip de Valois on Horseback Armed and Caparison'd as the fashion was in his time He is represented in such manner as when he came into this Church to return his Thanks for a Battel gain'd over the Flemings near Cassel a Battle so Bloody that he saw 22000. of his Enemies dead upon the place Near this is a great Picture representing Lewiâ— XIII in his Royal Robes kneeling at the Feet of Christ taken down from the Cross it is the Vow of that King made in a dangerous fit of Sickness I shall say nothing of the several Chapels round the Nave all well Wainscotted and Painted nor of the Galleries over the sides capable of holding a vast number of People for this would be to engage too far into particulars I shall only say that Paulus Aemilius that famous Historian is interr'd in this Church on the North side but the precise place is not known However you might have read this Epitaph not long since PAULUS AEMILIUS VERONENSIS hujus Ecclesiae Canonicus qui praeter eximiam Vitae sanctitatem quantâ quoque Doctrinâ praestiterit judex atque testis erit Historia de rebus â—estis Francorum posteris ab eodem edita OBIIT A. P. 152â— DIE 5. MENSIS MAII Paulus Aemilius of Verona Canon of this Church of whose great Learning besides his extraordinary Sanctity his History of France will be a sufficient testimony to Posterity He died in the Year 1526. the 5. of May. In the Sacriâ—ty you may see an excellent Bust of Cardinal de Richelieu made by Cavalier Bernin which the Dutchess of Aiguillon gave to this Church by her Testament On the South side of this Church stands the Archiepiscopal Palace on the bank of the River Seine The House makes no very handsom show on the outside but is within very commodious and neat Here is very handsom Furniture and a Cabinet of choice Books The Garden is but little and consists only of one or two Alleys along the River Behind the Church of Nostre-Dame stands another little one very ancient call'd St. Denis du Pas because the first Torment that they inflicted upon that Saint was in this place where they put him into a hot Oven
Painted by Stella an excellent Master This Church was formerly dedicated to St. John Baptist before they brought hither the Reliques of St. Germain in the Reign of King Pepin for fear they should be plundered by the Barbarians if they remained in the Abby of his name which at that time stood without the Town That King himself assisting in carrying the Shrine upon his own Shoulders from the Abby to this place In memory of the Miracle which then happened as they past by the little Châtelet he gave to St. Germains the Estate at Palaiseau six Leagues from Paris Lower in the Street near the Palais are the Barnabites These Religious have been in the Possession of this Priory but since the beginning of this Age before that time it belonged to the Order of St. Benet under the name of St. Eloy And the Revenues are re-united to the Arch-Bishoprick of Paris Their Church is unfinisht The House which they have erected here about four or five years since hath cost them more than 50000. Crowns but it was a very necessary building for before that they had hardly any Lodgings to lye in St. Bartholomew is also over against the Palais to which and to all this Quarter it belongs as the proper Parish Church This was formerly also a Priory of the Order of St. Benet dedicated to St. Magloire but the Monks left it to avoid the Tumult and Noise of the place and removed to the Faux-bourg Saint Jacques near the little Chapel of St. George belonging to them at that time This Translation was made as hath been already said in the Reign of Lewis the Young in the Year 1138. This Benefice was since reunited to the Arch-Bishoprick and the Church made Parochial the Extent of which Parish reaches to the Rüe St. Denis St. Zue St. Giles was once annext to this and we have known a Curate who was possest of both these Benefices but they have been since divided because of the great distance The Church is obscure and ill built The great Altar is of Wainscot Work and of a handsom design There is a Chapel on the right hand in which you may see two Pictures of M. Herault's Work one represents St. William and the other St. Charles Bâ—romeus That over the Altar is of M. Loir's hand and represents St. Catharine kneeling and receiving on her Finger a Ring which is put on by the Infant Jesus The rest is not much remarkable Missire Lewis Servin Advocate General in the Parliament of Paris is interr'd in St. Bartholomew's He was a person who had gain'd by his extraordinary Merit the Respect and Love of all those who knew him and his Reputation was so great throughout all Europe that the most Famous Men of Learning of his time made it their glory to hold a Commerce by Letters with him as we see in their Printed Works where are some Letters of his of wonderful Wit and Genius His inviolable Fidelity for the Right side gain'd him the Confidence of Henry III. who made him his Advocate-General after the dismission of Messire Jaques Faye Despesses which Office he perform'd with a most exemplary Integrity until the Year 1626. in which he died as he was making an Oration to Lewis XIII then sitting on his Throne of Justice in the Parliament The University to whom he had done great Service made him a solemn Funeral at the Mathurins where his Elogium was pronounced in Latin These two Verses may serve for his Epitaph Est satis in titulo Servinus prob jacet ingens In mundo scivit scibile quidquid erat Servin's enough for Epitaph here lies Who knew whatever Science did comprize THE PALAIS IF I had obliged my self in this Collection to speak of the Antiquities of those things which I treat of in Paris I should have had occasion here to mention many particulars but after all it had been only a repetition of what many Authors have already said Those who have the curiosity to be informed in these Affairs let them consult du Tillet Giles Corrozet Father du Breäil in his Theater of Antiquities at Paris M. du Chesne in his Antiquities of Towns and several others who have writ on the French History I will only say to the honour of those who compose this great Body that Pepin Father of Charlemagne did first Institute it and that it was ambulatory till the Reign of Philip the Fair who as Belforest reports was the first who made it Sedentary in quitting his own proper Palace to the Officers of Justice To make it the more spacious he caused to be built the greatest part of the Chambers and the whole work was finisht in the year 1313. Notwithstanding it is certain that there were in this place several great Buildings before that time in regard several Kings made this place their usual abode Clovis himself kept his Court here but St. Lewis dwelt here longer than any for finding the Situation commodious in the middle of Paris he made here several great Works especially the Holy Chapel of which more by and by The chief remarks in this great building is first the great Hall admired by the Cavalier Bernin as one of the handsomest things in France It is built upon the same Plan with another very old which was burnt down in the beginning of this Age in which the Statues of all our Kings were placed round about the Walls as big as the Life In this Hall the Kings did use to receive Embassadors and made publick Feasts on certain days in the year and also here they celebrated the Nuptials of the Sons and Daughters of France At the Marriage of Isabel of France with Richard the Second King of England there was in this place so great a Croud of People that many persons were stifled Charles the Sixth who Reign'd at that time was himself in danger of his Life This Hall is all Vaulted with Freestone with a row of Arches in the middle supported with great Pillars round which are several Shops employed by divers Tradesmen the Dorick Order of Pilasters run round the Hall At one end is a Chapel where Mass is said every day the Procureurs or Attorneys to whom this Chapel belongs have about a year since laid out 40000. Francs to beautifie it as we now see Above this is the Clock according to which the Hearings or Audiences in the several Courts are regulated At the bottom of the Dial you may read this neat Verse made by M. de Montmort one of the French Academicians SACRA THEMIS MORES UT PENDULA DIRIGIT HORAS Justice does guide us as the Ballance this The inside round about this Chapel is adorn'd with Gilding and painted like Marble of various Colours which makes the place very handsom You must not neglect to see the several Chambers where they plead The great Chamber is on one side of the great Hall it was built in the time of St. Lewis who used here to give his Publick Audiences
in which with the kindness of a Father and the Majesty of a great King he endeavoured to pacifie the disorders that rise among his Subjects or received the Embassadors sent from the Neighbouring Princes Lewis the XII repair'd it as it is at present The Plafon composed of Culs de Lampe Work in the Ceiling swelling down with knobs was heret fore esteemed as an excellent piece of Work but time has decayed a great part of that which made it esteem'd This is the Room where all the Parliament assemble when the King comes hither to sit on his Tribunal of Justice or at such times when there is any great Affair for them to deliberate upon In this place also the Dukes and Peers of France come and demand to have their Patents Register'd which they obtain'd of the King for the Erection of their Dignities The other Chambers are much handsomer than this and in some of them the Plafons or Ceilings are gilt and painted very richly The 2 d. and 3 d. Chambers of Inquests and the Chambers of Requests are the best adorn'd The Court of Aids THis is a separate Jurisdiction from the Parliament which fits in three distinct Chambers that are beautified with costly Plafons The face of the building on that side next the Perron du May is of Stone enricht with Sculpture of a good design The Chancery whose coming in is in the Gallery of Prisoners has been repaired of late years The next day after St. Martin being the day on which the Parliament opens there is here a Ceremony which strangers must not neglect to see All the Members of that great Court are present apparelled in Scarlet Robes on that day and assist at a solemn Mass in the great Hall The principal Presidents call'd Presidens à mortier are distinguished from the rest by their â—acings of Minever or a kind of spotted Fur. When these last go up to Offer they make a kind of Reverence which was used in old time and is never practised now adays but upon this occasion After the Mass is ended they go to hear the Speeches which are usually made by the first President by the Procureur General and by the Advocates General who are no less remarkable by their Eloquence than by their Dignities The Sainte Chapel OF all the Monuments of Piety which St. Lewis raised there is none more beautiful or more magnificent than this Who making his usual aboad in this Palace caused this Chapel to be erected for the conveniency of his own Devotion In the same place where it now stands there was formerly a small Church Founded by King Hugh Capet under the title of The Adoration of three Kings in which Church Robert his Son did institute an Order of Knights called Knights of the Star This Order was of great Reputation in the beginning of its Institution and the greatest Lords accepted of the Collar But in process of time it became so vilified that it came to be confer'd on the Town Watch who go about in the Night time to prevent disorders that might happen in the Streets from Thieves and Robbers From whence it comes that at this day the Captain who commands that Watch is called the Chevalier du Guet the Knight of the Watch This little Chapel remain'd in such Estate till the time of St. Lewis who built the Structure which we now see a building of surprising Delicacy The Vaults are very high and the Windows of it pass for the handsomest that can be seen by reason of their bigness and almost infinite Variety of Colours representing some particular History of the Old and New Testaments the Glass of which is of such thickness that it hath resisted the injuries of time down to this day This beautiful Work was but five years in doingand was finisht in the year 1247. In a little time after which they brought hither the Reliques which are kept here These were redeem'd by that holy King out of the hands of the Venetians to whom Baldwin Emperor of Constantinople had engaged them for a very considerable Summ of Money which they lent him to carry on his War against the Bulgarians This Redemption of these precious Pawns by St. Lewis was not done without the Emperors knowledge and consent to take them upon paying to the Venetians the Moneys for which they were engaged They were as follows A great piece of Wood part of the true Cross our Lord's Crown of Thorns and certain drops of his precious Blood some of the Cloths which belonged to his Infancy another piece of the true Cross some Blood which bled Miraculously from an Image of our Lord struck by an Infidel one link of Iron part of the Chain wherewith he was bound the Napkin or Towel with which he washed his Apostles Feet a piece of the Stone of his Sepulcher some of the Holy Virgins Milk the Iron head of the Lance that pierced our Lord's side the Purple Robe with which they Clothed him the Spunge which they used in giving him Vinegar and Gall to Drink a piece of the Shroud in which he was wrapped Together with these things there is kept in the same Treasury a Cross which our Ancestors used to carry with the Oriflame which is at St. Denis when they marched out to any Wars of Consequence which Cross was call'd on that account The Cross of Triumph and many other things beside as Moses's Rod the upper part of St. Baptist's Head all which things are enclosed in the great Shrine of Copper gilt which you see raised upon four Pillars supporting a little Vault behind the great Altar But with the sight of these things one must not expect to satisfie his curiosity for these precious Reliques hardly ever are exposed but when some Queen desires to see them which happens very rarely Upon the great Altar in a kind of Tabernacle or Box of Wood gilt and powder'd with Flowers-de-Lis is the model of the Holy Chapel in little of Silver gilt and of most excellent Workmanship enricht with Stones of considerable value It is shew'd only on Festival Days There are also in the Sacristy other things to be seen that are very rare especially a great number of Reliquaries of Gold and Silver a great Cross all of Gold in which is enclosed a piece of the Wood of the true Cross which is exposed every Friday in Lent You may here also see the Chanters Staff on the top of which is placed a great Agate representing St. Lewis to the Wast holding in one hand a little Cross and in the other our Lord's Crown of Thorns Here are also several Books whose Covers are enricht with great Pearls and precious Stones But that which is extraordinary rare is a great antique Oriental Agate very fine of Figure almost Oval a little bigger than an ordinary Trencher-Plate it is cut in Bas-relief and represents the Apotheosis of Augustus the Workmanship is really most admirable by reason that the design is so contrived that the