great Minister hath undertaken Here is a great number of Workmen who are continually employed some in polishing the Glasses with Sand others with Emery and other in making the Bessil They use no others at present at Paris And these which they make here are as beautiful as those which formerly came from Venice with infinite greater Charges These Workmen are placed in long Galleries round a great square Court. Which Buildings have all the Conveniencies that are requisite being raised on purpose for this Manufacture The Triumphal Arch. Near the place where you see the Triumphal Arch was a magnisick Throne erected for the Queen when she made her Entry in the year 1660. And in regard this place is the highest of all this Quarter this beautiful Structure is placed here though it is not yet raised much higher than the Pedestal One may judge from the Model which is only of Plaster that it will be when finished one of the most Illustrious Monuments of all Europe It is a great Work consisting of two Fronts and three open thorow-Passages between each of which are placed two Corinthian Pillars in all eight on each side and two at the ends or thickness of the Work Over the Entablements or Cornish are placed great Troâ—hies of Arms with Slaves in Chains The top of all the Work is flat in the middle of which is placed a great Pedestal and thereupon the Kings Statue on Horseback is to be erected Posterity will learn from the several Ornaments of this Beautiful Structure the glorious Actions of this Kings Life which are represented in Medaillons placed in the spaces between the Pillars This Triumphal Arch will without doubt surpass all those which are to be seen at Rome and other parts of Italy the Remains of Antiquity and we shall see in this more regularity more design and more grandeur The Solidity of the Work will answer the beauty They make use of the hardest and greatest Stones that can be got which are joyned in such manner that you cannot perceive where unless you look very closely and this without cement or any thing like it In fine they have forgot nothing whereby to make it one of the Noblest Monuments of this Age. The Chateau or Royal House of Vincennes Tho we did not intend in this Description to speak of any of the beautiful houses about Paris yet we must not neglect to say something of Vincennes in regard of its near neighbourhood It is at the further end of that great Ally of Trees which has been continued from the Triumphal Arch to this place to serve for a passage hither and makes a pleasing prospect The Building is exactly square compassed about with a Moat very deep It has several Towers of great heighth but one higher than the reâ—t called the Donjon The first Founder of this House was Philip Augustus who also made the Park about it in which he put a great number of Deer sent him by Henry King of England from Normandy which he then possessed Philip of Valois and King John his Son continued the Work but it was not finished till the Reign of Charles V. called the Wise which put it into the condition as it now is There have been several very considerable additions made and the Court hath often resided here for a long time together The two great Wings of Modern Building on the Park side are of Dorick Pilasters and were designed by Monsieur du Vau. They are Magnificent both without and within and shew very great but that which is most remarkable is the great Gate that leads to the Park of the same Order together with the Statues that stand on each side which are very beautiful The Chappel was founded by Charles V. and the Body of Monsieur the Cardinal Mazarin who died here is reposited in this Chappel till that of the Colledge of the four Nations be finished in which will be raised a Monument for him as he has ordered in his Will You ought to take particular notice of the curious Windows in this Chappel they being highly esteemed in regard neither Italy nor any other parts elsewhere can equal them Many Kings have made their abode here St. Lewis who used oftentimes to devest himself of the State and press of his Attendants at Court that he might have the greater freedom to exercise his Piety would here pass his days of retreat It is said that not long ago there was remaining in the Park a great old Oak under which this good Prince was used to hear their Complaints who resorted to him for Justice and that he himself would use to send abroad his Heralds about the Country to call in all such who had any need of his Authority against the oppression of great men And thus much hath been already well observed by a learned Preacher in an Eloquent Panegyrick which he made on the Feast day of this Saint in the Church of the Grands Jestures dedicated to him At the entrance into the Park is the Menagerie or place where they keep several sorts of Wild Beasts which oftentimes they cause to fight together in a Court in which are Galleries that serve the Spectators to stand in and see without danger Behind the Menagerie over against one of the Park Gates are the Nuns of S. Maud which Nuns were formerly at la Saussaïe beyond the Ville-Juif This House did once belong to Monsieur Fouquet This is all you can see on this side as you return into the Faux-bourg you may take a walk in the Garden of the Piqâ—epuces which is among the first Houses you come at Here are some Grottoes of Shell-work â—ot ill wrought In their Refectory you will see some Pictures of Monsieur le Brun. This Convent is one of the most pleasing and neatest of Paris tho it be but of this last Age. On the same side as you go on towards the Town you pass before Rambouïllet whose Gardens are extreme pleasant composed of several Walks of Câ—momilâ— and a great Parterre in the midst of which is a Fountain Near Reüillâ— stands the house of Monsieur de Chantelou Mâ—istre d'Hôtel to the King who has the best Pieces of Poussin that are to be seen among others the seven Sacraments of which there are so many Copies and which the Sieun Pesne hath etcâ—t All knowing men agree without contradiction that these Pieces are the best Paintings and the best designed things of the whole World if we except the Works of some Italian Masters On the other side of the Faux-bourg you ought to view the house of the Sieur Titen the Kings Secretary in the Rüe de Montreüil It is one of the finest you can see whose Master being rich and of a delicate Gust one cannot but imagine that nothing can be there wanting and in truth it is very pleasant Both on the Court-side and that next the Garden the Fronts are very Beautiful In the Rüe de Charonne you will see also an
left ' em These Fathers are the only Men of this Order in France and Cardinal Mazarin was the first that brought them out of Italy The last house that you see in this Row on the side of the River is the Hotel de Mailly now building It will stand very convenient and pleasant in regard its prospects are extended over the Tuilleries and over the Cours de la Reine the two most beautiful Walks of Paris The Cours de la Reine is on the other side of the River at the end of the Tuilleries it was planted with four rows of Trees as we see it by the care of Mary of Medicis who gave the publick this agreeable Walk The Marechal de Bassompierre has been at the charge to enclose it on that side next the River all along with a Wall of Freestone It is in length a Roman Stadium and at each end hath a Door of Iron supported with certain Stone Works of a Rustick Order which make a very handsom effect This Walk is the pleasanter in regard it is upon the Banks of the River from whence it hath such a fresh Air as in Summer draws hither all the Gentry and persons of Fashion in Paris You may count here often times no less than seven or eight hundred Coaches which drive about in the exactest order that can be and without the least embarrass imaginable These are the principal things that are to be seen in the Quarter of the Faux-bourg St. Germain There may be here other Rarities no less singular than these but in regard they are in particular hands whose owners do not care to have them known I think it best to make no mention of them as well to oblige the owners as to save the Labour of the Curious that they may not ask to see what they are in great hazard to be deny'd L'ISLE DU PALAIS Or Island of the Palace THIS is the last Quarter that remainâ— to write of tho' according to History and Antiquity it should have been first mention'd but we did not think that proper for some reasons mention'd in the beginning of this Book Formerly the whole Town of Paris contain'd no more than that space of Ground which lies between the two Armes of the Seine which place still retains its ancient name of the City This is the fullest of People of any Quarter of Paris but withal the most incommodious by reason of that great confusion of Houses very high for the most part which make the Streets narrow and obscure The most remarkable things in this Quarter are some Churches and the Palais or place where the Parliament sit The Church of Notre-Dame THis Church is the Cathedral of Paris and the Seat of an Arch-Bishoprick which was erected in the Pontificate of Pope Vrban the VIII in the Year 1622. It was before that only a Bishoprick but that very ancient since St. Denis who lived but a little time after the Apostles was the Founder This Church in the first Catholick Ages was call'd by the Christians of those times by the name of that Saint its Founder but it being rebuilt in the Reign of Childebert eldest Son of Clovis about the year 522. it was then dedicated to the Holy Virgin whose name it has ever since retain'd King Robert one of the most pious and wisest Princes that France ever had perceiving the antient Building not to have all that Beauty and Magnificence which it might have begun another but the design being a vast undertaking it was not brought to perfection till many Years after Henry the First his Son Philip the First Lewis the Gross Lewis the Young and Philip Augustus his Successors did all assist in the Work and it was finisht under the glorious Reign of the last as we may presume because he is the last of those 24. whose Statues are set up on the great Frontispiece The Structure of this Church is of the Gothick manner but the handsomest and best perform'd in France It is very remarkable for its Grandeur and Solidity The Vaults are very high raised and contain 17. Toises a Toise is six Foot in height the breadth is 24. and the length 65. The 2. great squate Towers in the Front are 34 Toises high flat on the top so that from this place one may easily and conveniently discover all Paris The Bells that hang in the Towers are very fair ones the biggest of them was cast but a while ago for which purpose the Chapter hath been at a very considerable expence and yet it hath no very pleasing Sound All the Body of the Church is cover'd with Lead and it is easie to judge what a prodigious quantity there goes to cover so great a Roof As for the inside of the Church the Curious who are Lovers of Painting will here find sufficient satisfaction in viewing those great Pictures which all the Pillars are adorn'd with Those in the Quire are much better than the rest Here are two of M. Brun's hand one representing the Crucifying of St. Peter the other the Martyrdom of St. Steven Here is also one piece of Sueur's representing St. Paul in the midst of a Publick Assembly casting into a Fire the Books of Magick before the Gate of the Temple whose Portico is supported with Pillars This Picture ought to be esteem'd as one of the choicest that can be seen it being of the best manner of that excellent Master who in the Judgment of some able Men is esteem'd the Second French Painter of this Age and next to the famous Poussin In former Years on every first day of May the Company of Goldsmiths did use to present a Picture to this Church for the making of which they employ'd some renowned Painter who had made himself known and gain'd a Reputation but this Year the Custom hath been intermitted tho' we hope it will be continued again hereafter There are few Cathedral Churches in Europe wherein the Divine Service is perform'd with more exactness and Reverence The Chapter is composed of 50. Canons among whom there are some very famous and of great Merit Among the rest Monsieur Joli the Chanter and one of the Canons is known to be a person of extraordinary Probity and Diligence in his Office and who to his singular Merit hath added a profound Learning He hath made publick several Works some of which are already very scarce to be met with The principal are An Historical Treatise of the Episcopal Schools 1678. Christian propositions for relief of the Poor 1652. A Voyage to Munster in the Year 1646. A Translation of two Books of the State of Marriage composed by Francis Barbaro a Noble Venetian A Christian Instruction for the Financiers 1667. Christian and Moral Advice for the Education of Children The Christian Widow Dedicated to the late Queen-Mother Divers small Tracts collected from the Memoires of M. Antoine Loisel Advocate in Parliament his maternal Grandfather De Verbis Vsuardi quae in Martyrologio Ecclesiae
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
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
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
ought to visit the House of Monsieur de la Fosse who dwells cross the way here you may see several Pieces of Painting in his way much esteemed Observe as you go that the Rüe de Richelieu for the length and for the beauty of the Houses which are all built in a strait Line is one of the most beautiful and regular Streets of Paris It takes its name from the great Cardinal de Richelieu who during his Ministry caused it to be considerably enlarged and the Gate to be made at the end which leads out of Town on the side next Montmartre In the same Street these Verses of M. de Santeüil are engraved on a Fountain Qui quondam tenuit Magnum Moder amen a quarum Richelius Fonti plauderet ipse novo 1674. The Sea did once submit to Richlieu's will This Fountain's part o' th' mighty Empire still 1674. As you go forward you come to the house of M. Mignard who has by him many Curiosities From thence you go to The Hôtel de Jarz so called from a Commander of Malta who bought the Ground of the Abbot of St. Victor and built it It is one of the best Works of Monsieur Mansard for design The Gate is a curious piece and the Stair-case is very light and consequently pleasant The Apartments are large and high But to say the Truth they are not so convenient as beautiful On the Garden side are contrived two small Cabinets or Closets supported with Pillars with much Art and Industry but they are two small for the bigness of the Pillars which support them Adjoyning to this is the Hôtel de Louvois there are many things to be taken notice of in this house but more especially the Stair-case and the Room of Audience As for the Apartments they are contrived to the best advantage and no man can desire better Furniture than is seen here Rich Tapistry Branches for Candles Tables Looking-glasses of Silver Embroidered Beds and in fine all that can contribute to magnificence and neatness may be here seen every thing in its proper place The face of the Building on the Garden side and that next the Court correspond and are both of a curious Symetry You must not neglect to observe as you pass the Locks on the doors which are very finely wrought and kept with such care that they shew like Silver Over against this Hôtel is a long Gallery in which was formerly kept the Library of Cardinal Mazarine at present in the College of the four Nations The Stable was underneath The Duke of Nevers uses the Chambers that are at the end where you may see some Ceiling pieces well Painted Of late this Gallery hath been broken through to make room for a new street that runs cross from the Rüe Vivien to the Rüe de Richelieu to which they have given the name of Monsieur Colbert At the further end of the Rüe de Richelieu you come into the Street of S. Augustin so called from the Religious men of that Saints Order otherwise called les petits Peres the little Fathers whose house stands at the end and takes up part of this Street In this Street are many very fair houses About three or four years since the Sieur Douilly Receiver of the Generalty of Poitiers built one over against the Nuns of S. Thomas on which he hath laid out one hundred thousand Crowns there is nothing wanting but a little more Room but it was impossible to have allotted more to the Work it being shut up between the Petits-peres and the Râ—e Vivien Otherwise all is handsom The Stair-case is very light and large and the Gate contrived after the manner of a Vault is very well proportioned I say nothing of the Moveables for one may well conclude that a house which appears so well without wants for no Furniture and that the beauty within is equal to that on the outside In the same Street stands the Hôtel de Gramont This House hath for a long time been justly esteemed one of the fairest of Paris It did once belong to the Sieur Monerot who spared no Cost to make it Glorious And it still preserves its Beauty for its Furniture is most magnificent since it came to the Duke of Gramont It looks towards Montmartre which renders its situation extreme pleasant Near this is the Hôtel de Grantè not all out so magnificent but very commodious and pleasant because of its Garden which is one of the neatest of Paris the abode of the Mareschal of that name This Hôtel did once belong to the Sieur Thevenin who was a very curious person Not far from hence is the House of St. Cotte-Blanche Here was formerly a very good Library and it was once adorned with very good Furniture and curious Pictures but its Master having changed his Fortune all these things are now dispersed The House of M. Fremont and several others that look upon the Fields are not unpleasant The House of M. de Bois-Franc Intendant of the Duke of Orleans which is on the other side of the Street is one of the most finished things that can be seen The face of the Building next the Court is extreme regular set off with a kind of Portico whose Pillars are of the Ionick Order with Vases on the top done about with Festons and other Ornaments all which give you a pleasing object as you enter Round about the Court are Busts of Emperors placed between the Arches that support the Building The Stair-case is very spacious with a Balustrade of Wood painted like white Marble and wrought with a great deal of design The Bas-reliefs on the Doors of the several Apartments tho they be but of Plaister are notwithstanding very Ornamental There is also in this House a Cabinet or Closet of very choice Books As you go out you ought to observe the great Gate which is extremely well contrived on a very odd sort of a Foundation The Rue Vivien In this Street are several great Houses That where dwells Monsieur Desmarais Intendant of the Finances and Nephew of Monsieur Colbert deserves to be viewed but above all The Kings Cabinet The House wherein this is kept hath but a very ordinary appearance and one would hardly believe by the outside that it contains within so many curious things First here is kept the Kings Library which was heretofore at Fontainbleau which Charles V. began and which has been since much augmented by Francis I. and Catherine de Medicis But of late years it hath been made much more numerous in regard that at present here are more than fifty thousand Volumes among which are twelve or fifteen thousand Manuscripts in Hebrew Greek Arabick Syriack Latin French and almost all Languages As for printed Books there is no rare piece that can be heard of but you may find here a Copy Here are several very ancient Manuscripts of St. Câ—prian which Catherine de Medicis brought with her as also divers other very scarce Books out of the
other Works that seemed imperfect but Death suffered him not to perform what he proposed However that hinders not but this house is notwithstanding one of the most capacious and convenient it is also most delicious in Summer by reason of that pleasing Odour which comes from the Orangers especially in the lower Rooms next the Garden The great Jesuites The Church of these Fathersis dedicated to St. Lewis and is one of the fairest and best adorned of all Paris It is built after the Modern with a great Dome or Cupolo raised over it The Corinthian Order is observed throughout the whole Work very regularly and the Portal is extremely well placed in regard it stands exactly over against the end of the Rüe St. Catherine It is composed of three Orders of Corinthian Pilllars placed over one another which make in all about twenty two Toises in heighth Here is no want of Ornaments for all parts of this Structure are so filled up with Palms Feuillages and Cyphers that it makes such a confusion as is not at all pleasing to the Curious in Architecture You see by the Inscription on the Freese of the first Order that Cardinal de Richelieu was a Benefactor to the Fabrick of this Portal SANCTO LUDOVICO REGI LUDOVICUS XIII REX BASILICAM ARMANDUS CARDINALIS DUX DE RICHELIEU BASILICAE FRONTEM POSUIT 1634. To Saint LEWIS Lewis XIII built this Church Armand Cardinal and Duke of Richelieu built the Front of it 1634. Lewis XIII laid here the first Stone being accompanied by M. de Gondy the first Arch-Bishop of Paris on which Stone was engraven the following Inscription D. O. M. S. LUDOVICO QUI TOTUM ORBEM IN TEMPLUM DEI ARMIS ANIMISQUE DESTINAVIT LUDOVICUS XIII HOC TEMPLUM EREXIT UT QUEM GALLIA COLUIT UT REGEM AMAVIT UT PATREM HIC VENERETVR UT COELITEM ANNO MDC XXVII Sacred to Almighty God To Saint Lewis who designed to Convert the whole World into the Temple of God Lewis XIII Erected this Temple that whom France Honoured as a King and loved as a Father it might here venerate as a Saint In the year MDC XXVII The inside of this Church answers well to that without A Gallery runs round over the Chappels having a Balustrade of Iron on the top of the Cornish by which Gallery you may go round the Church The great Altar is composed of three ranks of Corinthian Pillars of black Marble whose Capitals are of Brass gilt On each side of the Altar are the Statues of St. Lewis and Charlemagne But to say the truth this Altar is a little too low which makes it sad and obscure Yet it being on the Festivals enlightned with a great number of Candles the defect is the less taken notice of The Tabernacle which they expose on such days is of Silver set off with Feuillages and other Ornaments Silver and gilt and the Workmanship is of greater value than the materials One cannot see in any Church of Paris a greater number of Reliquaries Silver Vessels Candlesticks Branches Perfuming-pots and such like things all of Silver or Silver Gilt. Nay there are some all of Gold but that which is most remarkable is a great Sun of Gold inriched with Diamonds and great Pearls of a very considerable price The Ornaments are almost of as great Beauty among which there is one that represents the adoration of the three Kings embroidered with Pearls and others of very rare workmanship where Gold and Silver have not been spared In fine nothing is wanting to the magnificence of this Altar besides these Fathers have such able Sacristans that they invent every day some new manner of Imbellishment All the Chappels are adorned with Marble Pillars and Pictures of those Saints to whose memory the several Chappels are Dedicated On the left side of the great Altar under an Arch is the heart of Lewis XIII supported by two great Angels under a Crown of Silver gilt You may see there these two Inscriptions on the Pillars of each side viz. on one side AUGUSTISSIMUM LUDOVICI XIII JUSTI REGIS BASILICAE HUJUS FUNDATORIS MAGNIFICI COR. ANGELORUM HIC IN MANIBUS IN COELO IN MANU DEI. The most August Heart of Lewis XIII the Just King the magnificent Founder of this Church is here in the hands of Angels and in Heaven in the hand of God Over against this is placed the other Inscription which shews that this Monument was raised by the pious care of Anne of Austria his illustrious Queen SERENISSIMA ANNA AUSTRICA LUDOVICI XIV REGIS MATER ET REGINA REGENS PRAEDILECTI CONJUGIS SUI CORDI REGIO AMORIS HOC MONUMENTUM P. ANNO SALUTIS MDCXLIII The most serene Anne of Austria Mother of King Lewis the XIV and Queen Regent To the Royal heart of her most beloved Husband hath placed this Monument of her Love In the year of Salvation 1643. There are four Bas-reliefs of white Marble representing the Cardinal Virtues very well wrought Under the Dome on the same side stands a Magnificent Monument erected to the Memory of Henry de Bourbon Prince of Conde which Monument Monsieur Perrault who had been his Intendant out of a generous gratitude and with a great expence caused to be raised to the Glory of that Prince It consists of the four Virtues in Brass as great as the life upon Pedestals of black Marble with Bas-reliefs also in Brass representing the renowned actions of that Prince These last are placed about the Chappel instead of a Balustrade upon a Foundation of black Marble On each side of the Overture which serves as a kind of entry are placed two Cupids one of which holds a Shield in which are the Arms of Bourbon on the other a Table on which is graven this Inscription HENRICO BORBONIO CONDAEO PRIMO REGII SANGUINIS PRINCIPI CUJVS COR HIC CONDITUM JOHANNIS PERRAULT IN SUPREMA REGIARUM RATIONUM CURIA PRAESES PRINCIPI OLIM A SECRETIS QUAERENS DE PUBLICA PRIVATAQUE JACTURA PARCIUS DOLERE POSUIT ANNO MDCLXIII To Henry of Bourbon â—Prince of Conde and first of the Blood-Royal whose heart is here buried John Perrault President of his Majesties Court of Exchequer and formerly Secretary to the Prince seeking to allay his grief for the publick and private loss erected this in the year 1663. All the Pieces are of Brass and perfectly well wrought Monsieur Sarasin whose Work it is hath in this Monument discovered his excellent Genius in designing Here is inclosed the heart of that Generous Prince which in truth the Fathers Jesuits had gained long before his Death All men know what a particular affection the House of Bourbon have always had for this Society The Cardinal of Bourbon Uncle of Henry the Great was the first who established them at Paris He bought for them the Hôtel de Amville for the sum of 13000 Livers which the Receivers of the Abby of St. Germain advanced and at his Death he left to these Fathers his whole Library
Fathers stands a little higher in the other side of the Street St. Lewis was their â—ounder and they are of the Holy Trinity of the Redemption of Captives Their principal Institution is to go into Barbary and there ransom Christian Slaves out of the Hands of the Infidels and procure their Liberty From time to time they make these Voyages assisted by the Contributions of pious People who supply those great Expences which they cannot avoid It is not long since they brought over a great number which we saw here with much Edification Their Church is very lightsom though it is built after the Modern way It was built in the form we now see it by the means of Robert Gaguin Minister and General of the whole Order who was an Illustrious Person in his time and hath Composed divers Books among others The History of Lewis XII However some think that this Church was begun before his time and that he only finisht it He lies interr'd in the middle of the Quire Formerly you might have read his Epitaph there but when the Church was raised it was removed from that place It is this Illustris Gallo nituit qui splendor in orbe Hic sua Robertus membra Gaguinus habet Si tanto non saeva viro Libitina pepercit Quid speret docti caetera turba chori ANNO A NATALI CHRISTI MILLESIMO QUINGENTESIMO PRIMO VIGESIMA SECUNDA MAII Here Robert Gaguin now Entomb'd doth lye Who shin'd a glorious Light i' th' Gallic Sky If Death so great a Scholar would not spare How obnoxious then Inferiour Learners are In the year from the Birth of Christ One thousand five hundred and one the Twenty second of May. In the Cloister there are also some Tombs among others that of Sacro-Bosco a very famous Mathematician This is his Epitaph De Sacro-Bosco qui compotista Johannes Tempora discrevit jacet hic à tempore rapius Tempore qui sequeris memor esto quod morieris Si miseres plora miserans pro me precor ora Here Sacro-bosco the Accomptant lies Who Time divided him did Time surprize Thou who com'st after shortly dead must be If thou hast Pity Weep and Pray for me Near this is another Epitaph of a Famous Lawyer who was the Master of Papirius Masson CUJACI Balduinus hic jacet hoc tecum reputa vale Mortuis vobis Jurisprudentiam corriptt gravis sopor Franciscus Bâ—lduinus Jurisconsultus obiit Anno aetatis suae 53. 9. Kalend. Novemb. Anno à partu Virginis 1573. PAPIRIUS MASSONIUS Jurisconsultus Balduini Auditor tumulum posuit Here Baldwin lies think on it and farewel E're since a drowsiness on Law doth dwell Francis Baldwin Lawyer dyed in the 53 Year of his Age the Ninth of the Calends of November in the Year from the Birth of our Saviour 1573. Papirius Masson of the same Faculty the Scholar of Baldwin erected this Tomb. Lastly here is the Tomb of the two Scholars named Leger Moussel and Oliver Bourgeois who were hang'd at Montfaulcon in the Year 1408 on the 17th of May by Sentence of the Provost of Paris without regard to the Priviledges of the University who afterwards demanded that famous Satisfaction which we have already spoken off in the 4th Folio of this Second Part. Of late they have made many Considerable Decorations in this Church The great Altar is adorn'd with Pillars of a kind of reddish Marble very rare The little Tabernacle upon that Altar is also very Beautiful So are the two lesser Altars on each side of the great one adorn'd with Pillars very well wrought The Quire of this Church is separated from the Nave by a kind of Balustrade or rather by six Ionick Pillars of Marble supporting a Cornish on which there are several little Figures of Angels very well designed The rest of the Church is Wainscoted with Joyners Work full of Sculpture with a great number of Grenades which are the Arms of the present General of the Order who hath been at the Expence of all these new Reparations The University assemble in the Chapter-House of this Convent when they make their Processions which usually happens every three Months at which the Rector is constantly present He is also obliged to give a Summ of Money to all those that assist at the Ceremony These Processions ought to be seen and observed by Strangers and are well worth their Curiosity the Show being very numerous and disposed in excellent Order The four Faculties are obliged to appear there in the proper and peculiar Habits belonging to them The Money which the Rector disburses on this occasion arises out of the Revenues of the University which amount to the Summ of Fifty thousand Franks arising out of the Messageries or Carriage of Goods between certain Towns of this Kingdom and also from several Houses Situated in divers places of Paris Formerly they possest much greater Revenues but they have been lost by the negligence of those who of late Years have had the Administration of their affairs From hence you pass before The Church of Saint Benoit supposed to be Founded by St. Denis who Dedicated it to the Holy Trinity if so none can doubt it to be of very great Antiquity It is possest by Canons Secular who are obliged on the great Feasts to accompany the Canons of Nostre-Dame when they make their grand Processions The Building or Structure of this Church is nothing Beautiful as being carried up at several times and by pieces The Nave was built in the Reign of Francis the First and four years since the Quire was Rebuilt anew very handsomly The inside is embellisht with Corinthian Pilasters which support a Cornish of a very good Gust This Church is very lightsome and has not now the defect which it sometimes had which was that the great Altar was contrived on the West side since when it was new built in the last Age they quite changed that Disposition which occasion'd that it has been call'd St. Benoist le bien tourné or St. Bennet's the well contrived For in those days they were very exact in contriving the Churches East and West even to a kind of Scruple On the other side of the Street St. Jacques over against the hinder part of the Quire of this Church is a small open-place or Court at the Entrance into which stands a Fountain which bears its name The place is called La Terre de Cambray from the Colledge of that Name there Situated You have there also The Colledge Royal whose original Founder was Francis the First the Father and Restorer of Learning in France 'T was he that instituted most of the Lectures in Law and Physick in this University and invited hither the ablest Men he could find to teach here the Mathematicks Philosophy and the Greek Latin Syriack and Hebrew Tongues He intended to have raised here a great Building but his design being never executed because of his great Expences in the Wars which he had on all 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
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
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