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
from which he was deliver'd by a Miracle The Cloister where the Canons live is inclosed with ancient Walls within which they have their several Apartments Formerly when they lived in Community like the Religious Women were not suffered to dwell here but since they have been Secularized they have had distinct Lodgings and it hath been permitted to those who have room to spare to let out their Apartments which has been the occasion to introduce here all sorts of People M. Menage so well known among the Learned for all his excellent Works dwells in this Cloister Every Wednesday he hath in his House a Meeting for the improvement of the Sciences to which all Men who make any profession of Learning are freely admitted These are the most remarkable matters in this Cloister which is join'd to the Isle of Nostre-Dame by a Bridge of Wood over which lies a Communication From hence you pass before the Hôtel-Dieu This Hospital is the principal and greatest of all Paris they receive here indifferently all poor Sick People and you may sometimes reckon here to the number of 4000. who are all entertained and nourished with exceeding great Care They are served by Nuns of St Augustine's Order whose Rule is the more severe in regard they are to spend their whole Life in this Exercise which they could never undergo without admirable Virtue and Patience by reason of all those incommodities which they pass through near so many poor Sick People whose Miseries and Diseases render them equally froward and insupportable This Hospital hath very great Revenues and they encrease daily more and more by reason of the gifts that are continually given to it The building is not handsom nay it is very incommodious because it is straitned for Room the Ground on which it stands being shut up on all sides They have been therefore constrained to extend their buildings upon the very River and to erect a great Room upon a long Vault under which the Stream runs Tho' there be here a very great number of Beds they are not sufficient for that greater quantity of Sick which are brought hither every day and sometimes they are constrained to put 3. or 4. in the same Bed They have several and distinct Rooms where they lodge those who are afflicted with like Distempers that so the Disease may not spread The Hall on that side next the Petit-Pont whose outside is adorn'd with Figures was built by Cardinal Anthony du Prat Chancellor of France and Legate of the Holy See about the Year 1535. It is thought that the first Foundation of this great Hospital was laid by St. Landri the 28 th Bishop of Paris who lived under Clovis the 2 d. in the Year 660. In the first Ages of Christianity Bishops were by a laudible Custom obliged to Nourish and Lodge the Poor as being the Dispensators and Trustees of the Poors â—state For this reason they built Hospitals near their Cathedral Churches to the end that so they might be the principal Administrators themselves as at this Day the Arch-Bishop hath the chief direction here with the Primier President and the Procurer General the Canons of Nostre-Dame have the Direction of the Spirituals St. Lewis as William de Nangis who hath compos'd a History of France much esteemed tells us was a great Benefactor to this Hospital and did considerably augment its revenue Henry the 4 th did the like giving wherewithal to build one of the fairest Halls which is that of St. Thomas raised upon a Stone Bridge very solid and finisht 1602. It is a very Edifying Curiosity to see in what manner the Poor are served in this Hospital Princesses have sometimes performed here the vilest Offices of Servants and even in our days we have known one dye of a Disease which she caught here in giving some Broth to a Poor Creature sick of the Small Pox. Over against the principal Gate that goes into the Parvis de Nostre-Dame you may see a great Stone Statue very high which represents a Man holding a Box in his hand and a Serpent by his side It is supposed to be the Statue of Esculapius God of the Physicians who is presumed to have had some Temple in this place On the Fountain behind this Statue these Verses are ingraved QUI SITIS HUC TENDAS DESUNT SI FORTE LIQUORES PROGREDERE AETERNAS DIVA PARAVIT AQUAS Come hither you that Thirst and Water want Go and take living Water from the Saint All this Quarter is full of Churches which in truth are but small but very ancient Their names are St. John le Rond standing on one side of the Church of Nostre-Dame and is the Parish Church of the Cloister St. Christophers over against the same Church St. Geneviéve des Ardens which has been so named by reason of a famous Miracle which happen'd through the Intercession of that Saint when her Shrine was carried in procession to Nostre-Dame in order to the obtaining a Cure for an Epidemical Disease call'd Les Ardens because those who were afflicted with this Distemper were inflamed with such a Thirst that no Remedy could abate This Miracle happen'd in the Reign of Lewis VI. in the year 1130. under the Pontificate of Pope Innocent the 2 d. And for a perpetual Memorial this Church was built it being before that but a small Chapel but in process of Time it is become a Parish Church tho' the Parish be but of sinall extent St. Peter aux Boeufs where they touch Cattle with a hot Key to keep 'em from running Mad. St. Marine the Parish Church of the Arch-Bishop's House to the Curate of which Church are sent all Marriages that are gain'd by Sentence n the Officialty St. Landri St. Symphorian St. Denis de la Chartre where according to some Mens Opinions that great Apostle of France was put into Chains and for some time cast into an obscure Prison when he came to bring the Faith and Light of the Gospel into France The late Queen-Mother whose piety extended into many places repair'd the Altar and placed there all the Figures which you see representing a Miracle which happen'd to the Saint when he was shut up in this place they are the Work of M. Anguerre This Church is a Priory of the Order of St. Benet enjoyed by M. l'Abbè Testu one of the French Academy Near to this is the Church of Saint Magdelain Some hold that this is one of the oldest in Paris and that for this reason it is exempted from making Processions as others do Here is a Fraternity that was formerly of so great Reputation that the greatest Lords entered themselves of it after the Examples of the King and the Princes of the Blood The other Churches are Sainte Croix St. Peter des Arcis St. Martial St. Germain le Vieux Whose great Altar is of a very handsom Wainscot Work adorned with Corinthian Pillars of black Marble with a Picture representing the Baptism of our Lord
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
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
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
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
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
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