Councels which are likewise Officers General of the whole Kingdom CHAP. XXI Of the Kings Councels and Ministers of State Of the Chancellour of France THE Chancellour is the Head-Officer of Justice and of the Kings Councels and into his hands he has wholly deposited it that he may distribute and dispence it impartially to all his Subjects with the same Power and Authority as he might do himself in Person for this reason the Seals of France are committed to his Custody which he makes use of in the Administration of Justice and in conferring of Gifts Graces and Offices as he thinks most reasonable for the good of the State He presides in the Kings Councels 'T is he that on all occasions declares the Kings Pleasure and when his Majesty goes to Parliament to sit on his Bed or Throne of Judgment he sits before his Majesty on his left hand He wears a Robe of red Velvet lined with Scarlet Sattin and at publick Ceremonies a Cap fashioned like a Mortar covered with gold and adorned with Pearls and precious Stones Before him march the Ushers of the Chancellery carrying on their Shoulders Maces of guilt Silver and the rest of the Ushers after them The present Chancellour is M. Lewis de Boucherat Knight Lord of Compans and other places who after having Officiated the Places of Corrector of the Accounts of Counsellour in the Parliament and Commissary in the Requests of the Palace Master of Requests Intendant of Justice or Lord Chief Justice in Languedoc Honorary Counsellour in the Parliament of Paris and both Counsellour of State and Counsellour in the Councel Royal several years and rendred very considerable Services to the State and so acquired the universal approbation of all people by his indefatigable Industry and his great Capacity and Zeal for the service of his Majesty and of the publick was at length upon all these Considerations named to the Chancellorship by his Majesty on the Feast of All-Saints in the year 1685. who was pleased to Seal his Patents deliver him the Seals and swear him into the said high and important Office the 3d of November following The Chancellour of France bears as a mark of his Dignity a Mortar-fashioned Cap of Cloth of gold set with Ermines upon the Crest of his Arms out of which with the Figure of a Queen coming out of it representing the Kingdom of France holding in her right hand a Scepter and in her left the Great Seals of the Kingdom and behind his Coat of Arms two great Vermilion gilt silver Maces passed Salteir-wise with a Scarlet Mantle set with rays of gold towards the top and furred with Ermines This Office was instituted as some say by Clotair the First and the first Chancellour was Bodin in the year 562. He was antiently called the Great Referendary and Keeper of the Royal Ring and Seal When a Keeper of the Great Seal is made at any time he has the same Authority given him as a Chancellour only with this difference that a Chancellour is not deposable but by arraigning him at the Bar and taking away his Life whereas the Keeper of the Seals is an Officer changeable at the Kings Pleasure The Original of the word Chancellour comes from this All Letters Patents and Charters formerly passing through his hands when they were not well drawn up or that any thing were found in them not conformable to Law and Custom he used to cross them out by drawing certain strokes and bars cross them Lattice-wise which in Latin are called Cancelli from whence comes the word Cancellare and the English word at this day used to signify making void any Writings viz. to Cancel and from thence the word Chancellour Sometimes he is called for distinctions sake Summus Cancellarius i. e. High Chancellour because there were and are several other Chancellours We shall speak of the other Officers of the Chancery when we have described the Kings Councils CHAP. XXII A general State and account of the Kings Councils and of the persons that compose them THE Affairs hapning daily being different and various different Councils have been provided to debate and resolve them in as the Council of War the Council of Dispatches the Council of State and of the Finances or Revenues Of the Council of War The Great Council of War sits commonly in the Kings Chamber where he himself unless some great indisposition hinder him is present with such Princes of the Blood Marshals of France and Great Lords as he thinks fit for their experience in Military Affairs to assist thereat Of the Council of Dispatches and the Secretaries of State This Council is kept in the Kings Chamber in his Majesties Presence and at it are usually present the Dauphin Monsieur the Duke of Orleans the Lord Chancellour the four principal Secretaries of State and those that have the grant of the reversion of their Offices The matters there treated of are the affairs of the Provinces and all other things both Foreign and Domestick of which the Secretaries of State then present make their Reports who likewise are to keep Memorials of all the resolutions taken there and are afterward to see them duly dispatched according to their several Departments or Provinces There are four Principal Secretaries of State and of the Commandments of his Majesty who divide among them all the affairs of the Kingdom and have every one their several Functions and business according to their respective departments These four Secretaries at present are 1. Michael-Francis le Tellier Son to the late Chancellour of France Marquiss of Louvois He is likewise Knight Commander and Chancellour of the Kings Orders of Knighthood Great Vicar General of the Order of Nôtre-Dame of Mount Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem Post-Master General and Super-intendant and Orderer General of the Royal Buildings and Protector of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture 2. John-Baptist Colbert Knight Marquiss of Seignelay c. Son of the late great Minister of State of that Name He is likewise President perpetual Chief and Director-General of the Company of the Commerce of the East-Indies and Great Treasurer of the Kings Orders of Knighthood 3. Peter-Baltasar Phylippeaux de la Vrilliere Marquiss of Chateau-neuf upon the Loire 4. Charles Colbert Knight and Marquiss of Croissy who is likewise Secretary of the Kings Orders and Finances President à Mortier or President wearing the Mortar Fashioned Cap in the Parliament of Paris formerly Ambassadour in England and since Plenipotentiary at the Treaty of Nimmeguen and in Bavaria for the Marriage of the Dauphin Their Departments are as follows The Departments of the aforesaid four Principal Secretaries of State are thus laid out 1. Mr. Louvois has for his Department The three Months of February June and October and the affairs of Poitou la Marche Catalonia and Rousillon Pignerol Lorain and the three Bishopricks Alsatia the places yielded or Conquered in Flanders Artois and Hainaut the Fortifications of the Places Conquered or recovered
such a day as he shall think fit to appoint at which the Lord Chancellour shall be present in order to the Examination and Determination of the said Affairs viz. The Brevets concerning the Taxes which shall afterward be signed by his Majesty and by all those who shall have the honour to be present at the said Council All Ordinances for laying any Impositions on the people of what nature or quality soever they be shall be reported to the said Council in order to be passed The Printed Papers to be posted up containing the Conditions of letting out the Farms shall be examined and agreed on in the said Council-Royal and after that the Farms shall be published the offers received and the said Farms adjudged to the fairest Bidders in the Ordinary Council of the Finances All Treaties or Bargains for Extraordinary Affairs All Orders of Loan and other Orders of like nature shall be reported examined and agreed on in the said Council-Royal and afterwards signed and passed in the same form that has been always hitherto practised The Rolls of the Exchequer as well as of the Expences accountable as of the ready Money shall be Examined and stated in the said Council-Royal at which at that time shall be present the same Persons that used to be present on such occasions after which they shall be signed by his Majesty and all those that shall be present thereat No Diminution shall be granted upon the Farms general Receits and extraordinary affairs of what nature soever they be unless it be in the presence of his Majesty in the said Council-Royal All which affairs shall be examined and resolved on in the said Council-Royal which shall be composed as is abovesaid of the Lord Chancellour as Chief and of three other Counsellours in the said Council His Majesty wills and means that the President or Chief of the said Council shall assemble all those that shall have the honour to be of it once a Week together with the other Directors Comptrollers General and Intendants of the Finances to examine all Affairs relating to the Finances as was wont to be practised in the lesser Directions under the Super-intendants excepting only those above reserved to the said Council-Royal and particularly to examine and deliberate on all the means imaginable to increase the ordinary Revenues of his Majesty to diminish and if it be possible wholly to remove all the Causes of the Diminutions of the Fanners and the insolvencies that happen in the general Receits and to use all careful indeavours that the said Impositions may be collected and brought in within the time prescribed by the Ordinances that so those Expences whose payment his Majesty shall assign upon the said Impositions may be punctually paid and discharged All the affairs that shall be examined in the lesser Directions shall be afterwards reported in the Grand Directions in order to be therein resolved on in the accustomed Form and that has been hitherto used The Councils of the Finances and Grand Directions shall be held as formerly provided however that none of those matters be treated on there that are here above-reserved to the Council-Royal of the Finances In all the Councils the Chief or President of the said Councils shall take the same place that the Super-intendants of the Finances were wont to take there and as for the other Councellours of State they shall take place according to the order of date of the Brevets or Patents by which they are constituted Councellours of State All the Orders and other Dispatches of the Council of Finances shall be signed by the said President or Chief and three Councellours belonging to the said Council-Royal His Majesty wills that at the opening of every Session of his Council-Royal Report shall always be made of the accounts of some one of the Farms of the general Receits in order to the Examination of the impediments the Farmers meet with in Collecting the Revenues of their Farms and of what just and reasonable means there may be used to augment them that so his Majesty may interpose his Royal Authority for making the best of them His Majesty reserves to himself the Power to Change Augment or diminish this present Regulation as the necessity of his Service shall require Given at Fountain bleau the 15th of September 1661. Signed Lewis and Lower de Guenegaud The Persons of which the Council-Royal of Finances is composed at present are the Lord Chancellours of France Chief or President M. Pelletier Comptroller-General of the Finances who succeeded the late Mr. Colbert Mr. Pussort and Mr. D' Argouges CHAP. XXIII Of the Council of State and of the Masters of Requests THE Present King Ordered by the first Article of his Regulation dated the first of January 1673. That the Council of State should be composed of the Lord Chancellour and Lord Keeper of the Seats of 21 Councellours of State in Ordinary whereof three are to be Church-men and three Sword-men of the Comptroller-General of the Finances of the two Intendants of the Finances all of them in Ordinary and of twelve other Councellours in State that shall serve half-yearly The present Comptroller-General of the Finances is Claudius le Pelletier Honorary Councellour in the Parliament of Paris formerly Councellour of State in Ordinary who was advanced to this Great Office upon the Death of the late Mr. Colbert The two Intendants of the Finances are Michael le Pelletier de Sousy Councellour of State And Francis le Tonnelier de Breteuil also Councellour of State By the 85th Article of the new Regulation the Advocates of the Councils that were formerly 200 were reduced to 170 the present Dean of them is Mr. Caussan The new Departments of the Comptroller-General and of the Intendants of the Finances are these 1. To Mr. Pelletier the Comptroller-General belong The Revenue of Commerce and Trade The united Farms viz. The Gabelles of France The Aids and Entries The Parties Casual or Casual Revenues The five Great Farms The Convoy of Bordeaux The Patents of Languedoc and other little Farms The Revenue arising from the Barrage and Pavement of Paris The Revenues of Burgundy Britany and Languedoc The Turcies and Levies The Extraordinary Revenues for the War Those of the Artillery The Revenues raised on the Clergy Of Coinage Of the Provostship of Nants Of the Bridges and Causeys Of the Kings and Queens Domains or Crown-Lands Of the Waters and Forests 2. Mr. Pelletier de Souzy has The Gabelles of Provence and Dauphiné and the Customs of Valence The Gabelles of Languedoc and the Country of Lyons The Gabelles and Quarantieme or fortieth of Lyons The Gabelles of Mets Toul and Verdun The Farm of the nine Livers and eighteen pence of Picardie The Farm of Ingrande The Revenue of Fish Paper and Beer That of Ashes Of the marking of Iron Of the Grants and Gifts of Cities The Revenues of Provence and Navarre Of Artois and other Conquered Places Of Mets Toul and Verdun Of the Parliament of
and where they are to be judged too when they are impeacht of any Crime And though in the last Reign it was seen that de facto the Marshal de Marillac was Judged by Delegated Commissaries and the Duke of Montmorency by the Parliament of Toulouze the Parliament of Paris pretends That these two Acts were done against their Priviledges Secondly The Counsellers of the Parliament of Paris pretend a Priviledge to sit in all the other Parliaments without allowing the same Priviledge reciprocally to the Counsellers of the other Parliaments in the Parliament of Paris yet it is to be remarked That the Priviledge of sitting in the Parliament of Paris was granted to the Counsellers of the Parliament of Toulouze by an Ordinance of Charles the Seventh in the year 1454. which the Parliament of Paris refused to verifie whereupon the Parliament of Toulouze made a Decree in the year 1466. by which they Ordained That the Counsellers of the Parliament of Paris should have no Admittance into the Parliament of Toulouze till they had obey'd the abovesaid Ordinance made in their Favour Thirdly The other Parliaments not having that extent of Jurisdiction as the Parliament of Paris have but one Chamber of Inquests the Parliament of Toulouze but two whereas the Parliament of Paris has six The Parliament of Paris opens every year the next day after St. Martins Day in this manner The whole Body being in their Scarlet Robes go to a solemn Mass Celebrated on that occasion in the Great Hall of the Palace after which the Advocates and Proctors are sworn in the Grand Chamber and the Bishop that said Mass has that day Place and a deliberative Voice among them The Parliament continues sitting from that time till the 7th of September after which follows the Vacations During which Recess nevertheless there sits a Chamber called the Chamber of the Vacations which takes Cognisance of those Causes that require speedy dispatch and Criminal Affairs In the five Chambers of Inquests all Processes or Suits are Judged concluded and received by Writing that they may the better discern whether the Appeals made to this High Court of Parliament be made reasonably or no. The fourteen Presidents of the Chambers of Inquests and of those of the Requests which are two are but Counsellers that have accepted that Commission and when the Parliament is met and marches in State they take place among those of the Grand Chamber according to a Regulation of Parliament of the 1st of September 1677. By which it is Ordain'd That in Assemblies Processions and other publick Solemnities these Presidents shall be preceded only by two Counsellers of the Grand Chamber of which the first is to be Titular and the second may be only Honorary As for the Presidents of the Inquests and Requests among themselves they are to take place in their march according to their standing and the order of their admission The Court called the Tournelle-Civil established by Lewis the Great in 1667 and 1669. Judges of all Appeals in civil matters to the value of 1000. Livers or Pounds French and of an Estate of 50 Livers yearly rent It is composed of one President wearing the Mortar-Cap six Counsellers of the Grand Chamber and of four Counsellers out of every Chamber of Inquests who go thither by turns once in three Months The Kings Declaration for this purpose of the year 1669. bears date the 11th of August and was Registred in Parliament and in the Chamber of Accounts the 13th of August The Tournelle-Criminal Judges of all Appeals in Criminal matters excepting those made by Gentlemen and other persons of State which are to be judged in the Grand Chamber it is called the Tournelle because it is composed of two Presidents with Mortar-Caps ten Lay-Counsellers of the Grand Chamber and of two Counsellers out of every Chamber of Inquests which go thither every one Tour à Tour that is in their respective turns once in three Months excepting only those of the Grand Chamber which are there six Months from whence it is called the Tournelle At present there are four Presidents with Mortar-Caps The two Chambers of Requests of the Palace are of the Body of the Parliament according to what Charles the Fifth writ to Cardinal Vivazer in the year 1450. where he says that the Requests are de Gremio Curiae They Judge of all personal Possessory and mixt Causes between priviledged persons that have Committimus's whether they be Officers that are Commoners at Court or others There likewise the Requests of the Houshold composed of the Masters of Request we have spoken of above who take a like cognisance of the Causes of priviledged persons that enjoy Committimus's at whose choice it is to plead either before the Masters of the Requests of the Houshold or before those of the Palace In old time Justice was administred without Appeal by the Bayliffs and Seneschals that the King sent into the respective Provinces for that purpose which were chosen out of the ablest Sages of the Law of his Houshold but since the Parliaments have been Instituted or made fixed and sedentary Appeals are admitted to the Parliaments from the Sentences rendred by the said Bayliffs and Seneschals In fine the Parliament at present consists in all 1. Of one Chief or first President who is named Nicholas Potier Knight Lord of Novion c. and seven other Presidents called Presidents au Mortier or wearing Mortar-Fashioned Caps who are John de Coigneux Marquiss of Montmeliand c. Lewis de Bailleul Marquiss of Chateau-Gontier John-James de Mesmes Count d' Avaux John de Longueville Marquiss of Maisons Charles Colbert Brother to the late Great Minister of State of that Name formerly Ambassadour in England and at Nimmeguen c. and at present Secretary and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and lastly Lewis de Molé Lord of Champlatreux of thirty Clerks or Clergymen Counsellers of Lay-Counsellers of two Advocates and one Proctor-General of 19 Substitutes or Deputies of three Registrers or Recorders in the Chief Registers Office viz. One Recorder Civil and Prothonotary in Chief one Recorder of the Presentations and one Recorder Criminal and of eight other Secretaries and Notaries called the Notaries and Secretaries of the King and of the Parliament two Recorders for the Audiences and Council of the Tournelle five other Deputy Recorders in the five Chambers of Inquests one Recorder in Chief of the Requests of the Palace two other Deputy Recorders under him in each of the two Chambers of Requests 1. First or Chief Usher twenty eight other Ushers of the Parliament and of the Chambers of Inquests and of the Tournelle Eight Ushers of the Requests of the Palace The number of Advocates is not fixed but the Proctors are four hundred in number they have both of them a Dean over them CHAP. XXXII Of the Chamber of Accounts THE Chamber of Accounts is composed of 1. First or Chief President ten other Presidents seventy Masters of the
de Starembourg Vassenar Ambassador Extraordinary 5. From Malta the Bayliff de Hauteville c. Ambassador from the Grand Master of Malta Envoys according to the Order of their arrival in France 1. From Portugal Dom Salvador Taborda Envoy Extraordinary 2. From Sweden M. Liliencroot 3. From Denmark M. Meyercroon 4. From Spain M. Delval 5. From the Emperour Count Cobkowitz Envoy Extraordinary 6. From England Mr. Skelton Envoy Extraordinary Other Envoys and Residents are 1. The Resident of the Elector of Cologne and States of Liége M. Waldorf 2. An Envoy Extraordinary from the Elector of Brandenburg M. Spanheim 3. From the Duke of Mantua the Count Balliani 4. The Envoy of Modena is the Abbot Rizini 5. The Envoy Extraordinary of Genoa is the Marquiss Girardo Spinola The Agents are 1. An Auditor of the Nunciature the Abbot Laury 2. The Agent for the Elector Palatine and other Princes of the Empire is M. John le Breton 3. And for the Elector of Brandenburg the Hans Towns and Landgraviate of Hessen M. Bek And for the Dukes of Weymar M ..... When one Ambassador is relieved or succeeded by another at the arrival of the new they both go together to Court whereas they are going to their Audience he that is relieved still takes the upper hand of the new one but when they come back from their Audience the new Comer or Successour takes place of the other But if an Ambassador only in Ordinary be sent to relieve one that is Ambassador Extraordinary the Extraordinary Ambassador takes the upper hand both in going to and coming from Audience FINIS THE TABLE A. ACademy of France Page 510 Admiral of France 371 Admiralty of France 482 Administration of Justice 451 Aids 496 Air of France 5 Almoner of France Great 61 Almoner of France First c. 66 Ambassadors of France 513 in France 515 Antichamber 134 Apothecaries Kings 141 Arch-Bishopricks 404 Arch-Bishops 406 Arquebuse or Fire-Arms Carrier 120 Attire 17 B. BAilywick of the Palace 483 Bastile 170 Birds of the Chamber 132 Bishopricks 404 Bishops 406 Buildings 10 C. CAmp-Master 356 Captains of the Guards 234 of the Guides 184 Carver 80 Castle of Blois 172 of Chambor ibid. of Compiegne 169 of Monceaux 171 of Plessis le Tours 173 of Vincennes 170 Cavalry of France 357 Ceremonies c. 151 Chamber of Accounts 461 of the Treasury 473 Chamberlain of France 107 Chancery of France 397 Chatelet or Castle of Paris 484 Children of France 24 Chyrurgions Kings 140 Clergy of Kings Houshold 73 Climate of France 2 Cloak-Carriers 118 Closet of Antiquities 131 of Arms ibid. of Books 130 of Dispatches ibid. Commodities of France 5 Common Buttry 99 Fruitery 101 Kitchin 100 Pantry 99 Complexion of the French 15 Comptrollers of the Counting-House 90 of the Privy-Purse 129 Computation 18 Constable of France 348 Constablry 478 Councils of the King 379 of Dispatches 380 of Finances or Revenues 383 call'd the grand-Grand-Council 393 of State 388 of War 379 Counsellors and Secretaries of the Finances or Revenues of France 396 Counties and Baronies c. reunited to the Crown 331 Counting-House 89 Court of Aids 466 of Bazoche 484 of Monies or Coynage 468 of Masonry 483 Cupbearer 80 D. DAuphin of France 24 his Houshold 272 his Childrens Servants 292 Dauphiness 25 her Houshold 280 Diet of the French 16 Dimensions of France 2 Division of France ibid. Dogs of the Kings Chamber 133 Dukes and Peers 315 Dukes and Peers with the Names of their Dukedoms and the date of their Verification 320 Dukes and Peers whose Patents are not yet verified 323 Dutchies or Dutchies and Peerages not verified at Paris 322 Dutchies and Peerages Extinct and not Extinct 324 E. ELection of Paris 487 F. FAculty of Arts 505 of Divinity 502 of Law 504 of Physick ibid. Family of de la Tour d' Auvergne of which was the Famous Godfrey of Bouillon 49 Family of Grimaldi de Mourgues or of the Prince of Monaco in Italy 51 Family of Rohan 52 Family of Tremoille 56 Fewel or Wood-Office 101 Flight of the Magpie 133 Foot-Guards 265 Fountainbleau 164 G. GAbels 496 Genealogy of the Royal Branch of Bourbon 21 General of the Gallies 375 Generalities of France 491 Gens d' Armes or Men at Arms of the Kings-Guard 261 357 Gentlemen-Waiters 81 Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber 111 Gentlemen of the Kings-Houshold 137 Gentlemen Pensioners 271 Goblet or Kings own Buttry 93 Governments in France 417 Granary of Salt at Paris 488 Greyhounds of the Chamber 132 Guards de la Manche or of the Sleeve 230 of the Gate 252 of the great Provost of the Houshold 259 without the Gate 261 Guildhall or Townhouse of Paris 489 H. HArbingers or Fouriers 58 Hawking 203 Heralds at Arms 152 Historiographers of France 508 House of Longueville 38 of Lorrain 39 of Savoy setled in France 46 Hunting 198 I. INfantry 357 Inhabitants 11 Introductor of Ambassadors 194 Institution of Parliaments in France 451 452 Judges Consuls 490 K. KIng now Reigning 9 Kings Houshold 61 Kings Pleasures 197 Kitchin of the Mouth 96 Knights of the Holy Ghost 337 Knights of the Order of St. Michael of Mont Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem 343 L. LAnguage of France 14 Laws 11 Legitimated Children of Henry the Great and their Descendants 35 Legitimated Children of the present King 33 Life-Guard-Men 237 Light Horse of the Kings Guard 264 Light Horse 357 Lords in France that bear the stile of Princes 59 Louvre 159 M. MAdame and her Family 28 her Houshold 307 Madrid Palace 161 Manners of the French 11 Maritime Forces 371 Marshals of France 351 Marshals of the Lodgings c. 175 Marshalsy of France 478 Master of the Kings Houshold Great 74 Master of the Kings Houshold First 77 Master of the Artillery 368 Master of the Ceremonies 193 Master of the Horse 143 Masters of Requests 388 Measures of the French 8 Military Officers of the Kings Housholds 223 Money 7 Monsieur and his Family 28 his Houshold 294 his Guards 305 Musick of the Kings Chappel 72 of the Chamber 135 Musqueteers on Horseback of the Kings Guards 269 N. NAmes and Surnames 17 Name of France 1 Name of the King 19 Nobility of France 313 Number of the Inhabitants 14 Numbring the French Manner 18 Nursery of Horses or the Haras 151 O. OAth of Allegiance taken by the Bishops 65 Officers under the title of Valet de Chambres 121 124 Officers for Journeys 185 Officers of the Kings Orders 341 Officers whose Incomes are yearly returned into the Exchequer or Treasure Royal 498 Order observ'd when the King dines in publick 83 Order of the Kings March 239 Orders of Knighthood in France 333 Orders of Knighthood call'd the Kings Orders 334 Order of Quartering an Army 182 P. PAntler 80 483 Park 167 Parliament of Paris 455 Peers of France 315 316 Physicians Kings 139 Porters of the Bedchamber 124 Precedence in the Kings Court 256 Prerogative of the King 19 Princes of the Blood 29 Priviledges of the Commoners Tabled in the Kings Houshold 216 of Chyrurgions 221 of the Court Clergy 220 of Lifeguard-Men 222 of all the Kings Officers ibid. Provost of France 186 Punishments in France 14 Q. QUerries 154 R. REcreations 17 Religion 11 Riches of France 6 Royal Houses 159 Royal Housholds 272 S. SEcretary of State 380 of the Housholds 195 Seven Offices 93 Soil of France 5 St. Germains en Laye 162 Stables Kings 148 Stature of the French 15 Stranger-Princes in France 39 Style of the King 20 Suisse Guards 241 Regiment 266 Surveyor of Royal Buildings 158 T. TAxes 493 Taylors Kings 128 Title of the King 21 Trade of France 6 Tradesmen following the Court 213 Treasurers of France 470 Treasury-Royal 499 Troops of the Kings Houshold and Officers 223 357 V. VAlets de Chambre 113 Versailles 171 Virtuosi of France 510 Universities of France 501 Ushers of the Chamber 114 W. WAterservers or Serdeau's 82 Waters and Forests 474 Woolf-Hunting 211 Y. YEomen of the Chamber 123 Climate Bounds Dimensions and Figure Division Air. Soil Commodities Riches and Trade Money and Coins Weights and Measures Buildings Inhabitants Laws Religion Manners Punishments Number Language Stature and Complexion Diet. Attire Recreations Names Computation and Numbring * Sire a Title anciently given to most great Lords who were petty Soveraigns though now only to Kings Wages Prerogative Oath Office * A Box containing the Kings Plates Napkins Knives c. Functions and Prerogatives * The Nave is the Box containing the Kings Plates Napkins Knives c. * Caraffes are large Glasses in form of those used for Vinegar at our Tables Function and Priviledges Their Functions and Priviledges A Stick used in the Pallmall Antiquity of this Office Present Functions and Priviledges Oath 1 * A Security given to save harmless or for the true Title of Lands c. * A sort of Cistercian Monks * A certain Jurisdiction so called * Both Sword-men and Gown-men * The sixth part of a Penny †A Measure being something above half a Bushel * A Denier is the twelfth part of a Penny
last Bill of every quarter because of his extraordinary care and pains One Maker and Distiller of Waters for the Great Masters new Table he has at the Chamber of Deniers for the Waters he ordinarily furnishes in the quarter beginning in January 150 l. and as much for the quarter ending in December But for each of the other Summer Quarters he has 300 l. which makes in all 900 l. yearly One Groom of the same new Table who has for furnishing Glasses Caraffs and other things 200 l. One Keeper of the Vessels for the Great Masters Table at 150 l. One Butler belonging to the Great Chamberlain at 600 l. One Maker and Distiller of Waters belonging to the same at 900 l. as has he that serves the Great Master One Groom of the Great Chamberlains Table who has 200 l. for Glasses Caraffs c. One Keeper of the Vessels at 150 l. CHAP. XVI Of the Great Chamberlain and all Officers under his dependance IF the honour of Officer may be rated from the frequency and nearness of their approaches to the Kings Person then certainly the Great Chamberlain must needs have the greatest share therein of any since it is at all times in his power to be near his Majesty and that he has a very considerable Rank in all the most Magnificent Solemnities This Office is almost as ancient as the beginning of this Monarchy and one may judge of its greatness by the Nobility of the Persons that always have enjoyed it He had formerly a great Jurisdiction over the Mercers and other Trades that deal in Clothing and for that purpose he substituted under him a Surveyor of those Merchandizes who was commonly called the King of the Mercers that is to say their Syndic or Comptroller who also Examin'd the Weights and Measures of the said Merchants His Court of Justice was held at the Marble Table in the Palais or Palace at Paris by a Mayor-Judge Commissionated by the Great Chamberlain and some other Officers The Great Chamberlain was formerly of the Great Officers that Signed all Charters and Letters of Consequence and has still a Right to sit in Judgment with the King at the Tryal of any Peers He had formerly the Keeping of the Kings Coffers and Treasury in his Chamber and had the management of the Exchequer as he has to this day in several places where the Camerlingue or Chamberlain for in different places he is differently stiled is likewise Treasurer and receives all the Revenues and it belonged to him or his Under-Treasurers to carry Money about them for the Kings Liberalities and other necessary Expences He used to have for his Fee the tenth part of what came into the Kings Coffers and was wont to deal out the Annual Gratuities to the Souldiers and provide Presents for all Ambassadours He has been indifferently stiled Cubicularius Camerarius or Cambellanus that is Bedchamber Man Chamber-man or Chamberlain But the Office of Chamberlain and Chamber-man were afterward made distinct Offices as among other proofs will appear by an ancient duty upon Merchants who paid 16 pence whereof ten pence went to the Chamberlain and the other six to the Chamber-Man But the Office of Chamber-Man was supprest in the Person of Charles Duke of Orleans Anno 1544. or to speak more properly we may say that it assumed under Francis the First the present Title it is now known under of Chief Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber The present Great Chamberlain is the Duke of Boüillon who has yearly 3600 l. under the name of Wages and a Pension of 20000 l. When the King sits on his Bed of Justice or in a general Assembly of the Estates the Great Chamberlain sits at his Feet upon a Violet-Coloured Velvet Cushion Embroidered with Flower deluces of Gold He is present at all Audiences of Ambassadours where takes his Place behind his Majesties Chair of State between the Chief Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber who is on his right and the Great Master of the Wardrobe whose Place is on his left Antiently in the Queens absence he was wont to lie in the Kings Bed-Chamber Upon the Coronation-Day he takes the Royal Buskins from the Abbot of St. Denis and puts them on the Kings Legs and then invests him with the Dalmatick Robe of Azure Blue and with the Mantle Royal. As the Great Chamberlains have the honour to be nearest the sacred Persons of their Kings while they are alive so when nature has exacted from them her Tribute and they come to die they with the Chief Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber interre their Bodies The homage done to the King by any Dukes or other Persons of higher Rank holding their Lands or Seignieuries of his Majesty was antiently performed in the Bed-Chamber whither being Conducted by the Great Chamberlain Bare-headed and without Sword Belt or Spurs and kneeling down and putting their hands between the Kings Hands they promised him Fealty and Homage Of which Ceremony we have a fair Example in Froissard in the 25th Chapter of the First Volume of his History namely in the Homage done by Edward the Third King of England to Philip de Valois to whom being brought in and in the posture as aforesaid the Great Chamberlain-tendered these words You become the Liege-Man of the King my Lord that here is as Duke of Guienne and Peer of France and you promise Fealty and Loyalty to him to bear Say Yes And the King of England as Duke of Guienne answered Yes and the King received him for his Liege-Man Thus Froissard who likewise tells us that this Homage had better have been let alone it being so Stomached by that Couragious King that it caused those long and bloody Wars between the two Nations of which all Histories resound and which are hardly yet well extinct but lie couched under Embers till opportunity shall raise them into new Flames At present when any Marshal of France Governour of a Town Place or Province or any other is to take the Oath of Fidelity to the King the Marshal or such other Person gives his Hat Gloves and Sword to the Usher of the Bed-Chamber and then advancing towards the King who expects him in his Chair of State he kneels down upon a Cushion presented him by one of the Chief Valets de Chambre and putting his Hands between his Majesties when the said Oath being read to him by the Secretary under whose Division his Place is he gives his assent in the manner aforesaid and then rising up and making Obeisance to his Majesty goes back and takes again of the Usher of the Bed-Chamber the things he left with him to whom as well as to some other Officers of the Bed-Chamber he makes an honourable Present The Great Chamberlains had formerly a Table furnished out of the Kings own Kitchin but the late Duke of Chevreuse Great Chamberlain agreed with the Masters of the Houshold to have instead of it that which is still kept by them under the Name of the
Great Chamberlains Table He has a Super-intendence over all the Officers of the Kings Bed-Chamber of his Wardrobe of his Closets and Anti-Chamber when the King Dresses himself he gives him his Shirt which honour he parts not with to any but to the Sons of France the Princes of the Blood or Sons Legitimate of France When the King eats in his Bed-Chamber 't is his Duty to wait on him and give him his Napkin and in short he performs all the Honours and Chief Ceremonies of the Bed-Chamber At all Solemnities Balls and other Assemblies as likewise at Chappel when the King goes to hear a Sermon one of the Yeomen of the Bed-Chamber brings always a Chair out of the Kings Chamber for the Great Chamber placing it behind the Kings and another for the Chief Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber Of the four Chief-Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber The Chief Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber which now are four exercise as I have said by turns under that new Title the Office that was formerly performed by the Camerier or Chamber-Man There was at first but two of them but the late King Lewis the XIII made them up four They serve By turns each one their Year The present Chief Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber are 1. The Duke of Aumont 2. The Duke of Gevres 3. The Duke of Crequi 4. The Duke of St. Aignan They take the Oath of Fidelity to the King in Person and he of them that is in Waiting Sweats all the other Officers of the Bed-Chamber that are admitted into his years Waiting In the absence of the Great Chamberlain they supply his Place in all things They give Order to the Usher what Persons he is to let in and deliver Certificates of their Service to all the Officers of the Bed-Chamber They perform likewise many other Duties at the Kings rising going to Bed and Dressing He that is in Waiting lodges in the Louvre The King does them the Honour to give them a Place in his own Coach They used formerly to lie in the Kings Bed-Chamber as appears by the 9th and 82d Articles of the Ordinance of Charles the Seventh that are addressed thus To the Chamberlains lying in our Bed-Chamber c. They bespeak all the first Mourning at Court and all Cloths and Habits used in Masques Balls and Playes and other Divertisements for his Majesty They have the sole ordering of all the Expences allotted in the Establishments or Account-Books of the Argenterie or Privy-Purse for the Kings Person or otherwise as likewise of those allowed in the Establishments for the Kings Pocket Expences and affairs of his Bed-Chamber Under them are the Intendants Comptrollers and the Treasurers General of the Kings Privy-Purse and of the Pocket Expences and the rest of the Officers of the Bed-Chamber It is to be noted That there are many that out of courtesy are stiled Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber that have neither Place nor Salary as such and many Gentlemen in Ordinary of the Kings Houshold of which we shall speak in their proper place Next these are the Pages of the Bed-Chamber who are in number twenty four and serve constantly all the year long each Chief Gentleman being allowed six of them though they may if they please take a greater number over whom the King for better regulation maintains Governours and Under-Governours and Masters of all sorts to teach them all Exercises requisite for Persons of Quality These Pages go every Morning and Evening with the other Officers of the Bed-Chamber into the Kings said Chamber to give his Majesty his Slippers and on Evenings and Mornings too when 't is dark they carry white Wax-Flambo's before his Majesty when he walks on Foot out of his Anti-Chamber or when he crosses either on Foot or in a Sedan the Courts of any of his Palaces and in Summer they carry over him an Vmbrello In the Armies where the King is present they serve as Aids de Camp under the Kings own Aids de Camp as likewise do the Pages of the Kings Great and Lesser Stables Of other Inferiour Officers of the Bed-Chamber There are four Officers that are called the Ordinary or Chief Valets de Chambre which last Title though omitted in their Patents was since confirmed to them by a Brief from his Majesty Their places are worth counting all things about 2000. Crowns a Year They serve indifferently as they can agree one in the place of another and have all things common among them though the Eldest usually chuses his Quarter They perform several honourable Duties in the Chamber as keeping the Door of the Council and giving the accustomed Orders to the Ushers in the absence of the Chief Gentlemen c. They lie at the Kings Beds Feet and keep the Keys of his Trunks They are allowed at present in Money for their Table 1750 l. each Under these there are thirty two other Valets de Chambre that serve quarterly eight each Quarter their Salary is 660 l. yearly they diet at the Table called the Valets de Chambrés Table The quality of Esquires has been confirmed to them by several Orders and particularly by an Order of the Council of State of the 25th of April 1669. By which the Sieur de la Faye one of the Kings Valets de Chamber was maintained in the said Quality of Esquire They perform several Functions about the King when he is Dressing or Undressing as giving him his Chair holding his Morning-Gown and putting it on his Shoulders presenting the Looking-Glass c. They make the Kings Bed the Upholsters standing at the Beds-Feet to help them The Valet de Chambre that is in Waiting is to keep all day within the Rails of the Alcove to watch the Kings Bed They are to see the Officer of the Goblet tast the Wine and Bread that he brings up to the Kings Chamber before it is presented to his Majesty When the Court is on the march in the Country one of the Valets de Chambre goes before to conduct the Kings Bed and is then allowed a Crown a Day Extraordinary When the King quits only for a few days any of his Royal Palaces the Valet de Chambre that stays there to keep the Kings Bed is allowed a Crown a Day for his Diet. The three Valets de Chambre that wait on the Dauphin have each of them likewise a Crown a Day for their Diet. The last year the King supprest all the Supernumerary Valets de Chambre that waited but every other year The Vshers There are sixteen Ushers of the Chamber that serve Quaterly four each quarter They have 660 l. Salary and 300 l. gratuity In their Patents they are written Esquires As soon as the King is out of his Bed and has got on his Morning-Gown and is set down in his Chair the Ushers in Waiting come into his Chamber and one of them taking immediately possession of the Door takes notice what persons of Quality present themselves to come in which having observed
as soon as the King has changed his Shirt he lets in the Nobility and the Officers in order as he sees them more or less qualified If any speak too loud in the Chamber the Usher Commands Silence They carry Flambo's overlaid with Vermilion gilt before his Majesty when he goes out or in any where or from Chamber to Chamber or when he goes up or down Stairs in any of the Apartments of the Louvre but when he goes any further into the Courts they quit him at the Door and leave only the Pages to light him to whom it only belongs The Ushers have the Priviledge to wait with their Swords by their sides and their Cloaks on their Shoulders Upon the Annual Festivals and on all Dayes of Solemnity as at Te Deums on the Dayes of the Kings Majority Coronation or Marriage when he touches for the Evil when he follows the Processions when he fits on his Bed of Justice in Parliament or at the Creation of the Knights of his Orders and at all the Kings first Entries into any Towns two of these Ushers carry before his Majesty two silver guilt Maces letting the tops of the said Maces lean gently on their Shoulders and every time they carry these Maces there is due to them a Fee of 150 l. which is punctually paid them by express Order at the Treasure-Royal But when the King goes to Parliament besides the 150 l. they have out of the Treasure Royal the Chief President Orders a like summe to be paid them out of the Fines In like manner at the Kings first Entry into any Cities there is due to them from the Officers of the said Town a Mark of Gold being the value of 400 l. besides their said constant Fee of 150 l. out of the Treasure Royal. These two Maces are carried every where after the King in the Chests of the Wardrobe At Coronations and Creations of Knights the two Ushers that bear the Maces are habited in white Sattin Doublets with Sleeves slashed in several rows and their Shifts swelling out of the said slashes with Trunk-Breeches and Cloaks of the same with silk Pearl-Colour'd Stockings Shoes covered with white Sattin and white Velvet or Sattin Caps or Bonnets They have their share in the Fees and Presents given by Governours and Lieutenants of Towns or Provinces Great Officers of the Crown and those of the Kings Houshold the Chief Presidents of Parliaments the Eschevins or Sheriffs of Paris or others when at their several admissions they take the Oath of Fidelity to his Majesty 'T is the Ushers Duty to make them that are in the Chamber get out of the way whether it be to keep them from standing in his Majesties light when he is Dressing or Undressing him or to clear his passage when he goes from his Chair to his Praying-Desk from that to his Closet or when he goes from one side of his Chamber to the other No Body ought to have his Hat on in the Kings Bed-Chamber though it be at certain hours when there is but two or three Officers there And the Ushers are to see too that no Body Combs themselves there or sit down upon the Seats the Table or the Rails of the Alcove They have their Ordinary at the old Table of the Great Master which is now that of the Masters of the Houshold and those four that are in Waiting have every day to their Breakfast a Bottle of Wine and a Loaf They are allowed every day out of the Eruitry a Flambo of white Wax of half a pound weight On Council-Days if the Council be held in the Bed-Chamber they go from his Majesty to give notice to the Secretaries of State and in the absence of the chief Valets de Chambres they keep the Doors of the Council-Chamber They have the Honour to carry in their Arms the Children of France during their Infancy The two Ushers of the Chamber that wait at the Dauphins have each of them a Crown a day for their Diet one of the four Ushers that are in Waiting at the Kings goes every day and waits on the Duke of Burgundy and he that stays with that Prince in the Kings absence has a Crown a Day for his Diet and the Officers of the Kings Counting-House or Green-Cloth diminish so much as his Ordinary comes to at the Table he should otherwise eat it and discount it to his Majesties profit Another Usher likewise appointed to wait on the Duke of Anjou has the like allowance which will be the rule for all the Children the Dauphin shall have When the Usher asks any one that would come in his Name whoever he be he ought not to take it ill because he is obliged by his Office to know who he lets in It is to be observed that any person that would enter into the Bed-Chamber the Anti-Chamber and the Closets when the Doors are shut must scratch gently at the Door and not knock hard and when he would go out he is not to open the Door himself but to call to the Usher to open it for him When the King any Queens Children of France and their Wives or any Ambassadors that go to or come from Audience come in or go out of the Chamber the Usher presently opens to them both the Leaves of the Door the same is done by the Usher of the Anti-Chamber and by the Sentinel at the Door of the Guard-Chamber There are besides two Ushers of the Closet that wait six Months each who have 660 l. Salary and a gratuity of 600 l. at the Treasure Royal. They eat at the Masters of the Housholds Table If on a Council-Day the Council be held in any of the Closets then 't is the Usher of the Closets Duty to give notice of it from the King to the Secretaries of State There two Ushers of the Anti-Chamber who have a yearly Salary of 500 l. each They eat at the Valets de Chambrés Table and are allowed Bread and Wine too for their Breakfast At New-years-tide the Queen when there is one gives for a New-Years Gift 4 l to the Ushers a 100 l. at each Station that is to say 100 l. among the Ushers of the Anti-Chamber as much to him that keeps the Closet and as much among those of the Bed-Chamber By which means he that keeps the Cabinet that day and that is in waiting the first half year beginning in January has as much alone as the two Ushers of the Anti-Chamber and the four Ushers of the Bed-Chamber And formerly when the two Ushers of the Anti-Chamber waited by turns each their half year he whose turn it was to wait at New-years-tide had the whole 100 l. to himself but since they have been both made ordinary and serve all the year round the said summ is usually parted among them which Order was made about twenty years ago The Porte-Manteau ' s or Cloak-Carriers Are twelve in number and serve quarterly three each quarter and have yearly 660 l.
his Bed-side upon a Cushion laid for him by his Almoner and when he has said his Prayers he comes back and sits down in his Chair where the Master of the Wardrobe draws off his Strait-Coat and Vest and Blue-Ribban as likewise his Cravat There are four Chief Valets of the Wardrobe that wait quarterly they present his Majesty his Socks and Garters in the Morning and at Night tie the Ribbans of his Shirt Their Salary and other allowances from the King amount to 2935 l. yearly and from the Dauphin to 862 l. Sixteen other Valets of the Wardrobe that are allowed by the King a Salary of 520 l. and their Diet at the Valets de Chambres Table and at the Dauphins when they wait there a Gratuity of 260 l. and a Crown a day for their diet Over these there is one Valet of the Wardrobe in Ordinary whose Salary is 1200 l. The Valets of the Wardrobe bring the King his Cloths and their particular Office is when the King rises to give him his Breeches his Stockings and his Boots when he puts on any They always draw off the Shoe Stocking or Boot from his Majesties left Leg. Besides this they give the great Master or the other Masters of the Wardrobe the Cloths they are to dress his Majesty with and present and put them on themselves in their absence or in the absence of the chief Valets of the Wardrobe on all other occasions when the King shifts any of his Cloths in the day time or when he plays at Tennis or comes from Hunting the Valets of the Wardrobe perform the same Duties At Night when the King is going to Bed and in the Morning when he rises before day the Chief Valet de Chambre gives one of the Lords then present that the King names to him the Wax-Light to hold whilst his Majesty is Dressing or Undressing There is one Mail-Carrier who has for Wages Diet and other allowances 2405 l. yearly When the King is on the march he is obliged to mount on Horseback with his Mail covered with a Horse-Cloth Embroidred with his Majesties Arms and Motto in gold In this Mail he carries a Suit of Cloths Linnen Ribbans a loose Gown and other things necessary to shift his Majesty He is mounted at the Kings Stables and has fresh Horses provided for him at every Stage where the King takes any that he may be able to follow him and not be obliged to quit him There are four Yeomen in Ordinary of the Wardrobe they have care of all the Kings Cloths and Linnen they have a yearly allowance of 80 Crowns paid them quarterly at the Treasure Royal and at the years end the Great Master of the Wardrobe gives them the greatest part of the Cloths his Majesty left off that year They also have the keeping of several wearing things set with precious Stones as of Swords garnished with Diamonds Crosses of the Kings Orders likewise set with Diamonds and the like rich Cloths They eat at the Valets de Chambre's Table All the whole Body of the Wardrobe that is all the Officers of it have the priviledge of the first Entry that is they are of the number of those that first enter into the Kings Chamber even before the King is out of his Bed or before he be come out of the Queens Chamber when there is one that they may have in readiness his Majesties Cloths The Taylors Are three in number their yearly allowance counting Wages Gratuities and all things is 1200 l. They make all the Kings Cloths and one of them is to be always at the Kings rising to be ready to do any thing belonging to his Function if there be need and they always put on the Kings new Cloths the first time he wears them There is one Starcher of the Body whose Salary is 600 l. and he has his Diet at Court And two Landrers of the Body serving six Months each whose Salary is 528 l. 15 d. There are besides these several other Officers for the Kings Cloths as Embroiderers Furriers Linnen-Drapers and others that furnish the Silver and Platework His Majesty by a Brief dated the 25th of July 1673. having given leave to the Great Master of the Wardrobe to entertain Tradesmen of all sorts that contribute to the furnishing of the Wardrobe to enter them upon the Books of the Establishment and let them enjoy all the Priviledges of Tablers in the Kings Houshold of which there are about 222 retained all at the rate of 60 l. yearly Salary The Intendants and Comptrollers General of the Chamber-Treasury and Privy-Purse They regulate all the Expences of the Chamber and Wardrobe There are two of them Their Wages and Fees are fixed in the Establishments of the ordinary Expences of the Chamber-Treasury besides which they are allowed 1200 l. yearly each for their Diet which is paid at the Chamber of Deniers They are called Intendants and Comptrollers of the Chamber-Treasury and of the Privy-Purse They examine the particulars of all that is brought into or delivered out of the Chamber-Treasury and the Privy-Purse and all the ordinary and extraordinary Expences thereunto belonging as well for the person as besides the Person of the King and keep a Register of them of which they give an account first before the Chief Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber and afterwards to the Chamber of Accompts in the accustomed manner according to the Rolls particular Accounts and Acquittances comptrolled The expence for the Kings Person comprehends all Cloths Linnen and Jewels or other Ornaments for his Majesties own Wearing The expence besides his Person comprehends all Furniture and Silver or Plate-work for the Kings Apartments and all Extraordinary Expences made at Balls Comedies Mascarades Carouzels Turnaments and other Divertisements as likewise at Christenings Consecrations and Coronation of Kings and Queens Marriages Funeral Pomps Buryings Services for them when dead and Anniversaries They take the Oath of Fidelity before the Chancellor and at the Chamber of Accounts where they are sworn likewise to return into the said Chamber at the end of every Year their Comptrol of the Receit and Expence both Ordinary and Extraordinary of the Chamber-Treasury and Privy-Purse Of the Officers of the Cabinets or Closets and first of the Closet of Dispatches In the Closet or Cabinet of Business and Dispatches which by way of Excellence is simply called the Cabinet There are four Secretaries which in the Book of Establishment are stiled Secretaries of the Chamber and Closet who have for their Salary Diet and all things 9250 l. yearly They Stile themselves Councellours in Ordinary to the King in his Councils They serve the King in all his private Dispatches The Couriers of the Closet are appointed by the Secretaries of State and sent about on several businesses and dispatches Of the Closet of Books The King has a Closet of Books called otherwise the Library of the Kings Person in the Palace of the Louvre at Paris to which by
be more than two together without having any Command there then they chuse their Quarters according to their standing And next to the Marshals of France the Dukes and Peers take place for in Armies Dukes and Peers are Lodged always after Marshals of France But in following the Court out of an Army this Order is observed First their Majesties are Lodged then other Royal Persons then the Princes and Princesses then the Great Officers of the Crown after them the Dukes and Peers and lastly the Marshals of France The Chancellour is Lodged next after the Princes and in marking his Lodging the word Pour or for is used the meaning of which we have already explained Besides all which which are called the Ranks there are the Preferred of which we have spoken The Marshals and Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings are also employed by his Majesties special Command to provide Lodgings for the Assemblies of the States General of the Kingdom when any are called or for the States of any particular Province when the King is to be present at them as likewise for the Assemblies of the Clergy which is to be understood when they assemble in any other place but Paris for there no Lodgings are marked for them Likewise when the persons composing any Soveraign Courts or other publick Bodies are to meet at St. Denis in France by the Kings Order and according to Custom to assist at the Funeral Pomps or Solemnities made at the Burials or Anniversary Services for Kings Queens and Princes or Princesses of the Blood or others the Marshals and Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings go thither some dayes before to provide them Lodgings The King too usually sends the said Marshals and Harbingers of his Lodgings to meet Foreign Princes and Princesses that come into or pass through his Kingdom to order and prepare Lodgings for them every where as they pass The Title and Quality of Squires has been conferred and confirmed upon the Marshals and Harbingers in Ordinary of the Kings Lodgings by several Orders of the Council of State Next the Marshals and Harbingers of the Lodgings is the Captain of the Guides with his Company who is a necessary Officer in Journies Of the Captain of the Guides The Office of Captain of the Guides for the Conducting of his Majesty formerly enjoyed by one is now exercised by two Brothers who part between them the following Salary and Profits viz. 2000 l. Salary paid quarterly by the Treasurers of the Houshold 600 l. a Month extraordinary during any Voyage or Journey and 300 l. when the Court is at any of the Royal Houses they eat at the Kings Serdeau's or Water-Servers Table with the Gentlemen Waiters The Captain of the Guides when the King is on his march along the Country is always to keep by one of the Boots or Portals of the Kings Coach to be ready to tell his Majesty the names of the places Cities Castles Towns and Villages upon the Road if he ask them or resolve any other Question concerning them There are commonly at least two Guides on Horseback that wear the Kings Livery that ride a little before his Majesty to Conduct him and place themselves ordinarily at the head of the Light-Horse If there be any need of repairing the High-ways for the Kings Passage the Captain of the Guides usually lays out what is needful for that purpose and is repaid again at the Treasure-Royal For fear the Officers of the Goblet or of the Mouth should fail to come up to the place where the King is to eat when he is travelling along the Country the Captain of the Guides sometimes gives them notice in what part of the Way his Majesty has a mind to Dine He has power to settle Guides to Conduct his Majesty in every Town of the Kingdom and after he has given his Grants to the said Guides they are admitted as such before the Marshals of France These Guides wear the Kings Livery and are exempted from Billeting of Souldiers The Captain of the Guides is sworn by the High Constable of France when there is one or otherwise by the Eldest Marshal of France Of some other Officers necessary in Journies which depend on the Great Master of the Houshold viz. One Waggon-Master of the Kings Equipage that Conducts all the Equipage and commands all the Captains and takes his Orders from the Office of the Houshold This Office was Created in 1668. He has an allowance of 100 l. a Month out of the Chamber of Deniers when the Court is on its march along the Country and 50 l. a Month when it is at Paris and 400 l. besides extraordinary Wages for the extraordinary pains he takes for the Kings Service in doing what is order'd him by the Office allowed him upon the last Bill of every Quarter One Aid or Helping Waggon-Master whose Office was also Created the same year 1668. who has when the Court is at Paris 25 l. a Month and when it is on the march 50 l. a Month allowed him at the Chamber of Deniers We have already spoken of the Captain of the Mules of the Chamber in speaking of the said Chamber of which he depends Two Captains of the Carriages of the Kings Houshold who have a Salary of 300 l. a piece paid by the Treasurers of the Houshold and besides at the Chamber of Deniers an allowance to them for the maintenance of fifty ordinary Horses at the rate of 23 d. a day for each Horse 57 l. 10 d. a day or 21045 l. a year They Conduct all the Carriages of the seven Offices when the Court marches either in Person or by their Servants One Captain-Keeper and Guardian-General of the Tents and Pavilions of the Court and of his Majesties Pavilions of War who has a Salary of 800 l. and 50 l. a Month extraordinary in time of Service and One Keeper of the Tents of the Courts of the Kitchins and of his Majesties Stables who is allowed 50 l. a Month at Paris and 100 l. a Month in the Country at the Chamber of Deniers CHAP. XX. Of the Judge of the Kings Court and Retinue who is the Provost of the Houshold or Great Provost of France THE Provost of the Kings Houshold or Great Provost of France is the ordinary Judge of the Kings Houshold The Title of Great Provost implies two things For first He is Judge of the Kings Houshold and Secondly He is Captain of a Company of a hundred Guards called the Guards of the Provostship which is another part of his Office in the Kings House We shall speak of him here only as in the first quality reserving the latter till we come to the Military Officers of the Houshold His Office is one of the ancientest of the Kings Houshold and one may say that in the Jurisdiction which he retains of administring Justice to all the Kings Officers and other Persons that follow the Court he has succeeded the antient Count or Mayor of the Palace which
was an Office that begun with the Monarchy it self He is sworn by the King himself and is received into the Great Council where he takes place as Secretary of State He has the Priviledge to chuse his Lodging after the Princes Dukes and Peers and Marshals of France have chosen theirs for which reason he is called the last in the Ranks He has a Salary of 2000 l. and an annual Gratuity of 8000 l. All the Officers of the Provost-ship are received by his Majesty upon the nomination of the Great Provost and afterwards take out Letters from the King under the Great Seal directed to the Great Council where they are admitted upon those Letters and qualified Judges The Great Provost Judges of all matters both Civil and Criminal hapning between the Officers of the Kings Houshold among themselves or between them and others which are not so The Jurisdiction of the Provostship of the Houshold is the ordinary Court of Justice for the Kings Houshold and therefore from the beginning was ordered to be kept in the Louvre that so the Kings Officers and others of his Court and Retinue having their natural Judge within the Kings House might not be diverted from the service of his Majesty for some years the place where the Provosts Court used to be kept being taken up by the Queen-Mother it was transferred to the Fort-Eveque or Bishops-Fort At present the Officers of the Provostship have their Auditory in the inclosure of the Great Council-Chamber there they have their Hall of Audience their Council-Chamber their Civil and Criminal Records or Registers and there is the Office of the Ushers of the Provostship The present King by a Brief bearing date the 8th of September 1658. declared that he would settle the Seat or Court of the Jurisdiction of the Provost of the Houshold re-established in the Louvre and that he would cause a convenient place there to be marked out and set apart for that purpose The said Court is kept there three times a Week viz. on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday-Mornings People plead there by a Proctor as in other Courts but in a more summary and concise way In civil matters there lies an Appeal from it to the Great Council but in matters Criminal the Great Provost Judges without Appeal as well as the Masters of Requests and those of the Great Council The Officers of the Kings Houshold and those of his Court and Retinue may by special priviledge bring all their Causes into this Court whether they be Civil or Criminal since the Court was chiefly erected in their favour There needs no Committimus to cite any one that belongs to or follows the Court but only an assignation or warning taken out of the Provosts Court by vertue of a Commission out of the Registry there But as the said persons have the priviledge to bring their actions against their Debtors in this Court or to appeal from their Prosecutors thither they may do it if they please by vertue of their Committimus and at their choice bring their Causes either before the Masters of the Requests of the Palace or of the Requests of the Houshold or before the Provost of the Houshold The Great Provost only has power to apply Seals make Inventories and do all other acts of Justice in the Louvre and in the Galleries and other places thereunto belonging and in other Royal Houses within fourteen Leagues distance of Paris as it was determined a Contradictory Sentence of the Council of the 25 of March 1650. given in favour of the Officers of the Provostship of the Houshold against the Officers of the Chatelet He may also take cognisance of all crimes and particular offences and other Causes pro or con any way relating to the people of the Court and of the Kings Retinne and belonging to the Royal Houses and against Vagabonds and of several other Cases with the consent and advice of the other Provosts When he follows the Court any where he Taxes and sets a price upon all Provisions gives assistance for taking of Lodgings if any resistance be made and doth other things necessary for the civil Government there by his Lieutenants of the Long Robe or in their absence by the Lieutenants and Exempts of the short Robe who call to their assistance the Officers or Magistrates and chief Inhabitants of the place When the Court takes a Journey the Great Provost Commands a sufficient number of Tradesmen and Handicrafts-men to follow it to whom he grants Letters of Priviledge by which they are obliged to furnish the Court and its Retinue with all necessaries who are called the Priviledged Tradesmen and by vertue of the said Letters are impowered to keep open Shop in Paris or elsewhere and enjoy several other Exemptions Of the Officers of Judicature belonging to the Provostship of the Houshold For the better administration of Justice to the Officers of the Kings Houshold and to the rest of his Court and Retinue the great Provost has under him two Lieutenants which are put in by the King but named by the Great Provost and are admitted as such in the Great Council where they are sworn There was formerly but one Lieutenant-General the other being but a particular Lieutenant but by an Edict of the Month of September registred in the Great Council the 7th of November following the King made these two Offices equal so that at present there are two Lieutenants-General for both Civil and Criminal matters they have each of them 400 l. Salary and 600 l. gratuity The first of these exercises his Office the first six Months of the Year where the Kings Court is and the other six Months he keeps the Provosts Court at Paris within the Inclosure of the Great Council-Chamber when the King is abroad and the Great-Council at Paris The other serves the latter six Months of the Year at the Kings Court and the first six Months keeps the Provosts Court at Paris for the causes of those that are Officers of any Royal Houses within his Precinct and priviledged persons and others So that there is always two Seats or Courts of Justice of the Great Provost one at Paris for the better expedition of the Causes of the Officers and priviledged Persons belonging to the Royal Houses and another where the Court is when his Majesty is not in Paris as he never is to stay Note That the two Lieutenants the Kings Proctor and the Register of the Provosts Court are allowed each of them at the Salt-Granary at Paris two Minots of Free-Salt that is for paying only some ancient Duties The Kings Proctor there has a Salary of 400 l. 75 l. Augmentation-Money and a gratuity of 1200 l. He serves all the year round and has a Substitute There is one Register in chief both for Civil and Criminal matters who has 104 l. Salary and 400l gratuity He has under him two Commis or Deputies that have the priviledge to wear both Gowns and Caps at
thereunto belonging and deprive them of that mark of honour to the tenderness of their affection and the fidelity of their services for these causes notwithstanding the Edict of November 1640. We Declare that all our Domestick Servants and Commoners the four Companies of our Life-Guards the Archers or Guards of the Provostship of our Houshold the hundred Suissers of our Guard the Officers of our Stables Hunting Falconry and Wolf-Hunting those of the Queen Regent our most honoured Lady and Mother of the late Queen Mary our most honoured Lady and Grandmother of our Dearest Brother the Duke of Anjou of our Dearest Vncle the Duke of Orleans and of our Dearest Aunt the Dutchess of Orleans his Wife at present living and of his former Wife deceased of our Dearest Cousin her Daughter and of our Dearest Cousin the Prince of Condé of our Companies of Gensdarmes or Men at Arms and light Horsemen consisting of two hundred Men apiece the Company of our Guard of Musketeers on Horseback and that of the Guards of our said Lady and Mother named and comprised in the Establishments to be by us Signed and agreed to and Counter-signed by our Secretary of State and of our Commandments who has the department of our Houshold shall enjoy the Priviledges and Exemptions granted and given to them in all times and from all Antiquity because of their Services and the same we grant to their Widows as long as they shall continue so Provided nevertheless that if any of the aforesaid Officers shall make any Traffick with Merchandises and keep Inns or manure any more than one Farm of their own and that with their own hands or hold any Farms of others whether in their own Names or in those of their Domesticks or Servants they shall be liable to be taxed towards our Taxes in every of the Parishes where the Lands or Heritages by them so manured shall lie In another Declaration given at Poitiers in the Month of January 1652. His Majesty says We confirm by these Presents all the Priviledges Franchises Liberties Immunities Exemptions and Affranchisements granted to the Officers of the Royal Housholds entred upon the Establishments of the Court of Aids and to their Widows during their Widow-hood Willing that they be henceforward held quit and exempt from all manner of contributions whether it be Loans general or particular made or to be made as well by us as by any of the Cities of our Kingdom likewise for furnishing Provisions or Ammunition for the War for Fortifications Reparations Charges and Conducts Taxes Aids and Impositions c. and of all other Subsidies Dues charges and subventions in general whatever they be made or to be made in any sort and on any occasion whatsoever though it be not here particularly specified and declared They are exempt from the Duty called the Duty of Aids for the Wines of the product of their own grounds by a Decree of the Council of State of the 16th of December 1654. By a Decree of the Council of State of the 20th of January 1644. The King declares his intentions to be that no Officers shall enjoy Priviledges and Exemptions from Taxes but those that actually serve and that receive at least 60 l. for their Wages and Appointments and not a great number of honorary and titular Officers that have obtained Briefs of some Offices but serve not and have no Wages nor the Keepers of the Plains and of the Game which his Majesty pretends shall be taxed with the common Taxes excepting the Keepers of the Game of St. Germains Fountainbleau Blois Limours Montâ—â—â—hery and Boisgency There are a great many other Decrees and Orders that say almost the same thing the Decree of the Counsel of State of the 14th of March 1654. maintaining the Kings Officers those of the Queen Mother the Duke of Anjou and of the Duke and Dutchess of Orleans exempt from the greater and lesser Taxes Subsistance money c. and other publick charges There are other Decrees of the Great Council in Conformity to the Edicts and Declarations of the King of the 22th of February 1673. and the first of March 1675. importing an Exemption from Lodging or Billeting of Souldiers for the Officers of the Royal Housholds their Persons their Houses Farms Tenements Farmers Domesticks and Servants There are likewise several Decrees and Declarations in favour of the Queens Houshold in particular and of that of Monsieur and of some of their Officers as also for those of the late Duke of Orleans The Kings Declaration of the last of January 1647. which was Registred in the Court of Aids the 19th of March the same year imports a re-establishment of the Priviledges and Exemptions of the Widows and Veterans of the Officers of the Royal Housholds in the same manner as the Commoners of his Majesties own Houshold enjoy the same In a Declaration set forth by the King in the Month of July 1653. It is said that the said Officers possess fully and entirely their Officers so as that the Coheirs with them in other things cannot pretend any share therein either upon their Salaries or upon the value of their Offices if sold which being in the Kings sole Disposition cannot be reputed of the nature of those goods that are liable to be divided among the Heirs and Successours of Families As for what concerns the point of Precedence of the Kings Officers and of the rank they ought to have in publick Assemblies whether general or particular several Kings by their Declarations and Decrees have Order'd that they shall march and place themselves immediately after the Counsellers of the Bailiwicks Seneschals and presidial Courts before the Officers of the Elections of the Salt-Granaries Judges not Royal and all others that are inferiour in degree to the said Counsellers as it was Ordained by Henry the Fourth by a Declaration of the 22th of March 1605. in favour of the Valets or Yeomen of the Bed-Chamber and other Officers of the Chamber Cabinet and Anti-Chamber and by Lewis XIII First By a Declaration of the 27th of July 1613. in favour of the Marshals of the Lodgings the Harbingers of the Body and the Harbingers in Ordinary to his Majesty Secondly By another of the 20th of December verified in the Great Council in favour of the Life-Guards And thirdly By his Letters Patents of the 12th of February 1618. and by a Decree of the Great Council dated the 27th of May 1630. and by the present King by another Decree of the said Council of the 29th of May 1653. The Priviledges of the Court-Clergy The Clergy of the Kings Houshold and other Royal Housholds have the Priviledge to be always reputed resident at their Benefices during the time of their Service and are allowed two Months to go to and come from their Benefices and that by several Bulls of Popes Declarations of Kings Decrees of Parliament of the Great and Privy-Council c. And they are paid the full Revenues of their Canonries
though they have not the Stage that is the usual time of Residence and Officiating there from which they are exempt The Priviledges of the Chyrurgions By a Declaration of Lewis the Thirteenth in favour of his Chyrurgions viz. to his Chief Chyrurgion in Ordinary and to eight other Chyrurgions in Ordinary quarterly Waiters they are priviledged to keep or cause to be kept open Shop and set out a Chyrurgeons Sign with the Kings Arms Exclusive to all Chyrurgeons who are forbid to molest them under pain of being fined 3000 l. and paying all Costs Dammages and Interest in Case of Contravention which concludes thus Given at Paris the 26th of August in the year of our Lord 1636. and of our Reign the Twenty Seventh Signed Lewis and Lower De Lomenie And on the side is written the Registring of it in the Parliament of Paris the 28th of March 1637. Collationed or Compared and Signed Farcette Which is confirmed by a Decree of Verification in Parliament the 18th of July 1637. There is a Declaration of the late Queen Mother for her four Chyrurgions of the 20th of October 1637. Verified by a Decree of the 20th of April 1638. Another Declaration of the late Duke of Orleans for five of his Chyrurgeons of the 26th of February 1638. Verified by a Decree of the 7th of September 1638. And lastly Another Declaration of the late Prince of Condé for four of his Chyrurgeons of the 29th of January 1639. Verified by a Decree of the 23d of March following Besides which there is an Order of the Court for the Master-Chyrurgeons at Paris Importing a Confirmation of the Declarations made in their favour in 1642. The Priviledges of the Life-guard Men. By a Decree or Order of the privy-Privy-Council bearing date the 27th of June 1651. given against the Court of Aids of Rouen after several Suits of Law the Kings Life-guards are maintain'd in their Quality of Squires and in their exemption from Taxes and all other Impositions A like Sentence was given by the Council of State the 4th of June 1653. in favour of the Guards of the Gate Other Priviledges belonging to all the Officers of the Kings and other Royal Houses All the Officers and menial Servants of the Kings and of other Royal Housholds excepting a few whose Offices are too mean are noble that is are Gentlemen by their Places if they be not so otherwise as long as they are in Place and may bear a Crest above their Coats of Arms. All the Officers of the seven Offices of the Chamber and others wait always with their Swords by their sides unless it be when they are troublesome to them and may wear them always both in the Louvre and elsewhere Most of the Officers have the Quality of Squires if they be Sword-men or of Counseller if Gown-Men and are called Officers in Ordinary though they are but Quarterly or Half-yearly Waiters They enjoy all the Priviledges of Gentility Safeguards exemption from Taxes and other Duties Committimus c. as we have shewn above CHAP. XXVII Of the Military Officers and Troops of the Kings Houshold THE Kings of France have always kept several Guards for their Security and to preserve a Life that is the Lives of their Subjects We read in Gregory of Tours in the eighth Chapter of his seventh Book that Gontran King of Orleans or of the Burgundian part of France seeing his two Brothers Sigebert King of Mets or Austrasia being that part of France towards Germany including Lorrain and the Neighbouring Provinces and Chilperic King of Paris and of Soissons had been assassinated placed a great Guard about his Person about the year 587. without which he never went to Church or to his Recreations So upon different occasions the Guards have been reinforced and augmented Philip Augustus being in the Holy Land in the year 1192. established Serjeants at Arms or Mace-Bearers as may be seen in the Great Chronicles where the Old Historian La Montagne speaking of the Assasines or rather Arsacides a Desperate sort of people of Syria whom their Princes used to send to assasinate the most couragious and active Princes among the Christians uses these words When the King says he heard this news be began to be fearful of himself and by advice of his Council resolved to have his Person well guarded and chose Serjeants with Macis well armed and accoutred who were night and day to attend him to guard his Person The said King made use of the said Serjeants at the Battel of Bouvines who behaved themselves that day so valiantly that St. Lewis in the year 1229. founded for them in memory of that action the Church of St. Catharine du Val of the Scholars of Paris according to an Inscription to be seen upon two Stones at the entring into the said Church which contains these words At the intreaty of the Serjeants at Arms Monsieur St. Lewis founded this Church and laid the first stone of it for Joy of the Victory obtained at the Bridge of Bouvines in the year 1214. The Serjeants at Arms then in being had the keeping of the said Bridge and vowed to God that if he would give them the Victory they would found a Church and dedicate it to St. Catharine which was performed accordingly Where it is remarkable that there are four Serjeants at Arms represented upon those two Stones but in a different manner There are two upon one of them holding in their hands their Maces at Arms and armed Cap-a-pee to represent the Serjeants at Arms as they were in the Army and upon the other stone there are two more whereof one is Clothed with a Coat with great Sleeves cut in Labels wearing a Collar hanging down upon his Breast and I suppose that signifies the Usher at Arms Waiting at the Door of the Chamber for still to this day the Ushers of the Chamber bear Maces on Festival days to guard the Kings Person in the Day-time The other is wrapped up in a long Cloak well furred with shaggy furr with a Bonnet on his Head and his Mace in his hand which represents the Serjeants at Arms that watched by night And Du Tillet in his Chapter of the Marshals pag. 282. writes that some of them were appointed to carry Maces before the King in the day time and were called Vshers at Arms whose place is now supplyed by the Ushers of the Kings Chamber and others to guard his Chamber in the night time These Guards then took their name from the Arms they used and so when they quitted the Mace to take the Bow they were called Archers Charles the Seventh entertained a Guard of Scotch selected out of the Auxiliary Forces brought over to him by the Earls of Bucan Douglas and other Scotch Lords to drive the English out of France Philip de Comines calls them the Silver Guards because their Coats or Jackets called Hoquetons were set with spangles of Silver and Goldsmiths Work Lewis the Eleventh being at Puiseaux on the 4th
all affairs relating to War the Tax called the Taillon the Artillery the Fortifications of the said Generalities the Buildings and Royal Houses and the Arts and Manufactures of France In this Department are the Parliament of Mets the Soveraign Councils of Perpignan Pignerol Tournay Alsatia and the Provincial Council of Artois 2. M. Seignelays Department comprises The Months of January May and September and the affairs of Paris and the Isle of France and Soissonnois as far as Noyon the Countries of Orleans and Blois the Fortifications of all Maritime Places and other Places within the Kingdom the Kings Houshold the Clergy the Admiralty and Sea-Affairs Commerce both within and without the Kingdom Manufactures out of the Kingdom the Gallies the East and West-India Companies and the Company of Senegal and other Countries within the Limits of their Patents the Breeding Horses and Pensions In this Department there is only the Parliament of Paris 3. Monsieur de Chateau-neufs Department comprises The Months of April August and December and the affairs of Languedoc both higher and lower and the County of Foix High and Low Guienne as far as Fontarabie Perigort Rouerge and Quercy Broüage the Country of Aunix the Town and Government of Rochelle Ré and Oleron Tourain Anjou Maine Perche and the County of Laval Bourbonnois Nivernois High and Low Auvergne Picardie and the Country of Boulogne Normandie Roüen Caen and Alençon Burgundy Bresse Bugey Valtomey and Gex and in general all Affairs relating to the Reformed Religion In this Department are the Parliaments of Toulouze Bourdeaux Roüen Dijon and Besançon 4. Monsieur Colbert de Croissy's Department contains The Months of March July and November and the affairs of Champagne and Brie Provence Brittany Berry Limousin Angoumois Xaintonge Lyonnois and Dauphiné Navarre Bearn Bigorre the Principality of Sedan Foreign Countries and Pensions In this Department are the Parliaments of Aix Grenoble Rennes and Pau. The Months set down under the name of each Secretary of State are those in which their turn is to dispatch all Letters or Patents for all the Liberalities Gifts and Benefices granted by the King in those Months The Parliaments contained within each Department are set down likewise under them to show that the Dispatches the King sends to any of the said Parliaments must all pass through the hands of that Secretary of State in whose Department they are and that the Deputies sent by the said Parliaments or States of the Provinces therein specified to the King are Conducted to their Audiences by the Secretaries of State to whose Department they belong In the time of Henry the second for the speedier Expedition of the many Affairs of State then depending there were six Secretaries of State chosen with this Proviso that the two first Vacancies among should not be filled up In that manner were the Secretaries of State established and reduced to the number of four as they continue to this day Rules made by the King at Fountainbleau for the Establishment of a Council-Royal for his Finances or Revenues With an account of the persons it consists of and the Order kept and observed in it The King having after it had pleased God to give Peace to his People seriously consider'd the ill condition of the Revenues of his Kingdom and the Causes from whence it proceeded His Majesty being willing to prevent the same inconvenience for the future resolved upon the present Regulation and Declaration of his will and pleasure therein First His Majesty has supprest for ever the Commission of Super-intendant of his Finances or Revenues with all the Functions annexed to it And his Majesty well knowing he could no way give greater marks of his love to his People than by taking to himself the care and administration of his Revenues for the more effectual retrenching of all the abuses crept thereinto and practised till now His said Majesty has resolved to call to his assistance a Council composed of Persons of known Ability and Honesty by whose advice he will act in the said Administration and Execute all those Affairs which were used to be formerly resolved on and put in Execution by the Super-intendant alone The said Council shall be called the Council-Royal of the Finances or Revenues and shall be composed of one Chief under the Authority and in the Presence of his Majesty when the Chancellour shall not be present in the said Council and of three Counsellers whereof one shall be Intendant of the Finances His Majesty reserving to himself the power to call in the Chancellour when he shall think fit at which times he shall take Place and Precedence there according to his Dignity as Chief of all the Kings Councils His Majesty reserves to himself the Sealing and Passing of all Orders touching the Expences accountable and the Monies employed as well for private Expences or Bills remitted any where and Interest and all other Expences whatever The Books and Accounts of the Disbursement of his Revenues as well those arising from the general Receits as from the Farms Woods Crown-Lands and all other Monies of what nature soever shall be returned by the Intendant of the Finances under whose Department they shall be with his Advices and Reasons concerning the Changes fit to be made therein into the hands of the said Council-Royal who are to make report thereof to his Majesty and receive his Orders thereupon after which the said Accounts shall be passed and signed by the said Intendant and returned into the hands of him that made the Report in Order to be Signed by his Majesty and by the Honourable Persons of the said Council in such Place and Order as his Majesty shall appoint The Intendant of the Finances that shall have the Honour to be of the said Council-Royal shall have the Exchequer or Treasure-Royal under his Department and consequently shall keep the Register of the whole that shall be received or disbursed which he shall Communicate to no Person whatever without express Order from his said Majesty All Orders shall be returned into his hands to be reported to his Majesty and shall be Registred and Paraphed or marked on the sides by him and afterwards passed by the Treasurers of the Exchequer whose turn it shall be to be in Office that year The said Intendant shall take all the Accounts of the Farms of the general Receits of the Woods Crown-Lands Extraordinary Affairs and all other Receits of what nature soever in order to making a Report thereof himself to the said Council-Royal that the said Accounts may be ratified and signed first by his Majesty and then by those of the said Council-Royal All Demands that shall be made of any new Offices within his Majesties Dominions shall be reported to and resolved on in the said Council-Royal And as to all those Affairs which used to be dedebated and determined in the Council of Finances and which were customarily signed by the Lord Chancellour his Majesty will hold the said Council on
Paris Of the Grand Council Of the Leagues of the Suiffers The Rents upon the Guildhall or Town-House of Paris 3. Mr. De Breteuil has The eighteen Generalities of the Countries of Election The greater and lesser Tax called the Taille Taillon The Revenue of the Chamber of Accounts or Counting-Chamber at Paris That of the Court of Aids at Paris There are four Secretaries of the Council who are M. Berrier M. de Beauchamol M. Ranchin and M. Coquille And M. Bartillat and M. Du Mets with the Title of Commissionated Keepers of the Treasure-Royal exercise by turns what was formerly exercised by three Persons with the Title of Treasurers of the Main Treasury or Exchequer called L' Epargne or Spare Revenue There are eighty Masters of Requests in Ordinary of the Kings Houshold that officiate quarterly The Officers called les Gens du Roy are One Proctor-General M. Lewis Maboul who likewise performs the Function of Advocate-General One Advocate-General M. Francis-Nicholas Berthelot The Secretaries of the Court of Finances are the same with those of the Council of State There are four Secretaries-Registrers of the Privy-Council four Commissioners of the Register of the Council and four Registrers-Keepers of the Council-Bags all officiating quarterly And one Chief Registrer of the Requests of the Houshold There are eight Ushers or Door-Keepers in Ordinary belonging to the Kings Councils and eight other Ushers of the Requests of the Houshold There is also held another Council called the Council of Parties because it was established to take cognisance of the Processes or Suits moved by particular Parties one among another whether it be upon their Appeals from the Judges of a particular Jurisdiction or of a Parliament or any other entire Jurisdiction or for particular Affairs between City and City or between one private Person and another that this Council has called before it or of which it has reserved the cognisance to it self The Councellors of State that sit in this Council of Parties or in the Council of the Finances are for the most part Persons that have served a long time in other Courts or Jurisdictions as in the Parliament grand-Grand-Council and even in the very Body of the Masters of Requests or in Embassies to Foreign Princes and States Those of the last sort enjoy the Quality and Pension of Councellours of State at their return from their Ambassages but yet have not all Entrance into the Council Some of them serve there all the year and some but six Months their Salary when they serve all the year is 2000 Crowns to each They are sworn by the Chancellour Anciently there were three Masters of Requests taken out of the Body of the Parliament that used to stand at the Door of the Kings Lodgings leaning with their Elbows on the Rails ready to receive all Requests or Petitions that people had a mind to present to the King And if they were businesses of no great consequence they commonly dispatcht them immediately but if they were of Consequence then they made report of them to the King when he was in his Chamber or when he was going to Mass or a walking And when business begun to increase they waited no more at the Door but near the Kings Person who committed to their Examination all the Petitions that were presented him They usually had Lodgings in the Kings Palace and were tabled at Court They at present take cognisance in their Court of Masters of the Requests of the Houshold of the personal and possessory Causes of the Crown-Officers and of the Officers that are Commoners and Tabled in the Royal Housholds and others that have the priviledge of Committimus There lies an Appeal from them to the Parliament of Paris unless it be when a Sovereign Jurisdiction is given them by a solemn remission of any cause to them by the Council of State They serve likewise in the Chancery and in the Council of State where they report and sign all Petitions that come thither and have extraordinary Commissions in the Provinces where they are Intendants of Justice of Policy and of the Finances or Revenues as also in the Armies where they have a very great Authority and Power They have power to preside in the place of the Presidents in all Seneschalchies and Baily-wicks The Habit used by the Masters of Requests at great Ceremonies and Solemnities is a Scarlet-Gown as being of the Body of the Parliaments where they have Entrance Place and Voice or freedom of Suffrage and opinion deliberative When the Masters of Requests march all in a Body accompanying the Chancellour as they did in the year 1660. at the Kings solemn Entry they wear as they did then black Velvet-Gowns with golden Girdles and Hat-Bands CHAP. XXIV Of the Grand Council THE Grand Council being at its Original or first Institution the only Councils of the Kings of France the Princes of the Blood Officers of the Crown and chief Presidents of the superiour Courts used to stile themselves Councellours of it Afterwards the Title of Councellour to the King in his Councils was taken up instead of it as soon as a plurality of Councils was erected The Grand Council was reduced by Charles the Eighth to 17 Councellours and one Proctor-General and since augmented by Lewis the Twelfth with three Councellours to make up the number of twenty and that served by the half year since that the Advocates-General and the Presidents were added thereto and the number of Councellours augmented from time to time by new Creations insomuch that at present this Company is composed of eight Presidents serving by turns four each half year 54 Councellours serving by turns 27 each half year two Advocates-General serving half a year apiece and one Proctor-General who only is perperpetual The half-yearly waiting times of the Councellours begin in October and April Besides these there are fourteen Councellours of Honour or Titular Councellours in the Grand Council who are Candidates as it were of it and succeed in the Vacancies There are likewise twelve Substitutes or Deputies one Registrer or Recorder in Chief five Secretaries one Chief or first Usher twenty other Ushers and 23 Proctors The Jurisdiction of the Grand Council extends throughout all the whole Monarchy and Dominions of the King At its first beginning it had power to judge of Appeals from and of the Regulations of Judges and of the nullities and contrarieties of Sentences of which Regulations of Judges and contrarieties of Sentences it still takes Cognisance as also of the Jurisdiction of Presidials and of the Provosts of the Merchants and of whatsoever depends thereon concerning the Honour Function and Regulation of their Offices It also takes Cognisance of all matters concerning Consistorial Benefices Archbishopricks Bishopricks Abbies and Conventual Priories and in general of all other Benefices that are at the Kings Nomination Presentation Collation or other Disposal whatsoever as well in respect of the Title to them as of the Pensions charged on their
Revenues excepting the Regal Right or Due It also takes Cognisance of the Duties belonging to the King from Cathedral and Collegiate Churches upon the account of his joyful arrival to the Crown and of those due from Archbishops and Bishops when at their Instalments and Consecrations they swear Fidelity to the King of those arising from the Indults or Fees so called of Cardinals and other Prelates of the Kingdom from the Indult of the Officers of the Parliament of Paris From the appellations of the Provostship of the Houshold of the Warren of the Louvre and from those of the Chamber of the General Reformation of the Hospitals and Houses for the sick in France from the Commissions of the Chief Physian for the Reports of dead Bodies drowned and wounded and all Statutes or Orders of the said Chief Physician concerning Pharmacy from the Execution of or offences against the Statutes or Orders of the Kings Chief Barber and from Appeals concerning the Persons Estates or Priviledges of the Great Orders of the Kingdom as are those of Chiny the Cistercians the premonstrated Monks Grandmont the Trinity the Holy Ghost Fontevrault and St. John of Jerusalem From the withdrawing concealing and imbezeling Ecclesiastical Goods or Estates and Immunities and Franchises or Liberties of Ecclesiastick Persons and from several Appeals concerning the ancient Substitutions of the Great Houses of the Kingdom The Solemn and Ceremonial Habits used in the Grand Council are Robes of Black-Velvet for the Presidents and Black-Satin Robes for the Councellours Advocates and Proctor-General and the Recorder or Registrer The Great Council is a Court that Judges without Appeal and that follows the King whenever it pleases his Majesty The place where the Grand Council is held is in the Cloister of the Church of St. Germains l' Auxerrois at Paris near the Louvre And because the Chancellour is not only the Head and Chief of all the Kings Councils but also the Head of the Chancery since he has the Seals in keeping Now we have treated of the several Councils it will be most proper in the next place to speak of the Officers of the Chancery in their order and to explain what their Offices are CHAP. XXV Of the Councellours and Secretaries of the King House and Crown of France and of their Finances or Revenues THE Councellours so stiled as above are in number 240 and have his Majesty for the Chieftain and Soveraign Protector of their Company ever since the first Institution of it and his Majesty has the first Purse of the profits of the Seal The first of them is called their Dean These Secretaries-Councellours were reduced and united into one only Body and Company by an Edict of the Month of April 1672. by which they are maintained in all their ancient Priviledges and Exemptions of this number are the four Principal Secretaries of State the four Secretaries of the Council of the Finances or Revenues the four Registrers of the Council of Parties and the Chief Registrers or Recorders of the superiour Companies of the Kingdom Their principal Function is to be present and assisting at the application of the Seal and to dispatch and sign all Letters that are presented to the Lord Chancellour to be sealed they read to him all Letters of Pardon Remission and other Graces and Favours which he grants or refuses The Chancellour is Judge of all matters that relate to their Places and Functions and the Sentences given by them in Council run in this tenour The King in his Council by the advice of the Lord Chancellour has Order'd and does Order c. All the Offices of the Chanceries throughout the Kingdom excepting only those of the great Audiancers of France the 240 Secretaries of the King and some others are at the disposal and nomination of the Chancellour and of his Parties Casual CHAP. XXVI Of the Great or High Chancery of France FIrst There are in it four Great Audiencers that officiate quarterly each one in their quarter The Great Audiencers of France are the first Officers of the Seal Their principal Function is to view and examine the Letters that are to be sealed which are to be carried or sent to them the day before they are to be sealed by the Kings Secretaries abovesaid that they may present them and report them to the Chancellour and tax them at the Controll The four Great Audiencers of France the four Comptrollers-General the four Keepers of the Rolls of the Offices of France the four Conservatours of the Hypotheques and the Treasurers of the Seal are by their places Secretaries to the King perform the Functions of such and enjoy all their Priviledges and Exemptions There are four Comptrollers-General of the Audience of the Chancery of France that serve likewise quarterly The principal Function of the Comptroller-General of the Chancery of France in the time of his Waiting is to take and lay before the Wax-Chafer the Letters that are ready for the Seal and when they are sealed to receive them again from the hands of the Wax-Chafer and put them into the Chest for that purpose without imbezeling or fliding aside any one of them And he is to put to his Comptroll and Paraphe or Mark all along the sides after the Great Audiencer has taxed them as it was Order'd by the Edict of the Month of April in 1664. There are four Keepers of the Rolls of the Offices of France that officiate likewise quarterly Their Chief Function is to have and keep the Rolls and Registers of all the Offices of France that are sealed of what nature soever they be The Kings Secretaries that dispatch them are to send or carry the said Letters to them before they pass the Seal that they may present them and make their Report of them to the Chancellour It is in their hands that all oppositions to the sealing of them or dispatching them in the Offices whether it be upon the account of a Hypotheque or any other title or pretence are to be made of which they keep a Register and for which they are responsable in Case the Offices be sealed contrary to those oppositions because that if the said Offices that is what passes in them should be sealed without being charged with those oppositions they would be discharged of all Hypotheques There are under these four Deputy-Keepers of the Rolls whose places are united to theirs There are four Conservatours of the Hypotheques or of the Rents upon the Town-House or Guild-hall and on the augmentations of Wages that officiate quarterly Their Duty is to do the same thing in relation to the Rents and augmentations of Wages that the Keepers of the Rolls do in respect of the Offices that is to say to present and report to the Chancellour all Letters of Ratification of the acquisition or purchase of those Rents or augmentations of Wages that the Kings Secretaries have dispatched and signed to receive the oppositions made against the sealing and dispatching the said
Camboya Lao and Cochinchina 2. The Bishop of Caesaropolis Francis Piquet Native of Lyons who was formerly Consul for the French Nation at Aleppo for nine years space He is now Apostolical Vicar in the Levant and chiefly at Bagdat or Babylan on the Tigris where he at present is with M. Casmont de Nerac Priest of the Oratory They Embarked at Toulon the 11th of September 1679. to go for Aleppo the Capital City of Syria The Gallican Church is composed of these Prelates who all of them stile themselves Councellours of the King in both his Councils viz. Of State and his Privy-Council though they have no ordinary right to sit there unless they be called by an express Commission They are all Doctors either in Divinity or Law The manner how they swear Allegiance to the King and the Form of their Oath we have already described Once in five years the Clergy hold Assemblies which they call the Lesser Assemblies and once in ten years their greater Assemblies which are more numerous Besides these the King upon Direction to the Chief Prelates calls extraordinary Assemblies of them as lately and sometimes a National Synod is Convoked These Assemblies consist of some Prelates and some Deputies of the Clergy chosen out of the most qualified among them In these Assemblies most affairs relating to the Church and Clergy are debated and Represented if need be to the King to whom at every Session they give a considerable summ of Money The last Assembly was held in 1685. There are also besides these in France the Great Priours of Malta which are the Great Priour of France the Great Priour of St. Giles's or of Provence the Great Priours of Champagne Aquitain and Auvergne and the Knights and Commanders of Malta all which are of the Body of the Clergy CHAP. XXVIII Of the Governments in France HAving spoken of France as divided into Arch-bishopricks and Bishopricks being next to speak of it as divided into Governments I shall observe the same Order that was Decreed and observed in the Assembly of the General Estates held in 1614. after several Contestations concerning this point as thinking it better and more authentick than any other I could follow And as for the New Conquests I have ranked them according to the Order observed by the Ministers and Secretaries of State According to which Order they are in all 17 Governments besides some other particular Governments and those in America And are thus Ranked The general Governments in France and its Acquisitions 1. PAris and the Isle of France 2. Burgundy Dutchy and County 3. Normandie 4. Guienne 5. Britanny 6. Champagne 7. Languedoc 8. Picardie and Flanders 9. Dauphiné or Dauphinate 10. Provence 11. Lyonnois or Country of Lyons 12. Orleans and the Dependances 13. Navarre and Bearn 14. Alsatia 15. Three Bishopricks 16. Lorrain 17. Rousillon 1. Paris and the Isle of France Countries Towns Places and Governours 1. Town Provostship and Vicounty of Paris The Duke of Gêvres 2. The Hospital Royal of Invalides or Maimed Souldiers The Sieur St. Martin Knight of the Royal and Military Orders of Nôtre Dame de Mont Carmel c. 3. Isle of France and Country of Soissons The new Duke D' Etrees and the Count de Chamel Lieutenant-General 4. The Provost of Paris M. de Bullion de Bonelle 5. Valois The Duke de Gêvres Bayliff 6. Of the Towns and Cittadels of Laon Neyon and Soissons and Kings Lieutenants at Laon at Soissons The Duke D' Etreés Governour M. de la Simonie M. Fourcher 7. Beauvais and Country of that Name The Count de Marêts Governour of the Town and Lieutenant of the Country 8. Marle M. Moreau 9. Ribemont M. De la Tour. 10. Town Castle and Captainry of Compiegne The Marshal d' Humieres 11. The Captainry or Captainship of Villiers Coterets The Duke D' Etrées 12. Senlis The Marquiss de St. Simon Note That all Governours of Provinces are stiled Lieutenants-General though there be under them another Lieutenant-General of the same Province and sometimes several 2. Of the Government of Burgundy Countries Towns Places and Governours Captains c. 1. Burgundy and Bresse Bugey Valtomey and Gex The Governour General is the present Prince of Condé 2. In the Bayliwick of Dijon Chatillon Barsurseine La Montagne and the Vicounty of Auxonne which is the first Lieutenant-General of Burgundy The Count d' Amanzé Lieutenant-General And the Count d' Armagnac Seneschal 3. In the Bayliwick of Châlon James Dublé Marquiss of Vxelles Lieutenant-General And the Marquiss of Tavanes Seneschal 4. In the Bayliwick of Maçon The Marquiss d' Antragues both Lieutenant-General and Seneschal 5. In the Bayliwicks of Auxois Auxerrois and Autunes Nicolas de Chaugy Count of Rousillon 6. Of Bresse Bugey Valtomey and Gex The Marquiss d' Entremons Lieutenant-General and Seneschal Of the County of Burgundy or Franche Comté which though lately Conquered is placed with the former The Marshal Duke of Duras Governour-General And René de la Tour de Gouvernet Lieutenant-General 7. Besancon taken in 1674. Duke of Duras Governour M. de Clerans Lieutenant 8. Cittadel of Besançon M. de Moncaut 9. Fort of St. Steven M ....... 10. Fort Griffon M. Polastre 11. Dole taken in 1674. M. de la Feuillée Governour M. Philippe Lieutenant 12. Salins The Marquiss de la Freziliere Governour M. de Salieres Lieutenant 13. The two Forts of St. Andrew M. de Bartin d' Escarlian Governour M. de Bourbitou Lieutenant 14. Fort of Belin. M. Olivier Commander 15. Castle of Joug and Town of Pontarlier M. de la Platier Governour M. de St. Maurice Lieutenant 16. Castle of Blamont M. Bertrandi Commander 17. Castle of Montheliard M. de Lansberg 3. Government of Normandy Countries Towns Places Governours Lieutenants c. 1. Province of Normandie The Duke of Montausier Governour-General 2. High Normandie The Marquiss de Beuvron Lieutenant-General 3. Low Normandie The Count of Torigny There are five Under-Lieutenants for the King viz. 1. In the Baylywicks of Rouen and Caux The Duke of Gevres 2. In those of Evreux and Alençon The Marquiss de L' aigle 3. In that of Cotentin The Marquiss de Canizy 4. In that of Caen. The Marquiss de la Luzerne 5. In that of Gisors The Marquiss de Flavacourt Of other particular places here follow the Governours 1. Rouen The Duke de Montauzier 2. Old Palace of Rouen The Marquiss of Beuvron 3. Bayliwick of Rouen The Count of Torigny 4. The Bridge of the Arch called the Pont de L' Arche M. Druel under the Duke of Montausier 5. Dieppe and Fort de Polet Under the same M. de Tierceville Mahaut Lieutenant 6. Fecamp M. de Ratabon Lieutenant 7. Havre de Grace which is Independant and has the Rank of the Government of a Province The Duke of St. Aignan who is also Lieutenant-General of Montiervilliers and Harfleur 8. Honfleur The Marquiss of Esears 9. Caen Town and Castle The Count de Congny Lieutenant and Bayliff 10.
of the Waters and Forests of Paris whose Court is kept in the Court of the Palace from whence Appeals are made to the abovesaid general Chamber of the Waters and Forests of France This particular Court is composed of one Master one Lieutenant one Proctor for the King and some other Officers CHAP. XXXVII Of the Constablrie and Marshalsy of France THE Constable and Marshals of France are the Head and Chief Officers that preside in this Court It is the Ordinary Court of Justice for the Militia or Souldiery both in Civil Politick and Criminal matters and is the sole and universal one for those matters throughout the whole extent of the Kingdom Their Sentences from whence Appeals may be made to the Parliament run in this stile The Constables and Marshals of France to all those who shall see these present Letters greeting c. Though at present there be no Constable because the eldest Marshal of France represents him making together with the other Marshals but one Body of which he is Head When the Marshals of France Assemble about any differences between any of the Nobility a person taken out of his Majesties Council and chosen by his Majesty out of those that are proposed to him for that purpose by the Marshals of France who is commonly either a Councellour of State or a Master of Requests assists together with the eldest Marshal of France then at Paris at all Assemblies that are held about the point of honour and makes report of all Affairs that pass there He that are present officiates that office is M. L' Advocat Master of Requests The Constabirie has power to take cognisance of the Admission and Functions of the Offices of all Provosts whether general provincial or particular and of Bayliffs Vice-Bayliffs Vice-Seneschals Lieutenants Criminal of the Short-Robe Knights of the Watch and their Lieutenants Assessours Kings Proctors Commissaries and Comptrollers for the Musters Treasurers of the Pay Receivers Payers and Registrers of the several Companies in what part of the Kingdom soever they be established It likewise Judges of all Faults Abuses and Misdemeanours committed by any of the Officers of the War Souldiery or Marshalfies The Officers of the Long-Robe belonging to this Court are a Lieutenant-General a Lieutenant particular and a Proctor for the King These three Officers besides the Priviledges which they enjoy as being esteemed Commoners of the Kings Houshold are Squires by their Places There are several Ushers belonging to this Court whereof four are always to attend actually upon it Of the Provost of the Constablrie The present Provost is M. Stephen Germain Sieur de St. Germain who is stiled Provost-General of the Constablrie and Marshalsy of France and Judge of the Camps and Armies of the King he is likewise called the Grand Provost of the Constablrie He has 2800 Livers or Pounds French yearly Salary and his Lodging among the Retinue of the Court and in the Camps and Armies he is lodged immediately next after the Marshal or Quarter-Master-General of the Lodgings of the Army He names and presents to the King all the Officers and Guards of his Company who upon his Nomination obtain Grants of their several Places in the Chancery He has priviledge to assist at the Examinations Admissions and swearing of the Provosts of the Marshals of Provinces and of Vice-Bayliffs Vice-Seneschals and Lieutenants Criminal of the Short-Robe of the Marshalsy and in general of all Officers of the Marshalsy of France with the Priviledge of having a deliberative Voice and a power of Inspection over them He Commands the Marshalsies when they are called together as when the Kings calls a Ban and Arriere Ban that is Summons the whole Body of the Nobility to appear in Arms. He is to take care all Military Ordinances be observed and takes cognisance of all Causes belonging to Provostships and others left to Extraordinary Judges He is supreme Judge without Appeal in all matters whether Civil Criminal or Political in the Camps and Armies where he sets a price upon Provisions and gives Pass-Ports to Merchants Furnishers of Munition Tradesmen and others following the Armies He has under him these following Officers viz. Three ancient Lieutenants whereof one is to be of the Long-Robe who have each of them 800 Livers yearly Salary two Lieutenants of later Creation whereof one has 500 and the other 600 Livers yearly Salary One Proctor for the King at 1200 Livers Salary He has power to substitute Deputies under him in other Marshalsies where there is no Proctor for the King Four Exemts who have 200 Livers Salary each one Register at 300 Livers and 48 Guards reckoning in the Trumpeter at 200 Livers each yearly Stipend To this Company belong a Commissary for the Musters whose Salary is 600 Livers and a Comptroller for the same at 300 Livers yearly stipend When they are in the Army these Officers have Extraordinary allowances over and above their standing Pay viz. The Lieutenant 150 Livers the Kings Proctor 100 Livers the Exempts 60 Livers apiece the Registrer 60 Livers and the Guards 25 Livers each When there are several Armies in the Field the Grand Provost of the Constablrie serves in the Army Royal or principal Army and his Lieutenants in the other Armies The Sword-Officers of this Company Mount the Guard and do service about the person of the eldest Marshal of France as Representing the Constable They are appointed for the Guard and keeping in Custody persons of Quality Gentlemen and Officers that have quarrels one with another And the Provost of the Constablry assists with the eldest Marshal of France at all Assemblies held upon occasion of such quarrels The Guards wear Hoquetons or Short-Coats wrought with Massie-Silver upon a blue ground and for their Device the first Letter of the Kings Name being a Crowned L between two Right Hands Armed with Gantlets set with Flower-deluces coming out of a Cloud and holding each a naked Sword with the point upwards with these words about it Non sine Numine i. e. not without a Deity or Divine Power which kind of Sword is called the Sword of the Constablrie These Officers are of the Body of the Gend'armerie or Men at Arms and have been hitherto maintain'd in the quality and priviledges of Commoners of the Kings Houshold The last Letters to this effect bear date the 22d of February 1653. There are also belonging to this Court and Company one Chief Assessour and one Chief Usher to serve Warrants and Orders who have each 300 Livers yearly Salary There is likewise a Provost-General of the Monies or Mint and Marshalsies of France named Augustin-Nicholas Langlois who has under him several Lieutenants and Exempts one Registrer and 60 Archers or Guards who have power to serve and execute Orders and Warrants The Provost-General of the Isle of France is Francis de Francini de Grand ' Maisons He has under him four Lieutenants eight Exempts one Registrer and ten Guards called Archers on