Oath to the Great Almoner Besides these there are the Almoners belonging to the great and little Stables and to the other Bodies of the Kings Houshold and the Chaplains belonging to the several Companies of Guards and of the Gentlemen-Musqueteers and others of which we shall speak in their places The New Chappel of the Louvre was Consecrated the 18th of February 1659. by the late Bishop of Rhodes since Archbishop of Paris and that of little Bourbon pull'd down in the Month of August the same year The Kings Ecclesiastical Officers keep always on his Majesties right hand in the Chappel and the Bishops Abbots and Ecclesiastical Officers of the Queen on his left Now on his Majesties right hand the Great Almoners Place is next to the Kings Person then follows that of the first Almoner on the right hand of the Great Almoner As for the Kings Father Confessour he places himself at the Great Almoners left hand more within the Kings Praying-Desk The Master of the Chappel-Musick takes his place on the left hand next adjoining to the Kings Praying-Desk The rest of the Almoners rank themselves to the right-hand-ward from the foot of the Kings Praying-Desk toward the Altar and after them the Chaplains and Clerks of the Chappel and Oratory and the other Clergy of the Kings Houshold every one in their Order CHAP. XIV Of the Great Master of the Kings Houshold and those who depend on him and of the Stewards of the Houshold THE Prince of Conde is at present Grand Master of the Kings Houshold and his Son the Duke of Enguien has it in Reversion The Grand Master has yearly under the name of Wages 3600 l. for Liveries 42000 l. paid quarterly for his Collations 1200 l. and 1800 l. for his Steward Under the first Race of our Kings the Great Master of France was called the Mayor of the Palace who was a Lieutenant-General over the whole Kingdom and according to the ancient Disposition of the State as there was a Duke placed over twelve Earls and sometimes a Duke over whole Provinces so the Mayor of the Palace was the Duke of Dukes and stiled himself Duke or Prince of the French His Authority was not confined only within the Kings Houshold where he disposed of all Offices but he had a great power over all Officers of War and Justice over the Managers of the Revenue and Treasury and indeed over all Affairs of State and grew so great at last that it Eclipsed the Kings and gave Pepin who was but Mayor of the Palace opportunity to assume the Crown which having done and fearing that if he continued any longer any such great Authority as this in an Officer his own practice might be returned on him and his Successors he suppressed this Office of Mayor of the Palace and Erected in its stead that of Seneschal for the Government only of his Household reserving all the other powers of that former Office to himself Yet it has happened since that the Seneschal for all that has taken upon him some Command in the Armies even so far as to have the Guard of the Kings Person Some have called him the Great Gonfanonïer or Standard-Bearer This Office became Hereditary to the Counts of Anjou from the time of Geffry Grisegonelle to whom King Robert gave it about the year 1002. and those that exercised it about the King held it in Fee of those Counts to whom they did Homage for it and paid certain acknowledgments as going to meet the Count of Anjou when he came to the Palace Lodging him letting him serve the King c. and furnishing him in the Armies with a Tent big enough to hold a hundred Knights as Hugh de Cléries reports at large This Officer also retained still a part of the power of the Mayors of the Palace in other things and decided all differences arising among the Attendants of the Court and among the Officers of the Houshold After the Kings Death he throws his Staff upon the Coffin before all the rest of the Officers Assembled together to show that their Offices are expired but the succeeding King ordinarily restores them out of his special Grace and Favour The Great Master Regulates every year the expence of the Mouth of the Kings Houshold He has an entire Jurisdiction over the seven Offices the most part of which places he disposes of and the Officers thereof take the Oath of Allegiance to the King between his hands Nevertheless the Great Masters have voluntarily resign'd the Office of Intendant of the Gobelet and of the Mouth into the Kings hands ever since Monsieur de Soissons Great Master of the Kings Houshold under Henry IV. refused to trouble himself any longer with the care of them He receives the Oath of Allegiance from the first Master of the Houshold from the Master of the Houshold in Ordinary and from twelve Masters of the Houshold that wait Quarterly from the Great and Chief Pantler Cup-Bearer and Carver from the thirty six Gentlemen Servitors from the three Masters of the Chamber of Deniers from the two Controulers-General from the sixteen Controulers Clerks of Offices from the Master of the Kings Chappel-Musick and from the Master of the Kings Oratory from the Almoners of the Kings Houshold from the Great Master the Master and the Aid of the Ceremonies from the Introductor of Ambassadours and from ........ from the Kings Master of the Horse in Ordinary and of the twenty other Masters of the Horse that serve quarterly from the four Lieutenants of the Guards of the Kings Gate from the Keepers of the Tents c. When he serves in Ceremony and that he goes along with the Meat he marches nearer the Kings Meat than all the Stewards of the Houshold carrying his Staff strait and bolt upright like a Scepter and the other Masters of the Houshold hold theirs more downward in his presence It is he likewise that at all Great Ceremonies presents the first wet Napkin to the King The Office called the Kings Office or Counting-House is kept under the Authority of the Great Master CHAP. XV. Of the first Master of the Houshold and of the other Masters under him THE first Master of the Houshold is at present the Marquiss de Livry who has a Jurisdiction over the seven Offices as far as relates to their Service but has not the disposal of their places He may also receive the Oath of Fidelity from the Offieers of the Cup or Goblet and of the Mouth and of the other Officers and in the Great Masters absence of those other Officers which ought to perform that Ceremony to him He has his Lodging in the Louvre and has yearly for Wages 3000 l. for Liveries 7968 l. and for the Counters 60 l. He keeps the Great Chamberlains Table and has the last course of it for his Fee The priviledge of the said Table is an acquisition that has been made to this Office by some preceding First Masters of
Houses Royal as also of those which are to be made upon the Portals and of Triumphal Arches and other Works for the solemn Entries of their Majesties into any Towns or upon any other account whatsoever He has a Salary of 1800 l. paid Quarterly at the Treasure Royal. CHAP. XIX Of the Great Marshal of the Lodgings or Knight-Harbinger and of the other Marshals of the Lodgings and Harbingers THE Great Marshal of the Lodgings is Monsieur Lewis Doger de Cavoye he has 3000 l. Salary 4000 l. Board-Wages at the Chamber of Deniers 600 l. a Month extraordinary allowance and several other perquisites His Office is to receive the Kings Orders concerning his Lodging and those of his Court and to communicate them to the other Marshals of the Lodgings and Harbingers There are twelve Marshals of the Lodgings or chief Harbingers who have every one a Salary of 800 l. a yearly gratuity of 400 l. and 900 l. extraordinary and when the Court is on the march a hundred pence a day for their Diet which is paid them from the day they have Orders to set out They serve quarterly three every quarter and in the time of their Waiting have their Diet at three different Tables the first at the old Table of the Great Master the second at the Table of the Masters of the Houshold and the third at the Almoners Table They have besides in the Armies every one their rations or allowances of Ammunition-Bread They are sworn by the Great Marshal of the Lodgings or Knight-Harbinger and bear in the Kings House Canes after the fashion of a Majors Staff or else a Staff garnished with Silver at top and bottom with the Arms of his Majesty on the Pommel and this Inscription N ..... Marshal of the Kings Lodgings The Staff of the Great Marshal of the Lodgings is garnished with Silver both on the handle and the top having on the Pommel or Handle the Arms of France and the rest of the Handle set with Flower-deluces wrought in Diamonds Three Marshals of the Lodgings or chief Harbingers and four other Harbingers when they come out of Waiting with the King enter into Waiting with the Dauphin and have there the same allowance they had with the King There were formerly four Harbingers of the Body but they were suppressed in 1680. in whose room the King established eight Harbingers in Ordinary quarterly Waiters who wait two every quarter so that whereas there were before but forty there are now forty eight Harbingers quarterly Waiters serving by twelve a quarter which have every of them a Salary of 240 l. 120 l. gratuity 450 l. extraordinary and when the Court is on the march a Crown a day for their Diet from the day they set out and in the Armies their rations of Ammunition-Bread The places of all these are in the Kings Gift and they are all sworn by the Great Marshal or Knight-Harbinger of the Lodgings At the beginning of every quarter the three Marshals of the Kings Lodgings in Waiting agree together to separate the twelve Harbingers for that quarter into three Bands allotting four to each Band. 1. One of these Harbingers who is ordinarily the eldest or Foreman makes according to the stile of this Court the Body or the Gross that is to say 't is he that in the presence of the Marshal of the Lodgings or chief Harbinger marks out with Chalk First The Kings or the Kings and Queens joint Apartments Secondly The Offices Thirdly The eating Halls or Dining-rooms and Fourthly The Apartments of those that are preferred in the Kings Lodgings First By the Kings Apartments are meant the Kings Bed-Camber Anti-Chamber Closet Wardrobe Guard-Chamber and other necessary Apartments for the Kings or Queens persons Secondly By the Offices are meant the seven Offices as the Goblet the Kitchin c. afore-described Thirdly By the Eating-Halls or Dining-rooms are meant the Hall of the new Table of the Great Master otherwise called the Hall of Monsieur the Duke and that of the Great Chamberlains Table which two Tables ought to be within the Kings Lodgings when there is room enough or else as near as may be Next the Hall of the Great Masters old Table and that of Masters of the Housholds which are sometimes called the first and second Tables of the said Masters The Serdeau's Hall or the Kings voiding Hall the Almoners Hall the Quarterly Waiters Valets de Chambers or Bed-Chamber-mens Hall There was likewise the Chief Valets de Chambres or Bed-Chamber-mens Hall but it was taken away on the first of January 1681. Fourthly Under the name of the Preferred in the Kings Lodgings are comprehended the Great or High Chamberlain the Chief-Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber the Great Master of the Wardrobe the Captain of the Guards and the Master of the Wardrobe In case the Lodging be so scanty that after the King is Lodged there remain but one single Apartment the Captain of the Guards ought to have the preference of it before all others and if there remain two then the Chief-Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber is to have the First and the Captain of the Guards the second but if there be three then the Great Chamberlain is to have the preference before the two others When the Queen marches with the King the Marshals or chief Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings after they have given Order for marking out Apartments for the Queen are to cause other Apartments to be Chalked out in their Majesties Lodgings for her Ladies in this Order viz. First For the Super-intendant or Stewardess of the Queens Houshold Secondly For the Lady of Honour Thirdly For the Tire-Woman or Dressing-Lady Fourthly For the Ladies of the Palace Fifthly For the Chief-Gentlewoman of the Bed-Chamber And sixthly For the other Gentlewomen of the Bed-Chamber And if after the Queen be lodged there remain but one Apartment more then the Chief-Gentlewoman of the Bed-Chamber ought to have it before any of the other Ladies and Female-Officers The Harbinger which makes the Body when there is room enough marks out to in the same House Apartments for the Chief-Physician Chyrurgion and Apothecary of the Body The Harbingers of the Queens Body or of the Dauphins or Monsieurs cannot Chalk out any thing that belongs to that they call the service of the Body But it belongs to the Kings Harbinger that makes or heads the Body to do it so that they cannot mark any places for the seven Offices but those that are appointed them by the Kings Harbinger that makes the Body that is as is above explained that is the Eldest or Foreman of the Band or Company 2. Another Harbinger is to take care to chalk out all the Ranks and Preferred without the Kings Lodgings By the Ranks are meant First The Lodgings for the Princes Secondly For the Great Officers Thirdly For the Dukes and Peers Fourthly For the Marshals of France the Secretaries Ministers of State and other Persons of Quality And by the preferred without the Kings
be more than two together without having any Command there then they chuse their Quarters according to their standing And next to the Marshals of France the Dukes and Peers take place for in Armies Dukes and Peers are Lodged always after Marshals of France But in following the Court out of an Army this Order is observed First their Majesties are Lodged then other Royal Persons then the Princes and Princesses then the Great Officers of the Crown after them the Dukes and Peers and lastly the Marshals of France The Chancellour is Lodged next after the Princes and in marking his Lodging the word Pour or for is used the meaning of which we have already explained Besides all which which are called the Ranks there are the Preferred of which we have spoken The Marshals and Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings are also employed by his Majesties special Command to provide Lodgings for the Assemblies of the States General of the Kingdom when any are called or for the States of any particular Province when the King is to be present at them as likewise for the Assemblies of the Clergy which is to be understood when they assemble in any other place but Paris for there no Lodgings are marked for them Likewise when the persons composing any Soveraign Courts or other publick Bodies are to meet at St. Denis in France by the Kings Order and according to Custom to assist at the Funeral Pomps or Solemnities made at the Burials or Anniversary Services for Kings Queens and Princes or Princesses of the Blood or others the Marshals and Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings go thither some dayes before to provide them Lodgings The King too usually sends the said Marshals and Harbingers of his Lodgings to meet Foreign Princes and Princesses that come into or pass through his Kingdom to order and prepare Lodgings for them every where as they pass The Title and Quality of Squires has been conferred and confirmed upon the Marshals and Harbingers in Ordinary of the Kings Lodgings by several Orders of the Council of State Next the Marshals and Harbingers of the Lodgings is the Captain of the Guides with his Company who is a necessary Officer in Journies Of the Captain of the Guides The Office of Captain of the Guides for the Conducting of his Majesty formerly enjoyed by one is now exercised by two Brothers who part between them the following Salary and Profits viz. 2000 l. Salary paid quarterly by the Treasurers of the Houshold 600 l. a Month extraordinary during any Voyage or Journey and 300 l. when the Court is at any of the Royal Houses they eat at the Kings Serdeau's or Water-Servers Table with the Gentlemen Waiters The Captain of the Guides when the King is on his march along the Country is always to keep by one of the Boots or Portals of the Kings Coach to be ready to tell his Majesty the names of the places Cities Castles Towns and Villages upon the Road if he ask them or resolve any other Question concerning them There are commonly at least two Guides on Horseback that wear the Kings Livery that ride a little before his Majesty to Conduct him and place themselves ordinarily at the head of the Light-Horse If there be any need of repairing the High-ways for the Kings Passage the Captain of the Guides usually lays out what is needful for that purpose and is repaid again at the Treasure-Royal For fear the Officers of the Goblet or of the Mouth should fail to come up to the place where the King is to eat when he is travelling along the Country the Captain of the Guides sometimes gives them notice in what part of the Way his Majesty has a mind to Dine He has power to settle Guides to Conduct his Majesty in every Town of the Kingdom and after he has given his Grants to the said Guides they are admitted as such before the Marshals of France These Guides wear the Kings Livery and are exempted from Billeting of Souldiers The Captain of the Guides is sworn by the High Constable of France when there is one or otherwise by the Eldest Marshal of France Of some other Officers necessary in Journies which depend on the Great Master of the Houshold viz. One Waggon-Master of the Kings Equipage that Conducts all the Equipage and commands all the Captains and takes his Orders from the Office of the Houshold This Office was Created in 1668. He has an allowance of 100 l. a Month out of the Chamber of Deniers when the Court is on its march along the Country and 50 l. a Month when it is at Paris and 400 l. besides extraordinary Wages for the extraordinary pains he takes for the Kings Service in doing what is order'd him by the Office allowed him upon the last Bill of every Quarter One Aid or Helping Waggon-Master whose Office was also Created the same year 1668. who has when the Court is at Paris 25 l. a Month and when it is on the march 50 l. a Month allowed him at the Chamber of Deniers We have already spoken of the Captain of the Mules of the Chamber in speaking of the said Chamber of which he depends Two Captains of the Carriages of the Kings Houshold who have a Salary of 300 l. a piece paid by the Treasurers of the Houshold and besides at the Chamber of Deniers an allowance to them for the maintenance of fifty ordinary Horses at the rate of 23 d. a day for each Horse 57 l. 10 d. a day or 21045 l. a year They Conduct all the Carriages of the seven Offices when the Court marches either in Person or by their Servants One Captain-Keeper and Guardian-General of the Tents and Pavilions of the Court and of his Majesties Pavilions of War who has a Salary of 800 l. and 50 l. a Month extraordinary in time of Service and One Keeper of the Tents of the Courts of the Kitchins and of his Majesties Stables who is allowed 50 l. a Month at Paris and 100 l. a Month in the Country at the Chamber of Deniers CHAP. XX. Of the Judge of the Kings Court and Retinue who is the Provost of the Houshold or Great Provost of France THE Provost of the Kings Houshold or Great Provost of France is the ordinary Judge of the Kings Houshold The Title of Great Provost implies two things For first He is Judge of the Kings Houshold and Secondly He is Captain of a Company of a hundred Guards called the Guards of the Provostship which is another part of his Office in the Kings House We shall speak of him here only as in the first quality reserving the latter till we come to the Military Officers of the Houshold His Office is one of the ancientest of the Kings Houshold and one may say that in the Jurisdiction which he retains of administring Justice to all the Kings Officers and other Persons that follow the Court he has succeeded the antient Count or Mayor of the Palace which
Montausier we have already spoken La Valiere otherwise called Vaujours is a Dutchy and Peerage Erected in 1667. in favour of Madamoiselle de la Valiere and verified in Parliament the same It now belongs to her Daughter the Princess of Conti. Of Rouanez and Chevreuse we have likewise spoken apart CHAP. VIII Of the Ancient Counties and Baronies Erected formerly into Peerages most of which since reunited to the Crown POitou a County and Peerage Erected by Lewis Hutin in 1315. The County of Beaumont le Roger made a Peerage by Philip de Valois in 1338. Given to the House of Boüillon The County of Mortaigne made a Peerage in 1331. by Philip de Valois The County and Peerage of Clermont by the same in the same year The County and Peerage of Macon in 1359. by Charles Dolphin and Regen while his Father was absent in England The County and Peerage of Maine in 1360. by King John The County and Peerage of Soissons by Charles the Sixth in 1404. enjoyed by a Prince of the House of Savoy The County and Peerage of Saintonge or Xaintonge in 1428. by Charles the Seventh The County and Peerage of Auxerre by Charles the Seventh in 1435 and verified in 1436. The County and Peerage of Foix by Charles the Seventh in 1458. The County and Peerage of Eu by the same in 1458. It belongs to Madamoiselle of Orleans of Monpensier The County and Peerage De Foret held by the Dukes of Bourbonnois The County of Perche Erected into a Peerage by Charles the Ninth in 1566. The County and Peerage of Dreux Erected by the same in 1569. The County and Peerage of Evreux given to the House of Boüillon in 1652. Baronies and Peerages reunited to the Crown Chateauneuf in Timerais held so by Charles of Valois and Charles his Son in 1314. Mante and Meulan Erected by Philip de Valois Coucy Perone Montdidier Roye and Ham by Charles the Sixth in 1404. Mortaigne near Tournay by Charles the Sixth in 1407. Beaujolois held in Peerage by Peter Duke of Bourbonois La Fêre in Tartenois Erected by Lewis the Twelfth in 1507. Colomiers is an ancient Peerage and a principal Member of the Dutchy of Nemours It was lately revived again in favour of the late Duke of Longueville but now Extinct CHAP. IX Of the Orders of Knighthood in France THE Orders of Knighthood were always used as honourable recompenses and marks of the Kings favour to such as had signalized their service to their Prince and the State Kings likewise have been used to confer them on such as have the honour to be of Kin or allied to them or considerable persons in the State It being needless to speak here of all the Orders of Knighthood that have been instituted in France it will be sufficient to tell you that there was formerly the Order of the Star Instituted in memory of the Star that Conducted the three Kings or wise Men of the East to Bethlehem by Robert the Devout King of France in the year 1022. which is attributed to by some to Hugh Capet but more commonly to King John because after a long disuse he reestablished it in the year 1351. The Knights of this Order were the Figure of a Star wrought in gold with five rays upon their left Breasts The Great Collar of the Order was made like a Chain of gold wreathed with three Links fastned or knotted together with Roses of the same Enamel'd with white and red and in the time of King John the Knights wore at the end of the said Collar or upon their Cloaks a golden Star with this Inscription or Motto Monstrant Regibus stra viam This Order growing common as some say even in the time of King John the Restorer of it and others in the time of Charles the Seventh and thereupon observed by Lewis the XI to be grown into contempt with the people the said King tototally supprest it by taking the Collar of the Order in presence of several of the Knights of it and putting it with a Black Ribband about the Neck of his Captain of the Watch which is even to this day a badge of that Office from whence he is stiled le Chevalier du Guet or Knight of the Watch upon which nobler persons disdaining to own it any longer the Order ceased CHAP. X. Of the Orders of Knighthood at present subsisting called the Kings Orders AT present there are only two Orders of Knighthood subsisting viz. of St. Michael and of the Holy Ghost which are usually called the Kings Orders The Order of St. Michael was Instituted the first day of August in the year 1469. by King Lewis the XI in honour of St. Michael the Archangel He Ordained that this Order should consist of thirty six Knights which should be obliged in accepting it to quit all other Orders they might have received from Foreign Princes unless they were Emperours Kings or other Sovereign Princes who only were priviledged to wear it together with the other Orders of which themselves were Chiefs or Soveraigns with a Proviso nevertheless that the Brotherhood by common consent might modifie this regulation according to their pleasure And in like manner he provided that the Kings of France should be free to wear the Orders of other Princes with this Order The Knights of this Order wear a golden Collar wrought all in the form of double Sea-Shells interlaced one with another in true Lovers Knots composed of double points of silk tag'd with gold at the end of which hangs a Medal on which is Engraven a Rock upon which is figured St. Michael Fighting with the Dragon But Francis the First changed these Laces called true Lovers Knots into Cords of gold of the fashion of those worn by the Cordelier Fryers because he bore the name of the Founder of that Order All the Knights of the Holy Ghost are obliged by way of preparation to take this Order the Eve before they are to take that of the Holy Ghost for which reason their Arms are Encompassed with the Collars of both the Orders and they are called Knights of the Kings Orders in the plural number Of the whole number of those that had formerly received the Order of St. Michael the King selected and retained a hundred on the 12th of January 1665. of which a List was Printed since which his Majesty has reformed several of them as you may see in the following List The Order of the Holy Ghost was Instituted at Paris on New-Years Day in the year 1579. by Henry the Third King of France and Poland as an Eternal-Mark of his Piety and thankful acknowledgment he desired to render to Almighty God for the repeated and signal Favours he had received from him on the day of Pentecost or of his sending the Holy Ghost for that on that day he was Born was Elected King of Poland and succeeded to the Crown of France by the Death of Charles the Ninth He likewise stinted the number of these
in the Chappel of the Louvre The Great Almoner of France who is a Commander of the Kings Orders by his Place and who is at present the Cardinal of Bouillon took the Oath in that quality the 12th of December 1671. On the 29th of September being St. Michaels Day in the year 1675. the Duke of Nevers by Commission from the King gave the Order of the Holy Ghost to the Duke of Bracciano of the House of the Vrsini to the Duke of Sforza and to the Prince de Sonnino Brother to the Constable of Colonna at Rome On the 17th of December 1675. the King and the Knights of his Orders begun to wear the Blue Ribband over their Coats whereas before they always wore it underneath and the next day the King held a Chapter of the Order wherein the Present King of Poland and the Marquiss of Bethune who has the Honour to be his Brother-in-Law were proposed and admitted into the Order and the latter of the two received the Order from the Kings hand on Sunday the 22th of December in the Chappel at the Palace of St. Germains en Laye You may please to observe that formerly those two Lords that held up the two ends of the Communion-Cloth on his Majesties side whilst his Majesty was kneeling before the Altar to receive the Sacrament were ordinarily two Knights of the Orders but now it is not so much regarded whether they be Knights or no And if the Dauphin happen to be in presence then he alone holds up both the ends of the said Cloth on the Kings side and did so several times before he was made Knight and when he was but a Blue-Ribband Man and but a Candidate of the Order All Knights of these Orders Assistant at the Kings Consecration and Coronation especially the next day after when his Majesty receives the Habit and the Collars of the Orders from the hands of the Archbishop of Reims or such other Prelate that Consecrated him The Knights of the Kings Orders upon the Festival Days of the Order go in the Morning to the Kings Chamber and march two and two before him from his Chamber to the Chappel And if upon such days his Majesty chances to go to some Church that is any thing distant then the Knights go beforehand to the said Church where they receive the King at the Door on the inside and then all the Knights march by two and two before his Majesty with their Officers at the head of them accompanying him to his praying Desk and the King commonly giving them leave to sit down they go and seat themselves in the places prepared for them CHAP. XII Of the Officers of the Kings Orders 1. THere is the Chancellour of the Order who is M. de Louvois 2. The Provost and Master of the Ceremonies M. the President Meme Brother to the Count d' Avaux 3. The Great Treasurer the Marquiss of Seignelay 4. The Secretary M. Chateau-neuf These four Great Officers wear the Cross of the Order fastned to a Blue-Ribband and put about their Necks and Embroidered on their Cloaths as do the Knights 5. The Herald King at Arms of the Order is Bernard Martineau called M. du Pont. 6. The Usher of the Order is M. des Prés 7. The Under-Treasurer of the Order is M. Damond Besides which there are two General Comptrollers Their Office is to receive the Deniers of the mark of gold of the Offices of France of which the Under-Treasurer gives up an account every year before the Great Treasurer of the Order They are also Officers of the Order and may wear the Cross of the Holy Ghost though with some distinction and enjoy the same Priviledges as do the other Officers that were Created at the first Institution of the Order There is likewise a Genealogist of the Kings Orders who is M. Cotignon de Chauvry Chief President of the Court of Monies CHAP. XIII Of the number of the Knights of the Kings Order under the Title of the Order and Militia of St. Michael in the Year 1678. with other things concerning both this Order and the Additional Orders of Nôtre Dame de Mont-Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem THE Knights of the Order of St. Michael in the year 1678. were seventy four in number The two eldest of these enjoy the Priviledge of Committimus under the Great Seal The King has named since other Knights in the room of those Deceased and to compleat the number of a hundred to which his Majesty reduced it by the reformation he made in the year 1665. who will be received in the first general Chapter which shall be held by the Kings Order when they have made proof of their Nobility and good Services His Majesty has been pleased to honour some Strangers with the Collar of this Order and among others the Count of Padua M. Vbaldo Cima d' Ozimo at Rome and the late Dutch Admiral Ruyter But Strangers are not comprehended in the said number of a hundred In the year 1666. The King Commissionated the late Duke of Noailles Peer of France and Captain of his Life-guards M. de Beringhen Chief Querry and Commander of his Orders and the late Mr. Colbert Secretary of State Comptroller-General of thē Finances and then Commander and great Treasurer of his Orders to survey and examine the Proofs and Evidences of the Nobility of the Knights of the Order of St. Michael which were put into the hands of Mr. Cotignon de Chauvry Genealogist of the Kings Orders The King commonly Commissionates one of the Knights of his Orders to assist at the general Chapters of his Order of St. Michael and to receive those which are to be received with the usual Ceremonies according to the intention of his Majesty after they have made due proof of their noble Extraction and of their Services And at the holding of every General Chapter the King sends a new Commission to one of the Knights of the Holy Ghost and though his Majesty be pleased to continue sometimes the same Person yet he may change if he please at every new Chapter for he of the said Knights of the Holy Ghost that is named for that purpose can plead no prescription from thence for his being continued perpetual Commissioner of this Order of St. Michael In the year 1608. King Henry the Great Instituted an Order which he named the Order of Nôtre Dame de Mont-Carmel i. e. of our Lady of Mount-Carmel in memory of the ancient Order of the Dukes of Bourbon dedicated to the B. Virgin and in the Month of October the same year he joined thereto the ancient Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem It is composed all of French Gentlemen They wear a Golden-Cross Cantoned or quarter'd with four Flower-deluces edged with a white Hem in the midst of which on one side upon a white Enamel is represented the Virgin and on the other a St. Lazarus upon an Enamel of Green This Cross is tyed to a
or Barricado in any place then the Foot-Officers shall have the chief Command Note That in former time when the French King went to Fight they marched under the white Cornet of France Accompanied with several Lords Voluntiers But now it is no more in use This white Cornet was different from the Colonels Cornet of the Cavalry which is also white CHAP. XVIII Of the Great Master of the Artillery THE Present Great Master of the Artillery of France is Lewis de Crevant de Humieres Marshal of France who is stiled Great Master of the Artillery of France and Super-Intendant General of the Powder and Salt-Peter he is likewise Governour and Lieutenant-General of Flanders and of the other Conquests made in the Low-Countries since the Pyrenean Treaty He took the usual Oath for this Office in September 1685. The Great Master of the Artillery bears for a mark of his Office under his Coat of Arms two Canons or Culverins mounted on their Carriages Before the Invention of Canon there was a Great Master of the Cross-bows and Battery-Men called Cranqueneers who had the Super-intendance over all the Officers and Machines for Battery The Cranquins were certain Engines then in use for Battering the Walls and Gates of Towns not unlike those we read of in the stories of all Nations of those and elder times It is the common opinion that this Office has been ever since the time of St. Lewis and in 1411 under Charles the Sixth the Sieur de Hangest was Great Master of the Crossbow-Men in lieu of which afterwards was substituted a Captain-General of the Powder of the Artillery which Title was used till the time of Henry the Great who in the year 1610. Erected it into an Office of the Crown under the Title of Great-Master in favour of Maximilian de Bethune Duke of Suilly his Favourite At present in every Army of France there is a Lieutenant of the Artillery that has Command over all the Equipage of the Artillery and takes care of its conducting who depends of the Great Master The Great Master has the super-intendance over all the Officers of the Artillery as Canoneers Pioneers Wheel-wrights Rope-Makers and other small Officers of which he keeps a Muster-Roll in all the Kings Armies in every one of which he has his Lieutenants although in Cases belonging to their Offices the Marshals of France have likewise a Command over the said Officers It is the Great Master of the Artillery that gives Order for making all works in the Armies as well at Sieges of Towns and in their Marches and he has power over all the Arsenals of France He has also the charge of most of the Tents and Pavilions of the Army and has the Seat of his Jurisdiction in the Arsenal at Paris The Great Master of the Artillery is always Colonel of the Kings Fusileers All cast Mettal found in Conquered Towns or rebellious places at their taking belongs to the Great Master of the Artillery as his Fee who sometimes commands the very Bells to be taken down from the Steeples There are Lieutenant-Generals of the Artillery in the several Provinces and in every Army the principal at present are the Marquiss de la Frezeliere M. de Vigny Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fusileers and Bombardeers and M. de Mets Lieutenant-General of the Artillery of Flanders There is likewise a Comptroller-General of the Artillery M. Camus de Clos Intendant of Catalonia a Treasurer-General M. Stephen Landais a Guard-General M. Michael Pelletier a Commissary General of the Powder M ..... a Secretary-General M. Joachim Fautrier another Secretary M. Lewis Rousseau and lastly one Bayliff of the Artillery and of the Arsenal M. Noel Eustace Pean de Chesnay And because the King of France has his Wars by Sea as well as by Land having treated of the Constable and the Marshals of France who have succeeded in his Authority who are the chief Commanders of his Armies by Land we shall now proceed to speak of the Admiral who has the chief Command over the Naval Forces and all Maritime-Affairs CHAP. XIX Of the Admiral and of the Maritime Forces THE present Admiral of France is the Count of Toulouze Lewis-Alexander of Bourbon Legitimated of France who is stiled Admiral or Great Master of the Seas and chief and super-intendant of the Commerce and Navigation of France being Constituted so in the Month of November 1683. The Great Admiral bears for a mark of his Charge two Anchors passed Salteir-Wise behind his Coat of Arms. The Admiral is one of the Officers of the Crown and Commands in the Wars at Sea with the same Authority as did the Constable formerly and at present the Marshals of France in those by Land The Power of this Office is very Great and was much augmented by King Henry the Third in favour of the Duke de Joyeuse one of his Favourites that was then Admiral The Admiral grants out Commissions to Privateers to Arm and put out to Sea against the Enemies of the State and has Power to make Truce with them upon the Sea for three Weeks of his own private Authority without his leave no Vessels can enter into any Port he has the tenths of all the spoils taken at Sea He is Judge in all Maritime Causes and the Appeals from his Sentences are brought to the Parliament of Paris but he has no Place there by vertue of his Office His Chief Court is kept at the Marble Table in the Palace at Paris whither Appeals are brought from the Judges of his inferiour Courts and he has his Officers that take cognisance of all Delinquencies and Differences that arise as well about Contracts and Agreements made either for Warlike Affairs or for Merchandise Fishing and all other things whatever whether Civil or Criminal putting in under him what Lieutenant he pleases he gives safe Conducts and Pass-Ports by Sea and Licenses for Herring-Fishing and other Fishing and causes Watch and Ward to be kept on the Sea-Coasts when there is occasion by those who are subject to that Duty and appoints Men of War to guard the Fisher-Boats in time of Herring-Fishing The Name of Admiral was borrowed from the Arabians who came by Sea pouring in like an Inundation on the Christians in Europe and after having roved over all the Seas of this Quarter of the World Conquered Spain and from thence made descents into France by the Coasts of Guienne and Poitou during the space of such long Wars the French had frequent Communication with them and he that Commanded in Chief over all the other Commanders of that so potent and formidable Naval Army being commonly called in the Arabian Tongue Amiral Musulmin that is to say Prince of the True Believers for so those Infidels affect to call themselves the French who retained only the first Syllables of that Name took occasion out of the corruption of it to form the name of Amiral i. e. Admiral which is the Title they have ever since applied to
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
this Family still maintain a Rank comformable to their Extraction as they formerly did enjoying the same Honours and Prerogatives as the fore-mentioned Families This Family has had several Alliances with our Kings with the Emperours and with the Kings of England Scotland Spain Arragon and Navarre and if Anne the Heiress of Brittany who was afterward Queen of France and Wife both to Charles the VIII and Lewis the XII had died without Children there was no Family nearer to succeed to that Dutchy than this But the better to particularize in Order those which at present remain of this Illustrious Family we shall make this Observation That they descend all from these three following Heads or Chiefs 1. From the late Henry Duke of Rohan 2. From the late Peter Prince of Guémené 3. From his late Brother Hercules of Rohan Duke of Montbazon 1. The late Henry Duke of Rohan Prince of Leon left by Margaret of Leon his Wife Daughter to the late Duke of Suilly Margaret of Rohan his only Heiress who died the 9th of April 1684. In her the Dutchy of Rohan as well as the Vicounty of Leon fell to the Distaffe as they call it in France She Married Henry Chabot Lord of St. Aulaye the last in Rank of the Barons of Jornac and Grand-Child to Admiral Chabot and died the 27th of February 1655. by whom she had a Son and three Daughters viz. 1. Lewis de Rohan-Chabot Peer of France of whom we shall speak among the Dukes and Peers 2. Anne Chabot de Rohan Married the 16th of April 1663. to Francis of Rohan Prince of Soubize 3. Margaret Chabot of Rohan Widow of the Marquiss of Coëtquen Governour of St. Malo who died the 24th of April 1679. 4. Joan-Pelagia Chabot of Rohan called Madamoiselle of Leon She was Married to the Prince d' Epinoy the 11th of April 1668. II. The late Peter of Rohan Prince of Guémené Count of Montauban Elder Brother of the late Duke of Montauban Married Magdalene of Rieux Daughter to the Lord of Chateau-neuf by whom he had Anne of Rohan who was Married to the late Lewis of Rohan her Cousin-German as we shall show further in due place III. The late Hercules of Rohan Duke of Montbazon Count of Rochefort Knight of the Kings Orders Peer and Great Huntsman of France Governour of the City of Paris and Gentleman-Usher to Queen Marie of Medicis who died in the year 1654. Married to his first Wife Magdalene of Lenoncourt Daughter and sole Heir of Henry of Lenoncourt and the Lady Francise Laval and to his second in the year 1628. Marie of Brittany Daughter of the Count of Vertus By both which he had the Children following His Children by the first Wife were 1. Lewis of Rohan the Seventh of that Name Prince of Guémené Duke of Montbazon Peer and Great Huntsman of France Knight of the Kings Orders who died the 19th of February 1667. in the 68th year of his Age He Married Anne de Rohan Princess of Guémené his Cousin-German above-mentioned who died the 14th of March 1685. by whom he had one Son viz. Charles de Rohan Duke of Montbazon Peer of France Count of Rochefort and of Montauban who Married Joan Armanda of Schomberg Daughter and Sister of the two late Counts and Marshals of that Name by whom he has these following Children 1. Charles of Rohan Prince of Guémené Duke of Montbazon who Married to his first Wife Madamoiselle de Luyne Marie-Anne d' Albret who died the 21st of August 1679. and to his second on the 2d of December the same year Charlotte-Elizabeth de Cochefilet called Madamoiselle de Vauvineux 2. John-Baptist-Armandus of Rohan called The Abbot of Rohan 3. John of Rohan called the Prince of Montauban who in 1682. Married N .... de Bautru Nogent Widow of the Marquiss of Ranes Lieutenant General of the Kings Armies 4. Anne of Rohan called Madamoiselle of Guémené 5. Elizabeth of Rohan called Madamoiselle of Montbazon Born the 25th of March 1643. 6. And Madamoiselle of Montauban 2. The late Marie de Rohan Dutchess Dowager of Chevreuse who died the 13th of August 1679. was Daughter to the same late Hercules of Rohan by the same Wife She was first Married to Charles D' Albot Duke of Luyne Peer Constable and Great Falconer of France Knight of the Kings Orders Principal Gentleman of the Kings Bed-Chamber and Governour of Picardie who died in 1621. By whom she had Lewis-Charles d' Albert Duke of Luyne who was first Married to Lewise-Marie Seguier Daughter of the Marquisse d' O by whom he had several Children and since to the abovesaid Madamoiselle of Montbazon The same Marie of Rohan after the Death of the said Constable of Luyne was Married again as we have said to Claudius of Lorain Duke of Chevreuse and had by him three Daughters of whom there remains only Henriette of Lorain Abbess of Joüare The Children of the said late Hercules of Rohan by his second Wife were one Son and two Daughters viz. I. Francis of Rohan Prince of Soubize Count of Rochefort in Iveline Lieutenant-Captain of a Company of the Kings Gens d' armes Governour of Berry and Lieutenant General of the Kings Armies who on the 16th of April 1663. Married his Cousin Madamoiselle de Rohan Lady of Honour to the Queen By whom he has had several Children the Eldest of which is 1. Lewis of Rohan of Soubize who was Baptized at the Royal Chappel at St. Germains en Laye the 16th of February 1675. Their Majesties being pleased to stand for his Godfather and Godmother 2. Hercules-Meriadec of Rohan Abbot of St. Taurin of Evreux called the Abbot of Rohan 3. Anne-Margaret of Rohan of Soubize who is a Nun in the Convent of the Benedictin Nuns of Nostre Dame de Consolation in the Street called the Rue de Chasse-midy in the Suburbs of St. Germain at Paris 4. Madamoiselle de Frontenay N. ◠de Rohan 5 6. Two Boys more II. Constance Emilia of Rohan who was Married by Proxy on the 18th of May 1683. to Don Joseph Rodrigo de Camara Son of Don Miguel de Camara Count de Ribeyra-grande Grandee of Portugal This Don Joseph-Rodrigo de Camara is of the Privy Council to the present King of Portugal Governour and Captain-General and Lord of the Island of St. Michael and of the Town de Poule-Delgade The Ceremony of the Espousals was performed the day before at Versailles in the Kings Great Cabinet in Presence of their Majesties of my Lord the Dauphin and my Lady Dauphiness of Monsieur and Madame and of all the Princes and Princesses and principal Lords of the Court She arrived in Portugal in the Month of October 1683. Of the Family of Tremoille I. The late Prince of Tarente Charle-Henry de la Tremoille Duke of Thoüars Peer of France Knight of the Order of the Garter bore Arms in Holland and was General of the Cavalry of the States of the United Provinces and Governour of Bois le
who have 60 l. Salary apiece viz. One Shomaker in Ordinary one Shomaker of the Wardrobe one Jeweller one Shomaker of the Stable one Joyner one Linnen-Draper one Needle-Maker one Herb-man and Orange-Merchant one Grocer one Pin-Maker and one Baker There are four Marshals of the Lodgings or Chief Harbingers at 150 l. each In the Stable are One Chief Querry or Master of the Horse who has in all for his Appointments and Board-Wages 5445 l. Two Querries in Ordinary 2000 l. each Four Querries quarterly Waiters 500 l. each Six Pages Two Querries Cavalcadours or Riders 546 l. each One Comptroller-General of the Stable 1200 l. One Secretary of her R. Highnesses Commandments 4200 l. One Intendant or Surveyour of the House and Revenues Six other Secretaries 300 l. each Two Sollicitours of Affairs 500 l. One Treasurer of the Houshold whose Salary is 3000 l. Other Officers of the Stable Ten Great Footmen who have every of them 20 d. a day that is 366 l. a year besides their Summer and Winter Cloaths One Footman belonging to the Maids of Honour who is allowed 20 d. a day or 366 l. a year Two Manto-Carriers at 292 l. each Two Coaches the first called the Coach of the Body and a second Coach who have each of them one Coachman and one Postilion the Coachman of the first Coach has 200 l. Salary and he of the second 150 l. and the Postilions have each of them 100 l. Besides which there is a Coach for the Maids of Honour and another for the Waiting-Gentlewomen to each of which belong one Coachman and one Postilion who have every of them 100 l. Salary One Head-Groom in Ordinary 100 l. Two Chair-men 365 l. each Two Farriers 100 l. each One Keeper of the Moveables of the Stable 100 l. Two Taylors one Flock-Bed-Maker one Wheel-wright at 60 l. each One Chirurgeon 220 l. One Barber to trim the Pages 100 l. One Dancing-Master and one Fencing-Master at 200 l. each One Governour of the Pages 300 l. One Almoner in Ordinary and Tutor of the Pages 200 l. One Servant of the Pages 100 l. And lastly One Pay-Master or Cash-Keeper of the Stable whose Salary is 100 l. We have already spoken of the Duke of Chartres THE Present State OF FRANCE PART II. Of the Nobility of France CHAP. I. Of the Nobility in General IN France as in most other Countries not only those which are Princes Peers and Great Lords but all Gentlemen of ancient Descent and that are enobled by the King are reckoned into the Body of the Nobility and there the King often gives Letters of Nobility as they are called whereby he constitutes the person receiving them Noble or makes him a Gentleman without Conferring upon him any particular Title of Honour contrary to the practice used in England It is to be noted too that there neither Arts nor Sciences ennoble neither Lawyers nor Physicians nor Divines being accounted noble or Gentlemen unless they be otherwise so or enjoy some Place or Dignity that gives them the Title of Lord which is only temporary and personal The Chief Priviledges of Nobles or Gentlemen are to be Exempt from Taxes and to enjoy some other immunities and be capable of enjoying Dignities and rising to Honour If they take Church Dignities or addict themselves to the Law they derogate not from their Nobility though they increase it not but if they follow any Trade or Commerce or marry with any Family not Noble they derogate and lose their quality and till of late those that medled with Sea-Affairs were reckoned to derogate likewise but that being found prejudicial to the Improvement of the Power of France by Sea It was Order'd by the present King having concerns in publick Companies such as the East-India Company that studying or practising Sea-Experience should not only not derogate but be encouraged with Priviledges and accordingly appointed publick Schools and Nurseries in several Marine Places with good Endowments wherein a considerable number of the younger Sons of the meaner Nobility might be instructed in Navigation and Maritime Affairs and trained up to make useful Sea-Officers So that now the younger Sons or Cadets of the Gentry are either provided for in the Church with Ecclesiastical Dignities or raise themselves by Military employs by Sea or Land not so many as formerly affecting the civil ones because they are such as are often enjoyed by the Sons of rich Citizens or Farmers of Taxes whom they a little disdain for Companions The Nobility or Gentry in France is the most numerous of any Kingdom of the World they being reckoned above ten thousand able Bodies and generally well educated in all accomplishments that may make them serviceable to their Country and in them consists the Kings chief Force and he is in some respects as absolute over them as over the Peasants for though they pay no Taxes and cannot be legally compelled to take Arms unless upon an Invasion or imminent danger yet it is by Custom thought so disgraceful for any Principals or Heads of greater Families not to attend the King and spend what they have in his Court or Service or for Cadets or younger Brothers not provided for in the Church to follow any thing but the Wars by which only in a manner all Nobility was ever acquired there that the King can never want Souldiers among them It being almost impracticable for a Gentleman any thing considerable to live privately or retired there unless he thrust himself into a Convent CHAP. II. Of Dukes and Peers OF Dukes and of Peers severally and of such as are both Dukes and Peers there are six or seven sorts 1. The Antient Dukes and Peers 2. The Dukes and Peers verified in the Parliament of Paris as both Dukes and Peers 3. Such as are verified in the said Parliament only as Dukes 4. The Dukes or the Dukes and Peers that are verified as such in other Parliaments than that of Paris which is the only true Court of Peers 5. Those who are Dukes and Peers only by Patent under the Great Seal not verified or past yet in any Parliament 6. The Dukes and Peers by Brief as the House of Clermont-Tonnerre Besides which there are some Dukes of Foreign Creations as in the County of Avignon under the Pope and several other Persons who though they be no Princes nor Princesses yet are suffred by his Majesty to enjoy the Honours of the Louvre as to enter into the Louvre in their Coaches and their Ladies have the priviledge of the Low-stool or Tabouret before the Queen without having any Dutchy or Patent for any CHAP. III. Of the antient Peers of France THE Antient Peers were formerly twelve viz. Six Ecclesiastical Peers and six Secular ones The six Ecclesiastical ones are still in being and are these viz. 1. The Archbishop and Duke of Reims and first Peer of France who is at present Charles-Maurice le Teliier Brother to the Marquess of Louvois first Minister of State
their chief Commanders or Generals at Sea All Ships of War are to bear their Admirals Colours and the Admirals own Ship bears a square White Flag upon her Main-Mast and a Lanthorn in his Poop He has a Sovereign Command over the Seas of France especially over all that part of the Ocean and of the Mediterranean near the Coasts of France and over all the Ships of War and Naval Forces The first Admiral that we read of was one Lehery or according to some one Rotland under Charles the Great called by Eginard Praefectus Maris This Office was formerly held only by Commission and the first that possest it by Patent as a standing Office was Enguerrand Sire or Lord of Coucy under Philip the Hardy in 1273. though according to some others it was not made a standing Office till the year 1369 under Charles the Fifth and the first Admiral according to that account was Amaury Vicount of Narbon There were several Admirals belonging to France whilst the Kings of France remained unpossest of many of the Maritime Provinces for there were the Admirals of Normandy Brittany Guienne and Provence the Admiral of Normandy who was since the Re-union called the Admiral of France Commanded from Callis to St. Michaels Mount He of Brittany from St. Michaels Mount to Raz He of Guienne from Raz to Bayonne and he of Provence from Perpignan to the River of Genua About this Admiralty of Provence there arose a great contest in the last Kings time between the Duke of Guise who pretended to that Admiralty and the Cardinal of Richelieu who put an end to the Dispute by prevailing with the King totally to suppress the Office of Admiralty and to Erect instead of it another under the Title of Great Master Chief and Super-Intendant General of the Navigation and Commerce of France which he did by a Declaration in the Month of January 1627. The said Cardinal gave it afterward by his Will and Testament to the Son of the Marshal de Brezé Duke of Fronsac who when he took the accustomed Oath for it in Parliament in the year 1648. reassumed the Title of Admiral but he being killed at the Siege of Orbitello this Office was exercised in the Name of the Queen Regent under the Title of Great Master of the Navigation of France but since that the Title of Admiral has been reannexed to those other newer ones The Admiral of France as having Command over two Seas viz. the Ocean and the Mediterranean bears as a mark of his Dignity two golden Anchors passed Salteir-wise behind his Coat of Arms hanging upon and fastened to two Cables the Vice-Admiral likewise bears the same The Great Admiral has 30000 l. yearly appointment raised out of the duties of Anchorage and other Revenues Next to the Admiral there is likewise a Vice-Admiral of France who is at present the Marshal d' Etrées and his Son in Reversion There are three Lieutenant-Generals of the Naval Forces viz. 1. Abraham du Quêne Marquiss du Bouchet Valgrand under the name of Du Quêne 2. The Marquiss de Preuilly d' Humieres 3. The Chevalier de Tourville And seven Chiefs or Commanders of Squadrons viz. 1. Monsieur Gabaret 2. The Count de Chateaurenaud Great Prior of Brittany of the Order of St. Lizarus 3. The Marquiss d' Amfreville 4. The Chevalier de Sourdis 5. The Chevalier de Bethune 6. M. Villette de Murcé 7. M. Forant who was lately the eldest among the Captains of single Vessels Besides the Marquiss de Seignelay who as one of the four Principal Secretaries of State has the Maritime Affairs under his department there are two Intendant Generals of the Marine Affairs under whom there are two Intendants of the Levant or East who are M. Brodard for the Galliet residing at Marseilles and M. Girardin Sieur de Vauvray residing at Toulon likewise four Intendants for the Western Sea or Ocean viz. 1. M. Arnoux de Muin residing at Rochefort Rochelle and Broüage 2. M. de Champy Desclouzonne residing at Brest in Brittany 3. M. Patoüillet at Dunkirk and 4. M. de Fargis Montmor at Havre de Grace The Secretary General of the Admiralty or Maritime Affairs is M. de la Grange The Treasurers General of the Admiralty are 1. M. Lubert for the Men of War and 2. M. de Bellinzani for the Gallies There are likewise Comptrollers of the Admiralty The Admiral has upon any Vacancies hapning by Death or otherwise the nomination of all Judges Lieutenants general or particular Counsellors Receivers Advocates Proctors Registrers or Recorders Serjeants and other Officers of the Admiralty both at the Supreme Court of Admiralty held at the Marble Table and at the particular ones held in Picardy Normandy and Brittany The King has at present 150 Ships of War and 30 Gallies besides tenders c. The Royal Docks for Building Ships in France are only at Brest Rochefort and Toulon For the better furnishing the Royal Fleet with Almoners or Chaplains the King has established a Community or Seminary of Priests in the Burrow of Folgoet in Brittany CHAP. XX. Of the General of the Gallies THE Kingdom of France being washed with two Seas viz. on one side with the Great Ocean and on the other towards the South with the Mediterranean upon this last are kept the Gallies as a more proper Shipping for that Sea whose Port and Harbour is Marseilles over which there is a Chief called the General of the Gallies The General of the Gallies is sometimes called the Admiral of the Levant or East as says the Sieur de la Popeliniere who has composed a Book particularly of the Admiral of France The present General of the Gallies is Lewis Victor de Rochechoüard de Mortemar Duke de Vivonne Marshal of France Governour of Champain and late Viceroy in Sicily during the Revolutions of Messina He is as such stiled General of the Gallies and Lieutenant-General in the Seas and Naval Armies of the Levant he was sworn General of the Gallies in the Month of December 1669. His Son the Duke of Mortemar Married a Daughter of the late M. Colbert Minister of State has the Reversion of his Fathers Place and in the year 1681. Commanded alone himself the Gallies of France Charles the Ninth by an Order of the 6th of April 1562. Verified the 8th of June 1563. Declared Messire René of Lorrain General of the Gallies as well in the Levant as in the Western Seas making him Chief General of all his Gallies Galiots Fregats Fusts and Brigantins and giving him Command over all Vessels and Ships whether long or round and authorising him to cause due obedience to be given him by all manner of ways and in all places where it should concern the Duty of his Office The Lieutenant-General of the Gallies is the Chevalier de Noailles Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem c. Thus having treated of the Military Officers we come now to the Officers of Justice in the Kings
according to a Declaration and List or Account of them verified in the Court of Aids at Paris Next to the Great or High Chancery of France are those establisht near the Parliaments The Masters of Requests preside in those Chanceries and keep the Seals of them when they are present there The Chancery of Paris is the greatest and antientest of them all It is composed of four Audiencers of four Comptrollers that officiate quarterly and of twelve Referendaries and some other Officers The Function of the Refendaries is to make Report of all Letters to that Master of Requests that keeps the Seal to sign them at the bottom when they find them civil and furnished with all the Clauses required by the Ordinances or to subjoin in the same place the refutata or Confutations of them if they contain any unusual Clauses or be ill digested and drawn up King Francis the First by his Edict of Creation in the Month of February 1522. gave them the Quality or Title of Councellours-Reporters and Referendaries and Henry the Second in the Month of July 1556. granted them Place and Voice in the Presidials in consideration that they were Learned and had been admitted to the practice of the Laws before the Masters of Requests Note That the four Wax-Chafers of the Great Chancery are the same that perform the like Function in the Chancery of Paris The Letters Sealed in the Chancery of Paris are ordinarily executable only within the Limits of the Jurisdiction of the Parliament But yet it has sometimes hapned that when the Chancellour was obliged to follow the King in a long Journey and carry the Great Seal with him that then by vertue of a Declaration from the King to that end the Letters which should have passed the Great Seal were only Sealed in the Chancery of Paris and thence transmitted to and Executed in the other Parliaments of the Kingdom CHAP. XXVII Of the Ecclesiastical Division of France into Archbishopricks and Bishopricks and of its Clergy THE Kings Collates or Presents within his Dominions to 18 Archbishopricks 107 Bishopricks to about 750 Abbies of Men besides those that have been united to other Communities or Benefices and to above 200 Abbies of Nuns and as the Conquests of Majesty increase so the number of Benefices in his nomination must needs proportionably increase too The Archbishopricks and Bishopricks according to their Alphabetical Order are these The 18 Archbishopricks are 1. AIx 2. Alby 3. Ambrun 4. Arles 5. Auch 6. Besançon 7. Bourdeaux 8. Bourges 9. Cambray 10. Lyons 11. Narbon 12. Paris 13. Reims 14. Rouen 15. Sens. 16. Toulouze 17. Tours 18. Vienna The 107 Bishopricks are 1. AGde 2. Agen. 3. Aire 4. Alet 5. Amiens 6. Angiers 7. Angoulême 8. Apt. 9. Arras 10. Auranche 11. Autun 12. Auxerre 13. Bayeux 14. Bayonne 15. Bazas 16. Beauvais 17. Bellay 18. Bethlehem 19. Beziers 20. Boulogne 21. St. Brien 22. Cahors 23. Carcassone 24. Castres 25. Cisteron 26. Chaalons 27. Chartres 28. Clermont 29. Cominges 30. Condom 31. Cornoüaille 32. Conserans 33. Coutance 34. De Dax 35. Digne 36. Dol. 37. Evreux 38. De Helne or Perpignan 39. St. Flour 40. Frejus 41. Gap 42. Geneva 43. Glandeve 44. Grace 45. Grenoble 46. Laitoure 47. Langres 48. Laon. 49. Lavaur 50. Leon. 51. Lescar 52. Limoges 53. Lizieux 54. Lodeve 55. Lombez 56. Luçon 57. Maçon 58. St. Malo 59. Mande 60. Du Mans. 61. Marseilles 62. Meaux 63. Mets. 64. Mire-Poix 65. Montauban 66. Montpellier 67. Nantes 68. Nevers 69. Nice 70. Nimes 71. Noyon 72. Oleron 73. St. Omer 74. Orange 75. Orleans 76. Pamiers 77. St. Papoul 78. St. Paul trois Chateaux or St. Paul 3 Castles 79. Perigueux Perpignan vide Elne 80. Poitiers 81. St. Pol de Lion 82. St. Pons de Tomiers 83. Le Puy 84. Rennes 85. Rieux 86. Riez 87. La Rochelle 88. Rodez 89. Saintes or Yaintes 90. Sars 91. Sarlat 92. Senez 93. Senlis 94. Soissons 95. Strasburg 96. Tarbas 97. Toul 98. Toulon 99. Tournay 100. Treguier 101. Troyes 102. Vabres 103. Valenco Die 104. Vannes 105. Vence 106. Verdun 107. Viviers 108. Vzais 109. Ypres Where Note That Valence and Die is a double Title and the Bishopricks of Geneva and Nice belong to the Duke of Savoy and are only named because part of them lie in the Territories of the King of France Now they follow according to the Order they are commonly placed in 1. And first because Paris is the Capital City of the Kingdom the ordinary Residence of our Kings and of the whole Court the Seat of the first and most August Parliament of the first University of Europe and of so many Famous and Illustrious Men I have thought fit to so many other Prerogatives and Primacies which it has above all other Cities of France to add that of naming it first among the Archbishopricks though it be but of late Creation with its three Suffragans which could not well be separated from it In placing the rest we shall follow the Ancient Division Secundum Notitiam Imperii and the Order of that considerable Book called Gallia Christiana or Description of France since made Christian 1. The Archbishoprick of Paris has three Bishopricks within its Jurisdiction viz. Chartres Meaux and Orleans The present Archbishop is Francis de Harlay Duke and Peer of France Provisour of the Sorbonne c. A Person of noble Extraction Learned Eloquent and very Courteous The Bishop of Chartres is Ferdinand de Neufville Councellour of State in Ordinary c. The present Bishop of Meaux is James Benigne Bossuet late Preceptor or Tutor to the Dauphin Famous for Controversy The Bishop of Orleans is Peter de Cambout de Coislin first Almoner to the King c. There are in this Archbishoprick 39 Abbies of Men besides five united to others and 32 Nunneries 2. The Archbishoprick of Lyons comprehends four Bishopricks viz. Autun Langres Chaalon and Macon The Archbishop is Archbishop and Count and Primate of the Gauls and is at present Camillus de Neufville de Ville-roy Lieutenant Governour for the King in the Country of Lyons c. The Cathedral of that City is very considerable the Canons of it being stiled Counts of Lyons and being obliged for their admission to make proof that they are noble by five Generations both on their Fathers and Mothers side The Bishop of Autun who is by his Dignity perpetual President of he States of Burgundy and Administrator of both the Spiritualties and Temporalties of the Archishoprick of Lyons when the See is vacant c. is Gabriel de Roquette c. The Bishop of Langres who is Bishop and Duke of Langres and one of the ancient Peers of France is at present Lewis Armand de Simianes de Gordes c. The Bishop of Châlons on Saone being both Bishop and Count is Henry Felix de Tassy c. The Bishop of Mâcon is named Michael Cassagnet de Tilladet c. In this Archbishoprick
there are 49 Convents of Men besides four united and sixteen Nunneries besides one united 3. The Archbishoprick of Rouen contains six Bishopricks viz. Those of Bayeux Auranches Evreux Sais Lisieux and Coutance This Archbishop is Primate of Normandie c. and is at present named Rouxel de Medavy de Grancey and is one of the Councellours of State in Ordinary The Bishop of Bayeux is Francis de Nesmond Dr. of Sorbon c. The Bishop of Auranches is Gabriel Philip of Froulay de Tessé c. The Bishop of Evreux is James Potier de Novion The Bishop of Sais is Maturin Savary c. The Bishop of Lisieux being Bishop and Count is named Leonard Govion de Matignon And lastly the Bishop of Coutance is Charles-Francis de Lomenie de Brienne c. In this Archbishoprick there are 66 Convents of Men besides one united and fourteen Nunneries 4. The Archbishoprick of Tours contains eleven Bishopricks The present Archbishop is Michael Amelot c. The other Bishops are 1. The Bishop of Du Mans Lewis de la Vergne Montenar de Tressan c. 2. The Bishop of Anger 's Henry Arnaud c. 3. The Bishop of Rennes John Baptist de Beaumanoi◠de Lavardin c. 4. The Bishop of Nants Giles de Beauvau du Rivau 5. The Bishop of Cornouaille who is both Bishop and Count and is named Francis de Coetlogon 6. The Bishop of Vannes Peter-Lewis Caset de Vautorte 7. The Bishop of St. Pol de Leon who is both Bishop and Count Peter Neboux de la Brouss 8. The Bishop of Treguier being both Bishop and Count whose name is Francis-Ignatius de Bagliou de Saillant formerly a Priest of the Oratory 9. The Bishop of St. Brieu Lewis-Marcellus of Coetlogon 10. The Bishop of St. Malo Sebastian de Guémaduc 11. The Bishop of Dol who is both Bishop and Count Matthew Moreau This Archbishoprick has within its extent 71 Convents of Men and 13 Nunneries among which is the famous Collegiate Abby of St. Martin of Tours of which the Kings of France are Abbots 5. The Archbishoprick of Sens contains four Bishopricks the present Archbishop who is stiled Primate of the Gauls and of Germany is Hardouin Fortin de la Hoguette c. The other Bishops are 1. The Bishop of Troyes Francis Bouthillier de Chavilly Doctor of Sorbon c. 2. The Bishop of Auxerre Andrew Colbert likewise Doctor of Sorbon c. 3. The Bishop of Nevers Edward Vallot c. 4. The Bishop of Bethleem Francis de Bataillet This Bishop has his Seat of Residence in the Town of Clamecy otherwise called Bethleem situated in Nivernois within the extent of the Diocess of Auxerre In this Archbishoprick there are 44 Convents of Men besides two united and 15 Nunneries besides one united 6. Under the Archbishoprick of Treves in Germany are three Bishopricks belonging to France which are 1. Mets of which George Aubusson de la Feuillade Prince of the Holy Empire is Prince and Bishop 2. Of Toul of which James de Fieux Doctor in Divinity of the Colledge of Navarre is Bishop and Count. 3. The Bishoprick of Verdun of which Hippolyte de Bethune is likewise Bishop and Count and Prince of the Holy Empire In the extent of these three Bishopricks there are 42 Convents of Men and 9 Nunneries 6. In the Archbishoprick of Reims there are eight Bishopricks The Archbishop of Reims is Duke of the same and first of the Peers of France that Consecrates and Anoints the Most Christian Kings and is Legate by his Dignity of the Holy Apostolick See and Primate of Gaul Belgick He that now is is named Charles Maurice le Tellier Son to the late Chancellour and Brother to Mr. Louvois The other Bishops are 1. The Bishop of Soissons Peter Daniel Huet Under-Preceptor or Sub-Tutor to the Dauphin 2. The Bishop of Châlons on the Marne who is also Count and Peer of France and is named Lewis Anthony de Noailles 3. The Bishop of Laon who is Bishop and Duke of the same and Peer of France whose name is John d' Etrées 4. The Bishop of Senlis who is Denis Sanguin 5. The Bishop of Beauvais who is Count and Chatelain too of Beauvais c. and is named Toussainr de Fourbin who has been twice Ambassadour in Poland 6. The Bishop of Amiens who is Francis Faure Preacher formerly to the late Queen 7. The Bishop and Count of Noyon and Peer of France is Francis de Clermont de Tonnerre 8. The Bishop of Boulogne is Claudius le Tonnelier de Breteuil In this Archbishoprick there are 118 Convents of Religious Men and 30 Nunneries besides several ruined by the Wars Note That the Prior of St. Remy of Reims in this Diocess is obliged to carry the Holy Viol to the Ceremony of Consecrating or Anointing the Kings of France 8. The Archbishoprick of Cambray includes four Bishopricks The present Archibishop and Duke of Cambray who is likewise Prince of the Empire and Count of Cambresis or the County of Cambray is James Theodore de Brias The other Bishops are 1. The Bishop of Arras who is President by his Dignity of the States of Artois his name is Guy de Sève de Rochechouart 2. The Bishop of Tournay Gilbert de Choiseul du Plessin Prâlin 3. The Bishop of St. Omer Lewis-Alphonsus de Valbelle 4. The Bishop of Ypres James de Liéres There are in this Archbishoprick 48 Convents of Men and 29 Nunneries The Archbishoprick of Besancon in the Franche County has under it but one Suffragan Bishop The present Archbishop is Antony-Peter de Gramant The Suffragan being called the Bishop of Bellay is Peter de Laurens There are in this Archbishoprick 23 Convents of Men and four Nunneries 9. The Archbishoprick of Vienna contains four Bishopricks The present Archbishop is Henry de Villars Prior and Lord of Aispagnac The other Bishops are 1. The Bishop and Count of Geneva John d' Aranton d' Alaix His Residence at present is at Anecy This Bishoprick is in the Gift of the Duke of Savoy In it is the Abby of Hautecombe which is the place where the Dukes of Savoy are Intombed 2. The Bishop and Count of Grenoble who is President by his Dignity of the States of the Dauphinate is Stephen le Camus 3. The Bishop and Count of Viviers c. is Lewis Francis de la Baume de suze 4. The Bishop and Count of the double Bishoprick of Valence and Die is Daniel de Conac In this Archbishoprick there are 23 Convents of Men and eight Nunneries 10. The Archbishoprick of Arles comprehends four Bishopricks The present Archbishop who is stiled Prince and Primate is Adheimar de Monteil de Grignan The other Bishops are 1. The Bishop of Marseilles Charles-Gaspar-William de Vintimille de St. Luc. 2. The Bishop and Count of St. Paul Trois-Chateaux or St. Paul-Three-Castles Lewis Aube de Roquemartin 3. The Bishop and Lord of Toulon Armand-Lewis Bonnin de Chalucet 4. The Bishop of Orange John-James
remain free to his M. C. Majesty over the Lands of his Imperial Majesty and of the Empire by the Ordinary Road called Landrass The Duke of Lorrain is thereby re-established in the possession of Lorrain excepting first the Town of Nancy and its Banlieu or Jurisdiction in lieu of which Town the King of France is to give him the Town and Banlieu of Toul which he warrants him to be of equal extent and value In the second place except four High-ways of the breadth of half a Lorrain League which shall lead from Nancy into Alsatia to Vesoul in the Franche Comté to Mets and to St. Dizier And all the Borroughs Villages Lands and their Dependancies which shall be found within the extent of the said High-ways of half a Leagues breadth with all Rights as well of Superiority and Soveraignty as of Propriety shall belong to his Most Christian Majesty Thirdly The Town and Provostship of Longui and its Dependancies shall remain to his Most Christian Majesty who yields to him in Exchange another Provostship of the same extent and value in one of the three Bishopricks Remarks concerning the Governours of Provinces The Governours and Lieutenants for the King in the Provinces are what the Dukes were formerly and the Governours of Towns what the Earls or Counts were Under every Duke there were twelve Counts and over all the Dukes there was one that was stiled Duke of the Dukes or Duke of France who was the Mayor of the Palace The said Qualities of Dukes and Counts became Hereditary under Hugh Capet who having made himself King every one of the other Great Men would needs make himself Master and Proprietour of the Government of which he was in Possession Hugh Capet to have their good will winked at this Usurpation but yet being not willing on the other side that the Royal Authority should remain always Clouded he assembled all these Dukes and made an Agreement with them by which he left them a lawful Succession to all their respective States but with condition however that for lack of Heirs Male to succeed in a Right Line or when the Possessours of them should happen to be Attainted and Convinced of the Crime of Felony they should return to the Crown They that are well read in History have without doubt remarked the return of all these parcels to their principle by the one or the other of these reasons And because the Quality of Mayor of the Palace or of Count of Paris in which the first was Confounded had served him as it had done to Pepin for a step to arrive to the Throne he supprest that too at the same time for the better securing of the Crown to his Successours The Governours and Lieutenants for the King in the Provinces have under them the Governours of Towns as the Dukes had the Counts but with this difference that the number of Governours of Towns that are under each Governour of a Province is not determined one Province having more Towns and another fewer The Power of the Governours and Lieutenants-General of Provinces is altogether like that of the ancient Dukes and Counts which is to keep in the Kings Obeysance the Provinces and Places given them in Custody to maintain them in Peace and Tranquility to have Power or Command over their Arms to defend them against Enemies and against Seditious attempts to keep the places well fortified and provided with what is needful and assist the Execution of Justice every one in his respective Government But at the beginning when these Governours were first established there were none but only in the Frontier Towns but because in the time of the Civil Wars all the Provinces became Frontier there was a necessity of placing Governours not only in the Provinces but in all the Towns Their Commissions are verified in the Parliaments of their respective Provinces in which the Governours of the same Provinces have place ordinarily next after the Chief Presidents They are only simple Commissions whose Continuation depends only of the Kings sole Pleasure though some years past there were crept in some abuses in this affair and the Governours were become as it were Hereditary Note That all the Lieutenants-General of Provinces and Lieutenants of particular Towns and Places are stiled Lieutenants for the King because they are put in by the King and have no dependance on the Chief Governour under whose Command they are CHAP. XXIX Of France as divided into Parliaments Courts judging without Appeal and other Courts of Justice 1. Of the Administration of Justice and the first Institution of Parliaments JUstice was formerly administred by the Kings themselves who render'd it in Person to their People but Affairs multiplying every day more and more the Kings were obliged to ease themselves of that Burden reserving to themselves only the Cognisance of Affairs of State And for the Administration of Ordinary Justice he established a certain Council which they called a Parliament which judged and decided all Causes and Affairs both Civil and Criminal between Man and Man and that without Appeal in which were present all the Peers of France both Ecclesiastical and Secular This Parliament followed the King in all his Voyages and consequently for that reason was in those times Ambulatory It was first Instituted by Pepin in the year 757 and was doubtless the same thing that the Privy-Council is now But at length the Kings parted with this Council in favour of their people And Philip the Fair was the first that made the Parliament Sedentary and gave them a part of his Palace at Paris to be the Seat of that August Senate which by the Integrity of its Decrees and Sentences has acquired so great a Reputation among all Nations that Popes Emperours Kings and Foreign Princes have voluntarily submitted their differences to their Judgments as may be seen by several Examples in History and among others by that of the Emperour Frederick with Pope Innocent the Fourth and of the King of Castile with the King of Portugal King Philip the Fair following the Example of his Predecessours Ordained there should be only two Sessions of the Parliament viz. At the Feasts of Easter and All-Saints and distinguisht them into two Chambers of which one because it judged of the most important matters was called the Grand Vault or Grand Chamber and the other the Chamber of Inquests or Inquiries CHAP. XXX Of the Institution of all the Parliaments of France and of the extent of their Jurisdiction with the present number of the Chief Presidents and other Counsellours THere are in France and its Dominions 11 Parliaments viz. 1. Paris 2. Toulouze 3. Roüen 4. Grenoble 5. Bourdeaux 6. Dijon 7. Aix 8. Rennes now Vannes 9. Pau. 10. Mets. 11. Besançon 1. The Parliament of Paris as we have already told you was Instituted by Pepin in the year 757 and made Sedentary at Paris by Philip the Fair in 1302. When there was but one Parliament People came thither
where they reside The first Function or Duty enjoined by their Patent is to promote the Embellishment and Purity of the French Tongue which was the chief design of the late Cardinal Richlieu the first Protector of their Society and because in the time of his Ministry by reason of the great Sway and Authority he bore every Body strove to please him many persons of great Quality would needs be admitted of this his new Erected Society The late Chancellour M. Seguier was placed over them as their Director who after the Cardinals Death became their Protector Since whose Decease his present Majesty has been pleased to do them the Honour to be their Protector himself and has given them leave to Assemble in one of the Halls of the Louvre or of his Palace in Paris The number of the Members of this Society is limited to forty The Names of the present Members that are most to be remarked are those M. John Douiat Dean of the Doctors Regenes of Law who is Dean of the Academy Francis Tallement Chief Almoner to the Dutchess of Orleans Fraâ—â—is Charpentier Advocate in Parliament Armand de Gambout Duke de Coislin Peer of France These four as eldest of the Society have the priviledge of Committimus under the Great Seal The others to be noted are Paul Pellisson Fontanier Master of Requests c. Philip de Chaumont formerly Bishop of Dax c. The Cardinal d' Etrées Roger de Rabutia Count de Bussy Jaints Têtu Abbot of Bellival Paul Tallement Prior of St. Albin Francis Seraphim Reguier des Marais Secretary to the Academy Peter Cureau de la Chambre Curate of St. Bartholomews in Paris The Archbishop of Paris The Bishop of Meaux Esprit Flechier Bishop of Lavaur John Racine Treasurer of France in the Generality of Moulins John Galois Abbot of St. Martin des Cores Lewis de Courcillon de Dangtau Abbot of Fountain-Daniel c. and Chamberlain to the Pope Nichelas Boileau Author of the Satyrs Thomas Corneille Son of the famous Peter Corneille The most remarkable persons of this Academy that have signalized themselves by their works and are deceased since the Institution of this Society were M. Maynard M. Malleville M. Voiture M. Boissat M. Scudery Boilean M. des Marêts The Famous Peter Corneille M. Vaugelas M. Balzac M. Serizay M. St. Amand. M. d' Ablancourt Hardouin de Perefixe late Archbishop of Paris M. de Gomberville M. de Mezeray We expect daily from this Illustrious Society a French Grammar and Dictionary by which people may be directed how to speak and write French correctly Queen Christine of Suedeland honoured this Society with a visit to which she was Conducted by the late Chancellour Seguier on Monday the 11th of March 1658. They performed before her Majesty in their ordinary places their usual Exercises and Conferences with which her Majesty signified her self highly satisfied On the 8th of June 1669. there was a Royal Academy establisht at Arles composed of twenty Gentlemen Natives and Inhabitants of the same City with the like Priviledges as have those of Paris of which the Duke of St. Aignan is Protector The Patents for that purpose were verified the same day in the Parliament of Provence since which in the year 1677. their number was augmented to twenty One of these named M. de Guion is writing the History of the present King in Latin There is also an Academy Royal at Soissons established there in the Month of June 1675. of which the Cardinal d' Etrées is Protector Another at Ville-Franche in Beaujolois of which the Archbishop of Lyons is Protector And another at Nîmes which was opened the 8th of September 1682. CHAP. LVI Of Dignities without the Kingdom The Ambassadors of France in Foreign Countries are 1. AT Rome the Marquiss de Lavardin 2. In Spain the Marquiss de Feuquieres Counsellour of State in Ordinary Ambassador Extraordinary 3. In England M. Barillon 4. In Portugal M. Amelot de Gournay Ambassador Extraordinary 5. In Denmark the Count de Chiverny 6. In Holland the Count d' Avaux 7. In Savoy the Marquiss d' Arcy Ambassador 8. At Venice M. de la Haye Ventelet formerly Ambassador in Turky 9. In Suisserland M. Tambonneau 10. At Constantinople M. Girardin Note That the Ambassadors sent to Rome the Empire Spain and England are usually chosen out of the Great Lords of the Court and those sent to Venice Holland and Suisserland are generally Gown-men or Lawyers the Ambassador of Savoy is sometimes of one sort and sometimes of the other and so is he of Constantinople but if he be a Gown-man he must on that occasion wear a Sword The Residents Envoys or Agents which are sent to the Princes and Republicks of Germany and Italy are likewise sometimes of one sort and sometimes of the other according to occasion 11. The Marquiss of Bethune is now Ambassador Extraordinary to the King of Poland The Envoys Residents and other Ministers of lesser Character abroad are 1. At Rome the Abbot d' Hervault Auditor of the Rota for France 2. At the Emperours Court M. de la Vauguyon Envoy Extraordinary 3. At the Diet of Ratisbonne and other Assemblies of the Empire the Count de Crecy is Plenipotentiary 4. At the Elector of Mayence or Ments's Court M. Fourcher Envoy Extraordinary 5. With the Elector of Cologne M. de Gravel is Envoy Extraordinary 6. In Bavaria the Envoy Extraordinary is M ....... 7. To the Elector Palatin the Envoy Extraordinary is the Abbot Morell Counsellour in the Parliament 8. To the Elector of Saxony the Envoy Extraordinary or Resident is M ...... 9. To the Elector of Brandenburg the Envoy Extraordinary is the Count de Rebenac-Feuquieres 10. To the Duke of Zell and Princes of the House of Brunswick and Lunenburg the Marquiss de Bourgeauville is Envoy Extraordinary 11. To the Duke of Wirtemberg and other German Princes within the Circles of Suabia and Franconia M. de Juvigny is Envoy Extraordinary 12. To the Landgravesse of Hesse and Chapter of Munster M ....... 13. At Siege the Resident is M. de la Renaudiere 14. At Hamborough the Abbot Bidal 15. At Geneva M. du Pré 16. The Envoy Extraordinary to the Duke of Mantua is the Sieur de la Guilletrie 17. At Genoa the Envoy Extraordinary is M. de Sève 18. At Florence the Abbot de Strozzi The Agents and Consuls At Rome the French Agent is the Abbot Beneditti There are several other Agents and Consuls abroad in places of Traffick as in Aleppo Smirna Grand Cairo c. Having spoken of the French Ambassadors abroad it will not be amiss to add the Ambassadors of other Princes and States in that Court The Foreign Ambassadors and Ministers then at present in the Court of France are 1. From Rome M. Ranucci Nuntio Extraordinary from the Pope 2. From Venice M. Girolamo Venier Ambassador 3. From Savoy the Marquiss de Ferrero c. Ambassador 4. From the States General of Holland M.