at present that Custom is alter'd It ought to be observ'd that the famous Erasmus of Roterdam did for some time dwell in this Colledge Next to this Quarter we ought to go into the Rüe Saint Jacques which Street begins at the Little Châtelet at the end of the Petit Pont. The Little CHATELET THis is a kind of antient Fortress composed of a great mass of Buildings open in the middle and served formerly as one of the Town-Gates as did also the great Châtelet this was when Paris had no greater Extent than the Isle of the Palais This Building was repair'd by King Robert under whom France enjoy'd a Peace of two and forty years during which that good Prince had convenient time to amass a very great Treasure which he deposited in this Fortress notwithstanding the great Bounties which he bestowed upon Churches and his great Charities with which he relieved the Poor Some Antiquaries will not allow this place to be so Antient but say that it was Built by Aubriot Provost of Paris the same person who Built the Bastille and that he did it to restrain the Insolences of the Scholars of the University who often used to make Invasions on the Townsmen and thereby occasioned very great Disorders THE RUE SAINT JACQUES THis Street is almost all inhabited by Booksellers by reason of the Neighbouring University The first thing of Note that you observe here is The Church of Saint Severin which is very Antient and one may think so in regard the Patron himself was the Founder Who lived in the Reign of Clovis and was by him invited out of Savoy where he was at that time a Hermite to come into France and cure him of a grievous Fever with which that King was afflicted and was at last cured through the Prayers of this Holy Man During his abode at Paris he dwelt in this place at that time very solitary where there had been already built a small Chappel in a Wood Dedicated to St. Clement Having remain'd here some time he resolved to return to his former dwelling but as he past by Château-Landon a small Village in Gatinois he met with two Priests who dwelt there in the reputation of Sanctity he stopt his Journey and after two years abode with them he dyed there Childebert caused a Church to be built in the same place which is at present an Abby of St. Augustine's Order of the Congregation of St. Geneviéve It is not well known when this parish-Parish-Church was built but according to Appearance it is not above 200. years old There is nothing to be seen in it of Curiosity it being but an old Gothick Building not very regular and very dark in some places The great Altar was finisht but a while ago it is composed of eight small Marble Pillars disposed in form of a Semi-Circle which support a Dome cut in half as it were with some Ornaments of Brass gilt which shew very handsomly it is the Workmanship of Monsieur le Brun. In the Church-Yard the side next the Church is raised a Tomb upon which in a demicumbent Posture is the Figure of a Young Lord of East-Friseland who dyed here being a Scholar of this University His Name was d'Embda The Tomb was built by his Mother's Order a Lady extraordinarily afflicted at his Death he being her only Son and the Presumptive Heir of Friseland The two Epitaphs on his Monument are as follow Nobilitate generis Comitum Orientalis Phrisiae animi corporisque doâ—ibus praeclaro D. Ennoni de Embda Civitatis Embdensis Praeposito ac electo Satrapae propter certam hujus corporis resurrecturi spem ac in amoris sinceri testimonium avia materque pia unico suo filio qui bic ex studiorum â—ursu patriae ac amicis omnibus magno cum luctu anno aetatis suae XXIII morte praereptus est hoc monumentum statuerunt ANNO DOMINI 1545. 18 JULII To Enno d'Embda of the Noble Family of the Earls of East-â—riseland and of a beautiful Mind and Body Provost of the City of Embden and Chief Magistrate elect in sure hope of the Resurrection of the Body and in Testimony of their sincere Love his Grand-Mother and Mother to their only Son who was here snatch'd by Death from his Studies to the great Grief of his Country and Friends in the XXIII Year of his Age erected this Monument In the Year of our LORD 1545. 18. of July On the other side of the Tomb are these Verses Quid fuerint nostra haec recubans commonstrat imago Quid sim quam teneo putrida calva docet Peccati hanc poenam nobis ingenuere parentes Cujus sed Christus solvere vincela venit Hunc miht viventi spes qui fuit morienti Aeternam corpus quale habet ille dabit Peccati fidei Christique hinc perspice vires Vt te mortisices vivisicetque Deus What once I was this Image doth disclose And what I am the Carcase under shews This said reward of Sin our Parents gave But our deliverance from Christ we have He 's now my Hope when dead as when alive A Body Glorious like his own he 'll give Of Sin Faith Christ this Tomb the force displays Who mortifies himself him God will raise On the other side of the Rüe Saint Jacques as you enter into the Rüe Galande which Street butts upon the former there stands a very antient Church named Saint Julien le Pauvre which doubtless was formerly an Hospital Gregory of Tours in the ninth Book and the ninth Chapter of his Works mentions it and tells us That coming to Paris on certain private affairs he Lodged in this place at such time as they had taken a Notorious Cheat who pretended he had brought from Spain certain precious Reliques among others some of St. Vincent and St. Felix with which no doubt he would have abused the Credulity of the Parisians But when his pretended Reliques came to be examined they found in his Bag nothing but the Roots of divers Plants the Teeth of Moles the Bones of Mice with the Fat and Claws of Bears Which things being apprehended to serve only for some Magical use or other they were all thrown into the River The Cheat himself was committed close Prisoner and put in Chains according to the Custom of those times This happen'd in the Reign of Chilperic who was unhappily slain just entering into his Palace at Chelles as he return'd from Hunting about the Year Five hundred Eighty four A little further on in the Rüe Saint Jacques is The Church of Saint Yves built in the year 1347. at the Charge and Care of a â—amous Confraternity of Bretons at that time residing at Paris and who caused Divine Service to be there Celebrated daily by certain Ecclesiasticks whom they hired On the side of this Chappel lyes The Rüe des Noïers which hath been of late enlarged and thereby render'd much more commodious than formerly The MATHURINS THE Convent of these
Parisiensis referuntur in festo Assumptionis B. Mariae Virginis in 12. 1662. Traditio antiqua Ecclesiarum Franciae seu totius Imperii Occidentalis quae in ipsius Martyrologio ad festum Assumptionis B Mariae Virginis referuntur Vindicata 1672. There are also some other Books ascribed to him Entituled Recüeil de Maximes veritables importantes pour l'institution du Roi. Codicille d'Or ou petit Recüeil tirè de l'Instution du Prince Chrâ—tien composé par Erasme mis en Francois sous le Roi Francois I. a present pour la deuxiéme fois aves d'autres petites pieces 1665. in 12. Traitè de la restitution des Grands precedé d'unâ— Lettre touchant quelques points de la Morale Chrètienne 1665. in 12. De Reformandis horis Canonicis ritâ— constituendis Clericorum muneribus Consultatio 1643. in 12. This last mention'd Book is a most curious piece He hath also compiled together the Works of Monsieur Guy Coquille containing many Curious Tracts relating to the Liberties of the Gallican Church in two Volumes in â—olio He had a numerous Library but gave it away to the Chapter about two years since on Condition that it be publick and that all sorts of People may have liberty to come and study in it freely It is at present in a house in the Cloifter behind the Draw-wells on that side next the Church and we may e're long see it considerably augmented some other of the Canons having promised to add their â—ooks to it It ought to be observed that the Canons of this Church rise at midnight to go to Matines which they still say at that hour according to the ancient usage of the Church There are some antient Men among these hanons who for 30. or 40. Years together have not omitted one single time and this is almost the only Church in the Kingdom that hath Religiously continued this pious Custom tho' so painful and troublesom especially in Winter The Canons places are of no great Revenue yet they are much esteem'd because they are very honourable On Festival days you may see here very rich Ornaments Their Silver Vessels or Altar Plate is of the best Workmanship It consists of six great Candlesticks and a Cross made by Monsieur Baslin Over the Copper Pillars behind the great Altar is the Shrine of St. Marcel one of the first Bishops of Paris It is of Silver gilt adorn'd with precious Stones and Enamel of a delicate Colour On Whit-sunday they expose here a Suit of Ornaments of Crimson Sattin Embroidered with Pearls some of which are very large This was the gift of Queen Isabel of Bavaria Wife of Charles VI. Which Present she made in order to obtain of God her Husbands Cure being afflicted with a troublesom Distemper The fair Suit of Tapistry which they display here on the great Festivals representing the Life of the Holy Virgin is the gift of M. le Masle Prior of Roches Chanter of this Church and Secretary to the Cardinal de Richelieu the same who gave his Library to the Sorboune The Statue which we see on a Pillar on the left hand of the great Altar represents Philip Augustus whose Wife is interred here in the Quire as is also a Son of Lewis the Gross who refused to be Bishop of this Church because he would not by his own promotion hinder that of the famous Peter Lombard who was chosen in his stead The Tomb of Copper raised about one Foot from the Ground near the Quire Door belongs to a Bishop of Paris named Odo de Sulli in whose Pontificate this Church was finish'd he lived in the Reign of Philip Augustus and died in the year 1208. In the Chapels behind the Quire there are more Tombs the most considerable of which are those of the House of Gondi originally of Italy who came into France with Catharine de Medicis the Cardinal de Retz who died about 3. years since Abbot of St. Denis and had been Arch-Bishop of Paris was the second Cardinal of this Family The Chapel of the Virgin which is on one side of the Door that leads into the Quire is adorn'd with many Silver Lamps and abundance of other curious Offerings that have been made here Some years ago they placed before the great Altar that huge Lamp of Silver given by the late Queen-Mother which weighs 120. Marks a Mark is 8 Ounces and is six Foot in Diameter This Chapel of the Virgin has been sometimes called the Sluggards Chapel because of the very late Masses which were said here for such as lay long a bed It was the only place in Paris that enjoyed this priviledge contrary to the Custom of the past Ages when it was forbid to say Mass after 10. a Clock Over against this is the Statue of Philip de Valois on Horseback Armed and Caparison'd as the fashion was in his time He is represented in such manner as when he came into this Church to return his Thanks for a Battel gain'd over the Flemings near Cassel a Battle so Bloody that he saw 22000. of his Enemies dead upon the place Near this is a great Picture representing Lewiâ— XIII in his Royal Robes kneeling at the Feet of Christ taken down from the Cross it is the Vow of that King made in a dangerous fit of Sickness I shall say nothing of the several Chapels round the Nave all well Wainscotted and Painted nor of the Galleries over the sides capable of holding a vast number of People for this would be to engage too far into particulars I shall only say that Paulus Aemilius that famous Historian is interr'd in this Church on the North side but the precise place is not known However you might have read this Epitaph not long since PAULUS AEMILIUS VERONENSIS hujus Ecclesiae Canonicus qui praeter eximiam Vitae sanctitatem quantâ quoque Doctrinâ praestiterit judex atque testis erit Historia de rebus â—estis Francorum posteris ab eodem edita OBIIT A. P. 152â— DIE 5. MENSIS MAII Paulus Aemilius of Verona Canon of this Church of whose great Learning besides his extraordinary Sanctity his History of France will be a sufficient testimony to Posterity He died in the Year 1526. the 5. of May. In the Sacriâ—ty you may see an excellent Bust of Cardinal de Richelieu made by Cavalier Bernin which the Dutchess of Aiguillon gave to this Church by her Testament On the South side of this Church stands the Archiepiscopal Palace on the bank of the River Seine The House makes no very handsom show on the outside but is within very commodious and neat Here is very handsom Furniture and a Cabinet of choice Books The Garden is but little and consists only of one or two Alleys along the River Behind the Church of Nostre-Dame stands another little one very ancient call'd St. Denis du Pas because the first Torment that they inflicted upon that Saint was in this place where they put him into a hot Oven
Fathers stands a little higher in the other side of the Street St. Lewis was their â—ounder and they are of the Holy Trinity of the Redemption of Captives Their principal Institution is to go into Barbary and there ransom Christian Slaves out of the Hands of the Infidels and procure their Liberty From time to time they make these Voyages assisted by the Contributions of pious People who supply those great Expences which they cannot avoid It is not long since they brought over a great number which we saw here with much Edification Their Church is very lightsom though it is built after the Modern way It was built in the form we now see it by the means of Robert Gaguin Minister and General of the whole Order who was an Illustrious Person in his time and hath Composed divers Books among others The History of Lewis XII However some think that this Church was begun before his time and that he only finisht it He lies interr'd in the middle of the Quire Formerly you might have read his Epitaph there but when the Church was raised it was removed from that place It is this Illustris Gallo nituit qui splendor in orbe Hic sua Robertus membra Gaguinus habet Si tanto non saeva viro Libitina pepercit Quid speret docti caetera turba chori ANNO A NATALI CHRISTI MILLESIMO QUINGENTESIMO PRIMO VIGESIMA SECUNDA MAII Here Robert Gaguin now Entomb'd doth lye Who shin'd a glorious Light i' th' Gallic Sky If Death so great a Scholar would not spare How obnoxious then Inferiour Learners are In the year from the Birth of Christ One thousand five hundred and one the Twenty second of May. In the Cloister there are also some Tombs among others that of Sacro-Bosco a very famous Mathematician This is his Epitaph De Sacro-Bosco qui compotista Johannes Tempora discrevit jacet hic à tempore rapius Tempore qui sequeris memor esto quod morieris Si miseres plora miserans pro me precor ora Here Sacro-bosco the Accomptant lies Who Time divided him did Time surprize Thou who com'st after shortly dead must be If thou hast Pity Weep and Pray for me Near this is another Epitaph of a Famous Lawyer who was the Master of Papirius Masson CUJACI Balduinus hic jacet hoc tecum reputa vale Mortuis vobis Jurisprudentiam corriptt gravis sopor Franciscus Bâ—lduinus Jurisconsultus obiit Anno aetatis suae 53. 9. Kalend. Novemb. Anno à partu Virginis 1573. PAPIRIUS MASSONIUS Jurisconsultus Balduini Auditor tumulum posuit Here Baldwin lies think on it and farewel E're since a drowsiness on Law doth dwell Francis Baldwin Lawyer dyed in the 53 Year of his Age the Ninth of the Calends of November in the Year from the Birth of our Saviour 1573. Papirius Masson of the same Faculty the Scholar of Baldwin erected this Tomb. Lastly here is the Tomb of the two Scholars named Leger Moussel and Oliver Bourgeois who were hang'd at Montfaulcon in the Year 1408 on the 17th of May by Sentence of the Provost of Paris without regard to the Priviledges of the University who afterwards demanded that famous Satisfaction which we have already spoken off in the 4th Folio of this Second Part. Of late they have made many Considerable Decorations in this Church The great Altar is adorn'd with Pillars of a kind of reddish Marble very rare The little Tabernacle upon that Altar is also very Beautiful So are the two lesser Altars on each side of the great one adorn'd with Pillars very well wrought The Quire of this Church is separated from the Nave by a kind of Balustrade or rather by six Ionick Pillars of Marble supporting a Cornish on which there are several little Figures of Angels very well designed The rest of the Church is Wainscoted with Joyners Work full of Sculpture with a great number of Grenades which are the Arms of the present General of the Order who hath been at the Expence of all these new Reparations The University assemble in the Chapter-House of this Convent when they make their Processions which usually happens every three Months at which the Rector is constantly present He is also obliged to give a Summ of Money to all those that assist at the Ceremony These Processions ought to be seen and observed by Strangers and are well worth their Curiosity the Show being very numerous and disposed in excellent Order The four Faculties are obliged to appear there in the proper and peculiar Habits belonging to them The Money which the Rector disburses on this occasion arises out of the Revenues of the University which amount to the Summ of Fifty thousand Franks arising out of the Messageries or Carriage of Goods between certain Towns of this Kingdom and also from several Houses Situated in divers places of Paris Formerly they possest much greater Revenues but they have been lost by the negligence of those who of late Years have had the Administration of their affairs From hence you pass before The Church of Saint Benoit supposed to be Founded by St. Denis who Dedicated it to the Holy Trinity if so none can doubt it to be of very great Antiquity It is possest by Canons Secular who are obliged on the great Feasts to accompany the Canons of Nostre-Dame when they make their grand Processions The Building or Structure of this Church is nothing Beautiful as being carried up at several times and by pieces The Nave was built in the Reign of Francis the First and four years since the Quire was Rebuilt anew very handsomly The inside is embellisht with Corinthian Pilasters which support a Cornish of a very good Gust This Church is very lightsome and has not now the defect which it sometimes had which was that the great Altar was contrived on the West side since when it was new built in the last Age they quite changed that Disposition which occasion'd that it has been call'd St. Benoist le bien tourné or St. Bennet's the well contrived For in those days they were very exact in contriving the Churches East and West even to a kind of Scruple On the other side of the Street St. Jacques over against the hinder part of the Quire of this Church is a small open-place or Court at the Entrance into which stands a Fountain which bears its name The place is called La Terre de Cambray from the Colledge of that Name there Situated You have there also The Colledge Royal whose original Founder was Francis the First the Father and Restorer of Learning in France 'T was he that instituted most of the Lectures in Law and Physick in this University and invited hither the ablest Men he could find to teach here the Mathematicks Philosophy and the Greek Latin Syriack and Hebrew Tongues He intended to have raised here a great Building but his design being never executed because of his great Expences in the Wars which he had on all the
things appear not so well as they might do elsewhere Going still forward you pass before The Parish Church of St. James from which all this Quarter takes its name It hath been repair'd in such manner as we now see it by the late Dutchess of Longueville Sister of Monsieur the Prince who was one of the most pious and Charitable Princesses of this Age. The Portal is of the Dorick Order very well perform'd and had that Virtuous Princess lived she had doubtless given wherewithal to finish the Work But she dyed about four years ago in the Convent of Carmelite Nuns to the regret of abundance of poor People who subsisted by her Almes The Seminary of St. Magloire is near the last mentioned place This was formerly an Abby of St. Bennet's Order which was first Founded in the same place where at present stands St. Bartholomew's Church near the Pallace But those good Religious Men being troubled with the noise and Clutter of that place changed their habitation in the Year 1138. and came to dwell here which was at that time a good way out of the Town where there was already a Chapel built and dedicated to St. George After that in the Year 1549. The Monks of St. Bennet did altogether quit this House and transfer'd themselves to other Houses of the same Order the Revenue of this being given to the Arch-Bishop of Paris And in the Room of the Monks they placed here certain Penitent Nuns but they continued not long In fine the Priests of the Oratory were introduced here in the beginning of this present Age whose Institution is to instruct the Young Ecclesiasticks in the Functions of their Ministry Further in this Street are the Vrsuline Nuns whose Church is but small yet is their Altar of a very handsom design and adorn'd with Pillars of black Marble These Nuns teach freely young Girles not only to Read and Write but also several sorts of Works proper for them which is of great advantage to the publick They were first Founded here in the Year 16â—7 by Mademoisel de Saint Beuve a Lady of extraordinary Piety and Queen Anne of Austria laid the first Stone of their Church in the Year 1620. June 22. The Feüillantines are on the same side of the way they are Nuns of St. Bernard's Order reform'd by the blessed John de la Barriere and were first established in Paris 1622. through the Sollicitation of Queen Anne of Austria Their Church hath been some Years ago rebuilt anew with considerable Expence It is very lightsom and the Portal is not ill contriv'd It was designed by the Sieur Merot One of their Benefactresses hath contributed largely to the Charges Over the great Altar is a very good Copy from Raphael of the Holy Family the original of which is in the King's Cabinet The Grate of their Quire is adorn'd with Copper gilt Nor far from thence are the English Benedictines who have also built a new Church which is really something of the least but in recompence of that it is very well adorn'd It is set off with Pilasters and the Altar is accompany'd with Pillars and Figures which shew very handsomly the Wainscot Work of the Stalls for the Monks is very pretty and the little Chapel of the Holy Virgin which stands over against the Door is very neat The Religious who inhabit this House are originally English and are come for refuge into France on the account of Religion The late Queen-Mother gave them great Alms as did also many other persons of Piety and some English There is a Person of Quality inter'd with them who hath been a Benefactor as may be seen by his Epitaph On the other side of the way are The Carmelite Nuns THis was sometimes call'd Nostre-Dame des Champs The Church belonging to these Nuns is one of the oldest in Paris most Antiquaries believe it to be one of those which St. Denis Founded Some modern Authors write that it was formerly a Temple of the Goddess Ceres or else of Mars but for this opinion they have no very good Foundation For we find nothing in the antient Historians to warrant such a Conjecture It is much more certain that it appertain'd a long time to the Order of St. Bennet and that it was a Priory depending on the great Abby of Marmoutier near the City of Tours Whose antient Title to this place is still in being and the Bishop of Orleans who is Abbot there receives from hence Four or Five thousand Livres per annum In the Year 1604. were placed here certain Carmelite Nuns of St. Teresa's reform whom the Cardinal de Berulla fetch'd himself out of Spain at such time when this Reform began to be so famous in Christendom for its great austerity This House was the first in all the Kingdom that took the Rule of St. Teresa and from hence it is that all the other Convents of Paris and in the other parts of France took their original At present this Nunnery is very numerous and there are in it many persons of the greatest Quality who quitting the World come to end their days here Their Church is one of the fairest and most magnificent that can be seen the main Body of the Building is in truth very antient but the modern Ornaments within it make sufficient amends for that As you go in you may observe that it is all painted in imitation of black Marble vein'd with White and that the Balustrades or Partitions of the Chapels are of a Wainscot extraordinary finely gilt But the most curious things of all are the great Pictures placed under every Window in Frames richly Carved and gilt There are six of these Pictures on each side each representing some principal Passage of the New Testament They are the Work of the famousest Painters of this Age. The First on the left hand as you enter representing the Miracle of the Five Loaves was done by Stella The Second represents the Feast at the House of Simon the Leper where the Magdalen perfum'd our Lord's Feet and this was done by Monsieur le Brun. The Third representing the triumphal entry of our Lord into Jerusalem is the Work of de la Hire The Fourth is the Story of the Samaritan Woman and is also done by Stella the Colours and the Drapery of this Picture is excellent The Fifth is Monsieur Brun's and the Sixth representing the Transfiguration is Hire's Those on the other side were all done by Champaign and that able Master never made any better Pieces than these as one may easily observe The Altar of this Church stands very high and is all of Marble as well the body of the Work as the Pillars which are of the Corinthian Order their Capitals of Brass gilt The Tabernacle is all of Silver and represents the Ark of the Covenant on the forepart of which there is a great Bas-relief very well Carved On Feast Days this Altar is adorn'd with Vases Candlesticks and divers things of
big and so high that it may be easily discover'd a great way off After you have seen Val de Grace you ought next to go to The Convent of the Capuchins behind which there lies a very great enclosed piece of Ground which extends a great way into the Fields and serves in Summer for a very delightsom Walk their Cloister is but small according to the manner of building used by those good Friers Within it on the Walls they have set up several Inscriptions in French Verse to excite the Devotion of such as walk there In the Street over against the Capuchins going into the Rue d'Enfer stands The Convent of the Bernardin-Nuns according to the Reform of Port Royal. Their Church is very neat it was designed by the Steur le Pautre tho' it be but small yet it hath some Beauties which are not found in greater The late Queen-Mother brought these Nuns from the famous Abby of Port Royal des Champs near Versailles in the Year 1625 in which place they were very numerous and of great Reputation and placed them here this House being then called the Hôtel de Clagni They have in this Church a great Devotion by reason of one of the Holy thorns of our Lords Crown in favour of which some great Miracles have been done Their Altar-piece representing the last Supper was painted by Monsieur Champagne They have also here an antique Amphora or Waterpot which as some pretend was one of those which were made use of at the Marriage of Cana. There remains nothing more that is remarkable in this Faux-bourg but The Observatory ROYAL THE King who takes no less care to make the Arts flourish than to extend the Limits of his Kingdom caused this Structure to be erected in the Year 1667. for the Habitation of Mathematicians It consists of a great Body of Stone-work two Stories high the Windows of which are round at the top and about fourteen Toises high a Toise is Six Foot The forepart of the Building is made with Towers Eight Angular of the same height with a great Esplanade in manner of a Tarrass with fronts about the whole Building The Tower on the East side is open at the top and without any Roof that so one may see the better from the bottom Between these two Towers are several great Rooms which are not yet furnisht with such things as are to be there But that which is most remarkable in this Building is that there is not used about it either Iron or Wood and yet the Roof of it is extreamly solid The Stair-case is the finest that can be imagined it is all of Stone laid after a way extraordinary hardy and bold from the bottom to the top and the Iron Rail that winds the whole length of these Stairs is very well wrought It is 156 Steps high and leads to the Tarrass In regard this Building consists of several stories it hath several vaulted Roofs one over the other the uppermost of which consists of an Arch of a large extent flat on the outside and paved with Hint-stones cut exactly and bound together with Cement that the Rain may not penetrate and damnifie the Vaults beneath The Curious may if they please go down into the Caves or Grotto's which are extream deep since the Stair-case that leads down contains One hundred threescore and eleven Steps in the middle of which they have contrived a void hollow space in manner of a Well which pierces through all the Rooms and extends up to the top of the Tarrass so that through this hole you may see the light to the very bottom of the Cave It is said that this was made on purpose to see the Stars at Noon-day But it seems it fails of effect for no body has yet seen them tho' it hath been often endeavour'd This place which they call le Puits the Well contains 28 Toises 56 yards from the bottom of it to the vent at the top In the several Apartments especially in those belonging to M. Cassini are several curious Mathematical Instruments as Globes Pendulums and chiefly Glasses of very great Dimensions with which these Learned Men observe the course of the Stars There are only Four Mathematicians who lodge in the Observatory part of those who compose the Academy of Sciences established at the King's Cabinet as we have formerly noted and they are M. Cassini originally an Italian and formerly one of the great Dukes Academy at Florence where he had attain'd great Reputation He takes here a great deal of pains in Astronomy and hath made many discoveries in that Art for which the King gives him a considerable Pension M. de la Hire M. Couplet who teach the Mathematicks to the Pages belong-to the great Stable the Deceased M. the Abbot Picard was one of those but his place is not yet supply'd and M. Hugens a Hollander hath here also an Apartment tho' he doth not commonly abide in it These Gentlemen meet together upon certain days and communicate the Observations which they have severally made and sometimes they Print them also for publick satisfaction Every Year M. Cassini publishes about Newyearstide a small Volume called La Connoissance des temps by which one may know the Course of the Planets and other Curiosities of that nature much more exact and regular than any thing hitherto seen on the subject They have here a small square Chamber over the forepart of the Tarrass in which those who speak at the opposite Corners may easily understand one another and yet those in the middle not perceive it This is occasion'd by reason the Roof is Vaulted hollow and the Angles are continued along the Roof from one side to the other without any obstruction After you have seen the Observatory as you go out you ought to take notice of The Water-House which stands near the Gate as you go out next the Ruë d'Enfer This House was built to receive the Water that comes from the Village of Rongis in that Curious Aqueduct which Queen Mary of Medicis caused to be built at Arcüeil which the Curious ought to visit as one of the finest in all France You ought to know that most of the Fountains in Paris come from this Receiver or Conduit which makes its first discharge at Luxembourg-House from whence afterwards the Waters divide themselves to all parts of the City As you return back to the Town again through the Ruë d'Enfer you first come to The House of the Fathers of the Oratory which they call The Institution and serves them as a Novitiate The Church is well built but there is nothing here of singular Note From hence you go to The Convent of the Carthusians THis Monastery was built by the King St. Lewis who gave to the Religious of St. Bruno's Order the old House or Château of Vauvert where at that time as Historians say Devils did inhabit and caused there so many disorders that by Arrest of Parliament the Town Gate
left ' em These Fathers are the only Men of this Order in France and Cardinal Mazarin was the first that brought them out of Italy The last house that you see in this Row on the side of the River is the Hotel de Mailly now building It will stand very convenient and pleasant in regard its prospects are extended over the Tuilleries and over the Cours de la Reine the two most beautiful Walks of Paris The Cours de la Reine is on the other side of the River at the end of the Tuilleries it was planted with four rows of Trees as we see it by the care of Mary of Medicis who gave the publick this agreeable Walk The Marechal de Bassompierre has been at the charge to enclose it on that side next the River all along with a Wall of Freestone It is in length a Roman Stadium and at each end hath a Door of Iron supported with certain Stone Works of a Rustick Order which make a very handsom effect This Walk is the pleasanter in regard it is upon the Banks of the River from whence it hath such a fresh Air as in Summer draws hither all the Gentry and persons of Fashion in Paris You may count here often times no less than seven or eight hundred Coaches which drive about in the exactest order that can be and without the least embarrass imaginable These are the principal things that are to be seen in the Quarter of the Faux-bourg St. Germain There may be here other Rarities no less singular than these but in regard they are in particular hands whose owners do not care to have them known I think it best to make no mention of them as well to oblige the owners as to save the Labour of the Curious that they may not ask to see what they are in great hazard to be deny'd L'ISLE DU PALAIS Or Island of the Palace THIS is the last Quarter that remainâ— to write of tho' according to History and Antiquity it should have been first mention'd but we did not think that proper for some reasons mention'd in the beginning of this Book Formerly the whole Town of Paris contain'd no more than that space of Ground which lies between the two Armes of the Seine which place still retains its ancient name of the City This is the fullest of People of any Quarter of Paris but withal the most incommodious by reason of that great confusion of Houses very high for the most part which make the Streets narrow and obscure The most remarkable things in this Quarter are some Churches and the Palais or place where the Parliament sit The Church of Notre-Dame THis Church is the Cathedral of Paris and the Seat of an Arch-Bishoprick which was erected in the Pontificate of Pope Vrban the VIII in the Year 1622. It was before that only a Bishoprick but that very ancient since St. Denis who lived but a little time after the Apostles was the Founder This Church in the first Catholick Ages was call'd by the Christians of those times by the name of that Saint its Founder but it being rebuilt in the Reign of Childebert eldest Son of Clovis about the year 522. it was then dedicated to the Holy Virgin whose name it has ever since retain'd King Robert one of the most pious and wisest Princes that France ever had perceiving the antient Building not to have all that Beauty and Magnificence which it might have begun another but the design being a vast undertaking it was not brought to perfection till many Years after Henry the First his Son Philip the First Lewis the Gross Lewis the Young and Philip Augustus his Successors did all assist in the Work and it was finisht under the glorious Reign of the last as we may presume because he is the last of those 24. whose Statues are set up on the great Frontispiece The Structure of this Church is of the Gothick manner but the handsomest and best perform'd in France It is very remarkable for its Grandeur and Solidity The Vaults are very high raised and contain 17. Toises a Toise is six Foot in height the breadth is 24. and the length 65. The 2. great squate Towers in the Front are 34 Toises high flat on the top so that from this place one may easily and conveniently discover all Paris The Bells that hang in the Towers are very fair ones the biggest of them was cast but a while ago for which purpose the Chapter hath been at a very considerable expence and yet it hath no very pleasing Sound All the Body of the Church is cover'd with Lead and it is easie to judge what a prodigious quantity there goes to cover so great a Roof As for the inside of the Church the Curious who are Lovers of Painting will here find sufficient satisfaction in viewing those great Pictures which all the Pillars are adorn'd with Those in the Quire are much better than the rest Here are two of M. Brun's hand one representing the Crucifying of St. Peter the other the Martyrdom of St. Steven Here is also one piece of Sueur's representing St. Paul in the midst of a Publick Assembly casting into a Fire the Books of Magick before the Gate of the Temple whose Portico is supported with Pillars This Picture ought to be esteem'd as one of the choicest that can be seen it being of the best manner of that excellent Master who in the Judgment of some able Men is esteem'd the Second French Painter of this Age and next to the famous Poussin In former Years on every first day of May the Company of Goldsmiths did use to present a Picture to this Church for the making of which they employ'd some renowned Painter who had made himself known and gain'd a Reputation but this Year the Custom hath been intermitted tho' we hope it will be continued again hereafter There are few Cathedral Churches in Europe wherein the Divine Service is perform'd with more exactness and Reverence The Chapter is composed of 50. Canons among whom there are some very famous and of great Merit Among the rest Monsieur Joli the Chanter and one of the Canons is known to be a person of extraordinary Probity and Diligence in his Office and who to his singular Merit hath added a profound Learning He hath made publick several Works some of which are already very scarce to be met with The principal are An Historical Treatise of the Episcopal Schools 1678. Christian propositions for relief of the Poor 1652. A Voyage to Munster in the Year 1646. A Translation of two Books of the State of Marriage composed by Francis Barbaro a Noble Venetian A Christian Instruction for the Financiers 1667. Christian and Moral Advice for the Education of Children The Christian Widow Dedicated to the late Queen-Mother Divers small Tracts collected from the Memoires of M. Antoine Loisel Advocate in Parliament his maternal Grandfather De Verbis Vsuardi quae in Martyrologio Ecclesiae
Landskips done by other good Masters which are admirable That which was very remarkable in this Gallery during the life of Monsieur the Chancellor was a great number of Porcelain Vessels that were placed all round the Gallery upon the Corniâ—â—â— and which made the finest shew that could be It was difficult to find in any one place a greater quantity and better collected Here were also Cabinets placed between the Windows on both sides At the end of this Gallery you enter on the left hand into a Chamber which was richly adorned with Tapistry where were several rich pieces of Goldsmiths work among others a great Frame curiously wrought in which stood the Picture of the late Monsieur the Chancellor done by M. le Brun. You might also have seen here a Cabinet of Ebony enriched with ancient Agates representing the Emperors heads and in a little Cabinet near this a great number of Animals very considerable some in Vases and some in Pictures wrought by the best Masters of Italy and by those who dwelt at Limoges in the last Age. Madame the Chanceliere who deceased not long since had here a Cabinet of Crystal most delicately cut with abundance of Watches and Clocks enriched with precious stones few Houses in Europe had a greater quantity of Silver Vessels You might have seen here a whole Service of Silver gilt most magnificently each piece being extraordinary both for the bigness and workmanship But that which was the greatest Ornament of this Noble House was the numerous Libary valued at near two hundred thousand Crowns Which Library was first begun by Monsieur the President Seguier and by him given in his Will to his Nephew Monsieur the Chancellor It was situate over the Gallery of which we have already spoken We need not say that it was full of very curious Books that may easily be supposed since it was collected by the ablest man of his Age and to say all by him whom the French Academy made choice of for their Protector after the decease of the great Cardinal de Richlieu in whose House they always assembled till such time as the King setled them in the Louvre where at present they remain There were in this Library a great number of very rare Manuscripts whose names we find cited by Authors who have here made use of them We may expect one day to see a Catalogue of them which was never yet made publick But this will not be till the Inventory be finished and then all these choice Books which have been so long collecting together with so much pains by the greatest men of their time shall be exposed to publick Sale and dispersed among those who will give the prizes demanded Such was the state of this Hôtel during the life of Monsieur the Chancellor Seguier who held that great Office for many years with universal applause and that during very unsetled times At the end of the Rüe de grenelle you come into the Rüe Platriere in which Street stand two fair Houses That of Monsieur de Bouillon and that of the late Monsieur de Herval Controller-General of the Finances The last of these was built with much care You may see there several good paintings of Monsieur Mignard and a Bed with its Furniture extreme Rich. This House stands in the place where were formerly the Stables belonging to the Hôtel de Epernon In the Rüe Coquéron at the end of the Rüe du Bouloy is The Hôtel de Gesures whose outside is neat and Furniture within very handsom It did once belong to Monsieur de Fontenay-Mareüil so well known for his famous Embassies and above all for that to Rome Further on is the House of the Sieur Monginot built but four or five years since On which he hath made a considerable expence It looks very great on the Court-side and the Apartments which are disposed in enfilades or through Prospects are magnificently furnished with Tapistry Chenets of Silver and all the Furniture for the Chimny of the same In fine all is extreme neat and nothing seems wanting unless it were a little more light to the Stair-case but as it is placed it is impossible to make it lighter The Church of St. Eustache This Church was formerly but a small Chappel dedicated to St. Agnes and depended upon the Chapter of St. Germain le Auxerrois The present Fabrick was begun to be built in the year 1521. and the first Stone was laid by the Provost of Paris by name John de la Barre It is at present the greatest and most spacious of the Kingdom The Grandeur of the Building the number of the Pillars which in truth are a little too thick crowded together and the heighth of the Roof with the Chappels that are round it considered altogether render this Edifice Majestick Among other things the two Chappels which are on each side of the great Gate ought to be observed One of which is appropriated to Baptism and Painted by Monsieur Mignard the other for Marriage and Painted By Monsieur de la Fosse Monsieur Colbert did contribute to their decoration In the Chappel of Marriage stands the Model of the great Portal which is to be raised before this Church which Work will be very expensive The Pulpit is well wrought in imitation of that at St. Estienne du Mons but it falls short of that Overhead is a great Picture representing the Apparition of our Lord painted after the manner of Monsieur le Brun this Picture was given by Monsieur Colbert as seems by his Arms at the bottom Adjoyning to one of the Pillars in the Nave on the left hand as you enter you see a great Bas-relief of white Marble on a Foundation of black which is the Epitaph of the famous Monsieur de la Chambre so renowned for his Writings this is contrived in a Medaillon held up by Immortality and to make her more obvious and better understood over head is a Cartel or Scroul with these words out of the Scripture graven therein Spes illorum Immortalitate plena est Their Hope is full of Immortality This curious piece is the Workmanship of the Sieur Baptist Turcy who wrought after the design of Monsieur le Brun. The other things in this Church are of no great consideration Monsieur the Chancellor Seguier and Monsieur de Bullion Sur-Intendant of the Finances under the Ministration of Cardinal de Richolieu were Benefactors to this Work Monsieur de la Mothe le Vayer formerly Tutor to Monsieur and so well known for his rare Writings and Monsieur the Abbot of Bourfay of the French Academy are enterred here IN the Rüe Coquilliere which is near St. Eustache stands the House of Monsieur Berrier Secretary of the Council in whose Garden was found the Bust of Cybele formerly mentioned The Portal tho it makes no great shew outwardly yet within it is of singular beauty adorned with Corinthian Pilasters of an admirable Gust The Garde des Sceaux or Lord-Keeper of the
also to teach the young Clerks the Ceremonies of the Church hence it is that at the four times appointed yearly for Ordination all those who are to be presented to the Arch-Bishop for Orders ought first to pass here eleven days in exhortations and instructions during which time these Fathers are obliged to entertain them freely for on this condition they enjoy the Revenue of divers Lands that lye about their House The Rue St. Martin This Street is one of the longest and straitest of Paris In the beginning of it you find the Church of St. Jacques de la Boucherie remarkable for its high Tower built out of the Confiscate Money of the Jews when they were expelled Paris It is said that Hamel a famous Chymist was here interred who found out the secret of the Philosophers Stone in the Reign of Philip Augustus But it is more credible to believe those who think that the Jews being driven from Paris he made use of that Money which they had entrusted in his hands and with it built the great Tower of this Church and the Charnel-houses of St. Innocents as we have already observed in its place John Ferne Physitian to Henry II. is also here interred He was without dispute one of the learnedst Men in that Science that ever was in France as one may easily conclude from those wonderful Cures which he performed in the Royal Family chiefly on Catherine de Medicis By which one may see the power of Art over Nature it self when a Person hath once attained the true Mastery in that Profession His Epitaph is is behind the Quire in these words Deo Immortali Opt. Max. Christo Jesu Hominum Salvatori Sacrum Johanni Fernelio Ambianensi Henrici II. Galliarum Reg is Consiliario primo Medico nobilissimo atque optimo reconditarum penitus abditarum rerum Scrutatori Explicatori subtilissimo multorum salutarium Medicamentorum inventori verae germanaeque Medicinae restitutori summo ingenio exquisitaque Doctrina Mathematico in omni genere Philosophiae claro omnibus ingenuis artibus instructo temperatissimis sanctissimisque moribus praedito Socero suo pientissimo Philibertus Bariotius supplicum Libellorum in Regia Magister magnique Regis Concilii Praeses affinitate gener pietate filius moerens posuit Anno à Salute mortalibus restituta 1558. Obiit XXVI Aprilis An. M. D. LVIII Vixit Annos LIII Sacred to the Immortal God and to Jesus Christ the Saviour of Mankind To the memory of Joh. Fernel of Amiens Counsellor and chief Physician I may add the noblest and the best to Henry II. King of France the searcher out of the most hidden and abstruse matters and the most ingenious explainer of them the inventer of many excellent Medicines the restorer of the true and genuine art of Physick an incomparable Mathematician an universal Philosopher and an absolute Scholar and besides all this of a holy and unblameable life to the memory of his most pious Father-in-Law Philibert Bariot Master of the Requests and President of his Majesties great Council in Affinity his Son-in-Law but in Duty his Son with much sorrow erected this in the year from the Redemption of the World 1558. He died April 26. in the year 1558. Aged 53. The Crucifix which stands over the Door as you enter into the Quire is the Work of Sarazin and much esteemed The Church of St Mederic was formerly called S. Peters but St. Mederic a Monk of S. Bennet's Order Native of Autun in Burgundy dying here in the reputation of Sanctity this Church took his name after the same manner as other Churches had done on like occasions At present it is Collegiate composed of twelve Chanons who are obliged to go to the grand Processions at Nôtre-dame by reason this Church depends on that Cathedral St. Julien des Menestriers Where at present a Community of Priests inhabit Formerly this was an Hospital erected by two famous Musicians or Minstrels in the year 1330. for the Relief of poor sick Women Cross the way stands the Hall or Office of the Company of East-India Merchants remarkable for certain Figures over their Gate After that you come to The Hôtel de Vic which has been repaired very lately and does now belong to divers particular persons Next you have St. Nicolas des Champs founded by King Robert whose Palace stood near this place on the very same Ground where now is S. Martins This is the Parish-Church of a very large Parish and full of People M. Gassendi one of the most famous Philosophers of this last Age is here interred in a Chappel belonging to Monsieur de Monmort Monsieur Bernier so well known for his profound Learning and for those famous Travels which he made into the Indies where he abode some time hath translated his Works into French for the ease and satisfaction of those who do not understand the Latin Tongue Near this is St. Martin des Champs This Monastery is compassed about with high Walls and Battlements after the ancient fashion with Towers from space to space as they built in old time the Church and rest of the Covent have all the marks of great Antiquity But the great Altar is according to the Modern and designed by Mansard It is composed of four Corinthian Pillars of Marble of a disposition and proportion worthy so great a Master The Order of St. Bennet have been a long time possessed of this house And Monsieur the Abbot de Lionne Son of the Secretary of State is Prior hereof which is a very considerable Revenue Some think this house was founded by Philip the first or by his Father King Robert both which kept their Court in this place But we read in some Authors that there were here even at that time very ancient Buildings and that those Kings did only repair them for their own habitation The Gate of St. Martin as well as the Fauxbourg on this side of the Town take their names from the Priory of which we have been speaking This Gate was built in the year 1674. almost at the same time with that of St. Denis It is a kind of Triumphal Arch consisting of three passages of which that in the middle is higher than the other two The work hath about fifty foot of Front and as much in heighth the Architecture is of that sort which is called Bossage rustique carved with Bas-reliefs over the Arches above which is a great Cornish of the Dorick Order and over that an Attick on which are these Inscriptions LUDOVICO MAGNO VESONTIONE SEQUANISQUE BIS CAPTIS ET FRACTIS GERMANORUM HISPANORUM BATAVORUM EXERCITIBUS PRAEF ET AEDIL. PONI C C. ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXXIV To LEWIS the Great Besanzon and the Franch Comté being twice taken and the Armies of the Germans Spaniards and Dutch being routed The Praefect and Aediles caused this to be set up in the Year from the Redemption of the World 1674. On the side next the Faux-bourg you may read this LUDOVICO
Saviour in the seventy seventh year of his age March 10. 1678. To his dear Friend Nicolas le Camus Chief Officer of the Exchequer erected this Monument There are also in this Library certain pieces of Opticks made by the famous Father de Niseron a Parisian one of the most knowing Men in this Science that hath perhaps ever appeared in this Age. He hath left us a Volume of that Art very much estemed it was he also who caused to be painted in the Dortoir of this House the Figures of St. John and the Magdelain which Figures extend the whole length of the two Galleries and which they cannot see in their true proportion but from a point marked for you to stand in This Learned Person had enriched the Publick with many other things had not death taken him from us in an Age wherein he did but begin to discover his wonderful wit and parts The Refectory of this Convent is very handsom and of late years has been painted round about with Landskips and Solitudes which entertain the thoughts of the Religious while they are at their meals with Ideas remote from the affairs of this World It is well known that these Fathers live in great austerity and that the design of their institution hath taken in almost all that is rigorous in the other Orders Before you leave the Marais du Temple you ought to observe that the greatest part of the Houses in this Quarter have been built within these fifty or sixty years and that the Ground on which they stand was formerly a marish and employed in great Gardens which furnished Paris with Roots and Kitchin Herbs At present it is a handsom Quarter whose habitations are very conveniently built and therein a great number of Persons of Quality inhabit The Rue St. Antoine After you have seen the Maraise du Temple you ought to pass next to the Ruë St. Antoine one of the longest and handsomest Streets of all the Town and which is ordinarily appointed for Shews and Entries for Embassadors It was through this Street that the Queen made her first Entry and through which that famous Carousel in the year 1661. made their glorious March The Popes Legate who came hither in the year 1664. for whom a most Magnifick Entry was appointed passed this way to the Church of Nôtre-Dame In the past Ages this Street was also used for the like matters Our Kings did here use to run at the Ring and make their Justs and Turnaments but since the fatal Accident that befel Henry II. these Sports have been left off To see this Street in Order we ought to begin at The Greve This is the only place in Paris where they make the publick shews of Joy and Triumph Here are made the Bonfires on the Eve of St. John Baptist and at other times when France hath gained any Victories over her Enemies The Hôtel de Ville takes up one side of this Place It was built in the Reign of Francis I. who laid the first Stone himself The Architecture is however a little Gotique that is to say it is not altogether according to the gust of the present age in which the old Roman and Greek proportions are studied with more care and exactness Artists endeavouring every day to re-establish this curious Science in the same perfection that it had under the Reign of Augustus The Statue of Henry IV. is placed over the Gate represented on Horseback in Demi-bosse upon a Ground of black Marble The Horse was copied from that of Marcus Aurelius at the Capitol The Court is but small and enclosed with Buildings of the same symmetry Under one of the Arches at the further end of the Court there is a Statue of the King in the Habit of Hercules treading under foot that Discord which would have disquieted the beginning of his happy Reign On the Pedestal which is of Marble as is also the Statue they have cut some Inscriptions but such as are not thought material to be repeated here in regard they contain nothing remarkable nor recount any passage of History that can be useful to the curious In the Rooms there are some Pictures representing the Prevosts des Marchands and the Eschevins of the past Age and of this also in their proper habits At the two ends of the great Hall over the two Chimneys there are placed the Portraits of the King in his Royal Robes and his Scepter in his hand In this Hall they Assemble to elect their Prevosts des Marchands and Eschevins The Windows that look upon the Greve at publick Shews and Rejoicings are filled with Persons of the greatest Quality who are sometimes treated here very magnificently at the Charges of the City To make the Entry into the Greve more convenient they have within five or six years last past opened a way from the Pont de Nôtre-Dame to this place all along the River which they have adorned with a very handsom Key of Free-stone They have also built on this Key several Houses of the same Symmetry inhabited by good Tradesmen This beautiful Enterprize was begun under the Prevost-ship of Monsieur Pelletier at present Controller-general of the Finances and all that was performed under his administration has been as well for the Publick good as for the Beauty of the City The People have as an eternal mark of their acknowledgment given this place the new name of le Quay Pelletier though through a modesty that hath had but few examples he himself would never suffer his name to appear in any of those Works which have been raised by his order As you enter on that side next the Bridge of Nôtre-dame you will see the following Inscription in black Marble over which is the Kings Picture in a Medaillon AUSPICIIS LUDOVICI MAGNI HANC RIPAM FOEDAM NUPER ET INVIAM NUNC PUBLICUM ITER ET ORNAMENTUM URBIS F. CC. PRAEF ET AEDIL. ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXXV By the Favour of Lewis the Great the Provost and Aediles have made this Bank which was before dirty and unpassable a fair Street and the Ornament of the City In the year from the Redemption of the World 1675. As you go from the Greve you pass by the Church of St. John formerly a Chappel depending on that of St. Gervais and which was built as some will have it in the Reign of Charles the Fair in the year 1326. That which deserves particular observation is the Vault that supports the Organs which is of a manner really very hardy and the little door next the Cloister which is of the Ionick Order The following Epitaph will not be unpleasant to the Curious to read for they will find it extraordinary it is near the Crucifix of this Church Cy repose Alain Veau celui auquel l'integrité fidelité au maniment des Finances sous le Roi Francois I. Henri II. Francois II. Charles IX a pour une heureuse recompense acquis sans envie ce beau titre
de Tresorier sans Reproche Il deceda le I. de Juin 1575. Passant priez Dieu pour lui Here resteth Alain Veau whose Integrity and Fidelity in his management of the Finances under King Francis I. Henry II. Francis II. and Charles IX hath as a happy recompence gained him without Envy the glorious Title of the Treasurer without Reproach He deceased June 1. 1575. As you pass by pray for him A little further is the Church of St. Gervais It is one of the ancientest Parishes in Paris as may be seen in the History of St. Germain Bishop of this Town who lived in the year 578. In favour of which he wrought here a Miracle as Fortunatus Bishop of Pottiers reports in his History The Body of this Church is very well built but according to the Gothick way with high raised Roofs and Chappels round about in one of which under the Croisée on the left hand you may see some Paintings after the manner of le Sueur who was one of the best Painters of this Age next to the famous Poussin and of whom we shall have occasion to speak more at large hereafter the Paintings in the Windows which represent the Martyrdom of St Gervais and the Picture over the Altar are of his hand The Tapistry which they expose here on the great Feasts are very well wrought the Originals from which these were Copied are in the Nave of the Church and were painted by the said le Sueur and Champaigne They represent the History of St. Gervais and St. Protais and the manner how their holy Bodies were found at Millain through the Prayers of St. Ambrose who mentions this matter in his Epistles But this is not that which ought most to employ the Curious the magnificent Portal will entertain their view with much greater pleasure and make them acknowledge that they cannot elsewhere see any thing more handsom or regular It is composed of three Greek Orders one over the other viz. of the Dorick the Ionick and the Corinthian whose proportions are so handsom and so exact that in the judgment of the famous Cavalier Bernin himself there is nothing more finished and perfect in all Europe The Pillars are fluted without any other Ornaments than what are proper to themselves These three Orders compose a Fabrick of a very great heighth and perfectly pleasing to the sight Had the place before it been larger nothing had been wanting to set off this Work in all its magnificence The Reputation of this Building belongs to the Sieur de Brosse he who made the designs for the Palace of Luxemburg and the Temple at Charenton However we must not think him the only Artist we must know that Clement Mâ—tezeau was employed with him this is he who undertook the Ditch of Rochel as hath been already mentioned when we treated of the Gallery at the Louvre and who was one of the ablest Architects of his time He was born of a considerable Family at Dreux and was much esteemed by Cardinal de Richelieu who perfectly well understood Persons merit Monsieur de Fourcy Counsellor in the Parliament and Intendant-general of the Buildings under Lewis XIII Father to Monsieur the President de Fourcy a person more renowned at present for his Merit and Probity than for the dignity of his Charge was at that time honorary Church-warden of this Church It was he that undertook this great Work together with M. de Onon and M. de Saint Genis his Collegues in the Office Lewis XIII laid the first Stone and in a very little time this marvellous Structure was finished as we now see it From this Church of St. Gervais to the middle of the Rüe St. Antoine is nothing considerable You pass before the Church-yard of S. John where is at present a Market-place Here formerly stood the Hôtel of Pierre de Craon who murdered the Constable Olivier du Clisson in the Reign of Charles VI. whose House was demolished and rased to the Ground in the year 1392. as a punishment for that Fact After this you come to The Hotel de Beauvais which shews a very handsom Front to the Street adorned with three Balconies The Masons Work is en Bossage with very neat Ornaments The Gate is large and tho the Court be but very small it is however compassed about with Buildings where the several Orders of Architecture are well observed The Stair-case is supported with Pillars and embellished with many Ornaments As for the Apartments they are extreme pleasant and compassed about with a long Balustrade of Iron leading quite round the Court into which the doors open As often as there hath been any great Sight to be held in the Rüe St. Antoine this fair house hath been made use of by those of the Royal Family At the famous Carousel that was in the year 1661. a great number of Princesses and Ladies of the Court placed themselves here to see that magnificent Train pass by from the Place Royal where they assembled to go to the open place before the Palace of the Tuilleries in which they were to perform their Courses Over against this stands the Church of little St. Antoine which hath nothing in it of Beauty and its very simplicity hath made it sufficiently known that it formerly served for an Hospital and was founded for those who were afflicted with that Epidemical Disease called St. Anthonys Fire A Distemper which hath been now ceased this two or three Ages The Confraternity of St. Claude hath been a long time established in this Church but it is much decayed from what it was in former times for it is evident that under the Reign of Charles VI. their Founder all the great Lords of the Court caused their names to be here inrolled after his Example and made considerable Presents in favour of this Saint The Community of these Fathers is but small and does not ordinarily exceed the number of twenty Religious men they are Chanons regular of S. Augustin and bear on their Breasts the Letter T. much like a Cross The head of their Order is in Dauphine not far from Vicnne On the same side of the way is The Hòtel de St. Pol where formerly our Kings inhabited as some Historians would make us believe But at the same time others would have it that the Palace des Tournelles was so called before it was rebuilt by Francis I. who caused a great number of small Towers to be placed there upon the Walls In short this Hôtel is at present inhabited by Madame de Chavigny widow of the Secretary of State so called It is one of the greatest Houses in all Paris The Apartments look upon the Garden and are magnificently Furnished The Pictures and such like beautiful Ornaments are here in abundance The Court is great and can contain many Coaches However one thing is wanting in this House and that is a great Stair-case Monsieur de Chavigny had a design to have built one and continued some
no very pleasing object to see the poor yet it is a curious thing and surprising at the same time to see so great a number of all sorts and ages whose miseries are eased with so much care and Charity that nothing is wanting to them but only Liberty This great Building which contains in it more than six thousand persons appears as you come in like a little Town by reason of the quantity and diversity of the houses although it be all the Work of this age and all the poor People that are in it are maintained upon Charity only The Church was built not above seven or eight years ago It is of a very peculiar design a great Dome of eight Angles raised upon Arches against each of which are placed eight Naves or spaces to contain all the poor people The Altar is contrived just in the middle under the Dome so that it may be seen on eight sides for the conveniency of all There is nothing magnificent in the Work except only the Portico by which people enter from abroad which is supported by certain Ionick Pillars over which is placed a small Attick but this is of no extraordinary relish however On the two sides of this Entrance are placed two Pavilions where are lodged the Ecclesiasticks who serve the Chappel and administer the Sacraments to the poor People It is observable that they imploy here all the young girls of the Hospital who are very numerous in making point of France some embroider others make the Loops others the Ground which causes much work to be dispatched by their hands in a little time of which is made a considerable income The first President de Belliévre was one of those who were most active in the Foundation of this great Hospital which at that time was thought incredible and this was done on the account of that excessive number of Poor which were continually about the Streets and Churches of Paris to the great incommodity of the Publick In the mean time this Illustrious Magistrate being assisted by the Cardinal Mazarin the Dutchess of Aiguillon and some others persons of Authority accomplished his design and caused all those to be shut up in this Hospital who were found begging or who were not able to get their Living Almost over against the Gate of this Hospital in a large place is kept the Horse-Market on the Wednesday and Friday in every Week Les Gobelins This House is almost behind the Faux-bourg of Saint Marcel Here it is that the Curious ought to apply themselves with their utmost diligence to observe all the Rarities that are to be seen in this place in regard there is no part of Europe that produces so many But to give you a juster Idea I shall make a Description First of all it is not unuseful to observe that this place has been always inhabited by excellent Artists and that heretofore it was imployed by the famous Dyers of Wood the first of which was one Giles Goblin who as report says found out the secret of dying the best Scarlet or at least that he first brought it to Paris from whence it comes that ever since it hath been called Scarlet des Gobelines This House hath still kept the old name as well as the little River that runs behind it which Water hath a peculiar Vertue for the dying of this Colour and before that time it was called the River of Bieure The Dutch have made it their utmost endeavour to discover this secret but they could never do it with all their industry and expence however they come pretty near but they cannot arrive to that Degree of perfection which our Dyers have in making this Beautiful colour which makes so great a Merchandize through all Europe nay in a manner through the whole World for much goes into the Indies and America But not to say more of this house and River called the Gobelins let us now speak of the things that are there to be seen It is to be observed that all the Artists that work here are employed only for the King and that their Works which they perform here are for the Decoration and Ornament of the Royal Palaces Some years since the number of the Workmen was much greater than at present but the prodigious quantity of Work which they did is the occasion that they are now much retrenched in regard the Repositories where the Kings moveables are kept are sufficiently filled in such sort that one may say at this time there is no Prince in Europe that hath more Goldsmiths work or Tapistry The first thing that is to be viewed are the Pictures which are in a manner all of the hand of famous Monsieur le Brun the ablest Painter of France and whose Works are so much sought after and admired by all those who are skilled in Painting As a reward for whose great pains which he is continually engaged in and for the Emulation of those who have any Genius in designing the King hath been pleased not only to give him large Pensions to declare him Overseer of all the Works in Painting and Sculpture which are done for him and to name him Director of the Academy-Royal of Painting but he hath also ennobled him by his Letters Patents The Principal Pieces of this excellent Master are at Versailles The great Stair-case is almost all of his hand and he is working at present in the great Gallery which takes up all that side that looks upon the Garden In the Louvre there are also divers Cieling-pieces of his design In the Church of Nôtre-dame are two Pieces one represents the Martyrdom of St. Stephen the other the Crucisying of St. Peter both which Pieces are in the Quire on each side of the high Altar and which one may easily distinguish from other Pictures at the Carmelites in the Faux-bourg St. Jacques The second great Piece which represents a Magdelain at the feet of our Saviour in the House of Simon the Leper is of his hand so also another Piece of the same Saint in one of the Chappels of the same Church which was much admired by the Queen Mother who began first from the sight of this Piece to have an esteem for M. le Brun whom soon after she made known at Court by the means of the Chancellor Seguier by whom he was mightily esteemed Most of the Works which are wrought in the Gobelins are of his design and it is he that orders the Performance His Cabinet is one of the most curious that can be seen in which he has collected the Paintings of the most excellent Masters that have been and several other rare Pieces which have a Relation to Painting I will say one thing more to the Glory of M. le Brun that he hath under him several other Painters who do nothing else but Copy his Draughts and work after his Designs The second thing which one ought to see in this Place is the Tapistry Works Among that great
see at present was undertaken in the Reign of Francis the First and after it had remain'd a long time imperfect it was not finished till under Henry IV. Queen Margaret of Valois his first Wife gave a Summ of Money for making the Portal herself laying the first Stone on the Twelfth of August 1610. This Portal is curiously wrought and they have bestowed there a profuse number of Sculptures which had made a much better show if they had been manag'd and disposed with more care The inside of this Church is very neat and lightsome the Roof is very high and well extended There are between Pillar and Pillar certain Arches that support Galleries of Communication and turn about each Pillar with much Art The Tribune over the entrance into the Quire is very hardy as are also the little Stairs that go up thither which wind about the thick Pillars of the Croisée The Chapel of the Holy Virgin behind the great Altar is also well Built But that which the Curious ought to observe more carefully than all is the Pulpit which is of excellent Workmanship adorn'd with Sculptures and Bas-reliefs of a wonderful Design and Performance The Statue of Sampson supports the whole Body of the Work about whom are placed several little Figures of Christian Virtues Upon the Canopy over-head is a great Angel holding Two Trumpets All these things are perfectly well design'd and this Pulpit is without contradiction the most Beautiful of all Paris It ought to be known that Monsieur Pascal one of the greatest Wits that France ever had Author of that Incomparable Book called Penseés sur la Religion Thoughts upon Religion and of several others of the same Beauty and Learning is Buryed in this Church La Sueur a famous Painter of whom I have already often made mention is also here interr'd From hence you may pass into the Church of St. Geneviâ—ve through a Door of Communication behind the Pulpit but this is not the ordinary way The usual Entrance is by the great Gate which is in the open place before the Church St. Geneviéve du Mont. BEfore we write of the Curiosities in this House something ought to be said of its Foundation Clovis as some believe was the first Founder and Dedicated it to St. Peter and St. Paul whose names it bore a long time He placed here Secular Canons who inhabited this House till the Reign of Lewis the Young in the Eleventh Age at which time the King constrained them to take the Rule of St. Austin and to live in Community they having till then led very irregular Lives To establish this new Reform some Persons were brought over from St. Victors and Monsieur de Mezeray acquaints us with the Reasons which occasioned that King to do this He says That of old time beyond Memory there were certain Secular Canons in this House who had been by the Solicitation of King Robert the Religious freed from the Visitation of the Bishop and placed immediately under that of the Holy See But it happenning that Pope Engenius the Fourth flying for refuge into France and Lodging in this House there happened a Dispute between the Canons and the Holy Father's Officers on occasion that the Canons would have taken to themselves an Imbroidered Carpet which the King presented to his Holiness to hang before his Prie Dieu or Seat in the Church they pretending that it ought to belong to and remain in their Church The Controversie was so hot that they fell from Words to Blows and the Canons being the stronger Party assaulted the Pope's Officers so home that they were some of them Kill'd The King himself coming thither to appease the Tumult thought he should have been Wounded in the disorder To punish the Canons for this their insolence the King agreed with the Holy Father to Expel them from this House and to give the care of the Reform to Suger Abbot of St. Denis who thereupon drew off 12. Canons Regular from St. Victors and placed them here in the room of the others After this manner the Chapter was changed into an Abby whose first Abbot was called Odo Since that time the Rule of St. Austin hath always been observed here with much Purity and this House is become the Chief of all the Congregation in France The Abbot of which with his four Assistants is the Head of the Order This Abby had formerly a peculiar Jurisdiction like that of St. Germain des Prez but in regard this was found to be the cause of much Disorder and Confusion they were all united to the Body of the Châtelet Many Kings have been Benefactors to this House but the greatest was King Robert who built the old Cloister which was taken down under Francis the First who inclosed for them 17 Arpens or Acres of Land The House hath been often ruined by the Normans and the Danes while it was out of the Town but the Devotion which the Parisians had for St. Geneviéve their Patroness was the occasion that the Ruines made by those Barbarous People were repaired again in a very little time after The Body of St. Geneviéve is in the Shrine behind the great Altar supported by 4 Ionick Pillars of an extraordinary sort of Marble The Chest is of Silver-gilt enricht with Precious Stones of very great value Father du Breüil who hath Composed a Volume Of the Antiquities of Paris tells us That this Shrine was made by the Liberalities of several pious Persons and that the Goldsmiths Work came to One hundred fourscore and thirteen Marks of Silver and Eight Marks and an half of Gold to gild it The Queen Mother deceased whose Piety will be a long time remember'd in divers Parts of Paris enricht this shrine with Nosegays composed of Precious Stones of a very considerable price There hang round about several Lamps of Silver and divers Figures of the same Mettal which are all so many Vows made by sundry People to this Saint All that is of more than ordinary Curiosity in this Church is the Tomb of Clovis the first Christian King it stands in the middle of the Quire his Figure which lies along upon the Tomb is the same which was made for him after his Death Some years since they have raised it two Foot and a half to make room for this Inscription CLODOVAEO MAGNO REGUM FRANCORUM PRIMO CHRISTIANO HUJUS BASILICAE FU NDATOR SEPULCHRUM VULGARI OLIM LAPIDE STRUCTUM ET LONGO AEVO DEFORMATUM ABBAS ET CONVENT MELIORI OPERE CULTU ET FORMA RENOVAVERUNT To Clovis the Great The First Christian King of France Founder of this Church This Sepulchre which was formerly built of ordinary Stone And defac'd by Time The Abbot and Convent have rebuilt with greater Cost and Beauty The Scepter which he holds in his Hand and the Crown on his Head appear to have been added of later time Antiquarles need no longer doubt of the Antiquity of the Flower-de-Lys if they could but believe the
Crown on this King's Head to have been made in his time but the Flower-de-Lys's are too well fashioned for that and have not at all the Ayr of antient time The Altar is Isolé that is so contrived that one may go round it The little Tabernacle is a very Beautiful thing It is of White Marble in form of a Dome of Eight Angles with four Porticos supported with small Corinthian Pillars of Sicilian Marble whose Capitals are of Brass gilt very well carved and Figures of Angels on the Pedestals with other Ornaments of the same The Body of this Tabernacle is inlay'd with divers rich Stones as Lapis Lazuli Agate and such like All the Work stands upon a Foot en cul de Lampe like the bottom of a Lamp of a blew Marble extream rare On each side are two Statues of St. Peter and St. Paul St. Denis and St. Austin these are of a kind of material Resembling Marble for its whiteness but much lighter In the Nave of the Church are several Chappels very well adorned with Marble Pillars The Door that leads into the Quire over which is the Jubé is of Marble also with Bas-reliefs upon the Attick The Organs are extream handsom and the Wainscot exactly well wrought The most considerable Tombs next to that of Clovis already mentioned are the following viz. That of Clotilda his Wife reputed a Saint in regard she was the principal cause of her Husband's Conversion as Gregory of Tours relates She is interr'd near the Steps going up to the great Altar In a Chappel on the same side with the Sacristy in the Mausoleum of the Cardinal de la Rochefaucault whose Figure we see kneeling in White Marble upon a great Urn of Black Marble On the fore-part of which are the Armes of the Abby of St. Geneviéve of which he dyed Abbot This is one of the best wrought Peices that can be seen In the Nave Strangers and generally all those who have any respect or sentiments of Esteem for great and famous Men are extreamly pleased to read the Epitaph of the famous René Descartes one of the most Learned and Illustrious Philophers of these last Ages The Epitaph is as follows RENATUS DESCARTES Vir supra titulos omnium retro Philosophoram Nobilis genere Armoricus gente Turonicus origine In Gallia Flexiae studuit In Pannonia miles meruit In Batavia Philosophus delituit In Suecia vocatus occubuit Tanti viri praeciosas reliquias Galliarum percelebris tune Legatus PETRUS CHANUT CHRISTINIAE sapientisimae Reginae sapientum amatrici Invidere non potuit nec vindicare patriae Sed quibus licuit cumulatus honoribus Peregrivas terrae mandavit invitus Anno Domini 1650 mense Feb. 10. aetatis 54. Tandem post septem decem annos In gratiam Christianissimi Regis LVDOVICI DECIMI QUARTI Virorum insignium cultoris remuneratoris Procurante PETRO DALIBERT Sepulchri pio amico violatore Patriae redditae sunt Et in isto urbis Artium culmine positae Vt qui vivus apud exteros otium famam quaesierat Mortuus apud suos cum laude quiesceret Suis exteris in exemplum documentum futurus I NUNC VIATOR Et divinitatis immortalitatisque animae Maximum clarum assertorem Aut jam crede felicem aut precibus redde RENE DESCARTES A Man above all the titles of the antient Philosophers of a Noble Family Native of Britany of Tourenne by Extraction In France he Studied at la Fleche served as a Souldier in Hungary lived a retired Philosopher in Holland and dyed in Swedeland being Honourably invited thither The Reliques of so great a Man PETER CHANUT then Embassador there from France Could not deny to CHRISTINA the most Learned Queen and Lover of Learned Men. Nor could he restore them to his own Country But with all the pomp solemnity that might be He committed them unwillingly to a Foreign Grave In the year 1650 the tenth of February and the 54 th year of his Age. At length after seventeen years By the favour of Lewis the â—ourteenth The Admirer and Rewarder of Famous Men By the care of Peter Dalibert Who with much Piety and Love broke open his Sepulchre They were restored to his Native Country And Placed in this highest part of the City and highest seat of Learning That he who Living sought leisure and fame in Foreign Countries Might at last rest Honourably in his own And always be a Pattern and Example both to his own Country-men and Strangers GO NOW TRAVELLER And this great and clear Assertor of the Divinity and Immortality of the Soul Either believe already happy or make him so by your Prayers In the Vault under this Church you may still see the Tomb of St. Geneviéve tho there remains therein nothing of her Body which is all entire in the Shrine with the very Boards of her Coffin This Tomb is of Marble without any Ornament At one end upon an Altar which stands between two Pillars is a Cross adorn'd with certain Agates with an Ecce Homo at the Foot of it of one intire piece of Coral very well wrought These things come from the Cabinet of the Rev̇erend Father du Molinet whose Present it was There are two other Tombs very antient of two Bishops of Paris who dyed with the reputation of Sanctity and who are invoked on the account of some particular Distempers From hence you ought to go and see the Sacristy which you will find very well furnisht with Ornaments of divers Colours very rich and with a great quantity of Plate There is no place in this Kingdom and perhaps in all Europe where the divine Offices are Celebrated with more Devotion and Majesty than in this Church All the Religious are extreamly regular and one is much Edified to see them in the Ceremonies of the Church In the inward parts of the House there are many curious things particularly as to the Architecture about ten years since they have made considerable Reparations The great Gate was very inconvenient and they have built another in the place after the manner of a double Portico supported by Pillars of the Dorick Order very regularly proportioned with two Square Pavilions at the Extremities Over against this Gate is a Fountain at the Feet of a Figure of St. Geneviéve in a kind of Niche or Arch set off with two Ionick Pillars After this we enter into the Cloister or rather under a kind of Portico supported on both sides with Dorick Pillars like those at the Entrance but of a handsomer Orderance At the further end of this Portico about thirty Paces long stands the great Stair-case which leads to the Dortoirs at the further end of which is a Figure of the Holy Virgin holding the Infant JESUS in her Armes it is of Excellent Workmanship as one may easily perceive The Dortoirs have nothing of Magnificent Their only care is that all things throughout the place should appear neat as
Church before the Chappel of our Lady de bonne delivrance here in which there is a very great Devotion Over against this is The Convent of Jacobius formerly called Friers Preachers of the Order of St. Dominick whose first Foundation is alledged to be in the life time of that Saint who lived in the Year 1217. under the Pontificate of Honorius the Third and in the Reign of Philip Augustus Historians say that St. Dominick took great pains about the Extirpation of the Heresie of the Albigenses who caused great disorders in Languedoc and at the same time he sent two of his Religious to Paris who were Lodged in a place called The Citizens Parlour in the same place where now this Convent stands They were called Jacobins from the Ruë Saint Jacques Their Church as it now is was built by order of St. Lewis if we may believe Belleforest a faithful Historian Here are many Tombs of great Lords who for the most part were Princes of the Blood Royal of France But in regard I did not design to search into Antiquities I shall not here express their Names which may be found in Father du Breüil I will only observe that among these famous Monuments is that of Humbert the last Sovereign Prince of Dauphiné whose Title was Dauphin of Vionnois the Tomb stands before the great Altar History says That seeing himself Childless he sold this Province to Philip Augustus for a small Summ of Money and himself embraced a Religious Life at Lyons and enter'd into the Order of St. Dominick where he liv'd in very great Esteem with all good Men and was chosen to be Prior of this Convent and afterwards Patriarch of Alexandria This is his Epitaph Hic jacet R. Pater Dominus amplissimus HUMBERTUS primo Viennae Delphinus deinde relicto Principatu Frater nostri Ordinis Prior in hoc Convenru Parisiensi ac demum Patriarcha Alexandrinus perpetuns Ecclesiae Rhemensis Administrator praecipuus bujus Conventus Benefactor Obiit anno Domini 1345. Maii 22. Here lies the Reverend Father and Most Honourable Lord HUMBERT First Dauphin of Vienna after that leaving his Principality he became Brother of our Order and Prior in this Convent at Paris and at last Patriarch of Alexandria perpetual Administrator of the Church of Rhemes and chief Benefactor to this Convent He Dyed in the Year of our Lord 1345. May 22. This Church hath nothing but what is ordinary yet is the great Altar very handsomly contrived it is adorn'd with black Marble and the Armes of the Cardinal of St. Cecily Brother of Cardinal Mazarin which you see about it speak it to be built at his Costs and this he did in regard he was of this Order Over the Door going into the Sacristy is a Picture of Valentine's representing the Nativity of the Holy Virgin which Piece Cardinal Mazarin gave to be placed over the great Altar but when he perceived it to be too little he left it to the Church and it hath been placed here ever since It is one of the most Beautiful pieces in all France and the Curious esteem it highly Felibien in his Book which he Composed of the Lives and Works of the most Famous Painters tells us it is one of the best Pictures that ever came out of Italy into France On one side of the great Altar stands the Chappel of our Lady of the Rosary The Wainscot Work of which is very handsom Here is a very great Devotion by reason of the Indulgences which are here to be gain'd every first Sunday of the Month. In the Cloister are several Paintings but they are of no great Note so also is their Library which is not very numerous yet it hath been made use of by very Famous Doctors They preserve here one thing of great Curiosity and that is the Pulpit of Great St. Thomas of Aquiu the Angel of the Schools It is made of Wood and inclosed in another of the same material that it may not be injured by time A General of this Order was at the charge of making that in which it is inclosed and not along ago these Fathers have caused a small Room to be made at the end of the Library where this Pulpit is conveniently exposed to sight 'T is well known that St. Thomas of Aquin formerly profest Divinity in this Convent and in the great School which we see at this day he made his Lectures It hath been Rebuilt at the beginning of this present Age through the Alms which these Father 's collected in a Jubilee Several Preachers of this House have acquired great Reputation in the World Among others Father Chaussemer who is esteemed one of the most Profound and Eloquent that we have at present he Preached this Lent at Nostre-Dame after he had perform'd the like at the Louvre The deceased Monsieur Coëffeteau who hath composed a very Curious Roman History past here the greatest part of his Life with many others whose names would be too long to insert here Before you leave the Rüe Saint Jacques you ought to know that here inhabit many Booksellers who sell almost all of them the Works of the Messieurs du Port-Royal all the Works of Monsieur Arnault generally esteemed by all Learned Men Here you will find the several pieces of the French Academicians many Foreign Books the several pieces that concern the Gallicane Church all Monsieur Maimbourg's Writings here also are sold Father Bouhour's Books those of Father Rapin of the Bishop of Meaux of the Abbot Fléchier Almoner to Madam the Dauphiness who Translated the Life of Cardinal Commendon and composed for Monseigneur the Dauphin the History of Theodosius the Great and four Funeral Orations Many other Books proper for the perusal of curious Persons are here also to be met with In this Street also are many Gravers and Sellers of Prints who have in their Shops great store of Maps and Printed Pictures Of which I shall say no more in this place At the end of this Volume I may perhaps set down a Catalogue of such Books as are best Writ in our Language for the use of Strangers who oftentimes for want of better information buy very scurvy Books instead of such as may be of use and advantage to them in their study of the French Tongue Without the Porte St. Jacques in the Fauxbourg of that name you may observe many fine things and in a greater number than in any other Faux-bourg about the Town On the left Hand as you enter is the Convent of the Nuns of the Visitation which makes no great shew The Church it self is no bigger than an ordinary Hall Yet is their Altar one of the richest that can be seen on the Feast Days these Nuns sparing no Costs to adorn it with Candlesticks Lamps Vessels Figures and a Thousand such like things which are all of Silver and most of them very weighty But the place being none of the best contrived these rich
which led into that Street was wall'd up The Street which lies before the House does still retain the old name and it is for this reason that it was first called the Rüe d'Enfer or Hell Street But since these good Fathers became possest of the place they quickly expell'd the evil Spirits and St. Lewis having a great esteem of the Austere and Holy Life that they led made them a Visit with his whole Court and confer'd upon them sufficient Lands and Demesnes for their Subsistence Many persons did contribute to the building of their House which takes up more Ground than any other Religious House does at present in all the Town and Suburbs of Paris Besides that the Cells are large and that they have each a separate Garden they have also a great Close containing many Arpens of Land which encompasses the whole House The Church hath nothing in it extraordinary except the Seats of the Religious which were made about two Years ago and are the finest wrought that were ever yet seen The Wainscot is perfectly handsome and adorn'd with Sculpture that makes a delicate appearance These are composed of small Corinthian Pilasters which support the Cornish one of the Fathers of the House designed them and managed the Work They now begin to place some Pictures between the Croisées The first which hath been placed here is done by M. Audran the second by Monsieur Coipel and in time the whole Quire may be furnisht in this manner which will considerably beautifie the Church The little Cloister which lies on one side of this Church is the only thing that is rare and singular belonging to these fathers It is adorn'd with a Dorick Architecture of Pilaster fashion Between the Arches are several Pictures representing the Life of St. Bruno their Founder and in certain Cartouches adjoyning to each Picture the Life of that Saint in Latin Verses The Pictures which hang at the Corners of the Cloister represent the views of several remarkable places among others of the City of Rome of the Grand Chartreuse near Grenoble of Paris on the Louvre side as it shew'd before the old Tower was taken down and the Port-neuve which stood not far from the Pont-rouge the rest are only fancies of the Painter All the Painting of this Cloister was done by Le Sueur who never did any thing finer than these Pieces here Of late days they have contrived Wooden Shuts in which they shut them up that they may not be injured as certain persons who envy the Merit and Reputation of that incomparable Man have attempted to do They do not open these Pictures but upon certain Days or when Curious People desire to see them It is apparent that better Paintings than these cannot be yet had he lived we should have had from him things infinitely more perfect but his fate was like that of Raphaël who dyed in an Age when his admirable Genius began to make him known That which remains to be seen in this House is the Refectory which is very lightsom Here the Religious never Eat but upon Festivals Sundays and Thursdays upon other days they take their repasts in their several Cells which are disposed in a square place round about their Church-Yard or Cemetery These Cells are composed of Four or Five small Rooms all on a Floor Boarded throughout and very simply furnisht Some of these Fathers have by them very curious Libraries the Father Vicar hath one which is much esteemed Some of them employ themselves industriously in divers Works thereby to pass more easily their time of Solitude which is very rigorous in regard they are never permitted to go out of the House nor to receive any Visits but at certain hours And it is well and judiciously observed by one of our Historians that the principal reason why these Fathers have preserved the purity of their first Institute better than the other Orders is because they have always shun'd with extream care the great Commerce of the World and the Visits of Women Two Dangerous Rocks for the Monastick Life Near the Carthusians stands the little Convent of the Feüillans in which is nothing extraordinary But not far from this Convent dwells M. who hath a very neat Garden of the design of M. le Nostre From hence you descend to the Porte St. Michael which was taken down two Years since to enlarge the Passage which before that was very strait and inconvenient In the same place where the Gate stood is built a Fountain under a great Arch in manner of a Niche with a small Portico of the Dorick Order beneath but the Ornaments are not yet quite finished Here you come into the Ruë de la Harpe and so you may go on to the Colledge of The SORBONNE THis beautiful House requires to be treated of with a particular application in regard it is one of the principal Ornaments of Paris as well for the great reputation of those Learned Men which come from hence as for the beauty of the Architecture in its buildings Cardinal de Richelieu beautified it as we see it at present Before that it was but an old Colledge consisting of very mean building yet was it however a place of mighty great Reputation It was first Founded by Robert de Sorbonne Almoner to St. Lewis who furnisht him with means wherewith to perform the Work as apears by the following Inscription in the Church graved on a Brass plate LUDOVICUS REX FRANCO RUM SUB QUO FUNDATA FUIT DOMUS SORBONAE CIRCA ANNUM DOMINI M CCLII Lewis King of France by whose Favour this House of the Sorbonne was Founded about the Year of our Lord M CCLII The Cardinal de Richelieu who took all occasions to Immortalize his Name caused this Colledge to be Rebuilt and spared no Costs to make it truly magnificent For this purpose he employed the Sieur Mercier an able Architect who after some Years time brought the work almost to the point of perfection as we see it however it was not quite finisht by him for he dyed before he could give it his last Hand That which we are first to observe is the square place before the Church Door and hath a Passage into the Ruë de la Harpe This place is in truth not large by reason of some Houses built before it belonging to the Colledge des Tresoriers however this hinders not but that it is very handsom On both hands it is fronted with very fair Houses On one hand is a great Body of Lodgings stone built of Two Stories high in Bossage Rustick and here is the Divinity School for those Scholars who come from abroad to hear the Lectures which are made here by Six Doctors Three in the Morning and Three in the Afternoon who change from hour to hour This School is great and high and it is sometimes made use of when a Thesis is maintain'd by some Person of Quality On the Right Hand in this Court is the Chapel
Year of Salvation 1582. on the Calends of November You may also read in the same Chapel the Epitaph of his Eldest Son and of several other persons of this Family who are here interr'd In St. Anthony's Chapel near this are the Tombs of several Ancestors of the Chancellor Seguier to whom France owes a great part of her Renown in Learning These Illustrious Fathers of a Son no way degenerating were of the same name with him Peter Seguier and did execute in their times the principal Charges in Parliament as may be seen by the Inscriptions in this Chapel On the same Church you may read the Epitaph of the Princess of Conti who deceased in the Year 1668. and whose Piety is still Reverend in the Eyes of the whole World This is in the Quire on one side of the high Altar Upon the Monument is placed a handsom Figure of White Marble representing Hope Afflicted it was wrought by M. Girardon Felow the Figure is this Inscription A LA GLOIRE DE DIEU ET A LA MEMOIRE ETERNELLE D'ANNE-MARIE MARTINOZZY PRINCESSE DE CONTY Qui detrompée du monde dés l'âge de XIX ans vendit ses pierreries pour nourrir pendant la famine de 1662. les pauvres de Berry de Campagne de Picardie pratiqua toutes les austeritez que sa santé put soussrir demeura veuve à l'âge de XXIX ans consacra le reste de sa vie à élever en Princes Chretiens les Princes ses Enfans à maintenir les Loix temporelles ecclesiastiques dans ses Terres se reduisit à une dépence tres-modeste restitua tous les biens dont l'acquisition lui fut suspecte jusqu ' à la somme de D. CCC mille livres distribua toute son épargne aux Pauvres dans ses Terres dans toutes les parties da Monde passa soudainement à l'éternité aprés XVL. ans de perseverance le IV. Fevrier M. DC LXXII âgée de XXXVI ans Priez Dieu pour elle LOUIS ARMAND DE BOURBON PRINCE DE CONTI ET FANCOISLOUIS DE BOURBON PRINCE DE LA ROCHE-SUR-YON ses Enfans ont posé ce Monument To the Glory of God And the Eternal Memory of ANNA-MARIA MARTINOZZY Princess of CONTY Who being undeceived and weaned from the World at the Age of Nineteen Years sold her Jewels in the Famine 1662. for the relief of the Poor in Berry Champagne and Picardy practised all the Austerities which a Religious and Holy Life can endure became a Widow at the Age of 29. Years and consecrated the rest of her Life to the Education of her Sons like true Christian Princes and to the maintaining the Laws Temporal and Ecclesiastick in her Lands reduced her self to a mean expence restored all the Goods she had which were any ways suspected by her to be unjustly gotten to the Summ of Eight hundred thousand Livres distributed all the Overplus of her Revenue to the Poor in her Lands and indeed in all parts of the World and after Sixteen Years of perseverance past suddainly to Eternity on the Fourth of February M. D C. LXXII Aged Thirty six Years Pray to God for her Lewis Armand de Bourbon Prince of Conti and Francois-Louis de Bourbon Prince de la Roche-Sur-Yon her Sons raised this Monument In all this Quarter there is nothing considerable but only the Hôtel de Thou where formerly lived the Famous persons of that Name who also built it The Famous Library of which we formerly made mention and which Monsieur de Menars purchased some Years ago did for a long time remain in this House The Hôtel de Megrigni is not far off this is also in the Rüe des Poitevins This last is built with much regularity and though the Apartments are not very spacious yet are they convenient In the Rüe Haute-Feüille at the further end next the Cordeliers stands the Colledge of the Premonstrantes In this Colledge the Religious of that Order study in the way to attain their degrees in the University The Church hath been considerably repair'd of late Years by the care of Monsieur Colbert Abbot and General of this Order who hath caused it to be adorn'd within throughout with a handsom Wainscot The Convent of Cordeliers THis Monastery was built about the Year 1217. in the Pontificate of Pope Honorius the III. while St. Francis was yet living at Assisium in Italy Some of the Religious Men of the new Order which that great Saint did institute came into France the first who arrived at Paris were Lodged in the Houses of certain Burgesses but afterwards at the Solicitation of the forementioned Pope who writ to William then Bishop of this City in their behalf they were taken notice of and in the Year 1230. Eudo Abbot of St Germain des Prez gave them the place where they now inhabit at this day The Kings of France did after this become great Benefactors to them St. Lewis gave more than all he caused their Church to be built not as we see it at present but as it was before the Fire which happened here in the Year 1580. and reduced all into Ashes and part also of the Convent ruining many Marble Tombs of several Princes and Princesses of the Blood-Royal which then stood in the Quire but can hardly now be remember'd However according to the report of Giles Corozet these were the Principal namely that of Mary Queen of France Wife of Philip the hardy Son of St. Lewis of Jane Queen of France and Navarre Wife of Philip the Fair and Foundress of the Colledge of Navarre as we have already said the Heart of Philip the Long and others whom it would be to no purpose to mention The Body of the Cordeliers is one of the most numerous of all Paris There are always here resident a great number of Students who come hither from divers parts of the Kingdom in order to take their Degrees of Doctor in Divinity which makes them considerable among themselves We have seen very great Men come from this House among others Nicholas de Lira esteemed the most knowing of his Age in the Tongues but more especially in Divinity and John Scot surnamed Doctor Subtilis who through his profound Science hath raised a Singular Tenent taught and read in their Schools which notwithstanding is founded on the Principles of Aristotle The only Curiosity to be observed in the Convent of these Fathers is their new Cloister which contains near a hundred Chambers all very neat and very lightsome it is Square and in the middle is a small Garden adorn'd with a Parterre and a Fountain The Four Coridors or Walks which compose this Cloister are vaulted and adorn'd with the Armes of those pious Persons who did contribute to the Charges of the Building which were not small The Refectory the Chapter-House and the Library are worth seeing as for the Church it hath nothing Curious There are in it two famous Brotherhoods one of
the Pilgrims of Jerusalem and the other of the third Order of St. Francis who have here their several Chapels As you go forth you ought to observe the Statue of St. Lewis over the Door which Antiquaries think to be one of the likest to that great King that we have This Quarter hath been of late time much improved and beautified they have made two new Streets that go into the Fossez of the Hôtel de Conde In that next the Convent of the Cordeliâ—rs is contrived a little place or open Court before the Church door which is not inconvenient this Street is called Ruë de l'Observance and the other Ruë de Tourain because of the adjoyning Hôtel de Tours Near this place did formerly stand the Porte Saint Germain which some years ago was pulled down In the place of which is erected a Fountain with this Inscription URNAM NYMPHA GERENS DOMINAM TENDEBAT IN URBEM HIC STETIT ET LARGAS LAETA PROFUDIT AQUAS 1675. The Nymph was hastning with her Vrn to Town Here she stood still and joyful pour'd it down 1675. THE FAUX-BOURG SAINT GERMAIN SInce the taking down of the four Gates which divided this Faux-bourg from the rest of Paris it hath been call'd The Quarter of St. Germain 's And doubtless this is the fairest and largest of all the other Quarters on the account of its extent the number of its fair Houses and the quantity of its Inhabitants on those accounts this one Faux-bourg may be compared with some great Towns in Europe which are much talk'd of according to the Opinion of Strangers themselves to whom the dwellings here appear so pleasing that they prefer this part of the Town to all the rest of Paris and they have reason for so doing since all things abound here and the Air is very pure the Houses being divided from one another by several Gardens Besides other advantages all sorts of Exercises are taught here and perhaps there is not in the whole World any one Town in which one may reckon no less than Six Academies as you may in this Quarter filled for the most part with all the illustrious Youth of France and Germany who come hither to learn all things that can make a Gentleman accomplished and capable of gaining Reputation in the World Sometimes in one Winter there has been reckoned here Twelve Foreign Princes and more than Three hundred Earls and Barons not counting a much greater number of ordinary Gentlemen whom the reputation of France draws hither with a mighty desire to learn our Language and those Exercises which are no where taught in their parts with equal perfection The Six Academics bearing the names of the Six principal Riding-Masters who Teach at them are Monsieur Coulon near Saint Sulpice M. Bernardi near the Hôtel de Condâ— M. de Long-prect at the end of the Ruâ— St. Margurriie M. de Rocfort in the Ruë de l'Vniversity M. de Vandeüil in the Rüe de Seine M. On the Fossez de Monsieur le Prince This Quarter takes its Name from the Abby Royal of St. Germain des Prez in the midst of it which is one of the Ancientest and Richest of the Kingdom Of which we must speak in a particular manner The Abby of St. Germain des Prez KIng Childebert Son of the Great Clouis was the Founder Monsieur de Mezeray reports the particulars of the Foundation and tells us That that King being in Spain in the year 543. in a War against the Visigoths he laid Siege to the Town of Sarragossa in which they were refuged the Inhabitants finding themselves severely prest by the French and thinking in imitation of the ancient Romans to move their Enemies by some surprizing Action they concluded to make a Procession about their Walls in which they carried the Coat and other Reliques of St. Vincent At this sight Childebert was so effectively concern'd that he yeilded so far that he was contented to depart with certain Presents which the Bishop made him among other things that Coat and those Reliques of St. Vincent which he brought with him to Paris and to the honour of them built the Church of which we are now about to speak This Abby hath had several Names it was sometime called St. Croix because of a piece of that Holy Wood placed here among the other Reliques which he brought with him at present it bears the name of St. Germain who was Abbot here and Bishop of Paris and is here interr'd On his Festival day which is the 28th of May they expose to publick view his Shrine which is of Silver gilt adorn'd with a great quantity of Precious Stones It is of a Gothick kind of Work but as curious and handsome as one can see All that remains of Childebert's Building is the principal Gate at the end of the Church and the great Steeple over it which appear very ancient The Statues of the Kings and Queens which are on the sides of this Gate are of such a design as discovers that in that Age the Gust of good Sculpture was not known for we can hardly distinguish whether the Statues represent Men or Women The Tomb of the aforementioned King is in the middle of the Quire raised about two foot and an half with some Inscriptions added to it when they removed it hither from St. Germain's Chapel where it formerly was behind the Quire This translation hapned about thirty or forty years ago when the Church was Repair'd and Beautified as it now is At the same time they made over it a Vault of Stone instead of one of Wainscot as was before and adorned the Pillars that supported it with Corinthian Capitals This Church is not lookt upon at present as any Curiosity yet is the Disposition of its parts well enough The Great Altar is in the middle of the Croisée and so contrived that one may go round it In the forepart of this Altar is a Table of Silver gilt which is a great Ornament and is shewed only on Festival Days It is adorn'd with the Figures of the Apostles and a Crucifix in the middle of an ancient sort of Work not unhandsom This was the Gift of William Abbot of this House whose Body was found intire not long ago tho' he had been buried several Ages The Quire where the Religious sing is behind in which their Stalls or Seats are of a very handsom Workmanship At the Feet of Childebert's Tomb you may read the following Epitaph of Monsieur the Duke of Verneüil natural Son of Henry the Fourth who before he marryed with the Dutchess of Sally was Bishop of Metz and Abbot of St Germains The Epitaph was made by the Learned Dom. Jean Mabillon SERENISSIMO PRINCIPI HENRICO BORBONIO DUCIVERNOLIENSI Cojâ—s COR HOC LOCO POSITUM EST OPTIMO QUONDAM PATRONO SUO BENEDICTINA RELIGIO QUAM VIVENS SEMPER IN CORDE HABUIT CUI MORIENS COR SUUM COMMENDAVIT HUNC TITULUM P. ANNO M. Dâ— LXXXII To the Illustrious
and Benefits By his Victory shewing himself their King And by his Clemency their Father He had his Court in his Camp His Palaces In his Tents And his Shows In his Triumphs He had Children in lawful Wedlock Of which he was afterwards deprived Lest if he should leave behind him a greater than Himself He himself should not be the greatest But if a less his race should degenerate His Religion was equal to his Valour Nor did he sight less for the next World Than for this Hence were Monasteries and Hospitals Built at Warsaw The Temples of the Calvinists Destroyed in Lithuania The Socinians driven out of the Kingdom That none might have Casimir For their King Who would not have Christ For their God The Senate from Various Sects Was reduced to the Communion Of the Catholick Faith That they might obey the Laws of the Church Who made Laws for the People Hence was the famous Title of ORTHODOX Given him by Alexander the Seventh Finally having out-gone The highest pitch of Humane Glory When he could do nothing more illustrious He willingly laid down his Crown In the Year M. DC LXVIII And then those Tears Which his Reign had never extorted from any Flow'd from the Eyes of all Who Bewailed the Departure of their King As it were the Death of their Father When he had spent the residue of his Life in the Offices of Piety At length hearing of the loss of Caminiec That he might not out-live so great a Calamity Being wounded with the Love of his Country He dyed The XVII of the Calends of January M. DC LXXII His Royal Heart he left to the Monks of This Monastery Of which he had been Abbot As a Pledge of his Love Which they lamenting inclosed In this Tomb. In one of the Chapels behind the Ouire you may further observe two Tombs of Marble belonging to two of the House of Duglas one of the principal Families in Scotland Having seen these things there remains nothing more of singular note in the Church On Festival Days the divine Office is here Celebrated with great Pomp and Majesty and there is scarce any Company of Regulars who perform better The Order of St. Benet hath been in the Possession of this House ever since it was first Founded by King Childebert And the Church according to the opinion of some Historians stands in the same place where was formerly a Temple dedicated to the Goddess Isis whose Statue remain'd here till the last Age at which time an old Womâ—n being seen saying her Prayers before it it was by order of the Superiours removed out of the Church and broken to pieces In the inward parts of this Convent the Refectory is worth seeing which is great and one of the fairest of the Kingdom It hath lights on both sides The Glass of which is very handsome tho' old At the end of this Room is a Stair-case that leads up to the great Dortor which Stair-case is a hardy piece of Building And you must not neglect to visit the Chapel of our Lady behind which is something of the same design with the Holy Chapel at the Palais Report says That both were built by the same Architect who lies buryed here But without tarrying long in viewing thesâ— things you ought to go to the Library which takes up all the upper Room of that Arm of the Cloister next the Church It is in truth none of the fullest but in recompence of that all the Books are the choicest and of the best Editions that can be met with In the last Age when there was not such plenty of Libraries as at present this here was esteemed the principal Library of Paris And at this day if it doth not continue all out of the same reputation for Printed Books yet for Manuscripts none will dispute the precedency of which we can no where meet with so great a Quantity nor such Choice ones unless it be in the King's Library These Manuscripts are kept at the further end in a little Chamber by themselves which Room is full of them from the top to the bottom Here are some of all Subjects but chiefly of Religion by means of which great Lights several faults of Printers and ill Copiers have been discovered and amended In a little Press in the great Library they preserve several Volumes more choice and rare than the rest amongst which is one called The Psalter of St. Germain it being supposed to have been used by that Saint who lived about the Year 560. in the Reign of Childebert King of France and Justinian Emperor in the East Formerly this Book was kept in the Sacristy among the Reliques but in regard it was so often desired to be seen by curious persons it was removed hither It is written in Letters of Gold and Silver upon a Purple coloured Velom and contains all the Psalms of David There is also in the same place a very ancient Missal which according to all appearance is more than 900. Years old Certain Tablets of the Antients made of small Boards of Cedar with a kind of Wax or Varnish finely spread over them upon which they writ with their Stile or Steel Bodkin and several other singularities of such sort which deserve to be considered above all one great Volume full of Attestations of the Belief of several Greek Bishops touching Transubstantiation Which Attestations the Learned M. Arnauld with much pains procured from Constantinople by the means of Monsieur de Nointel Ambassador from France to the Port for Authorities against those of the pretended Reformed Religion who maintained that the Greek Church was of their Opinion Having said thus much of the Library the Reader will not be displeas'd if I give some account of those Excellent Works which the Learned Monks of this House have lately publisht of which the most useful and most considerable is St. Augustin's Works which they have interpreted and corrected according to the most antient and authentique Manuscripts in all the Libraries in Europe of which they have had an account We have already received five great Volumes to which the publick have given an universal applause and they are continually employ'd about publishing the rest with the same Purity One may justly say That there has not been any thing undertaken in this Age of greater importance and advantage to Religion in regard all the Disputes that of late Years have happen'd among Divines on the subject of Grace have risen from the different interpretation of that Father The Church is obl ged to these Learned Monks who deserve no less Glory for their Pains than they have had Trouble in the undertaking before they could bring the Work to this Condition Father Dom Luc d'Achery a Monk of this House hath publisht the Spicilegium and hath continued it to the Thirteenth Volume in Quarto in which he hath collected together several antient Pieces hitherto hid in the Libraries of his Order and which had been lost in oblivion
hath represented the Assumption This is one of the finest things that he ever did St. Germain's Fair is kept near St. Sulpice at the end of the Ruë de Tournon it begins at the Feast of the Purification 2 Feb. and lasts to the first Day of Lent nay it continues often to Easter The place is not extraordinary it is composed of several cover'd Walks disposed in a square form and crossing one another Here the Shop-keepers and Merchants keep their Stations and sell here generally all kind of Merchandize whatsoever Tradesmen are priviledged to come to this Fair from all parts There are some Shops here full of very rich Commodities and very curious things And in that of M. Herot you may meet with some Pictures of very great price Monsleur the Abbot Bourdelot dwells in the Ruë de Tournon whose profound Learning has gain'd him mighty reputation Every Wednesday he holds Conferences in his House and the principal Discourses are in the Physicks In the Ruâ— Gerance behind St. Sulpice is the Hôtel da Leon belonging to the Marquess of Sourdiac who built it after the Designs of the Sieur Robellini but it being unfinished we see but a small part of those Beauties which would have appear'd in case the Work had been continued From hence we go to the Premontrez whose House stands in a 〈◊〉 place as you enter into the Ruë de Seve at the meeting of Six Streets Their Church is small the Portal is of the Sieur Dorbay's Work The Queen-Mother gave wherewithal to raise it And these Fathers owe theâ—r Establishment to that pious Princess Further on is the Abbaïe aux Bois of the Cistercian Order They were removed hither from Picardy about Sixty years since Near this is The Hospital for Distracted people call'd Les Petites-Maisons here you may see a Crucifix of great esteem and done by an excellent Master In the same Street also is the Hospital call'd Les Incurables the lower Rooms of which Hospital are curiously vaulted and the Diseased people lookt after very carefully The Church hath nothing in it extraordinary It is contrived in the middle of the Apartments equally distant from the Men and Women They receive none into this House but such as are afflicted with incurable Diseases From the Ruë de Seve you pass into the Ruë de Grenelle which begins at the Carrefour or open place of the Red Cross near the Premontrez The first thing you take notice of in this Street is the Hôtel d'Auvergne in which dwells Monsieur the Count d'Auvergne Colonel General of the Light Horse of France Brother of the Duke of Boüillon and Nephew of the famous Monsieur de Turenne This Hôtel is not extraordinary well built but the Garden is large and very pleasant Further on at the Corner of the Ruë du Bacq stands a large House and very convenient habitation in which the Spanish Embassador used to live Near this place dwells a Sculptor at whose House you may see several Bas-reliefs not ill designed they are of the manner of one named Vanobstal originally of Bruxelles who was the first that brought the gust of Bas-reliefs into France out of Italy There are some things of his at Versailles which are very much esteem'd more especially those over the Doors of the Grotto Beyond this is the Hôtel de Navailles a well built House it consists of one great square Pavillion high raised and overlooking all the adjacent Gardens which renders the aboad very pleasant Here formerly dwelt Monsieur de Cogneux who built it From hence you come to The House of the Sieur Roland one of the most knowing and Curious Men of all Paris in Buildings This House as also the Gardens which have all the delights one can desire are worth seeing Here are Fountains Arbours Perspectives and Parterres of the best sort The Apartments are neatly furnish'd and all things handsom especially the Stair-case which is of a singular design and well approved by the Curious At the end of this Street in the adjoyning Fields you discover The Hotel Royal called Les Invalides OF all the King's Buildings there is not any in which there appears more of magnificence and piety together than in this since all that prodigious expence which hath been bestow'd on this Work is solely intended for the maintenance of crippled Souldiers who being disabled to serve any longer in the Army would be forced to lead a Languishing and Miserable life were it not for the support which they find in this House where they are supply'd with all things and may end the course of their Lives in the Exercise of Christian Piety But that which is not a little surprising is that all this vast Edifice was compleated as it now is in less than Eight Years and in the height of the War About the Year 16** they began to lay the first Foundations of this curious Structure which at present makes one of the Chief Ornaments of Paris It is exactly square and contains in its Circumference five Courts of the same Figure one great one in the middle and two lesser on each side all which are compaâ—t about with Apartments in which the Souldiers have their several Lodgings That in the middle is much greater than the rest and the buildings about it are of a handsom Symmetry They are composed of two rows of Arches one above the other which makes so many Corridors or Galleries by means of which you may walk dry round the Court. The top of the Buildings are adorn'd with Ornaments representing Trophies of Armes and such like things which make a very handsom Show At the end of the Court just opposite to the principal Entry is the Portal of the Church composed of two ranks of Pillars the first or lowermost of the Composite order and the second of the Corinthian Here you may enter into that part of the Church which is appointed for those of the House as for those who come from abroad they are building another part already somewhat advanced and this will be incomparably more magnificent The Model in little may be seen in a Pavillion raised on purpose if it be performed according to this Model nothing can be seen more glorious or of a greater design It will be a Dome very high raised under which the great Altar is to be placed which will be enricht with all the most beautiful Ornaments which the most studied Architecture can produce The Covering is to be gilt like that at Val de Grace but they intend this to be more regular and better perform'd both for the disposition and the Ornaments You ought to see the Infirmaries which are divided from the rest of the House but not far off The Beds are neat and the Sick receive there all the help and assistance that is necessary they are served by the Lazar's who make it their particular profession to wait upon the Sick in all parts of the Town as well as in this House But that which
to those of the famous Moliere for Comick All Strangers agree however that the French Scene is the handsomest and most magnificent of Europe as well for the decoration of the Theater as for the Beauty of the Pieces there represented the Comedians moreover spare no Costs to satisfie the Spectators in the richness of their habits There are some among them who compose Plays themselves which makes them more expert and enables them more thorowly to understand the Character which they represent From the Ruë Mazarin you may turn into the Ruë de Guenegaud in which dwells Monsieur the Abbot de la Roque Author of the Journal des Sçavans which he publishes every Fifteen days The Curious receive this piece with extream satisfaction since he shews so great care to enrich it with all the fine things he can collect M. de Salo Counsellor in the Parliament was the first who began this Journal in the Year 1665. and gave the Idea to Strangers who found the invention so profitable and so pleasant that they have imitated the same thing in divers parts of Europe M. the Abbot Gallois continued the Journal for some years after from 1666. to 1674. at which time M. the Abbot de la Roque undertook the Work in which he hath always labour'd since then with such success as has acquired him a very great Reputation in the World He holds at his House every Thursday Conferences at which many Learned Persons meet and propose to him the Discoveries they have made in the Arts and Sciences From this Street you go upon the Key of the Augustines which begins at the Pont Saint Michael and runs all along the River as far as the Pont-Neuf The Convent of the Grand Augustines THE House of these Fathers is of no greater Antiquity than that of the other Mendicants of which I have already spoken Historians say that they came to Paris about the Year 1270. and that they were then call'd the Hermites of St. Augustine Their first Habitation was near the Gate of Mont-martre in the Street call'd Rüe des Vieux Augustines which still keeps that name and while they dwelt in that Quarter they made use of the Church of St. Mary Aegyptian which is still remaining They changed their abode some years after and came into the Rüe des Bernardins where there is at present St Nicholas du Chardonnet but finding that place no more Commodious than the former they shifted once again and came at last to this place intending to associate with the Penitents called Sachets who were apparel'd in a kind of Sackcloth and were placed by St. Lewis on the Bank of the Seine in the same place where the Convent stands at this day This habitation the Sachets left entirely to them and became themselves dispersed into divers places The Church belonging to these Father was not built till the time of Charles the Fifth called the Wise as one may observe from the Inscription placed at the Foot of his Statue placed at the entrance of the great Door on the Right Hand Primus Francorum Rex Delphinus fuit isle Exemplar morum Carolus dictus bone Chrisle Merces justorum dilexit fortiter isle Hic patet exemplum tibinam compleviâ— honore Hoc praesens Templum Deo diteâ—ur honore This King of France first Dauphin was in Fame Example of good manners Charles by name He loved full strongly the reward o' th' just The reason 's pâ—ain and grant it me you must For he this Church t' Almighty God did frame The Church was dedicated by William Chartier Bishop of Paris in the year 1453. assisted by a great number of Prelates who performed this Ceremony with much Solemnity The Great Altar is a modern Work it is but two years since it was finisht M. le Brun made the Design which is not much different from that of St. Severin you may observe that the Joyners Work of the Quire is of the best sort in Paris as is also the Tribune between the Quire and the Nave adorn'd with black Marble Pillars of the Corinthian Order On each side of the Door under this Tribune are two Chapels one dedicated to the Holy Virgin and the other to St. Nicholas of Tolentin The Pulpit is also adorn'd with certain Carvings gilt and the Bas-reliefs which are round about are carefully preserved they being wrought by Germain Pilon yet these Fathers have been not long since perswaded to gild them In this Church are several Tombs of illustrious Persons among which Philip de Comines is the most famous he lived under Lewis the Eleventh and was his principal Secretary The Memoires which he hath left us are so excellent and so profitable that they have been translated into Latin with Commentaries and Notes upon them And M. Godefroy Historiographer of France hath printed a French Edition of them at the Louvre according to the Original in the Language of the time which he hath illustrated with many curious Remarks That learned Man is buried with his Wife in a little low Chapel behind the Altar belonging to the Knights of the Holy Ghost and one cannot see his Tomb unless the Sacristan open the Door of the place in which it is it not appearing outwards You must not forget to observe the great Picture in this Chapel representing the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Holy Virgin and the Apostles it is the Work of a Famous Painter There is another Picture on the side of the same bigness representing Lewis the Thirteenth in his Ceremonial Robes giving the Collar of the Holy Ghost to a Lord assisted with the principal Officers of the Order in their proper Habits also In this Chapel are perform'd the Ceremonies of the great promotions and Henry the Third made choice of this place when he first Instituted the Order of the Holy Ghost on the last day of December 1579. as did appear by an Inscription which was not long since taken away but this is a Copy Fortissimis prudentissÃmis utriusque militiae Equitib Priscae nobilitatis bello pace optimè de Rep. meritis HENRICUS III. Galliae Poloniae Rex augustus divini Spiritus apud Christianos Symbolum pro equestri Stemmate esse voluit jussit decrevit plaudente venerante populo vota pro salute Principis nuncupante ob singularem ipsius pietatem LUTETIAE PARISIORUM KAL JANUAR M. D. LXXIX To the most Valiant and most Wise Knights both of the Sword and the Gown of Noble Birth who have deserved well of the Common-Wealth both in War and Peace Henry the Third the august King of France and Poland has Willed Commanded and Decreed That the Symbol of the Holy Ghost among Christians should be the mark of his new Order of Knighthood the people applauding reverencing and praying for the Health of their most pious Prince Paris the First of January M. D. LXXIX You ought not to neglect to read the Epitaph of the Learned M. de Sainte-Beuve a Parisian
〈◊〉 of the Sorbonne and a person most famous for his profound Knowledge and extraordinary Probity both which did acquire him the esteem and confidence of the most illustrious Prelates of his time The Epitaph was made by his Brother and is placed on one side of the great Altar on a Table of black Marble of which this is a Copy HIC situs est JACOBVS DE SAâ—NTEBEVVE Presbyter Doctor ac Socius Sorbonicus Regius S. Theologiae Professor Qui vixâ—um XXVIII transgressus annum à Clero Ecclesiae Gallicanae anno M. DC XLI Meduntae congregato Cum aliquot viris eruditis ad componendum Theologiae Moralis corpus est delectus Et biennio post in Schola Sorbonae Theologiam docuit magnâ famâ studiosorum frequentiâ Doctrinam ejus eximiam cum singulari pietate sapientiaque conjunctam Testantur nonnullarum Galliae Ecclesiarum Breviaria ac Ritualia diligentissimâ— emendata Plurimi haeretici ad Catholicam Religionem felicissimâ— adducti Multae controversiae privatorum qui ipsum ultro arbitrum elegerant compositae Complures omnium ordinum ad emendationem morum prudentissimis admonitionibus consiliisque compulsi Cum idem undique non à Civibus Popularibus modo sed etiam ab Exterts De rebus ad disciplinam Ecclesiasticam ad mores pertinemibus quotidie consuleretur cunctisque indefessus satisfaceret Antistites qui ex omnibus Regni Franâ—â—ci Provinciis anno Domini M. DC LXX apud Ponteâ— Isarae Conventum habebant Virum optimè de Ecclesia meritum â—onorario donavere Vixit annos lxiv. Obiit xviii Kalendas Januarias anno M. DC LXXVII HIERONYMUS DE SAINTE BEUVE PRIOR MONTIS AUREOLI FRATRI OPTIMO ATQUE CARISSIMO MOERENS POSUIT Here lies James de Sainte-Beuve Priest Doctor and Fellow of the Sorbonne and Regius Professor of Divinity Who being scarâ—e XXVIII years old was chose by the Clergy of â—rance which was assembled at Mante in the year M. DC XLI that he with some other learned Men should compose a body of Moral Divinity and two years after he taught Divinity in the School of the Sorbonne with great reputation and concourse of learned Men. The Breviaries and Rituals of some Churches of France diligently Corrected many Heretick happily brought back to the Catholick Religion many Controversies of private Men who had chosen him for Vmpire wisely composed very many of all Orders and Estates perswaded to mend their Manners by his prudent admonitions and counsels do shew his extraordinary Learning Piety and Wisdom He being daily consulted not only by his own Citizens and Countrymen but also by Foreigners concerning matters pertaining to Ecclesiastical Discipline and good Manners and satisfying all with an unwearied diligence The Bishops who were assembled out of all the Provinces of France in the year M. DC LXX at Pontoise considering him as a person who had done very good service to the Church gave him an honourable Pension He lived LXIV years and dyed the xviii of the Calends of January in the year M. DC LXXVII Hierom de Sainte-Beuve Prior of Montaureoli has set up this mourning to the memory of his best and dearest Brother In their Cloister is a Statue of St. Francis kneeling it represents him in the posture he might be in when he received the Stigmata This Statue is much esteemed it being made by Germain Pilon and by him presented to these Fathers in the year 1588. The Assemblies of the Clergy are usually held in this Convent of which we have seen some these last years Not far from this Monastery is the Rüe Dauphine so call'd because built at such time when Lewis 13 th came into the World Before that here were only certain old Gardens full of Ruins across over which they cut this Street at the end of the Pont-Neuf It had at the end of it a Gate of the same name which about 10 or 12 years ago was taken down for the better uniting the Suburbs and the Town together After you have past this Street as you follow the course of the River you come to The Hôtel de Conti. This was formerly call'd the Hôtel de Nevers but that name being determined after the Marriage of the two Princesses who were the last of the Family one of which was Married to Casimit King of Poland and the other to Prince Edward of the Palatineâ—amily â—amily the Hâ—tel de Nevers passed into other hands Monsieur de Guenegaud Secretary of State bought it and made here very considerable augmentations Who being one of the Richest and most Magnificent persons of his time spared no Costs to adorn it without and within and raised also several Houses in the Street behind the Walls of the Garden which Street is call'd after his name to this day The Entrance into this Hôtel appears great and the inside is very sutable You ought to endeavour to see the Chapel which is really very handsom adorn'd with Corinthian Pillars and other Ornaments of a very good gust It is the Work of Mansard as is also the great Stair-case which is highly esteem'd The Garden is very pleasant planted with an Ally of Trees and has a great Parterre The Apartments have their several Prospects which renders them very pleasant in Summer The late Princess of Conti one of the Wisest and most Virtuous Ladies of this Age changed away to M. de Guenegaud for this House her fair House of Bouchet together with the old Hôtel de Conti where lives at present Monsieur the Duke of Crequi In one Corner of this Hôtel stands a great House which makes no distinct appearance outwardly but depends upon this Hôtel One can hardly desire a better contrived building or neater than this Monsieur the Prince de la Roche-sur-Yon dwells in it at present that so he may be near his Brother the Prince of Conti. Between this Hôtel and the Colledge de Quatre Nations Monsieur the Abbot de la Chambre one of the French Academy hath his Lodgings where you may see many fine Curiosities He hath a very great number of all sorts of excellent Books among which are many Prints and pieces of Architecture But the greatest Rarity of all is a Marble Bust of the famous Cavalier Bernin made at Rome a little before his Death and another Bust of Christ made by the same Master with another of M. de la Chambre his Father whose name is so famous among all Men of Learning for those many excellent Works which he hath publish'd and for that particular Character which he hath of treating of the most profound Matters with a stile so neat and polite Beside this you may see at M. the Abbot Chambre's several Copies of Poussin's best pieces and some Models in Wax of some of Bernin's Statues Near this is The Colledge des Quatre-Nations HEre stood formerly the old Gate call'd Porte de Nesle with a very high Tower which did much incommode this Quarter The Heirs of Cardinal Mazarin who by his Testament
appointed the Foundation of this Colledge bought this place for that purpose and caused those Buildings to be pull'd down which obstructed the form of that Plan which the Cardinal himself had drawn out The Key which was broken off in this place was continued as far as the Pont-Rouge and at last they raised the Buildings in such manner as we now see them of a most curious Ordinance without They consist of two great Pavillions square and very high adorn'd with Corinthian Pilasters which standing in a Demi-Circle enclose a small Place or open Court at the further part of which is the Portal of the Chapel raised upon some steps and adorn'd with six Corinthian Pillars which make a kind of Portico Over all the Work which stands something higher than the Wings are placed twelve Statues representing the four Evangelists the Fathers of the Greek Church and the Fathers of the Latin Church these serve for an Ornament to the Dome which rises above them and is enrich'd without with all the Ornaments one can desire as gildings upon the Lead in manner of Festoons and Feâ—illages over the Slates which are cut and placed like the Scales of Fishes The inside of the Church is not in the splendor at present which it is like to have in time And the Tomb of Cardinal Mazarin which is to be placed here is not yet begun On the Frise over the Portal you may read this Inscription JUL. MAZARIN S. R. E. CARD BASILICAMET GYMNAS F. C. A. M. DC LXI Julius Mazarin Cardinal of the holy Roman Church caused this Church and School to be built in the Year M. DC LXI The inner part of this Colledge is very spacious it is composed of two Courts the first of which and also the least is adorn'd with two Portico's one of which leads to the Church in the other is the Stair-case that goes up to the Apartments of the foremost buildings The other Court is very great and all the buildings run along one side only in which are convenient Lodgings for a very great number of People The Schools are below in the Ground Rooms level with the Court But these things ought not to detain you long you ought to see the Library which is composed of Thirty five thousand Volumes collected together by Cardinal Mazarin with great Care and Charges They are placed in excellent order and the Presses are wrought of Wainscot adorn'd with Pillars and Sculpture This Library is of great length and it takes up one of the Pavillions that runs out upon the Key Monsieur de la Potrie one of the most intelligent men of the Kingdom in Books hath the care of this Library and shews it to the Curious very obligingly It is said that it will be made publick and that people will have allowance to study there on certain days every Week as is done in that of St. Victor's but no body knows when this will be The Revenue which is appropriated for the maintenance of this Colledge is considerable For beside the Abby of St. Michael en Herme which is of a great Rent there are several Houses in the Rüe Mazarin from which arises a very great Summ of Money The Design of Cardinal Mazarin was to entertain here the Gentlemen of those four several Nations whose Country hath been so long time the Theater of War and that they might be here Instructed in all those Exercises that are proper for Persons of Quality Here are to be Sixty in all Fifteen from the parts about Pignerol for Italy as many out of Alsatia for Germany Twenty out of the Catholick Low Countrys and Ten from Roussillon that so these people being acquainted with the French manners may have an affection for that Nation from whom they have received such Benefits The Doctors of the Sorbonne are to have the Government of the Colledge and to teach here Humanity Here is also to be taught the Riding the great Horse and there is already a place set out for a Manege or Rideing School They are also to be taught to Dance to handle their Armes to Vault the Mathematicks and all belles Lettres or Polite Learning And these Gentlemen have all this and all sort of Entertainment gratis without costing them one â—arthing which makes this Foundation esteem'd as one of the best and most useful that could be invented On the Key that runs along the River side is placed this Inscription in black Marble fronting towards the Louvre composed by M. Blondel LUDOVICO MAGNO RIPAM HANC UT RIPAE ALTERIUS DIGNITATI RESPONDERET QUADRO SAXO CC. PRAEF ET AE DIL ANN. M. DC LXIX M. DC LXX To LEWIS the Great That this Bank might answer the Grandeur of the other the Praefect and Aediles caused it all to be built of square Stone in the Years M. DC LXIX and M. DC LXX On the same side is the Hôtel de Crequi In which Monsieur the Duke of Crequi Governor of Paris and one of the four principal Gentlemen of the Chamber makes his abode You may see here very Curious Pictures and very rich Furniture The Hôtel de Boüillon is next whose Apartments are magnificent adorn'd with Plafons Here is no sparing in furnishing the House with the best sort of Ornaments The House which makes the Corner of the Rüe des Saint Peres at present possest by Monsieur the Marechal d'Humieres Governor of Flanders It is a very regular building and wants nothing but a little more Room to make it lighter Further on is the House of the late President Perault Intendant of Monsieur the Prince which has been built with much Cost You ought above all to see the Gallery which fronts the River open on both sides correspondently and adorn'd with several Pictures representing the principal Persons of the Royal Family of France with a long Genealogick Chart in Vellom of the House of Bourbon in which are the Portraits of all those Princes from St. Lewis down to the present Reign in miniature In the Garden are some very good Statues two Gladiators colour'd like Brass the Venus Medicis and a young Bacchus of the same kind with some others very well cast off from the Antiques at Rome The great Iron Arbour is remarkable for its heighth and for its being the first that ever was made of this sort We ought not to forget the Chapel in which is a Picture done by Albert Duret and highly esteemed with some Copies of the Sacraments from the Famous Poussin This is a general account of what is here remarkable not mentioning the Furniture which was very neat during the Master's Life who past for one of the Curiousest and best Judging men of the Kingdom We come next to the Theatins Cardinal Mazarin was their principal Founder having left them at his death a great Summ of Money for the building of their Church which was begun with much Cost but is since left off imperfect the enterprâ—ze being much greater than the Legacy which was
Painted by Stella an excellent Master This Church was formerly dedicated to St. John Baptist before they brought hither the Reliques of St. Germain in the Reign of King Pepin for fear they should be plundered by the Barbarians if they remained in the Abby of his name which at that time stood without the Town That King himself assisting in carrying the Shrine upon his own Shoulders from the Abby to this place In memory of the Miracle which then happened as they past by the little Châtelet he gave to St. Germains the Estate at Palaiseau six Leagues from Paris Lower in the Street near the Palais are the Barnabites These Religious have been in the Possession of this Priory but since the beginning of this Age before that time it belonged to the Order of St. Benet under the name of St. Eloy And the Revenues are re-united to the Arch-Bishoprick of Paris Their Church is unfinisht The House which they have erected here about four or five years since hath cost them more than 50000. Crowns but it was a very necessary building for before that they had hardly any Lodgings to lye in St. Bartholomew is also over against the Palais to which and to all this Quarter it belongs as the proper Parish Church This was formerly also a Priory of the Order of St. Benet dedicated to St. Magloire but the Monks left it to avoid the Tumult and Noise of the place and removed to the Faux-bourg Saint Jacques near the little Chapel of St. George belonging to them at that time This Translation was made as hath been already said in the Reign of Lewis the Young in the Year 1138. This Benefice was since reunited to the Arch-Bishoprick and the Church made Parochial the Extent of which Parish reaches to the Rüe St. Denis St. Zue St. Giles was once annext to this and we have known a Curate who was possest of both these Benefices but they have been since divided because of the great distance The Church is obscure and ill built The great Altar is of Wainscot Work and of a handsom design There is a Chapel on the right hand in which you may see two Pictures of M. Herault's Work one represents St. William and the other St. Charles Bâ—romeus That over the Altar is of M. Loir's hand and represents St. Catharine kneeling and receiving on her Finger a Ring which is put on by the Infant Jesus The rest is not much remarkable Missire Lewis Servin Advocate General in the Parliament of Paris is interr'd in St. Bartholomew's He was a person who had gain'd by his extraordinary Merit the Respect and Love of all those who knew him and his Reputation was so great throughout all Europe that the most Famous Men of Learning of his time made it their glory to hold a Commerce by Letters with him as we see in their Printed Works where are some Letters of his of wonderful Wit and Genius His inviolable Fidelity for the Right side gain'd him the Confidence of Henry III. who made him his Advocate-General after the dismission of Messire Jaques Faye Despesses which Office he perform'd with a most exemplary Integrity until the Year 1626. in which he died as he was making an Oration to Lewis XIII then sitting on his Throne of Justice in the Parliament The University to whom he had done great Service made him a solemn Funeral at the Mathurins where his Elogium was pronounced in Latin These two Verses may serve for his Epitaph Est satis in titulo Servinus prob jacet ingens In mundo scivit scibile quidquid erat Servin's enough for Epitaph here lies Who knew whatever Science did comprize THE PALAIS IF I had obliged my self in this Collection to speak of the Antiquities of those things which I treat of in Paris I should have had occasion here to mention many particulars but after all it had been only a repetition of what many Authors have already said Those who have the curiosity to be informed in these Affairs let them consult du Tillet Giles Corrozet Father du Breäil in his Theater of Antiquities at Paris M. du Chesne in his Antiquities of Towns and several others who have writ on the French History I will only say to the honour of those who compose this great Body that Pepin Father of Charlemagne did first Institute it and that it was ambulatory till the Reign of Philip the Fair who as Belforest reports was the first who made it Sedentary in quitting his own proper Palace to the Officers of Justice To make it the more spacious he caused to be built the greatest part of the Chambers and the whole work was finisht in the year 1313. Notwithstanding it is certain that there were in this place several great Buildings before that time in regard several Kings made this place their usual abode Clovis himself kept his Court here but St. Lewis dwelt here longer than any for finding the Situation commodious in the middle of Paris he made here several great Works especially the Holy Chapel of which more by and by The chief remarks in this great building is first the great Hall admired by the Cavalier Bernin as one of the handsomest things in France It is built upon the same Plan with another very old which was burnt down in the beginning of this Age in which the Statues of all our Kings were placed round about the Walls as big as the Life In this Hall the Kings did use to receive Embassadors and made publick Feasts on certain days in the year and also here they celebrated the Nuptials of the Sons and Daughters of France At the Marriage of Isabel of France with Richard the Second King of England there was in this place so great a Croud of People that many persons were stifled Charles the Sixth who Reign'd at that time was himself in danger of his Life This Hall is all Vaulted with Freestone with a row of Arches in the middle supported with great Pillars round which are several Shops employed by divers Tradesmen the Dorick Order of Pilasters run round the Hall At one end is a Chapel where Mass is said every day the Procureurs or Attorneys to whom this Chapel belongs have about a year since laid out 40000. Francs to beautifie it as we now see Above this is the Clock according to which the Hearings or Audiences in the several Courts are regulated At the bottom of the Dial you may read this neat Verse made by M. de Montmort one of the French Academicians SACRA THEMIS MORES UT PENDULA DIRIGIT HORAS Justice does guide us as the Ballance this The inside round about this Chapel is adorn'd with Gilding and painted like Marble of various Colours which makes the place very handsom You must not neglect to see the several Chambers where they plead The great Chamber is on one side of the great Hall it was built in the time of St. Lewis who used here to give his Publick Audiences