succeeded the King his Father the 14th of May 1643. He was declared Major or at Age the 7th of September 1651. Consecrated at Reims 1654 and Married at St. John de Luz's the 9th of the same Month 1660. As to his Consecration or Anointing for so the French call the Coronation of their Kings though the Medals made on that occasion bear date the 31th of May you are to remark that it was not performed till the 7th of June of the said Year 1654. I thought I could not give you a more faithful Draught of the Person of our Invincible Monarch than that which I have borrowed from the words of the late Archbishop of Paris in the History that Illustrious and Learned Prelate composed of Henry the Great Yes Sir saith he to him Heaven has given you a generous good and bounteous Soul a Wit sublime and capable of the greatest things an happy and easy Memory an Heroick and Martial Courage a clear and solid Judgment a strong and vigorous Body and over and above all this another very particular advantage and that is That Majestic Presence that Air and Gate almost Divine that shape and that beauty worthy of the Empire of the Vniverse that attracts the Eyes and Respect of the whole World and which without the Force of Arms and without the Authority of Commands wins you all those to whom your Majesty is pleased to shew your Self The King of France is called Most Christian for the great and Signal Services received by the Church and the Holy See from this Crown He is also for the same reason stiled the Eldest Son of the Church and by several Bulls of Popes a priviledge has been granted to the Kings of France that they should not be liable to Excommunication nor their Subjects absolved of the Oath of Allegiance due to them This Monarch is in point of precedence the first King of Christendom notwithstanding the opposition of the Kings of Spain who never disputed or did so much as take place next after our Kings before the time of the Emperour Charles the Fifth and then other Kings preceded them It is true indeed that that Emperour being likewise King of Spain because his Ministers and Ambassadours preceded those of France as representing the Emperour the Spaniards under his Successour Philip the Second who was only King of Spain endeavoured under that pretence in the Year 1558. at Venice to gain the Precedence of France but that Republick regulated that dispute and ordered the Precedence to be continued to the Ambassadours of France as Pope Paul the Fourth had done before And Philip the Fourth the King of Spain last deceased agreed to it by the satisfaction he caused to be made to the King of France by the Marquess de la Fuente his Ambassadour Extraordinary in the presence of eight Ambassadours and twenty two Residents or Agents the 24th of March 1662. for the Assault made by his Ambassadour on ours in England in October 1661. The Title of the King of France is so Excellent and so much exalted above that of other Kings that Suidas an ancient Greek Author writes that in the World when it is said only the King without naming who it was meant of the King of France Matthew Paris calls him Terrestrium Rex Regum the King of Earthly Kings And Bodin says that that King is Emperour in France and many assert it to be a common notion of all the Nations of the World that the Quality of King is much more sublime than that of Emperour Pope Gregory the first lib. 9. Ep. 6. Writing to Childebert King of France says that the Kings of France as much surpass all other Kings of the Earth as the Royal Dignity is exalted above the rest of men CHAP. IV. The Genealogy of the Royal Branch of Bourbon SAint Lewis the Ninth of that Name had four Sons of which there was none but Philip the Bold and Robert his Fourth Son that left Issue Of this Robert Count of Clermont who was afterward Lord or Sire of Bourbon are descended our Kings in manner as follows Robert Count of Clermont in the Country of Beauvais Married Beatrix Sole Heiress of John of Burgundy Count of Charolois and of Agnes Daughter of Archimbald the Younger Sire of Bourbon and by her he had Lewis Sire of Bourbon in favour of whom the said Land Sirerie Lordship or Barony of Bourbon was erected into a Dutchy or Peerage by Philip de Valois in the Year 1329. which Lordship belonged to him in right of his Mother whose Name he bore according to the Articles of the Contract of Marriage between his Father and Mother Lewis had Issue Peter Duke of Bourbon and James Earl of Ponthieu and de la Marche Constable of France But because the Masculine Line of the said Peter is extinct we shall leave it to speak of that of James of Bourbon Earl of Ponthieu James of Bourbon Earl of Ponthieu had John of Bourbon by Jean de Chatillon Daughter of the Earl of St. Paul John of Bourbon had by Catharine of Vendome Sister and Sole Heiress of Bouchard last Count of Vendome James King of Naples who leaving no Children transferred the Birth-right to his Brother Lewis Lewis of Bourbon Count of Vendome Grand Master of France had by Jean Daughter of Guy Count de Laval Lord of Gaure John the Second of that Name Earl of Vendome John the second of Bourbon had by Isabelle of Beauvais Daughter of the Lord of Pressigny Francis his Successour and Earl of Vendome and Lewis Prince de la Roche Sur-Yon Francis of Bourbon had five Children by Marie of Luxemburg Countess of St. Paul the Eldest was Charles Count and made Duke of Vendome by King Francis the First Charles the First of Bourbon Duke of Vendome had seven Male Children by Francise Daughter of Renie Duke of Alencon of which there were but two that left Issue viz. Antony of Bourbon who succeeded him as first Heir and was afterward King of Navarre and Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condé Duke of Anguien Marquess of Conti Count of Soissons which latter had among other Children Henry the First of that Name Prince of Condé whose Son Henry the Second Prince of Condé was Father of Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condé of Armand of Bourbon late Prince of Conti and of Anne-Geneveve of Bourbon Dutchess of Longueville who had Children as we shall say afterward Antony of Bourbon Duke of Vendome had by Joan d' Albret Queen of Navarre Daughter of Henry the Second of that Name King only of Navarre and of Margaret d' Angouleme-Valois Daughter of Francis the First King of France Henry the third of that Name of Navarre who reuniting together the two Crowns of France and Navarre was named Henry the Great the Fourth of that Name King of France and Navarre Father of Lewis the Just and Grandfather of Lewis our glorious Monarch who by his great Actions as well as his Grandfather has
Office There are likewise twelve of the Kings Life-guard Men Commanded by an Exemt in Ordinary and a Sub-Brigadier that keep Guard every day at the outward Door and lie in the Hall Two of the Kings Footmen wait always in the Anti-Chamber to be in readiness to go where-ever there shall be occasion to send them for the service of the Children of France and they have besides ten other little Footmen If any of the Children of France be carried or Conducted to the Audiences given by the King to Ambassadours they are placed on the Kings right hand The Governess and Under-Governess too enter within the Rails upon the Cloth of State as likewise the Chamber-Maid that holds them in her Arms and the Gentleman-Usher that leads and supports them for fear they should fall Of Monsieur the Kings only Brother and his Family Philip Son of France only Brother to the King Duke of Orleans c. was Born the 22d of September 1640. His first Wife was the Lady Henriette-Anne of England Daughter to the late Charles the First King of Great-Brittain and Sister to the Present King of England to whom he was Married the last day of March 1661. She died the 29th of June 1670. leaving him two daughters Marie-Lewise of Orleans Queen of Spain Born the 27th of March 1662. Married at Fountain-bleau the 31st of August 1679. and Anne of Orleans Dutchess of Savoy Born the 27th of August 1669. and Married at Versailles the 10th of April 1684. His second Wife is Madam Charlotte-Elizabeth of Bavaria Daughter to the late Elector Palatine who was Born the 27th of May or the 17th old Stile 1651. and was Married to him the 21st of December 1671. By whom he has Issue the Duke of Chartres named Philip Born the second of August 1675 and Madamoiselle of Chartres Born the 13th of September 1676. named Elizabeth Charlotte The Duke of Chartres is Colonel of the Regiment of Guienne His Governour is the Marshal d' Estrades who has the same allowance as the Governours of the Sons of France His Tutor is Monsieur de St. Laurent formerly Introductor of Ambassadours to their Royal Highnesses The Governess of their Royal Highnesses Children is the Marshal of Grancy's Lady Monsieur the Duke of Orleans is a Prince of a very lively spirit that delights in great things and that has signaliz'd his Courage in several Rencounters as at the taking of St. Omers at the Battel of Mount-Cassel c. CHAP. VI. Of the Princes of the Blood MOnsieur the late Duke of Orleans who was named Gaston-John-Baptiste Son of France Duke of Orleans c. Died at Blois at the Age of 52 Years the second of February 1660. His first Wife was Marie of Bourbon Daughter and Sole Heiress to Henry of Bourbon Duke of Montpensier and Sovereign Prince of Dombes and to Henriette-Catharine Dutchess of Joyeuse She was Married to him in the Year 1626. and died the 4th of June the next Year being 1627. leaving him a Daughter Born the 29th of May in the said year 1627. Stiled Madamoiselle of Orleans who Signs Anne-Marie-Lewise of Orleans The Countess of Fiesque was her Governess She is likewise Dutchess of Chatelleraud which formerly belonged to the Dukes of Hamilton in Scotland and is still Claimed by them and of Montpensier c. Princess de la Roche-sur-Yon c. and Sovereign Princess of Dombes c. But she hath given the Principality de la Roche-sur-Yon to Francis Lewis of Bourbon at present Prince of Conti and the Soveraignty of Dombes which gives power to Coin Money to my Lord the Duke of Maine reserving only the profits of it during her Life In the year 1632. the said late Monsieur Married for his second Wife Margaret of Loraine second Daughter of Francis Count de Vaudemont and of Christine de Salme and Sister of Charles Duke of Lorrain who was Born in the year 1615. and died at Paris in her Palace of Luxemburgh the 3d of April 1672. By whom he left three Daughters 1. Madamoiselle of Orleans named Margaret-Lewise Born the 28th of July 1645. and Married the 19th of April 1661. to the Prince of Tuscany at Present Great Duke of Florence by whom he has Ferdinand of Medicis Prince of Tuscany Born the 9th of August 1663. and Marie Magdalene of Medicis Born in the year 1665. 2. Madamoiselle d' Alençon Isabel of Orleans Born the 26th of Decem. 1646. She is Dutchess Dowager of the late Duke of Guise by whom she had a Son 3. And Madamoiselle de Valois Francise of Orleans Born the 13th of October 1648. and Married to the Duke of Savoy 1663. She died in 1664. He had likewise a Son by her named John-Gaston Duke of Valois Before we come to the Princes of Condé and Conti we must take notice That Lewis of Bourbon the first of that Name Prince of Condé Brother of Antony of Bourbon King of Navarre who was Father to King Henry the Great Had by Eleonor de Roye Countess of Roucy Marchioness of Conti and Lady of Muret his first Wife Henry Prince of Condé the first of that Name This Henry the first had by Charlotte-Catherine de la Tremoüille Henry the Second who by Charlotte Margaret of Montmorency Daughter to the last Constable of Montmorency and Lewise de Budos his second Wife who died the 2d of December 1650. left three Children and died the 28th of December 1646. 1. Lewis of Bourbon the second of that Name Prince of Condé first Prince of the Blood Duke of the Territory of Bourbon c. and General of the Kings Armies who was one of the most Valiant Princes of Europe or to speak better the Alexander of his Age He was Born the 8th of September 1621 and on the 11th of February 1641. being as then but Duke of Enguyen in his Fathers Life-time Married Clare-Clemence de Maillé Brezé Daughter of the late Marshal de Brezé and of the late Cardinal Duke of Richelieu's Sister By whom he had at Paris the 29th of July 1643. Henry-Julius of Bourbon now Prince of Condé Knight of the Orders of his Majesty Governour of Burgundy c. Grand Master of France or of the Kings Houshold under which Head we shall speak further of him The Late Prince of Condé died at Fountain-bleau the 11th of December 1686. in the 65 Year of his Age. On the 11th of December 1663. The present Prince Married Anne Countess Palatine Dutchess of Bavaria who was Born the 11th of December 1647. Daughter of the late Edward of Bavaria Prince Palatine of the Rhine and of Anne of Gorzague and was adopted only Daughter of Poland By whom he had 1. Marie-Terese called Madamoiselle de Bourbon who was Born at Paris the first of February 1666. and Baptized at the Convent of the Carmelites in the Street called La rue de Bouloy the 22th of January 1670. 2. Lewis of Bourbon Duke of Enguien and Governour of Burgundy Born at Paris the 11th of October
Knights to thirty six but their number has now been a long time unlimited the late King Lewis the Thirteenth in the year 1633. at Fountainbleau gave the Order to fifty of his Lords and at the last Promotion that was made in 1662. there were Installed threescore and ten The Knights of this Order wear at present a silver Cross set on Orange-Coloured Velvet upon the left side of their Cloaks and Suits in the midst of which is a Dove Embroidered in silver with rays of Silver and at the Corners Flowerdeluces also of Silver with another Cross all of gold hung about their Necks with a Sky-Coloured Ribband which Cross is Enameld with white on the sides having at the Corners Flowerdeluces and in the middle the Figure of a Dove on both sides The Great Collar of this Order is composed of Flowerdeluces of gold Crowned with golden Flames Enameld with red enterlaced with three Cyphers likewise of gold Enamel'd with white The first Cypher is an H and a double A all double which may be read upward or downward the H standing for Henry the Third the Letter L for Lewise of Lorrain his Wife and another for something which is as yet a mystery The Cross of the Order is of Gold in the midst of which there is a Dove Enameld with white on one side and on the other side the Image of St. Michael On the last of June in the year 1594. Henry the Great took out of the Collar of the Order the Cyphers of Henry the Third his Predecessour and caused to be put in their place Trophies of Arms interlaced together and intermingled with Crowned H's Some assert that this Order was first Instituted by King Lewis of Scicily and that Henry the Third did but renew it The Knights upon the day of their reception or Instalment are clad in Cloth of Silver with Breeches tuckt up white Silk Stockings and Pumps of white Velvet their Bonnets of Black-Velvet and their Cloaks made with a Cape after the ancient Fashion of Black-Velvet uncut and their Ruffs stiff-starched When they are received their Capes are taken off and a long Green-Velvet Cloak is put on their Shoulders trailing on the ground wrought all over with Trophies of gold for the Knights and Flames for the Officers and lined with Orange-Coloured Satin They kneel down before the King who taking their joined hands between his own strikes them gently over the Shoulders with his Sword and Kisses them on the Cheek When the King Confers this Order in any Church he goes and sits down near the Altar in the middle of the Officers of the Order then the Great Master of the Ceremonies of the Order Accompanied with the Usher and the Herald goes and gives notice to the Lords which are to receive the Order who presently advance towards his Majesty one after the other or else by two and two and kneeling down take the usual Oath holding their two hands between his Majesties in the manner aforesaid and touching the Book of the Holy Gospels which is held by the Chancellour After which the Provost and Great Master of the Ceremonies present the King with Cloaks and Mantles to Invest the Knights and then his Majesty taking the Collars of the Order from the hands of the High Treasurer puts them about the Knights Necks saying to them these words Take from our hand the Collar of our Order of the blessed Holy Ghost c. In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost CHAP. XI Of the Knights of the Order and Militia of the Holy Ghost 1. THE King Soveraign of the Order 2. The Dauphin to whom the Officers of the Order carried the Blue-Ribband presently after his Birth on the first of November 1661. Since which the King made him Knight on New-Years Day in 1682. 3. The Duke of Burgundy to whom the Great Treasurer of the Order being the Marquiss of Seignelay carried the Cross and Blue-Ribband presently after his Birth on the 6th of August 1682. 4. The Duke of Anjou had it likewise presently after his Birth on the 19th of December 1683. And 5. The Duke of Berry soon after he was Born on the last of August 1686. 6. The Duke of Orleans who had likewise the Blue-Ribband soon after his Birth and was afterward made Knight Where note that the Kings Sons Grand-Children or Brothers are Born Knights and wear the Blue-Ribband presently after their Birth though they be not fully and actually received as such till the King thinks fit The last King made a Promotion of Knights of this Order in the year 1633. of which remain only two Knights viz. the Duke of St. Simon and the Marquiss of St. Simon Of the Knights promoted in 1662. The Present King with the greatest Ceremony that perhaps was ever practised on the like occasion made a Promotion of several Knights of this Order in the year 1662. in which number were two Princes of the Blood nine Prelates and fifty nine other great Persons and Commanders Besides the King sent the Collar of his Orders of his Ambassadours at Rome and in Spain to Julius Cesarini Duke of Castel-Nove a Roman Baron and to the Prince of Conty Father of the present Prince of that Name and to the seven other Lords absent in the Southern Parts of France who repairing immediately to the then Prince of Conty who was Governour of Languedoc and kept his Residence at Pezenas were Installed the same year in Nôtre-Dame Church at Pezenas with the same Ceremonies that had been used in the Great Augustines Church at Paris the Order being Confer'd on them by the Duke d' Arpajon who was sent thither on purpose by the King where Monsieur Martineau and des Prés as Herald and Usher of the Orders officiated their Places Some dayes before the Ceremony of Installing the said Knights at Paris the King gave the Cross of the Order of the Holy Ghost to the late Duke of Beaufort in the Month of December 1661. who was then going out upon an Expedition to Sea who upon his return in 1663. received the Collar of the Order from his Majesty upon the Feast of the Assumption in the Chappel of Germains en Laye Those of them that are still alive are 1. Prince of the Blood 1. The Prince of Condé Prelates 1. The Archbishop of Arles 2. The Bishop of Mets. 3. The Archbishop of Paris 4. The Archbishop of Lyons Other Commanders are 1. The Duke de Chaunes 2. The Duke de Luynes 3. The Duke de Crequy 4. The Duke of Nevers 5. The Duke of St. Aignan 6. The Marquiss de Vardes 7. The Count de Beringhen 8. The Duke de Montausier 9. The Marquiss de Polignac 10. The Marquiss de Pompadour 11. The Marquiss de Gamaches 12. The Marshal Count d' Estrades 13. The Count de Guitault The rest are dead Since that his Maiesty was pleased to Confer the said Order on the Duke of Mecklenburg on the first of November 1664.
him to take both that Name and the Arms belonging to it The same Year a Marriage was treated off between him and Françise of Lorrain of Mercoeur only Daughter and Heiress Apparent of Philip-Emanuel of Lorrain Duke of Mercoeur and of Marie of Luxemburg Princess of Martigues who died the 8th of September 1669. which Marriage was Consummated in 1609. He took the Oath of Duke and Peer in Parliament in 1606. He was Governour and Lieutenant-General for the King in Brittany which Place he Resigned in favour of the Queen Regent in the Month of May 1650. for that of High Admiral of France The Crosses and disgraces this Prince had met withal having nothing abated his Zeal for the service of the King and State He died in his Palace at Paris the 22d of October 1665. leaving three Children behind him 1. Lewis Duke of Vendome and Mercoeur Governour of Provence c. and afterward Cardinal who before he was Cardinal Married in the year 1651. Victoria-Mancini Niece to the Late Cardinal Mazarine who died the 8th of January 1657. And died himself at Aix the 6th of August 1669. leaving two Sons by this Marriage of whom we shall speak below 2. His Brother Francis of Vendome Duke of Beaufort Peer of France Knight of the Kings Orders High Admiral or Grand Master of the Seas Head and Super-intendant General of the Commerce and Navigation of France was Born at Paris in the Month of January 1616. and was in April 1669. declared by his Holiness General of all the Forces of Christendom sent to the Relief of Candia and never could be found or heard of since that unhappy attack given by the French to the Turks the 25th of June 1669. He was never Married 3. Their Sister was named Isabel of Vendome and died in May 1664. being the Widow of the late Duke of Nemours Charles-Amedeus of Savoy by whom she left two Daughters as we shall remark afterward The two Sons of the abovesaid Cardinal Duke of Vendome during his said Marriage are yet living and are 1. Lewis-Joseph of Vendome Duke of Vendome c. Great Senechal and Governour of the Country and County of Provence c. was Born the first of July 1654. He won the prize at running at Heads performed at St. Germains in February 1680. and that at running at the Ring the 2d of May the same year 2. Philip of Vendome Grand Prior of France Knight of St. John of Jerusalem c. was Born the 22d of August 1656. The same Henry the Great had during his second Marriage by the Lady Henriette of Balsac D' Antragues Marchioness of Vernueil a Son and a Daughter being 1. The late Henry of Bourbon Duke of Vernueil c. who on the 29th of October 1668. Married Charlote Seguier Dutchess Dowager of Sully who died without Children the 28th of May 1682. 2. The late Gabriele of Bourbon first Wife to the Deceased Duke of Epernon by whom she had the Duke of Candale who died at Lyons and a Daughter who is a Carmelite Nun. By the Lady Jaqueline de Bueil Countess of Moret he had Antony of Bourbon Count of Moret who was killed at the Battel of Castelnau d' Ary in 1632. Lastly By the Lady Charlotte of Essars Countess of Remorantin his fourth Mistress the said King had two Daughters viz. The Lady Joan-Baptist of Bourbon Abbess and Chief of the Order of Fontevrault who was Born in 1608. and died the 16th of January 1669. and the Lady Marie-Henriette of Bourbon Abbess of Chelles who is likewise dead CHAP. IX Of the House of Longueville THE late Henry of that Name Duke of Longueville c. Died at Roan the 11th of May 1663. at the Age of 69 years He Married as we have said the present Prince of Conde's Sister by whom he had two Sons viz. 1. John-Lewis-Charles of Orleans of Longueville called The Abbot of Orleans Duke of Longueville and d' Estouteville Count de Dunois or the Country of Dun c. was Born the 12th of January 1646. and took the Order of Priesthood in 1669. 2. Charles of Orleans Duke of Longueville Count of St. Pauls his Brother was killed at the memorable passage of the Rhine near Tolbuys in Holland the 12th of June 1672. leaving only a natural Son called the Chevalier Longueville who was Legitimated the same year Their Sister by the Fathers side by a former Wise was Anne-Marie of Orleans who was Born the 5th of March 1625. being Widow of Henry of Savoy last Duke of Nemours This Family descended in a direct Male Line from John Natural Son to Lewis of France Duke of Orleans Brother to Charles the Sixth This Count de Dunois did such brave Exploits in the reign of Charles the Seventh against the English under the Names of the Bastard of Orleans and of Count de Dunois That he obtained for his Posterity very singular Priviledges and such as never before or since him were ever granted to any Natural Children but those of the Kings themselves After the Princes of the Blood and those which are Legitimated I thought good to subjoin those Families that the King suffers to enjoy some particular honours which other Dukes and Peers are not allowed which are called Stranger-Princes CHAP. X. Of Stranger-Princes THese Princes though born in France and truly French by Nation yet are called Strangers because they are originally descended from a Foreign House and Principality and bear its Name As those of the House of Lorain Savoy and others of which we shall here speak It is almost impossible to regulate the point of Precedence among the Soveraign Families setled in France and therefore not to meddle with those disputes I shall follow the Order of the time of their respective setling here And since the Branches of the House of Lorain that for these many Ages have been setled in this Kingdom have longer enjoyed the Bank of Princes in France than those of the House of Savoy I hope none will take it ill that I give them the first place for as for the Precedence of some other Houses there being as yet almost nothing determined in France on that subject I shall leave it wholly to the Reader to think of that point what he pleases Of the House of Lorain The better and more distinctly to describe to you all the Princes and Princesses of the House of Lorain that are at present living I shall divide the Family into five Branches and accordingly shall speak first Of the first Branch of Lorain The late Charles the Third of that Name Duke of Lorain who died of a Feaver at Cologne the 17th of September 1675. at the Age of 75 Years Married on the 22d of May 1621. his Cousin-German Nicole of Lorain eldest Daughter of the deceased Henry Duke of Lorain This Charles Duke of Lorain was detained a long time Prisoner in Spain which was the cause that the Princess Nicole Dutchess of Lorain not being willing to fall into the same Misfortune
that of the Haudriettes at Paris which are now the Nuns of the Assumption It will not be amiss to place here the Form of the Oath of Fidelity or Allegiance which the Bishops in France take to the King upon the Holy Gospels The Form of the Oath of Allegiance taken by the Bishops I Swear Sir by the Most Holy and Sacred Name of God and Promise to your Majesty That I will be to you as long as I live a Faithful Subject and Servant That I will procure your Service and the good of your State with all my power That I will never be present in any Counsel Design or Enterprize to the prejudice of either and that if there comes any thing of that kind to my Knowledge that I will make it known to your Majesty So help me God and these Holy Gospels CHAP. XII Of the first Almoner and other Almoners according to their Quarters THE first Almoner when he pleases in the absence of the Great Almoner performs all the same Functions and he Administers the Oath of Fidelity to the other Officers of the Chappel and of the Oratory which the other Almoners do not do In the absence of the Great Almoner he likewise gives to Bishops and other Ecclesiastical Dignitaries a Certificate of their having taken the Oath of Fidelity or Allegiance to the King during Mass He has 1200 l. per annum Wages paid by the Treasurer of the Houshold and 6000 l. more for his Table at Court paid by the Masters of the Chamber of Deniers On Sundays if he be at Chappel he presents Holy Bread to the King to the Queen to the Dauphin and Dauphiness to Monsieur the Kings Brother and to Madame Then the Almoners of that Quarter give it to the other Princes and Princesses of the Blood or to those that are Legitimated which are near the Kings Foot-Cloth The first Almoner and another of that Quarter hold the two Corners of the Communion Napkin on that side next the Altar when the King receives and commonly two Knights of the Orders or two other Lords hold the two other Corners on his Majesties side But if the Dauphin happen to be there then he only is to hold the Communion Napkin on his Majesties side The Master of the Oratory has 1200 l. per annum Wages paid by the Treasurers of the Houshold and 3600 l. more for his Table at Court paid him by the Masters of the Chamber of Deniers The Kings Confessor who is the Reverend Father la Chaise a Jesuit has 1200 l. a year by Name of Wages 2654 l. at the Chamber of Deniers and 3000 l. more to maintain his Coach On the great Festivals of the year and when the King Communicates the reverend Father Confessor is always at Church near his Majesty Clothed with a Surpliss under his Mantle On other days he assists if he pleases at the Kings Mass but without a Surpliss By an Order of Philip the Long made at St. Germain en Laye in the Month of June 1316. The Kings Confessour has power to Order all Letters for Collating of Benefices to be made ready for the Royal Signature and Seal and the Great Almoner those of Royal Gifts and Alms according to Mr. Tillet Tom. 1. f. 434 435. By a Charter of the same Philip the Long made at Bourges the 16th of November 1318. All persons were forbidden to speak to the King while he was hearing Mass except his Confessour who might speak to him only about things concerning his Conscience And after Mass he might speak to him about the business of Collating of Benefices The King has eight other Almoners whereof two wait every Quarter and of those two at least he that is to wait that Day is to be present at the Kings Rising Dinner and Mass during which last the Almoner of the Quarter or some other is to hold his Majesties Hat and Gloves or in their absence the next Chaplain or Clerk of the Chappel to be found in the way is to receive them The Almoners are to be afterward at the Kings Supper and at his going to Bed to perform the following Ceremonies as to open the Nave on the Table if there be one and to take it away when Supper is done to crave a Blessing and to give thanks The Almoners are present on solemn Festivals and when the King Communicates Clothed with Rotchets under their Mantles both at Mass and at Vespers They Preach in Rotchets both before the King and else where They administer the Communion to the King They go and present the Holy Bread they also deliver Prisoners give Dispensation in Lent to eat Eggs and Flesh give Ashes to the King Queen and other Royal Persons they give Holy Water to the King and Queen when Mass is done and in fine in the absence of the Great or the first Almoner perform all Functions which they should do They have each a Salary 300 l. a piece for serving the King and their Diet at the Table called the Almoners Table And for serving at the Dauphins by turns one year in two they have half the Wages they have in the Kings Service and half a Pistol a Day for their diet which one year with another makes 600 l. to each besides their diet at Court I shall not mention those many titular Preachers and Almoners that the King is pleased to admit only ad honores because they have no rank here There is one Chaplain in Ordinary who has 1200 l. a year under the name of Wages and 1098 l. for his diet at the Chamber of Deniers Besides whom there are eight Chaplains that serve quarterly two to each Quarter Who are to say every day excepting the High-Mass dayes a low Mass before the King they serve commonly Weekly and he that is not in Waiting any Week in the Kings Service may if he pleases when he is present at the Kings Mass kneel in Mass-time next behind the Almoners on the Kings right hand They serve also the Dauphin and his Children They have each 240 l. Wages a year for three Months waiting in the Kings Service and their diet at the Almoners Table during their said three Months Service and 120 l. to serve by turns at the Dauphins and their diet at Court at the Deservers or Water-Servers belonging to the Dauphin They have likewise 120 l. Recompense for serving every other Year at the Duke of Burgundies and 270 l. for their diet at the end of their quarter And besides you are to take notice that at the Dauphins they are allowed half a Pistol a day a piece for their diet every day there is no Table kept which one year with another makes 495 l. yearly Revenue to each besides their diet at Court and some other profits The Chaplains besides the ordinary Ceremonies go before they begin Mass and give their Majesties Holy Water and when Mass is done they present the Corporal on which they have Celebrated to their Majesties
Oath to the Great Almoner Besides these there are the Almoners belonging to the great and little Stables and to the other Bodies of the Kings Houshold and the Chaplains belonging to the several Companies of Guards and of the Gentlemen-Musqueteers and others of which we shall speak in their places The New Chappel of the Louvre was Consecrated the 18th of February 1659. by the late Bishop of Rhodes since Archbishop of Paris and that of little Bourbon pull'd down in the Month of August the same year The Kings Ecclesiastical Officers keep always on his Majesties right hand in the Chappel and the Bishops Abbots and Ecclesiastical Officers of the Queen on his left Now on his Majesties right hand the Great Almoners Place is next to the Kings Person then follows that of the first Almoner on the right hand of the Great Almoner As for the Kings Father Confessour he places himself at the Great Almoners left hand more within the Kings Praying-Desk The Master of the Chappel-Musick takes his place on the left hand next adjoining to the Kings Praying-Desk The rest of the Almoners rank themselves to the right-hand-ward from the foot of the Kings Praying-Desk toward the Altar and after them the Chaplains and Clerks of the Chappel and Oratory and the other Clergy of the Kings Houshold every one in their Order CHAP. XIV Of the Great Master of the Kings Houshold and those who depend on him and of the Stewards of the Houshold THE Prince of Conde is at present Grand Master of the Kings Houshold and his Son the Duke of Enguien has it in Reversion The Grand Master has yearly under the name of Wages 3600 l. for Liveries 42000 l. paid quarterly for his Collations 1200 l. and 1800 l. for his Steward Under the first Race of our Kings the Great Master of France was called the Mayor of the Palace who was a Lieutenant-General over the whole Kingdom and according to the ancient Disposition of the State as there was a Duke placed over twelve Earls and sometimes a Duke over whole Provinces so the Mayor of the Palace was the Duke of Dukes and stiled himself Duke or Prince of the French His Authority was not confined only within the Kings Houshold where he disposed of all Offices but he had a great power over all Officers of War and Justice over the Managers of the Revenue and Treasury and indeed over all Affairs of State and grew so great at last that it Eclipsed the Kings and gave Pepin who was but Mayor of the Palace opportunity to assume the Crown which having done and fearing that if he continued any longer any such great Authority as this in an Officer his own practice might be returned on him and his Successors he suppressed this Office of Mayor of the Palace and Erected in its stead that of Seneschal for the Government only of his Household reserving all the other powers of that former Office to himself Yet it has happened since that the Seneschal for all that has taken upon him some Command in the Armies even so far as to have the Guard of the Kings Person Some have called him the Great Gonfanonïer or Standard-Bearer This Office became Hereditary to the Counts of Anjou from the time of Geffry Grisegonelle to whom King Robert gave it about the year 1002. and those that exercised it about the King held it in Fee of those Counts to whom they did Homage for it and paid certain acknowledgments as going to meet the Count of Anjou when he came to the Palace Lodging him letting him serve the King c. and furnishing him in the Armies with a Tent big enough to hold a hundred Knights as Hugh de Cléries reports at large This Officer also retained still a part of the power of the Mayors of the Palace in other things and decided all differences arising among the Attendants of the Court and among the Officers of the Houshold After the Kings Death he throws his Staff upon the Coffin before all the rest of the Officers Assembled together to show that their Offices are expired but the succeeding King ordinarily restores them out of his special Grace and Favour The Great Master Regulates every year the expence of the Mouth of the Kings Houshold He has an entire Jurisdiction over the seven Offices the most part of which places he disposes of and the Officers thereof take the Oath of Allegiance to the King between his hands Nevertheless the Great Masters have voluntarily resign'd the Office of Intendant of the Gobelet and of the Mouth into the Kings hands ever since Monsieur de Soissons Great Master of the Kings Houshold under Henry IV. refused to trouble himself any longer with the care of them He receives the Oath of Allegiance from the first Master of the Houshold from the Master of the Houshold in Ordinary and from twelve Masters of the Houshold that wait Quarterly from the Great and Chief Pantler Cup-Bearer and Carver from the thirty six Gentlemen Servitors from the three Masters of the Chamber of Deniers from the two Controulers-General from the sixteen Controulers Clerks of Offices from the Master of the Kings Chappel-Musick and from the Master of the Kings Oratory from the Almoners of the Kings Houshold from the Great Master the Master and the Aid of the Ceremonies from the Introductor of Ambassadours and from ........ from the Kings Master of the Horse in Ordinary and of the twenty other Masters of the Horse that serve quarterly from the four Lieutenants of the Guards of the Kings Gate from the Keepers of the Tents c. When he serves in Ceremony and that he goes along with the Meat he marches nearer the Kings Meat than all the Stewards of the Houshold carrying his Staff strait and bolt upright like a Scepter and the other Masters of the Houshold hold theirs more downward in his presence It is he likewise that at all Great Ceremonies presents the first wet Napkin to the King The Office called the Kings Office or Counting-House is kept under the Authority of the Great Master CHAP. XV. Of the first Master of the Houshold and of the other Masters under him THE first Master of the Houshold is at present the Marquiss de Livry who has a Jurisdiction over the seven Offices as far as relates to their Service but has not the disposal of their places He may also receive the Oath of Fidelity from the Offieers of the Cup or Goblet and of the Mouth and of the other Officers and in the Great Masters absence of those other Officers which ought to perform that Ceremony to him He has his Lodging in the Louvre and has yearly for Wages 3000 l. for Liveries 7968 l. and for the Counters 60 l. He keeps the Great Chamberlains Table and has the last course of it for his Fee The priviledge of the said Table is an acquisition that has been made to this Office by some preceding First Masters of
according to a Declaration and List or Account of them verified in the Court of Aids at Paris Next to the Great or High Chancery of France are those establisht near the Parliaments The Masters of Requests preside in those Chanceries and keep the Seals of them when they are present there The Chancery of Paris is the greatest and antientest of them all It is composed of four Audiencers of four Comptrollers that officiate quarterly and of twelve Referendaries and some other Officers The Function of the Refendaries is to make Report of all Letters to that Master of Requests that keeps the Seal to sign them at the bottom when they find them civil and furnished with all the Clauses required by the Ordinances or to subjoin in the same place the refutata or Confutations of them if they contain any unusual Clauses or be ill digested and drawn up King Francis the First by his Edict of Creation in the Month of February 1522. gave them the Quality or Title of Councellours-Reporters and Referendaries and Henry the Second in the Month of July 1556. granted them Place and Voice in the Presidials in consideration that they were Learned and had been admitted to the practice of the Laws before the Masters of Requests Note That the four Wax-Chafers of the Great Chancery are the same that perform the like Function in the Chancery of Paris The Letters Sealed in the Chancery of Paris are ordinarily executable only within the Limits of the Jurisdiction of the Parliament But yet it has sometimes hapned that when the Chancellour was obliged to follow the King in a long Journey and carry the Great Seal with him that then by vertue of a Declaration from the King to that end the Letters which should have passed the Great Seal were only Sealed in the Chancery of Paris and thence transmitted to and Executed in the other Parliaments of the Kingdom CHAP. XXVII Of the Ecclesiastical Division of France into Archbishopricks and Bishopricks and of its Clergy THE Kings Collates or Presents within his Dominions to 18 Archbishopricks 107 Bishopricks to about 750 Abbies of Men besides those that have been united to other Communities or Benefices and to above 200 Abbies of Nuns and as the Conquests of Majesty increase so the number of Benefices in his nomination must needs proportionably increase too The Archbishopricks and Bishopricks according to their Alphabetical Order are these The 18 Archbishopricks are 1. AIx 2. Alby 3. Ambrun 4. Arles 5. Auch 6. Besançon 7. Bourdeaux 8. Bourges 9. Cambray 10. Lyons 11. Narbon 12. Paris 13. Reims 14. Rouen 15. Sens. 16. Toulouze 17. Tours 18. Vienna The 107 Bishopricks are 1. AGde 2. Agen. 3. Aire 4. Alet 5. Amiens 6. Angiers 7. Angoulême 8. Apt. 9. Arras 10. Auranche 11. Autun 12. Auxerre 13. Bayeux 14. Bayonne 15. Bazas 16. Beauvais 17. Bellay 18. Bethlehem 19. Beziers 20. Boulogne 21. St. Brien 22. Cahors 23. Carcassone 24. Castres 25. Cisteron 26. Chaalons 27. Chartres 28. Clermont 29. Cominges 30. Condom 31. Cornoüaille 32. Conserans 33. Coutance 34. De Dax 35. Digne 36. Dol. 37. Evreux 38. De Helne or Perpignan 39. St. Flour 40. Frejus 41. Gap 42. Geneva 43. Glandeve 44. Grace 45. Grenoble 46. Laitoure 47. Langres 48. Laon. 49. Lavaur 50. Leon. 51. Lescar 52. Limoges 53. Lizieux 54. Lodeve 55. Lombez 56. Luçon 57. Maçon 58. St. Malo 59. Mande 60. Du Mans. 61. Marseilles 62. Meaux 63. Mets. 64. Mire-Poix 65. Montauban 66. Montpellier 67. Nantes 68. Nevers 69. Nice 70. Nimes 71. Noyon 72. Oleron 73. St. Omer 74. Orange 75. Orleans 76. Pamiers 77. St. Papoul 78. St. Paul trois Chateaux or St. Paul 3 Castles 79. Perigueux Perpignan vide Elne 80. Poitiers 81. St. Pol de Lion 82. St. Pons de Tomiers 83. Le Puy 84. Rennes 85. Rieux 86. Riez 87. La Rochelle 88. Rodez 89. Saintes or Yaintes 90. Sars 91. Sarlat 92. Senez 93. Senlis 94. Soissons 95. Strasburg 96. Tarbas 97. Toul 98. Toulon 99. Tournay 100. Treguier 101. Troyes 102. Vabres 103. Valenco Die 104. Vannes 105. Vence 106. Verdun 107. Viviers 108. Vzais 109. Ypres Where Note That Valence and Die is a double Title and the Bishopricks of Geneva and Nice belong to the Duke of Savoy and are only named because part of them lie in the Territories of the King of France Now they follow according to the Order they are commonly placed in 1. And first because Paris is the Capital City of the Kingdom the ordinary Residence of our Kings and of the whole Court the Seat of the first and most August Parliament of the first University of Europe and of so many Famous and Illustrious Men I have thought fit to so many other Prerogatives and Primacies which it has above all other Cities of France to add that of naming it first among the Archbishopricks though it be but of late Creation with its three Suffragans which could not well be separated from it In placing the rest we shall follow the Ancient Division Secundum Notitiam Imperii and the Order of that considerable Book called Gallia Christiana or Description of France since made Christian 1. The Archbishoprick of Paris has three Bishopricks within its Jurisdiction viz. Chartres Meaux and Orleans The present Archbishop is Francis de Harlay Duke and Peer of France Provisour of the Sorbonne c. A Person of noble Extraction Learned Eloquent and very Courteous The Bishop of Chartres is Ferdinand de Neufville Councellour of State in Ordinary c. The present Bishop of Meaux is James Benigne Bossuet late Preceptor or Tutor to the Dauphin Famous for Controversy The Bishop of Orleans is Peter de Cambout de Coislin first Almoner to the King c. There are in this Archbishoprick 39 Abbies of Men besides five united to others and 32 Nunneries 2. The Archbishoprick of Lyons comprehends four Bishopricks viz. Autun Langres Chaalon and Macon The Archbishop is Archbishop and Count and Primate of the Gauls and is at present Camillus de Neufville de Ville-roy Lieutenant Governour for the King in the Country of Lyons c. The Cathedral of that City is very considerable the Canons of it being stiled Counts of Lyons and being obliged for their admission to make proof that they are noble by five Generations both on their Fathers and Mothers side The Bishop of Autun who is by his Dignity perpetual President of he States of Burgundy and Administrator of both the Spiritualties and Temporalties of the Archishoprick of Lyons when the See is vacant c. is Gabriel de Roquette c. The Bishop of Langres who is Bishop and Duke of Langres and one of the ancient Peers of France is at present Lewis Armand de Simianes de Gordes c. The Bishop of Châlons on Saone being both Bishop and Count is Henry Felix de Tassy c. The Bishop of Mâcon is named Michael Cassagnet de Tilladet c. In this Archbishoprick