was an Office that begun with the Monarchy it self He is sworn by the King himself and is received into the Great Council where he takes place as Secretary of State He has the Priviledge to chuse his Lodging after the Princes Dukes and Peers and Marshals of France have chosen theirs for which reason he is called the last in the Ranks He has a Salary of 2000 l. and an annual Gratuity of 8000 l. All the Officers of the Provost-ship are received by his Majesty upon the nomination of the Great Provost and afterwards take out Letters from the King under the Great Seal directed to the Great Council where they are admitted upon those Letters and qualified Judges The Great Provost Judges of all matters both Civil and Criminal hapning between the Officers of the Kings Houshold among themselves or between them and others which are not so The Jurisdiction of the Provostship of the Houshold is the ordinary Court of Justice for the Kings Houshold and therefore from the beginning was ordered to be kept in the Louvre that so the Kings Officers and others of his Court and Retinue having their natural Judge within the Kings House might not be diverted from the service of his Majesty for some years the place where the Provosts Court used to be kept being taken up by the Queen-Mother it was transferred to the Fort-Eveque or Bishops-Fort At present the Officers of the Provostship have their Auditory in the inclosure of the Great Council-Chamber there they have their Hall of Audience their Council-Chamber their Civil and Criminal Records or Registers and there is the Office of the Ushers of the Provostship The present King by a Brief bearing date the 8th of September 1658. declared that he would settle the Seat or Court of the Jurisdiction of the Provost of the Houshold re-established in the Louvre and that he would cause a convenient place there to be marked out and set apart for that purpose The said Court is kept there three times a Week viz. on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday-Mornings People plead there by a Proctor as in other Courts but in a more summary and concise way In civil matters there lies an Appeal from it to the Great Council but in matters Criminal the Great Provost Judges without Appeal as well as the Masters of Requests and those of the Great Council The Officers of the Kings Houshold and those of his Court and Retinue may by special priviledge bring all their Causes into this Court whether they be Civil or Criminal since the Court was chiefly erected in their favour There needs no Committimus to cite any one that belongs to or follows the Court but only an assignation or warning taken out of the Provosts Court by vertue of a Commission out of the Registry there But as the said persons have the priviledge to bring their actions against their Debtors in this Court or to appeal from their Prosecutors thither they may do it if they please by vertue of their Committimus and at their choice bring their Causes either before the Masters of the Requests of the Palace or of the Requests of the Houshold or before the Provost of the Houshold The Great Provost only has power to apply Seals make Inventories and do all other acts of Justice in the Louvre and in the Galleries and other places thereunto belonging and in other Royal Houses within fourteen Leagues distance of Paris as it was determined a Contradictory Sentence of the Council of the 25 of March 1650. given in favour of the Officers of the Provostship of the Houshold against the Officers of the Chatelet He may also take cognisance of all crimes and particular offences and other Causes pro or con any way relating to the people of the Court and of the Kings Retinne and belonging to the Royal Houses and against Vagabonds and of several other Cases with the consent and advice of the other Provosts When he follows the Court any where he Taxes and sets a price upon all Provisions gives assistance for taking of Lodgings if any resistance be made and doth other things necessary for the civil Government there by his Lieutenants of the Long Robe or in their absence by the Lieutenants and Exempts of the short Robe who call to their assistance the Officers or Magistrates and chief Inhabitants of the place When the Court takes a Journey the Great Provost Commands a sufficient number of Tradesmen and Handicrafts-men to follow it to whom he grants Letters of Priviledge by which they are obliged to furnish the Court and its Retinue with all necessaries who are called the Priviledged Tradesmen and by vertue of the said Letters are impowered to keep open Shop in Paris or elsewhere and enjoy several other Exemptions Of the Officers of Judicature belonging to the Provostship of the Houshold For the better administration of Justice to the Officers of the Kings Houshold and to the rest of his Court and Retinue the great Provost has under him two Lieutenants which are put in by the King but named by the Great Provost and are admitted as such in the Great Council where they are sworn There was formerly but one Lieutenant-General the other being but a particular Lieutenant but by an Edict of the Month of September registred in the Great Council the 7th of November following the King made these two Offices equal so that at present there are two Lieutenants-General for both Civil and Criminal matters they have each of them 400 l. Salary and 600 l. gratuity The first of these exercises his Office the first six Months of the Year where the Kings Court is and the other six Months he keeps the Provosts Court at Paris within the Inclosure of the Great Council-Chamber when the King is abroad and the Great-Council at Paris The other serves the latter six Months of the Year at the Kings Court and the first six Months keeps the Provosts Court at Paris for the causes of those that are Officers of any Royal Houses within his Precinct and priviledged persons and others So that there is always two Seats or Courts of Justice of the Great Provost one at Paris for the better expedition of the Causes of the Officers and priviledged Persons belonging to the Royal Houses and another where the Court is when his Majesty is not in Paris as he never is to stay Note That the two Lieutenants the Kings Proctor and the Register of the Provosts Court are allowed each of them at the Salt-Granary at Paris two Minots of Free-Salt that is for paying only some ancient Duties The Kings Proctor there has a Salary of 400 l. 75 l. Augmentation-Money and a gratuity of 1200 l. He serves all the year round and has a Substitute There is one Register in chief both for Civil and Criminal matters who has 104 l. Salary and 400l gratuity He has under him two Commis or Deputies that have the priviledge to wear both Gowns and Caps at
and where they are to be judged too when they are impeacht of any Crime And though in the last Reign it was seen that de facto the Marshal de Marillac was Judged by Delegated Commissaries and the Duke of Montmorency by the Parliament of Toulouze the Parliament of Paris pretends That these two Acts were done against their Priviledges Secondly The Counsellers of the Parliament of Paris pretend a Priviledge to sit in all the other Parliaments without allowing the same Priviledge reciprocally to the Counsellers of the other Parliaments in the Parliament of Paris yet it is to be remarked That the Priviledge of sitting in the Parliament of Paris was granted to the Counsellers of the Parliament of Toulouze by an Ordinance of Charles the Seventh in the year 1454. which the Parliament of Paris refused to verifie whereupon the Parliament of Toulouze made a Decree in the year 1466. by which they Ordained That the Counsellers of the Parliament of Paris should have no Admittance into the Parliament of Toulouze till they had obey'd the abovesaid Ordinance made in their Favour Thirdly The other Parliaments not having that extent of Jurisdiction as the Parliament of Paris have but one Chamber of Inquests the Parliament of Toulouze but two whereas the Parliament of Paris has six The Parliament of Paris opens every year the next day after St. Martins Day in this manner The whole Body being in their Scarlet Robes go to a solemn Mass Celebrated on that occasion in the Great Hall of the Palace after which the Advocates and Proctors are sworn in the Grand Chamber and the Bishop that said Mass has that day Place and a deliberative Voice among them The Parliament continues sitting from that time till the 7th of September after which follows the Vacations During which Recess nevertheless there sits a Chamber called the Chamber of the Vacations which takes Cognisance of those Causes that require speedy dispatch and Criminal Affairs In the five Chambers of Inquests all Processes or Suits are Judged concluded and received by Writing that they may the better discern whether the Appeals made to this High Court of Parliament be made reasonably or no. The fourteen Presidents of the Chambers of Inquests and of those of the Requests which are two are but Counsellers that have accepted that Commission and when the Parliament is met and marches in State they take place among those of the Grand Chamber according to a Regulation of Parliament of the 1st of September 1677. By which it is Ordain'd That in Assemblies Processions and other publick Solemnities these Presidents shall be preceded only by two Counsellers of the Grand Chamber of which the first is to be Titular and the second may be only Honorary As for the Presidents of the Inquests and Requests among themselves they are to take place in their march according to their standing and the order of their admission The Court called the Tournelle-Civil established by Lewis the Great in 1667 and 1669. Judges of all Appeals in civil matters to the value of 1000. Livers or Pounds French and of an Estate of 50 Livers yearly rent It is composed of one President wearing the Mortar-Cap six Counsellers of the Grand Chamber and of four Counsellers out of every Chamber of Inquests who go thither by turns once in three Months The Kings Declaration for this purpose of the year 1669. bears date the 11th of August and was Registred in Parliament and in the Chamber of Accounts the 13th of August The Tournelle-Criminal Judges of all Appeals in Criminal matters excepting those made by Gentlemen and other persons of State which are to be judged in the Grand Chamber it is called the Tournelle because it is composed of two Presidents with Mortar-Caps ten Lay-Counsellers of the Grand Chamber and of two Counsellers out of every Chamber of Inquests which go thither every one Tour à Tour that is in their respective turns once in three Months excepting only those of the Grand Chamber which are there six Months from whence it is called the Tournelle At present there are four Presidents with Mortar-Caps The two Chambers of Requests of the Palace are of the Body of the Parliament according to what Charles the Fifth writ to Cardinal Vivazer in the year 1450. where he says that the Requests are de Gremio Curiae They Judge of all personal Possessory and mixt Causes between priviledged persons that have Committimus's whether they be Officers that are Commoners at Court or others There likewise the Requests of the Houshold composed of the Masters of Request we have spoken of above who take a like cognisance of the Causes of priviledged persons that enjoy Committimus's at whose choice it is to plead either before the Masters of the Requests of the Houshold or before those of the Palace In old time Justice was administred without Appeal by the Bayliffs and Seneschals that the King sent into the respective Provinces for that purpose which were chosen out of the ablest Sages of the Law of his Houshold but since the Parliaments have been Instituted or made fixed and sedentary Appeals are admitted to the Parliaments from the Sentences rendred by the said Bayliffs and Seneschals In fine the Parliament at present consists in all 1. Of one Chief or first President who is named Nicholas Potier Knight Lord of Novion c. and seven other Presidents called Presidents au Mortier or wearing Mortar-Fashioned Caps who are John de Coigneux Marquiss of Montmeliand c. Lewis de Bailleul Marquiss of Chateau-Gontier John-James de Mesmes Count d' Avaux John de Longueville Marquiss of Maisons Charles Colbert Brother to the late Great Minister of State of that Name formerly Ambassadour in England and at Nimmeguen c. and at present Secretary and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and lastly Lewis de Molé Lord of Champlatreux of thirty Clerks or Clergymen Counsellers of Lay-Counsellers of two Advocates and one Proctor-General of 19 Substitutes or Deputies of three Registrers or Recorders in the Chief Registers Office viz. One Recorder Civil and Prothonotary in Chief one Recorder of the Presentations and one Recorder Criminal and of eight other Secretaries and Notaries called the Notaries and Secretaries of the King and of the Parliament two Recorders for the Audiences and Council of the Tournelle five other Deputy Recorders in the five Chambers of Inquests one Recorder in Chief of the Requests of the Palace two other Deputy Recorders under him in each of the two Chambers of Requests 1. First or Chief Usher twenty eight other Ushers of the Parliament and of the Chambers of Inquests and of the Tournelle Eight Ushers of the Requests of the Palace The number of Advocates is not fixed but the Proctors are four hundred in number they have both of them a Dean over them CHAP. XXXII Of the Chamber of Accounts THE Chamber of Accounts is composed of 1. First or Chief President ten other Presidents seventy Masters of the
be more than two together without having any Command there then they chuse their Quarters according to their standing And next to the Marshals of France the Dukes and Peers take place for in Armies Dukes and Peers are Lodged always after Marshals of France But in following the Court out of an Army this Order is observed First their Majesties are Lodged then other Royal Persons then the Princes and Princesses then the Great Officers of the Crown after them the Dukes and Peers and lastly the Marshals of France The Chancellour is Lodged next after the Princes and in marking his Lodging the word Pour or for is used the meaning of which we have already explained Besides all which which are called the Ranks there are the Preferred of which we have spoken The Marshals and Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings are also employed by his Majesties special Command to provide Lodgings for the Assemblies of the States General of the Kingdom when any are called or for the States of any particular Province when the King is to be present at them as likewise for the Assemblies of the Clergy which is to be understood when they assemble in any other place but Paris for there no Lodgings are marked for them Likewise when the persons composing any Soveraign Courts or other publick Bodies are to meet at St. Denis in France by the Kings Order and according to Custom to assist at the Funeral Pomps or Solemnities made at the Burials or Anniversary Services for Kings Queens and Princes or Princesses of the Blood or others the Marshals and Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings go thither some dayes before to provide them Lodgings The King too usually sends the said Marshals and Harbingers of his Lodgings to meet Foreign Princes and Princesses that come into or pass through his Kingdom to order and prepare Lodgings for them every where as they pass The Title and Quality of Squires has been conferred and confirmed upon the Marshals and Harbingers in Ordinary of the Kings Lodgings by several Orders of the Council of State Next the Marshals and Harbingers of the Lodgings is the Captain of the Guides with his Company who is a necessary Officer in Journies Of the Captain of the Guides The Office of Captain of the Guides for the Conducting of his Majesty formerly enjoyed by one is now exercised by two Brothers who part between them the following Salary and Profits viz. 2000 l. Salary paid quarterly by the Treasurers of the Houshold 600 l. a Month extraordinary during any Voyage or Journey and 300 l. when the Court is at any of the Royal Houses they eat at the Kings Serdeau's or Water-Servers Table with the Gentlemen Waiters The Captain of the Guides when the King is on his march along the Country is always to keep by one of the Boots or Portals of the Kings Coach to be ready to tell his Majesty the names of the places Cities Castles Towns and Villages upon the Road if he ask them or resolve any other Question concerning them There are commonly at least two Guides on Horseback that wear the Kings Livery that ride a little before his Majesty to Conduct him and place themselves ordinarily at the head of the Light-Horse If there be any need of repairing the High-ways for the Kings Passage the Captain of the Guides usually lays out what is needful for that purpose and is repaid again at the Treasure-Royal For fear the Officers of the Goblet or of the Mouth should fail to come up to the place where the King is to eat when he is travelling along the Country the Captain of the Guides sometimes gives them notice in what part of the Way his Majesty has a mind to Dine He has power to settle Guides to Conduct his Majesty in every Town of the Kingdom and after he has given his Grants to the said Guides they are admitted as such before the Marshals of France These Guides wear the Kings Livery and are exempted from Billeting of Souldiers The Captain of the Guides is sworn by the High Constable of France when there is one or otherwise by the Eldest Marshal of France Of some other Officers necessary in Journies which depend on the Great Master of the Houshold viz. One Waggon-Master of the Kings Equipage that Conducts all the Equipage and commands all the Captains and takes his Orders from the Office of the Houshold This Office was Created in 1668. He has an allowance of 100 l. a Month out of the Chamber of Deniers when the Court is on its march along the Country and 50 l. a Month when it is at Paris and 400 l. besides extraordinary Wages for the extraordinary pains he takes for the Kings Service in doing what is order'd him by the Office allowed him upon the last Bill of every Quarter One Aid or Helping Waggon-Master whose Office was also Created the same year 1668. who has when the Court is at Paris 25 l. a Month and when it is on the march 50 l. a Month allowed him at the Chamber of Deniers We have already spoken of the Captain of the Mules of the Chamber in speaking of the said Chamber of which he depends Two Captains of the Carriages of the Kings Houshold who have a Salary of 300 l. a piece paid by the Treasurers of the Houshold and besides at the Chamber of Deniers an allowance to them for the maintenance of fifty ordinary Horses at the rate of 23 d. a day for each Horse 57 l. 10 d. a day or 21045 l. a year They Conduct all the Carriages of the seven Offices when the Court marches either in Person or by their Servants One Captain-Keeper and Guardian-General of the Tents and Pavilions of the Court and of his Majesties Pavilions of War who has a Salary of 800 l. and 50 l. a Month extraordinary in time of Service and One Keeper of the Tents of the Courts of the Kitchins and of his Majesties Stables who is allowed 50 l. a Month at Paris and 100 l. a Month in the Country at the Chamber of Deniers CHAP. XX. Of the Judge of the Kings Court and Retinue who is the Provost of the Houshold or Great Provost of France THE Provost of the Kings Houshold or Great Provost of France is the ordinary Judge of the Kings Houshold The Title of Great Provost implies two things For first He is Judge of the Kings Houshold and Secondly He is Captain of a Company of a hundred Guards called the Guards of the Provostship which is another part of his Office in the Kings House We shall speak of him here only as in the first quality reserving the latter till we come to the Military Officers of the Houshold His Office is one of the ancientest of the Kings Houshold and one may say that in the Jurisdiction which he retains of administring Justice to all the Kings Officers and other Persons that follow the Court he has succeeded the antient Count or Mayor of the Palace which
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
as soon as the King has changed his Shirt he lets in the Nobility and the Officers in order as he sees them more or less qualified If any speak too loud in the Chamber the Usher Commands Silence They carry Flambo's overlaid with Vermilion gilt before his Majesty when he goes out or in any where or from Chamber to Chamber or when he goes up or down Stairs in any of the Apartments of the Louvre but when he goes any further into the Courts they quit him at the Door and leave only the Pages to light him to whom it only belongs The Ushers have the Priviledge to wait with their Swords by their sides and their Cloaks on their Shoulders Upon the Annual Festivals and on all Dayes of Solemnity as at Te Deums on the Dayes of the Kings Majority Coronation or Marriage when he touches for the Evil when he follows the Processions when he fits on his Bed of Justice in Parliament or at the Creation of the Knights of his Orders and at all the Kings first Entries into any Towns two of these Ushers carry before his Majesty two silver guilt Maces letting the tops of the said Maces lean gently on their Shoulders and every time they carry these Maces there is due to them a Fee of 150 l. which is punctually paid them by express Order at the Treasure-Royal But when the King goes to Parliament besides the 150 l. they have out of the Treasure Royal the Chief President Orders a like summe to be paid them out of the Fines In like manner at the Kings first Entry into any Cities there is due to them from the Officers of the said Town a Mark of Gold being the value of 400 l. besides their said constant Fee of 150 l. out of the Treasure Royal. These two Maces are carried every where after the King in the Chests of the Wardrobe At Coronations and Creations of Knights the two Ushers that bear the Maces are habited in white Sattin Doublets with Sleeves slashed in several rows and their Shifts swelling out of the said slashes with Trunk-Breeches and Cloaks of the same with silk Pearl-Colour'd Stockings Shoes covered with white Sattin and white Velvet or Sattin Caps or Bonnets They have their share in the Fees and Presents given by Governours and Lieutenants of Towns or Provinces Great Officers of the Crown and those of the Kings Houshold the Chief Presidents of Parliaments the Eschevins or Sheriffs of Paris or others when at their several admissions they take the Oath of Fidelity to his Majesty 'T is the Ushers Duty to make them that are in the Chamber get out of the way whether it be to keep them from standing in his Majesties light when he is Dressing or Undressing him or to clear his passage when he goes from his Chair to his Praying-Desk from that to his Closet or when he goes from one side of his Chamber to the other No Body ought to have his Hat on in the Kings Bed-Chamber though it be at certain hours when there is but two or three Officers there And the Ushers are to see too that no Body Combs themselves there or sit down upon the Seats the Table or the Rails of the Alcove They have their Ordinary at the old Table of the Great Master which is now that of the Masters of the Houshold and those four that are in Waiting have every day to their Breakfast a Bottle of Wine and a Loaf They are allowed every day out of the Eruitry a Flambo of white Wax of half a pound weight On Council-Days if the Council be held in the Bed-Chamber they go from his Majesty to give notice to the Secretaries of State and in the absence of the chief Valets de Chambres they keep the Doors of the Council-Chamber They have the Honour to carry in their Arms the Children of France during their Infancy The two Ushers of the Chamber that wait at the Dauphins have each of them a Crown a day for their Diet one of the four Ushers that are in Waiting at the Kings goes every day and waits on the Duke of Burgundy and he that stays with that Prince in the Kings absence has a Crown a Day for his Diet and the Officers of the Kings Counting-House or Green-Cloth diminish so much as his Ordinary comes to at the Table he should otherwise eat it and discount it to his Majesties profit Another Usher likewise appointed to wait on the Duke of Anjou has the like allowance which will be the rule for all the Children the Dauphin shall have When the Usher asks any one that would come in his Name whoever he be he ought not to take it ill because he is obliged by his Office to know who he lets in It is to be observed that any person that would enter into the Bed-Chamber the Anti-Chamber and the Closets when the Doors are shut must scratch gently at the Door and not knock hard and when he would go out he is not to open the Door himself but to call to the Usher to open it for him When the King any Queens Children of France and their Wives or any Ambassadors that go to or come from Audience come in or go out of the Chamber the Usher presently opens to them both the Leaves of the Door the same is done by the Usher of the Anti-Chamber and by the Sentinel at the Door of the Guard-Chamber There are besides two Ushers of the Closet that wait six Months each who have 660 l. Salary and a gratuity of 600 l. at the Treasure Royal. They eat at the Masters of the Housholds Table If on a Council-Day the Council be held in any of the Closets then 't is the Usher of the Closets Duty to give notice of it from the King to the Secretaries of State There two Ushers of the Anti-Chamber who have a yearly Salary of 500 l. each They eat at the Valets de Chambrés Table and are allowed Bread and Wine too for their Breakfast At New-years-tide the Queen when there is one gives for a New-Years Gift 4 l to the Ushers a 100 l. at each Station that is to say 100 l. among the Ushers of the Anti-Chamber as much to him that keeps the Closet and as much among those of the Bed-Chamber By which means he that keeps the Cabinet that day and that is in waiting the first half year beginning in January has as much alone as the two Ushers of the Anti-Chamber and the four Ushers of the Bed-Chamber And formerly when the two Ushers of the Anti-Chamber waited by turns each their half year he whose turn it was to wait at New-years-tide had the whole 100 l. to himself but since they have been both made ordinary and serve all the year round the said summ is usually parted among them which Order was made about twenty years ago The Porte-Manteau ' s or Cloak-Carriers Are twelve in number and serve quarterly three each quarter and have yearly 660 l.
that under the said Count of the Stable or Constable took care of the Horses For some time there were several of these Squires or Master of the Horse of equal Command in the Kings Stables as in the time of Philip the Long when there was no Great Master but only four Masters of the Horse entred in the Book of the Establishment for though the same King in 1319. made one Henry de Braybant Great and Chief Marshal of his Stables yet he had not the Title of Great Master neither do we find any mention of the said Title till the reign of Charles the Seventh who made Pothon de Saintrailles and Tanneguy du Chatel Great Squires or Masters of the Horse of France The Great Master of the Horse or Grand Squire or Querry of France for so his Title imports in French carries as a Mark of his Office the Royal Sword in the Scabbard with the Belt both which are covered with Purple-Velvet set with Flower deluces of Massy Gold and the Handle of it is of Massy Gold with Flower-deluces of the same the Buckles of the Belt are likewise of Gold And he bears the Figure of the said Sword on each side of his Coat of Arms. He takes the Oath of Fidelity to the King Himself and he receives it from almost all the rest of the Officers of the Stables He has by his place the power of Deposing of almost all the vacant Offices in the great and little Stable of the Haras or Nursery of Horses and their Dependencies As of the Places of Gentlemen of the Horse or Querries of his Majesties Great Stable of Bearers of the Swords of State of Heralds and Pursuivants at Arms of Cloak-Carriers and Carriers of Gabans or Felt-Coats or Cloaks of Governour Under-Governour and Tutor of the Pages of the Stables of the Almoners Chief Valets Harbingers Coach-men Farriers Great Foot-men Grooms and other places of Officers that actually serve in the great and little Stables and in the Haras or Nursery of Horses of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Riders of both Stables of the Hoboys Violins Bag-Pipers Trumpeters Drummers and Flutes and of all Tradesmen and Workmen that make or furnish any thing to either of the Kings Stables And though the Great Master happen to be imployed elsewhere out of Court or out of France it self nay though he should happen to fall under the Kings Displeasure and be made a Prisoner of State yet till the very Day of his Death he has ever been known to retain the power of Disposing of the said places the Respect of the Kings of France to the dignity of this Office being so great that they have not yet taken it from any in possession of it till they took their Lives as was well seen in the time of the late King Lewis the Thirteenth during the Disgrace of Monsieur de Belle-garde and the Imprisonment of Monsieur de Cinq-mars The Great Master of the Horse has the management of all Monies allowed for the Expences of the Kings Stables and Nursery of Horses as likewise for the maintenance of the Gentlemen-Querries Pages and Officers serving and retained in the Stables and of the Great-Horses Race-Horses and Horses belonging to the Kings Coaches and Waggons and for the Wages Fees Gratuities and Payments of all the Officers of the Stables and of the Merchants or Tradesmen for necessaries they have furnished for any use thereunto belonging as also for Liveries and other Cloths order'd for any of the said Officers and for the Hoquetons or Coats Strait-Coats and Cloaks of the Kings Life-guard-men for the Coats of his Guard of 100 Suissers for the Strait-Coats of Guards of the Gate for the Coats called Hoquetons of the Guards of the Provost of the Houshold and for the Campagn-Coats of the Musketeers and lastly for the Expences of Coaches Waggons and Coverings of the Mules of the Kings Chamber and of the other Offices of his Houshold All the Officers above-named are sworn by him and cannot enjoy any Priviledges and Exemptions annexed to their places till they be Entred upon the Establishments that are fixed and signed by him No Querry or Professor of Horsemanship can set up an Academy to instruct young Gentlemen in Warlike Exercises or any other things proper for noble persons to learn without the Order and Permission of the Great Querry or Master of the Horse of France first obtained The Office of Post-Master General was annexed to that of Great Master of the Horse but was dismembred from it by Henry the Great and still remains so being at present enjoyed by the Great Secretary of State Monsieur Louvois who has as Post-Master General 1200 l. a year Board-Wages paid at the Chamber of Deniers The late King had once promised Monsieur Cinq-mars then Great Master of the Horse to re-annex the Post-Masters Office to that of the Great Master of the Horse but the said Monsieur Cinq-mars being afterwards Imprisoned and Executed for High-Treason that intention came to nothing The Great Master of the Horse has the Honour to have place in his Majesties Coach next the Princes of the Blood and when he is abroad on Horseback he rides next his Person He makes use of the Pages Footmen and Horses of the Kings Stables at his pleasure When the King is on the march for any Warlike Expedition or in the Body of an Army the Great Stable is lodged nearest him before the little Stable but in any Journey wherein he marches not upon any Warlike design nor in a Body of an Army the little Stable is placed nearest his Majesties Lodgings When the King makes his first Entry on Horse-back into any City within his Kingdome or into any Conquered Town where he is to be received with great Ceremony the Great Master of the Horse rides directly before the Kings Person carrying his Majesties Royal Sword in a Sheath of Purple-Velvet set with Flower-deluces of Massy Gold hung in a Belt of the same Stuff and Colour and on a Horse Caparison'd with the same And the Canopy born over his Majesties Head on that occasion is his Fee He rode in this manner at the Solemnity made for the Majority and at the Entry of their Majesties into Paris and it is to be noted likewise that at the Ceremony of the Majority he took his Seat in the Palais or Parliament-House on the right hand of the Great Chamberlain who always sits at the Feet of the Kings Bed of Justice He also bears the said Sword at Funeral Solemnities At the publick Entries of Kings and other great Solemnities He Orders the Trumpeters Hoboys Violins Flutes Tabourins Sackbuts Cornets and Drums to sound and Play for the greater State and Solemnity of the Feast At the Kings Death all the Horses of the Stables and Nursery and all the Harness and Furniture belonging to them fall to the Great Master of the Horse Every time the King Orders any Money for making any new Coaches for himself he
Other Offices relating to Hunting are 1. Those that belong to a Pack of Running-Hounds to the number of 70 of which there is a Captain whose Appointments besides his Pensions amount yearly to 13338 l. 10 d. He has also his particular Officers under him he has likewise the Fallow-Deer Dogs and other Dogs for the Hare which have been established under the care of this Officer ever since the last Kings time under the name of the Roasters whereas before it was the Fox-Dogs 2. The Greyhounds of Champagne or Champain to which belong a Captain who has a yearly allowance of 2567 l. for himself his Dogs and four Servants to look after them Article II. Of the Captain-General of the Hunting-Nets and of the Equipage for Hunting the Wild-Boar The Title of this Officer is Captain-General of the Kings Hunting-Nets Tents and Pavilions and of the Equipage of the Wild-Boar He is sworn by the King himself He has 1200 l. standing Salary 3972 l. 12 d. Appointment 3200 l. for maintaining the Carriage of the Nets 1500 l. for Cloathing fifteen small Officers 1400 l. for Coating fourteen Guards 2196 l. for feeding forty Running-Hounds 1464 l. for keeping twelve Great Grey-hounds or lusty Dogs in all 14932 l. 10 d. He is allowed besides several other summs for particular Expences He delivers out the Grants to all the Officers of the Hunting and of the Equipage for Hunting the Wild-Boar all those places being at his disposal The Hunting of the Wild-Boar may be managed four several ways 1. The first way is to kill them with Swords and Darts when they are taken in the Nets 2. The second is to take them with Grey-hounds when they are in the said Nets The Ladies may take their part of the Divertisement either of these two first ways for they may be placed out of danger within the small inclosure of the Nets 3. The third way is to hunt the Wild-Boar with the Dog called Vautray or Tumbler 4. And the fourth and last way is to take him by force but these two last sorts of Hunting are very toilsome and not without danger When the King is a Hunting the Wild-Boar within the inclosure of the Nets it belongs to the Captain-General of this Equipage to present his Majesty a Sword or Darts to kill him and none of his Courtiers are to take any Darts unless expresly Commanded by the King The Captain of this Equipage goes or sends by the Kings Order into all the Forests and Thickets of France where he thinks fit to take with his Hunting-Nets Red-Deer Does or Fawns to stock the Parks of any Royal House There are two Lieutenants of this Equipage serving each half a year by turns at 900 l. Salary apiece and * two other Lieutenants in Ordinary * two Deputy-Lieutenants half yearly Waiters at 600 l. and * two Deputy-Lieutenants in Ordinary Eight Gentlemen in Ordinary of the Equipage the two first of which have 360 l. and the six others 300 l. apiece All the above-named Officers of the Nets may use the Title of Esquires * Four Prickers or Markers in Ordinary at 300 l. each Six Servants of the Blood-hounds at 360 l. Three Keepers of the Greyhounds at 200 l. and * four other Servants of the Dogs ordinarily looking to them who are to lie in the Dog-Kennel and two Keepers of the Great Greyhounds at 300 l. Two other Keepers of the Great Greyhounds at 200 l. One Commissary of the Nets at 300 l. and one Commissary Net-mender at 200 l. one Harbinger 200 l. one Captain of the Carriage 400 l. one Baker and one Farrier at 200 l. each Twenty Archers or Guards of the Hunting-Nets whereof the six first have 300 l. and the other fourteen but 250 l. apiece * one Gelder of the Dogs and Curer of Madness * fifteen small Officers ordinarily Waiting and fourteen Keepers of the Hunting Nets Note The Officers above-marked with a Star are not mentioned in the Establishment of the Court of Aids When the King goes a Hunting he has always by him his Arquebuse or Arms-Bearer that prepares him Arms ready charged We have already mentioned them among the Officers of the Chamber It is remarkable that when the Dogs are to run the Captains of the Packs then to run are to present the Staff or Wand the mark of their Office to the Great Hunter and he to the King as also when the Deer or any other Game is taken the Pricker cuts off the Foot which he gives to his Captain the Captain to the Great Hunter and he presents it to the King There are besides the Great Hunter and those under him several other Captains of the Game established in several Forests and Warrens of which we have spoken in the Chapter of the Royal Buildings and Houses There is likewise a Lieutenant of the Long-Robe belonging to the Court of Justice of the Captainship of the Waters and Forests The other Captains of Forests are to be seen at length in the Sieur de Salnove's Book of Hunting By a Declaration of the first of January 1644. the King established besides these three General Keepers of the Game and Pleasures of his Majesty throughout the whole extent of the Kingdom of France The Officers of the Hunting-Office or the Game enjoy the same Priviledges as the Commoners or Tablers of the Kings Houshold Article III. Of the Great Falconer The Great Falconer of France has the super-intendance over all the Kings Falconers and is sworn by the King He has 200 l. standing Wages 3000 l. Appointment 6000 l. as chief over a Flight of Hawks for the Crow and for maintenance of the said Flight 4000 l. for keeping four Pages 3000 l. for necessary Furniture and Implements for the Hawks and 6000 l. for buying of Hawks In all 22200 l. He disposes of all the vacant Offices of Chiefs or Captains of the several Flights of Hawks and 't is by his consent that those who have them resign them excepting only those of the Heads or Chiefs of the Flights of the Kings Chamber and Closet already spoken of which are in the Kings Gift The Great Falconer also disposes of all other vacancies of places entred in the Books of Establishment of the Falconry as also of the Keepers of the Hawks Nests in the Forests of Compiegne Aigue Val Dragon and Grand Trempo and of Lions Ardennes Perseigne and Descouves and other Forests And he Commissionates what persons he pleases to lay Snares for and take Birds of Prey in all places Plains and Thickets in the Kings Domain or Crown Lands All Hawk-Merchants both French and Foreigners are bound under pain of Confiscation of their Birds to come and present them to the Great Falconer for him to take his choice out of for the King before they can have permission to sell any elsewhere If his Majesty being a Hawking has a mind to have the pleasure to fly a Hawk himself the Chiefs or Heads put in by the Great Falconer present the
same Ceremony they observe when his Majesty comes from Mass or when he goes to or comes from Sermon Note That the Drummers of this Company beat full out for the King and only beat a Call for the Dauphin or Dauphiness When an Ambassadour goes to his Audience the hundred Suissers upon notice given them by the Introductour of Ambassadours place themselves in two Ranks on each side the French Guard-Chamber Door outwards and all along the Stairs going up and when the Ambassadour is coming the Drummer gives two or three little strokes upon his Drum to give them notice to betake themselves to their Arms. Upon Days of great Solemnity such as Coronation-Days c. they display their Colours Every time the King goes out in a Coach or on Horseback or when he comes back into the Court of his Palace where he there Lodges these Suissers with an Officer at the head of them place themselves in ranks about his Majesties Coach or Horse and keep off the people if need be When a Te Deum is order'd to be sung at Nostre Dame Church at Paris though the King goes not thither yet he customarily directs a private Letter to the Captain or Chief Officer to send thither so many of this Company as are necessary for that occasion as he does likewise on the same occasions to the Captain of the French Life-Guards At the Feasts the King makes at the Creation of the Knights of his Orders upon the second day of that Solemnity the hundred Suissers serve up the Meat to the Table and have what comes off again for their pains Those of them that are upon the Watch have their Watch-Bread and Watch-Wine every Morning and Evening Candle Wax and a Watch-Torch every day and extraordinary allowances of Meat on the four great Festivals of the Year Wax-Candles on Candlemas Day some Linnen-Cloth on Maundy-Thursday Prayer-Books in the Holy Week and Torches with the Kings Arms on them on Corpus Christi Day This Company of the hundred Suissers is one of the most ancient Companies of the ordinary Guards of the Kings Body and first Company composed of them since their alliance with his Majesty they having been established in France ever since the year 1481. when Lewis XI Entertain'd them into his Service being very useful both for their known Fidelity to their Trust and the Manly properness of their persons both for the security of a King and for the setting forth his Grandeur This Company being a Corporation apart of it self has its peculiar Court of Justice within it self kept by their own Officers from whom their last Appeal is to the Colonels and Captains of the Regiments of Guards of their own Nation They enjoy the same Priviledges as do the French the Kings born Subjects they may purchase inherit and dispose of their Goods or Estates by Sale Deeds or Gifts while living or Wills at their Deaths and their Wives Children or next Kindred may Inherit what they leave Both themselves and their Widows and Children are free from all Taxes Subsidies and Impositions laid or to be laid on the subject under what name soever and under what pretence soever though the King himself should have expresly order'd them himself his Majesty being unwilling to make use of his Power and Prerogative against them because of their great Services and singular Fidelity They are also free from Watching and Warding and keeping of Gates as the Kings of France have always been pleased to let them be ever since their first Alliance with them which have still been confirmed by all succeeding Treaties When any of the Officers of this Company dies he is buried with the Ceremonies and Solemnities used to Military Persons his Sword and Commanders Staff are placed something Cross-wise on the top of the Biere which is carried in the midst of the Company who all Accompany the Body the Drums and Flute making a mournful sound as is usual at Funerals when any of the common Souldiers of them die they are buried much after the same manner only with proportionably less Ceremonies according to their Quality The Swords of the deceased belong to the Harbinger then in Waiting Besides the above-mentioned Priviledges enjoyed by this Company there are two other very particular and remarkable ones the first is the right of being lodged gratis all the year at Paris and the second the priviledge of selling Wine That Part or Quarter of Paris that comprehends the Streets of Montorgueil of Montmarire and other Neighbouring Streets is allotted for Lodging this Company though the King be not at Paris And the Owner or chief Tenants of the Houses in those Streets if their Houses be small are bound to find a Chamber ready furnished at most but two stories high for a common Suisse and to furnish all necessary Utensils and those who have bigger Houses are to find an Officer two Chambers ready furnished with a Stable and Coach-House if need be and with all necessary Utensils as Linnen Dishes Pots and Pans c. But generally the King having not for a long time resided at Paris not being like to do the Owners or chief Tenants of the said Houses agree with the said Suissers and Officers for a certain yearly payment in Money in consideration of which their Houses are free from this subjection and the Suissers upon occasion like Lodgings where else they please The Kings of France have granted to this Company thirteen Priviledges or an Exemption to be enjoyed by thirteen Persons of their Body from the Duties usually paid by Vintners and Wine-Merchants These thirteen Priviledges are enjoyed by twelve Suissers among whom are some Officers and the Clerk of the Watch They are by vertue of the same exempt from paying the Duty called the Eighth and generally from all other duties upon Wine except the duty of the Entry or Importation of those Wines they sell by retail The Jurours of the Wine-Sellers pretend that the number of Buts or Pieces of Wine which these Priviledged Suissers are to sell is limited to 150 and they on the other side say they are not limited to any definite number which is a Controversy as yet undecided the King abates 1400 l. a year to the Farmers of the Aids for every one of these thirteen Priviledges and yet they let them out but for 1000 l. or thereabout to those that hire them of them Formerly those of this Company that sold Wine paid no more for selling Wine with Napkins and Plates that is for selling Wine and Victuals too than for selling of it only by the Pot so that they paid 27 d. on every Piece of Wine less than the Vintners but in the year 1658. the Company sold this Priviledge which was called the little Priviledge to the Farmers of the Aids for a certain Annuity to be paid to their Captain which is distributed among them at the rate of 4 d. a day each Man so that ever since that time the hundred Suissers that
their chief Commanders or Generals at Sea All Ships of War are to bear their Admirals Colours and the Admirals own Ship bears a square White Flag upon her Main-Mast and a Lanthorn in his Poop He has a Sovereign Command over the Seas of France especially over all that part of the Ocean and of the Mediterranean near the Coasts of France and over all the Ships of War and Naval Forces The first Admiral that we read of was one Lehery or according to some one Rotland under Charles the Great called by Eginard Praefectus Maris This Office was formerly held only by Commission and the first that possest it by Patent as a standing Office was Enguerrand Sire or Lord of Coucy under Philip the Hardy in 1273. though according to some others it was not made a standing Office till the year 1369 under Charles the Fifth and the first Admiral according to that account was Amaury Vicount of Narbon There were several Admirals belonging to France whilst the Kings of France remained unpossest of many of the Maritime Provinces for there were the Admirals of Normandy Brittany Guienne and Provence the Admiral of Normandy who was since the Re-union called the Admiral of France Commanded from Callis to St. Michaels Mount He of Brittany from St. Michaels Mount to Raz He of Guienne from Raz to Bayonne and he of Provence from Perpignan to the River of Genua About this Admiralty of Provence there arose a great contest in the last Kings time between the Duke of Guise who pretended to that Admiralty and the Cardinal of Richelieu who put an end to the Dispute by prevailing with the King totally to suppress the Office of Admiralty and to Erect instead of it another under the Title of Great Master Chief and Super-Intendant General of the Navigation and Commerce of France which he did by a Declaration in the Month of January 1627. The said Cardinal gave it afterward by his Will and Testament to the Son of the Marshal de Brezé Duke of Fronsac who when he took the accustomed Oath for it in Parliament in the year 1648. reassumed the Title of Admiral but he being killed at the Siege of Orbitello this Office was exercised in the Name of the Queen Regent under the Title of Great Master of the Navigation of France but since that the Title of Admiral has been reannexed to those other newer ones The Admiral of France as having Command over two Seas viz. the Ocean and the Mediterranean bears as a mark of his Dignity two golden Anchors passed Salteir-wise behind his Coat of Arms hanging upon and fastened to two Cables the Vice-Admiral likewise bears the same The Great Admiral has 30000 l. yearly appointment raised out of the duties of Anchorage and other Revenues Next to the Admiral there is likewise a Vice-Admiral of France who is at present the Marshal d' Etrées and his Son in Reversion There are three Lieutenant-Generals of the Naval Forces viz. 1. Abraham du Quêne Marquiss du Bouchet Valgrand under the name of Du Quêne 2. The Marquiss de Preuilly d' Humieres 3. The Chevalier de Tourville And seven Chiefs or Commanders of Squadrons viz. 1. Monsieur Gabaret 2. The Count de Chateaurenaud Great Prior of Brittany of the Order of St. Lizarus 3. The Marquiss d' Amfreville 4. The Chevalier de Sourdis 5. The Chevalier de Bethune 6. M. Villette de Murcé 7. M. Forant who was lately the eldest among the Captains of single Vessels Besides the Marquiss de Seignelay who as one of the four Principal Secretaries of State has the Maritime Affairs under his department there are two Intendant Generals of the Marine Affairs under whom there are two Intendants of the Levant or East who are M. Brodard for the Galliet residing at Marseilles and M. Girardin Sieur de Vauvray residing at Toulon likewise four Intendants for the Western Sea or Ocean viz. 1. M. Arnoux de Muin residing at Rochefort Rochelle and Broüage 2. M. de Champy Desclouzonne residing at Brest in Brittany 3. M. Patoüillet at Dunkirk and 4. M. de Fargis Montmor at Havre de Grace The Secretary General of the Admiralty or Maritime Affairs is M. de la Grange The Treasurers General of the Admiralty are 1. M. Lubert for the Men of War and 2. M. de Bellinzani for the Gallies There are likewise Comptrollers of the Admiralty The Admiral has upon any Vacancies hapning by Death or otherwise the nomination of all Judges Lieutenants general or particular Counsellors Receivers Advocates Proctors Registrers or Recorders Serjeants and other Officers of the Admiralty both at the Supreme Court of Admiralty held at the Marble Table and at the particular ones held in Picardy Normandy and Brittany The King has at present 150 Ships of War and 30 Gallies besides tenders c. The Royal Docks for Building Ships in France are only at Brest Rochefort and Toulon For the better furnishing the Royal Fleet with Almoners or Chaplains the King has established a Community or Seminary of Priests in the Burrow of Folgoet in Brittany CHAP. XX. Of the General of the Gallies THE Kingdom of France being washed with two Seas viz. on one side with the Great Ocean and on the other towards the South with the Mediterranean upon this last are kept the Gallies as a more proper Shipping for that Sea whose Port and Harbour is Marseilles over which there is a Chief called the General of the Gallies The General of the Gallies is sometimes called the Admiral of the Levant or East as says the Sieur de la Popeliniere who has composed a Book particularly of the Admiral of France The present General of the Gallies is Lewis Victor de Rochechoüard de Mortemar Duke de Vivonne Marshal of France Governour of Champain and late Viceroy in Sicily during the Revolutions of Messina He is as such stiled General of the Gallies and Lieutenant-General in the Seas and Naval Armies of the Levant he was sworn General of the Gallies in the Month of December 1669. His Son the Duke of Mortemar Married a Daughter of the late M. Colbert Minister of State has the Reversion of his Fathers Place and in the year 1681. Commanded alone himself the Gallies of France Charles the Ninth by an Order of the 6th of April 1562. Verified the 8th of June 1563. Declared Messire René of Lorrain General of the Gallies as well in the Levant as in the Western Seas making him Chief General of all his Gallies Galiots Fregats Fusts and Brigantins and giving him Command over all Vessels and Ships whether long or round and authorising him to cause due obedience to be given him by all manner of ways and in all places where it should concern the Duty of his Office The Lieutenant-General of the Gallies is the Chevalier de Noailles Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem c. Thus having treated of the Military Officers we come now to the Officers of Justice in the Kings
Councels which are likewise Officers General of the whole Kingdom CHAP. XXI Of the Kings Councels and Ministers of State Of the Chancellour of France THE Chancellour is the Head-Officer of Justice and of the Kings Councels and into his hands he has wholly deposited it that he may distribute and dispence it impartially to all his Subjects with the same Power and Authority as he might do himself in Person for this reason the Seals of France are committed to his Custody which he makes use of in the Administration of Justice and in conferring of Gifts Graces and Offices as he thinks most reasonable for the good of the State He presides in the Kings Councels 'T is he that on all occasions declares the Kings Pleasure and when his Majesty goes to Parliament to sit on his Bed or Throne of Judgment he sits before his Majesty on his left hand He wears a Robe of red Velvet lined with Scarlet Sattin and at publick Ceremonies a Cap fashioned like a Mortar covered with gold and adorned with Pearls and precious Stones Before him march the Ushers of the Chancellery carrying on their Shoulders Maces of guilt Silver and the rest of the Ushers after them The present Chancellour is M. Lewis de Boucherat Knight Lord of Compans and other places who after having Officiated the Places of Corrector of the Accounts of Counsellour in the Parliament and Commissary in the Requests of the Palace Master of Requests Intendant of Justice or Lord Chief Justice in Languedoc Honorary Counsellour in the Parliament of Paris and both Counsellour of State and Counsellour in the Councel Royal several years and rendred very considerable Services to the State and so acquired the universal approbation of all people by his indefatigable Industry and his great Capacity and Zeal for the service of his Majesty and of the publick was at length upon all these Considerations named to the Chancellorship by his Majesty on the Feast of All-Saints in the year 1685. who was pleased to Seal his Patents deliver him the Seals and swear him into the said high and important Office the 3d of November following The Chancellour of France bears as a mark of his Dignity a Mortar-fashioned Cap of Cloth of gold set with Ermines upon the Crest of his Arms out of which with the Figure of a Queen coming out of it representing the Kingdom of France holding in her right hand a Scepter and in her left the Great Seals of the Kingdom and behind his Coat of Arms two great Vermilion gilt silver Maces passed Salteir-wise with a Scarlet Mantle set with rays of gold towards the top and furred with Ermines This Office was instituted as some say by Clotair the First and the first Chancellour was Bodin in the year 562. He was antiently called the Great Referendary and Keeper of the Royal Ring and Seal When a Keeper of the Great Seal is made at any time he has the same Authority given him as a Chancellour only with this difference that a Chancellour is not deposable but by arraigning him at the Bar and taking away his Life whereas the Keeper of the Seals is an Officer changeable at the Kings Pleasure The Original of the word Chancellour comes from this All Letters Patents and Charters formerly passing through his hands when they were not well drawn up or that any thing were found in them not conformable to Law and Custom he used to cross them out by drawing certain strokes and bars cross them Lattice-wise which in Latin are called Cancelli from whence comes the word Cancellare and the English word at this day used to signify making void any Writings viz. to Cancel and from thence the word Chancellour Sometimes he is called for distinctions sake Summus Cancellarius i. e. High Chancellour because there were and are several other Chancellours We shall speak of the other Officers of the Chancery when we have described the Kings Councils CHAP. XXII A general State and account of the Kings Councils and of the persons that compose them THE Affairs hapning daily being different and various different Councils have been provided to debate and resolve them in as the Council of War the Council of Dispatches the Council of State and of the Finances or Revenues Of the Council of War The Great Council of War sits commonly in the Kings Chamber where he himself unless some great indisposition hinder him is present with such Princes of the Blood Marshals of France and Great Lords as he thinks fit for their experience in Military Affairs to assist thereat Of the Council of Dispatches and the Secretaries of State This Council is kept in the Kings Chamber in his Majesties Presence and at it are usually present the Dauphin Monsieur the Duke of Orleans the Lord Chancellour the four principal Secretaries of State and those that have the grant of the reversion of their Offices The matters there treated of are the affairs of the Provinces and all other things both Foreign and Domestick of which the Secretaries of State then present make their Reports who likewise are to keep Memorials of all the resolutions taken there and are afterward to see them duly dispatched according to their several Departments or Provinces There are four Principal Secretaries of State and of the Commandments of his Majesty who divide among them all the affairs of the Kingdom and have every one their several Functions and business according to their respective departments These four Secretaries at present are 1. Michael-Francis le Tellier Son to the late Chancellour of France Marquiss of Louvois He is likewise Knight Commander and Chancellour of the Kings Orders of Knighthood Great Vicar General of the Order of Nôtre-Dame of Mount Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem Post-Master General and Super-intendant and Orderer General of the Royal Buildings and Protector of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture 2. John-Baptist Colbert Knight Marquiss of Seignelay c. Son of the late great Minister of State of that Name He is likewise President perpetual Chief and Director-General of the Company of the Commerce of the East-Indies and Great Treasurer of the Kings Orders of Knighthood 3. Peter-Baltasar Phylippeaux de la Vrilliere Marquiss of Chateau-neuf upon the Loire 4. Charles Colbert Knight and Marquiss of Croissy who is likewise Secretary of the Kings Orders and Finances President à Mortier or President wearing the Mortar Fashioned Cap in the Parliament of Paris formerly Ambassadour in England and since Plenipotentiary at the Treaty of Nimmeguen and in Bavaria for the Marriage of the Dauphin Their Departments are as follows The Departments of the aforesaid four Principal Secretaries of State are thus laid out 1. Mr. Louvois has for his Department The three Months of February June and October and the affairs of Poitou la Marche Catalonia and Rousillon Pignerol Lorain and the three Bishopricks Alsatia the places yielded or Conquered in Flanders Artois and Hainaut the Fortifications of the Places Conquered or recovered
Paris Of the Grand Council Of the Leagues of the Suiffers The Rents upon the Guildhall or Town-House of Paris 3. Mr. De Breteuil has The eighteen Generalities of the Countries of Election The greater and lesser Tax called the Taille Taillon The Revenue of the Chamber of Accounts or Counting-Chamber at Paris That of the Court of Aids at Paris There are four Secretaries of the Council who are M. Berrier M. de Beauchamol M. Ranchin and M. Coquille And M. Bartillat and M. Du Mets with the Title of Commissionated Keepers of the Treasure-Royal exercise by turns what was formerly exercised by three Persons with the Title of Treasurers of the Main Treasury or Exchequer called L' Epargne or Spare Revenue There are eighty Masters of Requests in Ordinary of the Kings Houshold that officiate quarterly The Officers called les Gens du Roy are One Proctor-General M. Lewis Maboul who likewise performs the Function of Advocate-General One Advocate-General M. Francis-Nicholas Berthelot The Secretaries of the Court of Finances are the same with those of the Council of State There are four Secretaries-Registrers of the Privy-Council four Commissioners of the Register of the Council and four Registrers-Keepers of the Council-Bags all officiating quarterly And one Chief Registrer of the Requests of the Houshold There are eight Ushers or Door-Keepers in Ordinary belonging to the Kings Councils and eight other Ushers of the Requests of the Houshold There is also held another Council called the Council of Parties because it was established to take cognisance of the Processes or Suits moved by particular Parties one among another whether it be upon their Appeals from the Judges of a particular Jurisdiction or of a Parliament or any other entire Jurisdiction or for particular Affairs between City and City or between one private Person and another that this Council has called before it or of which it has reserved the cognisance to it self The Councellors of State that sit in this Council of Parties or in the Council of the Finances are for the most part Persons that have served a long time in other Courts or Jurisdictions as in the Parliament Grand-Council and even in the very Body of the Masters of Requests or in Embassies to Foreign Princes and States Those of the last sort enjoy the Quality and Pension of Councellours of State at their return from their Ambassages but yet have not all Entrance into the Council Some of them serve there all the year and some but six Months their Salary when they serve all the year is 2000 Crowns to each They are sworn by the Chancellour Anciently there were three Masters of Requests taken out of the Body of the Parliament that used to stand at the Door of the Kings Lodgings leaning with their Elbows on the Rails ready to receive all Requests or Petitions that people had a mind to present to the King And if they were businesses of no great consequence they commonly dispatcht them immediately but if they were of Consequence then they made report of them to the King when he was in his Chamber or when he was going to Mass or a walking And when business begun to increase they waited no more at the Door but near the Kings Person who committed to their Examination all the Petitions that were presented him They usually had Lodgings in the Kings Palace and were tabled at Court They at present take cognisance in their Court of Masters of the Requests of the Houshold of the personal and possessory Causes of the Crown-Officers and of the Officers that are Commoners and Tabled in the Royal Housholds and others that have the priviledge of Committimus There lies an Appeal from them to the Parliament of Paris unless it be when a Sovereign Jurisdiction is given them by a solemn remission of any cause to them by the Council of State They serve likewise in the Chancery and in the Council of State where they report and sign all Petitions that come thither and have extraordinary Commissions in the Provinces where they are Intendants of Justice of Policy and of the Finances or Revenues as also in the Armies where they have a very great Authority and Power They have power to preside in the place of the Presidents in all Seneschalchies and Baily-wicks The Habit used by the Masters of Requests at great Ceremonies and Solemnities is a Scarlet-Gown as being of the Body of the Parliaments where they have Entrance Place and Voice or freedom of Suffrage and opinion deliberative When the Masters of Requests march all in a Body accompanying the Chancellour as they did in the year 1660. at the Kings solemn Entry they wear as they did then black Velvet-Gowns with golden Girdles and Hat-Bands CHAP. XXIV Of the Grand Council THE Grand Council being at its Original or first Institution the only Councils of the Kings of France the Princes of the Blood Officers of the Crown and chief Presidents of the superiour Courts used to stile themselves Councellours of it Afterwards the Title of Councellour to the King in his Councils was taken up instead of it as soon as a plurality of Councils was erected The Grand Council was reduced by Charles the Eighth to 17 Councellours and one Proctor-General and since augmented by Lewis the Twelfth with three Councellours to make up the number of twenty and that served by the half year since that the Advocates-General and the Presidents were added thereto and the number of Councellours augmented from time to time by new Creations insomuch that at present this Company is composed of eight Presidents serving by turns four each half year 54 Councellours serving by turns 27 each half year two Advocates-General serving half a year apiece and one Proctor-General who only is perperpetual The half-yearly waiting times of the Councellours begin in October and April Besides these there are fourteen Councellours of Honour or Titular Councellours in the Grand Council who are Candidates as it were of it and succeed in the Vacancies There are likewise twelve Substitutes or Deputies one Registrer or Recorder in Chief five Secretaries one Chief or first Usher twenty other Ushers and 23 Proctors The Jurisdiction of the Grand Council extends throughout all the whole Monarchy and Dominions of the King At its first beginning it had power to judge of Appeals from and of the Regulations of Judges and of the nullities and contrarieties of Sentences of which Regulations of Judges and contrarieties of Sentences it still takes Cognisance as also of the Jurisdiction of Presidials and of the Provosts of the Merchants and of whatsoever depends thereon concerning the Honour Function and Regulation of their Offices It also takes Cognisance of all matters concerning Consistorial Benefices Archbishopricks Bishopricks Abbies and Conventual Priories and in general of all other Benefices that are at the Kings Nomination Presentation Collation or other Disposal whatsoever as well in respect of the Title to them as of the Pensions charged on their
remain free to his M. C. Majesty over the Lands of his Imperial Majesty and of the Empire by the Ordinary Road called Landrass The Duke of Lorrain is thereby re-established in the possession of Lorrain excepting first the Town of Nancy and its Banlieu or Jurisdiction in lieu of which Town the King of France is to give him the Town and Banlieu of Toul which he warrants him to be of equal extent and value In the second place except four High-ways of the breadth of half a Lorrain League which shall lead from Nancy into Alsatia to Vesoul in the Franche Comté to Mets and to St. Dizier And all the Borroughs Villages Lands and their Dependancies which shall be found within the extent of the said High-ways of half a Leagues breadth with all Rights as well of Superiority and Soveraignty as of Propriety shall belong to his Most Christian Majesty Thirdly The Town and Provostship of Longui and its Dependancies shall remain to his Most Christian Majesty who yields to him in Exchange another Provostship of the same extent and value in one of the three Bishopricks Remarks concerning the Governours of Provinces The Governours and Lieutenants for the King in the Provinces are what the Dukes were formerly and the Governours of Towns what the Earls or Counts were Under every Duke there were twelve Counts and over all the Dukes there was one that was stiled Duke of the Dukes or Duke of France who was the Mayor of the Palace The said Qualities of Dukes and Counts became Hereditary under Hugh Capet who having made himself King every one of the other Great Men would needs make himself Master and Proprietour of the Government of which he was in Possession Hugh Capet to have their good will winked at this Usurpation but yet being not willing on the other side that the Royal Authority should remain always Clouded he assembled all these Dukes and made an Agreement with them by which he left them a lawful Succession to all their respective States but with condition however that for lack of Heirs Male to succeed in a Right Line or when the Possessours of them should happen to be Attainted and Convinced of the Crime of Felony they should return to the Crown They that are well read in History have without doubt remarked the return of all these parcels to their principle by the one or the other of these reasons And because the Quality of Mayor of the Palace or of Count of Paris in which the first was Confounded had served him as it had done to Pepin for a step to arrive to the Throne he supprest that too at the same time for the better securing of the Crown to his Successours The Governours and Lieutenants for the King in the Provinces have under them the Governours of Towns as the Dukes had the Counts but with this difference that the number of Governours of Towns that are under each Governour of a Province is not determined one Province having more Towns and another fewer The Power of the Governours and Lieutenants-General of Provinces is altogether like that of the ancient Dukes and Counts which is to keep in the Kings Obeysance the Provinces and Places given them in Custody to maintain them in Peace and Tranquility to have Power or Command over their Arms to defend them against Enemies and against Seditious attempts to keep the places well fortified and provided with what is needful and assist the Execution of Justice every one in his respective Government But at the beginning when these Governours were first established there were none but only in the Frontier Towns but because in the time of the Civil Wars all the Provinces became Frontier there was a necessity of placing Governours not only in the Provinces but in all the Towns Their Commissions are verified in the Parliaments of their respective Provinces in which the Governours of the same Provinces have place ordinarily next after the Chief Presidents They are only simple Commissions whose Continuation depends only of the Kings sole Pleasure though some years past there were crept in some abuses in this affair and the Governours were become as it were Hereditary Note That all the Lieutenants-General of Provinces and Lieutenants of particular Towns and Places are stiled Lieutenants for the King because they are put in by the King and have no dependance on the Chief Governour under whose Command they are CHAP. XXIX Of France as divided into Parliaments Courts judging without Appeal and other Courts of Justice 1. Of the Administration of Justice and the first Institution of Parliaments JUstice was formerly administred by the Kings themselves who render'd it in Person to their People but Affairs multiplying every day more and more the Kings were obliged to ease themselves of that Burden reserving to themselves only the Cognisance of Affairs of State And for the Administration of Ordinary Justice he established a certain Council which they called a Parliament which judged and decided all Causes and Affairs both Civil and Criminal between Man and Man and that without Appeal in which were present all the Peers of France both Ecclesiastical and Secular This Parliament followed the King in all his Voyages and consequently for that reason was in those times Ambulatory It was first Instituted by Pepin in the year 757 and was doubtless the same thing that the Privy-Council is now But at length the Kings parted with this Council in favour of their people And Philip the Fair was the first that made the Parliament Sedentary and gave them a part of his Palace at Paris to be the Seat of that August Senate which by the Integrity of its Decrees and Sentences has acquired so great a Reputation among all Nations that Popes Emperours Kings and Foreign Princes have voluntarily submitted their differences to their Judgments as may be seen by several Examples in History and among others by that of the Emperour Frederick with Pope Innocent the Fourth and of the King of Castile with the King of Portugal King Philip the Fair following the Example of his Predecessours Ordained there should be only two Sessions of the Parliament viz. At the Feasts of Easter and All-Saints and distinguisht them into two Chambers of which one because it judged of the most important matters was called the Grand Vault or Grand Chamber and the other the Chamber of Inquests or Inquiries CHAP. XXX Of the Institution of all the Parliaments of France and of the extent of their Jurisdiction with the present number of the Chief Presidents and other Counsellours THere are in France and its Dominions 11 Parliaments viz. 1. Paris 2. Toulouze 3. Roüen 4. Grenoble 5. Bourdeaux 6. Dijon 7. Aix 8. Rennes now Vannes 9. Pau. 10. Mets. 11. Besançon 1. The Parliament of Paris as we have already told you was Instituted by Pepin in the year 757 and made Sedentary at Paris by Philip the Fair in 1302. When there was but one Parliament People came thither
Declarations of War Treaties of Peace Contracts of Marriage of the Kings and Children of France with their Apanages or Portions all Re-unions and Alienations of Crown Lands Letters of Naturalization and Amortising Legitimations Gifts Pensions Gratuities and generally all Letters of Grace or Pardon And the Creations of Dutchies Peerages Principalities Marquisates Counties Vicounties Baronies Chatellanies and Courts of High Justice together with all Letters of ennobling and Confirmations and Restorations of Nobility having the power not only to pass and verifie the gift of it but to liquidate or discharge the Kings Finance or Revenue for the Indempnity thereby from the Kings Dues as also that of the Parishes in which the new ennobled persons were Taxable before the said Letters and for that reason the Title of their Nobility is and must necessarily be established by the verification of this Chamber All verifications are made here too for the noble Partages or Portions of noble or Gentlemens Children in the Parliaments and for the Exemptions from Taxes at the Court of Aids The Children of France have power to erect a Chamber of accounts in the principal place of their Appanages or Lands allotted them for their maintenance but they cease in case they happen to Revert to the Crown for want of Heirs Male And they most commonly oblige their Treasurers to give up their Accounts in the Chamber of Accounts at Paris This Chamber likewise verifies all Priviledges granted to Towns or Provinces Amortisings Affranchisements or Freedoms Naturalizations Permissions for Fairs and Markets Gifts Sales and Engagements of Crown-Lands The Presidents Masters of Accounts Correctors Auditours Kings People that is his Advocates and Proctor-General and Treasurers of France are subject to be examined at every Semestral or half yearly Assembly The other Proctors as also the Ushers are likewise subject to an Examination but not before any other then Commissioners expresly deputed for that purpose The first or Chief President and the other Presidents of this Chamber are reconducted by the Ushers in Waiting for the time being with their Wands in their hands till they come before the Lower Holy Chappel CHAP. XXXIII Of the Court of Aids THE Court of Aids is composed of six Presidents and of forty Councellours divided into three Chambers In the first is the first or Chief President and the eldest of the other Presidents with fifteen Councellers of the longest standing In the second Chamber there are two Presidents and thirteen Councellers and in the third two Presidents and twelve Councellers The Court of Aids was erected soon after the Parliament was made Sedentary at Paris And excepting only the Parliaments of Paris and Toulouze it precedes in antiquity all the other Parliaments It was established after a general Assembly of the Estates under King John about the year 1355. by Charles the Fifth then Dauphin and by vertue of a particular Prerogative the Books of Accounts of the Royal Housholds and of those of the Princes of the Bloud are Registred in this Court. And all the Officers named upon the Rolls of the said Books have no other supreme Judges to have recourse to in relation to the Aids or Taxes but those of this Court though their Seats or Dwellings be within the Precincts of the Jurisdiction of the other Courts of Aids The Jurisdiction of the Court of Aids extends to take cognisance off and judge without Appeal of all Causes relating to the Taxes Aids Gabelles and Impositions and of all Farms and Dues to the King the Cognisance of Titles of Nobility does likewise belong to this Court Their Solemn Habits are thus The Presidents wear Black-Velvet Robes and the Councellers and Advocates and Proctors-General Scarlet ones The Chief President of this Court at his rising from Audience is Reconducted as far as the Higher Holy Chappel by the Ushers then in Waiting Next to the Court of Aids at Paris that of Montpelier was establisht by Charles the Seventh in 1437. it is joined to the Chamber of Accounts of the same Country That of Rouen is for Normandy that of Glermont-Monferrand in Auvergne was establisht by Henry the second in 1557. There is another at Bourdeaux for Guienne That of Provence is joined to the Chamber of Accounts for the same Country There is likewise one at Grenoble in the Dauphinate and another in Burgundy that is joined to the Chamber of Accounts at Dijon The present Chief President of this Court is Nicholas le Camus Lord of La Grange c. and besides the forty Councellers there are belonging to it two Advocates and one Proctor-General four Substitutes two Recorders or Registers four Secretaries one Chief Usher and seven other Ushers and three Honorary Councellers CHAP. XXXIV Of the Court of Monies or Coynage UNder the very first Race of our Kings there were three Generals of the Monies of France who were made Sedentary at Paris at the same time as the Parliament The like Offices were Created in the reign of Philip the Fair and in some other Reigns and annexed to the Chamber of Accounts from these Generals of the Monies or Coins as they are stiled were separated in the year 1358. They have judged without Appeal both in Civil and Criminal matters within their Jurisdiction ever since the year 1551. under Henry the Second who gave them the Title of the Court of the Monies or Coinage They take place in all Solemnities next after the Court of Aids Their Habits on solemn occasions are these the Presidents wear Black-Velvet Robes the Councellers the Kings Advocates and Proctor-General and the Chief Recorder Black-Satin ones and the Chief or first Usher one of Black Taffaty This Court gives Audience on Wednesdays and Saturdays to the Advocates and Proctors of the Parliament and sits in a Room above the Chamber of Accounts from whence the Chief President of it is reconducted every day by the Ushers as far as the bottom of the great Stairs before the lower Holy Chappel as is the Chief President of the Chamber of Accounts This Court Judges without Appeal of all Causes relating to Monies Metals Mines and Weights and the Officers and Artificers employed therein as also of all things that concern the fabrick title currantness value and policy or regulation of all Monies or Coins and receives the Appeals made from the Judgments or Sentences of the Chambers of the Monies and of other Judges depending of it There are two Presidents and several Counsellers whose Offices are fixt that go every year to visit the Provinces In this Court are kept with great care the Original Standard weights of France from which are taken those of the several Towns of the Kingdom One of the Councellers who is at present M. Chassebras du Breau has been deputed and authorised ever since the year 1668. to look after the keeping a general Uniformity in all the Weights and marks of France and accordingly causes all publick weights when they are conformable to the Kings Standard to be markt with
the Kings mark which is a Flower-deluce and that Gratis and without exacting any Fees The present Chief President of this Court is Nicho'as Cotignon de Chauvry Lord of Chawvry and of Breüil c. There are besides eight other Presidents twenty nine Councellers two Advocates and one Proctor-General one Substitute or Deputy to the Proctor-General who is likewise the Kings Proctor in the general Provostship of the Monies of France and one other Substitute who is likewise an Assessour in the general Provostship of the Monies or Mint One Recorder or Registrer in Chief one Chief Usher and seventeen other Ushers besides which there is a Provost-General of the Monies or Mint and Marshalsy of France who takes place after the last Councellour when he comes thither to bring the Criminal Processes to be judged that he has drawn up and taken information of There are likewise several Lieutenants and Exempts one Assessour some Registrers and sixty Archers or Guards In the year 1685. the King established a Hall and Chamber or Court for the Mint in the Town of Lisle for the Provinces of Flanders Artois Hainault Luxemburg the Town and Country of Lisle and Towns of Tournay and Cambray and the Countries of their Name CHAP. XXXV Of the Treasurers of France THE Treasurers General of France whose Institution is almost as ancient as the Monarchy were Erected into generalities about the year 1450. which were establisht in divers parts of the Kingdom to judge of all matters relating to the Crown Lands and the Kings Revenues They are of the Body of the Sovereign Companies or Courts and injoy the same Priviledges as the Chamber of Accounts in which they have Place sitting Voice and opinion deliberative or freedom of debating as they have likewise in the Court of Aids when they go thither about any important affairs They have likewise place and sitting in the Parliament with the Councellours when it is necessary for them to go thither for the Kings business or that of the publick and are Commissaries by their Places of the Sovereign Chambers of the frank or free Fiefs or Tenures of the Crown Lands c. They are reckoned among the Kings Domestick Officers that are Commoners in his Houshold and enjoy all Priviledges as such And in that Quality they are sworn to the King by the Chancellour before they are admitted to their Offices They give out all Orders concerning the Buildings and Reparations of all Royal Houses of Palaces where Courts of Justice are held of Presidials Bayliwicks Seneschalsies Provostships and other Royal Jurisdictions and of Bridges Causeys Pavements and other publick works but the Palace of the Louvre and some other Royal Houses were dismembred from their Office and Care when the Sieur de Fourey Treasurer of France at Paris caused the Office of Super-intendant of the Buildings to be Erected of which he got himself provided by Patent selling his former place of Treasurer of France All Letters of ennobling restoration of Blood Naturalization Legitimation Aubaine or Grant of deceased Strangers Goods or Estates Disinheritance Erections of Lands into Baronies Marquisates Counties and Dutchies and all Letters of Donation Impost or Toll Pensions and other Letters concerning the Kings Crown-Lands are to be addressed to them to be Registred in their Office All Levies of Taxes are to be made by vertue of Letters Patents addressed to them after they have given in to the King and the Lords of his Councel the Departments made by them of the Taxes upon the Elections in Execution of the Brief or Brevets his Majesty directs every year to them for that effect upon which Letters they make Remonstrances to his Majesty when need requires and send their annexed Schedules or Bills and Commands to the Persons Elected to lay Impositions accordingly on the Parishes within their respective Elections That Imposition is made in the generality of Paris by the Treasurers of France and other Commissaries distributed throughout the several Elections depending of that generality whither they go and preside in order to make a Regulation of the said Taxes together with the Officers thereto belonging They afterwards send to the general and particular Receivers the Accounts or Calculations of recovering or collecting the said Taxes in order to their receiving them The same method is to be used in levying all the other Monies raised in the Kingdom of what nature soever they be There are two Receivers-General of the Finances or Revenues in the generality of Paris and two Comptrollers-General of the Domain or Crown-Lands and Treasure which were Commissionated in 1670. All the Officers of the Elections of the Granaries of Salt and all the Officers concerned in the Accounts of the general or particular receits thereof or the Commissioners for the Receit of the Royal Deniers or Monies are admitted and sworn by these Treasurers and give up their Accounts there truly and exactly before they give them up to the Chamber of Accounts They are great Seers or Surveyours and have the Direction Oeconomy and Policy of the Surveys particularly of that of Paris as well for the High-ways and for hindring all Enterprises that may be made in them as for the Buildings and all advances jettings out incumbrances and nuisances of High-ways Views or Prospects and publick ways and passages And all Letters Patent for the removal changing and stopping up or inclosing of High-ways and the like matters are addressed to them as persons to whom the Cognisance of the Cause belongs and the parties therein concerned are cited and plead before them where Justice is rendred them without further Appeal There are twenty three Generalities in the Kingdom of France and twenty three Treasurers of France in every Office the first of which is at Paris in the Palace near St. Michael's Chappel These Treasurers meet on Mondays Tuesdays Thursdays and Fridays in the Morning and every Saturday the Commissioners for the Pavements likewise meet In Vacation time they meet but twice a Week viz. on Tuesdays and Fridays These Treasurers-General of France and of the Finances or Revenues and Grands Seers or Surveyours in the generality of Paris are as follows There are four Presidents 19 Councellers-Treasurers two Advocates and one Proctor-General for the King one Recorder or Register one Chief Usher and House-Keeper and five other Ushers Of the Chamber of the Treasury In the Great Hall of the Palace is the Chamber of the Treasury which privately or exclusively to all other Judges takes cognisance of the payment of the Dues and Farms of the Crown-Lands and of the differences arising on that subject Of the Duties of Abeine or deceased Strangers Estates of Bastardise disinheriting and of the Fines and Amerciaments awarded by the Decrees of the Parliament and all incidents arising thence from which there lay an Appeal to the Parliament The Officers of the Chamber of the Treasury have another Chamber besides in the Office of the Treasurers of France where they assemble sometimes The Treasurers of
Horseback divided into six Brigades all about the Neighbourhood of Paris for the security of the Country The Provost of Senlis is Nicholas Bordereau CHAP. XXXVIII Of the Admiralty of France and other Courts kept within the inclosure of the Palace And first Of the Admiralty of France and of Guienne THis Court was formerly held too at the Marble Table but is at present kept in the great Hall of the Palace on that side next the Dauphins Hall It takes cognisance of all Affairs relating to the Admiralty and the splitting of Vessels Shipwracks and Commerce on the Sea both primarily and by way of Appeal and of the abuses and misdemeanours committed by the Officers of the particular subordinate Courts of Admiralty and of other Officers of Maritime Affairs The particular Courts from whence Appeals are made to this are those of Rochelle the Sands of Olonne Marans Callice Boulogâ—e Montreüil Abbeville St. Valery Eu and Hault The present Officers belonging to it are A Lieutenant-General who is the Sieur de Marbrelle and a Lieutenant particular four Counsellours one Proctor for the King one Recorder or Registrer and one Chief Usher The Days of Audience in this Court are Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays There are likewise other Chambers or Courts of Admiralty at Roüen Bourdeaux in Brittany and at Dunkirk and other places Of the Court of the Great Pantler of France This Court takes cognisance of all regulations among the Bakers who are admitted there To it belong A Lieutenant general and particular Mayor and Guardian of the Great Pantry of France who is Nicholas Petit-Jean or Little John one Proctor for the King one Registrer one Chief Usher and 13 Ushers Audiencers that reside some at Paris and some in the Countries The Audience Days in this Court are Mundays and Saturdays Of the Bailywick of the Palace In this Court are these Officers viz. A Bayliff who is Claudius Pelot a Lieutenant General a Proctor for the King and a Registrer This Court judges of all differences arising in the Halls and Court of the Palace The Court of the Masonry Is kept over the Dauphins Hall to it belong Three Counsellours who are Judges general of all Masons work in France The Court called the Court of the Bazoche For the regulation of the Clerks of the Palace and the Court for matters of Justice relating to importing and vending of Sea-Fish are still held too within the inclosure of the Palace And thus having spoke of the Courts of Judicature that are held within the inclosure of the Palace we shall next treat of the others held without it and particularly of the Chatelet or Castle of Paris Which is the ordinary Court of Justice of the City of Paris and the most considerable presidial Court in the Kingdom CHAP. XXXIX Of the Chatelet or Castle of Paris THE Administration of Justice for the Town Provostship and Vicounty of Paris is exercised under the Name of the Provost of Paris and in case of vacancy the Kings Proctor General of the Parliament is Guardian by his place of this Provostship and all Acts passing there during that time run in his name The Officers thereto belonging are A Provost called the Provost of Paris who is Charles-Denis de Bullion Marquiss of Gallerdon c. He had the Grant of this Office the 15th of February 1685. and took the usual Oath for it in Parliament on the 22d of May-following and the same day was solemnly Installed in the Chatelet and put into possession thereof by one of the Presidents à Mortier the Dean of the Lay-Counsellours of the Parliament and the eldest Clergy-man Counsellour of the Grand Chamber He has 8000 Livers yearly Sallary and allowance All Judgments and Sentences given in the Chatelet and all acts of Notaries run in his Name the Assembly of the Nobility of the Provostship of Paris for the Arriere-â—an is held in his House and it belongs to him to Conduct them to the Army This Office was always exercised by Persons of great Quality and Reputation Under him there are the following Officers viz. A Lieutenant Civil who is John le Camus Honorary Master of Requests a Lieutenant for the Policy or Government of the City Gabriel-Nicholas de la Reynie a Lieutenant Criminal James Defita two particular Lieutenants Fifty six Counsellours four Advocates and one Proctor for the King Eight Substitutes two Honorary Counsellours one Chief Recorder or Registrer with divers other Registrers both for Civil and Criminal Affairs and for Audiences Insinuations Presentations and other matters one Chief Usher Audiencer and several other Ushers Audiencers There are likewise belonging to it two Counsellours Judges-Auditours to decide small Suits not amounting to above the summ of 25 Livers one Registrer in Chief of the Auditours and one Chief Usher and two other Ushers-Audiencers of the said Auditours 48 Commissaries and 113 Notaries Together with the Proctors Ushers on Porseback and Ushers carrying Wands and the Ushers of the Provostship of Paris By the Edicts and Declarations of the present King Registred in Parliament the 7th of September 1684. The Court of the New Chatelet Created in 1674. was reunited to that of the old one and accordingly the Offices of Provost of Lieutenant-General Civil and Lieutenant-General Criminal were supprest as likewise that of Kings Proctor of the old Chatelet The Lieutenant Criminal of the Short-Robe of the Provostship and Vicounty of Paris is Reny Chrisanthe le Clere Baron of Sauteray c. He has under him four Lieutenants seven Exempts and 100 Archers or Guards which are also Ushers at the Chatelet The Provost of the Isle of France of whom we have already spoken has also under him several Lieutenants Exempts and Archers or Guards for the Execution of his Sentences and Judgments The Knight of the Watch has likewise under him four Lieutenants eight Exempts one Registrer one Comptroller and Clerk of the Watch one Guidon 40 Archers or Guards on Horseback and 100 on Foot that wear blue Hoquetons or Jackets set with Stars of Silver Besides which number there is a recruit as well of Horse and Foot which is much stronger in Winter than in Summer As for the solemn and Ceremonial Habits of the Officers of the Chatelet they are these The three Lieutenants-General the Kings Advocates and Proctors wear Scarlet-Robes and the Counsellours black ones Formerly there were several little Courts of Judicature held by the several Lords who had their peculiar Jurisdictions in the City Suburbs and Banlieu or Liberties of Paris which were suppressed upon the Creation of the Court of the new Chatelet in the Month of February 1674 and their Jurisdictions incorporated into the Courts of the old and new Chatelets which are now made but one as is abovesaid Having spoken of the ordinary Jurisdiction of the City we will proceed next to treat of the ordinary Jurisdiction for the Taxes Aids and other Dues to the King which is the ordinary Court of Justice for Pari as it
de Starembourg Vassenar Ambassador Extraordinary 5. From Malta the Bayliff de Hauteville c. Ambassador from the Grand Master of Malta Envoys according to the Order of their arrival in France 1. From Portugal Dom Salvador Taborda Envoy Extraordinary 2. From Sweden M. Liliencroot 3. From Denmark M. Meyercroon 4. From Spain M. Delval 5. From the Emperour Count Cobkowitz Envoy Extraordinary 6. From England Mr. Skelton Envoy Extraordinary Other Envoys and Residents are 1. The Resident of the Elector of Cologne and States of Liége M. Waldorf 2. An Envoy Extraordinary from the Elector of Brandenburg M. Spanheim 3. From the Duke of Mantua the Count Balliani 4. The Envoy of Modena is the Abbot Rizini 5. The Envoy Extraordinary of Genoa is the Marquiss Girardo Spinola The Agents are 1. An Auditor of the Nunciature the Abbot Laury 2. The Agent for the Elector Palatine and other Princes of the Empire is M. John le Breton 3. And for the Elector of Brandenburg the Hans Towns and Landgraviate of Hessen M. Bek And for the Dukes of Weymar M ..... When one Ambassador is relieved or succeeded by another at the arrival of the new they both go together to Court whereas they are going to their Audience he that is relieved still takes the upper hand of the new one but when they come back from their Audience the new Comer or Successour takes place of the other But if an Ambassador only in Ordinary be sent to relieve one that is Ambassador Extraordinary the Extraordinary Ambassador takes the upper hand both in going to and coming from Audience FINIS THE TABLE A. ACademy of France Page 510 Admiral of France 371 Admiralty of France 482 Administration of Justice 451 Aids 496 Air of France 5 Almoner of France Great 61 Almoner of France First c. 66 Ambassadors of France 513 in France 515 Antichamber 134 Apothecaries Kings 141 Arch-Bishopricks 404 Arch-Bishops 406 Arquebuse or Fire-Arms Carrier 120 Attire 17 B. BAilywick of the Palace 483 Bastile 170 Birds of the Chamber 132 Bishopricks 404 Bishops 406 Buildings 10 C. CAmp-Master 356 Captains of the Guards 234 of the Guides 184 Carver 80 Castle of Blois 172 of Chambor ibid. of Compiegne 169 of Monceaux 171 of Plessis le Tours 173 of Vincennes 170 Cavalry of France 357 Ceremonies c. 151 Chamber of Accounts 461 of the Treasury 473 Chamberlain of France 107 Chancery of France 397 Chatelet or Castle of Paris 484 Children of France 24 Chyrurgions Kings 140 Clergy of Kings Houshold 73 Climate of France 2 Cloak-Carriers 118 Closet of Antiquities 131 of Arms ibid. of Books 130 of Dispatches ibid. Commodities of France 5 Common Buttry 99 Fruitery 101 Kitchin 100 Pantry 99 Complexion of the French 15 Comptrollers of the Counting-House 90 of the Privy-Purse 129 Computation 18 Constable of France 348 Constablry 478 Councils of the King 379 of Dispatches 380 of Finances or Revenues 383 call'd the Grand-Council 393 of State 388 of War 379 Counsellors and Secretaries of the Finances or Revenues of France 396 Counties and Baronies c. reunited to the Crown 331 Counting-House 89 Court of Aids 466 of Bazoche 484 of Monies or Coynage 468 of Masonry 483 Cupbearer 80 D. DAuphin of France 24 his Houshold 272 his Childrens Servants 292 Dauphiness 25 her Houshold 280 Diet of the French 16 Dimensions of France 2 Division of France ibid. Dogs of the Kings Chamber 133 Dukes and Peers 315 Dukes and Peers with the Names of their Dukedoms and the date of their Verification 320 Dukes and Peers whose Patents are not yet verified 323 Dutchies or Dutchies and Peerages not verified at Paris 322 Dutchies and Peerages Extinct and not Extinct 324 E. ELection of Paris 487 F. FAculty of Arts 505 of Divinity 502 of Law 504 of Physick ibid. Family of de la Tour d' Auvergne of which was the Famous Godfrey of Bouillon 49 Family of Grimaldi de Mourgues or of the Prince of Monaco in Italy 51 Family of Rohan 52 Family of Tremoille 56 Fewel or Wood-Office 101 Flight of the Magpie 133 Foot-Guards 265 Fountainbleau 164 G. GAbels 496 Genealogy of the Royal Branch of Bourbon 21 General of the Gallies 375 Generalities of France 491 Gens d' Armes or Men at Arms of the Kings-Guard 261 357 Gentlemen-Waiters 81 Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber 111 Gentlemen of the Kings-Houshold 137 Gentlemen Pensioners 271 Goblet or Kings own Buttry 93 Governments in France 417 Granary of Salt at Paris 488 Greyhounds of the Chamber 132 Guards de la Manche or of the Sleeve 230 of the Gate 252 of the great Provost of the Houshold 259 without the Gate 261 Guildhall or Townhouse of Paris 489 H. HArbingers or Fouriers 58 Hawking 203 Heralds at Arms 152 Historiographers of France 508 House of Longueville 38 of Lorrain 39 of Savoy setled in France 46 Hunting 198 I. INfantry 357 Inhabitants 11 Introductor of Ambassadors 194 Institution of Parliaments in France 451 452 Judges Consuls 490 K. KIng now Reigning 9 Kings Houshold 61 Kings Pleasures 197 Kitchin of the Mouth 96 Knights of the Holy Ghost 337 Knights of the Order of St. Michael of Mont Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem 343 L. LAnguage of France 14 Laws 11 Legitimated Children of Henry the Great and their Descendants 35 Legitimated Children of the present King 33 Life-Guard-Men 237 Light Horse of the Kings Guard 264 Light Horse 357 Lords in France that bear the stile of Princes 59 Louvre 159 M. MAdame and her Family 28 her Houshold 307 Madrid Palace 161 Manners of the French 11 Maritime Forces 371 Marshals of France 351 Marshals of the Lodgings c. 175 Marshalsy of France 478 Master of the Kings Houshold Great 74 Master of the Kings Houshold First 77 Master of the Artillery 368 Master of the Ceremonies 193 Master of the Horse 143 Masters of Requests 388 Measures of the French 8 Military Officers of the Kings Housholds 223 Money 7 Monsieur and his Family 28 his Houshold 294 his Guards 305 Musick of the Kings Chappel 72 of the Chamber 135 Musqueteers on Horseback of the Kings Guards 269 N. NAmes and Surnames 17 Name of France 1 Name of the King 19 Nobility of France 313 Number of the Inhabitants 14 Numbring the French Manner 18 Nursery of Horses or the Haras 151 O. OAth of Allegiance taken by the Bishops 65 Officers under the title of Valet de Chambres 121 124 Officers for Journeys 185 Officers of the Kings Orders 341 Officers whose Incomes are yearly returned into the Exchequer or Treasure Royal 498 Order observ'd when the King dines in publick 83 Order of the Kings March 239 Orders of Knighthood in France 333 Orders of Knighthood call'd the Kings Orders 334 Order of Quartering an Army 182 P. PAntler 80 483 Park 167 Parliament of Paris 455 Peers of France 315 316 Physicians Kings 139 Porters of the Bedchamber 124 Precedence in the Kings Court 256 Prerogative of the King 19 Princes of the Blood 29 Priviledges of the Commoners Tabled in the Kings Houshold 216 of Chyrurgions 221 of the Court Clergy 220 of Lifeguard-Men 222 of all the Kings Officers ibid. Provost of France 186 Punishments in France 14 Q. QUerries 154 R. REcreations 17 Religion 11 Riches of France 6 Royal Houses 159 Royal Housholds 272 S. SEcretary of State 380 of the Housholds 195 Seven Offices 93 Soil of France 5 St. Germains en Laye 162 Stables Kings 148 Stature of the French 15 Stranger-Princes in France 39 Style of the King 20 Suisse Guards 241 Regiment 266 Surveyor of Royal Buildings 158 T. TAxes 493 Taylors Kings 128 Title of the King 21 Trade of France 6 Tradesmen following the Court 213 Treasurers of France 470 Treasury-Royal 499 Troops of the Kings Houshold and Officers 223 357 V. VAlets de Chambre 113 Versailles 171 Virtuosi of France 510 Universities of France 501 Ushers of the Chamber 114 W. WAterservers or Serdeau's 82 Waters and Forests 474 Woolf-Hunting 211 Y. YEomen of the Chamber 123 Climate Bounds Dimensions and Figure Division Air. Soil Commodities Riches and Trade Money and Coins Weights and Measures Buildings Inhabitants Laws Religion Manners Punishments Number Language Stature and Complexion Diet. Attire Recreations Names Computation and Numbring * Sire a Title anciently given to most great Lords who were petty Soveraigns though now only to Kings Wages Prerogative Oath Office * A Box containing the Kings Plates Napkins Knives c. Functions and Prerogatives * The Nave is the Box containing the Kings Plates Napkins Knives c. * Caraffes are large Glasses in form of those used for Vinegar at our Tables Function and Priviledges Their Functions and Priviledges A Stick used in the Pallmall Antiquity of this Office Present Functions and Priviledges Oath 1 * A Security given to save harmless or for the true Title of Lands c. * A sort of Cistercian Monks * A certain Jurisdiction so called * Both Sword-men and Gown-men * The sixth part of a Penny †A Measure being something above half a Bushel * A Denier is the twelfth part of a Penny