the second Baron of Montmorency The Constable had right to take a days pay as his Fee of all Military Persons entred into the Kings pay at the first payment they received and of the Horse and Foot that were under the Command of the Master or Clerk of the Cross-Bow-men and in general of all those that were paid by the Treasurers of the Wars except only the Princes of the Blood and their Domesticks that served in the War at their own Expences and the Officers and Souldiers at Sea It was Treason to offend the Constable as it was Judged in the Case of Peter de Craôn who had attempted upon the Life of Oliver de Clisson High Constable The Jurisdiction or Court held at the Marble Table is called the Constablerie and Marshalsey and though the Office of Constable was supprest by a Declaration of the last King in 1627. after the Death of the then Duke de Lesdiguieres the last Constable yet so much of his Jurisdiction and Power as was exercised at the Marble Table remains still in the hands of the Marshals of France that were formerly but his Lieutenants The number of Constables is differently related by the Annalists who as little agree in the Order of their Succession There is still always in the Armies a Provost of the Constablery that gives out Passports and has jurisdiction and power to take cognisance of all Disorders of Men of War and to decide all differences arising among them as likewise over all Traytors and Deserters of the Army He also sets the price of Victuals and enjoys many other Priviledges By an Order of the 13th of March 1627. and another of the 23d of April in 1643. The late King supprest the Offices of High Constable and Colonel-General of the Infantry of France with a Provision for the future that they should never be renewed again upon what pretence soever and the suppression of that of Colonel-General of the Infantry was again confirmed the 23d of July 1661. The first or eldest Marshal of France Officiates the duty of Constable and may as such bear on one side of his Coat of Arms a naked Sword and the Commanders Staff on the other as Marshal The other Prerogatives belonging to this Office may be seen in the relation of M. du Tillet Before we conclude this Chapter it will not be impertinent the following Article of the Priviledges of this High Office found in the Registers of the Chamber of Accounts in a Bag called Spalia and exprest in old French Item The Constable is to have his Chamber at Court near the King where-ever his Majesty be and in his Chamber is to have twelve Stools and twelve Cushions and Billets for his fire and he is to have a certain allowance of Wine and two pound of small Candles and a Torch by Night to conduct him to his House or into the Town which are to be redelivered next Morning to the Fruiterer And he is to have thirty six Loaves and one Pot of Wine for himself placed near the Stand and two Barrels for his Chamber one towards the Door and the other towards the ends and of every Mess cookt or raw as much as is necessary and a Stable for four-Horses Item If a Castle or Forteress be taken or do yield the Horses Harness Provisions and all other things found therein belong to the Constable except the Gold and the persons that belong to the King and the Artillery that belongs to the Master of the Cross-Bow-Men There has been sometimes made a Lieutenant-General representing the Kings Person throughout the Kingdom which is an Authority almost equal to the Constables though held only by Commission There was one of these made in 1560. under Charles the Ninth and the late Duke of Orleans enjoyed the same Dignity in the Minority of the present King Lemis the Great CHAP. XV. Of the Marshals of France IT will be no easy matter to tell you precisely at what time the Office of Marshal of France was first Instituted because the Historians that have made mention of it are not agreed about that point John le Feron that writes their History makes them to have begun under Clovis the second Son of Dagobert in the person of one Girard Count of Dammartin some others attribute their first Creation to Hugh Capet But I can subscribe to neither of these opinions my first reason is because John de Feron has not the approbation of all those well skill'd in History my second that after having perused over the most part of the French Annalists I can find no mention made of any Marshals of France till the time of Philip the First neither was it by History that I found out the name in that Reign but by reading the Records of the Foundation of the Church of St. Martin des Champs or of St. Martins in the Fields in Paris dated in the year 1067. Signed by his Majesty and other Lords and afterwards by Guy and Anselm Marshals of France without the addition of any other Sur-names This Charter which cannot be charged with Forgery induces me to believe that there were always some of that name and Dignity ever since their first Creation which agrees with the opinion of M. Du Tillet but because it is more commonly believed that they were always the Lieutenants of the Constables I shall not absolutely contradict it and because the Office of Constable was then but the fourth Dignity in the Kingdom and that their Command extended but over a part of the Kings Cavalry I cannot be persuaded that the Marshals of France have always been Generals of Armies The Office of Constable became the first Dignity of France by the Valour of Matthew of Montmorency who in the time of Philip Augustus gained the Battle of Bovines against the joint Forces of the Emperour Otho and the King of England who were then Armed and Leagued together against that Great Prince And then it was that the Dignity of Marshal of France raised it self to that Lustre which it keeps to this day for whereas they were before but Lieutenants of the Constable in the Kings Stables only they from that time his Lieutenants also in the Command of the Armies and since the suppression of that Dignity exercise the whole remainder of the Authority annexed to it which is conferred upon them by putting a Staff of Command into their hands The Marshals of France bear as a mark of their Dignity two Azure Staves set with Flower-deluces of gold passed Salteir-wise behind their Coats of Arms. Their Offices depend wholly of the Crown and they are Sworn for them by the King himself They are commonly given as recompences to Eminent Commanders for some great Military Exploits and are not Hereditary They cannot be deprived of the Title of their Dignities but with the loss of their Lives only they may be suspended from the Exercise of their Office They are not obliged to take any Oath in Parliament no
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
of the Waters and Forests of Paris whose Court is kept in the Court of the Palace from whence Appeals are made to the abovesaid general Chamber of the Waters and Forests of France This particular Court is composed of one Master one Lieutenant one Proctor for the King and some other Officers CHAP. XXXVII Of the Constablrie and Marshalsy of France THE Constable and Marshals of France are the Head and Chief Officers that preside in this Court It is the Ordinary Court of Justice for the Militia or Souldiery both in Civil Politick and Criminal matters and is the sole and universal one for those matters throughout the whole extent of the Kingdom Their Sentences from whence Appeals may be made to the Parliament run in this stile The Constables and Marshals of France to all those who shall see these present Letters greeting c. Though at present there be no Constable because the eldest Marshal of France represents him making together with the other Marshals but one Body of which he is Head When the Marshals of France Assemble about any differences between any of the Nobility a person taken out of his Majesties Council and chosen by his Majesty out of those that are proposed to him for that purpose by the Marshals of France who is commonly either a Councellour of State or a Master of Requests assists together with the eldest Marshal of France then at Paris at all Assemblies that are held about the point of honour and makes report of all Affairs that pass there He that are present officiates that office is M. L' Advocat Master of Requests The Constabirie has power to take cognisance of the Admission and Functions of the Offices of all Provosts whether general provincial or particular and of Bayliffs Vice-Bayliffs Vice-Seneschals Lieutenants Criminal of the Short-Robe Knights of the Watch and their Lieutenants Assessours Kings Proctors Commissaries and Comptrollers for the Musters Treasurers of the Pay Receivers Payers and Registrers of the several Companies in what part of the Kingdom soever they be established It likewise Judges of all Faults Abuses and Misdemeanours committed by any of the Officers of the War Souldiery or Marshalfies The Officers of the Long-Robe belonging to this Court are a Lieutenant-General a Lieutenant particular and a Proctor for the King These three Officers besides the Priviledges which they enjoy as being esteemed Commoners of the Kings Houshold are Squires by their Places There are several Ushers belonging to this Court whereof four are always to attend actually upon it Of the Provost of the Constablrie The present Provost is M. Stephen Germain Sieur de St. Germain who is stiled Provost-General of the Constablrie and Marshalsy of France and Judge of the Camps and Armies of the King he is likewise called the Grand Provost of the Constablrie He has 2800 Livers or Pounds French yearly Salary and his Lodging among the Retinue of the Court and in the Camps and Armies he is lodged immediately next after the Marshal or Quarter-Master-General of the Lodgings of the Army He names and presents to the King all the Officers and Guards of his Company who upon his Nomination obtain Grants of their several Places in the Chancery He has priviledge to assist at the Examinations Admissions and swearing of the Provosts of the Marshals of Provinces and of Vice-Bayliffs Vice-Seneschals and Lieutenants Criminal of the Short-Robe of the Marshalsy and in general of all Officers of the Marshalsy of France with the Priviledge of having a deliberative Voice and a power of Inspection over them He Commands the Marshalsies when they are called together as when the Kings calls a Ban and Arriere Ban that is Summons the whole Body of the Nobility to appear in Arms. He is to take care all Military Ordinances be observed and takes cognisance of all Causes belonging to Provostships and others left to Extraordinary Judges He is supreme Judge without Appeal in all matters whether Civil Criminal or Political in the Camps and Armies where he sets a price upon Provisions and gives Pass-Ports to Merchants Furnishers of Munition Tradesmen and others following the Armies He has under him these following Officers viz. Three ancient Lieutenants whereof one is to be of the Long-Robe who have each of them 800 Livers yearly Salary two Lieutenants of later Creation whereof one has 500 and the other 600 Livers yearly Salary One Proctor for the King at 1200 Livers Salary He has power to substitute Deputies under him in other Marshalsies where there is no Proctor for the King Four Exemts who have 200 Livers Salary each one Register at 300 Livers and 48 Guards reckoning in the Trumpeter at 200 Livers each yearly Stipend To this Company belong a Commissary for the Musters whose Salary is 600 Livers and a Comptroller for the same at 300 Livers yearly stipend When they are in the Army these Officers have Extraordinary allowances over and above their standing Pay viz. The Lieutenant 150 Livers the Kings Proctor 100 Livers the Exempts 60 Livers apiece the Registrer 60 Livers and the Guards 25 Livers each When there are several Armies in the Field the Grand Provost of the Constablrie serves in the Army Royal or principal Army and his Lieutenants in the other Armies The Sword-Officers of this Company Mount the Guard and do service about the person of the eldest Marshal of France as Representing the Constable They are appointed for the Guard and keeping in Custody persons of Quality Gentlemen and Officers that have quarrels one with another And the Provost of the Constablry assists with the eldest Marshal of France at all Assemblies held upon occasion of such quarrels The Guards wear Hoquetons or Short-Coats wrought with Massie-Silver upon a blue ground and for their Device the first Letter of the Kings Name being a Crowned L between two Right Hands Armed with Gantlets set with Flower-deluces coming out of a Cloud and holding each a naked Sword with the point upwards with these words about it Non sine Numine i. e. not without a Deity or Divine Power which kind of Sword is called the Sword of the Constablrie These Officers are of the Body of the Gend'armerie or Men at Arms and have been hitherto maintain'd in the quality and priviledges of Commoners of the Kings Houshold The last Letters to this effect bear date the 22d of February 1653. There are also belonging to this Court and Company one Chief Assessour and one Chief Usher to serve Warrants and Orders who have each 300 Livers yearly Salary There is likewise a Provost-General of the Monies or Mint and Marshalsies of France named Augustin-Nicholas Langlois who has under him several Lieutenants and Exempts one Registrer and 60 Archers or Guards who have power to serve and execute Orders and Warrants The Provost-General of the Isle of France is Francis de Francini de Grand ' Maisons He has under him four Lieutenants eight Exempts one Registrer and ten Guards called Archers on
Duc for the said Lords States He made Abjuration of the reformed Religion before the Bishop of Anger 's the 3d of September 1670. and died the 14th of September 1672. He Married on the 1st of May 1648. the Princess Emilia of Hessen Sister to William Landgrave of Hessen-Cassel who was Born in 1626. by whom he left divers Children viz. 1. Charles-Belgick-Holland de la Tremoille Duke of Thoüars Peer of France Prince of Tarente c. who has the Reversion of the Place of one of the Principal Gentlemen of the Kings Bed-chamber after his Father-in-Law the Duke of Crequi He Married on the 3d of April 1675. Madamoiselle of Crequi named Magdalene of Crequi onely Daughter to the Duke of Crequi by whom he has Issue a Daughter N ..... of Tremoille Born in 1677. and a Son N .... of Tremoille Born in 1683. 2. William Frederick of Tremoille Prince of Talmont Abbot of Charroux c. and Canon of Strasburg 3. Charlotte-Emilia of Tremoille who having been Married in Denmark the 29th of May 1680. to Antony of Altemburg Count of Oldenburg became a Widow four Months after 4. N ..... of Tremoille 5. N ..... of Tremoille II. Marie of Tremoille their Aunt called heretofore Madamoiselle of Tremoille who was Married on the 18th of July 1662. to Prince Bernard of Saxe-weimar Son of Duke William Of the Brothers and Sisters of the deceased Henry Duke of Tremoille Grandfather to the present Duke who died the 21st of January 1674. There remains the Issue that follows 1. Of the late Frederick of Tremoille Count of Laval c. who died at Venice in February 1642. of a Wound he received in a Duel against the Sieur du Coudray-Montpensier there remain some natural Children by Mrs. Anne Orpe an English Gentlewoman and one Daughter by N .... de Moussi a Venetian Lady 2. Henry-Steven of Tremoille whose Birth was Controverted in the Court of Parliament of Paris and declared Illegitimate by a Sentence of the 23d of March 1647. 3. Charlotte of Tremoille Married to the Lord James Stanly Earl of Darby King in Man c. Eldest Son to the late Earl William and the Lady Elizabeth Vere He did great Services to the late King Charles the First in the Civil Wars against the Rebellious Parliamenteers Of this Marriage are come several Children Those which remain at present of the two Branches of Tremoille-Royan and Tremoille-Noirmoutier are second Cousins to the Prince of Tarente last deceased who was Charles-Henry of Tremoille The House of Tremoille at the late Treaties of Munster and Nimguen Represented the pretensions it has to succeed Frederick of Arragon last King of Naples in that Kingdom I have not mentioned the Family of Epernon because there remains none of it but one Daughter who is a Carmelite Nun and Marie of Cambout Dutchess Dowager of that Name Before I put an end to this Chapter it will not be amiss to tell you what it is to have The Pour or The for as they term it which is a Priviledge at Court allowed only to Princes of the Blood or to Legitimated Princes or to such Lords who as those of this last sort have the Priviledge and Rank of Princes To explain then what is the meaning of having the Pour or the for at Court You must know That in France 't is a thing immemorially practised by the Kings Harbengers called Fouriers to mark out before-hand Lodgings in private Houses in all places whither the Court is to remove for all the great Persons Officers and Attendants belonging to it without consulting the leave or liking of the Owners who are bound to furnish the Rooms and supply necessaries according to the respective Quality as well of the Owner as of the Person or Persons he is to lodge at a certain stinted inconsiderable rate Now these Harbingers or Fouriers mark the Doors of the Houses or Chambers they single out for these purposes with Chalk and if it be only for an ordinary or mean Officer or any Person beneath the Quality above-specified then they mark out in Chalk only the Name of the Person without further addition but when they mark out any House or Rooms for Persons of this high Quality They then prefix this word Pour i. e. for and write Pour i. e. for Monsteur or Monseignour tel i. e. Mr. or My Lord such a one And this is called Having The Pour It is to be observed That there are some particular Lords in France that bear the stile of Princes as a thing annexed to the Lands they possess which have the Title of Principalities such as are The Principalities of Dombes and of La Roche-sur-Yon lately belonging to Madamoiselle of Orleans Montpensier of Martigues and Anet to the Duke of Vendome of Neuf-Chatel and Wallenghin in Suisserland to the House of Longueville and of Chatel-aillon in the Country of Rochel to the Barony of Joinville belonging to the House of Guise Erected into a Principality the 9th of May 1552. Of Guémené belonging to the Prince of that Name Erected in 1570. and verified in Parliament the same year Of Soubize Erected into a Principality by Letters Patents of the Month of March 1667. and verified in Parliament the first of July the same year That of Talmont belonging to the House of Tremoille That of Tarente in Italy which though it be in the possession of the King of Spain yet the right thereof is pretended to by the said House of Tremoille and accordingly the Eldest Son of that House takes thence his Title That of Soyon in Vivarais belonging to the Duke d' Vses Of Enrichemont de Boisbelle to the Duke of Suilly Of Mortaigne sur Gironde to the Duke of Richelieu Of Marsillac to the Duke of La Rochefoucault Of Leon an ancient Principality in Brittany to the Duke of Rohan Of Tingrie in the Country of Bologne and of Lusse to the Duke of Piney-Luxemburg Of Bidache to the Duke of Gramont Of Chateau-Portien to the Duke of Mazarine Erected into a Principality by Charles the Ninth the 4th of June 1561. Of Poix to the Duke of Crequi Of Buch to the Duke of Foix-Rendan Of Bedeilles to the Countess of Marsan Of Carency to the House of Escars La Vauguyon Of Chalais to the House of that Name Of Yvetot to the House of Crevan-cing◠Of Amblise to the House of Anglure Of Delain in the Franche-County to the Marquiss of Montglat Of Chabanois in the Country of Angoumois built on the Bank of the River of Vienna to the Marquiss of Sourdis Although those that are possest of these Principalities have not the Rank of Princess unless they be otherwise so in one of those four Mannors last above described but only enjoy that place which is due to them among the other Dukes and Peers of France if they be such Of whom we shall treat further under that Title CHAP. XI Of the Royal Housholds Of the Kings Houshold and of the Ecclesiastical Officers of the Kings Houshold
and their Attendants and First Of the Great Almoner of France THE Present Great Almoner of France is the Cardinal of Boüillon who by his Place is Commander of the Kings Orders He was named to this Office of Great Almoner of France the 10th of December 1671. And after having taken the usual Oath on that occasion to the King accordingly took possession of it the 12th of the same Month. He succeeded therein the late Cardinal Barberin Nephew to Pope Vrban the VIII High Chamberlain of the Holy Church Archbishop and Duke of Reims and first Duke and Peer of France who died the 3d of August 1671. He has of ancient standing Wages fixed in the general Pay-Book of the Houshold 1200 l. a year and 1200 more under the name of a Pension 6000 l. for his Table and Livery 3000 l. paid him by the Treasurer of the Mark of Gold on the 1st of January and 3000 more by the same Treasurer as Commander by his place of the Kings Orders making in all 14400 l. French which is about 1108 l. Sterling The Great Almoner of France is by vertue of his Place Commander of the Kings Orders And He or his Great Vicars are commonly appointed to make the Inquests of the Lives and Manners of the Knights of those Orders and to receive their profession of Faith Roillard and Loiuseau and some other Authors affirm that he is an Officer of the Crown This Office is in France the Solstitium honorum or highest Pinacle of Ecclesiastical Honour and has accordingly been almost always honoured with the Purple and possest by Cardinals Though in all times there always was a Head of the Court-Clergy yet he never bore the Title of Great Almoner of France tell the time of Francis the First who Created Antony Sanguin Gardinal of Meudon Great Almoner of France though even in the time of Charles the VIII Geffrie of Pompadour Bishop of Perigneux began to take that Title as appears in the Chamber of Accounes by the Account he gave of the Kings Alms in the year 1489 but was not followed in it till the said Reign of Francis the First The Great Almoner takes an Oath of Fidelity to the King He gives the usual Certificates of the Oaths of Fidelity taken by all new Archbishops and Bishops in France and in partibus infidelium as likewise by any General of the Order by Grand Priors of the Order of Malta in France who are Grand Priors of France by those of St. Giles or of Provence of Champagne of Aquitain and of Auvergne and by some Abbots for formerly all Abbots and Abbesses did likewise take Oaths of Fidelity to the King He likewise presents to the King the Book of the Holy Gospels when he is to swear solemnly to any Alliance as appeared in the Church of Nostre Dame at Paris at the Renewing of the Aliance with the 13 Swisse-Cantons performed the 18th of November 1663. He marches at the Kings right Hand in all Processions and when the King permits any Officers to sit down in his Presence during Sermon or other Church-Service the Great Almoners Seat is on his Majesties right Hand The Great Almoner has the Charge of Goal Deliveries usually made by Kings at their coming to the Crown at Kings and Queens Coronations at their Marriages at their first Entries into any Cities of the Kingdom at the Birth of any Children of France at the great Annual Festivals at Jubilies upon any signal Victory or Conquest and upon other occasions 'T is he that Disposes of the Revenue appointed for the Kings Alms and that gives Order for the making the necessary Ornaments ordinarily used in the Chappel he goes when he pleases and performs the Service as at the Kings rising and going to Bed to assist at the Kings Prayers at Royal Feasts or at the Kings ordinary Meals to crave a Blessing and give Thanks and at Mass where he takes the Kings Prayer-Book from the Clerks of the Chappel of the Oratory to present it to the King as likewise the springsing Brush when Mass is done to give the King some Holy Water He Accompanies the King when he goes to the Offertory from his praying Desk to the Altar The same Functions are also performed by the Chief Almoner or in his absence by the other Almoners He does likewise other Functions if he please to be present at all the Ceremonies that are done as on the days the King touches for evil He administers the Communion to his Majesty and other Sacraments of which he has need He is the Bishop of the Court as the Abbot of Peyrat one of the Kings Almoners shows in his Antiquities of the Chappel Royal and performs several Episcopal Functions in any Diocess where-ever it be that the Court is without asking leave of the Bishops of the places He Baptizes the Dauphins the Sons and Daughters of France the Princes and all others for whom the Kings and Queens or any Children of France are please to stand Godfathers or Godmothers for whether in person or by Proxy He affiances and marries in the Kings Palace Princes and Princesses You are to observe that on a Communion-day the Great Almoner with his Crosier and Miter gives the Absolution without asking leave of the ordinary or else appoints another Bishop to do it in his stead according to the practise used in Cathedrals 'T is he if he be in the Chappel that gives the King the Gospel and the Pax to kiss on certain Festivals and when his Majestry Communicates He gives the Ashes to their Majesties and the usual Dispensation for eating Eggs and Flesh in Lent The Abbot of Peyrat in his Book of the Antiquities of the Chappel Royal brings Examples to show that the Great Almoner gives permission to the Court Clergy to Contract and Marry and Officers in the Kings Service without any need of their going to a Parish Church He apoints those of the same Clergy to hear the Confessions of the Kings Officers especially on the great Festivals of the year and at Easter and to administer the Sacraments to them when they desire it and when they are sick The power of the great Almoner extends it self yet further out of the Kings Chappel and Household He has the disposing of all places in the Hospitals of France and he has power to appoint Vicars throughout all the Provinces and Diocesses of the Kingdom to take an account of the Revenues of the said Hospitals but he appoints one Vicar General who has power over the rest The Great Almoner has likewise power in the University of Paris over the 17 Lecturers of the Royal Colledge over the Colledge of Mr. Gervase and over that of Navarre He has the gift of the Scholars and Principals Places in those Colledges where he has the right of Visiting He has also the Super-Intendance of the Hospital of the Fifteen-score blind People at Paris of that of the sixscore blind at Chartres and of
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
make the second Trusse of his Bed that is they sold the second and third Quilt of the Kings Bed after the Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber have folded the first and the Sheets 'T is their right to put the Dauphin to Table he having no Table-Carrier When the King or the Dauphin have occasion to wash either their Feet or their whole Bodies in a Bath the Fuel-Officers are to heat and pour in the Water and while the King or Dauphin are in the Bath when any Perfumes are to be burnt one of the said Officers is to hold the hot Pan on which the Perfumes are cast When any Officer of the Kings Houshold is Arrested or made Prisoner the Fuel-Officers are charged with the Prisoner and the Fuel-Office is made their Prison 'T is at this Office that the Kings Visits the Poor on Maundy-Thursday By his Chief Physician and others and the Chyrurgion of the Houshold wipes their Feet If the King happen to eat with another King or Queen the King of France as performing the Honours due from a Person in his own House to a Stranger his equal will yield to that Crowned Head his Cadenat that is his own Plate and Service which is the greatest piece of honour of the Table together with his Captain of the Guards and his Chair and then it would be the Fuel-Officers Duty to put the King of France to Table that is to say to present his Most Christian Majesty a Chair and take it away again when he rises from Table as it was determined at Fountainbleau at the Marriage of the Lady Marie-Lewise of Orleans to the King of Spain who in Quality of Queen of Spain eat several days with the King Besides these there is at the Fuel-Office one Deliverer of the Wood one Porter that serves the Chamber with Wood and three Servants of the Office The Kings Table-Carriers and those of the Houshold eat at the Fuel-Office The Kings Table-Carrier likewise gives the King his Chair when he Dines in Publick The two Table-Carriers of the Houshold have 200 l. Wages paid by the Treasurers of the Household and 600 l. more each at the Chamber of Deniers for their ordinary Furnitures There is likewise one Joyner in Ordinary who among other things furnishes Box-Branches on Palm-Sunday at the Kings Chappel Two Chair-men for business In all these Offices there are some Servants All the Officers of the seven Offices have always priviledge to wear a Sword in the Louvre or elsewhere and to wait with their Swords by their sides if they please The five Offices of the Houshold are composed as you see of Chiefs Aids and Grooms and are regulated after the same manner as those immediately belonging to the King Besides the seven Offices there is a new Kitchin which was established in the Month of September 1664. called the Little-Common Kitchin to serve the Great Masters and Great Chamberlains new Table Of which we shall now name the Officers Other Officers belonging to the seven Offices There are still some others that may be reckoned as belonging to or dependant on the seven Offices as the Deliverer out of the Ice who has his Place by Commission and receives at the Chamber of Deniers for Wages Diet and all together half a Crown a day paid by way of Extraordinary He distributes Ice not only for the Kings Table but for all the Tables of the Houshold and to the Princes and great Lords of the Court. There are four Barber-Chyrurgions belonging to the Houshold that are Sworn by the Chief Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber who have 200 l. a piece yearly Wages on the Book of the smaller Accounts and 150 l. for dressing on occasion the Pages of the said Chamber They shave the poor Men on Maundy-Thursday and wash their Feet They Accompany the Chief Physician when he visits the said poor Men. After these we may place the Purveyors and the Merchants that furnish necessaries which are the Bakers the Vintners the Linen-Drapers and others who keep to the bargain they have made with the Kings Officers so long as they please and so long as no body offers to do it cheaper but if they furnish any thing that is not so good as it should be the Masters and Comptrollers of the Houshold and other Head-Officers may buy more elsewhere and bate or cause it to be bated in the said Merchants Bills The Baker has 150 l. at the Chamber of Deniers for Covertures There are three Purveyors who have 200 l. likewise at the Chamber of Deniers for Covertures A Customary allowance called a Parists for what he ordinarily furnishes is paid to the Baker Vintner and Purveyor when they are obliged to go further from Paris than the distance specified in their Bargains The Vintner is likewise allowed for following the King or Dauphin out of the Kingdom when they stir out of it according to what is agreed on in the Contract made with them I shall add this one Remark that when the Court is upon the march there is allowed for the House where the Goblet is lodged 3 l. or a Crown for the Kitchin of the Mouth 5 l. for the two Common-Kitchins both Great and Little 3 l. each for the Pastry-Cooks lodging 20 pence and the like price for the Housing taken up by the Common-Pantry Buttry and Pastry as likewise by the Fruitry and Fuel-Office which is called paying the De Roy or allowance due from the King for House-room for his Offices The Officers of later Creation for the service of the Great Masters and Great Chamberlains Table are A Master of the Houshold Waiting at the Great Masters new Table who has 1000 l. yearly Another Master of the Houshold Waiting at the Great Chamberlains new Table at 600 l. This latter has an Ordinary of Bread and Wine allowed him in the Establishment of the Houshold and he takes his Ordinary of Meat upon what is served off from this Table He has inspection over the Officers of the Little-Common Kitchin and of the Fruitry and over the Merchants that furnish the necessaries as far as concerns the service of the Great Chamberlains Table Four Ushers of the Little-Common Kitchin serving each three Months by turns He that serves the first quarter beginning from New-Years-Day has 400 l. at the Treasurers and 100 l. at the Chamber of Deniers He that serves the second quarter has 500 l. all at the Treasurers of the Houshold He that serves the third quarter has likewise 500 l. at the same Treasurers and he that serves the last has 400 l. at the said Treasurers and 100 l. at the Chamber of Deniers There are two Aids in Ordinary at 400 l. Wages These Ushers and Aids make ready the Meat for both the said new Tables Besides which there are One Porter belonging to the Little-Common Kitchin who has for Cords Pails and Brooms six pence a day One Servant of the Little-Common who has 100 l. a year extraordinary Wages allowed him upon the
Wages upon the Establishment and 120 l. gratuity at the Treasure Royal They are Esquires by their Places Over these there is one Porte-Manteau or Cloak-Carrier in Ordinary who has a Salary of 1320 l. and his Diet at Court at the Kings Serdeau's or Water-Servers Table The Cloak-Carriers take the Oath of Fidelity before the Chief Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber then in Waiting and take from him Certificates of their Service They eat at the Valets de Chambre's Table They are to be present every Morning at the Kings rising when the King is on a Journey or going any where in the Country when he goes a Hunting a Walking or to see any Musters or when in ill weather his Majesty passes through any open place a Foot or a Horse-back and in any other encounters where the Cloak-Carrier foresees his Majesty may have occasion for his Cloak Nay if his Majesty does but step out of his Apartments into the open Air though it be but to cross the Courts of his Palace or walk in the Garden the Cloak-Carrier runs immediately to the Wardrobe and fetches his Majesties Cloak and keeps close by him with it to be ready to give it him whenever he calls for it At certain Ceremonies where his Majesty usually has a Cloak of State as at a Ball c. Every time his Majesty has a mind to put it off or on it is the Cloak-Carriers Office to do it for him Besides the Cloak these Cloak-Carriers are obliged to take and keep in Custody all other Cloaths or other loose things the Kings puts off only for the present with intention to use them again the same day as his Sword his Gloves his Hat his Muff his Cane c. and to be always nigh at hand to give him them So that by this means they have Entry into almost all places where the King goes But if the King puts off any of these things with intent to use them no more that day then the Officers of the Wardrobe take charge of them and not the Cloak-Carriers And as for his Sword there is something more of Ceremony observed in keeping or holding of that for sometimes it belongs to the Cloak-Carriers and sometimes to the Gentlemen of the Querry to do it for when his Majesty wears Spurs it belongs to the Gentleman of the Querry then in Waiting to carry his Majesties Sword but when the King goes out of his House in Shoes only the Cloak-Carrier carries his Sword as far as the steps of the outward Door and further if the King walks on Foot or goes out in a Coach with but two Horses but if he mounts on Horseback or goes out in a Coach and six Horses then whether the King wears Spurs or no the Cloak-Carrier delivers the Sword into the hands of the Gentleman of the Querry as soon as he comes to the said steps who when they come back if the King wear no Spurs returns the Sword again to the Cloak Carrier as soon as his Majesty lights from his Horse or out of his Coach but if he wear Spurs then the Gentleman of the Querry parts not with the Sword till the Kings Spurs be put off The Cloak-Carriers take Horse in the Court of the Louvre when the King goes out and follow him back again into the Louvre in the same manner when he returns When the King plays at Tennis they present the Balls to the King and keep account of them and they reckon with the Master of the Tennis-Court for the Expences made during the time his Majesty was playing because the King always pays them whether he win or lose The Cloak-Carrier that waits on the Dauphin is allowed a Crown a Day for his Diet. The Arquebuse or Fire-arms-Carriers Are two in number and wait by turns each his half year They have each of them 1100 l. paid them by the Treasurer of the Privy-Purse or Pocket-Expences as well for Wages as for Powder Shot c. for Hunting besides a gratuity of 300 l. at the Treasure Royal. All the Kings old Hunting Arms are their Fees as Fowling-Pieces Pistols c. They eat at the Valets de Chambre's Table They take Horse in the Louvre and follow the King back again thither in the same manner as likewise at present do several other Officers There is likewise one * Mall-Carrier in Ordinary who is likewise Valet de Chambre to the King who is allowed yearly 400 l. Salary paid out of the Privy-Purse 240 l. gratuity at the Treasure Royal and 549 l. for his Diet at the Denier-Chamber When the King goes to play at the Pall-Mall he goes to the Chests of the Wardrobe and takes out for him a Mall some Bowls and other Implements used in that sport Of other Officers who have or take at least the Title of Valets de Chambre and Diet at their Table There are eight Barbers qualified Valets de Chambre who jointly Exercise the same Office that was formerly enjoyed but by one under the Title of Chief-Barber which Title they all eight retain and part the Wages and Gratuities of the said Office among them by vertue of a Brief granted them in the year 1669. Besides which they have 700 l. Wages paid by the Treasurers of the Houshold 150 l. gratuity at the Treasure Royal and 100 l. for furnishing Combs and Sweet Powder At the Dauphins they have half as much Wages as they have at the Kings and 150 l. Gratuity all at the Treasure Royal. Besides a Crown a Day for their Diet. They have the Priviledge to keep by themselves or their Deputies open Shop in any Town of the Kingdom they will chuse not excepting Paris it self in the same manner as any Master Chyrurgion of Paris may do They commonly let out this their Priviledge at Paris for 100 Crowns a year they also let out apart the Priviledge of Chief Barber at Paris at 37 l. 10 d. each place Each of these Barbers are allowed to keep if they please two Prentices or Journey-men in their Shops that understand Chyrurgery but the Kings Chyrurgeons can keep none in their Shops that meddle with the Barbers or Perriwig-Makers Trade because nothing should divert from arriving to perfection in Chyrurgery which is supposed to require a Mans whole application Over these there are two Barbers in Ordinary who have a Salary of 800 l. a year each The Duty of all these is to Comb the Kings Head Morning and Evening to Shave him and to rub and dry him when he comes out of the Bath or Stove and when he has been playing at Tennis There is one Operatour for Teeth who has in all for Wages Diet and Gratuity 11295 l. yearly He furnishes Roots and Oprate There are three Bone-Setters that serve by turns four Months a piece they have each a Salary of 600 l. And one Operatour for the Stone who has a like Salary These eat at the Valets de Chambre's Table There are likewise eight Upholsters that
allowance of 131 l. 12 d. a Month for their Diet. The Super-Intendant of the Musicks Office is to examine the Voices and Instruments that compose it that so his Majesty may have good Musick All that is to be sung by this Musick is first to be concerted in his presence and he may if he please keep a Page with him There are two Masters of the Children of the Musick who have the charge of keeping and instructing the three Pages of the Musick of the Chamber and have a Salary of 720 l. These Masters in the absence of the Super-intendant officiate for him There is one Composer of the Musick who may if he please be always doing and beating the Measures of his Works before they come to be examined by the Super-Intendant He that now enjoys this place is the Famous Baptist Lully an Italian by Nation whose Salary is 600 l. There are besides several Singers and Players on Instruments belonging to this Musick who have each a Salary of 600 l. and an allowance of 800 l. for their Diet and 80 Crowns for their Horses to follow the Court. There is likewise a Band of Violins called still the great Band of 24 though they be at present 25 who have each a Salary of 365 l. and play at the Kings Dinner and at Balls and Comedies And another lesser Band called the little Violins in number 21 who have each 600 l. Salary They follow the King along the Country and commonly play at his Supper and at Balls and other his Majesties Recreations with whom at certain Ceremonies as at Coronations Entries into Towns Marriages and other great Solemnities and Rejoicings the other Band of the Violins of the great Stables together with the Hoboys and other Musick of which we shall speak in their place are made to play There is likewise one Usher in Ordinary and Advertiser of the Balets and one Keeper of the Musick-Instruments instead of the two Dwarfs which were used to be specified in the Book of Establishment who have each a Salary of 300 l. Note that whether it be to insinuate the Grandeur of the Kings and Sons of France above all other Soveraign Princes or for some other reason is uncertain it is the Custom in the Court of France that when the Musick of the Kings Chamber by his Majesties Order goes to play before any of the Princes of the Blood except the Sons of France or before any other Princes though they be Soveraign if those Princes put on their Hats the Musick of the Kings Chamber put on their Hats too Thus they did before the Duke of Lorrain at Nantes in the year 1626. but at Perpignan in the year 1642. the Prince of Morgues being told of this Priviledge choser rather to hear the Musick Bare-headed The same thing was observed at the Palace of Mazarin before the Princes of Modena and Mantua in presence of the late Cardinal Mazarin Of the Gentlemen in Ordinary of the Kings Houshold They were Created by Henry the Third to the number of 48 but Henry the Great reduced them to 24. They are entred upon the Book of Establishment and divided into two Bodies as serving each their half year although they observe not so exactly that Order in Waiting The last King Lewis the XIII having exiled one of these Gentlemen and given his place to another the Queen Anne of Austria being Regent re-establisht him that was Exiled without Discarding the other that held his place so that and since that another place was added by way of recompense to a Gentleman for Voyages he had made to Constantinople both which places are still continued so that there are at present 26 but the number to which Henry the IV. reduced them was but 24. They ought to keep near the Kings Person to receive his Commands and when the King has any business to negotiate in Foreign Countries any Troops to be conducted to the Army or to be disposed of into Winter-Quarters when he has occasion to have his pleasure Communicated in the Provinces of his Kingdom and in the Parliaments and Soveraign Courts he commonly makes use of these Gentlemen in Ordinary He likewise makes use of them in all Complements of Congratulation or Condoleance he has a mind to send to other Kings and Sovereign Princes upon any subject of Joy or Affliction befallen them or when he would sound their intentions in any actions that seem to have been done by their Ministers and owned by them as also when he is pleased so far to honour any of the Princes and great Lords of his Kingdom so far as to send to visit them or to present them any Dignities Offices or Marks of Honour from him When the King goes to the Army they have the honour to be his Aids de Camp and if any Prisoners of note be taken his Majesty charges them with the Conduct of them so far as to the Fortresses where his pleasure is to have them kept They are also appointed by the King to attend on Princes and Princesses Exiled that come into France At the Funeral Solemnities of any Children of France they have the Honour to hold up the Corners of the Pall. The King usually commits to them the Government of some young Prince or other They have every of them a Salary of 2000 l. a year which is paid them at the Treasure-Royal upon an establishment apart They had formerly too a Table to themselves but at present they eat at the old Table of the Great Master otherwise called the Table of the Masters of the Houshold They had once a Chief over them who was the Constable of Luynes who had been one of them but they desired his Majesty they might have no more Nor has this Order of Gentlemen onely produced one Constable but several Marshals of France and Knights of the King Orders as the Marshal de Toiras the Marshal de Marillac and several others And because in all Books of Establishments made for the Kings Houshold the Physicians and other Officers relating to the preservation or recovery of health are always placed next after those of the Chamber we shall therefore observe the same Order and speak now Of the Kings Physicians and other Officers of Health Under these two Titles are comprehended First The Physicians 2. The Chyrurgions 3. The Apothecaries 1. The Physicians are The Chief Physician has a Salary of 3000 l 2000 l. Board-Wages at the Chamber of Deniers 16000 l. for his Maintenance 3000 l. for his Coach and abundance of other Gratuities and Perquisites He has a very great Power and can License any to practice Physick though they never passed the formalities of taking Degrees in that Science Note That the Chief Physician sometimes gives Orders in the Kitchin what Diet shall be provided for his Majesty and how when he is under a Course of Physick The first Physicians of the King the Queen the Dauphin and Dauphiness though they be not Doctors of the Faculty
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
Lodgings are meant those Lords or other Great Persons who are recommended to be lodged in the Town by the Kings express order Note That the same Harbinger that makes the Body very often marks to the Lodgings for the Ranks and abovesaid preferred persons 3. Another Harbinger marks out the Ordinary of the Kings Houshold that is Lodgings for the Officers of it viz. For the first or chief Almoner for the chief Master of the Houshold for the Master of the Houshold in Ordinary for the Captain of the Guards of the Gate for the Lieutenant and Ensigns of the Life-guards and generally for all the other Officers of the Kings Houshold It often happens that besides the Harbinger that marks out the Stables in the Town there is another that takes up Stables in the Neighbouring Villages and provides Lodgings for the Equipages The King generally is prevail'd on with much facility to grant to the Marshals of his Lodgings and his other Harbingers Reversions of their Places in favour not only of their Sons but of their Grand-Sons Sons-in-Law Brother and Nephews He also grants them Briefs impouring them to retain or stop a certain summ to be deducted out of the yearly Revenue of their places and paid by their Successours for their Wives if they have no Children for their Daughters if they have no Sons or if they have neither Wives nor Children for the younger Brethren of their Family At the first Entries made by Kings into any Cities of their Kingdom the Officers of the Town are to pay a certain summ as a Fee to the Marshals and Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings or else the one half of the profits of the Triumphal Arches Porches Tapistries and all the Decorations is to fall to the Marshals and the other to the Harbingers of the said Lodgings The Marshals of the Queens Lodgings and of those of the Dauphiness of Monsieur of Madame and the particular Harbingers of the Princes of the Bloud of the Chancery and of other Bodies as also the Men or Messengers sent by other Princes Dukes and Peers and other great Lords to take up their Lodgings receive their Quarters or Lodgings from the Marshals and Harbingers in Ordinary of the Kings Houshold Whenever Monsieur or Madame happen to be travelling in Company with the Queen or the Dauphiness when the King is not there then the Marshals or Harbingers of the Queen or Dauphinesses Lodgings are to appoint Monsieurs or Madams Harbingers what Lodgings and Quarters they are to take up The Marshals and Harbingers in Ordinary of the Kings Lodgings are reputed to be of the Body of the Kings Gend'armes or Men at Arms as having been formerly drawn out of the antient Companies of the said Gend'armes and the late King Lewis the Thirteenth who under-stood exactly well the original of all the different Offices of his Houshold gave the Marshals of his Lodgings place in and incorporated them into his Company of Gend'armes at the Head of which his Majesty usually fights on a day of Battel or on any other occasion and made the Harbingers serve in his Company of Musketeers at the Siege of Corbie to which service he summoned all his whole Houshold that is the Arrire-ban of his Houshold which he placed by themselves in his Army This said number of Gend'armes detached out of the antient Companies was usually sent before to provide Lodging and Quarters for his Majesty and the Troops that were with him And still to this day the Marshals of the Kings Lodgings both in Town and Country give out the Orders for the quartering of the French Life-guards of the hundred Suissers of the Gend'armes of the light Horse of the Musketeers of the Regiments of the French and Swisse-guards when all the said Troops attend the King in his march And in effect the Marshals of the Lodgings in France are what the Quarter-Masters are in Germany who rise to the Highest Commands in Armies The Marshals and Harbingers of the Kings Lodgings were formerly likewise Marshals or Quarter Masters of the Camps and Armies and the same persons that provided Lodgings for the Kings Houshold always took up Quarters to for the Armies as have done several of them that are still living But some of their Body in the time of the late King Lewis the Thirteenth got themselves made Marshals peculiarly of the Camps and Armies and got Patents of it as of a distinct Office notwithstanding which the Marshals and Harbingers of the Lodgings of the Houshold serve still in the Armies either in the absence of the others who have Patents as is said for being Camp-Marshals or Quarter-Masters or when the number of these others is not sufficient for all the Armies the King has on Foot When the King is in an Army the Marshals of the Lodgings of his Houshold have priviledge to take at least two thirds of the room to lodge his Majesty and all the Officers of the Royal Houses and it was Ordered by the King that the remaining third should be disposed of by the said Marshals of the Lodgings or Quarter-Masters of the Camps and Armies for the general Officers and other Officers in the Army necessary to be near his Majesties Person I say the Marshals of the Kings Lodgings have power to take up at least two thirds for the King because if after they have divided the whole into three equal parts there should remain two or but one Lodging over and above those one or two so over and above or supernumerary are to be taken up likewise for his Majesty and his Court that they may be scanted As for Example It is true that where there is but thirty Lodgings the Marshals of the Lodgings of the Houshold are to take but twenty and the general Officers of the Army are to have the other ten but of fifty Lodgings or Lodgments the Marshals of the Kings Lodgings will take thirty four and the general Officers of the Army will have but sixteen and of forty Lodgments the Kings Marshals will have twenty seven and leave the general Officers but thirteen By the antient Order according to the Rules made for that purpose none but the Kings Harbingers can mark out Lodgings with white Chalk those of the Princes and others being obliged for distinctions sake to mark out theirs with a yellow Crayon with this further difference that the Kings mark only is put upon the Street-Doors and the others only upon the Doors of particular Chambers within side the House The Order observed in Quartering in an Army In an Army where the King is Present the first Quarter is for him or where he is not for the General and the next belongs to a Marshal of France to chuse or if there be two Marshals of France there together then he that Commands that Day or Week is to have the Choice for sometimes they agree to Command by turns one one Day or one Week and another another But if there happen to
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
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
all affairs relating to War the Tax called the Taillon the Artillery the Fortifications of the said Generalities the Buildings and Royal Houses and the Arts and Manufactures of France In this Department are the Parliament of Mets the Soveraign Councils of Perpignan Pignerol Tournay Alsatia and the Provincial Council of Artois 2. M. Seignelays Department comprises The Months of January May and September and the affairs of Paris and the Isle of France and Soissonnois as far as Noyon the Countries of Orleans and Blois the Fortifications of all Maritime Places and other Places within the Kingdom the Kings Houshold the Clergy the Admiralty and Sea-Affairs Commerce both within and without the Kingdom Manufactures out of the Kingdom the Gallies the East and West-India Companies and the Company of Senegal and other Countries within the Limits of their Patents the Breeding Horses and Pensions In this Department there is only the Parliament of Paris 3. Monsieur de Chateau-neufs Department comprises The Months of April August and December and the affairs of Languedoc both higher and lower and the County of Foix High and Low Guienne as far as Fontarabie Perigort Rouerge and Quercy Broüage the Country of Aunix the Town and Government of Rochelle Ré and Oleron Tourain Anjou Maine Perche and the County of Laval Bourbonnois Nivernois High and Low Auvergne Picardie and the Country of Boulogne Normandie Roüen Caen and Alençon Burgundy Bresse Bugey Valtomey and Gex and in general all Affairs relating to the Reformed Religion In this Department are the Parliaments of Toulouze Bourdeaux Roüen Dijon and Besançon 4. Monsieur Colbert de Croissy's Department contains The Months of March July and November and the affairs of Champagne and Brie Provence Brittany Berry Limousin Angoumois Xaintonge Lyonnois and Dauphiné Navarre Bearn Bigorre the Principality of Sedan Foreign Countries and Pensions In this Department are the Parliaments of Aix Grenoble Rennes and Pau. The Months set down under the name of each Secretary of State are those in which their turn is to dispatch all Letters or Patents for all the Liberalities Gifts and Benefices granted by the King in those Months The Parliaments contained within each Department are set down likewise under them to show that the Dispatches the King sends to any of the said Parliaments must all pass through the hands of that Secretary of State in whose Department they are and that the Deputies sent by the said Parliaments or States of the Provinces therein specified to the King are Conducted to their Audiences by the Secretaries of State to whose Department they belong In the time of Henry the second for the speedier Expedition of the many Affairs of State then depending there were six Secretaries of State chosen with this Proviso that the two first Vacancies among should not be filled up In that manner were the Secretaries of State established and reduced to the number of four as they continue to this day Rules made by the King at Fountainbleau for the Establishment of a Council-Royal for his Finances or Revenues With an account of the persons it consists of and the Order kept and observed in it The King having after it had pleased God to give Peace to his People seriously consider'd the ill condition of the Revenues of his Kingdom and the Causes from whence it proceeded His Majesty being willing to prevent the same inconvenience for the future resolved upon the present Regulation and Declaration of his will and pleasure therein First His Majesty has supprest for ever the Commission of Super-intendant of his Finances or Revenues with all the Functions annexed to it And his Majesty well knowing he could no way give greater marks of his love to his People than by taking to himself the care and administration of his Revenues for the more effectual retrenching of all the abuses crept thereinto and practised till now His said Majesty has resolved to call to his assistance a Council composed of Persons of known Ability and Honesty by whose advice he will act in the said Administration and Execute all those Affairs which were used to be formerly resolved on and put in Execution by the Super-intendant alone The said Council shall be called the Council-Royal of the Finances or Revenues and shall be composed of one Chief under the Authority and in the Presence of his Majesty when the Chancellour shall not be present in the said Council and of three Counsellers whereof one shall be Intendant of the Finances His Majesty reserving to himself the power to call in the Chancellour when he shall think fit at which times he shall take Place and Precedence there according to his Dignity as Chief of all the Kings Councils His Majesty reserves to himself the Sealing and Passing of all Orders touching the Expences accountable and the Monies employed as well for private Expences or Bills remitted any where and Interest and all other Expences whatever The Books and Accounts of the Disbursement of his Revenues as well those arising from the general Receits as from the Farms Woods Crown-Lands and all other Monies of what nature soever shall be returned by the Intendant of the Finances under whose Department they shall be with his Advices and Reasons concerning the Changes fit to be made therein into the hands of the said Council-Royal who are to make report thereof to his Majesty and receive his Orders thereupon after which the said Accounts shall be passed and signed by the said Intendant and returned into the hands of him that made the Report in Order to be Signed by his Majesty and by the Honourable Persons of the said Council in such Place and Order as his Majesty shall appoint The Intendant of the Finances that shall have the Honour to be of the said Council-Royal shall have the Exchequer or Treasure-Royal under his Department and consequently shall keep the Register of the whole that shall be received or disbursed which he shall Communicate to no Person whatever without express Order from his said Majesty All Orders shall be returned into his hands to be reported to his Majesty and shall be Registred and Paraphed or marked on the sides by him and afterwards passed by the Treasurers of the Exchequer whose turn it shall be to be in Office that year The said Intendant shall take all the Accounts of the Farms of the general Receits of the Woods Crown-Lands Extraordinary Affairs and all other Receits of what nature soever in order to making a Report thereof himself to the said Council-Royal that the said Accounts may be ratified and signed first by his Majesty and then by those of the said Council-Royal All Demands that shall be made of any new Offices within his Majesties Dominions shall be reported to and resolved on in the said Council-Royal And as to all those Affairs which used to be dedebated and determined in the Council of Finances and which were customarily signed by the Lord Chancellour his Majesty will hold the said Council on
Revenues excepting the Regal Right or Due It also takes Cognisance of the Duties belonging to the King from Cathedral and Collegiate Churches upon the account of his joyful arrival to the Crown and of those due from Archbishops and Bishops when at their Instalments and Consecrations they swear Fidelity to the King of those arising from the Indults or Fees so called of Cardinals and other Prelates of the Kingdom from the Indult of the Officers of the Parliament of Paris From the appellations of the Provostship of the Houshold of the Warren of the Louvre and from those of the Chamber of the General Reformation of the Hospitals and Houses for the sick in France from the Commissions of the Chief Physian for the Reports of dead Bodies drowned and wounded and all Statutes or Orders of the said Chief Physician concerning Pharmacy from the Execution of or offences against the Statutes or Orders of the Kings Chief Barber and from Appeals concerning the Persons Estates or Priviledges of the Great Orders of the Kingdom as are those of Chiny the Cistercians the premonstrated Monks Grandmont the Trinity the Holy Ghost Fontevrault and St. John of Jerusalem From the withdrawing concealing and imbezeling Ecclesiastical Goods or Estates and Immunities and Franchises or Liberties of Ecclesiastick Persons and from several Appeals concerning the ancient Substitutions of the Great Houses of the Kingdom The Solemn and Ceremonial Habits used in the Grand Council are Robes of Black-Velvet for the Presidents and Black-Satin Robes for the Councellours Advocates and Proctor-General and the Recorder or Registrer The Great Council is a Court that Judges without Appeal and that follows the King whenever it pleases his Majesty The place where the Grand Council is held is in the Cloister of the Church of St. Germains l' Auxerrois at Paris near the Louvre And because the Chancellour is not only the Head and Chief of all the Kings Councils but also the Head of the Chancery since he has the Seals in keeping Now we have treated of the several Councils it will be most proper in the next place to speak of the Officers of the Chancery in their order and to explain what their Offices are CHAP. XXV Of the Councellours and Secretaries of the King House and Crown of France and of their Finances or Revenues THE Councellours so stiled as above are in number 240 and have his Majesty for the Chieftain and Soveraign Protector of their Company ever since the first Institution of it and his Majesty has the first Purse of the profits of the Seal The first of them is called their Dean These Secretaries-Councellours were reduced and united into one only Body and Company by an Edict of the Month of April 1672. by which they are maintained in all their ancient Priviledges and Exemptions of this number are the four Principal Secretaries of State the four Secretaries of the Council of the Finances or Revenues the four Registrers of the Council of Parties and the Chief Registrers or Recorders of the superiour Companies of the Kingdom Their principal Function is to be present and assisting at the application of the Seal and to dispatch and sign all Letters that are presented to the Lord Chancellour to be sealed they read to him all Letters of Pardon Remission and other Graces and Favours which he grants or refuses The Chancellour is Judge of all matters that relate to their Places and Functions and the Sentences given by them in Council run in this tenour The King in his Council by the advice of the Lord Chancellour has Order'd and does Order c. All the Offices of the Chanceries throughout the Kingdom excepting only those of the great Audiancers of France the 240 Secretaries of the King and some others are at the disposal and nomination of the Chancellour and of his Parties Casual CHAP. XXVI Of the Great or High Chancery of France FIrst There are in it four Great Audiencers that officiate quarterly each one in their quarter The Great Audiencers of France are the first Officers of the Seal Their principal Function is to view and examine the Letters that are to be sealed which are to be carried or sent to them the day before they are to be sealed by the Kings Secretaries abovesaid that they may present them and report them to the Chancellour and tax them at the Controll The four Great Audiencers of France the four Comptrollers-General the four Keepers of the Rolls of the Offices of France the four Conservatours of the Hypotheques and the Treasurers of the Seal are by their places Secretaries to the King perform the Functions of such and enjoy all their Priviledges and Exemptions There are four Comptrollers-General of the Audience of the Chancery of France that serve likewise quarterly The principal Function of the Comptroller-General of the Chancery of France in the time of his Waiting is to take and lay before the Wax-Chafer the Letters that are ready for the Seal and when they are sealed to receive them again from the hands of the Wax-Chafer and put them into the Chest for that purpose without imbezeling or fliding aside any one of them And he is to put to his Comptroll and Paraphe or Mark all along the sides after the Great Audiencer has taxed them as it was Order'd by the Edict of the Month of April in 1664. There are four Keepers of the Rolls of the Offices of France that officiate likewise quarterly Their Chief Function is to have and keep the Rolls and Registers of all the Offices of France that are sealed of what nature soever they be The Kings Secretaries that dispatch them are to send or carry the said Letters to them before they pass the Seal that they may present them and make their Report of them to the Chancellour It is in their hands that all oppositions to the sealing of them or dispatching them in the Offices whether it be upon the account of a Hypotheque or any other title or pretence are to be made of which they keep a Register and for which they are responsable in Case the Offices be sealed contrary to those oppositions because that if the said Offices that is what passes in them should be sealed without being charged with those oppositions they would be discharged of all Hypotheques There are under these four Deputy-Keepers of the Rolls whose places are united to theirs There are four Conservatours of the Hypotheques or of the Rents upon the Town-House or Guild-hall and on the augmentations of Wages that officiate quarterly Their Duty is to do the same thing in relation to the Rents and augmentations of Wages that the Keepers of the Rolls do in respect of the Offices that is to say to present and report to the Chancellour all Letters of Ratification of the acquisition or purchase of those Rents or augmentations of Wages that the Kings Secretaries have dispatched and signed to receive the oppositions made against the sealing and dispatching the said
according to a Declaration and List or Account of them verified in the Court of Aids at Paris Next to the Great or High Chancery of France are those establisht near the Parliaments The Masters of Requests preside in those Chanceries and keep the Seals of them when they are present there The Chancery of Paris is the greatest and antientest of them all It is composed of four Audiencers of four Comptrollers that officiate quarterly and of twelve Referendaries and some other Officers The Function of the Refendaries is to make Report of all Letters to that Master of Requests that keeps the Seal to sign them at the bottom when they find them civil and furnished with all the Clauses required by the Ordinances or to subjoin in the same place the refutata or Confutations of them if they contain any unusual Clauses or be ill digested and drawn up King Francis the First by his Edict of Creation in the Month of February 1522. gave them the Quality or Title of Councellours-Reporters and Referendaries and Henry the Second in the Month of July 1556. granted them Place and Voice in the Presidials in consideration that they were Learned and had been admitted to the practice of the Laws before the Masters of Requests Note That the four Wax-Chafers of the Great Chancery are the same that perform the like Function in the Chancery of Paris The Letters Sealed in the Chancery of Paris are ordinarily executable only within the Limits of the Jurisdiction of the Parliament But yet it has sometimes hapned that when the Chancellour was obliged to follow the King in a long Journey and carry the Great Seal with him that then by vertue of a Declaration from the King to that end the Letters which should have passed the Great Seal were only Sealed in the Chancery of Paris and thence transmitted to and Executed in the other Parliaments of the Kingdom CHAP. XXVII Of the Ecclesiastical Division of France into Archbishopricks and Bishopricks and of its Clergy THE Kings Collates or Presents within his Dominions to 18 Archbishopricks 107 Bishopricks to about 750 Abbies of Men besides those that have been united to other Communities or Benefices and to above 200 Abbies of Nuns and as the Conquests of Majesty increase so the number of Benefices in his nomination must needs proportionably increase too The Archbishopricks and Bishopricks according to their Alphabetical Order are these The 18 Archbishopricks are 1. AIx 2. Alby 3. Ambrun 4. Arles 5. Auch 6. Besançon 7. Bourdeaux 8. Bourges 9. Cambray 10. Lyons 11. Narbon 12. Paris 13. Reims 14. Rouen 15. Sens. 16. Toulouze 17. Tours 18. Vienna The 107 Bishopricks are 1. AGde 2. Agen. 3. Aire 4. Alet 5. Amiens 6. Angiers 7. Angoulême 8. Apt. 9. Arras 10. Auranche 11. Autun 12. Auxerre 13. Bayeux 14. Bayonne 15. Bazas 16. Beauvais 17. Bellay 18. Bethlehem 19. Beziers 20. Boulogne 21. St. Brien 22. Cahors 23. Carcassone 24. Castres 25. Cisteron 26. Chaalons 27. Chartres 28. Clermont 29. Cominges 30. Condom 31. Cornoüaille 32. Conserans 33. Coutance 34. De Dax 35. Digne 36. Dol. 37. Evreux 38. De Helne or Perpignan 39. St. Flour 40. Frejus 41. Gap 42. Geneva 43. Glandeve 44. Grace 45. Grenoble 46. Laitoure 47. Langres 48. Laon. 49. Lavaur 50. Leon. 51. Lescar 52. Limoges 53. Lizieux 54. Lodeve 55. Lombez 56. Luçon 57. Maçon 58. St. Malo 59. Mande 60. Du Mans. 61. Marseilles 62. Meaux 63. Mets. 64. Mire-Poix 65. Montauban 66. Montpellier 67. Nantes 68. Nevers 69. Nice 70. Nimes 71. Noyon 72. Oleron 73. St. Omer 74. Orange 75. Orleans 76. Pamiers 77. St. Papoul 78. St. Paul trois Chateaux or St. Paul 3 Castles 79. Perigueux Perpignan vide Elne 80. Poitiers 81. St. Pol de Lion 82. St. Pons de Tomiers 83. Le Puy 84. Rennes 85. Rieux 86. Riez 87. La Rochelle 88. Rodez 89. Saintes or Yaintes 90. Sars 91. Sarlat 92. Senez 93. Senlis 94. Soissons 95. Strasburg 96. Tarbas 97. Toul 98. Toulon 99. Tournay 100. Treguier 101. Troyes 102. Vabres 103. Valenco Die 104. Vannes 105. Vence 106. Verdun 107. Viviers 108. Vzais 109. Ypres Where Note That Valence and Die is a double Title and the Bishopricks of Geneva and Nice belong to the Duke of Savoy and are only named because part of them lie in the Territories of the King of France Now they follow according to the Order they are commonly placed in 1. And first because Paris is the Capital City of the Kingdom the ordinary Residence of our Kings and of the whole Court the Seat of the first and most August Parliament of the first University of Europe and of so many Famous and Illustrious Men I have thought fit to so many other Prerogatives and Primacies which it has above all other Cities of France to add that of naming it first among the Archbishopricks though it be but of late Creation with its three Suffragans which could not well be separated from it In placing the rest we shall follow the Ancient Division Secundum Notitiam Imperii and the Order of that considerable Book called Gallia Christiana or Description of France since made Christian 1. The Archbishoprick of Paris has three Bishopricks within its Jurisdiction viz. Chartres Meaux and Orleans The present Archbishop is Francis de Harlay Duke and Peer of France Provisour of the Sorbonne c. A Person of noble Extraction Learned Eloquent and very Courteous The Bishop of Chartres is Ferdinand de Neufville Councellour of State in Ordinary c. The present Bishop of Meaux is James Benigne Bossuet late Preceptor or Tutor to the Dauphin Famous for Controversy The Bishop of Orleans is Peter de Cambout de Coislin first Almoner to the King c. There are in this Archbishoprick 39 Abbies of Men besides five united to others and 32 Nunneries 2. The Archbishoprick of Lyons comprehends four Bishopricks viz. Autun Langres Chaalon and Macon The Archbishop is Archbishop and Count and Primate of the Gauls and is at present Camillus de Neufville de Ville-roy Lieutenant Governour for the King in the Country of Lyons c. The Cathedral of that City is very considerable the Canons of it being stiled Counts of Lyons and being obliged for their admission to make proof that they are noble by five Generations both on their Fathers and Mothers side The Bishop of Autun who is by his Dignity perpetual President of he States of Burgundy and Administrator of both the Spiritualties and Temporalties of the Archishoprick of Lyons when the See is vacant c. is Gabriel de Roquette c. The Bishop of Langres who is Bishop and Duke of Langres and one of the ancient Peers of France is at present Lewis Armand de Simianes de Gordes c. The Bishop of Châlons on Saone being both Bishop and Count is Henry Felix de Tassy c. The Bishop of Mâcon is named Michael Cassagnet de Tilladet c. In this Archbishoprick
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
they only we find that Philip the Long about the year 1318. took a double upon every pound of Salt and that under Charles the Fifth this Duty was already united to the Domain or Revenue of the Crown-Lands contrary to the opinion of those that attribute the establishment of it to Philip de Valois In the Ordinance of King Francis the First made in the year 1542. It is said that a Muid of Salt shall be sold for 20 Livers The Gabels or Duties on Salt were sold by Henry the Second to the Inhabitants of the Countries of Poitou Xaintonge Aunis Angoulême Higher and Lower Limosin and the Higher and Lower March of Perigord in the year 1553. and those Provinces for that reason are called the Countries of free Salt The Town of Callice and the Reconquer'd Countries when they came from under the Dominion of the English to return to the Obedience of the French Monarchs demanded likewise the same priviledge of having their Salt free There are three Parties or Divisions for the Gabels viz. 1. That of the Country of Lyons or Languedoc 2. That of the Dauphinate and Provence And 3. That of the rest of France which is called the Grand Party The Farmers of the Gabels are obliged to buy all the Salt at the Salt-Pits at a certain price to pay there the Kings Duties and to convey it at their own Charges Perils and Fortunes to the Granaries established by the King where they are to deliver out the Salt to the People by a Commissioner for that purpose There are certain Officers established over the several Granaries which are One President two Granateers or Granary-Keepers three Comptrollers and one Advocate and one Proctor for the King who issue Process out against such as make bad Salt and judge of the goodness of the Salt and of the quantity requisite for the extent-of their Jurisdiction look after the Weights and Measures and take care it be not sold above the Kings set price The Salt is distributed two ways viz. By way of Imposition or voluntarily according to the discretion and will of the Buyers They that Inhabit within the extent of the Granaries of Impost which are fixed in the Frontier Parts of the Kingdom or that live near the Countries that have the priviledge of free Salt from whence Salt may be easily brought to them are obliged to take every year a certain quantity of Salt proportionable to their Family but at the voluntary Granaries every one takes but what he pleases And so you see that the Gabel is personal at the Granaries of Imposts and real only at the Voluntary Granaries CHAP. XLVII A List of the other receiving Offices the Monies and Incomes of which are yearly returned into the Exchequer or Treasure Royal. 1. THE Forain of Languedoe and of Provence 2. The five Great or Gross Farms 3. The Convoy of Bourdeaux 4. The Customs of Bayonne 5. The Farm of Brouage 6. The Growths or Products of Ingrande 7. The Farm of the River of Seine at the places granted out 8. The 9 Livers and 18 pence of Picardie 9. The ancient 10 pence of Paris 10. The new 10 pence of Paris 11. The 30 Sols or Pence of Paris 12. The Domain or Crown-Lands of Languedoc 13. The ancient Crown-Lands of Navarre 14. The new Crown-Lands of Navarre 15. The Lands of Queen Margaret 16. The Crown-Lands of Chateau-Regnault 17. The Crown-Lands of the Queen-Mother 18. The Iron Farm 19. The Farms of the Duties on Paper and the Comptrol of the Offices relating to it 20. The Duties on Ashes Gravel and Soder 21. The Customs of Lyons 22. The Sale of the Forests and Woods of the Isle of France Generality of Paris and of Soissons Orleans Tours Chaalons Roüen Caen and County of Perche Part of the Crown Lands whose Revenues were formerly received by the Receivers-General of some Generalities The Parties Casual or Casual Revenue The Frank Fiéfs or Free-hold and several other Duties and Revenues CHAP. XLVIII Of the Treasury-Royal of the Keeper of the Treasury-Royal and of the Treasurers of the Parties Casual or Casual Revenue THE Treasure-Royal or Exchequer formerly called L' Epargne or Spare-Treasury is in France what the Aerarium Populi was at Rome It is as 't were a Sea into which all the Receiving Offices as well general as particular of the Taxes Taillons Subfistance-Money and in fine of the Kings whole Revenue like so many Rivulets and Rivers discharge themselves and in which all the Treasurers establisht for the payment and delivering the Kings Money come and take the summs needful for the Administration of their several Offices as for the expences of the Royal Housholds for the payment of the Souldiery who have their Treasurers both Ordinary and Extraordinary which are the Treasurers for the Ordinary and the Treasurers for the Extraordinary Expences of the Wars The Treasurers of the Navy who have charge of the payment of the Naval Army and of all the Ships the King puts to Sea The Treasurers of the Fortifications The Pay-Masters of the Rents of the Guildhall or Town-House of Paris and the Pay-Masters of the Officers of the Sovereign Courts with many others The Treasurer of the Epargne or Spare-Treasure was put in the place of the Ancient Receiver-General by Francis the First Henry the second made that Office Alternative so that in his time there were two The Late King Lewis the Thirteenth made it Triennial as he did all the other Offices that were accountable or handled Money and during this Kings Minority they were about to make it Quadriennial or to be executed by four every one in his year as likewise all the other accountable Offices The King used to stile them the Counsellours and Treasurers of his Epargne or Spare-Treasure They that possessed these Offices had 12000 Livers Salary and three Deniers out of every Liver they handled and every time they handled it whether in receiving or paying it and so took the said Deniers every time any Money was brought to or carried out of the said Treasury which amounted to a very great summ At present this Office is alternatively executed by M. Steven Jehannot de Bartillat and M. Gedeon de Mets under the Title of Keepers of the Treasury-Royal The Keepers of the Treasury-Royal usually pays every year all the Gifts and Gratuities given by the King or otherwise they give in lieu of them assignations or Bills acquitting the Parties of so much as the King has been pleased to grant them There are three Offices of Treasurer of the Parties Casual or Casual Revenue viz. The ancient one the Alternative one and a Quadriennial one was going to be established but that the three first bought off this fourth Office Formerly there was but one at the time of the establishment of the venality of accountable Offices by Lewis the Twelfth Their Office is to receive all the Money arising from the Sale of Offices but since the time of Henry the Great
several Offices are become Hereditary upon condition of paying every year a certain Duty or Fee which is therefore called the annual Duty or the Paulette But if it happen that any Officer having not paid the aforesaid Duty die before he resign his Office or survives not forty days after his Resignation of it then the Treasurer of the Parties Casual has power to dispose of the Office for the Kings profit The Sieur Peter Richer Treasurer of the Kings Casual Revenues at present exercises alone the three forementioned Offices CHAP. XLIX Of the Universities of France 1. PAris is the most famous University in the whole Kingdom whether it be for Divinity Law Physick the Arts or several other Exercicises after Paris are reckoned these following Universities viz. Those 2. Of Toulouse 3. Bourdeaux 4. Poitiers 5. Orleans famous for the Civil Law 6. Bourges 7. Anger 's 8. Caen. 9. Montpelier famous for Physick 10. Cahors 11. Nants 12. Reims 13. Valence 14. Aix 15. Avignon 16. Pont à Mousson 17. Perpignan 18. Douay 19. Dole 20. Fribourg in Brisgan And besides these there are several other Towns in the Kingdom where there are very good Colledges though they bear not the Title of Universities as at Rouen Tournon and la Flêche where the Jesuits or other Communities instruct Youth There is one likewise at Juilly managed by the Fathers of the Oratory who have divers others in several Towns But to inform you of the exercises performed in all these Universities it will be enough to give you the Description of those done in the University of Paris which is the Mother of the Rest after whose pattern the others are model'd Of the Exercises used in the Vniversity of Paris In this University are reckoned four distinct chief Faculties which are called the four Faculties which are 1. The Faculty of Theology or Divinity 2. The Faculty of Law 3. The Faculty of Physick And 4. The Faculty of Arts. We shall speak CHAP. L. 1. Of the Faculty of Theology or Divinity THeology has always flourished in this University ever since its first Institution but it has been more especially in recommendation since the time of Peter Lombard Bishop of Paris that died in 1164. who is commonly called the Master of the Sentences because he composed a Book of them It flourished much too here in the time of St. Thomas Aquinas about the year 1265 who composed a Summary of Divinity and several other works and now in Vogue and Reputation more than ever Although they have priviledge to teach Divinity in other Universities yet there are no where more Renowned Schools for that Faculty than in the Colledges of the Sorbonne and Navarre The greatest part of the Doctors have not fixed in any House or Colledge yet there are many of the House and Society of Sorbonne and many of the House of Navarre But those that only take their Degrees there are only Doctors of the Sorbonne or of Navarre and not of the House There are some likewise that have only the priviledge to claim Hospitality in the House of the Sorbonne who are called either Sorbonici Hospites Sorbon-Guests or è familia Sorbonica of the Family of Sorbonne but not Socii Fellows of the Society of Sorbonne As the House of the Sorbon founded in 1254. in the time of St. Lewis by one Robert de Sorbonne is the most famous in its kind for persons of most Eminent Learning and Vertue that compose its Society the Beauty of its magnificent Building adds a Luster to it The admirable Structure of its Grand Halls where Acts are kept and Lectures Read as well as that of the whole Body of the House but more especially of its Church in which there is a Dome of a very extraordinary and lofty height sufficiently set forth the Magnificence of the late Cardinal Duke of Richelieu who has immortalised himself by this work and made of it as 't were a Temple Dedicated to his Memory He lies there Buried having been Provisour of the said House The Provisour both of the House of Sorbonne and of that of Navarre at present is the Archbishop of Paris CHAP. LI. 2. Of the Faculty of Law IN ancient time all Churchmen and Councellers were Commanded to instruct themselves well in the Canonical Constitutions for fear they should ignorantly offend against any of them The Schools called the Decretal Schools where at the present the Canon Law is taught and of late time the Civil Law too are in the Street called la Rue de St. Jean de Beauvais There are six Regents that read publick Lectures viz. Three on Mornings and three in the Afternoons The present King has newly set up a Chair for the teaching of the French or Municipal Law at Paris in the Colledge of the three Nations Mr. Launay one of the ancient Advocates is the Lecturer having sworn by the Chancellour in the Month of November 1680. At Bourdeaux there is likewise another Professour of the French Law established in the Month of July 1681. And there is another at Cahors CHAP. LII 3. Of the Faculty of Physick THE third Faculty is that of Physick which is as ancient as the Institution of the University Several eminent Persons have made this Science flourish in this University since its Institution and among others the Learned Fernelius Chief Physician to King Henry the Second The Physick Schools are in the Rue de la Bucherie where they have been ever since the year 1469. and in the year 1608. a Great Anatomical Theatre was Erected there There is besides one Demonstratour and Operatour of the interiour parts of Plants and of all other Medicines and of Chyrurgical Operations at the Kings Physick-Garden at Paris who is Joseph du Verney Physician of the Academy of Sciences CHAP. LIII 4. Of the Faculty of Arts of the Rector and of the four Nations THE Faculty of Arts is the Mother of all the Rest and for which Schools were first Founded The Head of the whole University who is called the Rector is always chosen out of this Body and never out of the other Faculties This Rector has so great a power over the other Faculties that he can make them cease all publick Acts and Lectures and on the days he makes his solemn Processions which is four times a year he forbids the Preachers to go up into the Pulpit For these solemn Processions all the Faculties assemble in the Maturins Convent in the Rue St. Jaques and from thence march in order to the Church appointed by the Rector who is accompanied thither by the Doctors of the three superiour Faculties by the Masters of Arts and a great number of Religious Men. He being the Head of that University which the Kings of France treat as their Eldest Daughter as it is reported takes place of all sorts of Persons excepting the Princes of the Blood and ought at publick Acts in his University take place of the Popes Nuntio of Ambassadours Cardinals
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