his Bed-side upon a Cushion laid for him by his Almoner and when he has said his Prayers he comes back and sits down in his Chair where the Master of the Wardrobe draws off his Strait-Coat and Vest and Blue-Ribban as likewise his Cravat There are four Chief Valets of the Wardrobe that wait quarterly they present his Majesty his Socks and Garters in the Morning and at Night tie the Ribbans of his Shirt Their Salary and other allowances from the King amount to 2935 l. yearly and from the Dauphin to 862 l. Sixteen other Valets of the Wardrobe that are allowed by the King a Salary of 520 l. and their Diet at the Valets de Chambres Table and at the Dauphins when they wait there a Gratuity of 260 l. and a Crown a day for their diet Over these there is one Valet of the Wardrobe in Ordinary whose Salary is 1200 l. The Valets of the Wardrobe bring the King his Cloths and their particular Office is when the King rises to give him his Breeches his Stockings and his Boots when he puts on any They always draw off the Shoe Stocking or Boot from his Majesties left Leg. Besides this they give the great Master or the other Masters of the Wardrobe the Cloths they are to dress his Majesty with and present and put them on themselves in their absence or in the absence of the chief Valets of the Wardrobe on all other occasions when the King shifts any of his Cloths in the day time or when he plays at Tennis or comes from Hunting the Valets of the Wardrobe perform the same Duties At Night when the King is going to Bed and in the Morning when he rises before day the Chief Valet de Chambre gives one of the Lords then present that the King names to him the Wax-Light to hold whilst his Majesty is Dressing or Undressing There is one Mail-Carrier who has for Wages Diet and other allowances 2405 l. yearly When the King is on the march he is obliged to mount on Horseback with his Mail covered with a Horse-Cloth Embroidred with his Majesties Arms and Motto in gold In this Mail he carries a Suit of Cloths Linnen Ribbans a loose Gown and other things necessary to shift his Majesty He is mounted at the Kings Stables and has fresh Horses provided for him at every Stage where the King takes any that he may be able to follow him and not be obliged to quit him There are four Yeomen in Ordinary of the Wardrobe they have care of all the Kings Cloths and Linnen they have a yearly allowance of 80 Crowns paid them quarterly at the Treasure Royal and at the years end the Great Master of the Wardrobe gives them the greatest part of the Cloths his Majesty left off that year They also have the keeping of several wearing things set with precious Stones as of Swords garnished with Diamonds Crosses of the Kings Orders likewise set with Diamonds and the like rich Cloths They eat at the Valets de Chambre's Table All the whole Body of the Wardrobe that is all the Officers of it have the priviledge of the first Entry that is they are of the number of those that first enter into the Kings Chamber even before the King is out of his Bed or before he be come out of the Queens Chamber when there is one that they may have in readiness his Majesties Cloths The Taylors Are three in number their yearly allowance counting Wages Gratuities and all things is 1200 l. They make all the Kings Cloths and one of them is to be always at the Kings rising to be ready to do any thing belonging to his Function if there be need and they always put on the Kings new Cloths the first time he wears them There is one Starcher of the Body whose Salary is 600 l. and he has his Diet at Court And two Landrers of the Body serving six Months each whose Salary is 528 l. 15 d. There are besides these several other Officers for the Kings Cloths as Embroiderers Furriers Linnen-Drapers and others that furnish the Silver and Platework His Majesty by a Brief dated the 25th of July 1673. having given leave to the Great Master of the Wardrobe to entertain Tradesmen of all sorts that contribute to the furnishing of the Wardrobe to enter them upon the Books of the Establishment and let them enjoy all the Priviledges of Tablers in the Kings Houshold of which there are about 222 retained all at the rate of 60 l. yearly Salary The Intendants and Comptrollers General of the Chamber-Treasury and Privy-Purse They regulate all the Expences of the Chamber and Wardrobe There are two of them Their Wages and Fees are fixed in the Establishments of the ordinary Expences of the Chamber-Treasury besides which they are allowed 1200 l. yearly each for their Diet which is paid at the Chamber of Deniers They are called Intendants and Comptrollers of the Chamber-Treasury and of the Privy-Purse They examine the particulars of all that is brought into or delivered out of the Chamber-Treasury and the Privy-Purse and all the ordinary and extraordinary Expences thereunto belonging as well for the person as besides the Person of the King and keep a Register of them of which they give an account first before the Chief Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber and afterwards to the Chamber of Accompts in the accustomed manner according to the Rolls particular Accounts and Acquittances comptrolled The expence for the Kings Person comprehends all Cloths Linnen and Jewels or other Ornaments for his Majesties own Wearing The expence besides his Person comprehends all Furniture and Silver or Plate-work for the Kings Apartments and all Extraordinary Expences made at Balls Comedies Mascarades Carouzels Turnaments and other Divertisements as likewise at Christenings Consecrations and Coronation of Kings and Queens Marriages Funeral Pomps Buryings Services for them when dead and Anniversaries They take the Oath of Fidelity before the Chancellor and at the Chamber of Accounts where they are sworn likewise to return into the said Chamber at the end of every Year their Comptrol of the Receit and Expence both Ordinary and Extraordinary of the Chamber-Treasury and Privy-Purse Of the Officers of the Cabinets or Closets and first of the Closet of Dispatches In the Closet or Cabinet of Business and Dispatches which by way of Excellence is simply called the Cabinet There are four Secretaries which in the Book of Establishment are stiled Secretaries of the Chamber and Closet who have for their Salary Diet and all things 9250 l. yearly They Stile themselves Councellours in Ordinary to the King in his Councils They serve the King in all his private Dispatches The Couriers of the Closet are appointed by the Secretaries of State and sent about on several businesses and dispatches Of the Closet of Books The King has a Closet of Books called otherwise the Library of the Kings Person in the Palace of the Louvre at Paris to which by
such a day as he shall think fit to appoint at which the Lord Chancellour shall be present in order to the Examination and Determination of the said Affairs viz. The Brevets concerning the Taxes which shall afterward be signed by his Majesty and by all those who shall have the honour to be present at the said Council All Ordinances for laying any Impositions on the people of what nature or quality soever they be shall be reported to the said Council in order to be passed The Printed Papers to be posted up containing the Conditions of letting out the Farms shall be examined and agreed on in the said Council-Royal and after that the Farms shall be published the offers received and the said Farms adjudged to the fairest Bidders in the Ordinary Council of the Finances All Treaties or Bargains for Extraordinary Affairs All Orders of Loan and other Orders of like nature shall be reported examined and agreed on in the said Council-Royal and afterwards signed and passed in the same form that has been always hitherto practised The Rolls of the Exchequer as well as of the Expences accountable as of the ready Money shall be Examined and stated in the said Council-Royal at which at that time shall be present the same Persons that used to be present on such occasions after which they shall be signed by his Majesty and all those that shall be present thereat No Diminution shall be granted upon the Farms general Receits and extraordinary affairs of what nature soever they be unless it be in the presence of his Majesty in the said Council-Royal All which affairs shall be examined and resolved on in the said Council-Royal which shall be composed as is abovesaid of the Lord Chancellour as Chief and of three other Counsellours in the said Council His Majesty wills and means that the President or Chief of the said Council shall assemble all those that shall have the honour to be of it once a Week together with the other Directors Comptrollers General and Intendants of the Finances to examine all Affairs relating to the Finances as was wont to be practised in the lesser Directions under the Super-intendants excepting only those above reserved to the said Council-Royal and particularly to examine and deliberate on all the means imaginable to increase the ordinary Revenues of his Majesty to diminish and if it be possible wholly to remove all the Causes of the Diminutions of the Fanners and the insolvencies that happen in the general Receits and to use all careful indeavours that the said Impositions may be collected and brought in within the time prescribed by the Ordinances that so those Expences whose payment his Majesty shall assign upon the said Impositions may be punctually paid and discharged All the affairs that shall be examined in the lesser Directions shall be afterwards reported in the Grand Directions in order to be therein resolved on in the accustomed Form and that has been hitherto used The Councils of the Finances and Grand Directions shall be held as formerly provided however that none of those matters be treated on there that are here above-reserved to the Council-Royal of the Finances In all the Councils the Chief or President of the said Councils shall take the same place that the Super-intendants of the Finances were wont to take there and as for the other Councellours of State they shall take place according to the order of date of the Brevets or Patents by which they are constituted Councellours of State All the Orders and other Dispatches of the Council of Finances shall be signed by the said President or Chief and three Councellours belonging to the said Council-Royal His Majesty wills that at the opening of every Session of his Council-Royal Report shall always be made of the accounts of some one of the Farms of the general Receits in order to the Examination of the impediments the Farmers meet with in Collecting the Revenues of their Farms and of what just and reasonable means there may be used to augment them that so his Majesty may interpose his Royal Authority for making the best of them His Majesty reserves to himself the Power to Change Augment or diminish this present Regulation as the necessity of his Service shall require Given at Fountain bleau the 15th of September 1661. Signed Lewis and Lower de Guenegaud The Persons of which the Council-Royal of Finances is composed at present are the Lord Chancellours of France Chief or President M. Pelletier Comptroller-General of the Finances who succeeded the late Mr. Colbert Mr. Pussort and Mr. D' Argouges CHAP. XXIII Of the Council of State and of the Masters of Requests THE Present King Ordered by the first Article of his Regulation dated the first of January 1673. That the Council of State should be composed of the Lord Chancellour and Lord Keeper of the Seats of 21 Councellours of State in Ordinary whereof three are to be Church-men and three Sword-men of the Comptroller-General of the Finances of the two Intendants of the Finances all of them in Ordinary and of twelve other Councellours in State that shall serve half-yearly The present Comptroller-General of the Finances is Claudius le Pelletier Honorary Councellour in the Parliament of Paris formerly Councellour of State in Ordinary who was advanced to this Great Office upon the Death of the late Mr. Colbert The two Intendants of the Finances are Michael le Pelletier de Sousy Councellour of State And Francis le Tonnelier de Breteuil also Councellour of State By the 85th Article of the new Regulation the Advocates of the Councils that were formerly 200 were reduced to 170 the present Dean of them is Mr. Caussan The new Departments of the Comptroller-General and of the Intendants of the Finances are these 1. To Mr. Pelletier the Comptroller-General belong The Revenue of Commerce and Trade The united Farms viz. The Gabelles of France The Aids and Entries The Parties Casual or Casual Revenues The five Great Farms The Convoy of Bordeaux The Patents of Languedoc and other little Farms The Revenue arising from the Barrage and Pavement of Paris The Revenues of Burgundy Britany and Languedoc The Turcies and Levies The Extraordinary Revenues for the War Those of the Artillery The Revenues raised on the Clergy Of Coinage Of the Provostship of Nants Of the Bridges and Causeys Of the Kings and Queens Domains or Crown-Lands Of the Waters and Forests 2. Mr. Pelletier de Souzy has The Gabelles of Provence and Dauphiné and the Customs of Valence The Gabelles of Languedoc and the Country of Lyons The Gabelles and Quarantieme or fortieth of Lyons The Gabelles of Mets Toul and Verdun The Farm of the nine Livers and eighteen pence of Picardie The Farm of Ingrande The Revenue of Fish Paper and Beer That of Ashes Of the marking of Iron Of the Grants and Gifts of Cities The Revenues of Provence and Navarre Of Artois and other Conquered Places Of Mets Toul and Verdun Of the Parliament of
succeeded the King his Father the 14th of May 1643. He was declared Major or at Age the 7th of September 1651. Consecrated at Reims 1654 and Married at St. John de Luz's the 9th of the same Month 1660. As to his Consecration or Anointing for so the French call the Coronation of their Kings though the Medals made on that occasion bear date the 31th of May you are to remark that it was not performed till the 7th of June of the said Year 1654. I thought I could not give you a more faithful Draught of the Person of our Invincible Monarch than that which I have borrowed from the words of the late Archbishop of Paris in the History that Illustrious and Learned Prelate composed of Henry the Great Yes Sir saith he to him Heaven has given you a generous good and bounteous Soul a Wit sublime and capable of the greatest things an happy and easy Memory an Heroick and Martial Courage a clear and solid Judgment a strong and vigorous Body and over and above all this another very particular advantage and that is That Majestic Presence that Air and Gate almost Divine that shape and that beauty worthy of the Empire of the Vniverse that attracts the Eyes and Respect of the whole World and which without the Force of Arms and without the Authority of Commands wins you all those to whom your Majesty is pleased to shew your Self The King of France is called Most Christian for the great and Signal Services received by the Church and the Holy See from this Crown He is also for the same reason stiled the Eldest Son of the Church and by several Bulls of Popes a priviledge has been granted to the Kings of France that they should not be liable to Excommunication nor their Subjects absolved of the Oath of Allegiance due to them This Monarch is in point of precedence the first King of Christendom notwithstanding the opposition of the Kings of Spain who never disputed or did so much as take place next after our Kings before the time of the Emperour Charles the Fifth and then other Kings preceded them It is true indeed that that Emperour being likewise King of Spain because his Ministers and Ambassadours preceded those of France as representing the Emperour the Spaniards under his Successour Philip the Second who was only King of Spain endeavoured under that pretence in the Year 1558. at Venice to gain the Precedence of France but that Republick regulated that dispute and ordered the Precedence to be continued to the Ambassadours of France as Pope Paul the Fourth had done before And Philip the Fourth the King of Spain last deceased agreed to it by the satisfaction he caused to be made to the King of France by the Marquess de la Fuente his Ambassadour Extraordinary in the presence of eight Ambassadours and twenty two Residents or Agents the 24th of March 1662. for the Assault made by his Ambassadour on ours in England in October 1661. The Title of the King of France is so Excellent and so much exalted above that of other Kings that Suidas an ancient Greek Author writes that in the World when it is said only the King without naming who it was meant of the King of France Matthew Paris calls him Terrestrium Rex Regum the King of Earthly Kings And Bodin says that that King is Emperour in France and many assert it to be a common notion of all the Nations of the World that the Quality of King is much more sublime than that of Emperour Pope Gregory the first lib. 9. Ep. 6. Writing to Childebert King of France says that the Kings of France as much surpass all other Kings of the Earth as the Royal Dignity is exalted above the rest of men CHAP. IV. The Genealogy of the Royal Branch of Bourbon SAint Lewis the Ninth of that Name had four Sons of which there was none but Philip the Bold and Robert his Fourth Son that left Issue Of this Robert Count of Clermont who was afterward Lord or Sire of Bourbon are descended our Kings in manner as follows Robert Count of Clermont in the Country of Beauvais Married Beatrix Sole Heiress of John of Burgundy Count of Charolois and of Agnes Daughter of Archimbald the Younger Sire of Bourbon and by her he had Lewis Sire of Bourbon in favour of whom the said Land Sirerie Lordship or Barony of Bourbon was erected into a Dutchy or Peerage by Philip de Valois in the Year 1329. which Lordship belonged to him in right of his Mother whose Name he bore according to the Articles of the Contract of Marriage between his Father and Mother Lewis had Issue Peter Duke of Bourbon and James Earl of Ponthieu and de la Marche Constable of France But because the Masculine Line of the said Peter is extinct we shall leave it to speak of that of James of Bourbon Earl of Ponthieu James of Bourbon Earl of Ponthieu had John of Bourbon by Jean de Chatillon Daughter of the Earl of St. Paul John of Bourbon had by Catharine of Vendome Sister and Sole Heiress of Bouchard last Count of Vendome James King of Naples who leaving no Children transferred the Birth-right to his Brother Lewis Lewis of Bourbon Count of Vendome Grand Master of France had by Jean Daughter of Guy Count de Laval Lord of Gaure John the Second of that Name Earl of Vendome John the second of Bourbon had by Isabelle of Beauvais Daughter of the Lord of Pressigny Francis his Successour and Earl of Vendome and Lewis Prince de la Roche Sur-Yon Francis of Bourbon had five Children by Marie of Luxemburg Countess of St. Paul the Eldest was Charles Count and made Duke of Vendome by King Francis the First Charles the First of Bourbon Duke of Vendome had seven Male Children by Francise Daughter of Renie Duke of Alencon of which there were but two that left Issue viz. Antony of Bourbon who succeeded him as first Heir and was afterward King of Navarre and Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condé Duke of Anguien Marquess of Conti Count of Soissons which latter had among other Children Henry the First of that Name Prince of Condé whose Son Henry the Second Prince of Condé was Father of Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condé of Armand of Bourbon late Prince of Conti and of Anne-Geneveve of Bourbon Dutchess of Longueville who had Children as we shall say afterward Antony of Bourbon Duke of Vendome had by Joan d' Albret Queen of Navarre Daughter of Henry the Second of that Name King only of Navarre and of Margaret d' Angouleme-Valois Daughter of Francis the First King of France Henry the third of that Name of Navarre who reuniting together the two Crowns of France and Navarre was named Henry the Great the Fourth of that Name King of France and Navarre Father of Lewis the Just and Grandfather of Lewis our glorious Monarch who by his great Actions as well as his Grandfather has
Knights to thirty six but their number has now been a long time unlimited the late King Lewis the Thirteenth in the year 1633. at Fountainbleau gave the Order to fifty of his Lords and at the last Promotion that was made in 1662. there were Installed threescore and ten The Knights of this Order wear at present a silver Cross set on Orange-Coloured Velvet upon the left side of their Cloaks and Suits in the midst of which is a Dove Embroidered in silver with rays of Silver and at the Corners Flowerdeluces also of Silver with another Cross all of gold hung about their Necks with a Sky-Coloured Ribband which Cross is Enameld with white on the sides having at the Corners Flowerdeluces and in the middle the Figure of a Dove on both sides The Great Collar of this Order is composed of Flowerdeluces of gold Crowned with golden Flames Enameld with red enterlaced with three Cyphers likewise of gold Enamel'd with white The first Cypher is an H and a double A all double which may be read upward or downward the H standing for Henry the Third the Letter L for Lewise of Lorrain his Wife and another for something which is as yet a mystery The Cross of the Order is of Gold in the midst of which there is a Dove Enameld with white on one side and on the other side the Image of St. Michael On the last of June in the year 1594. Henry the Great took out of the Collar of the Order the Cyphers of Henry the Third his Predecessour and caused to be put in their place Trophies of Arms interlaced together and intermingled with Crowned H's Some assert that this Order was first Instituted by King Lewis of Scicily and that Henry the Third did but renew it The Knights upon the day of their reception or Instalment are clad in Cloth of Silver with Breeches tuckt up white Silk Stockings and Pumps of white Velvet their Bonnets of Black-Velvet and their Cloaks made with a Cape after the ancient Fashion of Black-Velvet uncut and their Ruffs stiff-starched When they are received their Capes are taken off and a long Green-Velvet Cloak is put on their Shoulders trailing on the ground wrought all over with Trophies of gold for the Knights and Flames for the Officers and lined with Orange-Coloured Satin They kneel down before the King who taking their joined hands between his own strikes them gently over the Shoulders with his Sword and Kisses them on the Cheek When the King Confers this Order in any Church he goes and sits down near the Altar in the middle of the Officers of the Order then the Great Master of the Ceremonies of the Order Accompanied with the Usher and the Herald goes and gives notice to the Lords which are to receive the Order who presently advance towards his Majesty one after the other or else by two and two and kneeling down take the usual Oath holding their two hands between his Majesties in the manner aforesaid and touching the Book of the Holy Gospels which is held by the Chancellour After which the Provost and Great Master of the Ceremonies present the King with Cloaks and Mantles to Invest the Knights and then his Majesty taking the Collars of the Order from the hands of the High Treasurer puts them about the Knights Necks saying to them these words Take from our hand the Collar of our Order of the blessed Holy Ghost c. In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost CHAP. XI Of the Knights of the Order and Militia of the Holy Ghost 1. THE King Soveraign of the Order 2. The Dauphin to whom the Officers of the Order carried the Blue-Ribband presently after his Birth on the first of November 1661. Since which the King made him Knight on New-Years Day in 1682. 3. The Duke of Burgundy to whom the Great Treasurer of the Order being the Marquiss of Seignelay carried the Cross and Blue-Ribband presently after his Birth on the 6th of August 1682. 4. The Duke of Anjou had it likewise presently after his Birth on the 19th of December 1683. And 5. The Duke of Berry soon after he was Born on the last of August 1686. 6. The Duke of Orleans who had likewise the Blue-Ribband soon after his Birth and was afterward made Knight Where note that the Kings Sons Grand-Children or Brothers are Born Knights and wear the Blue-Ribband presently after their Birth though they be not fully and actually received as such till the King thinks fit The last King made a Promotion of Knights of this Order in the year 1633. of which remain only two Knights viz. the Duke of St. Simon and the Marquiss of St. Simon Of the Knights promoted in 1662. The Present King with the greatest Ceremony that perhaps was ever practised on the like occasion made a Promotion of several Knights of this Order in the year 1662. in which number were two Princes of the Blood nine Prelates and fifty nine other great Persons and Commanders Besides the King sent the Collar of his Orders of his Ambassadours at Rome and in Spain to Julius Cesarini Duke of Castel-Nove a Roman Baron and to the Prince of Conty Father of the present Prince of that Name and to the seven other Lords absent in the Southern Parts of France who repairing immediately to the then Prince of Conty who was Governour of Languedoc and kept his Residence at Pezenas were Installed the same year in Nôtre-Dame Church at Pezenas with the same Ceremonies that had been used in the Great Augustines Church at Paris the Order being Confer'd on them by the Duke d' Arpajon who was sent thither on purpose by the King where Monsieur Martineau and des Prés as Herald and Usher of the Orders officiated their Places Some dayes before the Ceremony of Installing the said Knights at Paris the King gave the Cross of the Order of the Holy Ghost to the late Duke of Beaufort in the Month of December 1661. who was then going out upon an Expedition to Sea who upon his return in 1663. received the Collar of the Order from his Majesty upon the Feast of the Assumption in the Chappel of Germains en Laye Those of them that are still alive are 1. Prince of the Blood 1. The Prince of Condé Prelates 1. The Archbishop of Arles 2. The Bishop of Mets. 3. The Archbishop of Paris 4. The Archbishop of Lyons Other Commanders are 1. The Duke de Chaunes 2. The Duke de Luynes 3. The Duke de Crequy 4. The Duke of Nevers 5. The Duke of St. Aignan 6. The Marquiss de Vardes 7. The Count de Beringhen 8. The Duke de Montausier 9. The Marquiss de Polignac 10. The Marquiss de Pompadour 11. The Marquiss de Gamaches 12. The Marshal Count d' Estrades 13. The Count de Guitault The rest are dead Since that his Maiesty was pleased to Confer the said Order on the Duke of Mecklenburg on the first of November 1664.
Flame-Coloured Ribband The Great Priors and other great Officers of this Order wear this Cross tyed to a great large Flame-Coloured Ribband tied Scarf-wise and on the left side of their Cloaks or Coats another Cross composed of four Flames Cantoned with four Flower-deluces and in the middle the Image of the B. Virgin Environ'd with Rays of Gold all in Embroidery The Present King Confirmed the Rights Estates Commanderies Priviledges and Exemptions of this Order in the Month of April 1664. and in December 1672. The King is likewise Chief and Soveraign of this Order On the 8th of January 1668. the Marquiss of Nerestang took the usual Oath to the King for the Office of Great Master of the Royal Order of Nôtre Dame de Mont-Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem both on this side of and beyond the Seas After which his Majesty put on upon him the Collar and Cross in the Presence of his principal Lords and at the same time he took his leave of his Majesty to go and Command a Squadron of Ships designed for the Guard of the Coasts of Brittany But he voluntarily resigned this Office into the Kings hands again in 1673. The Marquiss of Louvois was received Vicar General of this Order the 18th of February 1673. at the Carmelites Convent called les Carmes des Billettes where the Assemblies and Ceremonies of the Order are kept and Celebrated On New-Years Day in the year 1669. the Duke of Orleans received into the number of his Life-guards twelve Knights of St. Lazarus which are as 't were the Cadets or young Noblemen of his Guards There are five great Priories and 140. Commanderies of this Order viz. 28 Commanderies to each Great Priory to which his Majesty commonly nominates some of his Land or Sea-Officers or Commanders which have been wounded or which have render'd him considerable Services The General and Conventual House of this Order is the Commandery of Boigni near Orleans The Great Priories are as follows 1. The Grand Priory of Normandy the Grand Prior is the Chevalier de Montchevrueil Colonel of the Kings Regiment and Brigadier his Seat is at the Mont aux Malades or Mount of the sick people near Roüen 2. The Great Priory of Brittany the Great Prior is the Chevalier de Chateau Regnaud Commander of a Squadron of Men of War He resides at Auray and has annexed to his other Commanderies that of Blois 3. The Great Priory of Bargundy the Great Prior is M. de Bullonde His Seat is at Dijon 4. The Great Priory of Flanders the Great Prior is M. de la Rabliere Marshal in the Camps and Armies of the King and Commander of Lile where his Seat is 5. The Great Priory of Languedoc the Great Prior is M. de Rivarolles The Council established for taking cognisance of the affairs of this Order sits in the Arsenal at Paris those that compose it are 1. The Marquiss of Louvois Vicar-General and President of the Order 2. Florent d' Argouges Chancellour of the Order received in 1685. 3. M. Du Verdier Proctor-General of the Order received in 1672. 4. De Turmenies Sieur de Naintel Treasurer of the Order 5. Camus de Beaulieu Secretary and Recorder of the Order 6. M. William Seguier Dean of the Order received in 1638. 7. The R. Father TousseinT St. Luke Carmelite Almoner of the Order received in 1664. And five Counsellours Besides this there is also a Chamber-Royal established at the same Arsenal that takes cognisance of the reunion of Estates and of the property of stocks of Money Heritage and other rights which have been usurped upon this Order and alienated from the designed use which said Royal Chamber is composed of nine Counsellours to whom are subservient one General Proctor who has his Deputy or Substitute and one Registrer or Recorder Besides these abovesaid Orders of Knighthood there are in France many Knights of Malta and Great Priors and Commanders of that Order that possess there many rich Lordships with great Priviledges and Immunities for that they are obliged by their Order to expose themselves continually for the common defence of Christendom against the Turks and Infidels But there being Books enough that treat ex professo very largely and particularly of them It will be needless for me to insist upon any further description of them in this small Book In old time before these particular Orders of Knighthood were instituted this word Chevalier or Knight was used to signifie some great precedent merit from whence it comes to pass that Gentlemen of Quality and of ancient Families still to this day assume that Quality and write themselves Messire N. Knight and Lord of Messire being a Title intimating Nobility and Chevalier or Knight being reckoned a worthier Title than that of their Mannours or Seignieuries of which they are Lords And of these Knights there were two sorts or Orders viz. Bannerets and Batchellours the Banneret was he that could raise men enough of his own Vassals to follow his Banner the Batchellour was such a one as went to the Wars under another Mans Banner and under these was the Esquire which is a quality still taken by the last and lowest rank of Nobility there CHAP. XIV Of the general Dignities of the Kingdom and first of the High Constable THE High Constable was the first of all the Officers of the Crown and next to the King was Sovereign Head of the Armies of France and took place immediately next after the Princes of the Blood chiefly in Parliament At first he was no more than the Great Master of the Horse is now as appears by the Etymology of the word which is Comes Stabuli i. e. Count of the Stable On the sides of his Coat of Arms he bore as a mark of his Dignity two naked Swords with the points upward held by a right-hand armed with a Gantlet coming out of a Cloud He was sworn by the King himself At publick Entries of Kings the Constable marched foremost before his Majesty on his right hand holding a naked Sword And when the King sate on his Bed of Justice or in the Assembly of the general Estates he sate before him on his right hand The Power of this Officer was much augmented by the Successours of Hugh Capet when the Office of Mayor of the Palace was supprest and though there were Constables before Hugh Capet yet they had till then no power in the Armies If we may believe M. du Tillet who sets down the Constables according to their Succession the first to be found in History was Froger of Châlons under Lewis the Gross who therefore may well be called the first Constable he being the first that ever enjoyed that large power the Constables enjoyed after that time to whose Command in the Armies the very Princes of the Blood were subjected He that first Exalted the Power of Constable to a Soveraign Command over all the men of War not excepting the Princes of the Blood was Matthew
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
France are the Presidents of this Chamber of the Treasury or when they think good they go and preside at the Audiences and Processes or Suits managed in Writing And those of Paris give Law to the Councellers of the Treasury when they present themselves for Admission and some among them on set days for that purpose go and examine them and afterwards admit them Their Days of Audience are Wednesdays and Saturdays at which times the Advocates and Proctors of the Parliament go thither to plead The Officers of the Chamber of the Treasury are one Lieutenant-General who is both for Civil and Criminal matters and a particular Lieutenant six Councellers one Advocate and Proctor for the King one Recorder or Registrer in Chief one Recorder of the Presentations and Comptrol one Chief Usher or House-Keeper and three other Ushers Next to the Treasurers of France it will be most proper next to speak of those Jurisdictions which used to sit at the Marble-Table of the Palace as those of the Waters and Forests the Constablery and Marshals of France of the Admiralty c. CHAP. XXXVI Of the Waters and Forests THE Jurisdiction of the Waters and Forests is very ancient and of a very great extent It was establisht to hinder the Abuses Delinquencies and Misdemeanours which might be committed in the Kings Woods which are the goodliest part of his Crown-Lands it likewise takes cognisance of the same abuses committed in the Woods belonging to the Princes of the Blood and other Noblemen and to Prelats Gentlemen and other private Persons as also to Communities or Corporations It also takes cognisance both primarily and by way of Appeal of all Enterprises or attempts made in Woods Warrens Rivers Isles Islets Mills Fishings Chaces and of all Processes or Suits both Civil and Criminal arising upon those Accounts between any Persons of what Quality soever nay and of those too that concern the very Fund or propriety it self in any of them and all Regulations of Customs thirds and tenths of Forests and Woods c. This Chamber is held in the Great Hall of the Palace near the Parquet or Bar of the Kings Advocates and Proctor-General in the Parliament It s Jurisdiction extends farther than that of the Parliament of Paris for besides the Appeals of Masterships of the Game and of the particular Courts of Justice of private Lords in relation to the Waters and Forests that are within the limits of the Jurisdiction of the Parliament of Paris It receives likewise those of the other Parliaments where there is not as yet any Marble Table as of those of Grenoble Bourdeaux Dijon Aix Pau and Mets. And it has likewise an over-ruling Jurisdiction over the Waters and Forests of other Parliaments The principal Officers of the Masterships and Captainships of the Game and of the Louvetry or Wolf-Hunting are admitted in this Chamber or Court Dukes and Peers proceed in all Cases of this nature in this Court rather than in any other Chamber for the Waters and Forests under other Parliaments although the things contested about be scituate within the extent of the Jurisdiction of those other Parliaments They have there too the like priviledge as in the Grand Chamber in which they can have no remedy for these kinds of affairs as they may have in all other Cases because the Ordinances made for this purpose attribute to this Court the full and plenary cognisance of all Causes belonging to it privatively and exclusively to all other Judges notwithstanding any Committimus or any other priviledge whatsoever It is divided into two sorts of Jurisdiction viz. Ordinary and Extraordinary From the Ordinary Jurisdiction Appeals may be made to the Parliament but in the Extraordinary Jurisdiction all Processes or Suits concerning Reformations Misdemeanours Delinquencies and Degradations relating to Woods c. are Judged without Appeal by the Chief President with seven Councellers of the Grand Chamber and four of the Chief Officers of this Marble Table upon the Conclusions of the Kings Advocates and Proctor-General of this Chamber When the Grand Masters of the Waters and Forests are pleased to come to this Court they commonly preside there and the Judgments passed there are intitled by their names in this manner The Grand Masters Chief Inquisitours and Reformers of the Waters and Forests of France at their General Seat at the Marble Table of the Palace at Paris And in the Extraordinary Jurisdiction they are stiled The Judges appointed by the King to judge finally and without Appeal of all Processes or Suits concerning the Reformations of the Waters and Forests of France at the Judgment Seat of the Marble-Table of the Palace at Paris By a Declaration from the King Issued in the Month of December 1675. and Registred in Parliament the 15th of June 1676. The Great Masterships of the Waters and Forests of France are divided into eight Departments of which seven are officiated by Commission and that of the Country of Orleans by Patent These Departments are 1. That of the Isle of France Brie Perche the Country of Blois Picardie and of the Conquer'd and Reconquer'd Countries Of which M. James Francis de Joanne is Grand Master He is likewise Governour of Chambor and Bayliff of Blois 2. The Department of Normandy and Jurisdiction of the Parliament of Roüen the Grand Master by Commission is M. Feron the Father Master of the Waters and Forests at Compiegne 3. In Tourain Anjou Maine Poitou Berry the Country of Bourbon Nivernois Aunix Angouleme Saintonge la Marche and Limosin The Grand Master is M. Florimond Huraut 4. In the Country of Orleans Mr. Peter L' Allemant Lord of L' Estrée c. Lieutenant of the Town of Chaalons is Grand Master by Patent 5. In Champain and within the Jurisdiction of the Parliament of Mets the Grand Master is Charles Renart of Buchsamberg 6. In Burgundy and Bresse and Countries of Lyons Beaujoly Forëts and Auvergne M. de Mauroy 7. In the Government and within the Jurisdiction of the Parliament of Brittany M. Savary 8. In Guienne the Lower Navarre Soule the Country of Labour Languedoc Provence and the Dauphinate M. Froidour is Grand Master In Flanders the Grand Master is M. le Feron du Plessis the Son The Office of Master of the Waters and Forests of Hainaut which was Created in 1661 is possest by M. Talon first Yeoman of the Kings Wardrobe The Office of Grand Master of the Waters and Forests of France was of very ancient Institution and possessed by two persons of Quality Afterwards there was but one till the year 1575. when Henry the third Created six which have since been augmented The present Officers of the Waters and Forests at the Marble-Table at Paris are A Lientenant-General and another particular Lieutenant six Councellers one Proctor and one Advocate-General two Recorders or Registers two Ushers Audiencers The ordinary days of Audience at this Chamber or Court are Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Morning There is likewise a particular Mastership