Selected quad for the lemma: order_n
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A84170
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The state of France, as it stood in the IXth yeer of this present monarch, Lewis XIIII. Written to a friend by J.E.
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Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
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1652
(1652)
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Wing E3514; Thomason E1328_2; ESTC R209097
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48,352
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165
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Orleans as being Lieutenant General of all the Kings Forces and therefore little remote as hath been said from the dignity and charge of high Connestable Thus we have done with the Courts and Officers of France now we will take a Prospect of the Forces The King of France hath commonly four Armies in field Constant armies of Fr. viz. that of Flanders of Germanie of Italy and that of Catalogna wherein the King Queen Monsieur the Duke of Anjou the Duke of Orleans Princes of the Blood and Mareschals of France have their severall and individuall Companies whose Lieutenants enjoy many singular precedencies above other Officers of the Armies All these consist of well armed horse The light horse are at present commanded by the Master of the Camp Light horse and other forces under continuall pay The King hath commonly under pay about a hundred and forty Cornets of cavalry distributed into 56 Regiments besides of Strangers twelve Of Infantry the King hath two hundred and ten whereof some Regiments have thirty Companies and every company payed for eighty men effective Moreover his Majestie hath divers Regiments of strangers whereof enough hath been said in the beginning The Armada Naval may be composed of about twenty men of Warr and as many Gallies Armada Naval I have shewed you before how these Forces are payed and therefore we will proceed to the Governours of the Provinces as being likewise Men of Armes The Governours of Provinces have their Commissions which are simple and depending on the pleasure of the King verified in Parliament Governours of provâ—nces cities and sorts where they have their seats next after the premiers presidents they are in some degree equivalent to our Lieutenants of the shire but exercise a much more vigorous power which is yet restrained to matters of Armes for in other justice they meddle not at all So likewise the Governors of Cities Fortresses and places of strength all which are chosen of persons of Blood Valour and merit But before we altogether quit this subject of Armes it wil not be impertinent to say somthing here of the order of Knighthood in France I shall not much amuse you with those orders which are so far antiquated Orders of Chevalrie in France that even the Heralds themselves can scarcely render us any certain accompt Such is that which is named de la Genette Instituted by Charls Martel or the Order de l'Estoile by King John the Order of the Croisant Porc Espic nor much concerning the order of Saint Michael it self Instituted 1469 by Lewis the eleventh although not many ages since first instituted and for a long while the principal Order in the Kingdome composed but of 36 because as the manner of this Nation is to be as soon weary of their new invenons as children are of Rattles they begin to have this Order already in contempt Ordre de S. Michael albeit the chain and pendent badg be commonly reserved in the Coat Armours together with that which is now in Vogue and next ensues Ordre du S. Esprit Institution L'Ordre du S. Esprit was instituted on new years Day Anno 1579 by Henry the third and honoured with that name because he was both born and afterwards Elected King of Polonia on Whitsonday This Prince restrained the number also to thirty six but that is likewise as indefinite as it pleases the King however it remaines yet the Order of greatest esteem and therefore let us look a while upon the Ceremonies of the Inauguration The day of their Reception they appear all in Cloath of silver Reception their cloaks especially the capes cut a l'antique of black velvet which they put off and change to receive on them a robe of green Velvet ful of Embroydred tongues of fire then remaining on their knees the King hands between the palmes of his own striking them lightly upon the shoulder and kisses their Cheeke Ordinarily they wear a Flame Order or Orange colour Crosse of velvet upon the left side of their cloakes in the midst whereof is embosted a dove of silver and about it a glory of Rayes like that which our Knights of the Garter in England do wear as having first assumed that mode from the French albeit for Antiquity of the Order ours stands much before it About their bodies likewise they wear a blew ribbon which of late they have watered and at the end of that a Crosse of Gold in the midst whereof there is ennamailed a White Dove and this is all which I finde observable We have been hitherto very silent of the State Ecclesiastick in particular State Hierarchical which although it come last in Order yet was it one of the first in mine intention as consisting of Persons who besides their qualities both for Extraction and Letters possesse alone one third part of the total Revenue of France The Arch Bishops of this kingdom are in number fifteen Archbishops Bishops whereof he of Lyons is the Primate and Metropolitan and some of these be Peers Bishopricks two hundred and one Of this Hierarchy is composed l' Eglise Gallicane L'Eglise Gallicane which by the concordats made with the Pope hath sundry rights and priviledges extraordinary which for that they are not much incident to our discourse we will purposely omit and content our selves with what hath been briefly spoken Having thus as I was able finished my designe and your request with what succinctnesse perspicuity I might for herein I am obliged to some Relations more discourses and a little experience I will make bold the better to let you understand the full nature of things as they subsist and are govern'd at present to reassume the Argument deliver you the best and more solid opinions of men concerning the particulars already spoken of The Government of France doth at present rather totter then stand upon the late great Cardinals substruction Present Government of France Q. Regent the Queen Regent having ever since his decease continued in the principall ministry of State affairs Card. Mazatini Her favourite Mazarini a person of to speak with the world farre greater fortune then either extraction or vertue however he hath steered this great vessel of Monarchy a long time and that amidst so many stormes and in such foul weather as whether his craft or courage exceeds it is not yet decided certaine it is that as he hath longer held in then by some wise men it was judg'd he could so some late actions of his interpreted to have been ingratefull enough make othersdaily coÌ„fident of his absolute ruine and in truth he doth play so hazardous a game at present that as the hand is universally turned it were great odds to lay on Confusions side so prodigious a fatality now threatning Princes that if France compose not suddenly these calamities I am confident will epidemically visite Europe for a time And why it should