and where they are to be judged too when they are impeacht of any Crime And though in the last Reign it was seen that de facto the Marshal de Marillac was Judged by Delegated Commissaries and the Duke of Montmorency by the Parliament of Toulouze the Parliament of Paris pretends That these two Acts were done against their Priviledges Secondly The Counsellers of the Parliament of Paris pretend a Priviledge to sit in all the other Parliaments without allowing the same Priviledge reciprocally to the Counsellers of the other Parliaments in the Parliament of Paris yet it is to be remarked That the Priviledge of sitting in the Parliament of Paris was granted to the Counsellers of the Parliament of Toulouze by an Ordinance of Charles the Seventh in the year 1454. which the Parliament of Paris refused to verifie whereupon the Parliament of Toulouze made a Decree in the year 1466. by which they Ordained That the Counsellers of the Parliament of Paris should have no Admittance into the Parliament of Toulouze till they had obey'd the abovesaid Ordinance made in their Favour Thirdly The other Parliaments not having that extent of Jurisdiction as the Parliament of Paris have but one Chamber of Inquests the Parliament of Toulouze but two whereas the Parliament of Paris has six The Parliament of Paris opens every year the next day after St. Martins Day in this manner The whole Body being in their Scarlet Robes go to a solemn Mass Celebrated on that occasion in the Great Hall of the Palace after which the Advocates and Proctors are sworn in the Grand Chamber and the Bishop that said Mass has that day Place and a deliberative Voice among them The Parliament continues sitting from that time till the 7th of September after which follows the Vacations During which Recess nevertheless there sits a Chamber called the Chamber of the Vacations which takes Cognisance of those Causes that require speedy dispatch and Criminal Affairs In the five Chambers of Inquests all Processes or Suits are Judged concluded and received by Writing that they may the better discern whether the Appeals made to this High Court of Parliament be made reasonably or no. The fourteen Presidents of the Chambers of Inquests and of those of the Requests which are two are but Counsellers that have accepted that Commission and when the Parliament is met and marches in State they take place among those of the Grand Chamber according to a Regulation of Parliament of the 1st of September 1677. By which it is Ordain'd That in Assemblies Processions and other publick Solemnities these Presidents shall be preceded only by two Counsellers of the Grand Chamber of which the first is to be Titular and the second may be only Honorary As for the Presidents of the Inquests and Requests among themselves they are to take place in their march according to their standing and the order of their admission The Court called the Tournelle-Civil established by Lewis the Great in 1667 and 1669. Judges of all Appeals in civil matters to the value of 1000. Livers or Pounds French and of an Estate of 50 Livers yearly rent It is composed of one President wearing the Mortar-Cap six Counsellers of the Grand Chamber and of four Counsellers out of every Chamber of Inquests who go thither by turns once in three Months The Kings Declaration for this purpose of the year 1669. bears date the 11th of August and was Registred in Parliament and in the Chamber of Accounts the 13th of August The Tournelle-Criminal Judges of all Appeals in Criminal matters excepting those made by Gentlemen and other persons of State which are to be judged in the Grand Chamber it is called the Tournelle because it is composed of two Presidents with Mortar-Caps ten Lay-Counsellers of the Grand Chamber and of two Counsellers out of every Chamber of Inquests which go thither every one Tour à Tour that is in their respective turns once in three Months excepting only those of the Grand Chamber which are there six Months from whence it is called the Tournelle At present there are four Presidents with Mortar-Caps The two Chambers of Requests of the Palace are of the Body of the Parliament according to what Charles the Fifth writ to Cardinal Vivazer in the year 1450. where he says that the Requests are de Gremio Curiae They Judge of all personal Possessory and mixt Causes between priviledged persons that have Committimus's whether they be Officers that are Commoners at Court or others There likewise the Requests of the Houshold composed of the Masters of Request we have spoken of above who take a like cognisance of the Causes of priviledged persons that enjoy Committimus's at whose choice it is to plead either before the Masters of the Requests of the Houshold or before those of the Palace In old time Justice was administred without Appeal by the Bayliffs and Seneschals that the King sent into the respective Provinces for that purpose which were chosen out of the ablest Sages of the Law of his Houshold but since the Parliaments have been Instituted or made fixed and sedentary Appeals are admitted to the Parliaments from the Sentences rendred by the said Bayliffs and Seneschals In fine the Parliament at present consists in all 1. Of one Chief or first President who is named Nicholas Potier Knight Lord of Novion c. and seven other Presidents called Presidents au Mortier or wearing Mortar-Fashioned Caps who are John de Coigneux Marquiss of Montmeliand c. Lewis de Bailleul Marquiss of Chateau-Gontier John-James de Mesmes Count d' Avaux John de Longueville Marquiss of Maisons Charles Colbert Brother to the late Great Minister of State of that Name formerly Ambassadour in England and at Nimmeguen c. and at present Secretary and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and lastly Lewis de Molé Lord of Champlatreux of thirty Clerks or Clergymen Counsellers of Lay-Counsellers of two Advocates and one Proctor-General of 19 Substitutes or Deputies of three Registrers or Recorders in the Chief Registers Office viz. One Recorder Civil and Prothonotary in Chief one Recorder of the Presentations and one Recorder Criminal and of eight other Secretaries and Notaries called the Notaries and Secretaries of the King and of the Parliament two Recorders for the Audiences and Council of the Tournelle five other Deputy Recorders in the five Chambers of Inquests one Recorder in Chief of the Requests of the Palace two other Deputy Recorders under him in each of the two Chambers of Requests 1. First or Chief Usher twenty eight other Ushers of the Parliament and of the Chambers of Inquests and of the Tournelle Eight Ushers of the Requests of the Palace The number of Advocates is not fixed but the Proctors are four hundred in number they have both of them a Dean over them CHAP. XXXII Of the Chamber of Accounts THE Chamber of Accounts is composed of 1. First or Chief President ten other Presidents seventy Masters of the
as soon as the King has changed his Shirt he lets in the Nobility and the Officers in order as he sees them more or less qualified If any speak too loud in the Chamber the Usher Commands Silence They carry Flambo's overlaid with Vermilion gilt before his Majesty when he goes out or in any where or from Chamber to Chamber or when he goes up or down Stairs in any of the Apartments of the Louvre but when he goes any further into the Courts they quit him at the Door and leave only the Pages to light him to whom it only belongs The Ushers have the Priviledge to wait with their Swords by their sides and their Cloaks on their Shoulders Upon the Annual Festivals and on all Dayes of Solemnity as at Te Deums on the Dayes of the Kings Majority Coronation or Marriage when he touches for the Evil when he follows the Processions when he fits on his Bed of Justice in Parliament or at the Creation of the Knights of his Orders and at all the Kings first Entries into any Towns two of these Ushers carry before his Majesty two silver guilt Maces letting the tops of the said Maces lean gently on their Shoulders and every time they carry these Maces there is due to them a Fee of 150 l. which is punctually paid them by express Order at the Treasure-Royal But when the King goes to Parliament besides the 150 l. they have out of the Treasure Royal the Chief President Orders a like summe to be paid them out of the Fines In like manner at the Kings first Entry into any Cities there is due to them from the Officers of the said Town a Mark of Gold being the value of 400 l. besides their said constant Fee of 150 l. out of the Treasure Royal. These two Maces are carried every where after the King in the Chests of the Wardrobe At Coronations and Creations of Knights the two Ushers that bear the Maces are habited in white Sattin Doublets with Sleeves slashed in several rows and their Shifts swelling out of the said slashes with Trunk-Breeches and Cloaks of the same with silk Pearl-Colour'd Stockings Shoes covered with white Sattin and white Velvet or Sattin Caps or Bonnets They have their share in the Fees and Presents given by Governours and Lieutenants of Towns or Provinces Great Officers of the Crown and those of the Kings Houshold the Chief Presidents of Parliaments the Eschevins or Sheriffs of Paris or others when at their several admissions they take the Oath of Fidelity to his Majesty 'T is the Ushers Duty to make them that are in the Chamber get out of the way whether it be to keep them from standing in his Majesties light when he is Dressing or Undressing him or to clear his passage when he goes from his Chair to his Praying-Desk from that to his Closet or when he goes from one side of his Chamber to the other No Body ought to have his Hat on in the Kings Bed-Chamber though it be at certain hours when there is but two or three Officers there And the Ushers are to see too that no Body Combs themselves there or sit down upon the Seats the Table or the Rails of the Alcove They have their Ordinary at the old Table of the Great Master which is now that of the Masters of the Houshold and those four that are in Waiting have every day to their Breakfast a Bottle of Wine and a Loaf They are allowed every day out of the Eruitry a Flambo of white Wax of half a pound weight On Council-Days if the Council be held in the Bed-Chamber they go from his Majesty to give notice to the Secretaries of State and in the absence of the chief Valets de Chambres they keep the Doors of the Council-Chamber They have the Honour to carry in their Arms the Children of France during their Infancy The two Ushers of the Chamber that wait at the Dauphins have each of them a Crown a day for their Diet one of the four Ushers that are in Waiting at the Kings goes every day and waits on the Duke of Burgundy and he that stays with that Prince in the Kings absence has a Crown a Day for his Diet and the Officers of the Kings Counting-House or Green-Cloth diminish so much as his Ordinary comes to at the Table he should otherwise eat it and discount it to his Majesties profit Another Usher likewise appointed to wait on the Duke of Anjou has the like allowance which will be the rule for all the Children the Dauphin shall have When the Usher asks any one that would come in his Name whoever he be he ought not to take it ill because he is obliged by his Office to know who he lets in It is to be observed that any person that would enter into the Bed-Chamber the Anti-Chamber and the Closets when the Doors are shut must scratch gently at the Door and not knock hard and when he would go out he is not to open the Door himself but to call to the Usher to open it for him When the King any Queens Children of France and their Wives or any Ambassadors that go to or come from Audience come in or go out of the Chamber the Usher presently opens to them both the Leaves of the Door the same is done by the Usher of the Anti-Chamber and by the Sentinel at the Door of the Guard-Chamber There are besides two Ushers of the Closet that wait six Months each who have 660 l. Salary and a gratuity of 600 l. at the Treasure Royal. They eat at the Masters of the Housholds Table If on a Council-Day the Council be held in any of the Closets then 't is the Usher of the Closets Duty to give notice of it from the King to the Secretaries of State There two Ushers of the Anti-Chamber who have a yearly Salary of 500 l. each They eat at the Valets de Chambrés Table and are allowed Bread and Wine too for their Breakfast At New-years-tide the Queen when there is one gives for a New-Years Gift 4 l to the Ushers a 100 l. at each Station that is to say 100 l. among the Ushers of the Anti-Chamber as much to him that keeps the Closet and as much among those of the Bed-Chamber By which means he that keeps the Cabinet that day and that is in waiting the first half year beginning in January has as much alone as the two Ushers of the Anti-Chamber and the four Ushers of the Bed-Chamber And formerly when the two Ushers of the Anti-Chamber waited by turns each their half year he whose turn it was to wait at New-years-tide had the whole 100 l. to himself but since they have been both made ordinary and serve all the year round the said summ is usually parted among them which Order was made about twenty years ago The Porte-Manteau ' s or Cloak-Carriers Are twelve in number and serve quarterly three each quarter and have yearly 660 l.
Company two Gallons of Table-Wine twelve Loaves out of the Kings own Pantry a Side of Veal a whole Sheep and four Fowls And in the Holy Week they have Prayer-Books and Linnen-Cloth given them and on Candle-mass and Corpus-Christi Days Wax-Gandles they enjoy the same Priviledges as Commoners of the Kings Houshold and are Squires by their Places that Quality having been confirmed to them by several Declarations and Decrees Of the Guards called the Guards de la Manche or of the Sleeve They are twenty five in number counting the Chief or first Man at Arms of France who has 300 l. Salary The other twenty four have 570 l. yearly allowance and their Diet at the Kings Serdeau's or Water-Servers Table They are divided into six Brigades allowing six to each Brigade When any of these Guards de la Manche fail to come and do Duty the King causes their Places to be supplied by some of the Gentlemen of his Life-Guards They wait two and two always at the King's Sleeve whence they have their Name only at Great Ceremonies they are six They are chosen out of the Scotch Company of Guards Their particular Functions are as follows When the King is to go to any Church or Chappel to hear Mass Vespers Tenebres or Sermon or to assist at any Christning or Marriage two Guards of the Sleeve or Manche always goes thither before and wait for the King in their white Hoquetons or Jackets set with Gold and Silver Spangles with Partisans fringed with silver in their hands with Damaskt Blades When his Majesty is come they keep on each side of him always standing but only just at the time of the Elevation with their Faces towards the King to have an Eye on all sides upon his Sacred Person When the King eats in publick at home either alone or with the Queen or any other Royal Person whether at Dinner or Supper two Guards of the Sleeve Habited and Armed after the same manner keep always on each side of him in the same posture that is to say standing upright with their Faces turned towards his Person Every two Nights in three one of the Guards de la Manche or of the Sleeve goes at Midnight to the Principal Gate of the Louvre or of any other of the Kings Palaees some time before the Watch is called that is to say the Officers and Guards that are to compose the Court of Guard that are to do Duty that Night at the Gate where he receives the Keys from the hands of one of the Guards of the Scotch Company to whom only the Guards of the Gate deliver the Keys at six a Clock every Night And he is to keep these Keys till the Watch be called and then he is to shut all the Doors and when he is called by the Clerk of the Watch to answer in Scotch I am here and at the same time to present the Keys to the Captain of the Guards then in Waiting if he be present when the Watch is called or in his absence to the Commander in Chief But it often happening that after the Watch is called there are still several persons to go out of the Louvre The Guard of the Sleeve opens it to all that would go out and shuts it again till it be time to shut it for good and all which being come after the Brigadier with a Torch in his hand and accompanied by the Aid-Major has visited all places and warned every one with a load Voice to go out the Guard of the Sleeve shuts all the Doors and then taking with him the said Brigadeer that carries the Torch and the Aid-Major He carries all the Keys to the Captain then in Waiting or in his absence to him that supplies his place and puts them under his Bolster in their presence I say they do this every two Nights in three because every third Night 't is a Scotch Brigadeer that does those Duties and then the Guards of the Steeve begin again till it come again to the Brigadeer and so all along It is likewise a Scotch Brigadeer that goes and takes the Keys again of the Captain or Commander every Morning at six a Clock The Guards of the Sleeve wait Monthly two every Month. On Maundy-Thursdays they wait for the King at the Door of the Hall where the usual Ceremony of the Day is performed keeping always on each side of his Majesty during the time of the Sermon and Absolution and following him along the Hall while his Majesty is washing the poor Peoples Feet and serving up their Meat to the Table When the King assists at any Processions as on Corpus Christi Day Candlemas Palm-Sunday and at the Assumption of our Lady and when he touches for the Evil two Ushers of the Chamber bearing Maces march only before his Majesty but the Guards of the Sleeve march close by his sides and when the Sacrament was carried in 1666. to the Queen Mother Anne of Austria these Guards Accompanied the King all the way as he went on Foot from the Louvre to the Church and back again At Extraordinary Ceremonies as when his Majesty is pleased to appear in an Extraordinary manner in Parliament at the Creation or Instalment of Knights at Coronations and Marriages of Kings at the Christning of their Children and at Royal Funerals When his Majesty is minded to sit in Parliament they go to the Palace and wait at the Door at the top of the Great Stairs called the May-Pole Door and conduct him as far as the Entry of the Bar in the Great Chamber And when the King hears Mass at the Holy Chappel as he commonly does before he goes to Parliament they wait on him at his sides in the manner above-described and when Mass is done conduct him thence to the Great Chamber where they stay for him at the Entry of the Bar of the said Chamber whence when he comes out they reconduct him to the top of the said Great Stairs or else to his Coach At the Creation or Instalment of Knights six of these Guards wait for the King three days one after another at the Door of the House where the Assembly of the Knights is held and Accompany the King step by step from thence to the Church and every time he moves from his place they march always close by his sides At the Coronation of any King six Guards of the Sleeve having under their Hoquetons or upper Jackets short-truss'd white Satin-Coats with Bonnets and Silk stockings answerable wait without the Door of the Kings Chamber from eight in the Morning till his Majesty comes out to go to Church whither and where-ever else he goes they continually accompany him At the Kings Wedding they have new and very rich Hoquetons or Jackets At the Kings Funeral they wear Mourning Suits under their Hoquetons or Jackets and keep guard night and day about the Body or Effigies of his Majesty as long as it lies in State They onely are to put
2. The Bishop and Duke of Langres who is Louis-Marie-Armand de Simianes de Gordes 4. The Bishop and Count of Beauvais who is named Toussaint de Fourbin de Janson 5. The Bishop and Count of Chaalons in Champain Lewis Antony of Noailles of the Family of the Duke of that Name 6. The Bishop and Count of Noyon named Francis of Clermont-Tonnerre The six secular ones that are now only represented were The Dukes of Burgundy Normandy Guyenne And Counts of Toulouze Flanders and Champain The Quality of the twelve antient Peers of France is at present but a kind of Ceremonial Dignity by vertue of which those that possess it have a certain Rank or Precedence in France at the Consecration and Coronation of Kings have Place in Parliament and in the general Assembly of Estates and enjoy the Honours of the Louvre Their first Institution is so uncertain that it is impossible to gather out of History their true Original some attributing it to Hugh Capet and some to Charlemaine or Charles the Great But the Original of the Name and Functions of the Peers of France can properly be derived from nothing else then from the common use and custom of Fiess and Tenures which is that the Vassals holding moveable Fiefs fully and directly of the same Lord are called Pares Curiae aut Domus which is as much as to say Peers of the Fiefs or of the Court that are to assist when the Lord takes possession of his Land to be present at those days when causes relating to the Fiefs are pleaded and judged and have several other rights which are analogically common to them with our Peers of France who in like manner assist at the Consecration and Coronation of the King who is the supream Lord are Counsellers in his Court of Parliament which for this reason is called the Court of Peers so that in a word the Peers of France are but as Tenants that hold of the Monarchy and depend immediately on the Crown such as were the seven Peers in the time of Lewis the Young in the year 1179 or in the time of Hugh Capet who reunited to the Crown the Dutchy and Peerage of France or of Paris which he possessed before he was King So that there remained after that but six ancient Peers that were Seculars to which at several times by degrees were afterwards added six other Ecclesiastical Peers over whom Lewis the Young gave the Primacy to the Archbishop of Reims with the Prerogative of Consecrating and Crowning the Kings Since the time of the said Lewis the Young the number of twelve Peers at those great Ceremonies has been always continued till the present But the Secular Peers are as we have said only represented on that occasion there being none now that bear any of those Titles but only now lately the Duke of Burgundy Eldest Son to the Dauphin and the Count of Toulouze one of the Kings Natural Legitimated Sons Their several Functions at the Kings Consecration and Coronation are these The Archbishop of Reims Consecrates or anoints the King with the Oil of the Holy Ampull or Viol kept in the Cathedral of that Name from Age to Age only for that purpose The Bishop of Laon carries the said Viol the Bishop of Langres carries the Scepter the Bishop of Beauvais the Mantle Royal the Bishop of Chaalons the Ring the Bishop of Noyons the Belt The Duke of Burgundy carries the Crown Royal and girds on the Kings Sword the Duke of Guyenne carries the first square Banner the Duke of Normandy the Second the Count of Toulouze the Spurs the Count of Champain the Banner Royal or Standard of War the Count of Flanders the Kings Sword On the day of the Consecration and Coronation and during the Ceremony these Peers wear a Circle of gold in form of a Crown Now because of the six Secular Peerages there are now five reunited to the Crown and that of Flanders is likewise in part reunited and in part remains still in foreign hands therefore there are on such occasions six Princes or great Lords chosen to represent them and to perform their Functions The Order observed at the Coronation of the present King Lewis the Fourteenth now happily Reigning which was on the 7th of June 1654. was as follows The Ecclesiastical Peers that officiated on that occasion were 1. Anne-Marie de Levis de Ventadour late Arch-bishop of Bourges instead of the Bishop and Duke of Laon. 2. Francis de Harlay then Archbishop of Rouen and at present of Paris for the Bishop and Duke of Laugres 3. Nicholas Choart de Buzanval late Bishop and Count of Beauvais 4. Henry de Baradat late Bishop and Count of Noyon 5. Felix Vialar de Herse late Bishop and Count of Chaalons 6. The late Bishop of Soissons as first Suffragan of Reims anointed the King being assisted by the Bishop of Amiens as Deacon and by Monsieur de Bourlon now Bishop of Soissons but then but Coadjutour to the said Bishoprick as Sub-Deacon The other Bishops that were likewise assistants there were the Bishops of Rennes Coutances of Rhodes of St. Paul irois Chateaux or three Castles of Agde and of Leon. Cardinal Grimaldi performed the Office of Great Almoner of France because of the absence of Cardinal Barberin The Hostages given for the Holy Ampull or Viol were the Marquesses of Vardes of Richelieu of Biron and of Coislin since Duke and Monsieur de Manciny at present Duke of Nevers held up the Kings Train Those who represented the Secular Peers were 1. The Duke of Anjou now Duke of Orleans represented the Duke of Burgundy 2. The late Duke of Vendome the Duke of Aquitain or Guyenne 3. The late Duke of Elbeuf the Duke of Normandy 4. The late Duke of Epernon the Count of Champagne 5. The Duke of Rouanez Gouffier the Count of Flanders 6. The Duke of Bournorville the Count de Toulouze The late Marshal d' Etrées performed the Office of High Constable the late Marshal d' Hospital carried the Scepter the late Marshal du Plessis-Pralin the Crown the late Marshal d' Aumont the hand of Justice The late Chancelour Seguier officiated his own place the Marshal Duke of Villeroy performed the Office of Great Master or High Steward of France the late Duke of Joyeuse did his Office of High Chamberlain and the Count de Vivonne who had the Reversion of one of the places of chief Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber after the Duke of Mortemar his Father performed the Function of First or Chief Chamberlain He is at present Marshal Duke de Vivonne CHAP. IV. Of the particular Lords that are at present Dukes and Peers according to the Order of their Verification being in all 29. Names of the Dukedoms and the date of their Verification 1. USês in 1572. 2. Ventadour in 1594. 3. Suilly in 1606. 4. Luynes in 1619. 5. Les diguieres in 1620. 6. Brissac in 1620. 7. Chaunes in 1631. 8. Richelieu in 1631. 9. St.
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
and the Dukes and Peers of France At the Funeral Obsequies of Kings he marches side by side in an equal Rank with the Archbishop of Paris Whilst he injoys this Dignity he wears a Violet-Coloured Girdle the trimming of his Gloves is also of Violet-Colour His solemn Habit is a Violet-Coloured Gown with a silk Girdle of the same Colour with golden Tassels at the end of which hangs a Purse of Violet-Coloured Velvet called an Escarcelle trimmed with gold Buttons and Galoon He wears over his Gown a little Mantle of white Ermine which reaches down round about half way his Arms. This Dignity is Elective and lasts but three Months unless it be thought convenient as sometimes it happens to continue it to one Person two or three times together The Faculty of Arts is divided into four Nations which are 1. The Nation of France 2. The Nation of Picardie 3. The Nation of Normandy And 4. The Nation of Germany The Titles or Epithetes assumed by these several Nations when their Proctor speaks for them in publick Assemblies are 1. Honoranda Gallorum Natio the Honourable Nation of the French 2. Fidelissima Picardorum Natio the most Loyal or Faithful Nation of the Picards 3. Veneranda Normannorum Natio the Venerable Nation of the Normans And 4. Constantissima Germanorum Natio the most constant Nation of the Germans The three superiour Faculties likewise when they speak have their peculiar Titles for the Faculty of Divinity stiles it self Sacra Theologiae Facultas the Sacred Faculty of Divinity the Faculty of Law Consultissima Decretorum Facultas the most wise Faculty of the Decrees and the Faculty of Physick Saluberrima Medicorum Facultas the most wholsome Faculty of the Physicians There are in this University many Colledges in which are maintain'd several Regents and Lecturers and Professours that teach the Humanities or Learning of the lesser Schools which they do by Classes and the Sciences Tongues and Philosophy So that in this University is taught all in one House whatever is taught both in the inferiour Schools and Universities of England So that there is no need of fitting youth before-hand in inferiour Schools for Universities in France as in England they running through the whole Circle of Learning in one Colledge where for better help to youth there is a different Regent in every Classis which are all in distinct Rooms and they have Preceptors or Tutors besides to help them in their Exercises There are maintain'd in these Colledges too some few Foundation Scholars called Boursiers or Bursers but the Colledges subsist most by Pensioners or Borders and it is free for any of what Nation soever to lie any where in the Town and yet go and learn in the Classes and hear Lectures upon doing which they have as much priviledge to take their Degrees as those that reside in Colledges so that the number of Students lying in the Town dost vastly exceed that of those that reside in Colledges And the number of them is indeed prodigiously great the Youth not only of all Provinces of France but of all other Europaean Nations flocking hither to study Besides what is performed in the Colledges that depend of the University There are likewise Lecturers and Professors of Royal Foundation for teaching of the Oriental Tongues viz. The Greek Hebrew Arabian Syriack Caldean Samaritan and other Tongues as also the Mathematicks and Physick as also Philosophy Rhetorick and the Latin Tongue all which are performed in the Royal Colledge by Professors paid by the King Philosophy is also taught there in French by some Persons as of late by the deceased M. de L' Eclache with success enough There are also Academies for Natural Philosophy Some parts of the Mathematicks are also taught there by private Men as Geography by Mr. Sanson and others c. There are also many Masters of the Modern and living Tongues It is also worth our remark that at certain times in the year there are several particular and extraordinary Exercises performed in Paris As in the Nave of the Church of St. Germains Abby there is every Sunday a Flemish Sermon Preached at half an hour past two in the Afternoon a Latin Sermon at the Great Cordeliers Church on St. Bonaventures Day as likewise at the Augustins Bernardins and Jacobins on the Days of St. Austin St. Bernard and St. Dominick and on the Day of Quasimodo there is a High Mass sung in Greek in the Cordeliers Church for the Confraternity of the Pilgrims of Jerusalem and of the Holy Sepulcher in the middle of which there is a Greek Sermon Likewise Note that in the Colledge of Beauvais and in that only there are every Year publick Acts and Disputations in Greek CHAP. LIV. Of the Historiographers of France THE Office of Historiographer of France is possest or pretended to by three sorts of persons viz. 1. Those that actually write as such and are Entred upon the Kings Books for such 2. Such as though they be enterd as such upon the Kings Books have as yet written nothing and thirdly Such as have only taken out Patents but are not enterd in the Book or such as only assume the title I shall mention only those of the first sort which are 1. The two Brothers de St. Marthe who have given to the publick a general History of the Prelates of France in four Volumns under the Title of Gallia Christiana and continue the Genealogicat History of the House or Royal Family of France containing and including all the Sovereign Families of Europe as likewise the Genealogical History of the House of Tremoille and several other Works 2. M. de Chêne Son of the Famous Andrew du Chêne who has published the Continuation of the Historians of France begun by his Father and the History of the Cardinals and Chancellours of France Other Writers that though they have not the Title of Historiographers yet write Histories and other commendable Curiosities are M. Blenchard M. Justel the two Valois M. de la Roque M. Doujat M. de Varillas and several others The Journal des Sçavans or Philosophical Transactions is done by the Abbot de la Roque The Journal of the Palace by M. Blondeau and M Gueret The Mercury Gallant by M. Vizè CHAP. LV. Of the Academy of France or Society of the Virtuosi THis Famous Company or Society of Learned Men which is in France what the Royal Society is in England and is called the French Academy was Instituted by Letters Patents granted by the late King Lewis the Thirteenth Verified in Parliament in the Month of July 1637. The King has been pleased in the said Patents to grant them the same Priviledges as his own Domestick Officers enjoy Their Causes are committed to the Masters of Requests of the Houshold or else of the Palace at Paris by vertue of a Committimus under the Great Seal they are exempt from being Administratours or Guardians and from doing service at the Guards of the Gates of the Towns
with her Husband retired into France where in consideration of an honourable Pension for the support of the dignity of so great a Princess she yielded up all her rights to the Dutchy of Lorain and died without Children at Paris the 21th of February 1657. After which the said late Duke Charles Married for his second Wife at Nancy the 5th of November 1665. the Lady Mary of Apremont of Nantenil by whom he had likewise no Children He in like manner yielded up to the King of France the Property and Soveraignty of his Dutchies of Lorain and of Bar which Donation was verified in Parliament in presence of the King himself who sat there in person on his Bed of Justice in the Month of February 1662. Yet there remain two Natural Children of the said late Duke Charles the Third which he had by the Lady Beatrix of Cusance Princess of Cantecroix viz. a Son and a Daughter 1. The Son is Charles-Henry Legitimated of Lorain Prince of Vaudemont Born the 25th of April 1649. and on the 27th of April 1669. at Bar le Duc Married Anne-Elizabeth of Lorain of Elbeuf Daughter of Charles of Lorain Duke of Elbeuf and Anne-Elizabeth of Lannoy de la Boissiere Widow of Henry of Plessis of Liancourt Count de la Recheguyon his first Wife 2. The Daughter is Anne-Elizabeth Legitimated of Lorain Wife to Francis-Marie of Lorain Count of l' Isle-bone who was Born the 6th of August 1649. The late Prince named Francis-Nicholas of Lorain who died at Nancy the 26th of January 1670. was Brother to the said Duke Charles and likewise Married his Cousin-German Claudia of Lorain younger Sister of the abovesaid Dutchess Nicole by whom he left an only Son who is Charles-Leopold-Nicolas-Sixtus of Lorain the present Duke of Lorain in Title though as yet he has no possession of it as having refused to be included in the late Treaty of Nimguen His Titles are Duke of Lorain Marchis Calabria Bar and Gueldres Marquess of Pont-a-Mousson and of Nomeny Count of Provence and of Vaudemont Blamont Zutphen Sarwerden and Salm He was Born at Vienna the 3d of April 1643. On the 15th of February 1678. He Married the Princess Eleonor-Marie of Austria Sister to the Emperour and Queen Dowager of Poland He has for several Years been Generalissimo of the Imerial Forces He took Philipsburg from the French and has done very noble things against the Turks in Hungary at the relief of Vienna the Battel of Gran and the two Sieges of Buda c. The late Duke Charles had likewise two Sisters 1. Margaret of Lorain called Madame Dowager as being Widow of the late Monsieur Gaston Duke of Orleans Brother to the last and Uncle to the present King of whose Children we have spoken she died the 3d of April 1672. 2. Henriette of Lorain the younger Sister Married to her first Husband Lewis of Lorain Prince of Phalzburg Of the second Branch which is of Guise The late Duke of Joyeuse Lewis of Lorain left a Son and two Daughters by his Wife Margaret of Valois only Daughter and Heir of the Duke of Angouleme and of Henriette de la Guiâ—he Lady de la Palisse 1. The Son was named Lewis-Joseph of Lorain Duke of Guise he died the 30th of July 1671. on the 15th of May 1667. he Married Madamoiselle d' Alençon Isabelle of Orleans to whom he left a Son called Francis-Joseph of Lorain Duke of Alençon of Guise c. who died the 16th of March 1675. 2. Madamoiselle of Guise named Marie of Lorain Dutchess of Guise and Joyeuse c. Born in 1615. and 3. Francise-Renée of Lorain of Guise Abbess of Montmarire Born in 1621. and died the 5th of December 1682. Of the third Branch which is of Chevreuse The late Duke of Chevreuse was named Claudius of Lorain Son of Henry of Lorain Duke of Guise he died in his Palace at Paris the 24th of January 1657. and of three Daughters he had by the Lady Marie of Rohan who was Widow of the Constable of Luyne there is none left but Henriette of Lorain of Chevreuse Abbess of Joüare who was Born in 1631. Of the fourth Branch which is of Elbeuf The late Duke of Elbeuf who died the 8th of December 1657. left four lawful Children by Catherine-Henriette Legitimated of France Sister to the late Caesar Duke of Vendome and Daughter of King Henry the Great and of Gabriele d' Etrées Dutchess of Beaufort I. The Eldest who is at present the head of the House of Lorain in France is Charles Duke of Elbeuf c. and Governour for his Majesty in Picardy of the Country and County of Artois of Hainaut and the particular Governour of the Town and Cittadel of Montreuil on the Sea in the said Province of Picardy He was Born 1620. and Married to his first Wife on the 7th of March 1648. Anne-Elizabeth de Lannoy Daughter of the Count of Lazzon and Widow of Henry du Plessis Count de la Rocheguyon and to his second Wife in the Month of May 1656. Elizabeth de la Tour d' Auvergne Sister to the Duke of Boüillon who died the 23d of October 1680. And to his third Wife on the 25th of August 1684. Francise de Montaut de Navailles Daughter of the Marshal Duke of that Name By his first Wife he has two Children Charles of Lorain Prince of Elbeuf Knight of Malta who was Born the 2d of November 1650. and Anne-Elizabeth of Lorain who was Born the 6th of August 1649. and Married to Charles-Henry Legitimated of Lorain Prince of Vaudemont at Bar-le-Duc the 27th of April 1669. By his second Wife he has four Children 1. Marie-Eleanor of Lorain who was Born the 24th of February 1658. 2. Francise-Marie of Lorain who was Born the 5th of May 1659. She is a Nun at the Nunnery of St. Marie in the Fauxbourg St. Jaqu's 3. Henry of Lorain Prince of Elbeuf who has the Reversion of the Government of Picardie he was Born the 7th of August 1661. and Married to Madamoiselle de Vivonne Named Charlotte de Rochechoüart de Mortemart the 30th of January 1677. by whom he has one Son called the Abbot of Lorain whose name is Lewis of Lorain he was Born the 8th of September 1662. and is Abbot of Orcamp 4. Prince Emanuel of Lorain II. Charles of Lorain Count of Harcourt c. was Born in 1623. He Married in the year 1645. Anne of Ornano Niece to the Marshal of that Name by whom he had three Sons and three Daughters viz. 1. Alphonso-Henry-Charles of Lorain Prince of Harcourt Count of Montlaur c. who about the end of February 1667. Married Marie Francise de Brancas Daughter of the Count de Brancas Lady of Honour or of the Palace to the Queen Their Children are 1. Anne-Marie-Joseph of Lorain-Harcourt Count of Montlaur Born the last of April 1679. 2. Suson of Lorain-Harcourt 3. Francis of Lorain-Harcourt The Prince and Princess of Harcourt had the honourable Office of Conducting into
Savoy-Nemours was Born the 21st of June 1646. and was Married in 1665. to Alphonso the Sixth King of Portugal But afterwards that Marriage being declared void because of the Impotence of that King She was Re-Married to his Brother the Prince Don Pedro then declared Regent of Portugal the 28th of March 1680. and who is now King She died the 27th of December 1683. leaving behind her only one Daughter who was Born the 6th of January 1669. and Baptized the 2d of March following and named Elizabeth-Marie-Lewise-Josephe She is called the Princess or otherwise the Infanta of Portugal The Brother of the said Precedent Duke of Nemours was Born in 1625. and was named Henry of Savoy Duke of Aumale who after he had been brought up to the Exercises worthy of a Prince was promoted to the Archbishoprick of Reims and other Benefices But upon the Death of his said Brother he quitted his Benefices to take up the Sword to endeavour to keep up and make to flourish in his person the Illustrious House of Savoy And so taking the Title of Duke of Nemours he Married on the 22d of May 1657. Madamoiselle Anne-Marie of Orleans Daughter to the Duke of Longueville who is now Dutchess Dowager of Orleans but died without Heirs the 14th of January 1659. In whom the Branch of Nemours after it had subsisted in France about the space of 150 years was extinguished Of the Family de la Tour d' Auvergne of which the famous Godfrey of Boüillon All the Princes of this House have remained in France ever since the late Frederick Maurice de la Tour d' Auvergne made an exchange with the King of his Soveraignty of Sedan in the year 1651. who by Contract gave him in lieu thereof the Dutchies of Albret and of Chateau-Thierry and the Counties of Auvergne and Evreux without pretending any thing to the right of Soveraignty this Family has over Boüillon which then had been long usurped from him The said Prince Frederick-Maurice who died at Pontoise the 19th of August 1652. was the Son of Henry de la Tour-d ' Auvergne Duke of Boüillon Soveraign Prince of Sedan and of Raucourt Vicount of Turenne Count of Monfort and of Negrepelice◠and of Elizabeth of Nassau Daughter of William Prince of Orange He Married Eleonor-Fébronie de Bergh who died the 14th of July 1657. by whom he had Issue as follows 1. Emilia-Eleonor de la Tour-d ' Auvergne who is a Nun at the great Convent of the Carmelitesses at Paris 2. Godfrey-Maurice de la Tour-d ' Auvergne Soveraign Duke of Boüillon c. High Chamberlain of France and Governour of the upper and lower Auvergne The Principality of Boüillon upon the Kings Interposition was restored to him and put into his Possession the 15th of June 1678. On the 19th of April 1662. in Presence of their Majesties in the Chappel of the Louvre he Married the Lady Marie-Anne de Mancini Niece to the late Cardinal Mazarine by whom he has 1. Lewis de la Tour Prince of Turenne Born the 14th of January and Baptized the 18th of April 1665. upon whom the Reversion of his Fathers Office of High Chamberlain was Confirmed the 24th of January 1682. 2. A Daughter stiled Madamoiselle of Boüillon 3. Emanuel-Theodosius Abbot of St. Saviours of Redon now Duke of Albret 4. Madamoiselle d'Albret 5. The Duke of Chateau-Thierry 6. Lewis de la Tour d'Auvergne Count of Evreux 7. A Daughter Born the 26th of November 1679. 3. Frederick-Maurice de la Tour d'Auvergne Count of Auvergne Marquiss of Bergopzoom in the Low-Countries Colonel-General of the light-Horse of France Governour and Seneschal of the upper and lower Limosin and Lieutenant-General of the Kings Armies who in the year 1662. Married Henriette-Francise of Zollern only Daughter of the late Iter-Frederick Prince of Zollern of the Electoral House of Brandenburg and of Elizabeth de Berg Princess of Zollern by whom he has 1. Emanuel-Maurice de la Tour d'Auvergne Marquiss of Bergh 2. Henry de la Tour called the Abbot of Auvergne 3. Lewis called le Chevalier d' Auvergne 4. Francis Prince of Limeil 5. Elizabeth Eleonor de la Tour. 6. Lewise de la Tour. 7. Marie-Anne de la Tour. 4. Emanuel Theodosius de la Tour d'Auvergne Cardinal of Boüillon Great Almoner of France c. Great Provost of Liege and Doctor of Sorbon 5. Hippolyte de la Tour d'Auvergne who is a Carmelite Nun with her above-named eldest Sister 6. Mauricia-Phobronia de la Tour d'Auvergne called the Princess of Evreux who on the 25th of April 1678. was Married at Chateau-Thierry to Duke Maximilian-Philip of Bavaria Son of Maximilian Elector of Bavaria and of Marie-Anne Arch-Dutchess of Austria Henry de la Tour d'Auvergne Vicount of Turenne and of Castillon Count of Nêgrepêlice their Uncle was Governour and Seneschal of the upper and lower Limosin Colonel-General of the light Horse and Mareschal de Camp General to the Kings Army and was the Most Renowned Captain of this Age But alas on the fatal 27th of July 1675. New stile a Canon shot put an end to the Illustrious Life of that Great Man and to all the vast Projects he was about for the glory of his Majesties Arms. He Commanded then the French Army on the other side the Rhine against the Imperialists under the Command of Count Montecuculi The King in Honour of his Memory caused a solemn service to be said for him in the Church of Nostre Dame at Paris on the 9th of September 1675 at which the Parliament and all the Superiour Companies were present and ordered him a Stately Tomb in the Church of St. Denis in France among the Mausolaeums of his own Royal Predecessors Of the Family of Grimaldi de Mourgues or of the Prince of Monaco in Italy Lewis the first of that Name Soveraign Prince of Monaco c. Duke of Valentinois Peer of France c. and Lord of the Town of St. Remy was Born the 25th of July 1642. on the 30th of March 1660. He Married Catherine Charlotte of Gramont who died the 4th of June 1678. leaving him two Sons and two Daughters 1. Antony de Grimaldi called the Duke of Valentinois who is Colonel of the Regiment of Soissons and was Born the 27th of January 1661. 2. The Chevalier de Monaco Born in 1669. 3. Marie-Charlotte Grimaldi called Madamoiselle of Monaco Born the 14th of January 1662. And 4. N ..... de Monaco who is a Nun. The Prince of Monaco's Sisters are Marie-Hippolyte de Grimaldi Born in 1644. and Married in 1659. to Charles-Emanuel-Philibert de Simiane Marquiss of Pianezz lately first Minister of Savoy 2. Joan-Marie de Grimaldi who was Born in 1645. Widow of N .... Imperiale 3. Devote-Marie-Renée Grimaldi Born in 1646. who is a Nun. And 4. N .... de Grimaldi Born in 1648. Of the Family of Rohan The Family of Rohan being descended from the first Soveraigns of Brittany is one of the most illustrious ones of the Kingdom The Princes of
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
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
thereunto belonging and deprive them of that mark of honour to the tenderness of their affection and the fidelity of their services for these causes notwithstanding the Edict of November 1640. We Declare that all our Domestick Servants and Commoners the four Companies of our Life-Guards the Archers or Guards of the Provostship of our Houshold the hundred Suissers of our Guard the Officers of our Stables Hunting Falconry and Wolf-Hunting those of the Queen Regent our most honoured Lady and Mother of the late Queen Mary our most honoured Lady and Grandmother of our Dearest Brother the Duke of Anjou of our Dearest Vncle the Duke of Orleans and of our Dearest Aunt the Dutchess of Orleans his Wife at present living and of his former Wife deceased of our Dearest Cousin her Daughter and of our Dearest Cousin the Prince of Condé of our Companies of Gensdarmes or Men at Arms and light Horsemen consisting of two hundred Men apiece the Company of our Guard of Musketeers on Horseback and that of the Guards of our said Lady and Mother named and comprised in the Establishments to be by us Signed and agreed to and Counter-signed by our Secretary of State and of our Commandments who has the department of our Houshold shall enjoy the Priviledges and Exemptions granted and given to them in all times and from all Antiquity because of their Services and the same we grant to their Widows as long as they shall continue so Provided nevertheless that if any of the aforesaid Officers shall make any Traffick with Merchandises and keep Inns or manure any more than one Farm of their own and that with their own hands or hold any Farms of others whether in their own Names or in those of their Domesticks or Servants they shall be liable to be taxed towards our Taxes in every of the Parishes where the Lands or Heritages by them so manured shall lie In another Declaration given at Poitiers in the Month of January 1652. His Majesty says We confirm by these Presents all the Priviledges Franchises Liberties Immunities Exemptions and Affranchisements granted to the Officers of the Royal Housholds entred upon the Establishments of the Court of Aids and to their Widows during their Widow-hood Willing that they be henceforward held quit and exempt from all manner of contributions whether it be Loans general or particular made or to be made as well by us as by any of the Cities of our Kingdom likewise for furnishing Provisions or Ammunition for the War for Fortifications Reparations Charges and Conducts Taxes Aids and Impositions c. and of all other Subsidies Dues charges and subventions in general whatever they be made or to be made in any sort and on any occasion whatsoever though it be not here particularly specified and declared They are exempt from the Duty called the Duty of Aids for the Wines of the product of their own grounds by a Decree of the Council of State of the 16th of December 1654. By a Decree of the Council of State of the 20th of January 1644. The King declares his intentions to be that no Officers shall enjoy Priviledges and Exemptions from Taxes but those that actually serve and that receive at least 60 l. for their Wages and Appointments and not a great number of honorary and titular Officers that have obtained Briefs of some Offices but serve not and have no Wages nor the Keepers of the Plains and of the Game which his Majesty pretends shall be taxed with the common Taxes excepting the Keepers of the Game of St. Germains Fountainbleau Blois Limours Montâ—â—â—hery and Boisgency There are a great many other Decrees and Orders that say almost the same thing the Decree of the Counsel of State of the 14th of March 1654. maintaining the Kings Officers those of the Queen Mother the Duke of Anjou and of the Duke and Dutchess of Orleans exempt from the greater and lesser Taxes Subsistance money c. and other publick charges There are other Decrees of the Great Council in Conformity to the Edicts and Declarations of the King of the 22th of February 1673. and the first of March 1675. importing an Exemption from Lodging or Billeting of Souldiers for the Officers of the Royal Housholds their Persons their Houses Farms Tenements Farmers Domesticks and Servants There are likewise several Decrees and Declarations in favour of the Queens Houshold in particular and of that of Monsieur and of some of their Officers as also for those of the late Duke of Orleans The Kings Declaration of the last of January 1647. which was Registred in the Court of Aids the 19th of March the same year imports a re-establishment of the Priviledges and Exemptions of the Widows and Veterans of the Officers of the Royal Housholds in the same manner as the Commoners of his Majesties own Houshold enjoy the same In a Declaration set forth by the King in the Month of July 1653. It is said that the said Officers possess fully and entirely their Officers so as that the Coheirs with them in other things cannot pretend any share therein either upon their Salaries or upon the value of their Offices if sold which being in the Kings sole Disposition cannot be reputed of the nature of those goods that are liable to be divided among the Heirs and Successours of Families As for what concerns the point of Precedence of the Kings Officers and of the rank they ought to have in publick Assemblies whether general or particular several Kings by their Declarations and Decrees have Order'd that they shall march and place themselves immediately after the Counsellers of the Bailiwicks Seneschals and presidial Courts before the Officers of the Elections of the Salt-Granaries Judges not Royal and all others that are inferiour in degree to the said Counsellers as it was Ordained by Henry the Fourth by a Declaration of the 22th of March 1605. in favour of the Valets or Yeomen of the Bed-Chamber and other Officers of the Chamber Cabinet and Anti-Chamber and by Lewis XIII First By a Declaration of the 27th of July 1613. in favour of the Marshals of the Lodgings the Harbingers of the Body and the Harbingers in Ordinary to his Majesty Secondly By another of the 20th of December verified in the Great Council in favour of the Life-Guards And thirdly By his Letters Patents of the 12th of February 1618. and by a Decree of the Great Council dated the 27th of May 1630. and by the present King by another Decree of the said Council of the 29th of May 1653. The Priviledges of the Court-Clergy The Clergy of the Kings Houshold and other Royal Housholds have the Priviledge to be always reputed resident at their Benefices during the time of their Service and are allowed two Months to go to and come from their Benefices and that by several Bulls of Popes Declarations of Kings Decrees of Parliament of the Great and Privy-Council c. And they are paid the full Revenues of their Canonries
before had but 14 d. a day have now 18 d. a day Of the Guards of the Gate Of these Guards there is a Captain who has a Salary of 3000 l. paid by the Treasurers of the Houshold and 4000 l. Board-Wages at the Chamber of Deniers He is sworn by the King himself and receives from him the Staff of Command Under him are Four Lieutenants quarterly Waiters who enjoy their Places by Patent from the King but are sworn by the Great Master of the Houshold and have each of them 500 l. Salary and 50 l. Gratuity and during the time of their Waiting eat at the Masters of the Housholds Table Fifty Guards of the Gate that serve by Quarters viz. Thirteen of them each of the two first Quarters and but twelve of each of the two last Quarters of the year They enjoy their Places too by Patent and are sworn by their Captain They are reckoned among the first and most ancient Guards of the Houshold which is the reason that this Company is yet to this day entred upon the Book of the General Establishment of the Houshold and accordingly receive their pay from the Treasurers of the Houshold and not from peculiar Treasurers of their own as do the other Companies of Guards Every day at six in the Morning the Guards of the Gate receive from the hands of the Life-Guard Men the Keys of the Gates of that Court where the Kings Lodgings or Apartments are within which they place Sentinels and at six at Night they return the said Keys again to the Life-Guards By the Court where the Kings Lodgings are I mean the principal Court of the Palace where he is as the Oval Court at Fountain-bleau He that stands Sentinel at the Gate holds a Carbine on his shoulder as do all the rest of this Company that are on the Guard who likewise stand to their Arms and place themselves in Ranks making a Lane near the Gate when his Majesty any other Royal Persons or any Ambassadours in going to or coming from their first and last Audiences are to pass by They also stand to their Arms in the same manner about the Gate within the Court of the Louvre or other Royal Palace where the King is exercising the Company of Gentlemen Musketeers during the whole time of the said Exercise in that Court The Guards of the Gate are to let none pass into the Palace with Arms but the Life-Guards only but are to stop all that offer to go in with Blunderbusses Firelocks Pikes Powder or any other Arms but Swords They all wear blue Coats laced with large gold and silver Galoon and trimmed with Buttons of Massy Silver Formerly they used to wear Jackets or Hoquetons like those worn at present by the Great Provosts Guards save only that upon the four great Skirts of them they had two Keys Embroidered Salter-wise and Swivels which are both of Buff. Their Belts at present are edged about with gold and silver Galoon and in the middle of their Swivels there is before and behind a golden Flower deluce and an L of the same for Lewis being the Kings Name and above them two Keys placed Salteir-wise and tied with a red Ribband all which is wrought in Embroidery enterlaced with Palms and Lawrels and Crowned with a Crown Royal. The Guards of the Gate in the time of their Waiting never take off their Swivels wherever he goes unless it be when he goes into the Kings Anti-Chamber or into the other Chambers Closets and Apartments of his Majesty At the end of their Quarters Waiting they receive 200 l. Wages from the General Treasurer of the Houshold and 40 l. Gratuity at the Treasure Royal. At Easter Whitsontide All-Saints Christmas Martlemas and on Shrove-Tuesday they have Portions of Bread Wine and Meat from the King which gives them the priviledge of Tablers or Commoners of the Kings Houshold they that are in Waiting at the like times on the Queen or the Dauphin have the same allowance from them At New-Years Tide the King gives them that are in Waiting that quarter 50 l. 5 d the Queen 32 l and the Parliament of Paris as much for which they give an Acquittance The other Sovereign Courts likewise and the Guildhall of Paris pay them some certain summs for they give also Acquittances Upon St. Lewis's Day which is his Majesties peculiar Festival the Kings allow them 40 l. out of the Privy-Purse of the Chamber Besides which they have a Fee of ten Crowns from the Treasurer of the Offrings every time the King touches for the Evil But however on the four great Festivals of the year they are paid the said allowance on that account whether the King touches or no. Those that are in Waiting share amongst them the Gifts and Liberalities made to them by the New Dukes and Peers and Marshals of France and other Officers of the Crown at their first Entry into the Kings Palace in their Coaches or Sedans by vertue of their new Dignity They have likewise Wax-Candles at Candlemas Torches on Corpus Christi Day and Prayer-Books in the Holy Week given them They are Exempt from Taxes and from the Imposition on Salt in those Provinces where it is established and from all Subsidies and Billeting of Souldiers They have the Priviledge of Committimus and take out Letters of State when they have need of them By an Order of the Privy-Council dated the 19th of November 1668. the King has confirmed the quality of Esquires to the Guards of the Gate and by a Declaration of the 17th of June 1659. and Letters Patents of the 3d of May 1675. registred in the Great Councel on the 27th of July following The King was pleased to Order that the Guards of the Gate should have the precedence in all honours done in the Church and in all other places and Assemblies before all the Officers of the Elections of the Granaries of Salt and Judges not Royal and in general before all others inferiour in degree to the Counsellers of Bayliwicks Seneschalsies and Presidial Seats or Courts of Judicature Now it being the Duty of the Guards of the Gate in the Day time and of the Life-Guard Men from six a Clock at Night to distinguish those to whom the King is pleased to permit the Honour of going into the Louvre or other of the Kings Palaces in their Coaches or Sedans and to keep all others from entring in that manner It will not be amiss to subjoin in this place The Order and Rank of Precedence observed in admitting and placing of those to whom the King permits the honour of entring into his Royal Palace in their Coaches or Sedans No Body is to enter into the Kings Palace in a Coach in the Morning before their Majesties be awake and at Night as soon as the King is in Bed all the Coaches within the Palace are to go out and Monsieurs is set up under the Gate or Porch of the Palace Next to the first Coaches
who have 60 l. Salary apiece viz. One Shomaker in Ordinary one Shomaker of the Wardrobe one Jeweller one Shomaker of the Stable one Joyner one Linnen-Draper one Needle-Maker one Herb-man and Orange-Merchant one Grocer one Pin-Maker and one Baker There are four Marshals of the Lodgings or Chief Harbingers at 150 l. each In the Stable are One Chief Querry or Master of the Horse who has in all for his Appointments and Board-Wages 5445 l. Two Querries in Ordinary 2000 l. each Four Querries quarterly Waiters 500 l. each Six Pages Two Querries Cavalcadours or Riders 546 l. each One Comptroller-General of the Stable 1200 l. One Secretary of her R. Highnesses Commandments 4200 l. One Intendant or Surveyour of the House and Revenues Six other Secretaries 300 l. each Two Sollicitours of Affairs 500 l. One Treasurer of the Houshold whose Salary is 3000 l. Other Officers of the Stable Ten Great Footmen who have every of them 20 d. a day that is 366 l. a year besides their Summer and Winter Cloaths One Footman belonging to the Maids of Honour who is allowed 20 d. a day or 366 l. a year Two Manto-Carriers at 292 l. each Two Coaches the first called the Coach of the Body and a second Coach who have each of them one Coachman and one Postilion the Coachman of the first Coach has 200 l. Salary and he of the second 150 l. and the Postilions have each of them 100 l. Besides which there is a Coach for the Maids of Honour and another for the Waiting-Gentlewomen to each of which belong one Coachman and one Postilion who have every of them 100 l. Salary One Head-Groom in Ordinary 100 l. Two Chair-men 365 l. each Two Farriers 100 l. each One Keeper of the Moveables of the Stable 100 l. Two Taylors one Flock-Bed-Maker one Wheel-wright at 60 l. each One Chirurgeon 220 l. One Barber to trim the Pages 100 l. One Dancing-Master and one Fencing-Master at 200 l. each One Governour of the Pages 300 l. One Almoner in Ordinary and Tutor of the Pages 200 l. One Servant of the Pages 100 l. And lastly One Pay-Master or Cash-Keeper of the Stable whose Salary is 100 l. We have already spoken of the Duke of Chartres THE Present State OF FRANCE PART II. Of the Nobility of France CHAP. I. Of the Nobility in General IN France as in most other Countries not only those which are Princes Peers and Great Lords but all Gentlemen of ancient Descent and that are enobled by the King are reckoned into the Body of the Nobility and there the King often gives Letters of Nobility as they are called whereby he constitutes the person receiving them Noble or makes him a Gentleman without Conferring upon him any particular Title of Honour contrary to the practice used in England It is to be noted too that there neither Arts nor Sciences ennoble neither Lawyers nor Physicians nor Divines being accounted noble or Gentlemen unless they be otherwise so or enjoy some Place or Dignity that gives them the Title of Lord which is only temporary and personal The Chief Priviledges of Nobles or Gentlemen are to be Exempt from Taxes and to enjoy some other immunities and be capable of enjoying Dignities and rising to Honour If they take Church Dignities or addict themselves to the Law they derogate not from their Nobility though they increase it not but if they follow any Trade or Commerce or marry with any Family not Noble they derogate and lose their quality and till of late those that medled with Sea-Affairs were reckoned to derogate likewise but that being found prejudicial to the Improvement of the Power of France by Sea It was Order'd by the present King having concerns in publick Companies such as the East-India Company that studying or practising Sea-Experience should not only not derogate but be encouraged with Priviledges and accordingly appointed publick Schools and Nurseries in several Marine Places with good Endowments wherein a considerable number of the younger Sons of the meaner Nobility might be instructed in Navigation and Maritime Affairs and trained up to make useful Sea-Officers So that now the younger Sons or Cadets of the Gentry are either provided for in the Church with Ecclesiastical Dignities or raise themselves by Military employs by Sea or Land not so many as formerly affecting the civil ones because they are such as are often enjoyed by the Sons of rich Citizens or Farmers of Taxes whom they a little disdain for Companions The Nobility or Gentry in France is the most numerous of any Kingdom of the World they being reckoned above ten thousand able Bodies and generally well educated in all accomplishments that may make them serviceable to their Country and in them consists the Kings chief Force and he is in some respects as absolute over them as over the Peasants for though they pay no Taxes and cannot be legally compelled to take Arms unless upon an Invasion or imminent danger yet it is by Custom thought so disgraceful for any Principals or Heads of greater Families not to attend the King and spend what they have in his Court or Service or for Cadets or younger Brothers not provided for in the Church to follow any thing but the Wars by which only in a manner all Nobility was ever acquired there that the King can never want Souldiers among them It being almost impracticable for a Gentleman any thing considerable to live privately or retired there unless he thrust himself into a Convent CHAP. II. Of Dukes and Peers OF Dukes and of Peers severally and of such as are both Dukes and Peers there are six or seven sorts 1. The Antient Dukes and Peers 2. The Dukes and Peers verified in the Parliament of Paris as both Dukes and Peers 3. Such as are verified in the said Parliament only as Dukes 4. The Dukes or the Dukes and Peers that are verified as such in other Parliaments than that of Paris which is the only true Court of Peers 5. Those who are Dukes and Peers only by Patent under the Great Seal not verified or past yet in any Parliament 6. The Dukes and Peers by Brief as the House of Clermont-Tonnerre Besides which there are some Dukes of Foreign Creations as in the County of Avignon under the Pope and several other Persons who though they be no Princes nor Princesses yet are suffred by his Majesty to enjoy the Honours of the Louvre as to enter into the Louvre in their Coaches and their Ladies have the priviledge of the Low-stool or Tabouret before the Queen without having any Dutchy or Patent for any CHAP. III. Of the antient Peers of France THE Antient Peers were formerly twelve viz. Six Ecclesiastical Peers and six Secular ones The six Ecclesiastical ones are still in being and are these viz. 1. The Archbishop and Duke of Reims and first Peer of France who is at present Charles-Maurice le Teliier Brother to the Marquess of Louvois first Minister of State
Simon in 1635. 10. La Rochefoucault in 1637. 11. La Force in 1637. 12. Aiguillon in 1638. 13. Rohan in 1645. 14. Piney de Luxemburg in 1662. 15. Etrées in 1663. 16. Gramont in 1663. 17. Mazarin in 1663. 18. Villeroy in 1663. 19. Mortemar in 1663. 20. Poix Crequy in 1663. 21. St. Aiguan in 1663. 22. Rendan de Foix in 1663. 23. Tremes at present Gêvres in 1663. 24. Noailles in 1663. 25. Coislin in 1663. 26. Plessis Prâlin in 1665. 27. Aumont in 1665. 28. Seneterre in 1665. 29. Montausier in 1665. Names of the present Dukes of the aforesaid Dukedoms 1. Emanuel de Crussol 2. Lewis-Charles de Levis 3. Maximilian Peter Francis de Bethune 4. Lewis Charles d' Albert. 5. John Francis Paul de Bonne de Creqy de Blanchefort c. 6. Henry Albert de Cosse 7. Charles d' Albret alias d' Ailly 8. John Armand de plessis de Vignerod 9. Claudius de St. Simon 10. Francis de la Rochefoucault 11. James Nompar de Caumont 12. Marie-Magdalen Teresa of Vignerod 13. Lewis de Rohan Chabot 14. Francis Henry de Montmorency 15. Francis Hannibal d' Etrées 16. Antony Charles de Gramont 17. Armand Charles de la Porte de Mazarini 18. Francis de Neuville 19. Lewis Victor de Rochechouart 20. Charles de Creqy 21. Francis de Beauvilliers 22. Henry-Charles de Foix. 23. Leon Potier 24. Lewis Anne Julius of Noailles 25. Armand du Cambout 26. Augustus de Choiseul du plessis pralin 27. Lewis-Marie de Aumont de Roche-baron 28. Henry de Senneterre 29. Charles de St. Maure Rouanez en Forets was Erected into a Dutchy and the Letters verified in Parliament in 1567. There are also Patents making the same a Peerage which are not verified This Dukedom is possessed by Francis d' Aubusson de la Fenillade Marshal of France The Dukedom of Chevreuse is confirmed as such by Letters Patents verified the 16th of May 1668. which confirm to the present Duke the Enjoyment of all Honours and Precedences due to it when it was first Created CHAP. V. Of Dutchies or Dutchies and Peerages verified as such in other Parliaments and not at Paris Dukedoms 1. LOngueville and Estouteville verified in the 2. Parliament of Roüen 1505. and Estouteville in 1534. 3. Villars Dutche and Peerage verified in the Parliament of Provence the Dutchy in 1628 and the Peerage in 1657 and presented the same year in that of Paris but not verified 4. Pondevaux verified in the Parliament of Dijon 5. Carignan verified at Mets in 1662. Present Dukes of the aforesaid Dukedoms 1. John Lewis Charles of Orleans called the Abbot of Orleans 2. Lewis de Brancars 3. Philip Eugenius de Gorrevod 4. Lewis Thomas of Savoy Count of Soissons and Duke of Carignan CHAP. VI. Of Dukes and Peers whose Patents are not yet verified THere are several Letters Patents for Dutchies and Peerages which are not yet verified notwithstanding which non verification because the persons possessing them will during their Lives enjoy all Honours belonging to them we shall insert them being 11. in all Dutchies 1. Bournonville Erected in 1600. 2. Cardonne in 1642. 3. Arpajon in 1651. 4. Pavan la Vieville in 1652. 5. Nogent le Rotrou d' Orval in 1652. 6. Duras in 1668. 7. Bethune Charots in 1672. 8. The Archbishoprick of Paris in 1674. 9. De Lude in 1675. 10. La Roche Guyon in 1679. 11. Roquelaure in 1683. The present Dukes 1. Ambrose of Bournonville 2. Lewise de Prie Dutchess Dowager and Heiress 3. Lewis d' Arpajon 4. Charles de la Viéville 5. Francis de Bethun 6. James Henry de Duras-fort 7. Armand de Bethune 8. Francis Harlay de Chanvallon 9. Henry de Daillon dead last year without Issue 10. Francis de la Rochefoucault Great Hunter of France 11. Antony Gaston There is still one Dutchy which is only so by Brief which is that of Clermont Tonnerre now Extinct But all the foregoing ones are so by Patent under the Great Seal CHAP. VII Of all the Dutchies and Peerages more exactly as well of those extinct as not extinct WE have named all those that are present Dukes Dukes and Peers of France but for more ample satisfaction we shall set down all the Dutchies and Peerages as likewise all the Dutchies and Peerages and all the simple Dutchies whether enjoyed at present or reunited to the Crown or Extinct according to the Order of their Erection For there are some Lands as we have already noted that are Erected only into simple Dukedoms or into both Dukedoms and Peerages according to the Tenour of the Patents of their Erection Ordinarily none but Heirs Male succeed to these Honours and if the Lands so Erected fall to Female Heirs they return to the quality they had before so Erected and the Honour reverts to the King and to revive it new Patents must be obtained from the King yet there are some Dutchies that by special Favour of the King expressed in the Patents of their Erection that descend likewise to Females as that of Nevers at its first Erection and those of Beaumont le Vicomte of Mayenne of Mercoeur of Rethelois of Joyeuse of Epernon of Elboeuf of Richelieu of Aiguillon and of Biron which is Extinct A List of the Dutchies and Peerages with the time of their Creation and the persons that possess such of them as are not either extinct or reunited according to the Order of their verification in the Parliament Philip the Fair Erected Britany into a Dukedom and Peerage in 1297. which was united by the Marriage of Anne the last Heiress to the French King Charles the Fourth called the Fair Erected La Marche into a Dutchy in 1327. which was made a County and Peerage by Philip the Long in 1316. It is reunited to the Crown Philip of Valois Erected Bourbon into a simple Dutchy in 1329. It was given to the late Prince of Condé whose Grandchild now bears the Title Orleans into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1344. It was given in Apanage to the Kings only Brother King John Erected Anjou into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1350. It is now the Apanage and Title of the Dauphins second Son Bar le Duc made a simple Dutchy in 1357. and reunited to the Crown by a Donation verified in Parliament in 1662. Berry a simple Dutchy and antient County Erected in 1360. and given to the Dauphins third and last Son Touraine made a simple Dutchy and reunited to the Crown Auvergne made a simple Dutchy in 1360. It was reunited to the Crown but since given to the House of Boüillon under the Title of County in exchange of the Principalities of Sedan c. by a Contract verified in 1652. Charles the Sixth Erected Valois into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1402. and is a part of the Apanage of the Duke of Orleans the Kings Brother Nemours made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1404. It was bought by the Dukes of Nemour of the House of Savoy for 100000 Livers
of Francis the First in 1528. It now belongs to the Duke of Orleans Alençon of an antient County made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1413. It belongs at present to the Dutchess Dowager of Guise Lewis the Twelfth Erected Longueville into a simple Dutchy of which we have spoke already Francis the first Erected Vendome into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1514. It is at present possessed by the Duke of that Name of whom we have spoken among the Princes Chatelleraud of an ancient County made a Dukedom and Peerage in 1514. which was given to and sometime possest by the Hamiltons of Scotland but is now enjoyed by Madamoiselle of Montpensier the Kings Aunt Angoulême made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1515. Extinct Dunois Erected into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1525. by the Queen Regent Mother to Francis the First but not verified in Parliament Guise made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1527. and verified in 1528. It belongs to Madamoiselle de Guise of whom among the Princes Chartres Erected into a simple Dutchy by Francis the First in 1528. together with Montargis and Gisors It belongs to the Duke of Orleans Estouteville a simple Dutchy Erected in 1534. of which already Etampes a simple Dutchy made a County and Peerage in 1326. and afterwards a Dutchy in 1536. It belongs now to the Duke of Vendome given to that House first by Queen Margarite Montpensier made a Dutchy and Peerage in 538. confirmed as to the Peerage in 1608. It belongs to Madamoiselle Anne-Marie Lewise of Orleans the Kings Aunt Beaumont le Sonnois or Beaumont le Vicomte made a simple Dutchy in 1543. It is now reunited to the Crown Henry the Second Erected Aumale into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1547. and verified the next year and confirmed in 1631. Albret Erected in 1556. which was reunited to the Crown but since given to the House of Boüillon by a Contract verified in 1652. Beaupreau a simple Dutchy Erected in 1562. it belongs to the Duke of Brissac Chateau Thierry together with Chatillon sur Marne and that of Epernay Erected in 1566. given likewise to the House of Boüillon without reverting to the Crown for want of Heirs Male Penthiêvre in Britany made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1569. It belongs to the House of Vendome Evreux first a County and Peerage in 1316. and since made a simple Dutchy in 1569. reunited since that to the Crown and lastly given to the House of Boüillon in 1652. Vses of which we have spoken Mayenne formerly a Dutchy and Peerage in 1573. It now belongs to the Duke Mazarin Mercoeur Erected first into a Principality in 1563. and after into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1569. but not verified in the Parliament of Paris in 1676. It belongs now to the Duke of Vendome St. Fargeau made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1569. and Registred in Parliament the same year It belongs now to Madamoiselle of Orleans of Montpensier Henry the Third Erected Loudun into a simple Dutchy in 1589. It belongs to the House of Tremouille Joyeuse made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1581. It belongs to the Dutchess Dowager of Guise Epernon made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1581. and verified in Parliament the same year This Honour is now extinct but the Lands belong to M. John B. de Goth de Rouillac Elbeuf made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1581. and verified in 1582. the present Duke of Elbeuf is mentioned among the Princes Brienne is a simple Dutchy Erected in 1587. but the Patents are not yet verified Montbazon made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1588. and verified the next year It was an ancient Barony It belongs to M. de Montbazon Prince of Guimené at present head of the Eldest Branch of the House of Rohan Ventadour of this we have spoken Henry the Fourth Erected Beaufort into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1578. and after into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1597. It belongs now to the Duke of Vendome Croüy Erected into a Dutchy in 1598. now extinct But the Lands belong to the Descendants of Charles de Croüy Duke of Arscot Thoüars an ancient Vicounty made a Dutchy by Charles the Ninth and a Peerage by Henry the Great in 1595. and verified as such in 1599. It belongs to the House of Tremouille Suilly sur Loire of which we have spoken Lewis the Thirteenth Erected Damville into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1610. the Honour is now extinct but the Lands belong to the Duke of Ventadour Chateau-roux made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1616. It belongs to the Prince of Condé Maillé Luynes of which we have spoken Les diguieres already mentioned Brissac spoken of before Magnelers was made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1587 and 1588. under the name of Halwin and revived in 1611. under the name of Candale It is now Extinct Chaunes of this we have spoken As likewise of Villars Richelieu and Pondevaux La Valette made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1622. and verified as such in 1631. Montmorency made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1551. by Henry the Second together with Ecoüan Chantilly c. and verified in Parliament the same year It belongs to the Prince of Condé Rais a Dutchy and Peerage revived in 1634. by Lewis the Thirteenth verified the same year in favour of Peter de Gondy General of the Gallies upon his Marrying his Cousin Frances de Gondy Heiress of the Dutchy Fronsac a Dutchy and Peerage Erected or rather revived in 1634. and Registred the same year It belongs to the Duke of Richelieu Of the Dutchies of St. Simon La Rochefoucault La Force and Aiguillon we have already spoken Valentinois was a Dutchy and Peerage united to the Crown but given by Lewis the Thirteenth to the Prince of Monaco by Letters Patents verified in Parliament in the year 1642. Rohan is a Dutchy and Peerage Erected first by Henry the Great in 1603. and revived again in 1645. It belongs to Madam de Rohan Widow of Henry de Chabot Nevers is a Dutchy and Peerage revived in 1660. in favour of Cardinal Mazarin and belongs now to M. de Mancini Of Piney Luxemburg we have spoken as likewise of the Dutchy of Carignan Verneuil a Dutchy and Peerage Erected in 1652 and verified in 1663. Extinct Of Etrées and Gramont we have treated already La Meilleraye verified in 1663. It belongs to Duke Mazarin Rethelois Mazarini revived again in favour of Armand de Mazarini and verified in Parliament in 1663. Of Villeroy Mortemar Creqy St. Aignan and Foix-Rendan we have spoken above Liancourt was verified as a Dutchy and Peerage in 1663. but Erected in 1643. It belongs to the Prince of Marsillac Of Tremes or Gevres and of Noailles and Coislin we have treated elsewhere These fourteen last Dukes have all place in the Order abovesaid as if their Patents had all been verified on the 15th of December in 1663. though there be some days difference in the date Of Polizy called otherwise Choiseul and Plessis Prâlin and of the Dutchies of Aumont Senneterre and
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
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
there are 1. A Governour in Chief The Count de Pas de Feuquieres 2. A Lieutenant M. de Pimodan 4. In the Country of Verdun are 1. The Governour in Chief The Count de Vaubecourt Town and Cittadel of Verdun The Marquiss de Feuquieres Governour in Chief 2. In the Town M. des Crochets Lieutenant In the Cittadel M. de la Pornerie Lieutenant 16. In the Government of Lorrain and the Country of Bar there are 1. A Governour in Chief ............ 2. Nancy The Marquiss de Joyeuse Governour 3. Longvy M. de Matthieu de Castelas Governour 4. Saar-Loüis M. de Choisy Governour The Chevalier Perrin Lieutenant 5. Castle of Traerback near Saar-Louis M. de Bar Commander In Luxemburg and its Dependances which are placed under this Government are 1. Luxemburg taken in 1684. The Marquiss de Lambert Governour 2. Castle of Rodenac near Thionville M. de la Brugêre Commander 3. Thionville M. d' Espagne Governour M. d' Argelé Lieutenant 4. Montmidy The Marquiss de Vandy Governour M. de Haulles Lieutenant 17. In the Government of the County of Rousillon and other Acquisitions towards Spain are 1. A Governour in Chief The Duke de Noailles 2. A Lieutenant-General The Count de Chazeron The Governours of the Frontier Places are 1. Of the Town and Cittadel of Perpignan The Duke de Noailles Governour In the Town M. de la Robertiere Lieutenant In the Cittadel M. de la Caussade Lieutenant 2. Colioure The Chevalier d' Aubeterre Governour M. de Marsolier Lieutenant 3. Salces M. de St. Abre Governour M. de Manse Lieutenant 4. Bellegarde M. du Breuil Commander M. Pitoux Lieutenant 5. Mont-Louis or Mount Lewis Vrban de Fortia Governour M. de Long-Pré Lieutenant Ville-Franche M. Fisicat Governour M. Perlan de Sagne Lieutenant 6. Of the Fort and Village of the Baths or Les Bains and the Town of Arles M. de Boirre-Cloux Commander 7. Pratz de Moliou M. de la Caze Commander There is besides in Piedmont the Province Town and Cittadel of Pignerol and Forts of St. Brigitte and of Perouse with the Vallies Countries and Dependances of it of which 1. The Governour General is The Marquiss de Herleville The Lieutenant M. de Vercantiere In the Cittadel M. de la Mothe de la Myre-Rissan 2. Cazal the Capital of which is Montferrat Under the Duke of Mantua Don Pedro de Gonzaga The Governour is The Dukes Natural Uncle The Governour of the Cittadel and French Troops is M. de Catinat The Lieutenant M. de L' Isle The Commissary of War Policy c. M. de Chassenay 3. Of Morgues or Monaco Under the Prince who is Governour and Captain of it the Kings Lieutenant is M. de la Ronsiere The Ordinary General and Provincial-Commissary for the War and for the Conduct and Mustering of the Troops in Garrison at Pignerol and in all the aforesaid Places and Dependances is the aforesaid M. de Chassenay de Luynes In America 1. The Governour or Commander of New France is The Marquiss of Nonville 2. Of the Islands The Count de Blênac Towns that remain to the King by the Pyrenean Treaty made in 1659. Arras Hesdin Bapaume Bethune Lilers Lens St. Paul Terouane Pas Graveline Fort of St. Philip Sluys and Hannuin Bourburg St. Venant Landrecy Le Quesnoy and all their Bayliwicks Marienburg and Philip-ville in Exchange of La Bassée and St. Vinox which latter is since too in the French Possession Avenne Thionville Montmidy and Damvilliers The Provostships of Ivy of Chavancy of Marville Rocroy le Câtelet and Limchamp The County of Rousillon and that of Conflans and that part of the County of Cerdana on this side the Pyreneans Upper and Lower Alsatia Suntgau the County of Ferrette Brisac and its Dependencies The King after he had caused the Fortifications of Nancy to be demolished had by a Treaty of Peace restored the late Duke of Lorrain to the Possession of the Dutchy of Lorrain and to those Towns Places and Countries that he formerly possest depending of the three Bishopricks of Mets Toul and Verdun excepting Moienvie the whole Dutchy of Bar the County of Clermont the Places of Stenay Dun and Jamets and of the three Bishopricks And since that the said late Duke last Deceased Resigned to the King of France his Propriety and Soveraignty of the Dutchies of Lorrain and Bar which Donation was verified in the Parliament in the Month of February 1662. By the Treaty of Peace at Aix la Chapelle the 2d of May 1668. It is stipulated That the M. C. King shall retain remain seised of and injoy effectively all the Places Forts Parts Towns and Posts that his Arms have occupied or Fortified during the Campaign of the preceding year viz. The Fortress of Charleroy the Towns of Binch and Aethe the Places of Doway including the Fort of Scarp Tournay Oudenarde L'Isle Armentiêres Courtray Bergues and Furnes and of the whole extent of their Bayliwicks Chatellanies or Castellanies Territories Governments Provostships Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexions by what name soever they be called with the same rights of Soveraignty Propriety Rights of Regality Patronage Guardianship Jurisdiction Nomination Prerogatives and Preeminences over the Bishopricks Cathedral Churches and other Abbies Priories Dignities Cures and other Benefices within the Extent of those Countries The Fortifications of several places in which there is now no Governour have been demolished as those of Chateau-Renaut and Linchamp Donchery Damvilliers Jamets Râ—â— Corbie Furnes Armentieres Binch Sirk Moienvie Mouzon Grey Huy St. Venant c. By the Treaty of Peace concluded between France and Spain at Nimmeguen the 17th of September 1678. The Most Christian King is to injoy effectively the whole County of Burgundy commonly called the Franche Comté and the Towns Places and Countries thereon depending including therein the Town of Besancon and its District or Precinct as also the Towns of Valenciennes and its Dependances Bouchain and its Dependances Cambray and Cambresis or the Country of Cambray Aire St. Omer and their Dependances Ypres and its Castellany Warwick and Warneton on the Lys Poperinghen Bailleul and Cassel with their Dependancies Bavay and Maubenge with their Dependancies besides the Town of Dinant and in case the King of Spain be not able to obtain of the Bishop and Chapter of Liege the Cession of Dinant with the consent of the Emperour and Empire with a year to be reckoned from the day of the date of the Ratification of the Treaty of Peace between the Emperour and the Most Christian King the King of Spain obliges himself and promises to yield the Town of Charlemont to the King of France And some Villages there were to be Exchanged By the Treaty of Peace concluded at Nimmeguen the 5th of February 1679. the Town and Cittadel of Friburg in Brisgaw with the three Villages Lehn Metthausen and Kirchzart and their Banlieus or Liberties is to remain to the King of France And the passage from Brisac to Friburg is to
remain free to his M. C. Majesty over the Lands of his Imperial Majesty and of the Empire by the Ordinary Road called Landrass The Duke of Lorrain is thereby re-established in the possession of Lorrain excepting first the Town of Nancy and its Banlieu or Jurisdiction in lieu of which Town the King of France is to give him the Town and Banlieu of Toul which he warrants him to be of equal extent and value In the second place except four High-ways of the breadth of half a Lorrain League which shall lead from Nancy into Alsatia to Vesoul in the Franche Comté to Mets and to St. Dizier And all the Borroughs Villages Lands and their Dependancies which shall be found within the extent of the said High-ways of half a Leagues breadth with all Rights as well of Superiority and Soveraignty as of Propriety shall belong to his Most Christian Majesty Thirdly The Town and Provostship of Longui and its Dependancies shall remain to his Most Christian Majesty who yields to him in Exchange another Provostship of the same extent and value in one of the three Bishopricks Remarks concerning the Governours of Provinces The Governours and Lieutenants for the King in the Provinces are what the Dukes were formerly and the Governours of Towns what the Earls or Counts were Under every Duke there were twelve Counts and over all the Dukes there was one that was stiled Duke of the Dukes or Duke of France who was the Mayor of the Palace The said Qualities of Dukes and Counts became Hereditary under Hugh Capet who having made himself King every one of the other Great Men would needs make himself Master and Proprietour of the Government of which he was in Possession Hugh Capet to have their good will winked at this Usurpation but yet being not willing on the other side that the Royal Authority should remain always Clouded he assembled all these Dukes and made an Agreement with them by which he left them a lawful Succession to all their respective States but with condition however that for lack of Heirs Male to succeed in a Right Line or when the Possessours of them should happen to be Attainted and Convinced of the Crime of Felony they should return to the Crown They that are well read in History have without doubt remarked the return of all these parcels to their principle by the one or the other of these reasons And because the Quality of Mayor of the Palace or of Count of Paris in which the first was Confounded had served him as it had done to Pepin for a step to arrive to the Throne he supprest that too at the same time for the better securing of the Crown to his Successours The Governours and Lieutenants for the King in the Provinces have under them the Governours of Towns as the Dukes had the Counts but with this difference that the number of Governours of Towns that are under each Governour of a Province is not determined one Province having more Towns and another fewer The Power of the Governours and Lieutenants-General of Provinces is altogether like that of the ancient Dukes and Counts which is to keep in the Kings Obeysance the Provinces and Places given them in Custody to maintain them in Peace and Tranquility to have Power or Command over their Arms to defend them against Enemies and against Seditious attempts to keep the places well fortified and provided with what is needful and assist the Execution of Justice every one in his respective Government But at the beginning when these Governours were first established there were none but only in the Frontier Towns but because in the time of the Civil Wars all the Provinces became Frontier there was a necessity of placing Governours not only in the Provinces but in all the Towns Their Commissions are verified in the Parliaments of their respective Provinces in which the Governours of the same Provinces have place ordinarily next after the Chief Presidents They are only simple Commissions whose Continuation depends only of the Kings sole Pleasure though some years past there were crept in some abuses in this affair and the Governours were become as it were Hereditary Note That all the Lieutenants-General of Provinces and Lieutenants of particular Towns and Places are stiled Lieutenants for the King because they are put in by the King and have no dependance on the Chief Governour under whose Command they are CHAP. XXIX Of France as divided into Parliaments Courts judging without Appeal and other Courts of Justice 1. Of the Administration of Justice and the first Institution of Parliaments JUstice was formerly administred by the Kings themselves who render'd it in Person to their People but Affairs multiplying every day more and more the Kings were obliged to ease themselves of that Burden reserving to themselves only the Cognisance of Affairs of State And for the Administration of Ordinary Justice he established a certain Council which they called a Parliament which judged and decided all Causes and Affairs both Civil and Criminal between Man and Man and that without Appeal in which were present all the Peers of France both Ecclesiastical and Secular This Parliament followed the King in all his Voyages and consequently for that reason was in those times Ambulatory It was first Instituted by Pepin in the year 757 and was doubtless the same thing that the Privy-Council is now But at length the Kings parted with this Council in favour of their people And Philip the Fair was the first that made the Parliament Sedentary and gave them a part of his Palace at Paris to be the Seat of that August Senate which by the Integrity of its Decrees and Sentences has acquired so great a Reputation among all Nations that Popes Emperours Kings and Foreign Princes have voluntarily submitted their differences to their Judgments as may be seen by several Examples in History and among others by that of the Emperour Frederick with Pope Innocent the Fourth and of the King of Castile with the King of Portugal King Philip the Fair following the Example of his Predecessours Ordained there should be only two Sessions of the Parliament viz. At the Feasts of Easter and All-Saints and distinguisht them into two Chambers of which one because it judged of the most important matters was called the Grand Vault or Grand Chamber and the other the Chamber of Inquests or Inquiries CHAP. XXX Of the Institution of all the Parliaments of France and of the extent of their Jurisdiction with the present number of the Chief Presidents and other Counsellours THere are in France and its Dominions 11 Parliaments viz. 1. Paris 2. Toulouze 3. Roüen 4. Grenoble 5. Bourdeaux 6. Dijon 7. Aix 8. Rennes now Vannes 9. Pau. 10. Mets. 11. Besançon 1. The Parliament of Paris as we have already told you was Instituted by Pepin in the year 757 and made Sedentary at Paris by Philip the Fair in 1302. When there was but one Parliament People came thither
from all parts of the Kingdom to plead The Provinces out of which Causes are at present brought to Paris are The Isle of France La Beausse Higher and Lower Sologne Berry Auvergne Lyonois Forets the Countries of Aunis and Rochel Anjou Angoumois Maine Perche Picardie Champain Brie Tourain Nivernois Bourbonnois and Maconnois and Tournay with the Adjacent Country The Lands also Erected into Dutchies and Peerages are also obliged to Answer at the Parliament of Paris which is the Court of the Peers The Chief President of this Parliament is M. Nicholas Potier de Novion 2. That of Toulouze Instituted by Philip the Fair in the year 1302. and made Sedentary by Charles the Seventh in 1443. This Parliaments Jurisdiction extends over High and Low Languedoc High and Low Vivarais Velay Gevaudan And the Countries of Albigeois Rouergue Laurageois Quercy Foix and a part of the Lower Gascony The first or Chief President is M. Gaspard de Fieubet 3. Roüen which is the Sovereign Court of Normandie was Established under the name of an Exchequer by Philip the Fair in 1302. and was made perpetual by Lewis the Twelfth in 1499. though it bore not the name of a Parliament till the Reign of Francis the First in the year 1515. It extends to all the whole Province of Normandy The Chief President is M. N .... d' Amfreville 4. Grenoble Instituted by Charles the Seventh in 1452. and at the same time made Sedentary It comprehends Dauphiné or the Dauphinate The Chief President is M. Nicholas de Prunier 5. Bourdeaux which sits at present at Marmande Instituted in 1462. by Lewis the Eleventh and at the same time made Sedentary This Parliament has under it the Countries of Bourdeaux Medoc Saintonge Perigord Limosin Basadois Agenois Condomois Albret Landes Upper Gascony and part of Biscay The Chief President is named M. Charles-Denys d'Olide 6. Dijon Instituted in the year 1476. by Lewis the Eleventh and made Sedentary at the same time It is only for the Dutchy of Burgundy The Chief President is M. Nicholas Brulard des Bordes 7. Aix Established by Lewis the Twelfth in 1501. and made Sedentary at the same time This Parliament is for all Provence by which name it is also called The Chief President is M. Arnold Marin 1. Rennes held at present at Vannes by Henry the Second and made Sedentary at the same time in the year 1553. It was removed to Vannes in October 1675. This Parliament is called the Parliament of Brittany because there is no other Provence under its Jurisdiction It is Semestral i e. One half of the Counsellers serve the first six Months and the other half the last six Months The Chief President is M. Lewis Philipeaux de Pontchartrain 9. Pau Instituted and made Sedentary in 1519. by Henry the First King of Navarre and Prince of Bearn Great Grandfather to Henry the Great King of France and Navarre It comprehends the Bishopricks of Lescars and Oleron The Chief President is M. N. Dalon 10. Mets Instituted by Lewis the Thirteenth in the year 1633. and made Sedentary at the same time It is for the Country of Messin and the three Imperial Towns of Mets Toul and Verdun The Chief President is M. William de Sêve 11. Besançon the present King re-established the Parliament for the County of Burgundy or Franche Comté first at Dole the 17th of June 1674. and since that removed it to Besançon The Chief President is M .... Jobelot The Parliament of Rouen was for a time made Semestral or six Monthly after the Rebellion that happened in Normandy in 1640. But since that that Alteration was abolished and the Parliament restored to the State it was in before The Parliament of Aix was once likewise made Semestral To the Parliaments may be added the other Sovereign Councils which though they are not dignified with the Title of Parliaments yet give Sentence without Appeal which are 1. The Council of Rousillon the Counsellers of which wear Scarlet Robes The Chief President there is M. de Sagare who is likewise Keeper of the Kings Seal there Commissary of the Crown Lands and Judge of the General Captainry or Government 2. The Council at Arras which is Soveraign in Civil Causes 3. That of Tournay 4. That of Pignerol 5. That of Alsatia transferred from Ensisheim to Brisac the 23d of September 1675. CHAP. XXXI Of the Parliament of Paris called by way of Excellence The Parliament THE Court of Parliament of Paris is composed of ten Chambers viz. The Grand Chamber The Tournelle-Civil the Tournelle-Criminal Five Chambers of Inquests and two Chambers of the Requests of the Palace The Presidents au Mortier or of the Mortar-Cap so called from the Fashion of the Caps they wear which are made in the Form of a Mortar when they give Audience and the Counsellers when they march in Ceremony or Assemble about publick Affairs in presence of the King are Clothed in Scarlet with Facings of Black-Velvet which was wont to be practised at the pronouncing of the solemn Sentences four times a year viz. The Day before Christmass Eve the Tuesday before Easter the Day before the Eve of Whitsunday and the 7th of September At their return from giving Audience the Chief President and the Presidents au Mortier are Reconducted by the Ushers in Waiting with their Wands in their hands to the Higher Holy Chappel The Officers of the Parliament and other Officers of Judicature are habited all alike viz. In Cassocks or long Close-Bodied Coats and Square-Caps At the first Institution of the Parliament one Moyety of the Counsellers were of the Short Robe and the other Moyety of the Long but at present they are all of the Long. The particular solemn Ceremonial Habits of the Court of Parliament are for the Presidents Scarlet Mantles Furred with their Mortar-Fashioned Caps The Chief President wears two gold Galoons upon his Mortar-Cap by way of distinction from the other Presidents who have but one Galoon The Counsellers and the Advocates and Proctors General wear Scarlet Robes red Chaperons or little Hats Furred with Ermines The Chief Recorder or Registrer a Scarlet Robe with its Epitoge or small Cloak and the Register or Recorder of the Presentations and the four Notaries and Secretaries of the Court wear also Scarlet Robes and the Chief Usher a Scarlet Gown with a Cap of Cloth of gold Formerly All the Bishops of France had ordinarily Place and Voice in Parliament They still use the Title of Councellours to the King in his Councils The Archbishop of Paris and the Abbot of St. Denis in France are Counsellers by their Places in this Parliament where they place in ordinary and a deliberative Voice Four of the Masters of Requests have likewise the same Priviledge as also the Honorary Counsellours of this Parliament The Parliament of Paris has this particular preeminence above the rest that it alone is called the Court of the Peers where the Dukes and Peers of France ought to be sworn
Declarations of War Treaties of Peace Contracts of Marriage of the Kings and Children of France with their Apanages or Portions all Re-unions and Alienations of Crown Lands Letters of Naturalization and Amortising Legitimations Gifts Pensions Gratuities and generally all Letters of Grace or Pardon And the Creations of Dutchies Peerages Principalities Marquisates Counties Vicounties Baronies Chatellanies and Courts of High Justice together with all Letters of ennobling and Confirmations and Restorations of Nobility having the power not only to pass and verifie the gift of it but to liquidate or discharge the Kings Finance or Revenue for the Indempnity thereby from the Kings Dues as also that of the Parishes in which the new ennobled persons were Taxable before the said Letters and for that reason the Title of their Nobility is and must necessarily be established by the verification of this Chamber All verifications are made here too for the noble Partages or Portions of noble or Gentlemens Children in the Parliaments and for the Exemptions from Taxes at the Court of Aids The Children of France have power to erect a Chamber of accounts in the principal place of their Appanages or Lands allotted them for their maintenance but they cease in case they happen to Revert to the Crown for want of Heirs Male And they most commonly oblige their Treasurers to give up their Accounts in the Chamber of Accounts at Paris This Chamber likewise verifies all Priviledges granted to Towns or Provinces Amortisings Affranchisements or Freedoms Naturalizations Permissions for Fairs and Markets Gifts Sales and Engagements of Crown-Lands The Presidents Masters of Accounts Correctors Auditours Kings People that is his Advocates and Proctor-General and Treasurers of France are subject to be examined at every Semestral or half yearly Assembly The other Proctors as also the Ushers are likewise subject to an Examination but not before any other then Commissioners expresly deputed for that purpose The first or Chief President and the other Presidents of this Chamber are reconducted by the Ushers in Waiting for the time being with their Wands in their hands till they come before the Lower Holy Chappel CHAP. XXXIII Of the Court of Aids THE Court of Aids is composed of six Presidents and of forty Councellours divided into three Chambers In the first is the first or Chief President and the eldest of the other Presidents with fifteen Councellers of the longest standing In the second Chamber there are two Presidents and thirteen Councellers and in the third two Presidents and twelve Councellers The Court of Aids was erected soon after the Parliament was made Sedentary at Paris And excepting only the Parliaments of Paris and Toulouze it precedes in antiquity all the other Parliaments It was established after a general Assembly of the Estates under King John about the year 1355. by Charles the Fifth then Dauphin and by vertue of a particular Prerogative the Books of Accounts of the Royal Housholds and of those of the Princes of the Bloud are Registred in this Court. And all the Officers named upon the Rolls of the said Books have no other supreme Judges to have recourse to in relation to the Aids or Taxes but those of this Court though their Seats or Dwellings be within the Precincts of the Jurisdiction of the other Courts of Aids The Jurisdiction of the Court of Aids extends to take cognisance off and judge without Appeal of all Causes relating to the Taxes Aids Gabelles and Impositions and of all Farms and Dues to the King the Cognisance of Titles of Nobility does likewise belong to this Court Their Solemn Habits are thus The Presidents wear Black-Velvet Robes and the Councellers and Advocates and Proctors-General Scarlet ones The Chief President of this Court at his rising from Audience is Reconducted as far as the Higher Holy Chappel by the Ushers then in Waiting Next to the Court of Aids at Paris that of Montpelier was establisht by Charles the Seventh in 1437. it is joined to the Chamber of Accounts of the same Country That of Rouen is for Normandy that of Glermont-Monferrand in Auvergne was establisht by Henry the second in 1557. There is another at Bourdeaux for Guienne That of Provence is joined to the Chamber of Accounts for the same Country There is likewise one at Grenoble in the Dauphinate and another in Burgundy that is joined to the Chamber of Accounts at Dijon The present Chief President of this Court is Nicholas le Camus Lord of La Grange c. and besides the forty Councellers there are belonging to it two Advocates and one Proctor-General four Substitutes two Recorders or Registers four Secretaries one Chief Usher and seven other Ushers and three Honorary Councellers CHAP. XXXIV Of the Court of Monies or Coynage UNder the very first Race of our Kings there were three Generals of the Monies of France who were made Sedentary at Paris at the same time as the Parliament The like Offices were Created in the reign of Philip the Fair and in some other Reigns and annexed to the Chamber of Accounts from these Generals of the Monies or Coins as they are stiled were separated in the year 1358. They have judged without Appeal both in Civil and Criminal matters within their Jurisdiction ever since the year 1551. under Henry the Second who gave them the Title of the Court of the Monies or Coinage They take place in all Solemnities next after the Court of Aids Their Habits on solemn occasions are these the Presidents wear Black-Velvet Robes the Councellers the Kings Advocates and Proctor-General and the Chief Recorder Black-Satin ones and the Chief or first Usher one of Black Taffaty This Court gives Audience on Wednesdays and Saturdays to the Advocates and Proctors of the Parliament and sits in a Room above the Chamber of Accounts from whence the Chief President of it is reconducted every day by the Ushers as far as the bottom of the great Stairs before the lower Holy Chappel as is the Chief President of the Chamber of Accounts This Court Judges without Appeal of all Causes relating to Monies Metals Mines and Weights and the Officers and Artificers employed therein as also of all things that concern the fabrick title currantness value and policy or regulation of all Monies or Coins and receives the Appeals made from the Judgments or Sentences of the Chambers of the Monies and of other Judges depending of it There are two Presidents and several Counsellers whose Offices are fixt that go every year to visit the Provinces In this Court are kept with great care the Original Standard weights of France from which are taken those of the several Towns of the Kingdom One of the Councellers who is at present M. Chassebras du Breau has been deputed and authorised ever since the year 1668. to look after the keeping a general Uniformity in all the Weights and marks of France and accordingly causes all publick weights when they are conformable to the Kings Standard to be markt with
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
Horseback divided into six Brigades all about the Neighbourhood of Paris for the security of the Country The Provost of Senlis is Nicholas Bordereau CHAP. XXXVIII Of the Admiralty of France and other Courts kept within the inclosure of the Palace And first Of the Admiralty of France and of Guienne THis Court was formerly held too at the Marble Table but is at present kept in the great Hall of the Palace on that side next the Dauphins Hall It takes cognisance of all Affairs relating to the Admiralty and the splitting of Vessels Shipwracks and Commerce on the Sea both primarily and by way of Appeal and of the abuses and misdemeanours committed by the Officers of the particular subordinate Courts of Admiralty and of other Officers of Maritime Affairs The particular Courts from whence Appeals are made to this are those of Rochelle the Sands of Olonne Marans Callice Boulogâ—e Montreüil Abbeville St. Valery Eu and Hault The present Officers belonging to it are A Lieutenant-General who is the Sieur de Marbrelle and a Lieutenant particular four Counsellours one Proctor for the King one Recorder or Registrer and one Chief Usher The Days of Audience in this Court are Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays There are likewise other Chambers or Courts of Admiralty at Roüen Bourdeaux in Brittany and at Dunkirk and other places Of the Court of the Great Pantler of France This Court takes cognisance of all regulations among the Bakers who are admitted there To it belong A Lieutenant general and particular Mayor and Guardian of the Great Pantry of France who is Nicholas Petit-Jean or Little John one Proctor for the King one Registrer one Chief Usher and 13 Ushers Audiencers that reside some at Paris and some in the Countries The Audience Days in this Court are Mundays and Saturdays Of the Bailywick of the Palace In this Court are these Officers viz. A Bayliff who is Claudius Pelot a Lieutenant General a Proctor for the King and a Registrer This Court judges of all differences arising in the Halls and Court of the Palace The Court of the Masonry Is kept over the Dauphins Hall to it belong Three Counsellours who are Judges general of all Masons work in France The Court called the Court of the Bazoche For the regulation of the Clerks of the Palace and the Court for matters of Justice relating to importing and vending of Sea-Fish are still held too within the inclosure of the Palace And thus having spoke of the Courts of Judicature that are held within the inclosure of the Palace we shall next treat of the others held without it and particularly of the Chatelet or Castle of Paris Which is the ordinary Court of Justice of the City of Paris and the most considerable presidial Court in the Kingdom CHAP. XXXIX Of the Chatelet or Castle of Paris THE Administration of Justice for the Town Provostship and Vicounty of Paris is exercised under the Name of the Provost of Paris and in case of vacancy the Kings Proctor General of the Parliament is Guardian by his place of this Provostship and all Acts passing there during that time run in his name The Officers thereto belonging are A Provost called the Provost of Paris who is Charles-Denis de Bullion Marquiss of Gallerdon c. He had the Grant of this Office the 15th of February 1685. and took the usual Oath for it in Parliament on the 22d of May-following and the same day was solemnly Installed in the Chatelet and put into possession thereof by one of the Presidents à Mortier the Dean of the Lay-Counsellours of the Parliament and the eldest Clergy-man Counsellour of the Grand Chamber He has 8000 Livers yearly Sallary and allowance All Judgments and Sentences given in the Chatelet and all acts of Notaries run in his Name the Assembly of the Nobility of the Provostship of Paris for the Arriere-â—an is held in his House and it belongs to him to Conduct them to the Army This Office was always exercised by Persons of great Quality and Reputation Under him there are the following Officers viz. A Lieutenant Civil who is John le Camus Honorary Master of Requests a Lieutenant for the Policy or Government of the City Gabriel-Nicholas de la Reynie a Lieutenant Criminal James Defita two particular Lieutenants Fifty six Counsellours four Advocates and one Proctor for the King Eight Substitutes two Honorary Counsellours one Chief Recorder or Registrer with divers other Registrers both for Civil and Criminal Affairs and for Audiences Insinuations Presentations and other matters one Chief Usher Audiencer and several other Ushers Audiencers There are likewise belonging to it two Counsellours Judges-Auditours to decide small Suits not amounting to above the summ of 25 Livers one Registrer in Chief of the Auditours and one Chief Usher and two other Ushers-Audiencers of the said Auditours 48 Commissaries and 113 Notaries Together with the Proctors Ushers on Porseback and Ushers carrying Wands and the Ushers of the Provostship of Paris By the Edicts and Declarations of the present King Registred in Parliament the 7th of September 1684. The Court of the New Chatelet Created in 1674. was reunited to that of the old one and accordingly the Offices of Provost of Lieutenant-General Civil and Lieutenant-General Criminal were supprest as likewise that of Kings Proctor of the old Chatelet The Lieutenant Criminal of the Short-Robe of the Provostship and Vicounty of Paris is Reny Chrisanthe le Clere Baron of Sauteray c. He has under him four Lieutenants seven Exempts and 100 Archers or Guards which are also Ushers at the Chatelet The Provost of the Isle of France of whom we have already spoken has also under him several Lieutenants Exempts and Archers or Guards for the Execution of his Sentences and Judgments The Knight of the Watch has likewise under him four Lieutenants eight Exempts one Registrer one Comptroller and Clerk of the Watch one Guidon 40 Archers or Guards on Horseback and 100 on Foot that wear blue Hoquetons or Jackets set with Stars of Silver Besides which number there is a recruit as well of Horse and Foot which is much stronger in Winter than in Summer As for the solemn and Ceremonial Habits of the Officers of the Chatelet they are these The three Lieutenants-General the Kings Advocates and Proctors wear Scarlet-Robes and the Counsellours black ones Formerly there were several little Courts of Judicature held by the several Lords who had their peculiar Jurisdictions in the City Suburbs and Banlieu or Liberties of Paris which were suppressed upon the Creation of the Court of the new Chatelet in the Month of February 1674 and their Jurisdictions incorporated into the Courts of the old and new Chatelets which are now made but one as is abovesaid Having spoken of the ordinary Jurisdiction of the City we will proceed next to treat of the ordinary Jurisdiction for the Taxes Aids and other Dues to the King which is the ordinary Court of Justice for Pari as it
comprehends a certain Territory in which Taxes are levied by Officers Elected for that purpose which is thence called an Election where all Causes relating to the said Levies or Taxes are pleaded primarily and at the first instance as they term it CHAP. XL. Of the Election of Paris THE Election of Paris comprehends 440 Parishes The Officers of the Court of this Election who sit in the Court of the Palace Assess and Rate the Taxes and judge all differences which arise about Taxes Aids Entries or Duties of Importation of Goods or Merchandises into Paris and about the five great Farms and in general all contestations that happen about the Imposition and Levying the Kings Revenues of what nature soever they be excepting only those of the Kings Crown Lands and Gabelles or Revenue on Salt The Appeals from their Sentences are made to the Court of Aids The days of Audience for the Kings Farms are Mundays and Thursdays in the Morning and for the Taxes on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Morning The Officers belonging to the Court of the Election of Paris are A President who is Laurence de Chenevieres one Lieutenant one Assessour sixteen Counsellours Elect one Advocate and Proctor for the King one Substitute two Registrers one Chief Usher three Ushers-Audiencers eight Ushers of the Taxes and eight Proctors There are also in this Election two Receivers of Taxes c. One Honorary Counsellour Elect. CHAP. XLI Of the Granary of Salt at Paris THE Magazin or Granary of Salt at Paris is near the River at the end of the Pontneuf or New-Bridge where the Seat of the Court is established that was Erected to judge of all Contestations hapning about the Gabells or Duties on Salt and about the distribution of it and levying his Majesties Duties Appeals are made from this Court to the Court of Aids The Audience days in this Court are Wednesdays and Saturdays and in Winter Mundays too from the first of October to the first of February on the same dayes the Salt is distributed out to the people in the Afternoon The Officers belonging to this Court are Two Presidents three Granateers or Granary-Keepers three Comptrollers two Lieutenants two Comptrollers and Keepers of the Measures two Advocates and two Proctors for the King three Registrers these Registrers may make Deputies for the exercise of their Offices three Ushers Audiencers six Ushers and Serjeants of the Gabels eight Proctors thirty Measures of Salt sixty Carriers or Porters of Salt whereof thirty are of old and thirty of new Creation they are called the sworn Hanoüards ten Runners of Salt ten Bruisers twelve Comptrollers and Visiters of the Barillage or Barels of the Salt-Pits and Salt-Fish one Receiver at the Salt Granary and one Commissioner for business one Captain one Lieutenant some Brigadeers and fifteen Guards both on Horseback and on Foot Next to the ordinary Royal Courts of Judicature follow those of the City CHAP. XLII Of the Guildhall or Town-House of Paris NExt to the Governour of Paris who is now the Duke de Gêvres the other Officers of the Guildhall or Town-House called the Hotel de Ville are The Provost of the Merchants who is at present M. de Fourcy President of the third Chamber of Inquests four Echevins who are in the nature of Sheriffs twenty six Counsellours of the City the Kings Proctor for the City one Recorder one Receiver for the City sixteen Quarteniers together with Dixeniers or Decurions and Cinquanteniers which are certain Officers which are set over Wards and Precincts distinguished into the different numbers of 16 10 and 50. intimated in the Titles aforegoing There are 300 Guards called Archers belonging to the City who are divided into three Companies their Colonel is John Fournier There are likewise several Officers for Policy and keeping good Order as well for the Merchandises and Wares brought thither and for regulation of their Conveyance by the River and of all things vended at the several Keys and other places of Sale The Provost of the Merchants who is as 't were the Mayor of the City has a Jurisdiction in ordinary at the first Suit as well over the Rents of the City and over all causes and differences between the Townsmen and the Officers of the City in things relating to the Policy or good order of it or about the Wages and Salaries of the Officers These City-Magistrates set prices on all Wares and have the over-sight and inspection of all the Ports or Keys and of all Wheat or other Grain Wine Wood Coal Billets Hay Fish Apples Nuts and other Commodities The Officers of the Chatelet as we have remarked above are likewise Judges in matter of Policy and good Order and have power to set a price on Commodities CHAP. XLIII Of the Judges Consuls THE Judges who are called Judges and Consuls hold their Court of Judicature behind the Church of St. Mederick They take cognisance of all Causes that relate to trading or dealing between Merchant and Merchant or Letters of Exchange Promises Obligations or Contracts made between Partners or Associates for Merchandises of what nature or condition soever they be Their Jurisdiction was establisht at Paris by King Charles the Ninth in the year 1563. Their Sentences may be appealed from to the Parliament when the summ in question amounts to above 500 Livers For this Court there is an Election made every year of one Judge and four Consuls out of the Body of the Merchants who before they enter upon the exercise of their Functions take the usual Oath at the Parliament there belong further to this Court one Registrer and four Ushers There was formerly another Court called the Citizens Parlour to which this Court succeeded and there are still six Officers that retain the Title of Serjeants of the Citizens Parlour The Merchants have still a place where they meet in the Palace underneath the Dauphins Hall to confer about their Affairs which is much in the nature of the publick Changes at Lions Roüen Toulouze and London The six principal and original Bodies or Corporations of Merchants in Paris which are like the Companies in London under which all the other Trades are comprehended are 1. The Drapers 2. The Spicers or Grocers and Apothecaries 3. The Mercers 4. The Skinners or Furriers 5. The Bonneteers or Cap-Makers And 6. The Goldsmiths The Booksellers and Wine-Merchants injoy also the like Priviledges as those of the six Companies CHAP. XLIV Of the Generalities of France THE Generalities are the general Offices of the Treasurers General of France established for the facilitating the receiving and levying of the Monies arising from Taxes and other Impositions called by the name of Taillons or lesser Taxes and subsistance Money They are in number twenty three in all viz. Seventeen that are divided into Elections and six of the Countries governed by their peculiar Assemblies of Estates which are not divided into Elections but Assemble their own Estates something like the Parliaments of England to
de Starembourg Vassenar Ambassador Extraordinary 5. From Malta the Bayliff de Hauteville c. Ambassador from the Grand Master of Malta Envoys according to the Order of their arrival in France 1. From Portugal Dom Salvador Taborda Envoy Extraordinary 2. From Sweden M. Liliencroot 3. From Denmark M. Meyercroon 4. From Spain M. Delval 5. From the Emperour Count Cobkowitz Envoy Extraordinary 6. From England Mr. Skelton Envoy Extraordinary Other Envoys and Residents are 1. The Resident of the Elector of Cologne and States of Liége M. Waldorf 2. An Envoy Extraordinary from the Elector of Brandenburg M. Spanheim 3. From the Duke of Mantua the Count Balliani 4. The Envoy of Modena is the Abbot Rizini 5. The Envoy Extraordinary of Genoa is the Marquiss Girardo Spinola The Agents are 1. An Auditor of the Nunciature the Abbot Laury 2. The Agent for the Elector Palatine and other Princes of the Empire is M. John le Breton 3. And for the Elector of Brandenburg the Hans Towns and Landgraviate of Hessen M. Bek And for the Dukes of Weymar M ..... When one Ambassador is relieved or succeeded by another at the arrival of the new they both go together to Court whereas they are going to their Audience he that is relieved still takes the upper hand of the new one but when they come back from their Audience the new Comer or Successour takes place of the other But if an Ambassador only in Ordinary be sent to relieve one that is Ambassador Extraordinary the Extraordinary Ambassador takes the upper hand both in going to and coming from Audience FINIS THE TABLE A. ACademy of France Page 510 Admiral of France 371 Admiralty of France 482 Administration of Justice 451 Aids 496 Air of France 5 Almoner of France Great 61 Almoner of France First c. 66 Ambassadors of France 513 in France 515 Antichamber 134 Apothecaries Kings 141 Arch-Bishopricks 404 Arch-Bishops 406 Arquebuse or Fire-Arms Carrier 120 Attire 17 B. BAilywick of the Palace 483 Bastile 170 Birds of the Chamber 132 Bishopricks 404 Bishops 406 Buildings 10 C. CAmp-Master 356 Captains of the Guards 234 of the Guides 184 Carver 80 Castle of Blois 172 of Chambor ibid. of Compiegne 169 of Monceaux 171 of Plessis le Tours 173 of Vincennes 170 Cavalry of France 357 Ceremonies c. 151 Chamber of Accounts 461 of the Treasury 473 Chamberlain of France 107 Chancery of France 397 Chatelet or Castle of Paris 484 Children of France 24 Chyrurgions Kings 140 Clergy of Kings Houshold 73 Climate of France 2 Cloak-Carriers 118 Closet of Antiquities 131 of Arms ibid. of Books 130 of Dispatches ibid. Commodities of France 5 Common Buttry 99 Fruitery 101 Kitchin 100 Pantry 99 Complexion of the French 15 Comptrollers of the Counting-House 90 of the Privy-Purse 129 Computation 18 Constable of France 348 Constablry 478 Councils of the King 379 of Dispatches 380 of Finances or Revenues 383 call'd the Grand-Council 393 of State 388 of War 379 Counsellors and Secretaries of the Finances or Revenues of France 396 Counties and Baronies c. reunited to the Crown 331 Counting-House 89 Court of Aids 466 of Bazoche 484 of Monies or Coynage 468 of Masonry 483 Cupbearer 80 D. DAuphin of France 24 his Houshold 272 his Childrens Servants 292 Dauphiness 25 her Houshold 280 Diet of the French 16 Dimensions of France 2 Division of France ibid. Dogs of the Kings Chamber 133 Dukes and Peers 315 Dukes and Peers with the Names of their Dukedoms and the date of their Verification 320 Dukes and Peers whose Patents are not yet verified 323 Dutchies or Dutchies and Peerages not verified at Paris 322 Dutchies and Peerages Extinct and not Extinct 324 E. ELection of Paris 487 F. FAculty of Arts 505 of Divinity 502 of Law 504 of Physick ibid. Family of de la Tour d' Auvergne of which was the Famous Godfrey of Bouillon 49 Family of Grimaldi de Mourgues or of the Prince of Monaco in Italy 51 Family of Rohan 52 Family of Tremoille 56 Fewel or Wood-Office 101 Flight of the Magpie 133 Foot-Guards 265 Fountainbleau 164 G. GAbels 496 Genealogy of the Royal Branch of Bourbon 21 General of the Gallies 375 Generalities of France 491 Gens d' Armes or Men at Arms of the Kings-Guard 261 357 Gentlemen-Waiters 81 Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber 111 Gentlemen of the Kings-Houshold 137 Gentlemen Pensioners 271 Goblet or Kings own Buttry 93 Governments in France 417 Granary of Salt at Paris 488 Greyhounds of the Chamber 132 Guards de la Manche or of the Sleeve 230 of the Gate 252 of the great Provost of the Houshold 259 without the Gate 261 Guildhall or Townhouse of Paris 489 H. HArbingers or Fouriers 58 Hawking 203 Heralds at Arms 152 Historiographers of France 508 House of Longueville 38 of Lorrain 39 of Savoy setled in France 46 Hunting 198 I. INfantry 357 Inhabitants 11 Introductor of Ambassadors 194 Institution of Parliaments in France 451 452 Judges Consuls 490 K. KIng now Reigning 9 Kings Houshold 61 Kings Pleasures 197 Kitchin of the Mouth 96 Knights of the Holy Ghost 337 Knights of the Order of St. Michael of Mont Carmel and of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem 343 L. LAnguage of France 14 Laws 11 Legitimated Children of Henry the Great and their Descendants 35 Legitimated Children of the present King 33 Life-Guard-Men 237 Light Horse of the Kings Guard 264 Light Horse 357 Lords in France that bear the stile of Princes 59 Louvre 159 M. MAdame and her Family 28 her Houshold 307 Madrid Palace 161 Manners of the French 11 Maritime Forces 371 Marshals of France 351 Marshals of the Lodgings c. 175 Marshalsy of France 478 Master of the Kings Houshold Great 74 Master of the Kings Houshold First 77 Master of the Artillery 368 Master of the Ceremonies 193 Master of the Horse 143 Masters of Requests 388 Measures of the French 8 Military Officers of the Kings Housholds 223 Money 7 Monsieur and his Family 28 his Houshold 294 his Guards 305 Musick of the Kings Chappel 72 of the Chamber 135 Musqueteers on Horseback of the Kings Guards 269 N. NAmes and Surnames 17 Name of France 1 Name of the King 19 Nobility of France 313 Number of the Inhabitants 14 Numbring the French Manner 18 Nursery of Horses or the Haras 151 O. OAth of Allegiance taken by the Bishops 65 Officers under the title of Valet de Chambres 121 124 Officers for Journeys 185 Officers of the Kings Orders 341 Officers whose Incomes are yearly returned into the Exchequer or Treasure Royal 498 Order observ'd when the King dines in publick 83 Order of the Kings March 239 Orders of Knighthood in France 333 Orders of Knighthood call'd the Kings Orders 334 Order of Quartering an Army 182 P. PAntler 80 483 Park 167 Parliament of Paris 455 Peers of France 315 316 Physicians Kings 139 Porters of the Bedchamber 124 Precedence in the Kings Court 256 Prerogative of the King 19 Princes of the Blood 29 Priviledges of the Commoners Tabled in the Kings Houshold 216 of Chyrurgions 221 of the Court Clergy 220 of Lifeguard-Men 222 of all the Kings Officers ibid. Provost of France 186 Punishments in France 14 Q. QUerries 154 R. REcreations 17 Religion 11 Riches of France 6 Royal Houses 159 Royal Housholds 272 S. SEcretary of State 380 of the Housholds 195 Seven Offices 93 Soil of France 5 St. Germains en Laye 162 Stables Kings 148 Stature of the French 15 Stranger-Princes in France 39 Style of the King 20 Suisse Guards 241 Regiment 266 Surveyor of Royal Buildings 158 T. TAxes 493 Taylors Kings 128 Title of the King 21 Trade of France 6 Tradesmen following the Court 213 Treasurers of France 470 Treasury-Royal 499 Troops of the Kings Houshold and Officers 223 357 V. VAlets de Chambre 113 Versailles 171 Virtuosi of France 510 Universities of France 501 Ushers of the Chamber 114 W. WAterservers or Serdeau's 82 Waters and Forests 474 Woolf-Hunting 211 Y. YEomen of the Chamber 123 Climate Bounds Dimensions and Figure Division Air. Soil Commodities Riches and Trade Money and Coins Weights and Measures Buildings Inhabitants Laws Religion Manners Punishments Number Language Stature and Complexion Diet. Attire Recreations Names Computation and Numbring * Sire a Title anciently given to most great Lords who were petty Soveraigns though now only to Kings Wages Prerogative Oath Office * A Box containing the Kings Plates Napkins Knives c. Functions and Prerogatives * The Nave is the Box containing the Kings Plates Napkins Knives c. * Caraffes are large Glasses in form of those used for Vinegar at our Tables Function and Priviledges Their Functions and Priviledges A Stick used in the Pallmall Antiquity of this Office Present Functions and Priviledges Oath 1 * A Security given to save harmless or for the true Title of Lands c. * A sort of Cistercian Monks * A certain Jurisdiction so called * Both Sword-men and Gown-men * The sixth part of a Penny †A Measure being something above half a Bushel * A Denier is the twelfth part of a Penny
Letters whether it be on the account of Hypotheques or Titles and they are to keep a Register of them and make mention of them upon the said Letters that they may not be sealed without being charged with the said oppositions because they are responsible for them and that if they should be sealed without opposition the Acquirers or Purchasers would be discharged of all Duties and Hypotheques according to the Edicts and Declarations set forth or that purpose and have the same Security as they could have by a Decree in a Court of Justice These Conservatours have likewise four Principal Deputies whose places are united to theirs There are four Keepers and Depositaries of the Minutes of the Expeditions of the Chancery that serve quarterly Their Chief Office is to keep a Register of the Letters that are sealed in the Chancery of France and to keep the Minutes of them that are signed by the Kings Secretaries that dispatched them and to place the Registring of them and the date on the backside of the principal Letters and to put the Visa or attestation of view on the backside of the ordinary and common ones as it was order'd by the Edict of the Creation of the said Offices There is at present but one Treasurer of the Seal though there be several Commissioners or Deputies under him whose places are united to his There are four Wax-Chasers and Hereditary Sealers that serve by the quarter in the Great Chancery of France and by the Month in the Chancery of Paris The Office of these Wax-Chasers is upon Sealing-Days to go into the great Chancery of France and fetch the Seals out of the Chancellours Closet to carry them thence before him to the Sealing-Table and when the Seal is open to Seal with it Of the Vshers In all times there has been a Royal Usher bearing a Mace that used to execute the Kings Orders This Officer was Created and made a standing Officer under the Title of Usher in Ordinary in the Chancery of France in the Month of December in the year 1473. to wait on the Person of the Chancellour and Execute his Orders as likewise the Sentences and Ordinances of the Council and of the superiour Courts He was then the sole Usher of the Council the Grand Council and the Court of Chancery being then the only Council the King had he was afterward made first Usher of the Grand Council In 1597. there was Created another Usher in Ordinary to the King in the Great Chancery of France and in the Month of March 1655. two more with the same qualities Honours Rights Powers Functions and Priviledges as the old one These four Officers at great and solemn Ceremonies are to wear Robes of Violet-Crimson Velvet with double hanging Sleeves and in their Ordinary Service Black Velvet Gowns with a Bonnet or Cap of the same and a golden Chain about their Necks adorned with golden Flower-deluces They carry the four Maces next before the Chancellour They are to be always attending in his Palace to receive his Orders and on sealing days they meet in his Chamber to accompany him when he goes to the Sealing room they march before with their golden Chains on and the Wax-Chafer in the midst of them carrying the Trunk where the Seals are laid up into the Hall where the Table for that purpose is made ready and as soon as the Chancellour is seated in the Sealing-Hall they are to shut the Door and to suffer none to come in but those Officers that are Priviledged so to do They Command Silence in the said Hall and when the Sealing is over Conduct the Chancellour back again into his Chamber with the same Order And because they were antiently the first Ushers of the Council that always used to execute all Orders from the King and Sentences and Expeditions of the Council as well whilst attending the Court as in the Provinces and Superiour Courts they still hold Society and keep one common Purse with the now Ushers of the Council for and of all Fees for signification and other Executions of the Kings and Chancellours Orders Their Places are in the gift of the Chancellour and pay him an annual Duty There is one Harbinger of the Chancery of France who is put in by the Great Audiencers and Comptrollers-General of the Chancery and pays them an annual Duty He is to go one of the foremost with the Marshals of the Lodgings of France when the Chancellour follows the Court and takes his Departments or Lodgings from the Marshals of the Lodgings of France which afterward he distributes and shares out among the Great Audiencers Comptrollers-General and other Officers of the Great Chancery He has a right or share distribution of Fees in the Sealing-Office but he meddles not with Lodging the Council There are two Trunk-Carriers in the Chancery of France that serve by the half year who are put in by the Great Audiencers and Comptrollers General of the said Chancery and pay them an annual Duty Their Function is to go and take and receive the Chancellours Order what day he pleases to pitch on for a Sealing day and to give notice of it to the Great Audiencer the Comptroller-General and other Officers whose presence is necessary in the Sealing-Office They prepare the Table the Trunks the Carpets and the Chairs on Sealing-Days they take away and shut the Trunks they pass the silk and strings through the Letters and Charters and they have a right to a share in the distribution of the Fees and Perquisites that happen in their six Months waiting There are two Wax-Furnishers of the Great Chancery And one Hereditary Servant Wax-Chaser of all the Chanceries of France who has power to put in Deputies under him in the other Chanceries although he that now is has reserved to himself this Priviledge only in the Chancery of Paris and some others The Function of this Officer is to take care on Sealing-Days to heat the Water to soften the Wax which he tempers and works behind the Wax-Chaser and then lays it in bits before him big enough for a Seal As a necessary Officer he has his Lodging at the Court and at the Chancellours when he follows him He has a share in the distribution of Fees at the Sealing-Office There is one Messenger of the Great Chancery whose particular care it is to go to the Register Office of the Grand Council and take out the Sentences or Decrees that are to be sealed in Chancery He then carries them to the Seal-Office takes them out when Sealed and returns them into the Proctors hands who give him something for his pains In time of any Court-Journies or Voyages He has priviledge to come and go to and from Court and to carry all sorts of Letters and Packets He is put in by a Patent from the King All these Officers of the Great Chancery enjoy the same Priviledges as the Kings Sec̄retaries and those that are tabled in his Majesties Houshold