The present state of France containing a general description of that kingdom corrected and purged from the many gross mistakes in the French copy, enriched with additional observations and remarks of the new compiler, and digested into a method conformable to that of the state of England / by R.W. ...

Of the four Chief-Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber.

The Chief Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber, which now are four, exercise as I have said, by turns, under that new Title, the Office that was formerly performed by the Camerier, or Chamber-Man.

There was at first but two of them, but the late King Lewis the XIII. made them up four.

They serve By turns each one their Year.

The present Chief Gentlemen of the Bed-Cham∣ber, are,

1. The Duke of Aumont. 2. The Duke of Gevres. 3. The Duke of Crequi. 4. The Duke of St. Aignan.

They take the Oath of Fidelity to the King in * 1.1 Person, and he of them, that is in Waiting, Sweats all the other Officers of the Bed-Chamber, that are admitted into his years Waiting. In the absence of the Great Chamberlain they supply his Place in all things. They give Order to the Usher, what Persons he is to let in, and deliver Certificates of their Service, to all the Officers of the Bed-Cham∣ber: They perform likewise many other Duties, at the Kings rising, going to Bed, and Dressing. He that is in Waiting, lodges in the Louvre: The King does them the Honour to give them a Place in his own Coach.

They used formerly to lie in the Kings Bed-Cham∣ber, as appears by the 9th and 82d Articles of the Ordinance of Charles the Seventh, that are ad∣dressed thus, To the Chamberlains lying in our Bed-Chamber, &c.

They bespeak all the first Mourning at Court, and all Cloths and Habits used in Masques, Balls, and Playes, and other Divertisements for his Ma∣jesty.

They have the sole ordering of all the Expences allotted in the Establishments, or Account-Books of the Argenterie, or Privy-Purse, for the Kings Person or otherwise; as likewise of those allowed in the Establishments for the Kings Pocket Expences, and affairs of his Bed-Chamber: Under them, are the Intendants, Comptrollers, and the Treasurers Ge∣neral of the Kings Privy-Purse, and of the Pocket Expences, and the rest of the Officers of the Bed-Chamber.

It is to be noted, That there are many, that out of courtesy are stiled Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber, that have neither Place, nor Salary, as such; and many Gentlemen in Ordinary of the Kings Houshold, of which we shall speak in their proper place.

Next these, are the Pages of the Bed-Chamber, who are in number twenty four, and serve con∣stantly all the year long, each Chief Gentleman be∣ing allowed six of them, though they may, if they please, take a greater number; over whom, the King, for better regulation, maintains Governours, and Under-Governours, and Masters of all sorts, to teach them all Exercises requisite for Persons of Quality.

These Pages go every Morning and Evening, with the other Officers of the Bed-Chamber, into the Kings said Chamber, to give his Majesty his Slip∣pers; and on Evenings, and Mornings too, (when 'tis dark) they carry white Wax-Flambo's before his Majesty, when he walks on Foot out of his Anti-Chamber, or when he crosses, either on Foot, or in a Sedan, the Courts of any of his Palaces; and in Summer they carry over him, an Ʋm∣brello.

In the Armies, where the King is present, they serve as Aids de Camp, under the Kings own Aids de Camp, as likewise do the Pages of the Kings Great and Lesser Stables.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Their Fun∣ctions and Privi∣ledges.