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. ...

CHAP. XVIII.

Of the Chief-Surveyor, or Super-Intendant of the Royal Buildings, and of the Architects and other Officers under him; and of the Keepers of the Kings Houses, Parks, and Forests.

THE Super-Intendant is stiled Super-Intendent, and General Orderer of the Buildings of the Royal Houses, and of his Majesties Gardens and Tapstries, and of the Arts and Manufactures of France; of which last, he is the Great Monopoli∣zer under the King, and is at present, Monsieur Louvois, Secretary of State.

He is sworn at the Chamber of Accounts, in which he has both Voice, and Place; Monsieur Louvois, when he was sworn, took his place there above the Dean of the Masters of the Ac∣counts.

There are three other Intendents, or Surveyors of the Building, that serve yearly, every one his year, at 6000 l. Salary.

Three Comptrollers of the Buildings, who have each of them a Salary of 5500 l.

One Chief Architect, who has a Salary of 6000 l. and a gratuity of 4000 l.

Two Treasurers.

Of the Royal Houses, and first, of the Louvre.

This Palace was called the Louvre, that is to say, as some will have it L'oeeuvre, that is, The Work, by way of Excellence, as if it were a Master-piece of Architecture; and from that the French call all their Kings Palaces, and those of other Kings in other Countries, Louvres, in ordinary Speech.

The old Palace of the Louvre at Paris, was begun by the Predecessors of Philip Augustus, and was fi∣nished in his Reign, in the year 1214. of which Building there still remained in the time of Francis the First, a Tower called the Iron Tower, which was in the middle of the Court, which the said King caused to be demolished, because it darkened the Palace.

In the year 1364. Charles the Fifth rebuilt and enlarged that Palace, of which the Porches are still remaining.

About the year 1545, Francis the First begun to build the Great Hall of the Louvre, which was fi∣nished by Henry the Second in 1548 Charles the Ninth, and Henry the Third, continued this Build∣ing; but Henry the Great built those Magnificent

and long Galleries that go from the Louvre to the Tuilleries, by the Water-side, and the Gallery of the Painters, which was burnt down by a Fire that hap∣ned on the 6th of February, 1661. which likewise did some dammage to the other Galleries; but all has been since repaired.

Queen Catharine of Medicis, built the Apartment that Fronts the Tuilleries in 1564. Lewis the Thirteenth built the other side of the old Court of the Louvre, and the Continuation of it from the Great Dome in the middle, under which the Coun∣cel of Finances, and of the Farms is held.

Lewis the Great, at present happily reigning, has built on both sides of the old Louvre, what remained unfinished; He likewise has built a Dome at the Corner of his Chamber, and of the Gallery of the Painters, which is, as we have said, at present, re∣built, and larger than it was before: Besides, he has rebuilt the whole Palace of the Tuilleries, and the Hall of the Machines, or Engines: And he has likewise caused much to be done in the inclosure of the first Court of the Louvre, at the Portal, and in several other places.

There are at the Palace of the Louvre, as at all other Royal Houses,

A Captain of the Palace, who has a Salary of 1200 l. upon the Revenues of Paris.

A Lieutenant, at 400 l. Salary out of the same Revenues.

A Keeper of the Palace of the Louvre, who is Porter of the first and second Gates, who has a Salary of 120 l. paid out of the Crown-Revenues of Paris.

A Keeper of the Tennis-Court.

One Gardiner.

Four Morte-Paies, or Standing Guards, that wear the Kings Livery, who have every one a Salary

of 90 l. upon the general Revenue of Paris: seve∣ral Porters, and a Clock-Keeper, that have Wages and Diet, and enjoy the usual Priviledges of the Kings menial Servants.

A Captain of the Tuilleries, and two Keepers. A Gardiner and Designer in Ordinary of the Tuillery-Garden, a Keeper of the Orange-Garden of the Tuilleries, a Porter of the Gate of the Queens Walk, towards Chaillot: A Gardiner of the Nursery of Trees, at Roüle, established there in 1670, who is Director of all the Designs or Plots of Trees in the Royal Houses.

In the Warren of the Louvre, are these following Officers.

A Bailiff and Captain of the Game of the War∣ren of the Louvre, a Lieutenant General, and one other Lieutenant of the Game of the said War∣ren.

The Kings Proctor or Attorney for the Game of the said Warren. One Deputy Lieutenant-General, and one Exempt; and one Keeper of the Palace Royal, built by Cardinal Richelieu.

The Captains and other Officers belonging to the other Royal Houses are, as follows.

1. The Palace or Castle of Madrid, which was built by Francis the First, in 1530. at his return from his Imprisonment in Spain, after the Pattern of the Palace at Madrid, that had been his Prison; has these Officers,

A Captain, who is stiled Captain of the Game and Castle of Madrid, of the Wood of Boulogne, the Bridge of St. Cloud, the Plain of St. Denis, and its Appurtenances and Forrestes of the said places.

A Lieutenant-General of the said Game, with a Deputy-Lieutenant.

The Kings Proctor, and his Substitute.

An Exemt, thirty Guards of the Game, Horse and Foot, for the Wood of Boulogne, and three Leagues round about it.

Four Porters of the Park, or Wood of Boulogne.

Of St. Germains en Laye.

2. The old Castle of St. Germains en Laye, was founded by Charles the Fifth, but the Church and the Priory were built before, by King Robert, who died in 1080. In it are these Officers.

A Captain and Governour of the Castles, Parks, Forests, Woods, and Thickets of St. Germain en Laye, of the Plains and places depending thereon, of the Pack of Hounds of St. Jamme, of the Town and Bridge of Poissy, who is also Captain and Judge of the Game, within the extent of the said Cap∣tainship, who has a Salary of 1200 l. paid by the Treasurers of the Game.

There is likewise, under the Super-intendant, a Comptroller of the Building of St. Germain en Laye.

The Castle of St. Germains en Laye, consists of two Castles, so called, the old and the new.

To the old one, which was lately very splendid∣ly rebuilt and enlarged, belong these Officers.

A Keeper of the said Castle, and of the Clock and other moveables of the same, who has a Salary of 400 l. paid by the Treasurers of the Buildings.

One Chaplain, who has a standing Salary of 2000 l. yearly, 900 l. for Tabling, two Priests un∣der him, instead of two Clerks allowed formerly, and 400 l. for a Servant in the Vestry: Which two Priests, besides their Diet, have a yearly al∣lowance each, of 400 l. The said two Priests, by turns, say Mass for the King, after the Chaplain has said his, on his day, and have their Lodging in the said Castle, or Palace.

One Porter, at 100 l. Salary, paid by the Trea∣surers of the Buildings.

Twelve Morte-Paies, or standing Guards, at 60 l. a piece yearly Salary, paid by the Treasurers of the Game, and two Gardiners.

In the New Castle of St. Germain en Laye, are,

A Keeper of the said Castle, and Moveables of the same.

A Governour and Keeper of the old Great Cage, who has a Salary of 1455 l. paid at the Treasure Royal.

Another Keeper of the new Cage, with the same Salary.

Two Porters at 100 l. Salary, paid by the Trea∣surers of the Buildings.

An Intendant or Surveyor of the Grottoes, who has a Salary of 3600 l.

A Gardiner of the Garden-Plots and Hillocks, or Mounts, at 700 l. Salary, paid by the Treasurers of the Buildings; another Gardner of the Garden next the Park, at 400 l. Salary paid by the same Treasurers: and a Gardner of the Bowling-Green, at 900 l. Salary, paid by the same Treasurers.

A Keeper of the Park, and of the Pleasure-House called le Val, or the Vale, who has a Salary of 300 l. paid likewise by the same.

A Painter at 200 l. a Carpenter, a Joyner, a Lock-smith, and a Mason, at 30 l. Salary, each.

A Keeper of the Dog-Kennel, who has 240 l. Salary.

A Keeper of the Tennis-Court, who has no Sa∣lary, but only his Lodging, and the profits of the said Tennis-Court.

A Keeper of the Hall, and moveables of the Chancery there, who has a Salary of 1000 l. paid him by the Treasurers of the Seal, out of the profits of the said Seal: this Office was established in 1631.

and is in the Kings Gift. This Keeper has both his Lodging and Diet there.

A Keeper of the little Stable, at 400 l. Salary.

A Lieutenant, and two Deputy-Lieutenants of the same, whereof the first has a Salary of 600 l. and the two others of 300 l. a-piece, paid by the re••s of the Game.

A Proctor for the King.

Four Exempts, a Recorder, an Inspector or Overseer by Commission: several Huntsmen, and twenty eight Guards of the Game on Foot, and twelve on Horse-back.

A Master of the Waters and Forests, a Lieute∣nant, a Proctor for the King for the said Waters and Forests, a Hammer-Keeper, a Recorder, and about sixteen Guards of the Forest.

Of Fountain-Bleau.

We find in History, that Lewis the Seventh, called the Young, built the Chappel of St. Satur∣nine, in the Oval-Court of the Palace of Fountain-bleau, in the year 1160. In it, there is one Cap∣tain or Governour, who is stiled Captain, Keeper, and Governour of the Forest of Biévre, and of the Burrough and Castle-Royal of Fountain-bleau: par∣ticular Master of the Waters and Forests of the Bailywick of Melun, and Provostship of Moret; and Captain of the Game of the said places, and of the Woods and Thickets of Brie, and Captain, Master, and Keeper of the Keys of the House, Castle, Gar∣dens, Parks, Fountains, and Channels, or Canals of Fountain-bleau. Next are, First, Several Officers of the Buildings, and Keepers of the Apartments and Pavillons, or distinct Bodies of Buildings there∣unto belonging: Secondly, For the Game; and Thirdly, For the Waters and Forests of the same.

The Officers of the Buildings, and Keepers of the Apartments and Houses;

Next under the General Super-intendant of the Buildings, of the Royal Houses of France, are the three Comptrollers-General of the said Buildings, and under them one particular Comptroller of the Buildings established at Fountain-bleau.

One Keeper of the Apartments of his Majesty, and of the Dauphin, for the Oval-Court, for the Court of the Fountain of Perseus, and for the new Apartment of the Queens towards the Court of the White Horse.

One Scavenger, or Sweeper of the Courts, at 400 l. Salary.

Two Keepers of the Garden-Plot of Orange-Trees.

One Keeper of the White-Horse-Court.

One Clock-Keeper, and one Keeper of the Ten∣nis-Court, next the said White-Horse-Court; and one Porter of the said Court.

In the House of the Reverend Fathers Maturins, there are,

One Minister, or Superiour, and seven Religious Men, whereof five are to be Priests, and are al∣lowed 300 l. apiece, yearly, for their Cloaths, besides their Diet: But the Reverend Father Mini∣ster takes care generally to keep a greater number there, especially when the Court is there. The said Reverend Father Minister is titulary so of St. Sa∣turnins Chappel, which is the low Chappel in the Oval-Court, and in that Quality has his ordinary allowed him in specie, when the Court is at Foun∣tain-bleau.

There is one Keeper of the Court of the Kitchins, one Keeper of the Lord Chamberlains Pavillon or House, behind the said Court, at the Corner of the Garden-Plot of the Tyber, who has a Salary of 900 l.

for keeping the one half of the said Garden-Plot; one Keeper of the Foundery, or Founding-House, belonging to the said Palace, or Castle-Royal.

One Keeper of the Hotel, or House of Condé, joining to the said Foundry, or Founding-House. One Keeper of the Buildings of the Gate towards the Pell-mell, at the end of the Causey of the Moat, or of the House of the Colonel-General of the In∣fantry, since the suppression of the said Office in 1661, who is allowed 900 l. for maintaining the other half of the Garden-Plot of the Tyber, and 50 l. for maintaining the Causey. This Pavillon, or Bo∣dy of Building, was formerly called, the Constableship, and was the Lodging of the Lord High Constable.

One Keeper of the little Stable, one Keeper of the Hounds and Dog-Kennel; and a Keeper of the Pell-mell.

One Gardiner of the Gardens of the Moat, and of the Pines and Keeper of the Hotel, or House of St. Aignan, in the same place.

One Gardiner of the Gardens of the Queens Sta∣bles, formerly called the Gardens of the Trout-Ponds, or Canals, round about the Fountain that gives the name to Fountain-bleau; and one other Gardner of the Gardens of the Queens Stables behind the said Fountain; and one cleanser of the Channels, or Canals of the Garden of Pines, and of the said Gardens of the Queens Stables.

One Keeper of the Hotel of the Great Ferrara, towards the great Gate of the Court of the White-Horse, where lodge several Officers of Monsieur the Kings Brother.

One Keeper of the Hotel de Guise, where the In∣tendant, Comptroller, and Treasurer of the said Buildings lodge.

One Keeper of the Queens Stables in the Bur∣rough.

One Keeper of the Chancery-House, on the back of which, are several Shops, of which, one of the

Kings Officers has the letting. One Keeper of the Great Falconers Lodging and Office, called, La Coudre, which joins to the Park, and is without the Walls of it, towards the Borough, or Town of Fountain-bleau.

The Great Stable, which used to be placed at La Coudre, is now lodged at the Heronrie.

In the Park,

There is one Porter and Keeper of the Park.

There are eight Gates to go into the Park, and in it are these Buildings,

1. The Heronrie, where the Great Stable is, of which, there is one Keeper. The Great Falconer lodged there formerly, but now, at La Coudre.

2. The Mid-Way House, or the Pheasant-House, where the Hay made in the Park, is laid up; of which there is a Keeper under the Captain of the Castle.

3. The House of the Gardner of the Fruit-Trees of the Park.

4. The Menagerie, or Bird-House of the Park, of which there is a Keeper, who is likewise Master of the Game or Chace of Cormorants.

There is likewise a Gardiner of the Great Palisa∣do's of the Park, that lodges at the Heronrie.

5. At the end of the Canal, towards the Parish of Avon, is the House of the Fathers of the Charity: there are ordinarily in it four religious men, and two extraordinary, when the Court is at Fountain-bleau, and a single man Gardiner. There are six Beds founded and maintain'd for sick people.

There is a Captain of the Boats upon the Great Canal, who is Keeper also of the Flags, Ornaments, and other necessary moveables for the said Ves∣sels:

Besides, There is one Keeper of the Antiquities, one Painter to take care of all the Pictures there,

who is lodged with the Secretary of State for Fo∣reign Affairs; one Glasier, one Joiner, one Lock-Smith, one Plummer, and one Mason and Co∣verer.

Besides the abovesaid Buildings, the Kings of France, have built several Hotels, or Houses, de∣signed for the residence of several Offices, or Bodies of Offices: as the Hotel or House for the Life-guards, on one side of the Chancery, the Scotch-House behind the Church for the first Company of the Life-guards, which is still called the Scotch-Com∣pany and Colonebrie: The Kings Gensd' armes, or Men at Arms, have likewise a House at Fountain-bleau.

The Guards of the Provostship of the Kings Hou∣shold, have likewise a House at Fountain-bleau, which was given them by some former Kings, and is called the Hotel, or House of the Provost-ship: The Officers of the said Guards have nothing to do with the said House, but it belongs only to the Souldiers of that Guard that put in a Keeper, who is to look after it, and do all smaller Reparations to it; the said Keeper has the profit arising, by the disposal of the vacant places in the Stable there∣unto belonging; and when the said Keepers place comes to be vacant, the Guards quarterly Waiters for that quarter, dispose of it.

The Officers for the Game, and for Hunting, are,

One Lieutenant of the Game.

Another Lieutenant in Brie, where there is a particular Court of Justice under the Captain of the Game or Chaces of Fountain-bleau, for the Commodity of those that cannot so conveniently come to plead at Fountain-bleau.

A Deputy-Lieutenant of the Game, at 400 l. Salary.

The Forest of Fountain-bleau, or of Biévre, is

divided into eight several Cantons, or Quarters, every one of which, has its particular Keeper of the Wood for the Game. There was formerly too, a particular Wolf-Hunter for the Forest of Biévre.

The Officers for the Waters and Forests, are

A Lieutenant.

A Proctor for the King.

A Hammer-Keeper.

A Register, or Recorder.

A General-Keeper of the Woods and Forests, or Serjeant Traverser, at 300 l. Salary.

A Fountaneer, to look after the Fountains, Grottes, and Cascades; one Keeper of the Swans and Carps, in the Canals, Ponds, and Basons there.

Forty six Guards, viz. Sixteen Horse, and thirty Foot; whereof the Horse are paid an allowance of 300 l. and the Foot 60 l. each, yearly, by the Cap∣tain: and

One Usher Auditor, called otherwise the Serjeant dangerous.

The Castle of Compiegne

Was Rebuilt by Charles the Bald, in the year 876, because his Father Lewis the Debonnaire, or the Gracious, his Grand-Father Charles the Great, and his Great-Grand-Father Charles Martel, used often to reside there. It appears too, that even before that, Clotaire, the first Grand-Child to Clo∣vis, retired into the Town of Compiegne, and died there in the year 564. There are belonging to it, a Captain, who is called Captain, Keeper and Go∣vernour of the House, City, and Castle-Royal of Compiegne, and Captain of the Game, or Chaces, of the Forest of Cuise lés Compiegne. A Master of the Waters and Forests, a Keeper of the Tennis-Court, and other Officers.

Of the Castle of Vincennes.

In 1183. Philip Augustus inclosed the Park of Vincennes with Walls: The Castle of Vincennes was afterward begun to be built by Philip de Valois in 1337. and continued in 1361. from the height of the Causey to the third Story, and was at length finished by Charles the Fifth. Belonging to this, there are a Captain and Governour of the Castle and Park of Vincennes, and of the Game and Chaces there: This Government was created in 1676. The twelve Officers and Keepers of the Game here∣under mentioned, are put in all by his nomina∣tion, viz.

A Lieutenant, and a Deputy-Lieutenant, four Horse, and three Foot-Guards, a Fox-Hunter and Cooper.

A Proctor for the King, a Register, or Recorder.

They enjoy their places by Patent from the King, though they be named by the Captain-Governour, and their Jurisdiction extends it self over eleven Villages, and their Territories. Lastly, There is one Keeper of the Castle and moveables.

In the Castle of the Bastille at Paris, where Prisoners of State are kept, there are

One Captain-Governour, several standing-Guards, one Chaplain, one Physician, one Apothecary, which Office was Created the 17th of February, 1647. with power of ordering a Committimus, un∣der the Great-Seal; and one Chyrurgeon. Over the Arsenal which belongs to it, there is likewise one Great Master of the Artillery, and several other Officers.

Of the Palace of Versailles.

This is a Palace, in a manner, wholly reared by this King, chosen in a situation naturally bad, the better to shew his Magnificence: For there is no Water naturally comes thither, but all forced, yet are there the most sumptuous and magnificent Wa∣ter-Works perhaps in the World, and in the great∣est number, which are all fed by Water brought by Wells, Machines and Pipes, a prodigious di∣stance.

There is one Intendant of the Palace of Versailles, of Trianon, of the Parks, and of the other Lands and Lordships of Versailles and Marly. The De∣scription of it would take up a Volume it self, it being the glory of all the Royal Buildings and Gar∣dens of France: It has a Canal, where there are several Gallies, Ships, and Gondola's, and has a∣bundance of like Officers and Keepers belonging to it, as there is at Fountain-bleau; which it was made to out-vie. Here is all the present Kings delight.

In the Month of April in 1682. The King esta∣blished there twelve Clergy-men to serve the Chap∣pel of the Palace, and two other persons, of which, six were to be Priests, and six Clerks, and two Lay-Brothers. All these fourteen persons, are at present, of the Congregation of the Mission. And in 1683. the King retained and setled a Printer there, who has a Salary of 300 l. a year.

Of the Castle of Monceaux.

Catharine of Medicis, Wife to Henry the Second, who was not King of France, till the year 1547. Built at Monceaux, a House truly Royal, and made a Magnificent Seat of a Country place it was before. There is belonging to it, a Governour-Captain, and

Keeper of the Castle of Monceaux, and Captain of the Game of the Warren of Meaux, and the Plains belonging to it; and under him, a Keeper of the Castle, and moveables of the same: And another Keeper of the Great Lower Court.

Of the Castle of Chambor.

There was a Castle at Chambor, built in old time, by the Counts of Blois: But the Castle now stand∣ing, was built by Francis the First.

There is a Governour of it, and Captain of the Game: A Lieutenant, and a Deputy-Lieutenant.

One Keeper, and one Porter of the Castle.

One Master of the Waters and Forests.

One Provost, who is Counsellour and particular Lieutenant of Blois.

One Proctor for the King.

A Recorder.

Four Ordinary Guards, and one Huntsman, and the Porters of the several Gates of the Park, in number six.

One Keeper of the Decoy, or Duck-Pond.

And under the Super-intendant of the Buildings, there are two Surveyors or Comptrollers.

Of the Castle of Blois.

Though this Palace belongs to Monsieur, the Kings Brother, yet his Majesty disposes of all the Offices and Places belonging to it. There are in it,

One Keeper of the Castle, one Porter, one Keeper of the Keys of the Lower-Court, four Horse-Guards, two Foot-guards; one Pheasant-Hunter; two Gardners and Keepers of the upper and lower Gardens.

Of Plessis les Tours.

In this Palace, died Lewis XI. in 1483. There is belonging to it, a Governour, and some other Officers.

There are several other Royal Houses and Palaces, which are at present slighted, and not lookt after.

The present King bearing the Sun for his Devise, Monsieuer le Brun, his Chief Painter, has represen∣ted in a piece of Tapistry of twelve pieces, so many Royal Houses, alluding to the several Celestial Hou∣ses that King of Planets passes through; with the name and sign of each Month.

1. For January, on the top of the whole Tap∣stry, is exprest the Louvre, with the Sign Aqua∣rius.

2. For February, the Palace Royal, with the Hall of the Balls; and the Sign Pisces.

3. For March, the Castle of Madrid, in the Wood of Boulogne, with a representation of the Hunting of the Deer, with the Sign Aries.

4. For April, Versailles, with the Sign Taurus.

5. For May, that side of the New Castle of St. Germain en Laye, towards the River, with the Sign Gemini.

6. For June, that side of Fountain-bleau towards the Garden-Plot of the Tyber, with the Sign Cancer.

7. For July, the Castle of Vincennes, with the Sign Leo.

8. For August, the Palace of Marimont in Flan∣ders, near Mons; which was the House of Arch-Duke Leopold, with the Sign Virgo: But this House was restored again to the Spaniards, by the Treaty of Nimeguen in 1678.

9. For September, the Castle of Chambor, with the Sign Libra.

10. For October, the Palace of the Tuilleries, with the Sign Scorpio.

11. For November, the Castle of Blois, with the Sign Sagittarius

12. For December, the Palace of Monceaux, with the Sign Capricorn: There are several Royal Houses not exprest there, as that of Compiegne, Plessis les Tours, &c.

Besides the particular Officers of all these Palaces, and their Appurtenances, there are two other Ge∣neral Officers for all of them, viz.

1. An Intendant or Surveyor-General of the Kings Waters and Fountains in all his Houses Royal: He it is that gives out all the Orders to the Work∣men about all Works to be done to the Waters, Grottes, and artificial Water-works in any of them; He has Officers under him at Paris, that take care of the Aque-ducts: He has a Salary of 3000 l.

2. An Intendant of the Devises and Inscriptions upon Royal Edifices: which was an Office of great esteem in the time of Francis the First.

In his Patent he is stiled Intendant of the In∣scriptions of the Royal and publick Buildings, of inventions of Trophies, designs and draughts of Painting, Emblems, Descriptions, and other De∣corations, made in the Chambers, Closets, Galle∣ries, Gardens and Houses Royal; as also of those which are to be made upon the Portals, and of Triumphal Arches and other Works for the solemn Entries of their Majesties into any Towns, or upon any other account whatsoever. He has a Salary of 1800 l. paid Quarterly at the Treasure Royal.