A new description of Paris containing a particular account of all the churches, palaces, monasteries ... with all other remarkable matters in that great and famous city / translated out of French.

The Abby of St. Germain des Prez.

KIng Childebert, Son of the Great Clouis was the Founder. Monsieur de Mezeray re∣ports the particulars of the Foundation, and tells us, That that King being in Spain in the year 543. in a War against the Visigoths, he laid Siege to the Town of Sarragossa in which they were refu∣ged: the Inhabitants finding themselves severe∣ly prest by the French, and thinking in imitation of the ancient Romans, to move their Enemies by some surprizing Action, they concluded to make a Procession about their Walls, in which they carried the Coat and other Reliques of St. Vin∣cent. At this sight Childebert was so effective∣ly concern'd, that he yeilded so far, that he was contented to depart with certain Presents which the Bishop made him, among other things that Coat, and those Reliques of St. Vincent, which he brought with him to Paris, and to the honour of them built the Church, of which we are now about to speak.

This Abby hath had several Names; it was sometime called St. Croix, because of a piece of

that Holy Wood placed here among the other Reliques which he brought with him: at present it bears the name of St. Germain, who was Abbot here, and Bishop of Paris, and is here interr'd. On his Festival day, which is the 28th of May, they expose to publick view his Shrine, which is of Silver gilt, adorn'd with a great quantity of Precious Stones: It is of a Gothick kind of Work, but as curious and handsome as one can see. All that remains of Childebert's Building is the principal Gate at the end of the Church, and the great Steeple over it, which appear ve∣ry ancient. The Statues of the Kings and Queens which are on the sides of this Gate, are of such a design as discovers that in that Age the Gust of good Sculpture was not known; for we can hardly distinguish whether the Statues re∣present Men or Women. The Tomb of the aforementioned King is in the middle of the Quire, raised about two foot and an half, with some Inscriptions added to it when they removed it hither from St. Germain's Chapel, where it for∣merly was behind the Quire. This translation hapned about thirty or forty years ago, when the Church was Repair'd and Beautified as it now is. At the same time they made over it a Vault of Stone instead of one of Wainscot as was be∣fore, and adorned the Pillars that supported it with Corinthian Capitals. This Church is not lookt upon at present, as any Curiosity, yet is the Disposition of its parts well enough. The Great Altar is in the middle of the Croisée; and so con∣trived, that one may go round it: In the fore∣part of this Altar is a Table of Silver gilt, which is a great Ornament, and is shewed only on Festival Days. It is adorn'd with the Figures

of the Apostles, and a Crucifix in the middle, of an ancient sort of Work, not unhandsom. This was the Gift of William, Abbot of this House▪ whose Body was found intire not long ago, tho' he had been buried several Ages. The Quire where the Religious sing is behind, in which their Stalls or Seats are of a very handsom Workmanship. At the Feet of Childebert's Tomb you may read the following Epitaph of Monsieur the Duke of Verneüil, natural Son of Henry the Fourth, who before he marryed with the Dutchess of Sally, was Bishop of Metz and Abbot of St Germains. The Epitaph was made by the Learned Dom. Jean Mabillon.

SERENISSIMO PRINCIPI
HENRICO BORBONIO,
DUCIVERNOLIENSI,
Coj••s COR HOC LOCO POSITUM EST,
OPTIMO QUONDAM PATRONO SUO
BENEDICTINA RELIGIO,
QUAM VIVENS SEMPER IN CORDE HABUIT,
CUI MORIENS COR SUUM COMMENDAVIT,
HUNC TITULUM P.
ANNO M. D••. LXXXII.

To the Illustrious Prince
Henry of Bourbon, Duke of Verneuil,
Whose Heart is here placed,
To their excellent Patron,
The Religious of St. Benedict,
Whom living he had always in his heart,
To whom dying he bequeath'd his heart,
placed this Epitaph.
In the Year, M. D••. LXXXII.

Some time since, here hath also been interred near this Monument, Monsieur the Comte de Vexin, naturalized Son of France, over whose Bo∣dy is this other Inscription.

D. O. M.
EXPECTAT RESURRECTIONEM,
QUAM FIRMA SUPRA AETATEM FIDE
SPERAVIT,
SERENISSIMUS PRINCEPS
LUDOVICUS CAESAR
BORBONIUS,
COMES VELIOCASSIUM,
LUDOVICI MAGNI FILIUS.
QUI CONSUMMATUS IN BREVI
EXPLEVIT TEMPORA MULTA.
VIXIT
ANNOS X. MENSES VI. DIES XXII.
OBIIT
DIE X. JANUARII ANNI M. DC. LXXXIII.
RAPTUS EST
NE MALITIA MUTARET INTELLECTUM
Ejus,
UT VERO AMANTISSIMI FILII PERENNET
MEMORIA,
LUDOVICUS MAGNUS
ANNIVERSARIUM SOLEMNE
CUM PRIVATIS MISSIS DECEM
INSTITUIT.

Sacred to Almighty God.
Here lies expecting the Resurrection,
Which he hoped for with a Faith beyond his Age,
The Illustrious Prince
Lewis Caesar of Bourbon,
Count of Vexin, Son of Lewis the Great.

Who being quickly accomplished, finish'd a great Age
in a very short time. He lived X. years,
VI. months, and XXII days.
He dyed the Tenth of January, in the Year
M. DC. LXXXIII.
He was taken away that he might not be injur'd by
the iniquity of the times; but that his
memory might be immortal.
Lewis the Great
Appointed a solemn Anniversary for him, with ten
private Masses.

On each side of the great Altar are three Tombs, which belong to certain Kings of the first Race, namely that of Chilperic, with this Inscription on the edges in ancient Letters:

REX CHILPERICUS HOC TEGI∣TUR LAPIDE.

Ʋnder this Stone King Chilperic lies interr'd.

That of Queen Fredegonde, which is composed of a kind of Mosaick, of pieces laid in with Veins of Brass couched in the Stone. This Queen is re∣presented holding in her hand a Scepter with a double Flower de Lis at the end of it, which makes one believe that in those ancient times the Flowers de Lis were in use; the Crown on her Head may further authorise this Opinion. She deceased at Paris in the year 601. Clotaire se∣cond Son of Childeric the Second, and of his Wife Fredegonde, with his Wife Bertrude are also here interr'd: so likewise are Childeric the Second, and his Wife. This King was Son of Clouis the Second, who was murder'd in hunting in the Woods of Bondis, by a Gentleman of Liege called Bodile, whom he had caus'd dishonourably to be whipt, not respecting his quality.

Before the Normans and Danes ruin'd this Church, here were many other Monuments of famous persons whose memory now is loft. The Kings of the First Race did affect to be buryed here, in like manner as those of the second and third Races made choice▪ of St. Denis for the same purpose. They have lately built here two very handsom Chapels of the same Symmetry, in the two Wings of the Church: they are adorn'd with Composite Pillars of Marble vein'd, with Pedestals of the same, so also the Frise. That on the right hand is dedicated to St. Margaret, whose Girdle these Fathers keep here; and Women with Child, who have a very great de∣votion to this Chapel, are usually girded with it. The Tomb belonging to some of the fami∣ly of Castelan is over against this Chapel, and is of the design of M. Girardon.

The other Chapel is dedicated to St. Casimir,

King of Poland, Patron of King Casimir, who dyed here in France, Abbot of this Abby, and whose heart is under the Monument, which stands on one side of this Chapel. This King is represented kneeling, in white Marble, apparel∣led in his Royal Robes, and offering his Crown and Scepter to God, on a Tomb of black Marble, supported with a great Pedestal; in the fore part of which is placed a Bas-relief in Brass, re∣presenting a victory by him gain'd over the Turks. This Monument is one of the finest that can be seen, and one can hardly meet with the like. A Lay Brother of this House named Brother Jean Thibaut, who passes for one of the most able men that are in these Works, did erect it. On each side are represented Captive Turks in Chains, sitting on heaps of Arms, in manner of Trophies. The Epitaph was written by Fa∣ther Delfau, one of the Monks of this Abby, and is as follows:

AETERNAE MEMORIAE
REGIS ORTHODOXI.
HEIC
POST EMENSOS VIRTUTIS
AC GLORIAE GRADUS OMNES
QUIESCIT NOBILI SUI PARTE
JOHANNES
CASIMIRUS
POLONIAE
AC SUECIAE REX;

ALTO E JAGELLONIDUM SANGUINE,
FAMILIA VASATENSI
POSTREMUS,
QUIA SUMMUS
LITTERIS, ARMIS, PIETATE.
MULTARUM GENTIUM LINGUAS
ADDIDIT, QUO ILLAS PROPENSIUS SIBI
DEVINCIRET.
SEPTEMDECIM PROELIIS COLLATIS
CUM HOSTE SIGNIS
TOTIDEM UNO MINUS VICIT.
SEMPER INVICTUS.
MOSCOVITAS, SUECOS, BRANDEBURGENSES,
TARTAROS, GERMANOS
ARMIS; COSACOS, ALIOSQUE REBELLES
GRATIA, AC BENEFICIIS
EXPUGNAVIT,
VICTORIA REGEM EIS SE PRAEBENS
CLEMENTIA PATREM.
DENIQUE TOTIS VIGINII
IMPERII ANNIS,
FORTUNAM VIRTUTE VINCENS,
AULAMHABUIT IN CASTRIS,
PALATIA
IN TENTORIIS,
SPECTACULA
IN TRIUMPHIS.

LIBEROS EX LEGITIMO CONNUBIO SUSCEPIT, QUEIS POSTEA ORBATUS EST, NE SI SE MAJOREM RELIQUIS∣SET, NON ESSET IPSE MAXIMUS, SIN MINOREM, STIRPS DEGENERA∣RET, PAR EI AD FORTITUDINEM RELIGIO FUIT,
NEC SEGNIUS COELO MILITAVIT,
QUAM SOLO.
HINC EXTRUCTA MONASTERIA ET NOSOCOMIA VARSAVIAE,
CALVINIA NORUM FANA IN LITHUANIA EXCISA,
SOCINIANI REGNO PULSI, NE
CASIMIRUM HABERENT REGEM,
QUI CHRISTUM DEUM NON
HABERENT.
SENATUS A VARIIS: ECTIS AD
CATHOLICAE FIDEI COMMUNIONEM
ADDUC US,
UT ECCLESIAE LEGIBUS
CONTINERENTUR,
QUI JURA POPULIS DICERENT
UNDE ILLI PRAECLARUM
ORTHODOXI NOMEN
AB ALEXANDRO VII.
INDITVM.
HUMANAE DENIQUE GLORIAE
FASTIGIUM PRAETERGRESSUS,
CUM NIHIL PRAECLARIUS AGERE
POSSET,

IMPERIUM SPONTE ABDI∣CAVIT ANNO M. DC. LXVIII.
TUM PORRO LACRYMAE, QUAS NULLI
REGNANS EXCUSSERAT,
OMNIUM OCULIS MANARUNT,
QUI ABEUNTEM REGEM, NON SECUS
ATQUE OBEUNTEM PATREM,
LUXERE.
VITAE RELIQUUM IN PIETATIS
OFFICIIS CUM EXEGISSET,
TANDEM AUDITA KAMENECIAE
EXPUGNATIONE, NE TANTAE CLA∣DI SUPERESSET,
CARITATE PATRIAE
VULNERATUS OCCUBUIT
XVII. KAL. JAN. M. DC. LXXII.
REGIUM COR MONACHIS Hujus
COENO••II, CUI ABBAS PRAEFUERAT,
AMORIS PIGNUS RELIQUIT: QUOD
ILLI ISTHOC TUMULO MOE∣RENTES CONDIDERUNT.

To the Eternal Memory of the Orthodox King.
Here
After having past through all the degrees
Of Virtue and of Glory,

Rests in a noble part of himself.
John Casimire
King of Poland and Sweedland;
Of the Illustrious Blood of the Iagellonides,
And of the Vasatensian Family
The last;
Because the greatest
In Learning, Arms and Piety.
He learnt the Languages of many Nations,
That he might the more readily oblige them.
Having fought Seventeen set Battels,
He Conquer'd in all but one,
Always invincible.
The Muscovites, Sweedes, Brandeburgers,
Tartars, Germains
He Conquer'd by Arms;
The Cossacks, and other Rebels
By Favour and Benefits:
By his Victory, shewing himself their King,
And by his Clemency their Father.
He had his Court in his Camp,
His Palaces
In his Tents,
And his Shows
In his Triumphs.
He had Children in lawful Wedlock,
Of which he was afterwards deprived,
Lest, if he should leave behind him a greater than Himself,
He himself should not be the greatest;
But if a less, his race should degenerate.
His Religion was equal to his Valour,
Nor did he sight less for the next World Than for this.
Hence were Monasteries and Hospitals Built at Warsaw.

The Temples of the Calvinists
Destroyed in Lithuania;
The Socinians driven out of the Kingdom,
That none might have Casimir
For their King,
Who would not have Christ
For their God.
The Senate from Various Sects
Was reduced to the Communion
Of the Catholick Faith,
That they might obey the Laws of the Church,
Who made Laws for the People.
Hence was the famous Title of
ORTHODOX,
Given him by Alexander the Seventh.
Finally, having out-gone
The highest pitch of Humane Glory,
When he could do nothing more illustrious,
He willingly laid down his Crown
In the Year M. DC. LXVIII.
And then those Tears
Which his Reign had never extorted from any,
Flow'd from the Eyes of all,
Who Bewailed the Departure of their King,
As it were the Death of their Father.
When he had spent the residue of his Life in the Offices of Piety
At length hearing of the loss of Caminiec,
That he might not out-live so great a Calamity,
Being wounded with the Love of his Country;
He dyed
The XVII of the Calends of January,
M. DC. LXXII.
His Royal Heart he left to the Monks of This Monastery,
Of which he had been Abbot,

As a Pledge of his Love;
Which they lamenting inclosed
In this Tomb.

In one of the Chapels behind the Ouire, you may further observe two Tombs of Marble be∣longing to two of the House of Duglas, one of the principal Families in Scotland.

Having seen these things, there remains no∣thing more of singular note in the Church. On Festival Days the divine Office is here Celebra∣ted with great Pomp and Majesty, and there is scarce any Company of Regulars who per∣form better. The Order of St. Benet hath been in the Possession of this House, ever since it was first Founded by King Childebert. And the Church, according to the opinion of some Hi∣storians, stands in the same place where was formerly a Temple dedicated to the Goddess Isis, whose Statue remain'd here till the last Age; at which time an old Wom••n being seen saying her Prayers before it, it was by order of the Superiours removed out of the Church, and broken to pieces.

In the inward parts of this Convent the Re∣fectory is worth seeing, which is great, and one of the fairest of the Kingdom. It hath lights on both sides: The Glass of which is very hand∣some, tho' old. At the end of this Room is a Stair-case that leads up to the great Dortor: which Stair-case is a hardy piece of Building. And you must not neglect to visit the Chapel of our Lady; behind which is something of the same design with the Holy Chapel at the Palais.

Report says, That both were built by the same Architect, who lies buryed here.

But without tarrying long in viewing thes•• things, you ought to go to the Library, which takes up all the upper Room of that Arm of the Cloister next the Church. It is, in truth, none of the fullest, but in recompence of that, all the Books are the choicest and of the best Editions that can be met with. In the last Age, when there was not such plenty of Libraries as at present, this here, was esteemed the principal Library of Paris. And at this day, if it doth not continue all out of the same reputation for Printed Books, yet for Manuscripts none will dispute the precedency, of which we can no where meet with so great a Quantity nor such Choice ones, unless it be in the King's Library. These Ma∣nuscripts are kept at the further end, in a little Chamber by themselves; which Room is full of them from the top to the bottom. Here are some of all Subjects, but chiefly of Religion; by means of which great Lights, several faults of Printers and ill Copiers have been discover∣ed and amended. In a little Press in the great Library, they preserve several Volumes more choice and rare than the rest; amongst which is one called The Psalter of St. Germain; it be∣ing supposed to have been used by that Saint, who lived about the Year 560. in the Reign of Childebert, King of France, and Justinian, Em∣peror in the East. Formerly this Book was kept in the Sacristy, among the Reliques; but in regard it was so often desired to be seen by curious persons, it was removed hither: It is written in Letters of Gold and Silver, upon a Purple coloured Velom; and contains all the

Psalms of David. There is also in the same place a very ancient Missal, which according to all appearance, is more than 900. Years old: Certain Tablets of the Antients, made of small Boards of Cedar, with a kind of Wax or Varnish finely spread over them, upon which they writ with their Stile (or Steel Bodkin); and several other singularities of such sort, which deserve to be considered; above all, one great Volume, full of Attestations of the Belief of several Greek Bishops, touching Transubstantiation: Which Attestations the Learned M. Arnauld, with much pains, procured from Constantinople, by the means of Monsieur de Nointel, Ambassador from France to the Port, for Authorities against those of the pretended Reformed Religion, who maintained that the Greek Church was of their Opinion.

Having said thus much of the Library, the Reader will not be displeas'd if I give some ac∣count of those Excellent Works, which the Learned Monks of this House have lately pub∣lisht; of which the most useful and most consi∣derable is St. Augustin's Works, which they have interpreted and corrected according to the most antient and authentique Manuscripts in all the Libraries in Europe, of which they have had an account. We have already received five great Volumes, to which the publick have given an universal applause, and they are continually employ'd about publishing the rest with the same Purity. One may justly say, That there has not been any thing undertaken in this Age, of greater importance and advantage to Reli∣gion; in regard all the Disputes that of late Years have happen'd among Divines on the sub∣ject

of Grace, have risen from the different interpretation of that Father. The Church is obl ged to these Learned Monks, who deserve no less Glory for their Pains, than they have had Trouble in the undertaking, before they could bring the Work to this Condition. Father Dom Luc d'Achery, a Monk of this House, hath pub∣lisht the Spicilegium, and hath continued it to the Thirteenth Volume in Quarto, in which he hath collected together several antient Pieces, hitherto hid in the Libraries of his Order, and which had been lost in oblivion, without his care in thus shewing them to the light; to these Vo∣lumes he hath added learned Prefaces, which are a great help to the Curious.

But after the incomparable Book, which Fa∣ther Dom Jean Mabillon has publisht two Years ago, nothing further can be wisht for; it is Entituled, De Re Diplomatica, in Folio, with a great number of Figures of antient Charters, which this Learned Author has deci••er'd after the happiest way that can be; and thereupon he hath made most learned Remarques, to teach us how to know if they be Counterfeits, which will appear an easie thing to him who has read this Book. Those who have perused it can never sufficiently admire the Pains and Patience of the Author, in making such Learned Discoveries as are in it; and there is hardly any Work in which there appears more solid Judgment than in this; which is the cause that of the small number of Authors which we can reckon among the Learned, he is one of those who is most esteem'd and hath the greatest Reputation. We have also from his hand several Volumes of Analects (or Fragments) in Octavo, which he continues daily, with much care.

There are also in this Society, many other Learned Men who are continually employed upon divers subjects, from whose hands we shall have in a little time the Works of St. Ambrose. One may say further, to their Commendation, that there is not any Religious House where Idleness is more strictly avoided than in this.

We must know, that this Abby hath been in former times often Ruin'd, at the Incursions of Foreigners, it then standing out of the Town. The Normans and the Danes have Pillaged and Burnt it three or four times, and it hath stood out some Sieges like a Fortified Town. It was at that time enclosed about with deep Ditches and strong Walls, which from one space to ano∣ther were defended with round Towers, most of which, of later time, have been pulled down to build the Houses round about it; and there remain but two which are at the Gate, on that side next the Rile St. Benoist.

In regard it is difficult to observe the course of the Streets in St. Germains Quarter, as we have done in other parts of the Town; because things are not here in a Row as elsewhere: We shall therefore speak of the observable places severally, endeavouring, however, as near as we can, to describe them to the Curious in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 course, and thereby to spare their pains as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as may be.