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 MATHURINS.

THE Convent of these Fathers stands a lit∣tle higher in the other side of the Street. St. Lewis was their ••ounder, and they are of the Holy Trinity of the Redemption of Captives. Their principal Institution is to go into Barbary, and there ransom. Christian Slaves out of the Hands of the Infidels, and procure their Liber∣ty. From time to time they make these Voyages, assisted by the Contributions of pious People, who supply those great Expences which they can∣not avoid. It is not long since they brought over a great number, which we saw here with much Edification. Their Church is very light∣som, though it is built after the Modern way. It was built in the form we now see it, by the means of Robert Gaguin, Minister, and General of the whole Order, who was an Illustrious Per∣son in his time, and hath Composed divers Books; among others The History of Lewis XII. How∣ever some think, that this Church was be∣gun before his time, and that he only finisht

it. He lies interr'd in the middle of the Quire. Formerly you might have read his Epitaph there; but when the Church was raised, it was removed from that place. It is this:

Illustris Gallo nituit qui splendor in orbe Hic sua Robertus membra Gaguinus habet. Si tanto non saeva viro Libitina pepercit, Quid speret docti caetera turba chori?

ANNO A NATALI CHRISTI MILLE∣SIMO QUINGENTESIMO PRIMO, VIGESIMA SECUNDA MAII.

Here Robert Gaguin now Entomb'd doth lye, Who shin'd a glorious Light i'th' Gallic Sky. If Death so great a Scholar would not spare, How▪ obnoxious then Inferiour Learners are!

In the year, from the Birth of Christ, One thousand five hundred and one, the Twenty se∣cond of May.

In the Cloister there are also some Tombs; a∣mong others that of Sacro-Bosco, a very famous Mathematician. This is his Epitaph:

De Sacro-Bosco qui compotista Johannes, Tempora discrevit, jacet hic à tempore rapius. Tempore qui sequeris, memor esto quod morieris, Si miseres, plora, miserans pro me, precor, ora.

Here Sacro-bosco the Accomptant lies, Who Time divided, him did Time surprize. Thou, who com'st after, shortly dead must be, If thou hast Pity, Weep, and Pray for me.

Near this is another Epitaph of a Famous Lawyer, who was the Master of Papirius Mas∣son.

CUJACI. Balduinus hic jacet, hoc tecum reputa & vale, Mortuis vobis Jurisprudentiam corriptt gravis so∣por. Franciscus B••lduinus Jurisconsultus obiit, Anno aetatis suae 53. 9. Kalend. Novemb. Anno à par∣tu Virginis 1573. PAPIRIUS MASSO∣NIUS Jurisconsultus, Balduini Auditor, tumulum posuit

Here Baldwin lies, think on it and farewel; E're since a drowsiness on Law doth dwell.Francis Baldwin, Lawyer, dyed in the 53 Year of his Age, the Ninth of the Calends of November, in the Year from the Birth of our Saviour 1573. Pa∣pirius Masson of the same Faculty, the Scholar of Baldwin, erected this Tomb.

Lastly, here is the Tomb of the two Scholars, named Leger Moussel, and Oliver Bourgeois, who were hang'd at Montfaulcon in the Year 1408, on the 17th. of May, by Sentence of the Provost of Paris, without regard to the Priviledges of the University; who afterwards demanded that famous Satisfaction, which we have already spoken off in the 4th. Folio of this Second Part. Of late they have made many Considerable De∣corations in this Church. The great Altar is a∣dorn'd with Pillars of a kind of reddish Marble, very rare. The little Tabernacle upon that Altar is also very Beautiful: So are the two lesser Al∣tars on each side of the great one, adorn'd with Pillars very well wrought. The Quire of this Church is separated from the Nave by a kind of Balustrade, or rather by six Ionick Pillars of Marble, supporting a Cornish, on which there are several little Figures of Angels, very well design∣ed. The rest of the Church is Wainscoted with Joyners Work, full of Sculpture, with a great number of Grenades, which are the Arms of the present General of the Order, who hath been at the Expence of all these new Reparations. The University assemble in the Chapter-House of this Convent, when they make their Processions; which usually happens every three Months, at which the Rector is constantly present. He is also obliged to give a Summ of Money to all those that assist at the Ceremony. These Processions ought to be seen and observed by Strangers, and are well worth their Curiosity; the Show being very numerous, and disposed in excellent Order. The four Faculties are obliged to appear there, in the proper and peculiar Habits belonging to them. The Money which the Rector disburses

on this occasion, arises out of the Revenues of the University, which amount to the Summ of Fifty thousand Franks, arising out of the Messageries (or Carriage of Goods) between certain Towns of this Kingdom, and also from several Houses Situated in divers places of Paris. Formerly they possest much greater Revenues, but they have been lost by the negligence of those, who of late Years have had the Administration of their affairs. From hence you pass before

The Church of Saint Benoit, supposed to be Founded by St. Denis, who Dedicated it to the Holy Trinity; if so, none can doubt it to be of very great Antiquity. It is possest by Canons Secular, who are obliged on the great Feasts to accompany the Canons of Nostre-Dame, when they make their grand Processions. The Build∣ing or Structure of this Church is nothing Beau∣tiful, as being carried up at several times and by pieces. The Nave was built in the Reign of Fran∣cis the First, and four years since the Quire was Rebuilt anew very handsomly. The inside is embellisht with Corinthian Pilasters, which sup∣port a Cornish of a very good Gust. This Church is very lightsome, and has not now the defect which it sometimes had; which was, that the great Altar was contrived on the West side; since, when it was new built in the last Age, they quite changed that Disposition; which occasion'd that it has been call'd, St. Benoist le bien tourné, or St. Bennet's the well contrived. For in those days they were very exact, in contriving the Churches East and West, even to a kind of Scruple.

On the other side of the Street St. Jacques, o∣ver against the hinder part of the Quire of this

Church is a small open-place, or Court, at the Entrance into which stands a Fountain which bears its name. The place is called La Terre de Cambray, from the Colledge of that Name there Situated. You have there also

The Colledge Royal, whose original Founder was Francis the First, the Father and Restorer of Learning in France. 'Twas he that instituted most of the Lectures in Law and Physick in this University, and invited hither the ablest Men he could find, to teach here the Mathematicks, Philosophy, and the Greek, Latin, Syriack, and Hebrew Tongues. He intended to have raised here a great Building, but his design being never executed, because of his great Expences in the Wars, which he had on all the Frontiers of his Kingdom, especially in Italy; he left the Work to be done by his Son Henry the Second, who neglected, or at least had not a Conveniency of doing it. The Professors all the while read their Lectures in the Colledge of Cambray, and remain'd in this Condition till under the Reign of Henry the Great, who in the Year 1609. on the 23. of November, sent the Cardinal du Perron, the Duke of Suilly, first Minister, the President de Thou, and a Counsellor of Parliament named Monsi∣eur Gillot, to view the Situation of the place, and if there was sufficient Room, to raise the Building projected. It should have been com∣posed of a main Front, and on each Hand two Wings, with a Court, in the midst of which should have been a Fountain. The lower Rooms were designed for Schools, and the first Story on one side, for the Royal Library, which was then at Fountainbleau, and is at present kept in the Rué Vivien. The Professors also should there

have had their Lodgings, which would have been of great advantage; but these excellent Pro∣jects were never executed, by reason of the Tra∣gick Death of that great King, of whom France was rob'd in a time when she least expected it. Queen Mary of Medieis his Illustrious Wife, to second the Zeal of the King her Husband, re∣solved to finish what he had begun; and to that purpose she her self with her Son Lewis XIII. at that time but nine Years old, went to the place. The Young King laid the first Stone, and the Work was carried on with fervency; but in the end it was once again broke off, and re∣mains as we see it, having never been thought of, to be continued, from that time to this. There is but one side finisht, and that stands in the same place, where formerly stood the Colledge called de Treguier. The Professors are paid by the King, and are a kind of Body distinct from the University, to which, however, they are sub∣ject. They enjoy the same Priviledges with the Officers of the King's Household; and the Re∣ctor of the University is not permitted to dispose their places, nor to prohibit their Exercises, which he may do to all other Professors. They have always been persons of singular Note, and extraordinary Merit.

The most Famous have been; in the Greek Tongue Adrian Turnebe, Native of Andeli in Nor∣mandy, who dyed in the Year 1565, being but Fif∣ty three Years of Age. Denis Lambin succeeded him, and hath left behind him many excellent Works.

In the Hebrew Tongue, Francis Vatable, ori∣ginally of Picardy; he hath writ several Com∣mentaries upon divers Authors, much esteem'd.

Gilbert Genebrard, Doctor in Divinity, of the Or∣der of St. Bennet, and Prior of St. Denis de la Char∣tre, near the Pont Nostre-Dame. He was Elected Arch-Bishop of Aix in Provence, and dyed in March 1597. There are extant several Works of his, the Catalogue of which are at the end of the Book Entituled La Liturgie Sainte. The formerly men∣tioned Calignon was another Professor here for this Tongue; he hath composed a Grammar which is much esteemed. Ralph Baines an English-man, who writ three Books of Commentaries on So∣lomon, according to the Hebrew Phrase, which he Dedicated to Henry the Second.

In the Mathematicks there have been Oronce Finé, Native of the Town of Briançon in Dau∣phiné; and Paschal du Hamel, who succeeded him.

In the Latin Eloquence Barthelemy Latomus, and John Passerat.

The two most famous among those who have taught Philosophy here, were Francis Vicomereat, originally of Verona, and Peter de la Ramée of Cuth in Vermandois, who lived about the Year 1568.

Finally, those who have most excelled in Phy∣sick are, Vidus Vidius, Jacques Silius of Amiens, and John Rioland. These are those whose Names are of greatest Note, on the account of the Learned Works which they have left behind them. One can hardly find out any one Colledge, that has produced more Learned Men than this, although it be of no great Antiquity.

Over against this last mentioned Colledge, is, The Commandery of St. John de Latran, which de∣pends on the Order of Malta. It is a great piece of Ground full of Houses ill built, in which lodge

all sorts of Workmen, not Masters, who may here manage their several Trades, without being disturb'd by the Jurates of the City. That which is here worth seeing, is the Tomb of Monsieur de Souvré; this is he who dyed Grand Prior of France, and who built some years before his Death, that fine House at the Temple. While he was only Commander of St. John de Latran, he caused this Tomb to be raised in the Church. It is all of Marble, his Effigies lying upon a great Urne of the same, accompanied with two Terms rising out of their Guénes, which are Channell'd and very well wrought. All this Monument is exactly Beautiful, and of a very singular Design. It is the Work of Monsieur Anguerre, one of the ablest Sculptors that France ever produced. The Body of Monsieur de Souvré, is not interr'd in this place, but only his Heart. There is no∣thing else remarkable. The Church in which this Monument is Erected, is very antient and ill built.

As you leave this place and go on in the Ruë Saint Jacques, you come to

The Colledge du Plessis, which was former∣ly call'd, the Colledge of St. Martin, by rea∣son that its first Founder Geoffrey du Plessis, Secre∣tary to Pope John XXII. had a very great Devotion to that Saint But the Cardinal de Richelieu, to Eternize the Founder's Memory, restored it to his Name; and after he had Re∣built it magnificently, he caused it to be called The Colledge du Plessis de Richelieu. This Colledge hath the best contrived and handsomest Lodgings of all the University, and is also the fullest of Pensioners and Scholars. The Doctors of the Sorbonne have the Direction of this Colledge, and place the Principal and Regents. A little higher in the Street is