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 Church of St. Eustache.

This Church was formerly but a small Chappel dedicated to St. Agnes, and depended upon the Chapter of St. Germain le Auxerrois. The pre∣sent Fabrick was begun to be built in the year 1521. and the first Stone was laid by the Provost of Paris, by name John de la Barre. It is at present the greatest and most spacious of the Kingdom. The Grandeur of the Building, the number of the Pillars which in truth are a little too thick crowded together, and the heighth of the Roof, with the Chappels that are round it, considered altogether, render this Edifice Maje∣stick. Among other things the two Chappels which are on each side of the great Gate ought to be observed. One of which is appropriated to Baptism, and Painted by Monsieur Mignard, the other for Marriage, and Painted By Monsieur de la Fosse: Monsieur Colbert did contribute to their decoration. In the Chappel of Marriage stands the Model of the great Portal which is to be raised before this Church, which Work will be

very expensive. The Pulpit is well wrought in imitation of that at St. Estienne du Mons, but it falls short of that. Overhead is a great Picture representing the Apparition of our Lord, painted after the manner of Monsieur le Brun; this Pi∣cture was given by Monsieur Colbert, as seems by his Arms at the bottom. Adjoyning to one of the Pillars in the Nave on the left hand as you enter, you see a great Bas-relief of white Marble on a Foundation of black, which is the Epitaph of the famous Monsieur de la Chambre, so re∣nowned for his Writings, this is contrived in a Medaillon held up by Immortality, and to make her more obvious and better understood, over head is a Cartel or Scroul with these words out of the Scripture graven therein

Spes illorum Immortalitate plena est.

Their Hope is full of Immortality.

This curious piece is the Workmanship of the Sieur Baptist Turcy, who wrought after the de∣sign of Monsieur le Brun. The other things in this Church are of no great consideration. Mon∣sieur the Chancellor Seguier, and Monsieur de Bullion Sur-Intendant of the Finances under the Ministration of Cardinal de Richolieu, were Be∣nefactors to this Work. Monsieur de la Mothe le Vayer, formerly Tutor to Monsieur, and so well known for his rare Writings, and Monsieur the Abbot of Bourfay of the French Academy, are enterred here.

IN the Rüe Coquilliere which is near St. Eusta∣che, stands the House of Monsieur Berrier Secretary of the Council: in whose Garden was

found the Bust of Cybele, formerly▪ mentioned. The Portal, tho it makes no great shew outward∣ly, yet within it is of singular beauty, adorned with Corinthian Pilasters of an admirable Gust. The Garde des Sceaux (or Lord-Keeper of the Seals) de Chateau-neuf dwelt here.

These are the principal things that are to be seen in this Quarter.

Behind St. Eustache lies the Rüe Montmartre, near the further end of which Street stands the little Church of St. Joseph, in whose Church∣yard is interred the famous Moliere, so well known for his Comedies.

Near St. Eustache is the great Market called la Halle which place ought to be avoided as much as may be, because of the continual Crowd of People that frequent it. Formerly they executed the Criminals here as they do now at the Greve. And we read in the History of Charles VI. that the Provost of Paris, named Montaigu, who was also great Treasurer, had in this place by means of the Duke of Bourgoyn his head chopt off; to the great regret of the Parisians, he be∣ing a very good man. But the King abhorring this cruel Act of Injustice, which had been done in his Name during the time of his distraction, restored his Memory and Family again to their former honour; and the Celestins of Paris, to whom he had given his House of Marcoussy, went and took down his Body from the Gibbet at Monfaucon, four Months after his Death, and having performed his Funeral Offices in the most Magnificent manner they could, they interred his Body at Marcoussy, where they raised him a Mo∣nument, which remains at this day. This was a rare example of gratitude and generosity in

Monks, as is well observed by Juvenal des Ʋrsius Arch-Bishop of Reins, a faithful Historian of that Kings Reign.

Near the Rüe Montorgueil is the Hôtel de Bour∣gogne; which House the ancient Dukes of that name formerly gaveto the Brotherhood of the Pas∣sion established in the Church of Trinity-Hospital in the Rüe S. Denis, on condition that they should represent here interludes of Devotion; but since those times Peoples Relish being changed, they have since represented here other Plays of Profane Subjects. And at present the Italian Comedians are possessed of this House, since the union of the two Companies of French Players, which the King caused three or four years ago. This Thea∣tre is perhaps one of the Ancientest of Europe, for it is thought that there have been publick Shows in this place six hundred years ago. In former times Comedies were only represented by wandring Companies of Pilgrims of the holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, who were since called Jongleurs. These having no certain Residence used at the corners of Streets, to relate the Adventures which they had met with in their Travels, and People being concerned at their stories, and com∣miserating the several dangers they had passed through, would give them very liberally conside∣rable Alms. The ancient Dukes of Burgundy, seeing People take some pleasure in hearing them, he gave them a Room in his Hôtel, where all people might come and hear them with better conveniency than in the Street. But in time, these Masters of devout Subjects degenerated into profane Tales, and in effect so very profane that they became meer Farces and very irregular re∣presentations. In such sort that Christianity could

not honestly permit them. Thus it lasted during the ignorance of those Ages. And it was this that still gives occasion to those who do not con∣sider the difference between this ancient sort of Comedies and those now acted, to consound all together. Whereas in truth the nature of Co∣medy is so far changed, by the care of the great Cardinal de Richelieu, that there remains nothing of that which made it Condemned.

ADjoyning to the Rüe Montorgüeil, is the Rüe Mont-martre, and divers little streets run from one to the other, the Principal of which is the Rüe de Cleri in which stands the House of M. Bertelot, Intendant of the Houshold to Madam the Dauphiness. It is composed of two joyning Courts, of a very particular design. The Furniture is very handsom.

Near this is another House belonging to the Sieur Rolland, built after the designs of Monsieur des Argues a famous Architect: by the outward appearance you may easily conclude that it be∣longs to one of an excellent Judgment. But the inside and the Front next the Court surpass all the rest. Nothing can be more regular nor bet∣ter proportioned than the Staircase, which is raised upon a very odd sort of Plan, and where the Ar∣chitect had need of all his Art and Study to have made it as it is.

This is all of note in this Quarter. Some other things there may be of which I have not spoke; but they appear of so little Consideration that they are not thought worth mentioning. In the next place we pass to