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The Rue St. Denis.
This Street begins at the great Châtelet, which stands at the end of Pont au Change▪ as we have al∣ready said. In this place the Civil and Criminal Courts are held for the City and Prevôtè (or Pro∣vostship) of Paris; which Jurisdiction is at pre∣sent divided into two parts, according to the course of the River, into the old and new Châtelet; and the Officers know their several Divisions.
The great Butchery, which is near the great Châtelet, is the oldest of all Paris, nay hereto∣fore it was the only one. It did heretofore be∣long to a Community of Townsmen, who made among themselves a kind of little Republick, which bore such Credit and Authority among the Inhabitants, that often times there happened great Disorders through the discontent of these People, who under the Reign of Charles VI. took part with the Factious. At present this Butchery is reunited to the rest of Paris. Further on is
The Hospital of the Nuns of St. Catherine, These are bound to entertain for one night such poor Maids as are in want. They are also obliged to bury the Bodies of those that are found dead in several places, and who are to be exposed some days at the Châtelet to see if they can be known.
Near this is the Church of St. Opportune. This was formerly a Priory of Nuns depending on the Abby of Almaneche in Normandy, with∣in the Diocess of Seeze, but at present it is a Col∣legiate Church of eight or ten Chanons, who here perform the Ecclesiastical Offices. Going still forward, you come to