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 Rue St. Martin.

This Street is one of the longest and straitest of Paris. In the beginning of it, you find the Church of St. Jacques de la Boucherie, remarka∣ble for its high Tower, built out of the Confis∣cate Money of the Jews when they were expelled Paris. It is said that Hamel a famous Chymist was here interred, who found out the secret of the Philosophers Stone in the Reign of Philip Au∣gustus. But it is more credible to believe those who think that the Jews being driven from Paris, he made use of that Money which they had entrusted in his hands and with it built the great Tower of this Church, and the Charnel-houses of St. Inno∣cents, as we have already observed in its place. John Ferne, Physitian to Henry II. is also here interred. He was without dispute one of the learnedst Men in that Science that ever was in France, as one may easily conclude from those wonderful Cures which he performed in the Royal Family, chiefly on Catherine de Me∣dicis. By which one may see the power of Art over Nature it self, when a Person hath once at∣tained the true Mastery in that Profession. His Epitaph is is behind the Quire in these words.

Deo▪ Immortali Opt. Max. & Christo Jesu Hominum Salvatori Sacrum.

Johanni Fernelio Ambianensi Henrici II. Gallia∣rum Reg is Consiliario & primo Medico no∣bilissimo atque optimo reconditarum & pe∣nitus abditarum rerum Scrutatori & Expli∣catori subtilissimo, multorum salutarium Medicamentorum inventori, verae germanae{que} Medicinae restitutori, summo ingenio exqui∣sitaque Doctrina Mathematico, in omni gene∣re Philosophiae claro, omnibus ingenuis artibus instructo, temperatissimis sanctissimis{que} mori∣bus praedito, Socero suo pientissimo Philibertus Bariotius, supplicum Libellorum in Regia Ma∣gister, magnique Regis Concilii Praeses, affi∣nitate gener, pietate filius, moerens posuit. Anno à Salute mortalibus restituta, 1558.

Obiit. XXVI. Aprilis An. M. D. LVIII.

Vixit Annos LIII.

Sacred to the Immortal God, and to Jesus Christ the Saviour of Mankind.

To the memory of Joh. Fernel of Amiens, Counsellor and chief Physician (I may add the noblest and the best) to Henry II. King of France, the searcher out of the most hid∣den and abstruse matters, and the most inge∣nious explainer of them, the inventer of ma∣ny excellent Medicines, the restorer of the true and genuine art of Physick, an incom∣parable

Mathematician, an universal Philoso∣pher, and an absolute Scholar, and besides all this of a holy and unblameable life: to the memory of his most pious Father-in-Law, Philibert Bariot Master of the Re∣quests, and President of his Majesties great Council, in Affinity his Son-in-Law, but in Duty his Son, with much sorrow erected this in the year from the Redemption of the World, 1558.

He died April 26. in the year 1558. Aged 53.

The Crucifix which stands over the Door as you enter into the Quire, is the Work of Sarazin, and much esteemed.

The Church of St Mederic was formerly called S. Peters, but St. Mederic, a Monk of S. Bennet's Order, Native of Autun in Burgundy, dying here in the reputation of Sanctity, this Church took his name, after the same manner as other Chur∣ches had done on like occasions. At present it is Collegiate, composed of twelve Chanons who are obliged to go to the grand Processions at Nôtre∣dame, by reason this Church depends on that Ca∣thedral.

St. Julien des Menestriers. Where at present a Community of Priests inhabit. Formerly this was an Hospital erected by two famous Musicians or Minstrels in the year 1330. for the Relief of poor sick Women.

Cross the way stands the Hall or Office of the Company of East-India Merchants, remarkable for certain Figures over their Gate. After that you come to

The Hôtel de Vic, which has been repaired ve∣ry lately, and does now belong to divers particu∣lar persons. Next you have

St. Nicolas des Champs, founded by King Ro∣bert whose Palace stood near this place, on the ve∣ry same Ground where now is S. Martins. This is the Parish-Church of a very large Parish, and full of People. M. Gassendi, one of the most famous Philosophers of this last Age, is here interred in a Chappel belonging to Monsieur de Monmort. Monsieur Bernier so well known for his profound Learning, and for those famous Travels which he made into the Indies, where he abode some time, hath translated his Works into French for the ease and satisfaction of those who do not understand the Latin Tongue. Near this is

St. Martin des Champs. This Monastery is compassed about with high Walls and Battlements after the ancient fashion, with Towers from space to space as they built in old time; the Church and rest of the Covent, have all the marks of great Antiquity. But the great Altar is according to the Modern, and designed by Mansard. It is composed of four Corinthian Pillars of Marble, of a disposition and proporti∣on worthy so great a Master. The Order of St. Bennet have been a long time possessed of this house. And Monsieur the Abbot de Lionne, Son of the Secretary of State, is Prior hereof, which is a very considerable Revenue. Some think this house was founded by Philip the first or by his Father, King Robert, both which kept their Court in this place. But we read in some Au∣thors that there were here even at that time very ancient Buildings, and that those Kings did only repair them for their own habitation.

The Gate of St. Martin, as well as the Faux∣bourg on this side of the Town, take their names from the Priory of which we have been speaking. This Gate was built in the year 1674. almost at the same time with that of St. Denis. It is a kind of Triumphal Arch, consisting of three passages, of which that in the middle is higher than the other two. The work hath about fif∣ty foot of Front, and as much in heighth, the Architecture is of that sort which is called Bos∣sage rustique, carved with Bas-reliefs over the Arches, above which is a great Cornish of the Dorick Order, and over that an Attick on which are these Inscriptions:

LUDOVICO MAGNO.
VESONTIONE SEQUANISQUE
BIS CAPTIS,
ET FRACTIS GERMANORUM,
HISPANORUM, BATAVORUM
EXERCITIBUS.
PRAEF. ET AEDIL. PONI
C C.
ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXXIV.

To LEWIS the Great.

Besanzon and the Franch Comté being twice taken, and the Armies of the Ger∣mans, Spaniards and Dutch being routed. The Praefect and Aediles caused this to be set up in the Year from the Redemption of the World, 1674.

On the side next the Faux-bourg, you may read this,

LUDOVICO MAGNO.
QUOD LIMBURGO CAPTO,
IMPOTENTES HOSTIUM MINAS
UBIQUE REPRESSIT.
PRAEF. ET AEDIL. PONI
C C.
ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXXV.

To LEWIS the Great.

Who having taken Limburg, silenced every where the vain threats of his Enemies. The Praefect and Aediles caused this to be set up in the year from the Redemption of the World, 1675.

The Rampart that leads from this Gate to that of St. Denis, is planted with a large walk of Trees, which in some years time will make a most plea∣sing place where to take the Air. The design is to continue it round about the Town, behind the Temple and so to the Port St. Anthoine. The Work is already so far advanced that Coaches may conveniently pass from the Porte St. Denis to the Bastille. The Publick is obliged for these ad∣vantagious Works to M. Blondel who designed it thus.

In the Faux-bourg you may see the Church of St. Laurence, formerly an Abby of the Benedictin Order, but at present a Parochial Church, whose

Parish extends a good way into the Town. The Portal of this Church is very handsom, and the Altar is of a very particular design, contrived by the Learned M. le Pautre so well known for his excellent Works in Architecture. The Orna∣ments and Statues belonging to this Church de∣serve to be well observed.

The Fair of St. Laurence begins on the Feast day of this Saint (Aug. 10.) and usually lasts a whole Month. Not long since it was used to be held in the Faux-bourg, but the Fathers of Saint Lazare having built up in a piece of Ground be∣longing to them, certain Houses and Shops proper for this purpose, the Tradesmen found it conve∣nient to remove thither, which yields those Fathers a considerable Revenue. Over against this is

The Convent of the Recollets a neat Place. Here you ought to see some Paintings of Father Luc, a great imitator of Raphael, among others the Picture belonging to the great Altar. Their Library is also very handsom, and the Books neatly bound.

Behind this Monastery stands the great Hospital of St. Lewis. It was sounded by Henry IV. in the year 1607. For those who were visited with the Plague. At present the Convalescents (or those sick who are recovering) of the Hôtel-Dieu, are removed hither for some Weeks, to take the Air.

Mont-Faucon is in the adjoyning Fields. This was formerly the place where they Executed Ma∣lefactors, but serves at present for their Burying∣place.

After we have gone thus far, we ought to re∣turn again, and enter the Town at the nearest Quarter.