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 Temple.

This old Building still keeps the name of the Knights Templers of Jerusalem to whom it for∣merly belonged. It is well known what a cruel dis∣grace befel them under the reign of Philip the fair. The Croisades (or Pilgrimages to the Holy Land) being ceased, by reason of the Turks general In∣vasion in all parts of Palestine, these Knights whose Institution was to conduct the Pilgrims to the Holy Places, thought themselves excused from that Office any longer, in which there was such apparent Danger: Hereupon they amassed up vast Riches, and withal became so proud and disso∣lute, that as Historians say, Pope C••ement V. and Philip the fair agreed together to ruin and utterly abolish the whole Order, as a punishment for their Crimes and scandalous Debauchery. They began with the great Master, who with two of his Companions the most illustrious of the Order, the Pope under a specious pretext sent for out of the Isle of Cyprus. As soon as they were come to Paris they were committed to Prison, and being cruelly tortured till they confessed those in∣famous Crimes which were pretended to be pro∣ved against them, they were at last condemned to be burnt alive at the place now called the Greve.

It is reported, but with no great assurance, that at the instant of their Execution, Molay, who was the great Master, cited the Pope and the King to appear before God in a years time. Whether this Circumstance be true or not, certain it is that the Pope died in less then forty days and the King hardly lived to the years end.

From that time the Temple came to the Kings possession by Confiscation, who for some time kept here their Court, but afterwards gave it to the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusa∣lem, who at last made this their Provincial House, for the French Province. Monsieur the Com∣mandeur de Vendome, is at present Grand Prior, which brings him yearly a Revenue of above 20000 Crowns. This place is very spacious, in∣closed about by ancient Walls; supported with Towers; the House which the Grand Prior inhabits, was built of late time by Monsieur de Souvray Grand Prior also; he was Son of the Mareschal de Souvray, Governor to Lewis XIII. But death prevented him from compleating the Edifice; so much as is done is of the design of the Sieur de Lisle, an able Architect, who had built quite round the Court, and made a Gallery sup∣ported by Pillars, of which we see the beginning, had the Master lived; the Lodgings are at the further end of this Court, with two Stair-cases in the two Pavilions of the two Wings. All these things are of a very handsom Symmetry.

Within the inclosure of the Temple you ought to see the house of Monsieur Fremont de Ablan∣cour, a Jeweller. Formerly there were many Jewellers who inhabited in this place, and made counterfeit Jewels very neatly, but of late years they have not been admitted to be here any lon∣ger. Yet it is still to be observed that all the Artists who work here are exempt from the Ju∣risdiction of the City Companies. And this is the reason that abundance of People who are no Free men and have not served their time, take refuge within the Privilege of this Place. Over the way is the Monastery of

The Nuns of St. Elizabeth. Whose Portal hath two rows of Pilasters, with Statues and other Ornaments well contrived. The inside of the Church is very well.

The Gate that leads into the Fields on this side the Town is taken down, and there is no doubt but another will be raised in the place, as handsom as the rest which have been new built elsewhere.