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 Convent of the Minims.

These Fathers were setled here in the year 1590: Their Church is one of the neatest and lightest in Paris, and tho the Portal is not finished, yet that hinders not but that it is very remarkable, in regard the famous Mansard made the design. The Pillars of the first Order are Doricks; but these Fathers having occasion for a Tribune they caused one to be raised over this Portal, and adorned it with Pillars on the outside, which do not at all agree with that part which was begun by such an able Master. Their Altar is also of the better sort, contrived with Corinthian Pillars of black Marble, flatted, the only in all France of this manner. The Ornaments are not superfluous; the Statue of the blessed Virgin is on one side of it, and that of St. Francis of Paula the Founder of this Order, on the other: both these Statues are well wrought. There are several Chappels in this Church well worth seeing, as that of M. the Duke of Vie-ville, whose Altar is all of Marble, in which Chappel there are several Tombs of divers Persons of that Family, of the same materials; That of Monsieur le Camus, the Wainscot in which is gilt very neatly; on one side of the great Altar is the Chappel of St. Francis of Pau∣la, where the life of that Saint hath been painted by the Sieur Viete. Over against this is the Chappel of Monsieur le Jay first President of

Parliament; and lastly that in which is the Tomb of Madame the Dutchess of Angoulesine, curi∣ously adorned with Marble Figures.

Within the House, you ought to see tho Li∣brary, where are some Books of no small value. But that which is most remarkable is a Collection of Rituals, gathered by M. de Launoy, Doctor in Theology, one who hath justly pass'd for one of the ablest Criticks of our times in Church-An∣tiquities, who by his profound knowledge has cleared many things of which we had but very obscure Notions. He lies interred in the Church belonging to these Fathers, to whom he bequeath∣ed by his Will two hundred Crowns, and half his Library The following Epitaph was made for him by Monsieur Clement Counsellor in the Court of Aydes and is to be placed on his Tomb.

D. O. M.
Hic jacet Joannes Launoius, Constantiensis, Parisiensis Theologus,
Qui veritatis assertor perpetuus, jurium Eccle∣siae & Regis acerrimus vindex:
Vitam innoxiam exegit,
Opes neglexit & quantulumcunque, ut relicturus, Satis habuit.
Multa scripsit nulla spe, nullo timore.
Optimam famam, maximamque venerationem apud probos adeptus est.
Annum septimum & septuagesimum decessit.
Animam Christo consignavit die Martii 10.
Anno 1678. Hoc Monunentum amico jucundissimo poni curavit Nicolaus le Camus Supremae Subsidi∣orum Curiae Princeps.

Sacred to Almighty God.

Here lies John Launoy, Native of Constance A Parisian Divine, Who being the constant defender of Truth, and of the Rites of the Church and King, spent his life innocent and unblamable. He despised Riches, and was contented with a very little, as knowing he must quickly leave it. He writ many things, free from either hope or sear. He acquired a very great Reputation and Respect among good men. He resigned his Soul to his Saviour in the seventy seventh year of his age, March 10. 1678.

To his dear Friend, Nicolas le Camus Chief Offi∣cer of the Exchequer erected this Monument.

There are also in this Library certain pieces of Opticks made by the famous Father de Niseron, a Parisian, one of the most knowing Men in this Science that hath perhaps ever appeared in this Age. He hath left us a Volume of that Art, very much estemed; it was he also who caused to be painted in the Dortoir of this House, the Figures of St. John, and the Magdelain, which Figures extend the whole length of the two Gal∣leries, and which they cannot see in their true proportion, but from a point marked for you to stand in. This Learned Person had enriched the Publick with many other things had not death ta∣ken him from us in an Age wherein he did but begin to discover his wonderful wit and parts.

The Refectory of this Convent is very hand∣som, and of late years has been painted round about with Landskips and Solitudes, which en∣tertain the thoughts of the Religious while they are at their meals with Ideas remote from the af∣fairs of this World. It is well known that these Fathers live in great austerity, and that the de∣sign of their institution hath taken in almost all that is rigorous in the other Orders.

Before you leave the Marais du Temple, you ought to observe that the greatest part of the Houses in this Quarter have been built within these fifty or sixty years, and that the Ground on which they stand was formerly a marish and em∣ployed in great Gardens which furnished Paris with Roots and Kitchin Herbs. At present it is a handsom Quarter, whose habitations are very conveniently built, and therein a great number of Persons of Quality inhabit.