The Greve.
This is the only place in Paris where they make the publick shews of Joy and Triumph. Here are made the Bonfires on the Eve of St. John Baptist, and at other times when France hath gained any Victories over her Enemies.
The Hôtel de Ville takes up one side of this Place. It was built in the Reign of Francis I. who laid the first Stone himself. The Archite∣cture is however a little Gotique; that is to say, it is not altogether according to the gust of the present age, in which the old Roman and Greek proportions are studied with more care and ex∣actness, Artists endeavouring every day to re-e∣stablish this curious Science in the same perfecti∣on that it had under the Reign of Augustus. The Statue of Henry IV. is placed over the Gate, re∣presented on Horseback in Demi-bosse, upon a Ground of black Marble. The Horse was copi∣ed from that of Marcus Aurelius at the Capitol. The Court is but small and enclosed with Build∣ings of the same symmetry. Under one of the Arches at the further end of the Court there is a Statue of the King in the Habit of Hercules, treading under foot that Discord which would have disquieted the beginning of his happy Reign. On the Pedestal which is of Marble as is also the Statue, they have cut some Inscriptions, but such