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 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

as are not thought material to be repeated here, in regard they contain nothing remarkable, nor recount any passage of History that can be useful to the curious.

In the Rooms there are some Pictures repre∣senting the Prevosts des Marchands and the Es∣chevins of the past Age, and of this also in their proper habits. At the two ends of the great Hall over the two Chimneys there are placed the Por∣traits of the King in his Royal Robes and his Scepter in his hand. In this Hall they Assemble to elect their Prevosts des Marchands and Esche∣vins. The Windows that look upon the Greve at publick Shews and Rejoicings, are filled with Persons of the greatest Quality, who are some∣times treated here very magnificently at the Char∣ges of the City.

To make the Entry into the Greve more con∣venient, they have within five or six years last past opened a way from the Pont de Nôtre-Dame to this place all along the River, which they have adorned with a very handsom Key of Free-stone. They have also built on this Key several Houses of the same Symmetry, inhabited by good Trades∣men. This beautiful Enterprize was begun un∣der the Prevost-ship of Monsieur Pelletier, at present Controller-general of the Finances, and all that was performed under his administration has been as well for the Publick good, as for the Beauty of the City. The People have as an eter∣nal mark of their acknowledgment, given this place the new name of le Quay Pelletier, though through a modesty that hath had but few exam∣ples, he himself would never suffer his name to appear in any of those Works which have been raised by his order. As you enter on that side

next the Bridge of Nôtre-dame you will see the following Inscription in black Marble, over which is the Kings Picture in a Medaillon.

AUSPICIIS
LUDOVICI MAGNI
HANC RIPAM
FOEDAM NUPER ET INVIAM NUNC PUBLICUM ITER ET ORNAMENTUM URBIS
F. CC.
PRAEF. ET AEDIL.
ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXXV.

By the Favour of Lewis the Great the Pro∣vost and Aediles have made this Bank which was before dirty and unpassable, a fair Street and the Ornament of the City. In the year from the Redemption of the World, 1675.

As you go from the Greve you pass by the Church of St. John, formerly a Chappel depen∣ding on that of St. Gervais, and which was built, as some will have it in the Reign of Charles the Fair in the year 1326. That which deserves particular observation is the Vault that supports the Organs which is of a manner really very hardy, and the little door next the Cloister which is of the Ionick Order.

The following Epitaph will not be unpleasant to the Curious to read, for they will find it ex∣traordinary, it is near the Crucifix of this Church.

Cy repose Alain Veau, celui auquel l'inte∣grité & fidelité au maniment des Finances sous le Roi Francois I. Henri II. Francois II. & Charles IX. a pour une heureuse recom∣pense acquis sans envie, ce beau titre de Tresorier sans Reproche. Il deceda le I. de Juin 1575.

Passant priez Dieu pour lui.

Here resteth Alain Veau, whose Integrity and Fidelity in his management of the Finances under King Francis I. Henry II. Francis II. and Charles IX. hath as a happy recompence gained him, without Envy, the glorious Title of the Treasurer without Reproach. He de∣ceased June 1. 1575.

As you pass by pray for him.

A little further is the Church of St. Gervais, It is one of the ancientest Parishes in Paris, as may be seen in the History of St. Germain, Bishop of this Town, who lived in the year 578. In favour of which he wrought here a Miracle as Fortunatus Bishop of Pottiers reports in his History. The Body of this Church is very well built, but according to the Gothick way, with high raised Roofs, and Chappels round about; in one of which under the Croisée on the left hand, you may see some Paintings after the man∣ner of le Sueur who was one of the best Painters of this Age, next to the famous Poussin, and of whom we shall have occasion to speak more at large hereafter; the Paintings in the Windows which represent the Martyrdom of St Gervais and the Picture over the Altar are of his hand. The Tapistry which they expose here on the great

Feasts are very well wrought; the Originals from which these were Copied are in the Nave of the Church, and were painted by the said le Sueur and Champaigne. They represent the History of St. Gervais and St. Protais, and the manner how their holy Bodies were found at Millain through the Prayers of St. Ambrose, who mentions this matter in his Epistles.

But this is not that which ought most to em∣ploy the Curious, the magnificent Portal will entertain their view with much greater pleasure, and make them acknowledge that they cannot elsewhere see any thing more handsom or regular. It is composed of three Greek Orders, one over the other, viz. of the Dorick, the Ionick, and the Corinthian, whose proportions are so handsom and so exact, that in the judgment of the famous Cavalier Bernin himself, there is nothing more finished and perfect in all Europe. The Pillars are fluted, without any other Ornaments than what are proper to themselves. These three Or∣ders compose a Fabrick of a very great heighth and perfectly pleasing to the sight: Had the place before it been larger, nothing had been wanting to set off this Work in all its magnificence. The Reputation of this Building belongs to the Sieur de Brosse, he who made the designs for the Pa∣lace of Luxemburg, and the Temple at Charen∣ton. However we must not think him the only Artist, we must know that Clement M••tezeau was employed with him; this is he who under∣took the Ditch of Rochel, as hath been already mentioned when we treated of the Gallery at the Louvre, and who was one of the ablest Ar∣chitects of his time. He was born of a conside∣rable Family at Dreux, and was much esteemed

by Cardinal de Richelieu, who perfectly well un∣derstood Persons merit. Monsieur de Fourcy, Counsellor in the Parliament, and Intendant-ge∣neral of the Buildings under Lewis XIII. Father to Monsieur the President de Fourcy, a person more renowned at present for his Merit and Probi∣ty, than for the dignity of his Charge, was at that time honorary Church-warden of this Church; It was he that undertook this great Work, toge∣ther with M. de Onon and M. de Saint Genis, his Collegues in the Office. Lewis XIII. laid the first Stone, and in a very little time this mar∣vellous Structure was finished as we now see it.

From this Church of St. Gervais, to the mid∣dle of the Rüe St. Antoine is nothing conside∣rable. You pass before the Church-yard of S. John where is at present a Market-place. Here formerly stood the Hôtel of Pierre de Craon who murder∣ed the Constable Olivier du Clisson in the Reign of Charles VI. whose House was demolished and rased to the Ground in the year 1392. as a pu∣nishment for that Fact. After this you come to

The Hotel de Beauvais, which shews a very handsom Front to the Street, adorned with three Balconies. The Masons Work is en Bossage with very neat Ornaments. The Gate is large, and tho the Court be but very small it is howe∣ver compassed about with Buildings where the several Orders of Architecture are well observed. The Stair-case is supported with Pillars, and em∣bellished with many Ornaments. As for the A∣partments they are extreme pleasant and com∣passed about with a long Balustrade of Iron, leading quite round the Court, into which the doors open.

As often as there hath been any great Sight to be held in the Rüe St. Antoine, this fair house hath been made use of by those of the Royal Fa∣mily. At the famous Carousel that was in the year 1661. a great number of Princesses and Ladies of the Court placed themselves here to see that magnificent Train pass by from the Place Royal where they assembled to go to the open place before the Palace of the Tuilleries, in which they were to perform their Courses.

Over against this stands the Church of little St. Antoine, which hath nothing in it of Beauty, and its very simplicity hath made it sufficiently known that it formerly served for an Hospital; and was founded for those who were afflicted with that Epidemical Disease called St. Anthonys Fire. A Distemper which hath been now ceased this two or three Ages. The Confraternity of St. Claude hath been a long time established in this Church, but it is much decayed from what it was in former times, for it is evident that under the Reign of Charles VI. their Founder, all the great Lords of the Court, caused their names to be here inrolled after his Example, and made con∣siderable Presents in favour of this Saint. The Community of these Fathers is but small and does not ordinarily exceed the number of twenty Religious men, they are Chanons regular of S. Au∣gustin, and bear on their Breasts the Letter T. much like a Cross. The head of their Order is in Dauphine not far from Vicnne. On the same side of the way is

The Hòtel de St. Pol, where formerly our Kings inhabited, as some Historians would make us believe But at the same time others would have it that the Palace des Tournelles was so cal∣led

before it was rebuilt by Francis I. who cau∣sed a great number of small Towers to be placed there upon the Walls. In short, this Hôtel is at present inhabited by Madame de Chavigny, wi∣dow of the Secretary of State so called. It is one of the greatest Houses in all Paris. The A∣partments look upon the Garden and are magni∣ficently Furnished: The Pictures and such like beautiful Ornaments are here in abundance. The Court is great and can contain many Coaches. However one thing is wanting in this House and that is a great Stair-case. Monsieur de Chavigny had a design to have built one, and continued some other Works that seemed imperfect, but Death suffered him not to perform what he pro∣posed. However that hinders not but this house is notwithstanding one of the most capacious and convenient; it is also most delicious in Sum∣mer, by reason of that pleasing Odour which comes from the Orangers especially in the lower Rooms next the Garden▪