Pietas Romana et Parisiensis, or, A faithful relation of the several sorts of charitable and pious works eminent in the cities of Rome and Paris the one taken out of the book written by Theodorus Amydenus ; the other out of that by Mr. Carr.

The Hospital called the Providence,

Was founded by that most incomparable Queen Regent, Anne de Austrice, bestowing a House and spacious garden upon the Inhabitants, situated in St. Marceaux Suburbs, and erect∣ing it into a Seminary; where there are always about eighty in number. In this are settled a company of grave Maids; who live most regularly and exemplarly in secular state, being very gravely and modestly attired after the manner of good widdows in the world. Their blessed imployment is to receive gratis, instruct, and direct (in order to their present and fu∣ture happiness) certain poor Maids, who are destitute of parents and means: and consequent∣ly run great hazard, to lose that which can never afterwards be recovered; and to be put withal, together with that irreparable loss, into the high way of perdition. Meanwhile all the other pious inventions of Paris had not reached to the prevention of this danger. For however there are multitudes of Hospitals for the education of poor Girls of a meaner con∣dition:

yet these here, to whom the Queen Regent extended her charity, being for the most part Gentlewomen of noble extraction and condition, Hospitals would but very ill suit with hearts born to better; which accord∣ing to humane frailty flesh and blood cannot easily forget.

It was her care then and liberality which provided them of this safe Sanctuary, where they are secured from the arrow flying in the day, from business walking in the night, from invasion, and the Mid day devil. And while they happily live in this holy vacancy from danger, they so improve themselves in vertue and good works, that some of them become capable thereby to be admitted into some cha∣ritable Monastery: others in time meet with marriages suitable to their conditions: and some finally by their ripeness in vertue, and care to follow the footsteps of their Mistresses, are judged fit to be made Mistresses themselves, and to remain there to exhibite the like Charities to others, as they themselves have received.