safe. Except you desire to return by sea, I would be at the charge of your return by Paris in the spring, observe the manner of trade, how they make wine and vineger, by that we call the rape, which is the husks and stalks of the grape, and how they prepare it for that use. Commend me kindly to Mr Dade and Mr Bendish. Read books which are in french and Latin, for so you may retain and increase your knowledge in Latin: some times draw and limn and practice perspective. We hear the Protestants in France are but hardly used, noe doubt the King will be carefull to keep them low haveing had experience of their strength. However serve God faythfully and be constant to your Religion. The Parliment adjourned last August sets again on the 20th of November when they will publish a strict act for uniformitie in the Church. Our Bishop Dr. Reynolds my loveing friend hath been in Norwich these 3 months; he preacheth often and comes constantly to Christ church on Sunday mornings at the beginning of prayers, about which time the Aldermen also come, he sitteth in his seat against the pulpit, handsomely built up and in his Episcopall vestments, and pronounceth the Blessing or the Peace of God &c. at the end: where there is commonly a very numerous congregation and an excellent sermon by some preacher of the Combination, appointed out of Norfolk and Suffolk, the one for winter the other for sommer. The Bishops set again in the house of Lords and our Bishop is goeing thither. My Lord Townsend is made Ld lieutenant of Norfolk and hath the power of all the Militia, which hath trained by Regiments in severall parts of the Country. Sir Joseph Pain our Collonell trayned our Regiment of the Citty last week. Be temperate and sober in the whole course of your life, keep noe bad or uncivill company be courteous and humble in your Conversation still shunning pudor rusticus, which undoes good natures, and practise an handsome garb and civil boldness which he that learneth not in France travaileth in vain. Gods Blessing be upon you. I rest your ever Loveing father, THO. BROWNE. Corn is very dear the best wheat 4 or 5 and forty shillings the comb which is 4 bushells. The king of Portugal resigns up Tangere a town on Africk side in Barbarie in the midle of the streights mouth, whether my Ld of Peterbourogh is goeing with a Regiment of foot and 2 troops of hors to take possession. All Parliment money must be brought in to the mint and coyned with the Kings stamp and is not to pas corrant beyond December the first. You may stay your stomack with litle pastys some times in cold mornings, for I doubt Sea Larks will be too dear a collation and drawe too much wine down; be warie for Rochell was a place of too much good fellowship and a very drinking town, as I observed when I was there, more then other parts of France. HONEST TOM, Dr. Browne to his son Thomas. I sent November the first a box with letters and other things, by a ship bound for Rochell, but perhaps that may be a month before it comes unto you, and therefore by this of the post I signifie that you may goe to Nantes if you desire and have convenience, and from thence may goe to Paris as you find the season favour. I received the pritty stones and insects, it is good to take notice of quarrys and mines. I know not whether I shall have the convenience to write to you to Nantes as I have here except you signifie by some way, by some English marchants there. God Bless you. Your loveing father, T. B. Nov. ye 2. stilo veterie, [1661.] Dr. Browne to his son Thomas. Jan. 4, 1661 [-2.] HONEST TOM, I have not written unto you since November because I thought you had been removed from Rochell, but now un derstanding you are still there, I send this by land with my good wishes and prayers unto God to bless you, and direct you in all your ways. So order affairs that when you remove, you may be accomodated with money when you come to Paris. There is a book cald les Antiquites de Paris which will direct you in many things, what to look after, that litle time you stay there, beside you may see many good new buildings, since you have been at Rochell you might have seen the Isle of Rhe, and salt works if you had any opertunety. Serve God and honour him with a true sincere heart, your old friend Mr Bradford preacheth tomorrow at Xt church, as being his turn in the Combination, on the 30 of this month an humiliation is to be kept annually for ever by act of Parliment, in order to the expiation of Gods judgments upon the nation for the horrid murther of King Charles the first, acted upon that day. I sent a box unto you by a ship that went to Rochell in the beginning of November. Your mother and all send their good wishes. I rest your Loveing father, T. B. God bless thee. You may learn handsom songs and aires not by book but by the ear as you shall hear them sung. Just as were closing up the box I now send you I received your letter and box, where by I see you are mindfull of us and are not idle. You may surely stay safely in Rochell being strangers, but if you find good convenience I am as willing you should be any where elce, for where ere you are it will be best to move to Paris in the beginning of March, and there is noe citty considerable near Rochell but Nantes, where you will be upon the Loir, on which many good cittys stand. Be guided herein by advice of friends. God bless you. By this time I hope you have received the former box I sent about a month agoe. I wish you had acquaintance with some Protestant in Nantes if you goe thither or might be recommended, for there are English also. Your ever loveing father, T. B. The following narrative, preserved in the British Museum, affords the only additional particulars which have been met with of young Browne's residence in France. Though headed " My Journey from Bordeaux to Paris," it comprises the periods of his residence at Sainctes, Rochelle, and Nantes, which were considerable. [MS. SLOAN. 1745. fol. 22.] My Journey from Bordeaux to Paris. BORDEAUX is the capital city of Guienne, a very ancient strong place, situated very commodiously on the south side of the river Garonne, which by its bending course makes it in the shape of an half-moon. It is also an archbishoprick, a parliament city, and university. The parliament was first set up by Charles VII, after that he had put the English out of Guienne. There are divers remarkable things in this place, made not only by the Romans but since their time, as the Amphitheatre of Galienus, a little out of the city, of an oval form, very large and spatious, but now very much ruined. There is also a very ancient and noble building, standing within the city, called, Piliers de Tutèle, consisting of very large and high pillars, whereof there are at this day standing eighteen. There are also two castles of later date. The one called Château du Huy, which was built by Charles VII; the other named Château Trompette, built also by him, but is now much enlarged by Louis XIV, and thought impregnable. The cathedral church of St. Andrew stands near the walls of the city, where is also the archbishop's house, a very noble building. There is also a very remarkable church, out of the town, called St. Severin, which gives the name unto the suburbs wherein it standeth. On the 26th of January [1661-2] I left Bordeaux, and took boat for Blaye; where I arrived about nine o'clock that night. It is an ancient town, seated by the river; and hath a very VOL. I. C strong castle belonging unto it, said to be built by Charles the Great; where in late times the English ships passing to Bordeaux were obliged to leave their ordnance, and take them again as they returned. From here I went to Pons, which stands upon a hill, upon the top whereof there is a castle belonging to the family d'Albret. In the castle there is a very high four-square tower, from whence one may see the city of Sainctes, four leagues off. To this place are sent such malefactors as are taken in the seigneurie of Pons; and in a fair hall of this castle are pourtraited, as big as the life, all the chiefest of the family d'Albret, masters of this place, some whereof have been kings of Navarre. This hath been a walled town; but now the walls are rased. From thence, through a fine champian country, I came to Sainctes, the chief city of Xaintoing (St. Onge,) standing on the river Charente; a very pleasant place, and a bishoprick. The cathedral church of St. Peter hath a very large steeple, but no spire. The church was broken down by the protestants, but is now rebuilded. Here hath been a very strong and ancient castle, which is now somewhat demolished. It was rased towards the town by Louis XIII, a little before the siege of La Rochelle, where were found some urns and many Roman coins. Besides the city here are three suburbs; the one on the north side, called the suburb of Notre Dame, where there is an ancient abbey of nuns, built by Geoffroy Count of Xainctes; the other, on the east side, called the Fauxbourg des Britoniens, where is the ancient church of St. Eutropius, who, being sent to convert France, was martyred and buried here; and his head is shown with the wound he received at his death. Under the choir of St. Eutropius's church, (like that of St. Faith's, under St. Paul's,) lieth the body of St. Eutropius: but on one day only, the last of April, when there is a great fair kept here, his head is to be seen or shown. There are also still to be seen some remains of Roman magnificence; as, an amphitheatre, in a valley a little out of the town, nigh unto St. Eutrope; but is much ruined. I took the draught thereof, and have set it down in my papers. There is also an ancient canal and aqueduct; but, above all, two stately 9 By an edict of Louis XI, in 1475. |