DOMAIN XI. DECOMPOSED. 



Chavennes; the number of the inhabitants was 

 about two and twenty hundred persons, but it 

 was much more nobly built ; for besides the 

 great palace of the Francken, that cost some 

 millions, there were many other palaces that 

 were built by several rich factors, both of Milan 

 and the other parts of Italy, who liked the 

 situation and air, as well as the freedom of the 

 government of this place -, so they used to come 

 hither during the heats, and here they gave 

 themselves all the indulgences that a vast wealth 

 could furnish. By one of the palaces that was 

 a little distant from the town, which was not 

 overwhelmed with it, one may judge of the rest. 

 It was an outhouse of the family of the Francken, 

 and yet it may compare with many palaces in 

 Italy; and certainly house and gardens could 

 not cost so little as one hundred thousand crowns. 

 The voluptuousness of this place became very 

 crying ; and Madame de Salis told me, that she 

 had heard her mother often relate some passages 

 of a protestant minister's sermons, that preached 

 in a little church, which those of that religion 

 had there, and warned them often of the terrible 

 judgments of God which were hanging over their 

 heads, and that he believed would suddenly 

 break out upon them. On the 25th of August, 

 1618, an inhabitant came and told them to be 



