OX GARDENS 213 



spring, which they say being first discover'd by a dog, 

 gave occasion of beautifying this place, both with the 

 Palace and Gardens. The rocks at some distance in 

 the Forest, yeald one of the most august & stupendous 

 prospects imaginable. The Parke about this place 

 is very large, and the Towne is full of noblemen's 

 houses. 



1 April. I went to see more exactly the roomes of 

 the fine Palace of Luxemburge, in the Fauxborg St. 

 Germains, built by Mary de Medices, and I think one 

 of the most noble, entire, and finish'd piles that is to 

 be seen, taking it with the garden and all its accom- 

 plishments. The gallery is of the painting of Rubens, 

 being the history of the Foundresses life, rarely 

 designed ; at the end of it is the Duke of Orleans's 

 Library, well furnished with excellent bookes, all 

 bound in maroquin and gilded, the valans of the 

 shelves being of greene velvet fring'd with gold. In 

 the cabinet joyning it are onely the smaler volumes, 

 with 6 cabinets of medails, and an excellent collection 

 of shells, and achates, whereof some are prodigiously 

 rich. This Duke being very learn'd in medails and 

 plants, nothing of that kind escapes him. There are 



