Pièce 21 - Récit par Edward Browne de sa visite à Saint-Germain-en-Laye

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« We dined at Rueil and in the afternoon we cross’d the Seine twice and came to St. Germaines. Wee entred a great Court Yard and left a Chasteau well ditchd on the left hand, and a Teniscourt on the right (this is the Kings house), wee went forward to the house, of which the front is supported with noble round pillers.
Here was no Entrance for us and we despairing to get in, by great fortune there came two Capucins, under whose conduct wee saw the house. The Hangings were taken downe, but the roomes were nobly guilt and Painted, the roofe especially. Of two Galleries the one [was] hang’d with very rarey painted pieces and the other with the Mapps of great Cities. Out of these Galleries you have the noblest Prospect hereabouts. We went out on the other side of the house and so descended by those three stately cloisters, which stand one above another, supported with vast Pillers, and made pleasant with waters workes, and makes a noble showe a great way before you come at the house. Afterwards you descend into a Garden, and so lower into a Medow, till you come at the Water side from whence the house stands a great height, and is seen all about the Coutrey. Wee lodged this night at Le Pec a little town by the river sid and [vide]. »

Edward Browne, Journal of a Visit to Paris in the Year 1664, éd. Geoffrey Keynes, Londres, John Murray, 1923, p. 20