SteveM wrote: Demas is a paper trader - but he is referenced in regard to supplying paper for card-makers, it is Jean Guynier who was the Valet du Chamber of the King - (it was not unusual for specialist tradesmen to be chosen to be valets - valet were not alway noblemen in training! )

This makes more sense, I think. In German we have the expression "Hoflieferant" and this function was advertised.

1606 Promise by Etienne DEMAS, a merchant residing at Thiers, being lodged in Paris at Jean GUYMIER's, Cartier and King's valet, rue Aubry-le-Boucher, to Benign LE ROY, a bourgeois merchant of Paris, residing in the Rue Aubry-le-Boucher : To deliver to him by boat to the port of Saint-Paul, all the time that the lease of the FIRM will last from the imposition on cards, tarots and dice in this Kingdom, made by the Council of the King to Mr. Pierre de CHAURAIS seigneur Of LA MORINIERE, all the paper of end cartier, way of Ambert and Thiers, fine Spanish, gros, etc., suitable for the manufacture of cards and tarots of this kingdom, up to 2,000 reams, 250 reams and 1000 reams per year.

The paper merchant Demas from Thiers is in Paris lodging with Jean Guymier (cardmaker and king's valet)

while there he (Demas) comes to an agreement with Benign Le Roy, a merchant of Paris - (this Benign has several dealings with the King's valets in the records) - to supply him with paper suitable for the manufacture of cards and tarots - cards were reportedly very popular with Henry IV and his court -

As King's Valet JG would have had contact with Mary de Medici,(?) and discuss with her the subject of cards, perhaps of Italian Tarot? His role as Valet, being a Cartier, was probably in the supply and managing of games -

I wonder which of the cartiers was selected to dress up as a muskateer to celebrate the entrance of the Queen into the City?

SteveM wrote:1606 Promise by Etienne DEMAS, a merchant residing at Thiers, being lodged in Paris at Jean GUYMIER's, Cartier and King's valet, rue Aubry-le-Boucher, to Benign LE ROY, a bourgeois merchant of Paris, residing in the Rue Aubry-le-Boucher : To deliver to him by boat to the port of Saint-Paul, all the time that the lease of the FIRM will last from the imposit

Rue Aubry-Le-Boucher has 270 meter distance to the Tour Jacques, leads to Rue St. Martin (a rather long street), where later Vieville has his shop.

Later added: I had a stupid error about Leroy ... "The contract of 1648 Vieville to "Francoise Leroy" (16 years old) for 5 years might be related, though Leroy is a rather popular name." ... the correct name of Vieville's pupil was Loyer not Leroy.

Huck wrote: The contract of 1648 Vieville to "Francoise Leroy" (16 years old) for 5 years might be related, though Leroy is a rather popular name.

Yes it was popular name - There was a Nicolas Leroy cardmaker c1700 - a relation? Or just a common name?
(But my link says Francoise Loyer, not Leroy)*



SteveM
*
Minutes et répertoires du notaire Gervais MANCHON, 1er juillet 1643 - 4 mars 1656 (étude X)
Minutes de Gervais MANCHON
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Minutes. 1648, janvier - juin
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CARTIER-PAPETIER (Maître) juré (Apprentissage) § Mise en apprentissage de François LOYER, âgé de 16 ans, pour 5 ans, chez Jacques VIEVILLE maître CARTIER-PAPETIER, moyennant 60 livres.
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Loyer NOT Leroy ... :-) ... my stupid error, sorry, I hope, it does not happen too often. I repaired that.