Ah! I spoke too soon. Must always try to find Primary sources.
There is a nice online version of the Dictionnaire de l'Académie
Française published in 1694, sixty years after the founding of the
Académie by the Cardinal Richelieu. It is to be found at
[http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/efts/ARTFL/projects/dicos/ACADEMIE/PREMIERE/premiere.html].
Even with my minimal knowledge of French , it's very interesting.
Under 'Excellence' appears this definition:
"Excellence, est aussi, Un titre d'honneur que l'on donne aux
Ambassadeurs, & à quelques Seigneurs de qualité. Il est au dessous
d'Altesse, & au dessus de Grandeur. Monseigneur, s'il plaist à vostre
Excellence. j'ay executé les ordres de vostre Excellence. j'ay escrit à
son Excellence Monseigneur l'Ambassadeur. "
I read this as:
"Excellence is also a title of honor which one gives to Ambassadors &
some Lords of quality. It is below Highness and above Grandeur." Then
there are some examples of usage: "vostre Excellence", ie. "Your Excellenc(y)".
I also looked up Grandeur:
..."is sometimes a title of honor which one gives while speaking, or
writing to a great Lord. " Usage is suggested as "vostre Grandeur"
The true pedant could go on and on, but I think I shall leave it here :)
Tim
