The present state of France containing a general description of that kingdom corrected and purged from the many gross mistakes in the French copy, enriched with additional observations and remarks of the new compiler, and digested into a method conformable to that of the state of England / by R.W. ...

A List of the Dutchies and Peerages, with the time of their Creation, and the persons that possess such of them as are not either extinct, or reunited, ac∣cording to the Order of their verification in the Par∣liament.

Philip the Fair Erected

Britany into a Dukedom and Peerage, in 1297. which was united by the Marriage of Anne the last Heiress to the French King.

Charles the Fourth, called the Fair, Erected

La Marche into a Dutchy, in 1327. which was made a County and Peerage by Philip the Long, in 1316. It is reunited to the Crown.

Philip of Valois Erected

Bourbon into a simple Dutchy, in 1329. It was gi∣ven to the late Prince of Condé, whose Grandchild now bears the Title.

Orleans, into a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1344. It

was given in Apanage to the Kings only Brother King John Erected

Anjou into a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1350. It is now the Apanage and Title of the Dauphins second Son.

Bar le Duc, made a simple Dutchy in 1357. and reunited to the Crown by a Donation verified in Parliament, in 1662.

Berry, a simple Dutchy, and antient County, Ere∣cted in 1360. and given to the Dauphins third and last Son.

Touraine, made a simple Dutchy, and reunited to the Crown.

Auvergne, made a simple Dutchy, in 1360. It was reunited to the Crown, but since given to the House of Boüillon, under the Title of County, in ex∣change of the Principalities of Sedan, &c. by a Contract verified in 1652.

Charles the Sixth Erected

Valois into a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1402. and is a part of the Apanage of the Duke of Orleans, the Kings Brother.

Nemours, made a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1404. It was bought by the Dukes of Nemour, of the House of Savoy, for 100000 Livers, of Francis the First, in 1528. It now belongs to the Duke of Orleans.

Alençon, of an antient County, made a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1413. It belongs at present to the Dutchess Dowager of Guise.

Lewis the Twelfth Erected

Longueville, into a simple Dutchy, of which we have spoke already.

Francis the first Erected

Vendome into a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1514. It is at present, possessed by the Duke of that Name, of whom we have spoken among the Princes.

Chatelleraud, of an ancient County, made a Duke∣dom and Peerage in 1514. which was given to, and sometime possest by the Hamiltons of Scotland, but

is now enjoyed by Madamoiselle of Montpensier, the Kings Aunt.

Angoulême, made a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1515. Extinct.

Dunois, Erected into a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1525. by the Queen Regent, Mother to Francis the First, but not verified in Parliament.

Guise, made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1527. and verified in 1528. It belongs to Madamoiselle de Guise, of whom, among the Princes.

Chartres, Erected into a simple Dutchy, by Francis the First, in 1528. together with Montar∣gis and Gisors. It belongs to the Duke of Orleans.

Estouteville, a simple Dutchy Erected in 1534. of which already.

Etampes, a simple Dutchy, made a County and Peerage in 1326. and afterwards, a Dutchy, in 1536. It belongs now to the Duke of Vendome, given to that House first by Queen Margarite.

Montpensier, made a Dutchy and Peerage in 538. confirmed as to the Peerage in 1608. It be∣longs to Madamoiselle Anne-Marie Lewise of Orleans, the Kings Aunt.

Beaumont le Sonnois, or Beaumont le Vicomte, made a simple Dutchy in 1543. It is now reunited to the Crown.

Henry the Second Erected

Aumale into a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1547. and verified the next year, and confirmed in 1631.

Albret Erected in 1556. which was reunited to the Crown, but since given to the House of Boüillon, by a Contract verified in 1652.

Beaupreau, a simple Dutchy, Erected in 1562. it belongs to the Duke of Brissac.

Chateau Thierry, together with Chatillon sur Marne, and that of Epernay, Erected in 1566. given like∣wise to the House of Boüillon, without reverting to the Crown for want of Heirs Male.

Penthiêvre, in Britany, made a Dutchy and Peer∣age

in 1569. It belongs to the House of Ven¦dome.

Evreux, first a County and Peerage in 1316. and since made a simple Dutchy in 1569. reunited since that to the Crown, and lastly, given to the House of Boüillon in 1652.

Ʋses, of which we have spoken.

Mayenne, formerly a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1573. It now belongs to the Duke Mazarin.

Mercoeur, Erected first into a Principality, in 1563. and after into a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1569. but not verified in the Parliament of Paris, in 1676. It belongs now to the Duke of Vendome.

St. Fargeau, made a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1569. and Registred in Parliament the same year: It belongs now to Madamoiselle of Orleans, of Mont∣pensier.

Henry the Third Erected

Loudun into a simple Dutchy, in 1589. It belongs to the House of Tremouille.

Joyeuse, made a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1581. It belongs to the Dutchess Dowager of Guise.

Epernon, made a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1581. and verified in Parliament the same year: This Ho∣nour is now extinct, but the Lands belong to M. John B. de Goth de Rouillac.

Elbeuf, made a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1581. and verified in 1582. the present Duke of Elbeuf is mentioned among the Princes.

Brienne, is a simple Dutchy, Erected in 1587. but the Patents are not yet verified.

Montbazon, made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1588. and verified the next year: It was an ancient Baro∣ny: It belongs to M. de Montbazon Prince of Gui∣mené, at present, head of the Eldest Branch of the House of Rohan.

Ventadour, of this we have spoken.

Henry the Fourth Erected

Beaufort into a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1578. and

after into a Dutchy and Peerage, in 1597. It be∣longs now to the Duke of Vendome.

Croüy, Erected into a Dutchy, in 1598. now extinct. But the Lands belong to the Descendants of Charles de Croüy, Duke of Arscot.

Thoüars, an ancient Vicounty, made a Dutchy by Charles the Ninth, and a Peerage by Henry the Great in 1595. and verified as such in 1599. It be∣longs to the House of Tremouille.

Suilly sur Loire: of which we have spoken.

Lewis the Thirteenth Erected

Damville, into a Dutchy and Peerage in 1610. the Honour is now extinct, but the Lands belong to the Duke of Ventadour.

Chateau-roux, made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1616. It belongs to the Prince of Condé.

Maillé Luynes, of which we have spoken.

Les diguieres, already mentioned.

Brissac, spoken of before.

Magnelers, was made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1587, and 1588. under the name of Halwin, and revived in 1611. under the name of Candale: It is now Extinct.

Chaunes, of this we have spoken. As likewise of Villars, Richelieu and Pondevaux.

La Valette, made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1622. and verified as such, in 1631.

Montmorency, made a Dutchy and Peerage in 1551. by Henry the Second, together with Ecoüan, Chan∣tilly, &c. and verified in Parliament the same year: It belongs to the Prince of Condé.

Rais, a Dutchy and Peerage, revived in 1634. by Lewis the Thirteenth, verified the same year, in favour of Peter de Gondy, General of the Gallies, upon his Marrying his Cousin Frances de Gondy, Heiress of the Dutchy.

Fronsac, a Dutchy and Peerage, Erected, or ra∣ther revived in 1634. and Registred the same year. It belongs to the Duke of Richelieu.

Of the Dutchies of St. Simon, La Rochefoucault, La Force, and Aiguillon, we have already spoken.

Valentinois, was a Dutchy and Peerage united to the Crown, but given by Lewis the Thirteenth to the Prince of Monaco, by Letters Patents verified in Parliament in the year 1642.

Rohan, is a Dutchy and Peerage, Erected first by Henry the Great, in 1603. and revived again in 1645. It belongs to Madam de Rohan, Widow of Henry de Chabot.

Nevers, is a Dutchy and Peerage revived in 1660. in favour of Cardinal Mazarin, and belongs now to M. de Mancini.

Of Piney Luxemburg we have spoken, as like∣wise, of the Dutchy of Carignan.

Verneuil, a Dutchy and Peerage, Erected in 1652, and verified in 1663. Extinct.

Of Etrées and Gramont, we have treated al∣ready.

La Meilleraye, verified in 1663. It belongs to Duke Mazarin.

Rethelois Mazarini, revived again in favour of Armand de Mazarini, and verified in Parliament, in 1663.

Of Villeroy, Mortemar, Creqy, St. Aignan, and Foix-Rendan, we have spoken above.

Liancourt, was verified as a Dutchy and Peerage in 1663. but Erected in 1643. It belongs to the Prince of Marsillac.

Of Tremes, or Gevres, and of Noailles, and Coi∣slin, we have treated elsewhere.

These fourteen last Dukes have all place in the Order abovesaid, as if their Patents had all been verified on the 15th of December in 1663. though there be some days difference in the date.

Of Polizy, called otherwise Choiseul, and Plessis Prâlin, and of the Dutchies of Aumont, Senneterre, and Montausier, we have already spoken.

La Valiere, otherwise called Vaujours, is a Dutchy

and Peerage, Erected in 1667. in favour of Mada∣moiselle de la Valiere, and verified in Parliament the same: It now belongs to her Daughter the Princess of Conti.

Of Rouanez, and Chevreuse, we have likewise spoken apart.