his Father, the first Earl of Lancaster. Memorable in these later times for giving the Title of a
Dutchess to Madam Catharine, the beloved Mistress of King Henry the 4th, by whom she was mo∣ther
of Caesar now Duke of Vendosme, and Alexander, not long since the Grand Prior of France.
With reference to which, the second Sonne of the Duke of Vendosme is honoured at this present
with the title of Duke of Beaufort: as the eldest with relation to his Mother was made Duke of
Mercoeur. 3 Baugie, neer which was fought that memorable Battle betwixt the English and the
French, wherein the English lost the day, and Thomas Duke of Clarence, Brother to Henry the
fifth, was there unfortunately slain. Anno 1422. 4 Saumur, pleasantly situate on the Loire, and for
long time one of the Cautionarie Towns in the hands of those of the Reformed Religion: of whom
it is the onely entire Universitie of this Kingdome; especially famous for the learned Philip du
Morney, Lord of Plessis, sometimes the Governour hereof. 5 Loches, seated on the River Indre,
the Castle whereof being mounted on a steep high Rock, is thought to be one of the strongest pee∣ces
of all France. 6 La Flesche, of speciall name at the present for a College of Jesuits, one of the
fairest in this Kingdom. The word in the French tongue signifieth an Arrow (whence those who
make Bowes and Arrowes have the name of Fl••schers.) At Nola in the Realm of Naples,
there is another College of them, called D•• Arque, the Bow: On which one wittilie composed
this ensuing distich;
Arcum Nola dedit, dedit illis alma Sagittam
Gallia: quit Funem, quem meruere, dabit?
That is to say,
Nola the Bow, and France the Shaft did bring:
But who shall help them to the Hempen-string.
2 On the South-east of Anjou, betwixt it and Berry, lieth the Countrie of TOUREIN, the
ancient Seat of the Turones: which, for the wholesomness of the Air, the pleasantness of the
Countrie, and admirable plenty of all Commodities, is by some called The Garden of France. Prin∣cipall
Cities in it, 1 Amboise, pleasantly seated on the Loire, and beautified with one of the fai∣rest
Castles in France, both for the gallantrie of the Building, and beautifulness of the Prospect.
2 Tours, by Ptolomie called Caesarodunum, and the Turonum Civit as of Antoninus; the Metropo∣lis
of Lugdunensis tertia, and an Archbishops See: a fair, rich, and well-traded Town, situate on
the banks of the Loire, in a most sweet and pleasing Countrie. Famous in that those of the Refor∣med
Religion, from the Gate of S. Hugo, at which they used to issue out to their Assemblies in the
Fields, had the name of Hugonots. Given to them, as some others think, as the Disciples of the
night-walking Spirit (or Robin Goodfellow) which they call S. Hugo, in regard they had their first
meetings, for the most part, in the nights; as had the Primitive Christians in the times of their
Persecutions. Some, more improbably, (and indeed ridiculously) derive the name from the first
words of an Apologie which they are fabled to have made to the King; which were Huc nos veni∣mus:
fancying, that as the Protestants did derive that Appellation from the words Protestantes and
Protestamur, so often used by them in their Apologie to Charles the fifth; so from those words Huc
nos, came the name of Hugonots, or Hucnots: But more assuredly famous for the great Battle fought
neer it by Charles Martell, Mayre of the Palace, and Father of Pepin King of France, against an
Armie of 40000 M••ors, led by Abderamen, Leiutenant Generall in Spain, for Evelid or Iscam
the great Caliph: of which 370000 lost their lives in the place, Anno 734. 3 Laudun. 4 Riche∣lieu,
pleasantly seated in a rich and flourishing Soil, as the name importeth. Of no great note till
the time of the late great Cardinall of Richelieu, who took name from hence; by whom it was
made one of the neatest Towns in all this Kingdom, and honoured with the titles of a Dukedom
and Pairrie of France.
As for the Fortunes of this Province (for of Anjou we shall speak more at large anon) it had a
while its own Proprietarie Earls of the house of Blais, conferred by Hugh Capet upon Odon Earl of
Blais and Champagne, and by him given, together with the Earldom of Blais, to Theobald or Thi∣b••uld
his Eldest Sonne, (his second Sonne named Stephen succeeding in Champagne) who in the
year 1043, was vanquished and slain by Charles Martell Earl of Anjou, and this Province seized
on by the Victor, who afterwards made Tours his ordinarie Seat and Residence. Part of which
Earldom it continued, till the seizure of Anjou, and all the rest of the English Provinces in France,
on the sentence passed upon King Iohn. After which time dismembred from it, it was conferred on
Iohn, the fourth Sonne of King Charles the sixth, with the stile and title of Duke of Tourein: and
he deceasing without Issue, it was bestowed with the same title on Charles the eldest Sonne of
Lewis Duke of Orleans (in the life of his Father:) the same who afterwards suceeding in the Duke∣dom
of Orleans, was taken Prisoner by the English at the Battle of Agincourt, kept Prisoner 25 years
in England, and finally was the Father of King Lewis the 12th.
3 On the North side of Anjou, betwixt it and Normandie, lieth the Province of MAINE.
The chief Towns whereof are, 1 Mans, Cenomanensium Civitas in Antoninus, by Ptolomie called
Vindinum; seated on the meeting of Huine, and Sartre; the principall of the Province, and a Bishops
See: most memorable in the elder times for giving the title of an Earl to that famous Rowland, the
Sisters Sonne of Charlema••gne, one of the Twelve Peers of France; (the Subject of many notable
Poems under the name of Orlando Inamorato, Orlando Furioso, besides many of the old Romances)