Turone

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

THE DVKEDOME OF TVRONE. (Book Turone) THE Province of Turene in regard of the incomparable pleasantnesse of the place, and the abundance of all kind of fruites, is worthily called the Garden of France. Which the Princes thereof have alwayes much delighted in and honoured it, both as I said for the conveniency of the situation, and for the overflowing plenty of all things necessary. The Country is large, and hath round about it the Bellovacians, the Andegavians, the Pictavians, and the Biturigians: it hath many faire Cities and Townes, it maketh also a part of the Parliament of Paris as they call it, and it is honoured with a Seate of Judgement. The Metropolis and Mother City thereof is Turon, commonly called Tours, being seated at the confluence and meeting of the Rivers Ligeris and Carus. Ptolemy calls it Caes•rodunum, concerning the name and antiquity whereof there are many reports, but not credible, and therefore we omit them. Let it suffice that the great Romane Emperour •ulius •aesar doth reckon the Turones among the chiefe people of France, who joyned themselves to the Romanes, and in his 2. Booke de bello Gallico, about the end thereof are these words; He having brought his Legions to Winter at Carnutes, Andes, and Turones, which were Cities neere unto these places, where hee waged warre, went into Italy, as also Lib. 7. Hee speedily joyneth to himselfe the Senous, the Parisians, the Pictones, the Cadurcians, the Turones, the Aulercians, and others which dwell neere the Sea. Also Lucan mentioneth them in this Verse.

Iustabiles Turones circumsita costra coercent. Round pitched Tents doe keepe in there,The Turones who unconstant were.

It is a neate City, having long cleane streets, and very faire houses. It had heretofore divers Bishops famous for Sanctitie and Learning, as Ma•tinus, Bricius, Perpetuus, Volusianas, and others, and almost all the Bishops of Brittaine, of the Andians, and Cemonians noted by others, are Suffragans unto him. The chiefe Seate of Justice when the Parisians rebelled, was translated hither by King Henry the third. Traffique in Silkes, and also Cloth is much used in Toures, both which doe enrich the Merchants. And the Inhabitants have revenues out of their Lands, on which they live gallantly. The City 〈◊〉 adorned with faire magnificent Temples, among which is that which was dedicated to D. Gratian, built by the English with a Clock-dyall on it. And another consecrated to D. Martinus, in which his bones and ashes doe rest, which the By-dwellers doe honour with religions worship. Here Gregory who from his Country was called Iu•orersis was borne who flourished about the yeere of Christ 600. whose Writings for the History of those times are much esteemed by posterity. It containeth the ashes of that great Poet P. Ronsard, who they call the French Homer, and •inaa•. It was sometimes governed by Fa•les, afterward by the Dukes of Brittaine, but when Iohn his Nephew Arthu• being slaine, possessed the County▪ the Province was confiscate to the King by the sentence of the highest Senate of France. After which the Kings of France did make it a Dukedome, and gave it for a time to the Minorite Friers. Here foure chiefe French Counsels were kept. Here is also a Money Mint famous for the antiquity thereof. It is governed by an ordinary Magistrate▪ and hath two Prefects▪ besides a Maior and Auditors, to maintaine the rights, privildges, and liberties of the Inhabitants. There is also a Court of the Quaestors, Auditors, and Receivers of the publike customes and impositions. But to conclude, we will set downe an elegant description of this place, being taken out of Brittons Philipeides.

Thence to the City of Turone they goe,Round about which two shining streames doe flowe,Here the River Ligaris, there Caurus, andIt in the middle betweene both doth stand:Well seated, and faire streames doe it adorneBeing full of Trees, and having store of Corne,Proud of her Citizens, and Clergie, whoAre very powerfull, besides she can shewGreat store of people, and much wealth beside,And is with Groves and Vines much beautified.