Text, translated from the 1598 French, 1601 Latin, 1602 German, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612/1641 Spanish and 1609/1612 Latin edition:
42.1. {1601L{The duchy of}1601L} {1598F{TOVRAINE.
42.2. This region {not in 1606E{of the inhabitants of Touraine}not in 1606E} is not very large, restrained as it is on every side by bordering provinces. West of it lies Anjou and part of Poitou. From the first it is separated by the confines of Saumur, and from the second by the river Creuse, on [the banks of which] stands the city of Chinon [which is] subjected to this duchy of Touraine. South also lies part of Poitou along the river Creuse, to La port de Pilense, which separates Guienne from Touraine. And Berry is in the same way from there separated by Châtillon situated on the river Agneris {1598F & 1609/1612/1641S instead{Indre}1598F & 1609/1612/1641S instead}. East, not far from the Loire, the river Cher separates it from the province of Blois, and from part of Berry, and North it is separated from the territories of La Mans and Vendômes by the river Loire, upon which river the city of Tours was built, and it surrounds it at that part where the St. Lazare suburbs are. An arm or channel of this river also bends its course to the town of St. Anne and to the suburb called Riche. For East, West and South it touches the river Agneris {1598F & 1609/1612/1641S instead{Indre}1598F & 1609/`1612/1641S instead}, and North the whole region towards Anjou and Maine.
42.3. To the dukedom and government of Touraine are subject the following cities: Chinon, Loudun, Thouars, Langeais, Amboise, Loches, Châtillon on the river Agneris {1598F & 1609/1612/1641S instead{Indre}1598F & 1609/1612/1641S instead}, [and] Montrichard, next to other places and castles of barons. But the cities which I have named are important cities, and best known, and as it were the principal members of the whole duchy. Concerning everyone of them I will speak in greater detail after having said something about the metropole, to which belong one third of the bishop towns which in former times were under the ancient jurisdiction of Lugdunensis. For in the third division of dioceses ordained, belonging to the primacy of Lugdunensis or Lyon are included the diocese of Tours, La Mans, Angers {1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1609/1612L, & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{Anjou}1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1609/1612L & 1609/1612/1641S}, Rennes, Nantes, Cornevaille, Vannes, {1606E only{St. Pol de}1606E only} {not in 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S{Léon}not in 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S}, Tregoir, Dole, St. Malo, [and] St. Brieuc. {not in 1602G{The Turones [are] therefore of great antiquity, and their city [is] the head of many nations}not in 1602G}.
42.4. Iulius Cæsar ranks them first among the peoples of France, and so do other ancient writers. Ptolemæus places them on {1602S & 1609/1612/1641S only{some waters near}1602S & 1609/1612/1641S only} the river Loire, and Ammianus Marcellinus in Secunda Lugdunensi. But in Cæsar they are mentioned more often, and that very clearly, especially at the end of his 2nd {1606E instead{11th}1606E instead} book [of] De bello Gallico. This done (he says) and all [of] France being quiet, this war outcry affected the barbarians so much, that even those nations which lived beyond the Rhine sent delegates to Cæsar, promising to pledge [allegiance] to him, and to obey his commands. He therefore, having ended his wars and having put his legions in garrison among the Chartres, Anjou and Touraine which were cities in that area, {not in 1602S, 1606E & 1609/1612/1641S{having transferred his legions to hibernate}not in 1602S, 1606E & 1609/1612/1641S}, departed for Italy. From this you may conclude that they were not the enemies of the Romans, but rather Cæsar's followers. {1598F only{From this, you can understand better what Cæsar says in another place, where he says: Soon Cæsar assembled his troops and joined to his forces those of the Senonois, Parisiens, Poitevins, Quercinois, Tourangeaux, Rouanois, Angevins, Limosins, and all those who live along the ocean, who all made an agreement with their captain}1598F only}. Gregoire de Tours often calls them Senatores Romanos [Roman Senators] for they enjoyed the liberty of free citizens, which was granted to no one except the Romans' dear friends, and they joined them into the most firm league. The Touranois are considered to be the richest people of all of France, both for the fruitfulness of their fields (which they deservedly call the kings garden) as also for their excellent organisation of government, and the industriousness of their citizens, who are especially attracted to trade, for which purpose their navigable river serves them very well.
42.5. They have also lately attempted to make silk of as good a quality as that of Italy. In the Eastern part of Touraine, on the river Loire lies Amboise, built on a most excellent choice location with a delicate, pure climate, so that it is to this place especially that the French kings chose to retire and to enjoy themselves. The city of Montrichard, situated in a plain, is on one side fortified with rocks and woods, and hemmed in on the other side by meadows and delightful fields. Outside the city there are houses underground, with gardens and vineyards on top of them. Loches upon the river Agneris {1598F & 1609/1612/1641S instead{Indre}1598F & 1609/1612/1641S instead} has a castle which is almost incomparable for pleasantness, size, building and location, for its location (I say) [is] both by art and nature unassaultable. Pautruy, Châtillon, Cormery, Beaulieu and other cities of this dukedom are described by Belleforest, to whom I refer the reader}1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1606E, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S and 1609/1612L editions end here}.