1773 Land Transfer Manuscript Connecting the Duchy of Lorges to Captain of the Scots Guard

On offer is a fascinating manuscript that connects the French and Scottish aristocracy in the middle ages with links to the famous Scots or Scottish Guard of the French Kings.

From context, it appears that this manuscript deals with the transfer of land. The location is in Brittany.

An excerpt from the document follows: 

...de la jurisdiction de quintin, Siege principal du duche de Lorges...

[Translation: …of the jurisdiction of Quintin, the main seat of the duchy of Lorge…]

The document was submitted by one M. De Erovoc. There are several other parties named as well including Julien-Pierre Bonamy, Pierre Gaultiev (sic) and others.

From context, the manuscript refers to property dealings of the Duchy of Lorges. This Duchy lies in Brittany in the northwest of France. The Duchy is associated with several notable events in French history. The Duchy, originally known as the seigneury of Lorges-en-Beauce, was part of the dowry that Robert de Montgomery acquired upon his marriage. 

Montgomery was a Scottish nobleman who came to France to serve the French king Francois I. His son Jacques inherited the seigneury and served in the famous Scots Guard, the person bodyguards to the French king. Eventually, he rose to be Captain of the Guard. He had Lorges established as a lordship in the early 1500s.

A descendent, Gabriel de Lorges, Count of Montgomery, Lord of Lorges and Ducey also served as Captain of the Scots Guard. He is forever remembered for mortally injuring Henry II in a jousting accident in which a splinter from his broken lance struck the king in the eye resulting in his death several days later.

The title Duc de Lorges is still extant and is held today by Guy de Durfort-Civrac, the 9th Duke of Lorges.

For a historian, this small manuscript offers a fascinating link to France’s rich and turbulent history. It also offers an insight into the manner of dealing with land transfers in the years immediately preceding the French Revolution.

This manuscript measures 9.5 inches by 7.0 inches. It is a folded, 4-page document and the pages are 100% complete. The pages show wear and chipping along the outer edges and there are several very small holes or wear marks in the paper. The paper itself is stained, quite possibly from being wet but the handwriting is intact. The handwriting itself is fairly legible. The manuscript bears a seal but the inscription is not legible.