_Chantés par les Elèves du Collége de Falaise, en arborant le
Drapeau Blanc_.
Air: _Un Soldat par un coup funeste_.
Loin de nous la sombre tristesse,
Mars a déposé sa fureur;
Enfin la foudre vengeresse
Vient de terrasser _l'opresseur,_
L'aigle sanguinaire
Succombe à l'aspect de ces LYS.
Peuple français, tu vas revoir ton Père!
Vive le Roi! Vive LOUIS!
Drapeau, que d'horribles tempêtes
Avoient éloigné de ces lieux,
Tu reviens embellir nos Fêtes,
Plus brillant et plus radieux!
Ta douce présence
Ramène les jeux et les ris;
Sois à jamais l'Etendard de la France,
Vive le Roi! vive LOUIS!
O Dieu! vengeur de l'innocence,
Protège ces LYS glorieux!
Conserve long-temps à la France
LE ROI que tu rends à nos voeux!
Si la perfidie
De nouveau troubloit ton bonheur
Viens nous guider, ô Bannière chérie!
Nous volerons au champ d'honneur.
[170] The worthy historian of Falaise, quoted in a preceding page, is
exceedingly anxious to make us believe that there are portions of this
church--namely, four stones--in the eastern and western gable
ends--which were used in the consecration of it, by MATHILDA, the wife
of our first William. Also, that, at the gable end of the south
transept, outside, an ancient grotto,--in which the Gallic priests of
old purified themselves for the mysteries of their religion--is now
converted into the sacristy, or vestry, or robing room. But these are
surely mere antiquarian dreams. The same author more sagaciously
informs us that the exact period of the commencement of the building
of the nave, namely in 1438, is yet attested by an existing
inscription, in gothic letters, towards the chief door of entrance.
The inscription also testifies that in the same year, "there reigned
DEATH, WAR, and FAMINE." The _chancel of the choir_, with the
principal doors of entrance, &c. were constructed between the years
1520, and 1540. It may be worth remarking that the stalls of the choir
were brought from the Abbey of St. John--on the destruction of that
monastic establishment in 1729; and that, according to the _Gallia
Christiana_, vol. xi. p. 756, these stalls were carved at the desire
of Thomas II. de Mallebiche, abbot of that establishment in 1506-1516.
In a double niche of the south buttress are the statues of HERPIN and
his WIFE; rich citizens of Falaise, who, by their wealth, greatly
contributed to the building of the choir. (Their grandson, HERPIN
LACHENAYE, together with his mistress were killed, side by side, in
fighting at one of the gates of Falaise to repel the successful troops
of Henry IV.) The _Chapel of the Virgin_, behind the choir, was
completed about the year 1631. LANGEVIN, p. 81-128-131.
[171] We have of course nothing to do with the first erection of a place of
worship at Guibray in the VIIIth century. The story connected with the
earliest erection is this. The faubourg of Guibray, distant about 900
paces from Falaise, was formerly covered with chestnut and oak trees.
A sheep, scratching the earth, as if by natural instinct (I quote the
words of M. Langevin the historian of Falaise) indicated, by its
bleatings, that something was beneath. The shepherd approached, and
hollowing out the earth with his crook, discovered a statue of the
Virgin, with a child in its arms. The first church, dedicated to the
Virgin, under the reign of Charles Martel, called the Victorious, was
in consequence erected--on this very spot--in the centre of this
widely spreading wood of chestnut and oak. I hasten to the
construction of a second church, on the same site, under the auspices
of Mathilda, the wife of the Conqueror: with the statue of a woman
with a diadem upon her head--near one of the pillars: upon which
statue Langevin discourses learnedly in a note. But neither this
church nor the statue in question are now in existence. On the
contrary, the oldest portions of the church of Guibray, now
existing--according to the authors of the _Gallia Christiana_, vol.
xi. p. 878, and an ancient MS. consulted by M. Langevin--are of about
the date of 1222; when the church was consecrated by the Bishop of
Coutances. The open space towards the south, now called _La Place aux
Chevaux_, was the old burying ground of the church. There was also a
chapel, dedicated to St. Gervais, which was pillaged and destroyed by
the Hugonots in 1562. I should add, that the South-East exterior
(behind the chancel) of this very curious old church at Guibray,
resembles, upon a small scale, what M. Cotman has published of the
same portion of St. Georges de Bocherville. _Recherches sur Falaise_,
p. 49-53. Monsieur le Comte de la Fresnaye, in his _Notice Historique
sur Falaise_, 1816, 8vo. will have it, that "the porch of this church,
the only unmutilated portion remaining of its ancient structure,
demonstrates the epoch of the origin of Christianity among the Gauls."
"At least, such is the decision of M. Deveze, draftsman for Laborde;
the latter of whom now Secretary to the Count d'Artois, instituted a
close examination of the whole fabric." p. 5-6. I hope there are not
many such conclusions to be found in the magnificent and meritorious
productions of LABORDE.
[172] This fair lasts full fifteen days. The first eight days are devoted
to business of a more important nature--which they call the GREAT
WEEK: that is to say, the greatest number of merchants attend during
the earlier part of it; and contracts of greater extent necessarily
take place. The remaining seven days are called the LITTLE WEEK--in
which they make arrangements to carry their previous bargains into
effect, and to return home. Men and merchandise, from all quarters,
and of all descriptions, are to be seen at this fair. Even Holland and
Germany are not wanting in sending their commercial representatives.
Jewellery and grocery seem to be the chief articles of commerce; but
there is a prodigious display of silk, linen, and cotton, &c.: as well
as of hides, raw and tanned; porcelaine and earthen ware. The live
cattle market must not be forgotten. Langevin says that, of horses
alone, they sometimes sell full four thousand. Thus much for the buyer
and seller. But this fair is regularly enlivened by an immense
confluence of nobility and gentry from the adjacent country--to
partake of the amusements, which, (as with the English,) form the
invariable appendages of the scene. Langevin mentions the minor fairs
of _Ste. Croix, St. Michel_, and _St. Gervais_, which help to bring
wealth into the pockets of the inhabitants. _Recherches Historiques
sur Falaise_; p. 199, &c.
[173] [Since the publication of this Tour, the amiable Mons. Langevin has
published "additions" to his historical account of Falaise; and in
those additions, he has been pleased to notice the account which is
HERE given of his labours and character. It would be bad--at least
hardly justifiable--taste, to quote that notice: yet I cannot
dissemble the satisfaction to find that there is _more_ than ONE
sympathising heart in Normandy, which appreciates this record of its
excellence. I subjoin, therefore, with the greatest satisfaction, a
fac-simile of the autograph of this amiable and learned man, as it
appears written (at my request) in the title-page of a copy of his
"Researches."
[Illustration: Langevin ptre.]