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CHAPTER II.

Bayeux.-Legends of Streets.-La Dame d'Aprigny. - Jean Pataye. St. Gerbold. - Procès-verbal. The Fairy of Argouges.-Jeanne Bacon.

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HEN the Rue St. Quintin, leading to the bridge of Isbert or Trubert, was in its original state, a legend was attached to it which the altered state of the street, now widened

and repaved, has probably effaced. Formerly it was narrow, high, crooked, and dark. About midnight, whoever ventured to pass down it was met by a fairy who was called La Dame d'Aprigny. She approached the daring stranger who intruded on her dominions and presented him her hand with a courteous gesture: if he was bold enough to accept it she danced gravely along with him for some minutes without speaking, then made him a profound courtesy and disappeared. If he was timid or imprudent enough

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JEAN PATYE.

to refuse her offered civility, the indignant fairy seized and plunged him into the neighbouring moat, where sometimes her victims perished or with the greatest difficulty scrambled out of the abyss, torn with the thorns and brambles, wet and bruised, and terrified to death.

The circumstances related in the following legend have been recounted of other personages, and the scene placed in other towns; yet are they so circumstantially told of this locality, that there is every probability that they occurred here, if any where.

JEAN PATYE;

OR, THE CANON WHO RODE THE devil.

FROM time immemorial the chapter of Bayeux was obliged, in reparation of some ancient offence, to send one of its canons every year to Rome to assist in singing the midnight high mass, or in case of failure a very heavy fine was imposed. In the course of time it came to the turn of Jean Patye, canon of the prebendary of Cambremer, to perform this duty. Due notice was given him, according to custom, several months beforehand, but he paid so little attention to the subject that on the Christmas-eve

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of the year 1537, he was still at Bayeux. He was reproached by his brethren for his negligence, but answered by entreating them to give themselves no uneasiness, for that his intention was to go to Rome, that he should return, and that there should be no cause for dissatisfaction with any party.

This appeared inexplicable enough to the convent, but no questions were asked, and Jean the canon retired to his chamber, when opening his conjuring-book, he invoked the devil, with whom he had long been in habits of communication. "I require of thee," he said, "to carry me this night to Rome, and my journey there must be as quick as a woman's thought-that is to say, swifter than the wind. Wait for me beneath the portcullis, and when the clock strikes nine I shall be on your back."

Accordingly, the canon attended matins as usual, and having sung the Domine labia, he slipped away, and finding his mysterious steed at the place agreed on, mounted, and in the twinkling of an eye was high in the air with the sea beneath him; then the tempter addressed the canon artfully advising him to make the sign of the cross, these were his words:

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VOL. I.

Signa te, signa temere, me tangis et angis,
Roma tibi subitò motibus, ibit amor."

C

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JEAN PATYE.

This infernal distich, which may be read from right to left, or from left to right, without altering the sense, had no effect on Jean Patye, who merely replied, "Go on, that which the devil carries is always well carried." On they went without stop or stay, and the Eternal city was soon reached. They were singing the introit of the midnight mass when the traveller arrived: he left the devil at the church gate, desiring him to wait his return. He sang the epistle, which was the portion of the service required of the Bayeux priest, and then entering the sacristy he requested to be allowed to see the original document by virtue of which this service was required by the church of Rome. No objection was made to this; he took the paper in his hand, and while appearing to be examining it he suddenly threw it into the fire, where it was instantly consumed.

The consternation of the Roman priests was excessive on witnessing the daring conduct of this bold Norman; and before they could recover themselves, he had quitted the sacristy and the church, and leaping on the back of his charger was again en route.

In the cathedral of Bayeux they were singing Laudes when Jean Patye appeared amongst them; he had himself begun matins, therefore his absence had been less than four hours! His brethren

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thought he had returned from taking a nap, but he assured them that he was come from Rome, where he had sung the epistle, and more than all, had destroyed the paper which obliged them to this inconvenient service, from which they were henceforth delivered.

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However much rejoiced the whole chapter might be at this emancipation, the means by which it had been accomplished could scarcely be looked upon as altogether orthodox. The canon himself was aware that considerable sin attached to his conduct, and began to consider what had best be done to clear himself. these things are, however, not difficult to manage with proper method, the clergy consulted together, and a solemn general procession was agreed upon, in which the canon should walk barefooted, having a cord about his neck, in order to entitle him to absolution. This was accordingly done, and on the earnest entreaty of Augustin de Trivulce, bishop of Bayeux, the little peccadillo of Jean Patye was forgiven by the Pope, and the good priests were left to congratulate themselves on the happy ending of their bold brother's dangerous ride.

Another diabolic story is told as having happened at Bayeux, the features of which are pre

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