How France Built Her Cathedrals Part 45

[37] E. O'Reilly, _Les deux proces de cond.a.m.nation_ ... _de Jeanne d'Arc_, vol. 2, p. 134, the eighth interrogation, March 17, 1431 (Paris, Plon, 1868), 2 vols.

[38] Charles Peguy, _OEuvres de_, "La tap.i.s.serie de Sainte-Genevieve et de Jeanne d'Arc," vol. 6 (Paris, edition de la Nouvelle Revue francaise, 1916-18).

[39] The following is a free rendering of Peguy's verses:

Since G.o.d but acts for pity of us here, So Genevieve must see her France in shreds, And Paris, her own G.o.dchild, swept by flames, And ravaged by the most sinister hordes.

And hearts devoured by blackest base discords, And even in their graves the dead pursued, On gibbets many an innocent hung high With tongue protruding, pecked by raven birds.

France all despair. Then saw she come the Sign, A greater marvel never G.o.d had willed In His Serenity and Grace and Force, After nine hundred-twenty vigil years Genevieve saw approach her ancient city Her of Lorraine, emblem of G.o.d's pure pity-- Jeanne the Maid!--

Guarding her heart intact in dire adversity, Masking beneath her visor her efficacity, Living in deep mystery with sweet sagacity, Dying in drear martyrdom with brave vivacity Sweeping all an army to the feet of Prayer.

[40] Paul Verlaine, _Choix de Poesies_ (Paris, Charpentier, 1912).

[41] "The privileged land where the Seine, the Oise, and the Marne approach their waters gave France its laws and political unity, its literary language with its incomparable clarity, and its Gothic art."--ERNEST LAVISSE, _Histoire de France_.

[42] _Congres Archeologique_, 1905, p. 131, "Compiegne."

[43] The people of the Valois country cried "Noel!" as Jeanne pa.s.sed.

And as she rode between the great Dunois and the archbishop of Rheims she exclaimed, with emotion: "Here is a good people! Happy would I be, when I come to die, to be laid here to rest." "Know you when you will die, Jeanne?" said the archbishop. "I know not. I am in the hands of G.o.d," she made answer. "I would it pleased G.o.d, my creator, that I could go back now to serve under my father and my mother, and to keep their sheep with my brothers, who would be right glad to see me home."--From the testimony of the Comte de Dunois, in 1455, Jeanne's companion-in-arms in 1429.

[44] _Congres Archeologique_, 1905, p. 170; E. Lefevre-Pontalis, _Histoire de la cathedrale de Noyon_, (1901); Vitet et Ramee, _Monographie de l'eglise Notre Dame de Noyon_ (Paris, 1845), 2 vols., 4to and folio; _Briere, Precis descriptive et historique de la cathedrale de Noyon_ (1899); Camille Enlart, _Hotels de Villes et beffrois du nord de la France_ (Paris, H. Laurens, 1919); Marcel Aubert, _Noyon et ses environs_ (Paris, Longuet, 1919).

[45] Noyon was made a bishopric in the VI century, when St. Medard translated the see from St. Quentin, before the advance of the Huns and the Vandals. St. Medard gave the veil to Queen Radegund in the Merovingian cathedral of Noyon. Two Carolingian cathedrals stood in succession on the site: in the first, Charlemagne was consecrated king, 768, Noyon being his residence before Aix-la-Chapelle; in the second church, which rose after a Norman sacking, Hugues Capet was elected king shortly before 1000--the first monarch of the House of Capet, which was to rule over France during seven hundred years. Since the Revolution the sees of Noyon, Senlis, and Laon have been suppressed.

[46] The abbey church of Ourscamp is a ruin, but with the choir and ambulatory of the end of the XIII century partly standing. Where once were the piers of the nave have been planted two rows of poplars. Like Longpont and Royaumont, it was a Cistercian church that paid no heed to St. Bernard's strictures on lavish architecture. The former infirmary of the monastery, now used as a factory, is one of the most graceful civic halls of the age (c. 1240); Peigne-Delacour, _Histoire de l'abbaye de Notre Dame d'Ourscamp_ (1876), in 4to; _Congres Archeologique_, 1905, p.

165, on Ourscamp.

[47] Camille Enlart, _De l'influence germanique dans les premiers monuments gothiques de la France_, 1902.

[48] Marcel Aubert, _Monographie de la cathedrale de Senlis_ (1907). He has also described Senlis in the collection, _Pet.i.tes monographies_ (1910); _Congres Archeologique_, 1905, p. 89, E. Lefevre-Pontalis; _pa.s.sim_, 1877, vol. 44, "L'architecture dans le Valois," Anthyme Saint-Paul; E. Lefevre-Pontalis, _a travers le Beauvaisis et le Valois_ (1907); emile Lambin, "La Cathedrale de Senlis," in _Revue de l'art chretien_, 1898, vol. 47; Abbe Eugene Muller, _Senlis et ses environs_ (1897); Andre Hallays, _En flanant a travers la France_. _Autour de Paris_ (Paris, 1910); G. Fleury, _etudes sur les portails images du XII siecle_ (Mamers, Fleury et Dangin, 1904); _Histoire litteraire de la France_ (Paris, 1835), vol. 18, p. 33, "Guerin, eveque de Senlis."

[49] Emile Lambin, _La Flore des grandes cathedrales_ (Paris, 1897).

[50] emile Male, _L'art religieux en France au XIIIe siecle_ (Paris, A. Colin, 1908).

[51] Jacobus de Voragine, _The Golden Legend_. Translated into English by Caxton and reprinted by William Morris, Kelmscott Press, 1872, 3 vols. Translated also in Temple Cla.s.sics. One of the best recent French editions is that of Theodor de Wyzewa (Paris, Perrie et Cie, 1909).

[52] The Church of the Victory, consecrated by the warrior-bishop in 1225, was ruined during the Hundred Years' War by the Duke of Bedford's troops, who day after day were p.r.i.c.ked on by Jeanne d'Arc's army to a battle. In Flamboyant Gothic times the abbatial was rebuilt, but again it was wrecked in the XVIII century. Only a few late-Gothic bays now stand on the lawn before the country house of the Comte Boula de Coulomier. Bishop Guerin also consecrated the church of Chaalis abbey, where he was buried in 1228. Chaalis is now a picturesque ruin.

[53] E. Lefevre-Pontalis, "Les clochers du XIIIe et du XVIe siecle dans le Beauvaisis et la Valois," in _Congres Archeologique_, 1905, p.

592.

[54] The corner stone of St. Frambourg was laid in 1177 by Louis VII. It is a sort of forerunner of the Sainte-Chapelle type of edifice, without aisles or transept. Its sober, pure lines show faultless constructive skill, and a grievous pity is its present abandonment. Behind the cathedral is the church of St. Pierre, built in six different epochs: the lower stories of the tower, XI century; the choir and transept, 1260; the piers of the nave and the north tower's top story, XV century; the rich facade, XVI century, a work of Pierre Chambiges; and the heavy, cold south tower, of the XVII century. In Senlis are St. Vincent's church with a choir built after 1136, a XII-century tower, contemporary of the cathedral, and a groin roof of the XVIII century. St. Aignan's belfry is of the end of the XI century, and served as model for the towers of St. Vincent and St. Pierre, just as all three of them contributed toward the inspiration of that sovereign thing of Senlis, the cathedral tower.

[55] _Congres Archeologique_, 1907, p. 205, Charles Poree; E.

Chartraire, _La cathedrale de Sens_ (Pet.i.tes Monographies), (Paris, H.

Laurens, 1920); E. Berard, "La cathedrale de Sens," in _L'Architecture_, 1902; E. Vaudin-Bataille, _La cathedrale de Sens_ (Paris, 1899); Bouvier, _Histoire de l'eglise de l'ancien archdiocese de Sens_ (Paris, 1906); A. de Montaiglon, _Antiquites de Sens_ (Paris, 1881); A. J. de H.

Bushnell, _Storied Windows_ (New York, Macmillan, 1914); A. F. Didot, "Jean Cousin, peintre verrier," in _Bulletin Monumental_, 1873, vol. 39, p. 75; Marius Vachon, _Une famille parisienne d'architectes maistre-macons: les Chambiges_; Crosnier, in _Congres Archeologique_, 1847, "Iconographie des portails de Sens"; Viollet-le-Duc, _Dictionnaire_, vol. 9, pp. 222, 506; vol. 8, p. 74 (on the synodal hall); _Histoire litteraire de la France_, vol. 15, p. 324, "Michel de Corbeil, archeveque de Sens"; p. 524, "Guillaume de Champagne, cardinal, archeveque de Rheims" (Paris, 1820); vol. 17, p. 223, "Pierre de Corbeil" (Paris, 1832); vol. 18, p. 270, "Gautier de Cornut, archeveque de Sens" (Paris, 1835).

[56] Ralph Adams Cram, _Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh_ (Boston, Marshall Jones Company, 1919).

[57] At St.-Julien-du-Sault, fourteen miles from Sens, are over a dozen good XIII-century windows, and some four of the XVI century. St. Louis was a donor. In the window devoted to Ste. Genevieve are interesting XVI-century costumes.

[58] _Congres Archeologique_, 1911, Lucien Broche, p. 158, the cathedral; p. 225, St. Martin's church; p. 239, the Templar's church; Chanoine A. Bouxin, _La cathedrale Notre Dame de Laon. Histoire et description_ (Laon, 1902); Jules Quicherat, "L'age de la cathedrale de Laon" in _Bibliotheque de l'ecole des chartes_, 1874, vol. 35, p. 249; Lucien Broche, _Laon et ses environs_ (Caen, 1913); _ibid._, "L'eveche de Laon," in _Bulletin Monumental_, 1902, vol. 66; De Florival et Midoux, _Les vitraux de la cathedrale de Laon_ (Paris, Didron, 1882), folio; E. Fleury, _Antiquites et monuments du departement de l'Aisne_, (1879), vol. 3, p. 153; emile Lambin, _Les eglises de l'Ile-de-France_ (Paris, 1906). His description of Laon is also in the _Revue de l'art chretien_, 1901-02, vols. 14, 15; E. Lefevre-Pontalis, "Les influences normandes au XIe et au XIIe siecle dans le nord de la France," in _Bulletin Monumental_, 1906, vol. 70; _Histoire litteraire de la France_, vol. 10, p. 171, "Anselm de Laon" (Paris, 1756); vol. 11, p.

243, "St. Norbert" (Paris, 1759); vol. 13, p. 511, "Gautier de Mortagne, eveque de Laon" (Paris 1814); H. Havard, ed _La France artistique et monumentale_, vol. 4, p. 81, Mgr. Dehaisnes, on Laon.

[59] For Coucy-le-Chateau (between Soissons and Laon) see M.

Lefevre-Pontalis' study (1909) in the _Pet.i.tes Monographies_ series; or the _Congres Archeologique_, 1911, p. 239. The XIII-century donjon was the most ma.s.sive conception of the Middle Ages. Coucy's lord ruled a hundred towns and was one of the big figures in feudal France. His proud device read: "_Roi ne suis, ne prince, ne duc, ne comte aussi--Je suis le sire de Coucy_." The superb pile has been demolished in the World War. Madame Yvonne Sarcey visited Coucy in April, 1917. Of the imposing mediaeval castle, hanging like a bourg to the flank of the hill, there remain two gaping porticos. "_C'est tout!... C'est tout!_" she lamented.

"_Ce paysage adorable de l'Ile-de-France portera sa croix._" The Germans blew up the castle before their strategic retirement, in 1917.

[60] _Congres Archeologique_, 1911, E. Lefevre-Pontalis, p. 315, the cathedral; p. 337, St. Medard; p. 343, St. Leger; p. 348, St.

Jean-des-Vignes; etienne Moreau-Nelaton, "Soissons avant la guerre," in _Les cites ravagees_ (Collection, Images historiques), (Paris, H.

Laurens, 1919); _ibid., Les eglises de chez nous: Soissons_ (Paris, H.

Laurens); Abbe Poquet, _Notice historique et archeologique de la cathedrale de Soissons_ (Soissons, 1848); emile Lambin, "La cathedrale de Soissons" in _Revue de l'art chretien_, 1898, vol. 47; emile Male, _L'art allemand et l'art francais du moyen age_ (Paris, 1917); Bouet, "Excursion a Noyon, a Laon et a Soissons," in _Bulletin Monumental_, 1868, vol. 34, p. 430; E. Lefevre-Pontalis, _L'architecture religieuse dans l'ancien diocese de Soissons au XIe et au XIIe, siecle_ (Paris, Plon, 1894-98), 2 vols., folio.

[61] _Congres Archeologique_, 1911, p. 410, Longpont abbatial; Abbe Poquet, _Monographie de l'abbaye de Longpont_ (1869). Longpont, where the bishops of Soissons were buried, was founded by Gerard de Cherisy, who had married Lady Agnes of Longpont. St. Bernard sent twelve Cistercian monks to start the new house in 1131. The splendid Gothic church, which departed from Citeaux's rule of church simplicity, was consecrated in 1227 before the queen regent and Louis IX, by the bishop of Soissons, Jacques de Bazoches, who had just anointed Louis as king, at Rheims. Longpont was sacked by the Huguenots in 1567, and wrecked by the Revolution. The picturesque ruins were acquired by the de Montesquieu family in 1850.

[62] The monastery church of St. Jean-des-Vignes was in size a cathedral, and the maker of the great facade at Rheims, Bernard de Soissons, is said to have designed it. The cloisters, once the most sumptuous in the kingdom, were begun by an abbot who died in 1224, after he had built an aqueduct for the city which still is in use. St. Jean's big west rose had been, since 1870, an empty circle. Little more than its facade and western towers stood before 1914. Sacked by the Revolution, its real demolition was under the Empire, when to repair the cathedral the deserted monastery was sold for a paltry sum, and stone by stone removed. The congregation of good men in this abbey did parish work for many centuries. In such good repute with the citizens were they that, when the Revolution suppressed the house, Soissons' munic.i.p.ality protested, saying that the abbey had "always claimed with zeal its share of public duties." Taine in his _L'Ancien Regime_ quotes the protest: "In calamities this abbey opens its doors to the dest.i.tute citizens and feeds them. It alone has borne the expense of the citizens' meetings, preparatory to the election of deputies for the National a.s.sembly. It now is lodging a company of soldiers. Always when there are sacrifices to be made it is on hand." However, the revolutionary authorities paid no heed to the citizens' desire to retain their historic house.

[63] For the churches of Notre Dame and St. Martins, at etampes, see _Bulletin Monumental_, 1905, vol. 69, and _Annales de la Societe hist.

et archeol. du gatinais_, 1907, Lefevre-Pontalis; also the _Congres Archeologique_, 1901, p. 71. Notre Dame was begun about 1160. Its strongly Romanesque south portal is of the same type as Chartres'

western doors. The crypt and piers of the nave are XI century, and the transept and choir were rebuilt about 1170 as early Gothic. The Romanesque tower is one of the best of its epoch; its base is approximately 1050; the next two stories about 1075; the fourth story, 1125; and the spire, 1130. The church is full of irregularities from rebuildings. St. Martin's church is XII and XIII century; its much discussed ambulatory of the Champagne type is about 1165. The number of supports for the vault was doubled in the outer wall, thus making the s.p.a.ce to be covered a series of square compartments alternating with triangles.

[64] Auguste Rodin, _Les cathedrales de France_ (Paris, A. Colin, 1914), 4to.

[65] _Congres Archeologique_, 1911, St. Remi (Rheims), p. 57, and Notre Dame (Chalons), p. 473, Louis Demaison; Louis Demaison, _Les eglises de Chalons-sur-Marne_ (Caen, 1913); E. M. de Barthelemy, "Notre Dame-en-Vaux a Chalons-sur-Marne," in _Revue de l'art chretien_, vol.

15, p. 97; A. de Dion, "Notre Dame-en-Vaux a Chalons-sur-Marne," in _Bulletin Monumental_, 1886, vol. 52, p. 547, and 1887, vol. 53, p. 439, Louis Grignon; L. Grignon, _Description et l'histoire de Notre Dame de Chalons-sur-Marne_ (Chalons-sur-Marne, 1884), 2 vols.; Abbe Poussin, _Monographie de l'abbaye et de l'eglise de St. Remi de Rheims_ (Rheims, 1857); Alfonse Gosset, _La basilique de St. Remi a Rheims_ (Paris, 1900); L. Barbat, _Histoire de la ville de Chalons-sur-Marne_; R. de Lasteyrie, _L'architecture religieuse en France a l'epoque romane_ (Paris, 1912), p. 158, St. Remi.

[66] "Il est digne de remarque, que de toutes ces regles monastiques les plus rigides ont ete les mieux observees: les Chartreux ont donne au monde l'unique exemple d'une congregation qui a existe sept cents ans sans avoir besoin de reforme."--CHATEAUBRIAND, _Genie du Christianisme_.

In April, 1903, two squadrons of dragoons expelled the last monks from La Grande Chartreuse. An economic loss for the entire region has resulted.

[67] _Congres Archeologique_, 1902; Morel-Payen, _Troyes et Provins_ (Collection, Villes d'art celebres), (Paris, H. Laurens, 1910); Felix Bourquelot, _Histoire de Provins_ (Paris, Techener, 1840), 2 vols.; Gabriel Fleury, "Le portail de St. Ayoul de Provins," in _Congres Archeologique_, 1902, p. 458, or in _etudes sur les portails images du XIIe siecle_ (Mamers, Fleury et Dangin, 1904).

[68] The transept of St. Ayoul is good Romanesque. After a fire in 1160 the nave was rebuilt as XIII-century Gothic; the choir is XVI century.

At St. Loup-de-Naud there is a central lantern on squinches (XII century).

[69] _Congres Archeologique_, 1911, p. 428, E. Lefevre-Pontalis; S.

Prioux, _Monographie de l'ancienne abbaye royale St. Yved de Braine_ (1859), folio; _Bulletin Monumental_, 1908, vol. 72, p. 455, A. Boinet.

[70] _Congres Archeologique_, 1905, p. 121, E. Lefevre-Pontalis; E.

Lefevre-Pontalis, _a travers le Beauvaisis et le Valois_ (Paris, 1907); emile Lambin, "L'eglise de St. Leu d'Esserent," in _Gazette des beaux-arts_, 1901, tome 25, p. 305; Viollet-le-Duc, _Dictionnaire_, vol.

2, p. 504; vol. 4, pp. 83, 230; vol. 7, p. 384; vol. 9, p. 280; Abbe Eugene Muller, _Senlis et ses environs_ (1897).

[71] Marcel Aubert, _La cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris_ (Paris, Longuet, 1909); La.s.sus et Viollet-le-Duc, _Monographie de Notre Dame de Paris_ (Paris), folio; V. Mortet, _etude historique et archeologique sur la cathedrale et le palais episcopal de Paris_ (Paris, 1888); Queyron, _Histoire et description de l'eglise de Notre Dame_ (Paris, Plon, Nourret et Cie); De Guilhermy, _Description de Notre Dame de Paris_ (1856); _ibid., Itineraire archeologique de Paris_ (1855); S. Francois, _La facade de Notre Dame de Paris_ (Brussels, Imprimerie Goosens, 1907), 4to; E. Lefevre-Pontalis, "Les origines des gables," in _Bulletin Monumental_, 1907, vol. 71, p. 92; Camille Enlart, _Le musee de sculpture comparee du Trocadero_ (Collection, Les grandes inst.i.tutions de France), (Paris, H. Laurens, 1911); H. Bazin, _Les monuments de Paris_ (Paris, 1904); G. Riat, _Paris_ (Collection, Villes d'art celebres), (Paris, H. Laurens); Amedee Boinet and Jean Bayet, _Les edifices religieux de Paris_ (Collection, Les richesses d'art de la ville de Paris), (Paris, H. Laurens), 3 vols.; L. Barron, _La Seine_ (Collection, Fleuves de France), (Paris, H. Laurens); emile Lambin, _La flore des grandes cathedrales de France_, (Paris, 1897); _ibid., Les eglises des environs de Paris etudiees au point de vue de la flore ornamentale_ (Paris, 1896), folio; _ibid., Les eglises de l'Ile-de-France_ (Paris, 1906); Anthyme Saint-Paul, "Notices sur les eglises des environs de Paris," in _Bulletin Monumental_, vol. 34, p.