Curiosities of Olden TimesBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
Curiosities of Olden Times
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Curiosities and wonders
The course of his investigations led him and his wife to Morlaix, in
Brittany, and there, in 1627, an event took place which gave them
considerable annoyance, as well as proving a severe pecuniary loss. The
Baron was engaged in examining a mine in the forest of Buisson-Rochemarée,
and his wife was at Rennes seeing to the registration of their commission.
Taking advantage of the absence of both at the same time, a provincial
provost, Touche-Grippé by name, of the race of _Dogberry_, made an entry
into their house, under the plea of search after magical apparatus, for,
as the provost said, “How can mortal man discover what is underground
without diabolical aid?” On this pretext, then, the house was ransacked,
and _Dogberry_ laid violent hands on every article which aroused his
curiosity or attracted his cupidity. The boxes were broken open, the
cupboards burst into, the drawers searched, and gold, silver, jewels,
mineralogical specimens, scientific instruments, legal documents, notes of
observations made in the course of travel, every fragment of manuscript,
private letters, and maps, were carried off by Touche-Grippé and
appropriated to his own use.
On the return of the Baron and Baroness to Morlaix they found that, in
addition to this robbery in the name of justice, a charge was laid against
them of magic. They were constrained to appear before Touche-Grippé and a
fellow-magistrate of like nature, and free themselves of the charge. They
were allowed to depart exculpated, but without their property, which the
magistrate refused to surrender. The Baron appealed to the Parliament of
Brittany, but without obtaining any redress; he then applied to that of
Paris, but Touche-Grippé had friends at court, and the appeal of the Baron
was rejected. Twelve years after, in 1640, we find the Baroness still
asking for redress, and still in vain.
The failure of the couple in obtaining any attention so irritated them
that they left France and returned to Germany, which had always recognised
their services, and treated them with the respect due to their abilities
and attainments. Ferdinand II. at once placed the Baron de Beausoleil in
charge of the Hungarian mines.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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