The baptistery of the parish church has a curious font of lead which is very ancient—probably more than a thousand years old, from the style. It is cylindrical in form and covered with bas-reliefs like the lead font at Strassburg. There is a swan—emblem of the purity of the soul after baptism. An archer stands ready to attack it as soon as it issues from the regenerating waters, but the arrow he lets fly so vigorously is received by a lion _passant_ in his shoulder, which marches resolutely on, undisturbed by the evil adversary. It is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who saves the soul by his power and bleeding wounds. The votive chapel of _Notre Dame de la Croix_, at Marciac, is another pious monument of Mary’s protection during a great pestilence. Over the doorway is the following inscription: Marciacam cum dira lues subverteret urbem, Ipsamet hanc jussit mater sibi Virgo dicari Sub crucis auspiciis gnatique insignibus ædem.[52] It is a pretty church, with an altar of jasper and tabernacle of white marble, over which is the Mother of Sorrows holding the body of the crucified Saviour. It was built at the repeated instances of a poor woman, who was at first treated as visionary or mad, because she asserted a divine mission for the cessation of the pestilence, which had carried off eight hundred and four persons in a short time. Her persevering piety was at length rewarded by the foundation of the chapel and the deliverance of her townsmen from the plague, which is to this day commemorated. Pope Innocent XI. encouraged the devotion to _Notre Dame de la Croix_ by granting many privileges to those who went there to pray and perform some good work. There is a chapel of _Notre Dame de Pitié_ at Condom called the _Piétat_, now belonging to the _Filles de Marie_, but formerly to the Brothers of St. John of God, who served the sick. Near it is a miraculous spring called the _Houn dou Teou_, where pilgrims go to ask deliverance from their infirmities. Near the historic _Château de Lavardens_ is the chapel of _Notre Dame de Consolation_ in the woods, quiet and solitary, surrounded by graves. The pensive and the sorrowful love to come here to pray undisturbed before the simple altar of Mary, Consoler of the Afflicted. It is one of the stations for the processions in Rogation Week. It is the very place to implore peace for the soul—and to find it!