[16] The _oriflamme_, or _enseigne_ derived its name from being made of scarlet silk, and covered with flames of gold. When it was to be taken from its depository, the king and princes first went to Notre-Dame and offered up some prayers to the Blessed Virgin; then they proceeded to the abbey, where, after being solemnly received by the religious, they descended ("_sans chaperon et sans ceinture_") into the crypt, where the bodies of the holy martyrs lay, and where the _oriflamme_ was kept. The abbot then delivered the flag into the king's own hands, and the king presented it to the Count de Vesin, who carried it to the altar. The standard-bearer was always a _Chevalier_ of undoubted loyalty, courage, and piety. Previously to receiving the charge, he confessed his sins, obtained absolution, received the Holy Eucharist, and took a solemn oath to be faithful to his trust, and never to suffer the flag to be torn from his hands, except at the cost of his life. But at the battle of Rosbec it mysteriously disappeared. And to think that the red flag is now the emblem of all that is Revolutionary, Communistic, and Anarchist! Perhaps if the Government gave it the old name, we might see it burnt in the Place de la République. [17] The Chapter formerly consisted of a _Primicier_, _Chanoines évêques_, non-resident; and Canons residentiary. The office of _Primicier_ was, I think, abolished only a few years ago, and now the chapter simply consists of canons in residence. [18] How fine the effect must have been when the great cross of S. Eloy stood upon the _grille_, shutting off the nave from the choir! It was of gold, enriched with precious stones and pearls. [19] This custom of dividing bodies is of very ancient date, and was sanctioned by the church in order that the remains might benefit, by their miraculous powers, as many places as possible. Sometimes the superiors of divers monasteries agreed to exchange "a rib of one saint for a cubit bone of another, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, &c." At other times these fragments had to be purchased for very considerable sums.--_History of St. Denis._ [20] The original urn was cast in bronze by Benoist Boucher from the design of Domenico da Firenze, who also designed the relief on the pedestal.