[86] Of this La Hire the following anecdote is told. He was marching to relieve Montargis, which was in dire straits after a long resistance to the besieging English. On his way he met a priest, from whom he demanded absolution. ‘Confess your sins, then,’ returned the priest. ‘I have no time,’ was the reply, ‘for I am in a hurry to engage the English; and, besides, the tale of a soldier’s sins is not a short one.’ The priest somewhat hesitatingly pronounced the sentence of absolution. La Hire immediately knelt down by the wayside and prayed aloud, ‘God, I pray Thee to do this day on La Hire’s behalf what Thou wouldst that La Hire should do for Thee, supposing he was God and Thou wast La Hire.’ His somewhat uncanonical prayer was granted. He attacked the English and obliged them to raise the siege of Montargis. I note a curious parallel between this prayer of his and the quaint old English epitaph of John Hildebrod,-- ‘Here lies the body of old John Hildebrod. Have mercy on his soul, O God! As he would do, if he were God, And you were old John Hildebrod.’ [87] Contemporary MS. (Bibliothèque Municipale), Duparc, 1578. [88] _Siège de Paris_, Francisque Sarcey. [89] This incident is represented in the engraving by Perrissim, 1570, here reproduced. It will be noticed that the artist has ignored the river. [90] Edited by M. L’Abbé Métais, 1895. [91] (_See_ p. 198). [92] Left of the Place de la Gare. [93] Connecting the Boulevard Chasles with the Rue des Bouchers. [94] Thus built Claudius Huvé, physician, for the adornment of the city and the benefit of posterity. [95] _Journal des Choses plus Mémorables Advenues à Chartres_, 1579-1592. [96] _Histoire de Chartres_, Souchet. [97] Cérémonies observées au sacre et couronement du très-chrestien et très valeureux Henry IV., etc.--Paris. Jamet Mettayer. 1594. [98] No. 189, a picture of the Flemish school, represents Henri Quatre surrounded by his staff and watching the effect of the bombardment of the town. The quarter of S. Jean is in flames. His soldiers are endeavouring to force their way through the breach at the Porte-Drouaise. The Cathedral, it will be observed, has here its third _flêche_. The towers in the fortifications are square. [99] Starting from the Place des Épars, you reach the Place des Halles by the Rue du Bois Merrain, and enter the Hôtel de Ville by the Rue de la Mairie. [100] On the window of the façade runs the following inscription:--‘Atavitam Montescotiorum domum qua natus Cl. restituit an. 1614.’ He built it, then, on the site of his old home.