Vanished Halls and Cathedrals of FranceEdwards, George Wharton
History
Vanished Halls and Cathedrals of France
Edwards, George Wharton
Cathedrals -- France; Cities and towns -- France; France -- Description and travel
He it was who brought us to the church of St. Géry in the Place Fénelon,
on the site of one founded by St. Vaast in 520. This had a remarkable
dome which was upheld by four very slender columns, of very unusual
character, and there was also a magnificent renaissance "jube," or altar
screen, of colored marble, and a transept containing a large painting
of the "Entombment," attributed to Rubens. The "Episcopal Palace of
Fénelon" was just across the street, or at least a fragment of the
original building, with a very richly decorated triple portal in the
Renaissance style.
It was this palace that Fénelon opened to the fugitives of the battle
of Malplaquet, who thronged the town of Cambrai for protection and food.
History states that every corner of the building was filled with the
hapless people, and their small belongings hastily gathered together in
the flight. The gardens and courts were crowded with cows, calves,
and pigs, and the scene is said to have been indescribable. Emanuel de
Broglie, who wrote the account ("Fénelon a Cambrai," de Broglie),
says, "Officers to the number of one hundred and fifty, both French and
prisoners of war, were received by Fénelon at his house, and seated at
his table at one time."
"God will help us," said the Archbishop; "Providence hath infinite
resources on which I can confidently rely. Only let us give all we have:
it is my duty and my pleasure."
Over the side doors were inscriptions on "banderoles"--"A Clare
Justitia" on one, and on the other "A gladio pax." The fine "Chateau de
Selles," on the banks of the Scheldt River, was built in the fifteenth
century. The beautiful reliefs of its gables, its statues, and the
wrought iron grills of its balconies were still perfect, and the view
from its green terrace was most enjoyable.
There was a curious sort of penthouse shown to us, near a building
called "Vieux Château" of which pillars with rudely sculptured capitals
remained. Near this was a well with some ancient rusty ironwork, and
a stone which our quondam guide said had served in ages long ago as
a block in executions. Somehow we thought that he lied, and with
considerable skill withal, but we dismissed him with payment of a
franc for his pains. He did not go, however, but followed us about at
a distance muttering to himself and occasionally waving his hands in a
most absurd manner, until at length we happily lost him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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