[170] The worthy historian of Falaise, quoted in a preceding page, is
    exceedingly anxious to make us believe that there are portions of this
    church—­namely, four stones—­in the eastern and western gable
    ends—­which were used in the consecration of it, by MATHILDA, the wife
    of our first William.  Also, that, at the gable end of the south
    transept, outside, an ancient grotto,—­in which the Gallic priests of
    old purified themselves for the mysteries of their religion—­is now
    converted into the sacristy, or vestry, or robing room.  But these are
    surely mere antiquarian dreams.  The same author more sagaciously
    informs us that the exact period of the commencement of the building
    of the nave, namely in 1438, is yet attested by an existing
    inscription, in gothic letters, towards the chief door of entrance. 
    The inscription also testifies that in the same year, “there reigned
    DEATH, WAR, and FAMINE.”  The chancel of the choir, with the
    principal doors of entrance, &c. were constructed between the years
    1520, and 1540.  It may be worth remarking that the stalls of the choir
    were brought from the Abbey of St. John—­on the destruction of that
    monastic establishment in 1729; and that, according to the Gallia
    Christiana, vol. xi. p. 756, these stalls were carved at the desire
    of Thomas II. de Mallebiche, abbot of that establishment in 1506-1516. 
    In a double niche of the south buttress are the statues of HERPIN and
    his WIFE; rich citizens of Falaise, who, by their wealth, greatly
    contributed to the building of the choir. (Their grandson, HERPIN
    LACHENAYE, together with his mistress were killed, side by side, in
    fighting at one of the gates of Falaise to repel the successful troops
    of Henry IV.) The Chapel of the Virgin, behind the choir, was
    completed about the year 1631.  LANGEVIN, p. 81-128-131.

[171] We have of course nothing to do with the first erection of a place of
    worship at Guibray in the VIIIth century.  The story connected with the
    earliest erection is this.  The faubourg of Guibray, distant about 900
    paces from Falaise, was formerly covered with chestnut and oak trees. 
    A sheep, scratching the earth, as if by natural instinct (I quote the
    words of M. Langevin the historian of Falaise) indicated, by its
    bleatings, that something was beneath.  The shepherd approached, and
    hollowing out the earth with his crook, discovered a statue of the
    Virgin, with a child in its arms.  The first church, dedicated to the
    Virgin, under the reign of Charles Martel, called the Victorious, was
    in consequence erected—­on this very spot—­in the centre of this
    widely spreading wood of chestnut and oak.  I hasten to the
    construction of a second church,