22 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



it at present possesses. This little corner of tlie earth 

 has its history no less than the greatest empires. 

 There existed here in ancient days an abbey, which 

 after having been originally independent became 

 tributary to the monastery of Mount St. Michael, in 

 conformity with a decree of Kichard I. Duke of 

 Normandy. It was originally held by the Bene- 

 dictines ; but towards the year 1343, Philip of Valois 

 bestowed it upon the Cordeliers. The numbers of 

 the religious community were very considerable at 

 that time, as is proved by the registers of the 

 Bishopric of Coutances, and as we find attested by 

 the tombs, discovered some years ago when a part of 

 Grande-Ile was laid down in pasturage land. 



If we are to believe the current tradition, these 

 early proprietors of Chausey were far from leading 

 lives in conformity with their sacred character. Ship- 

 wrecks formed the principal branch of their revenues, 

 and not contented with pillaging the wrecks, which 

 chance or storms threw upon the coast, they kindled 

 beacon-lights on the points of greatest danger in 

 order to allure the trusting mariners to certain de- 

 struction. It is added that those poor wretches who 

 escaped from shipwreck met with a speedy death on 

 these inhospitable shores. The women alone were 

 spared, and, when they refused to yield to the desires 

 of the monks, they were precipitated into a cavern 

 communicating with the sea, where the next tide 

 must have terminated their troubles. I was shown 

 in one corner of the ruins of the old fort a square 

 ditch, half filled with stones, which I was assured 

 had served as the opening to these terrible oubliettes. 



