r.V/CA'A'.sTT/A'.V, SF/fOOLS, ST(~/>/:.\ /s. 



33 



from amongst themselves, and to a fte in honour of the patron saint of each 

 nation. This was exclusive of the great festivals celebrated in honour of 

 such and such a patron of the University corporation. 



The University, after having at first been placed beneath the guardian- 

 ship of the Holy Virgin, patroness of the Church and of the city of Paris, 

 and whose image is to be traced at every epoch upon the seals and other dis- 





Fig. 27. The legend of St. Nicholas, after the Bourgea stained glass of Fathers Cahier and 

 Martin (Thirteenth Century). The lower part refers to the popular story of the three students 

 whom an innkeeper and his wife assassinated and put into a salt-tub, and whom the saint 

 brought to life again. At the top the same saint is seen bringing by night a sum of money 

 sufficient for the dowry of three poor maidens whom their father was unable to provide for. 



tinctive emblems of the schools, had adopted as patrons and protectors 

 several saints to whom special homage was rendered, viz. St. Thomas A 

 Becket of Canterbury, St. Cosmo, St. Adrian, and St. Andrew. After- 

 wards the only saints feted were St. Nicholas and St. Catherine (Fig. 27), the 

 one patron of the clerks, the other of young people generally, but especially 

 of girls. The nations also had their special patrons. When the wars with 

 the English lessened the popularity of St. Thomas of Canterbury, the nation of 



