596 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



ney when they were overtaken by a gend'arme, who demanded to know 

 what the paniers contained. The mother replied, ' fresh vegetables for 

 the market.' As if doubting her words, the rough soldier rode up to 

 the side of the donkey, and thrust his sword into the nearest panier, 

 exclaiming as he rode away, ' Bo?i voyage mesamis I ' The agony of 

 the parents may be conceived, until the soldier was well out of sight, 

 when the panier was immediately opened, and the child was found to 

 have been pierced through the calf of his leg. Fortunately nothing 

 more occurred to interrupt their journey to the coast. 



On the testimony of Dr. John Pintard, we were assured that on some 

 occasions the devoted inhabitants of this town walked on communion 

 Sundays to New York, a distance by the road at that time of twenty 

 miles, to attend the services at the old French church in Pine street ; and 

 returned on the same evening to their homes to be ready for their weekly 

 avocations on Monday. To them, the service of the temple was a delight. 

 They invariably commenced their march on Sunday morning, by singing 

 one of the psalms of Clement Marot. The 60th psalm appears to have 

 been a particular favorite. 



" O Lord Thou didst us clean forsake, 

 And scatter all abroad, &c" 



We are also indebted for the following particulars, to the recollections 

 of the late John Pintard, LL.D. 



" The holy sacrament was administered to the Pluguenots at New 

 Rochelle, four times a year, viz., Christmas, Easter, Whit-Sunday, and 

 the middle of September. During the intermissions that occurred, the 

 communicants walked to New York for that purpose. Prior to their de- 

 parture on a Sunday, they always collected the young children, and left 

 them in the care of friends, while they set off early in the morning and 

 walked to the city barefooted, carrying their shoes and stockings in their 

 hands. About twelve miles from New York, at a place since called the 

 Blue Bell, there was a large rock by the road side covered with cedars ; 

 here they stopped for a short time to rest and take some refreshment, 

 and then proceeded on their journey till they came to a fresh water 

 pond, (within the bounds of the city) here they washed their feet, put 

 on their shoes and stockings, and walked to the French church, where 

 they generally arrived by the time service begun. After they had re- 

 ceived the sacrament, they adjourned to the consistory room and par- 

 took of the provisions they had brought with them. The interval be- 

 tween the services was short for their accommodation, as they had to 

 walk home again the same evening to their families. This religious duty 



