14 
MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS OF 
ordnance of which they had made themselves masters. They were formed 
of bars of iron two inches in thickness, bound round by hoops of the same 
material. The largest is eleven feet long, and eighteen inches in calibre 
(French measure.) There is still to be seen in this piece one of the stone 
shot which were thrown by the English. It is about fifteen inches in 
diameter.” 1 Such is the narrative of this eventful siege. Well might the 
grateful monks three years later emblazon in their abbey church the names 
and armorial bearings of those who had so stoutly held the 
-place 
Par laicle de Dieu et la grace 
et de Monseigneur St Michel 
Prince de chevaliers du ciel 
Qui a tonjours remede quys 
a ceux qui lont ceans requis. 
Professor Pole, F.E.S., whose association with the Committee on Iron 
Defences has naturally led him to take a warm interest in all subjects of 
artillery, having decided to spend his vacation of 1863 on the coast of 
Normandy, the writer called his attention to these curious memorials of the 
age of chivalry, and with characteristic activity he made it a business to 
visit and examine them. By the obliging assistance of M. Marquet, Director 
of the prison establishment at the Mont, his researches were completely 
successful. 
The following is an extract from his personal narrative :— 
“ I passed,” says Mr Pole, “ Pontorson (the place opposite Mont St 
Michel) on Tuesday, the 15th September; but as I learned the regulations at 
the Mont were strict, I thought it best in the first instance to go on to 
Avranches, to get the necessary authority from the Sous-Prefet to examine 
the guns. I accordingly went to the sous-prefecture on the 16th, read 
your letter to the officer there, and he gave me a note^ of introduction 
to the f Directeur de la Maison Centrale de detention 9 (for you probably 
know that the ancient church establishment is now a prison), 2 requesting 
him to give me all necessary facilities. 
“ Armed with this, I returned to Pontorson, and from there to the Mont. 
On presenting my note, I found the authority was addressed to the wrong 
person—there being three authorities on the rock: (1) the director, 
M. Marquet, a man of consideration; (2) the Maire of the little fishing 
village, or commune; and (3) the commandant of the fortress: and I 
was told that the director had no power over the guns, as they belonged to 
the commune. He however sent a specml guide with me to shew me the 
beautiful chapel and buildings, and when I had seen these I hastened down 
to begin my work with the guns. I found that your sketch, 3 although 
something like one of them, was so imperfect that it was desirable for me to 
1 One of these shot has been recently presented to the Museum of Artillery at Woolwich, by 
M. Marquet. 
2 Since this time the prison has been abolished, and the beautiful buildings put in order for 
public view. 
3 Copied from the “ Recueil des Bouches a feu les plus »emarquables.”—J. H. L. 
