New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-14
The Grave of n Norman Abbot.

A most interesting discovery has Just
been made at Mont st. Michel, on the Nor.
man coast. On the. summit of the great
rock on which the little town stands were
| formerly the ruins of some Druidical struc.
| ture, which were, in process of time sue.
ceeded by Roman temple. More than
HOO years ago the pagan temple was re-
placed by Christian shrine which was
dedicated to the Archangel Michael The
present church consists OF an ancient ma We
| of round Norman arches, of which five only
remain. and magnificent Gothic choir of
the fifteenth century. Around it rise the
| mighty ramparts and towers known as the
"Merveilles." In this church a number of
men have recently been making excavs tions
under the direction of NJ. Caroyer, and 10
the course of their labOrs they discovered
the body of Robert of Trobigny. the mighty
Norman abbot before whom Henry ii. of
England did penance for tbs murder of
Thomas Beckett.
The Rev. H. r. Haweis, London clergy
man, heard OF the discovery, and with
much difficulty procured permission to in
spect the remains as they lay in the tomb
where they were deposited nearly seven
hundred years ago. When he reached the
church the men were digging in the nave,
aud had laid bare series of stone inches,
in each of which lay skeleton. Each
body had been placed in it's own niche,
with0 ut coffin, with the feet turne d to the
East. These were lay brethren, for had
they been priests they would have been
buried with their heads towards the sltar,
in accordance with the old belief that at
the resurrection laymen would rise with
their faces turned to the East, while the
priests would stand opposite to them in an
attitude of blessing. A subterranean pass
age led from these inches to a vault be-
meath the platform upon which the remain.
inn art of tho IN q he -
lumns, formerly stood. The bases of the
columns, and part OF the base of q great
square tower which once reared its height
at the south corner, were uncovered. Here
was the vault which once contained all the
valuable manuscripts collected by Robert of
TOrigny, the most prominent ecclesiastic 10
ChristendOm after Q Beckett's death, and
of the great Abbot found its last restine-
place. The spot, when visited by Nj,
Hsweis, was covered with rough sail cloth.
When this was removed, stone coffin
lid, broken In two, was visible. Beneath
this lay all that remained of the dead
abbot. "When he was frat uncovered.v
says NJ. Hsweis, s'he lay complete, wrapped
In one long ample robe of spparently iine
linen, . siiken wrapper of some kind beng
swathed round his body. He wore great
leathern shoes, part Of which remain. His
ekull, of vast dimensions, was broken in
twain, but his lower Jaw 10 complete, with
all his teeth perfect save ono. He was
eighty years old. He measured Eve and q
half feet. He wore no ring. but . leaden
cresier with its wooden handle lay beside
him; the wood went to pieces almost imme-
distely. The bones seemed to me much
broken and oxidized. They aay that he was
embalmed, but of this could find NO trace."
A large leaden medallion was also found in
IN excellent state of preservation, bearing
Latin inscription which may be translated:
Here lies Robert Of Torigny, Abbot Of this
place, Who presided over this monastery
thirty two years. He died, In sooth, ct the
age Of eighty yesrs." zaszs "a
In tomb BY the eide OF Torigny lie the
bopes Of his snecessor, Martin dc Furme-
deic.i with bis orcsier and medal. His bones
are nearly perfect but no trace of his vest
ment can - seen. dsi : ,sI-6Ss ~ ~
Tofigny rulsa y b. Michel from 1854 to
1885. and IN lI57 vas made chief Of the
Castle Of Pontsessa by Hsnry II. There
he Wrots l80 volunes. seue Of Whlch are
etta3f, and thar ~ received Leuis VII, 81
~ p1lSl1mags. IL y etf1nSo th6f ia bonae
Of Ifl wko played % fnpe17nnt 4 port
T. ~ hl19og4 81 tie tirs1s = 0ti6k = lived
aIonA ~ knvo beea rosooeo1 g - MN
It aay a1tee - nany csatnsi4s e bariaL.