The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-16
TIE GLAMOUR DE HARO.
An Old Custom Still Prevailing in tho Tsle
of Jersey.
!. Shaw La'ovro tn tho Fortnightly Kevlow j

II. Shaw La'ovro tn tho Fortnightly IievlowJ
An old custom In Jersey. dnHceudn,I from
Norman times, is interesting Tho "EIatna,,
DO llaro or the appeal 10 Roln. II attributed
to Duke kpllo OF Normandy. who gave to his
people II personal appeal to himself and his
successors In certain cases Of wrong. To this
dry in tho islands, If thnre be- d question of
eueronchmcnt on tho right of property such
MS tho wrongful building OF wall or tho re-
Inovh of u boundary, the custom Is that the
Injured person may make his appeal to Itollu
on the spot. by falling on his knees in tho
presence of witnesses and cxclalming In thu
prescribed words, "Haro laro d i'aide, mon
Prince. on me falt tort laro being tho ab-
breviatlon of tho words, "Ah, RoIlo.' Onthis
invocation the workmen employed In the work
| are bound to cease. and cannot proceed with
it until the Rnynl Court has investigated
tho matter aud pronounced Judgment, II tho
person thus appealing is found on inquiry
to he in the wrong. he II fined by the court for
having. without just grounds. called in the
name of Rnllo. notable case OF this Cn-
maur tic llaro occurred In Normandy Mt the
funeral Of William the Conqueror, md ae-
counts for tho seen" SO graphically told by
MI. Freeman. though he does not connect tho
incident with the peculiar custom on right of
appeal. In order to provide Il site for tho
great Abbey Of St Stephen mt Gaen, the Con
aueror had taken the property OF several
persons, one Of whom complained TINT he
had not been compensated for his interest
Tic son Of this person, Ascelin, observing
that tho grave Of William was dug on the
very spot where his fathers house hnd been
situated. went boldly into the assembly col
leCtad ut the grave for the funeral, ind max
ing his appeal to Rollo, forbade further pro-
cecGlngs until his claim Of right was de
cded. lie addressed tho company In these
words lie who has oppressed Kingdoms
by his army has been my oppressor also, aud
has kept me under a continual fear OF death
SINCE | have OutiVed him who injured me- [
mean not to acqlt him now he Is dead
lhe ground whereon you are going to
lay this man Is mine; and affirm
that none may IN future bury their dead in
ground which belongs to another. II after he
Is gone, force and violence are still used to
d"tain my right from me, appeal TO Kolo.
the founder and father Ut our nation. who.
though dead, lives In his laws. | take refuge
In these laws, owning no authority above
tham' This brave speech, delivered In pres
ence o. tho COnquerorS son, Prince Henry.
afterwards Henry [, wrought It's effect. Com
pensattop was Immediately given to Ascein
for the value OF the ground occupied by the
grave, further sum was promised for the
remainder. and the opposition caasing, the
dead King was duly buried. Mr.. Frpnn1an
thinks II improbable that William should
have wrongfuly taken the land n was not
MS character toCommta acts OF mere robbery
put lhefe may nave been a dispute of right,
ana Asceiin, having made his appeal to Rollo
according to the custom, the funeral could
not have been proceeded with 1t may well
nave been, then, that 1t was found more con-
venient to compensate him on the spot than to
delay proceeding and dsappoint those who
nad come for the ceremony.