BRETAGNE.

223

ORLLANOrS.

Colbert’s attempts at establishing a manufactory of point deFrance at Montargis appears by his letters to have been un-successful.

BERRY.

Nor were the reports from Bourges more encouraging.

BRETAGNE.

No record of lace-making occurs in Bretagne, though probablythe Normandy manufactures extended westward along the coast.At all events, the wearing of it was early adopted.

There is a popular ballad of the province, 1587, on “ LaFontenelle le Ligueur,” one of the most celebrated partisans ofthe League in Bretagne. He has been entrapped at Baris, and,while awaiting his doom, sends his page to his wife with thesewords (we spare our readers the Breton dialect):—

“ Page, mon page, petit page, va vite a Coadelan et dis a lapauvre heritiere 15 de ne plus porter des dentelles.

“ De ne plus porter des dentelles, parce que son pauvre epouxest en peine. Toi, rapporte-moi une chemise a mettre, et un drappour m’ensevelir.” 16

One singular custom prevails among the ancient families inBretagne: a bride wears her lace-adorned dress but twice—onceon her wedding-day, and only again at her death, when the corpselies in state for a few hours before its placing in the coffin.

After the marriage ceremony the bride carefully folds awayher dress 11 in linen of the finest homespun, intended for herwinding-sheet, and each year, on the anniversary of the wedding-

15 He had run away with the rich and each of them sprinkles the orangeheiress of Coadelan. blossoms with which it is trimmed with

18 “ Chants populaires de la Bretagne, holy water placed at the foot of the hcd

Par Tli. Hersart de la Villemarque.'* whereon the dress is laid, and oilers up a

11 The bringing home of the wedding prayer for the future welfare of thedress is an event of solemn importance. wearer.

The family alone are admitted to see it