Another is that he was an old Arch-Druid, the last of the Druids to hold out against Christianity. Miserable at his brethren’s apostacy from the faith of their fathers, he went to live in a cave at the end of Jerbourg Point. His favourite occupation was standing on the rocks of the Tas de Pois and gazing out to sea, for he was passionately fond of the sea and sailors. One day, during a violent gale, he saw a ship in great distress out at sea, so he prayed to his gods to stop the storm and save the ship. They took no notice of his prayers, the storm still raged, and the ship was driven nearer and nearer to the dangerous rocks on which he stood. Then, in desperation, he prayed to the God of the Christians, and vowed that if only the ship were saved he would turn Christian and dedicate a Chapel to the Blessed Virgin. As he prayed, the gale ceased, and the ship made its way safely to the harbour. And Andrillot, after being baptised as a Christian, dedicated a Chapel; some say it is the one of which the ruins on Lihou Island can still be seen, which is dedicated to “Notre Dame de la Roche;” others say it was the Chapel, long since destroyed, which was on the Fief Blanchelande in St. Martin’s parish, and which is believed to have stood where the parish school now stands.
Be that as it may, that little figure standing, looking out to sea, petrified there that he may yet bring good luck and fine weather to his beloved sailors, is still looked upon by them with fond reverence, and they still throw him in passing their drop of spirits, or doff their flag, for luck.—From Mr. Isaac Le Patourel and others.
“L’Bouan Homme Andriou,” as correctly printed in Gray’s map. This is a petrified Druid, or rather Arch-Druid,—An An Drio—the Primate of the Unelli, and now the guardian of Moulin Huet and Saints’ Bays, Guernsey; for, according to Rowland, our ancestors called that mighty Prelate thus, and Toland in his Celtic Religion, p. 60, says “The present ignorant vulgar believes that these enchanters the Druids were at least themselves enchanted by the still greater enchanter Patrick and his disciples, who miraculously confined them to the places that bear their names. And let me not be thought over minutious should I notice the peculiar propriety of the epithet applied by rural tradition to this most reverend rock of ours—“Le Bouan Homme,”—“bon homme” in France, and “good man” in England, still denoting a Priest two centuries ago, particularly a priest of the old régime.”—From Mr. Métivier.
“La Belle Lizabeau.”
Another instance of a traditionally petrified human being is a rock off the Creux Mahié, standing straight out into the water. It is called “La Belle Lizabeau,” and a little rock at the foot of it is called “La Petite Lizabeau.” It is said that “Lizabeau” was a beautiful girl of Torteval, who was turned out of the house with her baby by her infuriated father. Mad with despair she rushed to the cliffs and leapt into the sea with her baby in her arms, and she and her child were turned into the rocks which now stand there.—From Dan Mauger, an old fisherman of St. Martin’s Parish.
[70] Dr. Heylyn says in his Survey of the Estate of Guernzey and Jarsey, published 1656, p. 298:—“The least of these isles, but yet of most note, is the little islet called Lehu, situate on the north side of the eastern corner, and neer unto those scattered rocks, which are called Les Hanwaux appertaining once unto the Dean, but now unto the Governour. Famous for a little Oratory or Chantery there once erected to the honour of the Virgin Mary, who, by the people in those times was much sued to by the name of our Lady of Lehu. A place long since demolished in the ruine of it. “Sed jam periere ruinæ,” but now the ruines of it are scarce visible, there being almost nothing left of it but the steeple, which serveth only as a sea-marke, and to which, as any of that party sail along they strike their topsail. “Tantum religio potuit suadere.” Such a religious opinion have they harboured of the place, that, though the Saint be gone, the wals shall yet still be honoured.”
“La Roque Mangi.”
La Roque Màngi was a natural granite formation having a very artificial aspect. It stood on one of those sandy downs which extend along the north-west coast between “Le Grand Havre” and “Les Grand’ Rocques,” and consisted of a slender upright mass of rock of from eight to ten feet in height, surmounted by a large stone, projecting about half a foot on every side, resting on the narrowest part of the supporting stone, and looking at a little distance like a petrified giant. It was destroyed by the proprietor of the land about the middle of the present century in the hopes of finding below it a profitable quarry of granite, in which, however, he was disappointed.
Of this rock a curious legend was related by the neighbouring peasants. It was said that the Devil, having quarrelled one day with his wife, tied her by the hair of her head to the upright stone, and that, in her frantic efforts to disengage herself by running round and round, she wore away the solid granite to the narrow neck which supported the superincumbent head.[71]
The origin of the name seems doubtful, some tracing it to a family of the name of Maingy, who possessed land in the parish in which the rock was situated. Others, with more probability, attributing it to the “eaten”—“mangé”—(in the local dialect “màngi”) appearance of the stones, where the upper one or head joined the supporting upright.