[52] There is a queer story told by Félibien of Marie's desire to possess some marbles left at S. Denis, after the building of the Henri II. tomb by Catherine de' Medici. Marie was about to build her a house, and she demanded of her son permission to carry off the marbles; but the monks objected, and appealed to the Parliament. The king, however, having quarrelled with his mother, was not sorry to make peace at another's cost, so he commanded the monks to deliver the marbles; but the latter were not to be conquered so easily, and another appeal was made which ended as fruitlessly as the first, and the poor convent eventually lost its marbles.
[53] "History and description of the Royal Abbaye of St. Denis, and of the vast riches which have been accumulating for ages in the celebrated abbaye. Extracted from the records of S. Denis," London, 1795.
[54] The holy oil was brought from heaven by a dove, in the very same phial in which it is kept. It has continued unwasted and unimpaired from the time of Clovis, for whose use it was sent, A.D. 500.
[55] Viollet le Duc, who attributes the picture to van Eyck, states that the cross was given by Suger (it is engraved in Félibien). In the Dictionnaire raisonné d'Architecture, le Duc has engraved the altar. Dom Doublet also gives a minute description of the gold retable with its ornaments of precious stones. The reliquary behind was destroyed by the Huguenots.
[56] See Notice des Émaux et de l'Orfévrerie, by Alfred Darcel. Gemmes et Joyaux, by Barbet de Jouy. Handbook of the Louvre; S. Beale.
[57] In the Salle d'Apollon; one of the centre cases.
[58] Suger was abbot from 1122 to 1151.
[59] Salle d'Apollon, centre case.
[60] Catalogue des Camées, by M. Chabouillet.
[61] O Christ, Charles III. of the name upon the throne of France consecrates this cup to thee!