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The Evil Eye, and Allied Notions 167
de Chateau, or twenty-four hours' imprisonment, and to pay
all costs. Thus, to implore the aid of the Prince when
there is no just cause, and the disturbing of the public
peace by invading another's property, are accounted equally
criminal.'
Falle, the historian, relates a curious anecdote regarding
the virtue and power of this formula, which occurred about
1 70 years after Rollo's decease, when the burial of William
the Conqueror's body was opposed by a subject. It seems
that in order to build the great Abbey of St Stephen at
Caen, where the king intended his body should lie, William
the Conqueror had caused several houses to be pulled down
to enlarge the area. Amongst these there was one for which
the owner had received no compensation. Some say that
the son of the owner—others that this person himself
observing that the grave had been dug on the very spot
where his house before stood, came boldly into the Assembly
and forbade them (not in the name of God, but in Rollo's
name) to bury the body there.
Coote, in his History of England, tells us that the name
of the owner was Fitz-Arthur, and that a small sum was
paid him on the spot for the right of immediate burial, and
that Prince Henry afterwards gave him full satisfaction for
the rest of his claim. A very few years ago the force of this
ancient appeal was tested and acknowledged in Guernsey.
Fifty years ago— possibly still more recently— a wooden cage
stood in the Guernsey market-place. People were confined
The exact words used are " Moil
Ha-Ro ! three times repeated, and A mon aide
Prince .' On mc fait tort ! Ha is an exclamation of suffering or distress,
and Ro is an abbreviation of Duke Rollo's name, so that this is as much as to say :
O !
"
Rollo, my Prince, succour me !
—