Abbe De la Rue[91] seems to render
such a supposition at least doubtful. Indeed, the reverend author
enumerates no fewer than six chapels within the precincts of the castle,
without, however, entering upon a description of the remains of any one
of them. At the same time, he particularly notices the religious
building here figured, evidently regarding it as having served formerly
for a parochial church. At present, it is desecrated, and is devoted to
the office of a military storehouse. M. De la Rue regards it as being
not only the oldest architectural relic in Caen, but as an erection of
the tenth century. He founds this opinion upon its construction,
destitute of any tower; upon the circular arches of its door and
windows; upon its zig-zag mouldings; upon the monsters of its
corbel-table; and, above all, upon the peculiarity of its position; the
choir being turned to the west, and the front to the east. It was,
according to him, in the eleventh century, that the practice, now
uniformly adopted, of placing churches in an opposite direction, was
first introduced. The irregularity of the early Norman religious
edifices, in this latter respect, has already been noticed under a
preceding article.[92]

NOTES:

[85] _Essais Historiques_, II. p. 272.

[86] _Chronicles_, (Johnes' Translation) III. p. 472.

[87] _Recherches et Antiquitez de la Ville de Caen_, p. 19.

[88] Indeed, so detailed and curious is this account, that, though
rather long, it appears desirable here to insert it.--"Reste a present a
descrire la situation de ce superbe chasteau, lequel est apparent et
haut esleve comme une couronne et propugnacle a ceste grande ville, il a
este de tout tems l'un des premiers de ce royaume en beaute, grandeur,
et forteresse pour estre assis sur un roc naturel, venteux, non sujet a
la mine, ny escalade, accompaigne de son donjon, au mitan duquel est
eslevee une tour carree d'une admirable grosseur et hauteur, circuye de
fortes murailles, et aux coings quatre grosses et hautes tours rondes a
plate forme a plusieurs estages, que l'on a nommees, l'une le cheval
blanc, l'autre le cheval noir, la tierce le cheval rouge, et la quatre
le cheval grix, lesquelles seruent par aucunes fois pour enfermer les
plus insignes voleurs, les fossez de ce donion sont a fonds de cuue
comme ceux de ce chasteau d'une epouuantable profondeur, tellement
qu'ils ne sont suiets a l'escalade, le belle ou basse court de ce
chasteau est de si ample