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TOWER OF FRANCIS I.

another inundation carried terror, and almost despair, into the hearts of its builders. This new inroad of the sea was called the Coup de Vent de Saint-Félix, and a procession was instituted in honour of the unlucky saint, which, no doubt, was effectual,—as a similar disaster, at least to any considerable extent, never again occurred.

Scarcely a score of years after the first inundation, however, a fleet issued from this port, so considerable as to awe the English into peace; and in the reign of Charles IX, Havre had become so important that it was given up to our Queen Elizabeth by the Protestants, as a guarantee for the assistance which she promised to send them. The Earl of Warwick, accordingly, with six thousand English, took possession of the place. They retained it in their hands. for some time, and only capitulated after a long and gallant defence.

The public buildings of Havre are not remarkable; but the old

TOWER OF FRANCIS I,

on the northern jetty, still draws the attention of travellers, on account of a deed of arms, altogether original, which was performed there towards the close of the sixteenth century.

All that is known to history with regard to this exploit is, that it was undertaken as a means of momentary escape from military punishment for some trivial offence; and with regard to its hero, that he was a native of Caen, and that his name was Aignan Lecomte.