Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/62

44 state, until de Coucy had added the choir, and as this architect was also honoured with the same kind of leaded monument, and above all as he was the builder of the choir, it seems most probable that the pavement was part of his work, and that it was laid down early in the fourteenth century. It remained in its original position until the time of the renovation in the last century before alluded to, when it was ejected from the sanctuary to make room for a new marble pavement, although it was still thought worthy of being used to pave three small chapels behind the choir. During the Revolution it was taken up once more to be sold, in common with all the other saleable adjuncts of the church, and it passed into a variety of private hands. In 1846, Madame Clicquot, of Verzenay, was their owner, who had devoted them to the ignoble purpose of paving a passage leading to her stables, in which place they had suffered much injury, many of them having been cut to suit the shape of their new position, in addition to the wear and tear they had experienced from the rough usage they met with.

To the good taste of M. Brunette, an architect of Rheims, is due the great credit of rescuing these valuable reliques of the past from their abovenamed ignoble and degraded site. After repeated efforts he was at length enabled to procure them for that city which they were at first intended to adorn; but as the church of St. Nicaise no longer existed, a worthy resting-place has been found for the remnant of this very interesting piece of ancient workmanship in that of St. Remi, where it is to be seen at this time, and it is well worthy of the archæologist's inspection. EDWARD TROLLOPE.