Maromme. Amongst the principal stuffs,
which are wrought in its manufactories, we must mention its
_rouenneries_, the general name given to all those striped or checked
cotton, stuffs which are used for womens dresses.]

[Illustration: Cathedrale.]

RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS.

PAROCHIAL CHURCHES.

CATHEDRAL.

All historians attribute the erection, or at least the consecration of
the first christian chapel in Rouen to Saint-Mellon. They agree also in
placing that chapel on a portion of the ground occupied at present by
the Cathedral. To point out exactly the place, would be next to
impossible; but we must necessarily suppose it to the north end of the
present edifice. The tower of Saint-Romain, the foundation of which is
probably the remains of one of the churches which succeeded each other
on this spot, and which, is assuredly the most ancient part of the whole
edifice, would of itself, prove what I say. It will not be doubted, when
we remember that the waters of the Seine, during the time of
Saint-Mellon (260 to 311), and even seven centuries afterwards, reached
as high as the place, which is known at present by the name of _la
Calende_, that is to say almost at the base of the present Cathedral on
its southern side.

The Cathedral, which was pillaged in the year 841, was not, according to
all probability, destroyed then; or, we must suppose (that which is
hardly possible), that it had been rebuilt in the interval before the
year 912, the period of the baptism of Rollo in this church. Being
exposed to continual acts of devastation from pirates, the inhabitants
fled in all directions, and did not think of building temples; and as
Rollo, having been baptized in this Cathedral, in the year 912, made
most magnificent presents immediately after the ceremony, it is clear,
that the edifice had been only plundered and not destroyed.

About the end of the Xth century, Richard Ist caused the Cathedral to
be enlarged. The archbishop Robert continued the improvements.

Guillaume-le-Batard placed Maurille in the archiepiscopal see, in the
year 1055. Maurille finished the Cathedral, and caused to be erected the
stone pyramid which bears his name, and in the year 1063, he dedicated
the temple in the presence of William, and the bishops of Bayeux,
Avranches, Lisieux, Evreux, Seez and Coutances.

In 1117, this Cathedral was struck by the electric fluid.

In 1200, the metropolitan church was destroyed by fire. Jean-Sans-