Over that stairway, nevertheless, the troubadours, Pierre Ronsardand Clement Marot, used to go up and down, humming their lays or touchingtheir viols; and through that door De Lorge returned in glory, afterleaping down into the lions' den to rescue his lady's glove. The housestill derives its name from the great carved image of a reptile whichstretches down its outer wall, from garret to cellar, beside the doorway.In that house the great king deigned to meet the Breton sailor, who hadset up along the St. Lawrence a cross bearing the arms of France with theinscription _Franciscus Primus, Dei gratia Francorum Rex regnat_; andhad followed up the pious act by kidnapping the king Donnacona, andcarrying him back to France. This savage potentate was himself brought toLisieux to see his French fellow-sovereign; and the jovial king, eagerlyconvinced, decided to send Cartier forth again, to explore for otherwonders, and perhaps bring back other kingly brethren. Meanwhile, however,as it was getting to be an affair of royalty, he decided to send also agentleman of higher grade than a pilot, and so selected Jean Francois dela Roche, Sieur de Roberval, whom he commissioned as lieutenant andgovernor of Canada and Hochelaga. Roberval was a gentleman of credit andrenown in Picardy, and was sometimes jocosely called by Francis "thelittle king of Vimeu.
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