THE COMPANIONAGE.
2i8
bore liim, sejjarated from his friend and chose other disciples.
M. Jacc[ues landed at
and M. Soubise at Bordeaux. Before commencing his travels M. Jacques chose
tliey
Marseilles,
thirteen
Companions \Com])agnona\ and forty
He
chose another.
and
virtues.
One
day, being at
some distance from
who attempted
the followers of M. Soubise,
by one
disciples; being deserted
travelled for three years, leaving everywhere the
memory
them he
of
of his talents
he was assailed by ten of
In order to save himself he
his disciples,
to assassinate him.
swamp, the canes \or reeds, in French "joncs "] of which not only supported him,
but afforded a refuge from the blows of his assailants. Whilst these cowards were seeking
plunged into a
some means of reaching him, his disciples arrived and effected his rescue."
"
He withdrew to St Beaume. One of his disciples, called by some J^ron, and by others
One day, before sunrise, M. Jacques
Jamais, betrayed him to the disciples of M. Soubise.
being alone and engaged in prayer in his accustomed spot, the traitor arrived accompanied
by the executioners, and gave as usual the kiss of peace, which was the preconcerted death
Five villains at once
signal.
"
fell
His disciples arrived too
'
for
he,
God
has so willed
it
;
killed him with five dagger wounds."
but yet in time to receive his last farewell.
upon and
late,
I forgive
my
assassins,
and forbid you
to follow
'
I die,' said
them
they are
Creator
;
I deliver my soul to God, my
already miserable enough some day they will repent.
and you, my friends, receive from me the kiss of peace. When I shall have rejoined the
;
;
Supreme Being,
watch over you.
I shall still
I desire that
the last kiss which I give you,
be imparted always to the Companions whom you may make, as coming from their Father
they will transmit it to those whom they make I will watch over them as over you tell
;
;
;
them everywhere so long as they remain faithful to God and to their
and never forget
.'^
He pronounced a few more words which
charge [devoir]
they were unable to understand, and crossing his arms over his breast, expired in his forty-
them
I shall follow
.
.
.
seventh year, four years and nine days after leaving Jerusalem, and 989 years before Christ."
"
The Companions, having disrobed him, found a small piece of cane, which he wore in
memory
of the canes that
had saved
his life
when he
fell into
the swamp."
"
Since then the Companions have adopted the cane.
It was not known whether Maitre
Soubise was the instigator of his death the tears which he shed over his tomb, and the
;
pursuit of the assassins which he ordered, contributed to weaken in a great measure the susAs for the traitor, he very soon repented of his crime, and,
picions that were entertained.
driven to despair by his poignant regrets, he threw himself into a
pit,
which the Companions
up with stones."
fiUed
"
M. Jacques'
career being thus closed, the
into the desert of Cabra,
now
Companions constructed a
bier,
and carried him
called St Magdalen."
[Perdiguier once more ceases to quote verbally, and 7V