marcou

When a woman bears to her husband seven sons consecutively, the seventh is a marcou. But the series must not be broken by the birth of any female child. The marcou has a natural fleur-de-lys imprinted upon some part of his body; for which reason he has the power to cure scrofula, exactly as the kings of France. Marcous are found in all parts of France, but particularly in the Orléanais. Every village of Gâtinais has its own marcou.

It is sufficient for the cure of the sick that the marcou should breathe upon their wounds, or let them touch his fleur-de-lys. The night of Good Friday is particularly favorable to these ceremonies.

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