However, it was not the hazard of war which made this tower low-
er its haughty front and caused its ruin. All that it suffered was the
damage to its lantern, several times repaired. Its final destruction
was entirely due to the carelessness of the mayor and aldermen, who
took no pains to check the action of the sea at its base, and of subter-
ranean springs which gradually sapped its foundation, so that finally,
between 1640 and 1645, tower, fort, and even the cliff itself fell. The
Boulognese were rather glad of it, for they had to pay taxes on the
land, in virtue of an ancient right to a certain Lord dc Baincthnn.
\



8 ANCIENT AND .IfODERN UGHT-TIOUSES.
They argued tbat as the land had disappeared they were freed
from further obligation to the proprietor. However, Parliament
did not take that view of it, but informed Messieurs the Boulog-
nese that as they were responsible for the loss of the tower, they
could continue paying a tax of two thousand herrings, delivered at
Amiens, Arras, or at other cities at equal distances that the pro-
prietor might designate; or they could replace the tower in its
former condition, and relinquish to the Lord of Baincthun, Baron of
Ordre, the right of taxing all fishermen entering Havre. They con-
cluded to pay the tax, and continued to do so until the French
Revolution.
