Michel Le Nobletz

He returned to his native parish in 1606, where he devised a systematic method of meditation which includes a description of the ten pitfalls threatening the priestly life, placed on a chart.

Back in Leon, motivated by his religious ideals, he refused a scholarly career that offered him a comfortable job, for a life of poverty devoted to the Gospel.

After a period with the Dominicans in Morlaix, he was forced to leave following a major scandal caused by his vandalizing a portrait-sculpture of a young woman placed over her grave.

Nobletz travelled to the islands of Ouessant, Mullein, Batz (where he brandished a human skull taken from the ossuary), before returning to Conquet.

To communicate with his audience of sailors and farmers Nobletz wrote words to be sung to popular tunes, even traditionally bawdy ones.

Among them, there was Mademoiselle de Quisidic, the widows Douarnenez Claude Bellec, Dammath Rolland and Anne Keraudren, and the conquetoises Jeanne Le Gall and Francoise Troadec.

He also enlisted the assistance of men, such as the cartographer Alain Lestobec and the fishermen Senan Fanch Su, Heny Pobeur, Bernard Poullaouec and Guillaume Coulloch.

According to Theodore Hersart de La Villemarqué, "In the islands, as most people were busy fishing, the holy bard followed them to where he found them gathered in large numbers, and mounting the highest point of their boats, he charmed their work by his songs".

His attacks on local business leaders and on other priests for alleged worldliness and moral failings led to complaints to the bishops that he was a fanatic.

Nicknamed by his contemporaries ar beleg foll, "the mad priest", he was subject to accusations of bigotry, caused by his excesses and domineering character.