FABLES, CONTES et LEGENDES

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Le calvaire du XVIème siècle, conservé au Musée d'Archéologie de la ville de barcelos, est associé à la curieuse légende d'un coq, symbole de cette ville.D'après cette légende, un jour un crime fut commis dans ce village. Or, on ne retrouva pas le coupable, et les habitants de barcelos furent intrigués par cela. Cette histoire les préoccupait et les affolait.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Un jour apparut dans la ville un homme de Galice, sur qui se portèrent on ne sait pour quelles raisons, immédiatement les soupçons.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Les autorités l'arrêterent sans preuves.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      L'homme eut beau protester et clamer son innocence, rien n'y fit.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Personne ne voulut croire que cet homme se rendait à saint jacques de compostelle pour accomplir un voeu, car il était un fervent adorateur du saint que l'on vénérait à compostelle, ainsi que de Saint Paul et de Notre-Dame. L'homme fut condamné à être pendu !

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Au moment où on le conduisait à la potence, il demanda à être remis en présence du juge qui l'avait condamné. L'autorisation lui fut concédée et on l'emmena à la résidence du magistrat, qui était en plein banquet avec quelques amis.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      L'accusé affirma de nouveau son innocence et devant l'incrédulité des assistants, il montra un coq rôti qui était sur la table et s'exclama ... 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                « Il est aussi sûr que je suis innocent, qu’il est sûr que ce coq chantera au moment où l’on me pendra ».

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Cette déclaration ne fit que provoquer les éclats de rire de toute l'assistance ...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mais personne ne toucha au coq rôti, qui resta donc entier dans son plat. On entraîna alors l'homme vers la potence.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Et ce qui semblait impossible arriva ! Au moment où le pèlerin allait être pendu, le coq rôti se dressa sur la table et chanta. Le juge et ses invités restèrent ébahis.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Personne ne douta plus de l'innocence du condamné. Le juge courut à la potence et quelle ne fut pas sa stupéfaction quand il vit le pauvre homme la corde au cou, mais le noeud refusant absolument de se serrer !

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             On le délivra immédiatement et on le renvoya en paix. Quelques années plus tard il revint à Barcelos, où il fit ériger un monument en hommage à la vierge et à Saint Jacques.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Le portugal adopta "le coq de Barcelos" comme symbole, sans doute car ce dernier symbolisait une histoire morale, optimiste et juste.