Le Malingreux. Ni mézière non plus, je rouscaille[152] tous les luisans[153] au grand havre de l’oraison.
[101] Argotiers,members of the “canting crew.”[102] Polisson,half-naked beggar.[103] Malingreux,maimed or sick beggar.[104] Lourde,gate.[105] Vergne,town.[106] La haute,the Almighty.[107] Aquige,keep.[108] Chenastre,good.[109] Tézière,thee.[110] Fanandel,comrade.[111] Trimardes,going.[112] Pasquelin,country.[113] Rouscaillé,told.[114] Trucher,to beg.[115] Fiche-t-on la thune,do they give alms.[116] Gourdement,much.[117] La rousse,the police.[118] Ambier,go.[119] Michon,money.[120] Cosni,died.[121] Castu,hospital.[122] Jaspin,yes.[123] Chenu,good.[124] Pioles,rooms.[125] Fretille,straw.[126] Morfe,food.[127] Piausser,to sleep.[128] Mézière,me.[129] Ronds,halfpence.[130] Herplis,farthings.[131] Felouse,pocket.[132] Grenasse,barn.[133] Menées,dozen.[134] Henne,purse.[135] Ornies,hens.[136] Gueulard,wallet.[137] Egraillées,hooked.[138] Trimar,road.[139] Bions,let us go.[140] Riffoder,cook.[141] Girole,so be it.[142] Havre,God.[143] Trimer,to walk.[144] Aquigerons grande chère,will live well.[145] Aquiger les luques,prepare pictures.[146] Casser la hane aux frémions,steal purses at fairs.[147] Epouser la fourcandière,to throw away the stolen property.[148] Rovaux,police.[149] Mouchaillent,see.[150] Fourgue,receiver of stolen property.[151] Doubleux,thief.[152] Je rouscaille,I pray.[153] Tous les luisans,every day.
Seventeenth Century.
ENGLISH GIPSIES’ OATH.
(Extract from Bampfylde-Moore Carew, King of the Mendicants.)
When a fresh recruit is admitted into this fraternity, he is to take the following oath, administered by the principal maunder,[154] after going through the annexed form:—
First a new name is given him, by which he is ever after to be called; then, standing up in the middle of the assembly, and directing his face to the dimber damber, or principal man of the gang, he repeats the following oath, which is dictated to him by some experienced member of the fraternity:—
“I, Crank Cuffin, do swear to be a true brother, and that I will in all things obey the commands of the great tawny prince,[155] keep his counsel, and not divulge the secrets of my brethren.
“I will never leave or forsake the company, but observe and keep all the times of appointment, either by day or by night, in every place whatever.
“I will not teach anyone to cant; nor will I disclose any of our mysteries to them.
“I will take my prince’s part against all that shall oppose him, or any of us, according to the utmost of my ability; nor will I suffer him, or anyone belonging to us, to be abased by any strange abrams,[156] ruffies,[157] hookers,[158] palliardes,[159] swaddlers,[160] Irish toyles,[161] swigmen,[162] whip Jacks,[163] Jarkmen,[164]