_Le Malingreux._ Si tu veux trimer[143] de compagnie avec mézière, nous aquigerons grande chère,[144] je sais bien aquiger les luques,[145] engrailler l’ornie, casser la hane aux frémions,[146] pour épouser la fourcandière,[147] si quelques rovaux[148] me mouchaillent.[149] _Le Polisson._ Ah! le havre garde mézière, je ne fus jamais ni fourgue[150] ni doubleux.[151] _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.