_Le Polisson._ Girole,[141] et béni soit le grand havre,[142] qui m’a fait rencontrer si chenastre occasion; je vais me réjouir et chanter une petite chanson....
_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.”_
[103] Malingreux, _maimed or sick beggar_.
[115] Fiche-t-on la thune, _do they give alms_.
[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_.
[150] Fourgue, _receiver of stolen property_.
(_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] bawdy baskets,[165] dommerars,[166] clapper dogeons,[167] patricoes,[168] or curtails;[169] but I will defend him, or them, as much as I can, against all other outliers whatever. I will not conceal aught I win out of libkins,[170] or from the ruffmans,[171] but will preserve it for the use of the company. Lastly, I will cleave to my doxy,[172] wap[173] stiffly, and will bring her duds,[174] margery praters,[175] gobblers,[176] grunting cheats,[177] or tibs of the buttery,[178] or anything else I can come at, as winnings for her wappings.”[179]