Proverbs, Weather Sayings, etc.
“They serve to be interlaced in continued speech. They serve to
be recited upon occasion of themselves. They serve, if you take
out the kernel of them, and make them your own.”--_Lord Verulam._
No nation is without its proverbs; but while in many cases these pithy
sayings are the same in all languages, and merely literal translations
from one dialect to another, in other instances the idea only is
present, and the words in which the proverb is expressed have little
or nothing in common, as, for example, the English saying:--“A bird in
the hand is worth two in the bush,” appears in French in the far less
picturesque form of “_un ‘tiens’ vaut mieut que deux ‘tu l’auras’_.”
Sometimes, from the peculiar circumstances of the people using it, a
proverb takes a local tinge, and, in so doing, may change considerably
from its original wording, while continuing at the same time to convey
a similar lesson. Thus the pastoral saying:--“To lose one’s _sheep_
for a penn’orth of tar,” becomes, very naturally, among a nautical
population, “to lose one’s _ship_, etc.”
Some few proverbs are so thoroughly local as to appear to have
originated in the place where they are used.
Guernsey is not rich in proverbs properly so called; but, as might be
expected among an agricultural and maritime people, weather-sayings
are not uncommon. Many of these could no doubt be traced to the
mother-country, Normandy, but some few may be indigenous, and the
result of local observation.
We will give specimens of each class of these proverbial expressions,
with such remarks as may be necessary to explain them as far as they
can be explained; and, although many of them might be put into modern
French, we have preferred retaining the old Norman dialect still
preserved as the language of all the rural parts of the island.
Proverbs.
_Nou (on) ne va pas au jàn (àjonc) sans ses gànts._--No one goes to cut
furze without gloves. If you would undertake an arduous matter, be well
prepared for it.
_Ch’est la coue (queue) qui est la pière (pire) à écorchier
(écorcher)._--It is the tail that is the hardest to flay. It is often
more difficult to bring an affair to a successful end than to begin it.
_Qui sent mànjue (démangeaison) se gratte._--He who itches scratches
himself. Nearly equivalent to the English saying, “The cap fits.”
_Quand le bouissé (boisseau) est pllein, i’ jette._--When the
bushel-measure is full it runs over. The last straw breaks the camel’s
back.
[Illustration: Building the south arm of the Town Harbour, connecting
Castle Cornet with the Island.]
_Nécessitaï fait la vieille trottaïr._--Need will make an old woman
trot.
_Au broue (brouille, embarras) est le gan (gain, profit)._--No exact
equivalent is to be found for this proverb, but it means that profit,
in some way or other, may be made where there is much doing. The
English saying “No pains, no gains,” comes near it.
_Pûs (plus) de broue que de travâs (travail)._--More bustle than work.
Much cry and little wool.
_Mettre daeux guerbes (deux gerbes) en un llian (lien)._--To bind up
two sheaves with one wisp. To kill two birds with one stone.
_Biautaï (beauté) sans bountaï (bonté), ne vaut pas vin
évantaï._--Beauty, without goodness, is not worth stale wine.
_L’amour hâle (tire) pûs (plus) que chent (cent) bœufs._--Love draws
more than a hundred oxen.
_A p’tit pourche (pourceau) grosse pânais._--The little pig gets the
big parsnip. The youngest child is the most petted.
_Qui paie s’acquitte; qui s’acquitte s’enrichit._--He who pays his way
keeps out of debt; he who keeps out of debt gets rich. No comment is
needed on this thoroughly practical proverb.
_Si nou (on) lli dounne ùn peis (pois) i’ prend une faïve._--If you
give him a pea, he’ll take a bean. Give him an inch, he’ll take an ell.
_Ch’n’est pas ôve (avec) du vinaigre que nous (on) attrâpe des mouques
(mouches)._--Flies are not caught with vinegar. Nothing is to be gained
by roughness.
_Qui peut volaïr (voler) ùn œuf, peut volaïr ùn bœuf._--He who would
steal an egg would steal an ox. Be honest in the smallest matters.
_F’rine du guiablle (diable) s’en va en bran (son)._--The devil’s flour
turns to bran. Ill-gotten wealth never prospers.
_Chàngement d’herbage est bouan (bon) pour les jânes viaux (jeunes
veaux)._--Change of pasture is good for young calves. Variety is
necessary for the young. “Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits.”
_I’ ne faut pas faire le cottìn (cabane, crêche) d’vànt que le viau
seit naï._ (Avant que le veau ne soit né).--One must not make the crib
before the calf is born. Do not count your chickens before they are
hatched.
_S’il ne l’a en breuf, il l’aira (l’aura) en soupe._--If he does not
get it in broth, he’ll get it in soup. If he cannot obtain his end by
one means, he will by another.
_Apprins au ber (berceau), dure jusqu’au ver._--What is learnt in the
cradle goes with one to the grave--literally “to the worm.”
_La bête d’un poure (pauvre) houme (homme) mourrait pûs-à-caoup (plus
tôt) que li (lui)._--He would die more opportunely than a poor man’s
beast, is said of a person whose death would not leave much cause for
regret.
_Les p’tits tchiens (chiens) out de longues coues (queux)._--Is the
equivalent of the French proverb, “dans les petites boîtes les bons
onguents;” precious ointments are in small boxes.
_Ch’est une querrue à tchiens (charrue à chiens)._--It is a plough
drawn by dogs, is said of any affair which is badly conducted--where
those who ought to work in concert are pulling different ways, like two
dogs on a leash.
_Un mouisson (oiseau) à la main vaut mûx que daeux qui volent._--A bird
in the hand is worth two on the wing.
_Il n’y a fagot qui n’trouve sen lliàn (lien)._--There is no faggot but
what at last finds a band. Every Jack has his Jill; every dog has his
day.
_I’ n’y a fagot qui n’vaut sa lliache (liasse)._--There is no faggot so
bad as not to be worth a band.
_Qui mange la craïme ne rend pas du burre (beurre)._--He who eats his
cream makes no butter. You cannot eat your cake and have it.
_I’ ne vaut pas grànd burre (beurre)._--He or it is not worth much
butter; meaning, such an one is not worth much, the matter is not worth
going to any expense about; an allusion to a worthless fish on which
the butter used in cooking it is so much thrown away.
_Ecoute-paret (paroi) jamais n’ot dret (n’ouit droit)._--An
eavesdropper never hears good.
_I’ n’y a rien itaï (tel) que sé (soi) sa qu’minse (chemise) lavaïr
(laver)._--There is nothing like washing your own shirt. If you wish a
thing well done, do it yourself. It is also used in the sense of “Wash
your dirty linen at home.”
_Nou (on) ne trâche (cherche) pas de la graïsse dans le nic (nid) d’ùn
tchien (chien)._--No one thinks of looking for fat in a dog’s kennel.
Look not for qualities where they are not likely to be found, as
generosity in a miser, or honesty in a thief.
_Si ùn cat (chat) s’amord (s’adonne) au lard, nou ne sairait (saurait)
l’en d’s’amordre._--If a cat takes a liking for bacon you can’t break
her of it. It is difficult to get rid of bad habits.
_P’tit à p’tit l’ouaisé (oiseau) fait sen nic (nid)._--Little by little
the bird builds her nest. Rome was not built in a day.
_Tout neû g’nêt (neuf balai) néquie (nettoie) net._--A new broom sweeps
clean.
_I’ n’y a itaïls (tels) que les féniêns (fainéants) quand i’ s’y
mettent._--There are none like idlers when they once set to work.
_Ch’est cauches (bas, chausses) grises, et grises cauches._--This is
the equivalent of the French proverb “C’est bonnet blanc, et blanc
bonnet,” and the English, “Six of one, and half-a-dozen of the other.”
_Ch’n’est pas les ciens (ceux) qui labourent le pûs près du fossaï (de
la haie) qui sont les pûs riches._--It is not they who plough nearest
the hedge who are the richest. Economy may be carried too far.
_I’ s’y entend coume à ramaïr (ramer) des chaoux (choux)._--He
understands as much about it as about putting pea-sticks to cabbages.
The meaning conveyed being: he knows nothing at all about it.
_Tout chu (ce) qui vient de flot se retournera d’èbe._--All that
comes with the flood will return with the ebb. Riches too rapidly
acquired, or ill-gotten, will disappear as quickly as they came--nearly
equivalent to the French proverb “Ce qui vient de la flûte s’en va par
le tambour.”
_Si l’houme aïme autre mûx que sé (mieux que soi) au moulìn i’ mourra
de set (soif)._--If a man loves others more than himself, he will die
of thirst even were he in a mill. The mill spoken of in this selfish
proverb, which is equivalent to “Look after number one,” is, of course,
a water-mill.
_Biauture (beau-temps, beauté) d’hiver; santaï (santé) de vieil homme;
parole de gentilhomme; ne t’y fie, homme!_--A fine day in winter, the
health of an old man, the word of a nobleman; trust to none of these,
O man! The marked distinction of “noble” and “rôturier,” if such ever
existed in Guernsey, died out many centuries ago; and this proverb has
all the appearance of an importation from Normandy, or some other part
of France, where the peasantry were oppressed by the feudal system. The
word “biauture” does not belong to the Guernsey dialect, and when the
saying is quoted in the present, it is generally with reference to the
two first clauses.
_Un tchien (chien) vaut bien p’tit qui ne vaut pas ùn caoup de sufflet
(coup de sifflet)._--A dog that is not worth whistling for is not worth
much.
_Les grands diseurs sont de p’tits faiseurs._--Great talkers are little
doers.
_Où ’est qu’il y a du crottin, il y a du lapìn._--Where you see their
droppings, you may expect to find rabbits. Used both literally and
metaphorically. There is no smoke without fire.
_Il y a terjoûs (toujours) un épi qui mànque à la guerbe
(gerbe)._--There is always a spike of corn lacking in the sheaf.
Nothing is ever perfect.
_I’ n’y a bouais (bois) dont non (on) n’fait buche._--There is no wood
but what will serve for firing, meaning that everything can be put to
some use or other; but the latter half of the proverb is sometimes
varied to “_dont i’ n’ fait buche_,” and it is then equivalent to the
English saying “All is fish that comes to his net.”
_Va où tu peux, meurs où tu deis (dois)._--Go where you can, die where
you must. Dispose of your life as you please, death is inevitable.
_Il est niais coume Dadais qui se couachait (couchait) dans l’iaue
(eau) d’paeur (peur) d’être mouailli (mouillé)._--He is as foolish as
Dadais who lay down in the water to avoid getting wet in a shower.
_Il est niais coume Dadais qui tâte l’iaue pour vée (voir) s’a bouit
(bout)._--He is as stupid as Dadais who puts his hand into the water to
feel if it is boiling.
_Il est pûs (plus) niais que Dadais qui se fouittait de
crêpes._[256]--He is more simple than Dadais who flogged himself with
pancakes. The word “Dadais” is used in the sense of simpleton. In the
three sayings that we have just quoted “Dadais” bears a strong family
resemblance to the “Simple Simons” and “Silly Billies” of English
nursery tales.
_Ch’tait du temps du Rouai (Roi) Jehan. Ch’était du temps des
Scots._--Are used in speaking of events which took place beyond the
memory of man. It is easy to understand how the reign of King John
came to form an epoch in the history of Guernsey; for it was then that
the connexion with the mother-country, Normandy, was severed, and the
islands, until then part and parcel of that Duchy, became attached to
the Crown of England, and have so continued ever since. But it is not
so easy to say when or how the latter saying originated. It may refer
to an invasion of the island by David Bruce, about the tenth year of
Edward III., (A.D. 1336); when great atrocities appear to have been
committed on the inhabitants; but some old people seem to think--and
probably with reason--that the “Scots” were a Scotch regiment sent here
in the early part of last century on a fear of hostilities breaking out
between England and France. It is right, however, to notice that in the
Guernsey dialect “_Ecossais_” and not “_Scots_” is used to designate
Scotchmen.
_I’ mànge coum’ un varou._--He eats like an ogre, is the exact English
equivalent of this saying; but there are few who use the saying who
could say what is meant by “_un varou_.” It is, undoubtedly, the same
as the French “loup-garou” in English--a were-wolf; and may have
reference to the old superstition of men and women being turned into
wolves.
_I’ s’en est allaï (allé) les pids (pieds) d’vànt._--He has gone feet
foremost. He has been carried to his grave.
_Il a étaï enterraï la tête ès tchiens (aux chiens) dehors._--Is used
in the same sense as “being buried like a dog.”
_Il a tête et bounet (bonnet)._--He has a head, yea, and a cap, is said
of an opinionated man.
_I’ n’en reste ni tchiesse (cuisse) ni aïle._--There neither remains
leg nor wing. All is lost, nothing remains.
_I’ quient (tient) d’la chouque (souche)._--He’s a chip of the old
block.
_I’ fait rille (raie) de gras._--He is making a streak of fat, is said
of a man who is prospering in his affairs, in allusion to a pig that is
being fattened.
_I’ peut mànger sa gâche (galette) dorâïe (beurrée) des daeux bords
(des deux côtés)._--He can eat his cake buttered on both sides. He is
rich enough not to be obliged to spare himself any indulgence.
_I’ mànge sa dorâie (tranche de pain beurré) grajie (grattée)._--He
spares the butter on his bread, either from poverty or from avarice. It
is “bread and scrape.”
_I’ prend les cauches (chausses, bas,) pour les sôlers (souliers)._--He
mistakes the stockings for the shoes. He is a blunderer who does not
know one thing from another.
_Il a paeux (peur) des p’tits sôlers (souliers)._--He is afraid of
the little shoes, is said of a man who is unwilling to enter into
the estate of matrimony for fear of the additional expenses that it
will entail--shoes for the children being a considerable item in the
disbursements of a poor family.
_I’ n’en prend ni compte ni taille._--He takes no account nor tally. He
lets matters take their course.
_V’là une fière perruque à débouquèr (démêler)._--There’s a fine wig to
comb out! Is said of an affair which is almost hopelessly involved.
_Il a fait pertus (pertuis, trou) sous l’iaue (eau)._--He has made
a hole in the water. He has disappeared furtively. Compare with the
French saying “Il a fait un trou à la lune.”
_I’ vêt (voit) sept lieues dans la brune._--He sees seven leagues
through the fog, is said derisively of a man who boasts of being more
clearsighted than his neighbours.
_Il est montaï (monté) sur ses pontificaux._--He is in his pontificals,
is equivalent to the English saying “He is riding the high
horse,”--asserting his dignity when there is no need to do so.
_Ch’est le bouâine (borgne) qui mène l’aveuglle._--The one-eyed man is
leading the blind man.
_Nou (on) ne saït pouit (point) où il puche (puise)._--One knows not
what well he draws from, is said of a man who manages to get on without
any very visible means of existence.
_Trop de cuisiniers gâtent la soupe._--Too many cooks spoil the broth.
_I’ n’y a pas de rue sàns but._--There is no road but has an ending.
Equivalent to “It is a long lane that has no turning.”
_S’il y avait un démarieur, il airait (aurait) pûs (plus) à faire que
tous les marieurs._--If there were an “un-marryer” he would have more
work to do than all the “marryers.”
_Ce n’est pas tout que les chaous, faut de la graîsse à les
cuire._--Cabbages alone are not sufficient, one must have grease to
cook them with. Generally applied to “_parvenus_,” who have money but
no manners.
_Nou’ n’engraisse pouit les p’tits cochons d’iau fine._--Little pigs
are not fattened by pure water.
_Vieille pie a plus d’un pertus à son nic (nid)._--An old magpie has
more than one hole in her nest. Said of a man who is skilful at evasion.
_T’as acouare les jaunes talons._--You have still got yellow heels, is
said to youngsters who are too presuming in giving their opinion in the
presence of their elders. Compare the French “blanc-bec” and “béjaune.”
_Ch’est la vermeïne (vermine) qui mànge (mange) l’tâs (le tas)._--It
is the vermin that eats up the stack. Said of a father who has a large
family of children drawing upon him and eating up all his savings.
[256] EDITOR’S NOTE.--The version I have heard of this proverb is: “Il
est niais coume Dadais qui se fouittait de crêpes et tout-le-temps
mourait de faim.”
Popular Sayings.
There are certain popular sayings which contain a comparison, and
which, although in a strict sense they cannot be called proverbs,
may yet be classed with them. Some of these contain words which have
become obsolete, or, at least, antiquated. “_Vier (vieux) comme suée_”
equivalent to “As old as the hills,” may be quoted as an example,
for not only is the word “_suée_” obsolete, but its very meaning is
forgotten and unknown. Mr. George Métivier, a learned philologist,
author of the _Dictionnaire Franco-Normand, ou Recueil des Mots
particuliers au Dialecte de Guernesey_, is inclined to refer it to
the old French _suée_ signifying _sueur_, sweat, used in the sense of
labour. The conjecture is ingenious, but not quite satisfactory.
_I’ s’est maniaï (manié) coume un albroche._--He has conducted himself
like a boor. Roquefort in his “_Glossaire de la Langue Romane_”
explains the word _Allobroge_ as “un homme grossier, un rustre, etc.,”
and gives _Adlobrius_, _Allobrox_, as the Latin forms. According
to Ducange, these words signify a citizen or native of Gaul. The
Allobroges, however, in the time of the Roman Empire, were the tribes
inhabiting Savoy and Piedmont.
_I’ bét (boit) coume ùn alputre._--Is used in the sense of “He drinks
like a fish,” but why the _alputre_,--rockling, or sea-loach,--should
be singled out among fishes for bibulous propensities, it is impossible
to guess.
_I’ plleut coume cis (chez) Pierre de Garis._--Is used in the sense
of “raining cats and dogs.” A certain Pierre de Garis, a merchant of
Bayonne, in the time when Aquitaine was governed by English Princes,
was appointed to the responsible office of Bailiff of Guernsey, about
the year 1325.[257] In all probability he derived his name from a
small town called _Garis_, about half-way between Bayonne and St.
Jean-de-Luz. He became the founder of a family of importance, not only
in Guernsey, but also in the neighbouring island of Jersey, and of
which there are still numerous descendants. It is not very likely that
the saying dates so far back as the fourteenth century, although it
has no doubt a very respectable antiquity. We can only conjecture that
it must have derived its origin from some well-known Pierre de Garis
of indolent or miserly habits, who allowed the roof of his dwelling to
fall into decay and let in the rain, and so became a by-word with his
neighbours.
_Ill’ y en a assaï (assez) pour tous les Tostevins._--There is
enough for all the Tostevins--is said when there is an abundance of
anything--enough and to spare. The name is extremely common in the
western parishes of Guernsey, especially in St. Pierre-du-Bois and
Torteval, where many of those who bear it are stone-masons who walk
every day into town--a distance of five or six miles--to their work.
Perhaps the good appetite they acquire in so long a walk may have had
something to do in originating the saying.
_Jaune coume q’zette._--As yellow as a daffodil, is equivalent to the
English saying “As yellow as crow’s foot.” It is sometimes varied to
“_jaune coume du murlu_,” this last word being the local name of the
corn-marigold and the ox-eye daisy.
_Vert coume ache._--As green as smallage--a herb closely allied to
celery and parsley, and, like them, intensely green--is used where we
should say in English “As green as grass.”
_Chièr (cher) coume paivre (poivre)._--As dear as pepper, is a
comparison which must have originated when this useful condiment,
now within the reach of the poorest, was a luxury brought from far
and obtainable only by the rich. Quit-rents payable in pepper were
not unknown in the middle-ages; and in the Extente, or account of
the revenues and obligations of the Crown in Guernsey, drawn up in
the fifth year of the reign of King Edward III., A.D. 1331, there
is an item of a quarter of a pound of pepper to be paid annually
at Michaelmas, by a tenant of lands situated in the parish of St.
Martin’s. The money payment for which this rent was commuted at that
time was twelve deniers tournois, which would make the value of a pound
four sols tournois, no inconsiderable sum in those days.
_I’ chànte coume ùn orateur._--He sings like an orator. A loud voice
is certainly desirable in one who attempts to _speak_ in public. Our
countrymen seem to consider it equally necessary and admirable in a
_singer_.
_Orguillaeux (orgueilleux) coume ùn pouâis (pou) sûs v’louss
(velours)._--As proud as that insect which Shakespeare calls “a
familiar beast to man” may be supposed to feel when it finds itself on
velvet.
_Caûd (chaud) coume braïze._--As hot as embers, needs no explanation.
_Ch’est coume un bourdon dans une canne._--It is like a humble bee in a
can--is said of a droning monotonous style of preaching or speaking.
_Ch’est coume les prières de Jacques Ozanne qui n’ont pas de fin._--It
is like James Ozanne’s prayers which never come to an end. This is said
of any matter which is prolonged to an unreasonable extent; but nothing
seems now to be known of the individual whose lengthy supplications
gave rise to the saying.
_T’es coume Jean Le Tocq._--You are like Jean Le Tocq. This is
addressed to a man who is seen abroad at an earlier hour than usual,
and contains an allusion to two lines in the old Guernsey ballad of the
invasion of the island by Evan of Wales in 1373, where it is said:--
_“Jean Le Tocq sy se leva_
_Plus matin qu’a l’accoutumée.”_
Indeed this last line is generally added.
_Il a la conscience de la jument Rabey qui mangit s’en poulâin._--He
has the conscience of Rabey’s mare, who ate her foal. Said of an
utterly hard-hearted and unscrupulous man. The Rabeys are a well-known
country family, and it is possible that this proverb refers to some
domestic tragedy, the details of which have long been forgotten.
_Avoir le corset de Maître George._--To wear the corset of Maître
George. An allusion is here meant to a certain George Fénien. The
Féniens were a family who owned property in Fountain Street, and seem
to have become extinct towards the middle of the eighteenth century.
This expression is applied to an indolent man, so that the “Maître
George Fénien”[258] here alluded to must have lived up to his name,
Fénien--Fainéant--a sluggard. We have seen in some of the preceding
proverbs and sayings, allusions to individuals and families. Here are
two or three more of the same kind:--
_I’ fait de sen Quéripel._--Is untranslatable literally, but may be
rendered “he acts like a Quéripel.” and is said of a man whose vanity
leads him to give himself airs, and take too much upon himself. The
name existed in Guernsey as early as the fourteenth century, at which
time it was written _Carupel_, but there is not the slightest clue when
or how the saying originated. It may possibly be a corruption of some
proverbial expression current in Normandy.
_Il est dans les Arabies de Mons. Roland._--“He has got into Mr.
Roland’s Arabias,” is a remark made when a preacher, a public speaker,
or any one who sets up for a talker, has got beyond his depth, and is
discoursing on a subject which he does not understand. The Rolands, now
extinct, are believed to have been a Huguenot family that took refuge
in Guernsey in the sixteenth century.[259] The Mons^{r}. Roland who
figures in the saying is supposed to have been a schoolmaster.[260]
[Illustration: Old Guernsey House.]
_Ch’est prendre de Pierre Chyvret pour dounaïr à Monsieur Careye._--“It
is taking from Pierre Chyvret to give to Mr. Carey,” is used in the
sense of “sending coals to Newcastle,” or “taking from the poor to
give to the rich;” but who the particular individuals were whose names
figure in this saying it is impossible to say. In the reign of Queen
Elizabeth a Mr. Nicholas Careye was farmer of most, if not all, the
mills in Guernsey situated on the Crown domain, he being then Her
Majesty’s Receiver. At a time when all persons residing on a manor
were obliged to bring their corn to be ground at their Lord’s mill,
under severe penalties, such a monopoly in the mills as Mr. Carey
possessed, must have tended to make him a very wealthy man.[261] It
is not unlikely that he, or one of his immediate descendants, who
enjoyed the same privilege, may have been the person whose name became
proverbial for riches. The name of Peter Chyvret occurs in another
saying too coarse to be quoted, but which suggests the idea that he
may have been an idiot, and, if so, probably living on charity. It
is, however, worth noting that a certain Peter Chyvret was, about the
beginning of the present century, in possession of property situated
in the neighbourhood of one of the mills of which we have spoken. He
is reported to have been one of those eccentric characters of whom it
is difficult to say whether they have all their mental faculties--a
mixture, in fact, of shrewdness and simplicity. As he was by no means
in indigent circumstances it is scarcely probable that he can be the
same man alluded to in this saying.
_Tenir à pìnche-beleïne._--Means to hold lightly, without a firm grasp.
It is used in the following proverbial saying:--
_“A pìnche-beleïne--sû la haute épeine,_
_Si je m’déroque--je n’en dirai mot.”_
--Which may be freely translated:--“Holding on too lightly, if I fall
from the tree I shall say nothing about it.” If I suffer from my own
negligence I must not complain.
[257] EDITOR’S NOTE. The following short pedigree of the first members
of the de Garis family in the island may prove interesting:--It is
extracted from the proceedings of the law suit re the Fief Handois in
1497. See Additional MSS. British Museum, 30, 188.
+---------------------------------------------+
| |
… DE GARIS = … PIERRE DE GARIS = LUCENTIA DE DINNO,
Eldest son, | of Bayonne, | of Normandy.
of Gascony. | Gascony Bailiff |
| and |
| Lieut.-Governor |
| of Guernsey, |
| Seigneur of |
| Fief Handois, |
| Jersey. Died |
| before A.D. |
| 1323. |
+--+-------------------+ +--...---+--------...-----+
| | | | |
Denis le = Bonita de Biscaya = Renaud Pierre John = Alianor William
Marchant | Garis de Garis | Tanquis de de | de de
| daughter daughter | of Garis. Garis | Chesney Garis.
| and co- and co- | Jersey. Seigneur| daughter
| heiress. heiress | of Fief| of Sir Wm.
| Died before | Handois,| Chesney,
| 1323, and her | Jersey. | and Joan
| husband Denis | Jurat | de Gorges.
| married | of R.C. | She married
| secondly | Jersey, | second
| Peronelle | in 1355.| Geoffrey
| le Moigne. _|_ | Walsh.
+-----+ +---------+
| |
John Le Marchant = … Edmund de Garis
Jurat R.C. 1350. | Seigneur of Fief Handois.
Bailiff of | Jurat R.C. Jersey.
Guernsey 1359-83.| O.S.P. Ante 1497.
+--------+
|
Denis le Marchant = Jeanette de Chesney,
Jurat R. C. and | youngest daughter
Lieut.-Bailiff. | of Sir William de
| Chesney and
| Joan de Gorges.
|
LE MARCHANT FAMILY.
In the “Extente” of 1331, Pierre and John de Garis held land in the
parishes of St. Peter Port, St. Andrew’s, St. Peter’s-in-the-Wood,
and St. Sampson’s. In the “Calendars of Patent Rolls” for the years
1328-36, we find Nicholaa, Abbess of the Holy Trinity, Caen, nominating
Peter and William de Garis her Attorneys in the Channel Islands, and in
1332 a Commission was given to Robert de Norton, William de la Rue, and
Peter de Garis to survey the King’s Castles and Mills in the islands of
Jersey and Guernsey which are reported to be greatly in need of repair,
and to certify by whose default, and by whom they fell into decay. In
1380, a William de Garis, described as being “de l’isle de Guerneseye,”
sold to “Sire Pierre Payn” the Manor of Malorey in St. Laurent, Jersey,
to which parish the Fief Handois also belonged.
[258] EDITOR’S NOTE.--A “George Fenien” was in existence at the end of
the sixteenth century, and his daughter Collette Fenien, was married to
William Brock, ancestor of the Brocks of Guernsey. William Brock died
in 1582.
[259] EDITOR’S NOTE.--In the “Placita Coronæ” held in the reign of
Edward III., William, son of Robert Roland, held land in the Vale
parish. In a deed of 23rd of August, 1517, dealing with land in St.
Sampson’s parish, south of the “Grand Pont” the “_Rue Roland_” is
mentioned; in 1569, there was living in St. Sampson’s parish a Richard
Roland and Collenette Le Retylley, his wife, and (2nd November, 1569)
Thomas Roland and Jeanne Blondel, his wife, bought a house in St. Peter
Port from Jean Le Montés; so the probabilities are that the Rolands, if
they migrated from France, did so before the Huguenot persecutions, and
had been domiciled in Guernsey long anterior to the sixteenth century.
[260] EDITOR’S NOTE.--Or he may have been the “Monsieur Jean
Roland,” son of Thomas and Elizabeth Bailleul, who was Rector of S.
Pierre-du-Bois, and imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1665, for his
refusal to submit to the Act of Uniformity.
[261] EDITOR’S NOTE.--It was this Monsieur Careye, who in September,
1563, bought the Fief Blanchelande from Her Majesty’s Commissioners; he
married Collette de la Marche and was buried 15th of July, 1593.
Proverbial Sayings.
We now come to a class of proverbial sayings which might almost claim
an exclusive right to the title of “Folk-Lore,”--those relating to the
weather and other natural phenomena; and which, being the result of
long experience on the part of the people, are religiously believed in
by them. Many of these sayings are common, in spirit if not in form,
to the greater part of Europe; some of them are confined to certain
districts; and, although a few may have a superstitious aspect, such as
those which profess to predict what events will happen in the course of
the year from an observation of the weather on a particular holy day,
yet some of them may be worthy the notice of meteorologists, who have
discovered that, in many cases, the probable character of the weather
in a particular month may be guessed at by that which prevailed at an
earlier season.
_Janvier a daeux bouniaux (deux bonnets), Février en a treis
(trois)._--January wears two caps, February wears three. As a rule
February is the coldest month in the year. In a curious old MS. of the
sixteenth century, containing memoranda of household accounts, copies
of wills, and various entries of more or less interest, written between
the years 1505 and 1569 by various members of a family of the name
of Girard, landed proprietors in the parish of Ste. Marie-du-Castel
in Guernsey, we find the following weather prognostications for St.
Vincent’s Day (January 22nd), and the Feast of the Conversion of St.
Paul, (January 25th).
_“Prens garde au jour St. Vincent_
_Car sy se jour tu vois et sent_
_Que le soleil soiet cler et biau_
_Nous érons du vin plus que d’eau.”_
_“Sy le jour St. Paul le convers_
_Se trouve byaucob descouvert,_
_L’on aura pour celle sayson_
_Du bled et du foyn à foyson;_
_Et sy se jour fait vant sur terre;_
_Ce nous synyfye guerre;_
_S’yl pleut ou nège, sans fallir,_
_Le chier tans nous doet asalir;_
_Sy de nyelle faict, brumes ou brouillars,_
_Selon le dyt de nos vyellars,_
_Mortalitey nous est ouverte.”_
Similar sayings are to be found in Latin, English, German, Italian, and
other languages.
February, as every one knows, is the shortest month in the year;
but few know why. This is how it is accounted for by old people in
Guernsey:--“_Février dit à Janvier:--‘Si j’étais à votre pièche
(place) je f’rais gelaïr (geler) les pots sus le faeu (feu) et les
p’tits éfàns (enfants) aux seins de leurs mères’--et pour son ìmpudence
i’ fut raccourchi (raccourci) de daeux jours, et Janvier fut aloigni
(alongé).‘_” February said to January:--If I were in your place I would
cause the pots to freeze on the fire, and babes at their mothers’
breasts, and for his insolence he was shortened of two days, and
January was lengthened.
The most intense cold in the year generally sets in with February; and
this saying reminds me of what is told in Scotland, and in many parts
of the north of England, of the _borrowing days_, the three last days
of March (See Brand’s _Popular Antiquities_, Bohn’s edition, Vol. II.,
p. 41-44). It appears, however, according to this authority, that in
the Highlands of Scotland the _borrowing days_ are the three first days
of February, reckoned according to the old style, that is, the days
between the eleventh and the fifteenth.
February 2nd, Candlemas Day. Fine weather on this day is supposed to
prognosticate a return of cold. The following lines were communicated
by a country gentleman, but they have not quite the same antique ring
as those relating to St. Paul’s and St. Vincent’s Days, and may,
possibly, be a more recent importation from France.
_“Selon les anciens se dit:_
_Si le soleil clairement luit_
_A’ la Chandeleur vous verrez_
_Qu’ encore un hiver vous aurez.”_
_Quànd Mars durerait chent àns l’hiver durerait autànt._--If March were
to last for a hundred years, winter would last as long.
_Mars qui entre coume ùn agné (agneau) sortira coume ùn touaré
(taureau)._--The Guernsey form of this saying substitutes a bull in the
place of a lion.
_Mars a enviaï (envoyé) sa vieille trachier (chercher) des bûquettes
(buchettes)._--When, after a spell of comparatively mild weather, March
comes with blustering winds, breaking off the small dry branches from
the trees, the country people say that he has sent out his old wife to
look for sticks; and predict that, as he is laying in a store of fuel,
the cold is likely to last.
_Pâques Martine--guerre, peste, ou famine._--Easter happening in March,
forebodes war, pestilence, or famine.
_A Noué à ses perrons, à Pâques à ses tisons._--If at Christmas you can
sit at your doorstep, at Easter you will be glad to sit by your fire.
_Avril le doux--quànd il s’y met le pière de tous._--Or, as the
Norman antiquary, Pluquet, gives it:--“_Quand il se fâche, le pire de
tous_.”--When the weather is bad in April, it is the worst of all the
months.
_En Avril, ne quitte pas ùn fil._--In April leave not off a stitch of
clothing--a piece of advice which is well warranted by the sudden and
extreme changes in the temperature in this month. On the other side,
this advice holds good a month later--“Till May be out cast not a
clout.”
_Caud (chaud) Mai, gras chimequière (cimetière), fred (froid) Mai,
granges pllaïnes (pleines)._--A warm May, a fat churchyard, a cold May,
fat granaries.
_A’ la mié Août, l’hiver noue._--About mid-August there is usually a
marked change in the weather, gales of wind and heavy rain generally
occurring at this season, and any long continuance of settled fine
weather, is scarcely to be hoped for. This has led to the remark that
winter “_sets_” at this time; as the blossoms in Spring set for fruit.
_A’ la mi-S’tembre, les jours et les nits s’entre ressemblent._--In the
middle of September, days and nights are alike.
_Six s’maïnes avant Noué, et six s’maïnes après, les nits sont les pûs
longues, et les jours les pûs freds._--Six weeks before Christmas and
six weeks after, the nights are the longest and the days the coldest.
This saying is scarcely correct in Guernsey, as very cold weather about
the end or the beginning of the year is rather the exception than the
rule in this climate.
_Si le soleil liet à méjeur, le jour de Noué, il y aura bien des faeux
l’annaïe ensuivant._--If the sun shines at noon on Christmas Day, there
will be many fires lighted in the ensuing year.
_Aube gelaïe est biétôt lavaïe._--Hoar-frost is soon washed away, or,
as another weather proverb says:--“_Après treis aubes gelaïes vient la
pllie._”--After three hoar-frosts comes rain, a saying which experience
amply bears out.
_Vent d’amont qui veur duraïr, au sér va se reposaïr._--An east wind
that intends to last, goes to rest in the evening.
_Vent d’amont ôve (avec) pllie, ne vaut pas un fllie (patelle)._--An
east wind with rain is not worth a limpet.
_Quand i’ plleut ôve vent d’amont, ch’est merveille si tout ne
fond._--Rain from the east is rare; but when it does occur it is so
heavy and continuous as to give rise to the saying that it is a wonder
that everything does not melt.
_Cherne (cerne) à la lune, le vent, la pllie, ou la brune._--When
there’s a circle round the moon, wind, rain, or fog, will follow soon.
_Cherne de llien (loin), tourmente de près; cherne de près, tourmente
de llien._--If the halo round the moon is large and at a distance, it
denotes that a storm is at hand, if, on the contrary, it is small and
near the moon, the storm will not arrive for some time.
_Cherne à la lune, jamais n’a fait amenaïr mât d’hune._--A circle round
the moon has never caused top-mast to be struck. It is difficult to
reconcile this saying with the preceding, unless by supposing that
sailors are so convinced that a circle round the moon portends bad
weather that they are careful to shorten sail before the gale comes on.
_Cherne au soleil i’ ne fera pas demain bel._--A solar halo means bad
weather to-morrow.
_Si le soleil est rouage (rouge) au sèr (soir),_
_Ch’est pour biau temps aver (avoir),_
_S’il est rouage au matin,_
_Ch’est la mare au chemin._
If the sun sets red, it is a sign of fine weather, but when he rises
red, you may expect to see pools of water on the road.
_Rouage ser, gris matin, ch’est la jouaie (joie) du pélerin._--A red
evening and a grey morning are the pilgrim’s joy, but this saying is
sometimes varied to:--
_Rouage sèr, bllanc matin, ch’est la journaïe du pélerin._--A red
evening and a white morning is the day for the pilgrim.
_En Avril, le coucou crie, s’il est en vie._--In April, the cuckoo
sings, if he is alive. The cuckoo generally arrives in Guernsey about
the 15th of April.
_Le cou-cou s’en va en Août,_
_L’épi d’orge li pique la gorge._
_The cuckoo departs in August,_
_The barley-spike pricks his throat._
Agricultural Sayings.
It is not easy to draw a clear line between those sayings which have
reference to the weather, and those which relate to agricultural
pursuits and experience; but the following appear to fall more
naturally under the latter head:--
_Quànd i’ plleut ôve vent d’aval,_
_Nourrit l’houme et sen cheval;_
_Quànd i’ plleut ôve vent d’amont,_
_Ch’est merveille si tout ne fond._
When it rains with a westerly wind it feeds man and beast; but when it
rains with an east wind, it is a marvel if everything does not melt.
_L’arc d’alliance du soir, bel à voir,_
_L’arc d’alliance du matin, fait la mare à chemin._
Rainbow in the evening, fair to see; rainbow in the morning, there will
be pools on the roads.
_Si tu vois le soleil le jour de la Chandeleur, sauve le foin, car tu
en auras besoin._--If you see the sun on Candlemas Day, save your hay
for you will want it.
_A’ la Paintecoûte, les grouaïsiaux se goûtent._--Green gooseberries
are in perfection at Whitsuntide.
_De la St. Michel à Noué (Noel) une pllante ne sait pas chu (ce) que
nou (on) li fait._--From Michaelmas to Christmas a plant does not know
what you do to it.
_De la Toussaint à Noué un arbre ne sait pas chu que non li
fait._--From All Saints’ Day to Christmas a tree knows not what is
done to it. The autumnal quarter is supposed to be the best for
transplanting trees or shrubs, as at that time the vigorous growth that
had been going on in spring and summer has ceased, and there is less
danger of their suffering from the change.
_Noué n’est pas Noué sàns pâcrolle (paquerette primevère)._--Christmas
is not Christmas unless there be primroses.
_Noué est pûtôt Noué, sans pâcrolle, que sans agné (agneau)._--A
Christmas without primroses is more rare than a Christmas without
lambs. Another version is:--
_Nou ne vit jamais Noué, sans pâcrolle ou p’tit agné._--This saying, as
well as the preceding, seems to refer particularly to the occurrence
of that harbinger of spring, the primrose, at this season. With the
exception occasionally of a few very cold days about the beginning
of November, the weather in Guernsey up to Christmas, and frequently
far into January, is remarkably mild; vegetation is scarcely checked,
and many summer flowers continue to bloom freely up to this time. It
is a well-known fact that the primrose, like many other plants and
most bulbs, has its period of repose during the hot and dry weather
of summer, the flowering ceasing about the end of May, and the leaves
withering away. In the autumn there is a fresh growth of leaves, and
the flower buds, which had been already formed towards the end of
spring, but had been prevented by the drought from expanding, are
ready to burst into bloom with the mild days that generally usher in
Christmas, the earliest blossoms being invariably found on the north
sides of the hedges, where the latest flowers of the preceding summer
lingered, the plants with a south aspect having exhausted their bloom
in the hot weather.
_A flleur de Mars--ni pouque (poche) ni sac;_
_A flleur d’Avril--pouque et baril;_
_A flleur de Mai--barrique et touné (tonneau)._
Blossom in March requires neither bag nor sack;
Blossom in April fills bag and barrel;
Blossom in May fills hogshead and tun.
This saying refers to the apple crop, and the quantity of cider that
may be expected, judging from the month in which the trees come into
bloom.
_Sème tes concombres en Mars,_
_Tu n’ airas qu’ faire de pouque ni de sac;_
_Sème-les en Avril, tu en airas ùn petit;_
_Mé, j’ les semerai en Mai;_
_Et j’en airai pûs que té (toi)._
Sow your cucumbers in March, you will want neither bag nor sack; sow
them in April, you will have a few; I will sow mine in May, and I shall
have more than you.
_Pouit (point) de vraic, pouit de haugard._--No seaweed, no corn ricks.
The sea-weed, _vraic_ or _varech_, which grows in such abundance on
all the rocks round the islands, is of the utmost importance to the
farmer. It is almost the only dressing used for the land, stable manure
being scarce and expensive. Hence the saying quoted above; for without
sufficient manure the crops are sure to fall short. The _haugard_,
or, more correctly, _haut gard_, (high yard) is the enclosure near a
homestead on which the ricks are erected.
_Débet (dégel) de pllie, ne vaut pas une fllie (patille); débet de sec,
vaut demi-fumaeure (fumier)._--A thaw with rain is not worth a limpet;
a thaw with dry weather is worth half a load of manure.
_Un essaim en Mai--vaut une vaque (vache) à lait._--A swarm of bees in
May is worth a milch cow.
_Où est qu’ll y a un cardon (chardon) ch’est du pain; où est qu’ill y a
du laitron, ch’est la faim._--Where thistles grow there will be bread,
where the sow-thistle grows it is famine. The latter is mostly found in
very poor land.
_Il vaut mûx pour ùn houme d’aver un percheux (paresseux) dans son
ménage qu’un frêne sur s’n hêritage._--It is better for a man to have a
lazy fellow in his service than an ash-tree on his estate. The shade of
the ash is believed to be destructive of all vegetation over which it
extends; and it is this belief that has in all probability given rise
to this saying. This proverb sometimes takes the following form:--
_Bâtard dans sen lignage_
_Vaut mûx qu’un frène sur s’n héritage._
Piscatory and Maritime Sayings.
The following sayings may be termed piscatory and maritime.
_A quànd le bœuf est las, le bar est gras._--When the ox is weary, that
is, when ploughing has come to an end for the season, the bass is in
good condition. This fish is decidedly best in summer.
_A quànd l’orge épicotte, le vrac est bouan sous la roque._--When the
barley comes into ear, the wrasse or rock-fish, is at its best.
_L’âne de Balaam a pâlaï (parlé) j’airon du macré
(maquereau)._--Balaam’s ass has spoken, we shall soon have mackerel.
The mackerel, it is almost needless to say, is a migratory fish,
arriving on our coasts in the spring, and remaining with us till late
in the summer. Formerly the reading of the First Lesson at Evensong on
the first Sunday after Easter, in which the story of Balaam and his ass
is told, was considered a sure indication that the welcome shoals would
soon make their appearance. The Cornish fishermen have the same saying.
Old fishermen pay great attention to the direction of the wind at
sunset on old Michaelmas Day (10th October), for they firmly believe
that from whatever point it blows at that time, the prevailing winds
for two-thirds of the ensuing twelve months will be from that quarter.
_Grànd maïr (mer) ou morte iaue (eau),_
_La lune au sud, il est basse iaue._
Whether it be spring tides or neap tides, when the moon is due south it
will be low water.
EDITOR’S NOTE.--Another version: “Vive iaue ou morte iaue, La lune au
sud, il est basse iaue.”--_From John de Garis, Esq._
Various Sayings.
A few sayings omitted may find a place here:--
_Alle ira sû le coquet de l’Eglise ramendaïr (racommoder) les
braies (culottes) des viers garçons._--She will get a seat on the
weather-cock of the church and mend old bachelor’s breeches, is said of
old maids, and is equivalent to the English saying, “She will lead apes
in hell.”
_Ch’est une autre pâre (paire) de cauches (bas, chausses)._--That’s
another pair of stockings, is used in the sense of “That’s quite
another affair.”
_A quànd les filles suffllent (sifflent) le guiablle (diable)
s’éhuque._--When girls whistle the devil laughs outright. Whistling
is not generally reckoned among feminine accomplishments, and by many
would certainly be considered as a symptom of what, in the present day,
is termed “fastness” in the fair sex.
According to the Northamptonshire proverb:--
“A whistling woman and crowing hen,
Are neither fit for God nor men.”
In Normandy they say:--“Une poule qui chante le coquet, et une fille
qui siffle, portent malheur dans la maison.”[262]
And in Cornwall:--“A whistling woman and a crowing hen, are the two
unluckiest things under the sun.”
_Trachier (chercher) la Ville par Torteval._--To seek for the Town by
way of Torteval, is said of one who goes a round-about way to work.
The rural parish of Torteval, situated at the south-west corner of
Guernsey, is, of all the parishes in the island, the one furthest
removed from the town of St. Peter Port. Compare the French “Chercher
midi à quatorze heures.”
_Il ôt (ouit, entend) fin coume une iragne (araignée)._--His sense of
hearing is as quick as that of a spider. Whether the abrupt retreat
of the common wall-spider into the inner recesses of its web, at the
approach of anything that alarms it, is to be attributed to the sense
of hearing, sight, or feeling, would be difficult to determine. The
fact, however, has been noticed, and has given rise to this saying.
_Entre le bec et le morcé,_
_Ill y a souvent du destorbier._
T’wixt cup and lip--there’s many a slip.
_Qui épouse Jerriais ou Jerriaise,_
_Jamais ne vivra à s’n aise._
In all countries and in all ages jealousies and dislikes have existed
between neighbouring communities. The inhabitants in Guernsey and
Jersey are not exempt from these feelings, which find vent in
malicious tales told of each other. The saying quoted above is common
in Guernsey; probably its counterpart exists in Jersey, substituting
“Guernesiais” for “Jerriais.” It by no means follows, however, that
the want of comfort in these mixed marriages may not be quite as
attributable to the one side as the other.
_Il y a terjoûs quiqu’ùn qui a sa qu’minse à sequier._--There is always
some one wanting to dry his shirt. The weather never suits everybody’s
wants.
_I’ n’a que vie d’alàngouraï (languissant)._--Equal to the English
saying “A creaking door hangs longest.”
_Si un houme n’a pas le sens de pâlaïr (parler) il est bien sâge s’il a
le sens de se taire._--A man who has not the sense to speak is still a
wise man if he has the sense to hold his tongue.
_I’ faut savèr ouïr, véer, et se taire._--One should know how to hear,
see, and be silent.
_La s’maïne qui vient._--is the equivalent of the English “To-morrow
come-never.”
_Chu qu’ nou n’a jamais veu, et jamais ne verra, Ch’est le nic
d’une souaris dans l’oreille d’un cat._--In the _Folk-Lore Record_,
Vol. III., Part I., p. 76, we find the Breton equivalent of this
saying:--“One thing you have never seen, a mouse’s nest in a cat’s
ear.” We are not told, however, whether the proverb is found in the
French patois of Upper Brittany, or in the Celtic dialect still spoken
in Lower Brittany--la Bretagne bretonnante.
_I’ va d’vànt ses bêtes_, or _I’s’met d’vànt ses bêtes_.--He is going
before his team, is said of a prodigal, one who is out-running his
income.
_Ch’est une pouquie (pochée) de puches (puces)_ or _de souaris_.--Is a
sackful of fleas, or of mice, is said of a person who is very lively
and always on the move.
_Il n’est si bouane (bonne) bête qui n’ait quiqu’ (quelque)
ohi._--There is no beast so good but that it has some fault or vice. It
is worthy of notice that the word “_ohi_” is gone entirely out of use
except in this proverb.
_I’ vit d’amour et de belles chansons--coum’ les alouettes de roques
(pierres, cailloux)._--The first part of this saying--He lives on love
and fine songs--is frequently used alone, but it is often capped by the
concluding words, “As larks do on stones,” meaning that something more
nourishing is needed to keep body and soul together.
“_Un mouisson (oisseau) dans la main vaut mûx que daeux qui volent._”
“_Un mouisson à la main en vaut daeux sur la branque (branche.)_” “_Un
pourché (pourceau) dans sen parc en vaut daeux d’ par les rues._”
All these are equivalent to the English proverb: “A bird in the hand
is worth two in the bush,” but the last must have originated in days
long gone by, when swine were allowed to roam at their will about the
streets.
_I’ n’ y a pas de cousins à Terre-Neuve._--There are no cousins at
Newfoundland. This somewhat selfish proverb, indicating that where
one’s own interest is at stake the ties of consanguinity go for little,
although occasionally heard in Guernsey, originated most probably
either in Jersey or St. Malo, both which ports are largely engaged in
the cod fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland. Jersey, indeed, owes
her commercial prosperity almost entirely to this branch of industry,
to which, it is said, the attention of the inhabitants was directed by
Sir Walter Raleigh during the time that he held the office of Governor
of the island. During the Middle Ages the fisheries in the Channel
Islands were very productive, and a source of considerable revenue to
the Crown, but the discovery of Newfoundland, and the superior quality
of the codfish caught on its shores, drove the salted conger and
mackerel of the island out of the market.
_Le cul d’un sac et la langue d’une femme gagnent terjoûs._--In former
days, when horses were more employed in carrying loads than they are at
the present time when carts are in universal use, it was observed that
a sack thrown across the back of a horse had a tendency to slip down
gradually in the direction opposite to its mouth. This explains the
first part of the proverb; the second part is equivalent to the saying
that a woman will always have the last word and gain her end at last.
_Nou veit bien pûs de meïnes de gâche crue que de biaux musiaux._--One
sees many more pasty, doughy looking faces than pretty ones. Said in
very cold weather.
_Ch’n’est que faeu et fllâmme._--It is nothing but fire and flame, said
of a boaster, and also of a passionate man, whose temper quickly rises,
and as quickly dies down.
_Pêle-mêle gabouaré._--Pell-mell, as merry-makers tumble out of
a village inn. This word “gabouaré,” derived from the Bas Breton
“_gaborel_,” is only found in this phrase.
_Il est coume le pourché du negre, petit et vier._--He is small and
old, like the negro’s pig.
_Cope le cô_, _i.e._, “coupe le cou,” is a common asseveration among
children. They pronounce the words, drawing their right hand at the
same time towards their throat, as if cutting it, and the action is
meant to imply that they wish their throats may be cut if they do not
tell the truth, or perform what they have promised.
_Vaque (vache) d’un bouan égrùn (croissance)._--A cow that does credit
to her food, and that feeds close. _Etre d’un bouan égrùn_--is also
said of children who look fat and healthy.
In conclusion, we will give a story which is often told in the country,
as a warning to those who are apt to laugh at fools. A half-witted
fellow, who had gone to the mill with his corn, was asked by the
miller, who wanted to laugh at him:--“John, people say that you are a
fool and know nothing. Now, tell me what you know and what you don’t
know?” “Well!” answered John, “I know this, that millers have fine
horses.” “That’s what you know,” said the miller. “Now tell me what you
don’t know.” “I don’t know on whose corn they are fattened,” said John.
--_From Denys Corbet._
[262] EDITOR’S NOTE.--In _Traditions et Superstitions de la Haute
Bretagne_, Tome II., p. 29., are various sayings to the same effect,
such as:--
“Fille siffler,
Poule chanter,
Et coq qui pond,
Trois diables dans la maison.”
[Illustration: Gibbet from which pirates were suspended in the Island
of Herm, now in possession of H.S.H. Prince Blücher von Wahlstatt, who
kindly allowed it to be photographed for reproduction in this book.]
EDITOR’S NOTES.
The following are a few local proverbs and sayings which I have met
with at different times, and which I do not find included in Sir Edgar
MacCulloch’s collection.
_Il est si avare, il ne dounera pouit daeux p’tits œufs pour un
gros._--He is such a miser that he would not give two little eggs for
one big one.
_Coume St. Paterne, tu feras pâlir le Diable._--Like St. Paterne, you
would turn the Devil pale, said of a man whom nothing will daunt. St.
Paterne was one of our local saints, who was specially noted for the
conversion of the inhabitants of the Forest of Scissy--the submerged
forest which lies off our western coasts. He was induced to do so by a
pious Seigneur of the Forest, and began his work there by going into
a cavern where the idolaters were celebrating a great feast presided
over by the Devil himself. Armed only with his pilgrim’s staff he
routed them all, Satan included. He was specially beloved by birds, who
followed him wherever he went. He was made Bishop of Avranches, and
died in the year A.D. 495.
_La s’maïne de treis (trois) Jeudis ou il n’ y a pas de Vendredi._--The
week of three Thursdays and no Friday. This is used when talking of an
event which will never come off. Then they say “Ca, se fera, etc.”
_Haut coumme un béguin._--As high as a beacon. The Guernsey “béguins”
were tall stacks of furze placed on prominent points so that they could
be lit in case of an alarm.
_Ecoute-paret (paroi) jamais n’ot dret._--He who listens through
partitions never hears correctly.
_Faire pertus (trou) sous l’iaue._--To make a hole in the water, said
of a man who is ruining himself.
_I’ vaut mûx pillaïr (plier) qu’ rompre._--It is better to bend than
break.
_Il ne faut pas queruaïr trop près des fossaïs._--One should not plough
too close to the hedges. Said of people who have no tact and say the
wrong things at the wrong times--“Dancing on the edge of precipices.”
_Maujeu au naïx, signe d’être guervaï, ou baîsi d’un fou._--Tickling in
the nose shows that you will either be worried or kissed by a fool!
_Daeux petites paûretaïs en font une grande._--Two small paupers make
one big one; said when two impecunious people marry each other.
WEATHER PROVERBS, ETC.
_Quànd tu veis la fieille (feuille) à l’orme_
_Prends ta pouque et sème ton orge._
When you see the leaf on the elm
Take thy bag and sow thy barley.
_Quand il fait biau, prend ton manteau,_
_Quand il pleut fais coume tu veus._
When it is fine take your cloak,
When it rains do as you like.
_Vent perdu, se trouve au sud._
A lost wind is found in the south.
(This is a Sark proverb, and was found by the Rev. G. E. Lee in the
Rev. Elie Brevint’s MSS).
_Hardi des hâgues sus l’s épines_
_D’un rude hiver ch’est le signe._
Many hips and haws on the trees,
Is the sign of a severe winter.
_Le dix de Mai des sardes au Gaufricher._
On the 10th of May, sardans (a kind of fish) are to be found at Le
Gaufricher--a rock north of Fermain.
_La maïr qui roule au Tas de Peis_
_Ch’est coumme nous verrait de l’iaue quée._
The sea that rolls at the Tas de Pois (the rocks at the end of St.
Martin’s Point) look to the beholder like falling rain.
_“La lune levante_
_La maïr battante.”_
At moon rise
It is high tide.
_“Fin nord et epais sud_
_Ne s’entrefont jamais d’abus_
_Fin sud et epais nord,_
_Ne sont jamais d’accord.”_
A fine north and a lowering south, have no occasion to quarrel, but
a fine south and lowering north, will never agree.--_The two last
“dictons” are from John de Garis, Esq._
Part III.
Editor’s Appendix.
“Dear Countrymen, whate’er is left to us
Of ancient heritage--
Of manners, speech, of humours, polity,
The limited horizon of our stage--
Of love, hope, fear,
All this I fain would fix upon the page:
That so the coming age,
Lost in the Empire’s mass,
Yet haply longing for their fathers, here
May see, as in a glass,
What they held dear--
May say, “’Twas thus and thus
They lived;” and as the time-flood onward rolls,
Secure an anchor for their Celtic souls.”
(Preface to _The Doctor and other Poems_, by the Rev. T. E. Brown).
CHAPTER XVIII.
Guernsey Songs and Ballads.
“Will no one tell me what she sings?
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago.”
--_Wordsworth._
“Fère les lais, por remembrance.”
--_Marie of France._
I have added this chapter to Sir Edgar MacCulloch’s book, as I thought
it a good opportunity of preserving a few of the old ballads and songs
which, for generations, amused and interested our forefathers, and
which now, alas, are all too surely going or gone from among us,--swept
away by the irrepressible tide of vulgarity and so-called “Progress,”
by which everything of ours that was beautiful, picturesque, or
individual, has been destroyed. As descendants of the Celtic trouvères,
menestriers, and jongleurs, as well as of the Norse Skalds, the bards
from whose early songs and chants, the literature of Europe has sprung,
we, Normans, should specially treasure the old poems which have been
handed down for so many successive generations, and which, in the rapid
extinction of the old language in which Wace, Taillefer, Walter Map,
and Chrestien de Troyes sang, are doomed to oblivion.
In most places the old ballads can be divided into two classes--the
Religious and the Secular. The first of these classes, except in the
form of the metrical version of the Psalms by Ronsard, does not seem to
have existed over here. I can find no trace of any Noëls, or of any
Easter songs. The Secular songs may be divided into the Historical and
the Social.
The Historical deserve precedence. The _Ballade des Aragousais_ of
which a translation has already been given, and of which I append the
original, is by far the oldest and most interesting. Then comes a
ballad descriptive of the Destruction of the Spanish Armada in 1588,
which I found in a manuscript book compiled by a Job Mauger in 1722.
In it he has copied the _Dedicace des Eglises_, and such poems which
apparently were current in his day, and which he deemed worthy of
preservation. Of his collection this is the most distinctive, and I
have included it in this chapter, although it is evidently defective
in parts, as these old ballads, handed down orally from generation to
generation, are so apt to be. The _Complaint of the dispossessed Roman
Catholic Clergy_, written in March, 1552, and copied into the Registers
of St. Saviour’s parish in 1696 by Henry Blondel, is already in print,
being included in Gustave Dupont’s _Histoire du Cotentin et de ses
Iles_, Tome III., p. 311-313.
Job Mauger’s MSS. also comprise a long and monotonous ballad of twenty
verses describing the destruction by lightning of the Tower of Castle
Cornet in 1688, and various poems, conspicuous more by the loyalty
of their sentiments than by the merits of their versification, on
contemporary events in England, such as--“La mort du Roy Guillaume
III.,” written in 1702; “Cantique Spirituel à la mémoire de la Royne
Marie IIme., et sur l’oiseau qu’on voit sur son Mausolée;” “Sur la
mort de son Altesse Royale Guillaume, Duc de Glocestre, decedé au
Château de Windsor le 30me Juillet, 1700;” and “Vive le Roy George,”
written in 1721. He also copies a “Chanson Nouvelle de l’Esclavage de
Barbarie,” doggerel verses “composée par dix pauvres hommes, esclaves
en Barbarie, où ils sont,” viz.: “Edouard Falla, Edouard Mauger,
Phelipe le Marquand, Richard Viel, et ses camarades, Pierre le Gros et
Jean Aspuine,” written in the reign of William III.
In the year 1736 the bells of the church of S. Peter Port, being no
longer fit for service, were taken down for the purpose of being melted
and re-cast. This circumstance gave rise to a piece of poetry composed
by the Rev. Elie Dufresne, Rector of the Town parish, of which many
manuscript copies are in existence.
But by far the most popular and widely known of all our local ballads
is “Les vers de Catherine Deslandes,” by an unknown author, descriptive
of the trial and execution for infanticide, of an unhappy woman called
Catherine Deslandes in 1748. These verses have been repeatedly copied
and printed, and are to be found in almost every old farm-house.
The Secular ballads were undoubtedly all, or nearly all, importations
from the mainland. Of these I have made a selection, and have striven
to record those which do not appear to have been already printed,
or which, like “La Claire Fontaine,” vary considerably from the
continental models. Thus “Malbrouck,” which is one of the most widely
known of all our old ballads, appears in every French “Recueil de
Chansons,” and the verses of “Le Juif Errant” and “Geneviève de
Brabant” of which copies are also found in all our old farm houses,
have also been repeatedly printed on the Continent, so are not included
here.
YVON DE GALLES.
“Surprise de l’Ile de Guernesey l’an 1370, sous le Règne d’Edouard
III., Roy d’Angleterre, et de Charles V., Roy de France.”
NOTE.
This poem is copied from a version compiled by Mr. Métivier, and said
by him to be the revised text of seven mutilated manuscript copies. I
have also included most of his notes.
“Or, grands et petits entendez
Lai[263] d’allure,[264] fort’ment rimée,[265]
Sur nombre de gent ramassée,
Qui va sillant[266] la mer salée,
Du Roy de France la mesgnée,[267]
Par Yvon de Galles guidée,
Si mauvaisement mis à mort.[268]
Par un Mardy s’est comparée
La gendarmerie et l’armée,
Faite de grands Aragousais[269]
Gens enragés à l’abordée.
Dans le Vazon fut addressée
Cette pilleuse[270] marinée
Pensant nous mettre tous à mort.
Un Jean L’Estocq si se leva,
Plus matin qu’à l’accoûtumée;
Et à sa bergerie alla,
Sur l’ajournant[271] à la brunée.
Telle compagnie a trouvée
Sur le grand Marais arrêtée,
Ce qui grandement l’étonna.
Vit un cheval sur son chemin,
Faisant marche de haquenée,[272]
Qui, pour vray, étoit un guildin,[273]
Qui lors échappoit de l’armée.
Toute l’isle en a chevauchée,
Criant à la désespérée,
Sus! aux armes, en un moment!”
“Et vous trouvez sur les Vazons![274]
L’armée est dessus arrêtée;
Diligentez-vous, bons garçons,
Ou toute la terre est gâtée!
Mettez tout au fil de l’épée,
Hasardez-vous, à bonne heurée,
Ou vous mourrez griève mort!”
Yvon de Galles, vrai guerrier,
Était conducteur de la guerre,
Homme grand’ment adventurier,
Dessus une terre étrangière,
Ne se donnant garde en arrière,
Il reçut la rouge jarr’tière
Qui n’étoit ni soye, ni velours.
C’est qu’il fut frappé d’un garçon
D’une alebarde[275] meurtrière,
Il se nommoit Richard Simon
Sur le moulin, en la Carrière,
Tant qu’il eut la cuisse hachée
Aussi la main dextre tranchée
Par ce glorieux compagnon.
Sur le mont de St. Pierre Port
Fut la dure guerre livrée;
Cinq cents et un fur’ mis à mort,
Tant de l’isle[276] que de l’armée,[277]
C’étoit pitié, cette journée
D’ouïr les pleurs de l’assemblée
Des dames de St. Pierre Port.
Thoumin le Lorreur,[278] tout le jor
Fut, de vrai, notre capitaine;
Rouf Hollande[279] fut le plus fort,
Il eut l’honneur de la quintaine,[280]
Sa vie, hélas! fut hasardée,
Car, sa jambe étant fracassée,
Force lui fut de souffrir mort.
Frappant à travers et à tors,
Le sang courait dans les vallées,
On marchait dessus les corps morts
Qui chéaient[281] au fil des épées.
Une meurtrière[282] fut lancée,
Qui, à grand’ force débandée,
Aux Aragousais fit grand tort.
Quatre-vingt bons marchands anglais
Arrivèrent sur l’avesprée;[283]
A notre secours accouraient,
Mais l’armée étant fort lassée,
Leva le siège, tout de voir,[284]
Ne sachant quel remède avoir,
Sinon crier à Dieu mercy.
Furent contraints de s’enfuir
Prenant leur chemin gaburon,[285]
Par les Bordages sont allés,
Pour passer dedans ils se rue’;
Mais les Anglais sans retenue,
Remplissent de corps morts la rue,
Sur cette troupe de bedots.[286]
Par force espreindrent les châtiaus,[287]
La mer étant fort retirée,
On les tuait à grands monceaux,
Taillant tout au fil de l’épée;
La mer étoit ensanglantée
De cette troupe ainsi navrée,
De lez la chair et les corps morts.
Ces navires et ces bateaux
Ceignirent l’isle par derrière;
Bons paysans leur firent grands tosts,[288]
Vers le château de la Corbière,[289]
Vindrent par le Bec-à-la-Chièvre,[290]
Pour à l’armée faire estère,[291]
Avec le reste des lourdauds.
Rembarquèrent leurs matelots,[292]
Puis soudain mirent à la vèle,
Tous marris comme lionceaux
D’avoir perdu telle bredelle.[293]
Le général[294] fort ce repelle,[295]
Commandant de remettre à terre
Dans le havre de St. Samson.
À l’Abbé St. Michel s’en vont,
Dont Brecard étoit commissaire;
Il les reçut, à grand cœur-jouaie
Donnant présents et fort grand chère
Donnant or à la gente amée,[296]
Qui était dame dans l’armée
Nommée Princesse Alinor.
Car Yvon l’avoit épousée
En France au pays de Gravelle,
Dont il fut riche à grands monceis[297]
Des biens de la grand’ mariée.
L’abbé fit grand joie à l’armée
D’or et d’argent et de monnoye
Qu’il leur donna bien largement.
Yvon, l’ennemy, s’en alla
Sur une montagne voisine
Du pauvre Château St. Michel,
Là où Yvon faisait ses mines.[298]
Frère Brecart,[299] par courtoisie
S’adresse au château par envie
De faire crôitre ses trésors.
Mais Aymon[300] Rose, retranché
Au puissant Chasteau de l’Archange
Dit qu’il serait avant tranché.
Que de se rendre à gent estrange;
Mais si ses gens se veulent rendre
A Brecart, pour leur terre vendre,
Par compos,[301] il estoit d’accord.
Le pauvre peuple se rendit
A cet Abbé pour leur grand perte
Qu’il avoit pour eux accordé
Aux ennemis par ses finesses
Dont assoujettirent leurs terres
La plupart à payer deux gerbes
Nommez aujourd’hui les champarts.[302]
Quand Yvon fut bien soudoyé
S’est rembarqué dans ses navires
Dans le Coquet s’en est allé
Se refournir de nouveaux vivres,
En passant par devant Belle Isle
Mit le feu dans trente navires
N’ayant que les garçons à bord.
Le vent du sud étant venu
Sillant la côte de Bretagne
Un navire Anglois est venu
Dont ils eurrent bien de la hoigne[303]
Saillit soixante hommes ensemble
À bord Yvon, sans plus attendre
Qui les lièrent tous à bord.
Puis violèrent Alinor,
En la présence de son homme
Lui étant lié au grand mât
Les amenèrent à Hantonne[304]
Yvon étant un mauvais homme
Eut sur sa tête une couronne
Savoir ung mourion tout chaud.
Puis pendirent toutes ces gens
Portez à chartez[305] couple à couple
Et Alinor eut un présent
Pour gueuser une belle poche
Et avec peines et travaux
Cherchant son pain de porte en porte
Après plaisir eurent grands maux.
Les dix-neuf autres vaisseaux
Voulez-vous ouïyr leur destinée
Ils se dissout de grands châteaux
De tourments bien agittée
Or voilà donc leur destinée
C’est qu’ils burent la mer salée
Brisant dessus les Hanouets.
Au matin coume des porceaux
Estoient au plein cette journée
Où ils avaient fait leurs grands maux
En Guernesey la bienheureuse
Ils estoient là en grands monceaux
Dessus les sablons de Rocquaine
Après plaisir eurent grands maux.
FIN.
[263] _Lai_--Chant, mélodie, complainte.
[264] _Allure_--pas continu, mesuré.
[265] _Fort’ment rimée_--dont la rime est riche, roulante.
[266] _Sillant_ v. fr.: fendant, coupant.
[267] _Mesgnée_--guern’ _mégnie_,--maisonnée, troupe.
[268] _Mis à mort_--assassiné par le traître gallois John Lambe,
soudoyé par Richard II.
[269] _Aragousais_--Chez les Gascons, nos compatriotes alors,
_Aragous_, espagnol. L’Aragon était le royaume principal.
[270] _Pilleuse_--pirates.
[271] _Ajournant_--v. fr. ajornant, faire _jor_ ou jour.
[272] _Haquenée_--cheval qui va l’amble, hobin.
[273] _Guildin_--Anglais _gelding_.
[274] Les Vazons--Marais, tourbières, aujourd’hui Vazon. Il y avait le
Vazon d’Albecq et le Vazon du Marais.
[275] _Alebarde_--sans aspiration, comme l’Ital: _alabarda_.
[276] _L’isle_--les habitants de l’île.
[277] _L’armée_--la flotte étrangère.
[278] _Le Lorreur_--surnom d’une famille câtelaine dont les traces se
retrouvent au commencement du dix-septième siècle. _Le lourreur_ était
un joueur de cornemuse, Normand _lourre_, Danois _luur_. C’est tout un
alors pour nous autres Anglais, que _Thoumin le Lorreur_, et “Tommy the
Piper.”
The first mention of a “Le Lorreur” in the Channel Islands I have
found, occurs in the Calendar of Patent Rolls for 1316, where Philip
L’Evesque, Bailiff of Jersey, witnesses (June 25th, 1311) a demise by
Macie Le Lorreur, clerk, to Richard le Fessu, his brother, Viscount
of Jersie, of the escheat of Pierres du Mouster, for twelve cabots
of wheat rent yearly, for three virgates of land in the parish of
Grouville. The Richard le Fessu mentioned above was also known as
Richard _de Jersey_, he married Elizabeth de Burgo, described as the
King’s kinswoman, and in 1317 the King gave, as a grant for life, to
“John de Jereseye” his son, the Viscounty of Jersey, which his father
had held during his life-time.
[279] _Rouf Hollande_--On August 26th 1338, a warrant was issued
against a _Richard de Holand_, who had absconded with £40 delivered to
John Godefelawe of Southampton, by John de Harleston, for payment of
the wages of the garrison of Jersey. (Calendar of Patent Rolls).
[280] _Quintaine_--espèce de tournoi.
[281] _Chéaient_--tombaient guern: et norm: queyaient.
[282] _Meurtrière_--Catapulte, machine qui lançait des pierres et des
dards.
[283] _Avesprées_--Commencement du soir.
[284] _Voir_--Vrai.
[285] _Gaburon_--Ce serait pêle-mêle, a la manière de goujats, des
manants. Telle serait, osons le croire, l’origine du guernesiais
“_pêle-mêle gabouaret_.”
[286] _Bedots_--étrangers, trompeurs. L’acceptation française de
_bedos_, selon Roquefort, était autrefois “forain.”
[287] _Espreindrent_--serrèrent, assaillirent. Selon les annales du
temps, le château ne fut pas pris.
[288] _Tosts_, pour _tostes_, soufflets, “good thrashings.”
[289] _La Corbière_--The point underneath “Village de Putron,” just
north of Fermain Point, is called “La Corbière,” but this line probably
refers to the Vale Castle, in the parish of St. Michel de l’Archange du
Valle.
[290] _Bec-à-la chièvre_--Just underneath Fort George, the southern
boundary of Petit Fort Bay.
[291] _Estère_--passage.
[292] _Matelots_--camarades, guern: _matnots_, mot franc-tudesque. Ici
ce n’est pas un marinier exclusivement, c’est un _mess-mate_.
[293] _Bredelle_--morceau.
[294] _Général_--l’Amiral, celui qui commande la générale, angl:
_flag-ship_.
[295] _Repelle_--rejette, oppose.
[296] _Gente amée_--gentille amie.
[297] _Monceis_--monceaux.
[298] _Mines_--Semblant de vouloir assaillir le Château (de Néel de St.
Sauveur, aujourd’hui Château des Marais ou Ivy Castle).
[299] _Brecart_--The Brecarts, Bregearts, or Briards, were a
comparatively influential family in the parishes of the Vale and St.
Sampson’s up to the sixteenth century; they then bought land in the
town, in the district of Vauvert, and became known as “Brégart alias
Vauvert,” and finally as “Vauvert,” _pur et simple_, they seem to have
become extinct in the eighteenth century.
[300] _Aymon Rose_--“Edmund de Ros ou Rous” était d’origine Normande.
“It appears that Edmund Rose, who defended Castle Cornet on this
occasion was only Lieut.-Governor, as, in the previous year, Walter
Huwet appears as governor of all the islands. There is a letter from
the King to Edmund Rose, dated the 14th of August, 1372, as Constable
of the Castle of Gorey in Jersey; so that within two months after Yvon
had raised this siege of Castle Cornet, he, Edmund Rose, must have
been sent to that of Gorey.”--(_Some Remarks on the Constitution of
Guernsey_, by T. F. de H., p. 119.)
_Champarts_--The “Camparts”--or the eleventh part of the grain grown
upon the land of the fief, is described by Warburton thus:--“The first
dukes of Normandy granted several parcels of land in the island, to
such as had served them in their wars, and granted likewise a very
considerable part to some religious houses. These, whether soldiers or
churchmen, not being themselves skilled in agriculture, let out these
lands to tenants under them, reserving such rents and services as they
thought most convenient; such was the “Campart,” and such were the
“chef-rentes,” and these have been in use ever since Richard I., duke
of Normandy, and possibly they may yet be of more ancient date.… In the
Clos du Valle, out of extraordinary respect for the Abbot who resided
among them, they paid both the _tenth_ and the _eleventh_ sheaf, both
as _tithe_ and _campart_.” Camparts were owed on many fiefs, if not on
all. Many owners of land have redeemed them. Others have _affranchis_
their land, which is done by Act of Court, on proof that the land has
been under grass for forty years, and lasts as long as the land is
tilled yearly.
[301] _Compos_--Composition.
[302] Here Mr. Métivier’s version ends, the remainder is from an old
Guernsey Almanac dated 1828.
[303] _Hoigne_--Haine.
[304] _Hantonne_--Southampton.
[305] _A chartez_--En charrettes.
L’ARMÉE D’ESPAGNE, DEFAITTE EN L’AN 1588.
Puissant Roy d’Espagne,
Combien riche tu es
Pour l’entreprise vaine
Que tu fis sur les Anglois,
Ton entreprise vaine,
Fut bientôt rebroussée.[306]
Vindrent sur l’Angleterre,
Au beau mois de Juillet,
Pour voir la bienheureuse
Ma Dame Elizabeth,
Mais ce fut à leur honte
Que sentir grand reveil.
La grande Armée Angloise
Commence a s’apprêter,
Tous leurs soldats embarqués
La poudre et les bullets,
C’est pour joüer au quille[307]
Avec les Portuguées.
Qui eust vue l’armée,
D’Elizabeth s’en va
De voir les grands bigots[308]
Et flâquées[309] sur leurs mâts
Des tambours et trompettes
Apprêtés au combat.
La puissante avans garde
A l’ancre n’étoit pas
Comme fut “La Revanche”
La vaisseau de Dras[310]
Qui sortoit de Plymouth,
Sillant sur sa plumas.[311]
Tous les plus grands navires
Qui furent haut et bas
De toute l’Angleterre
Vindrent vers l’Amiral
Luy supplier la grâce
D’aller sur les guayhards (_sic_).
L’Amiral d’Angleterre[312]
Leur répond d’un voix quas[313]
Enfans, donnez vous garde
Ne vous hasardez pas,
Car l’armée est puissante
Et nos vaisseaux sont trop ras.[314]
Ces gens de grand courage,
Disoient à l’Amiral
Seigneur, gardez la terre,
Nous allons avec Dras[315]
Nous aurons la vengeance
De l’armée des Pillards.
La “Revanche” d’Angleterre
Sous ses voiles s’en va,
Chargeans ses coulverines
Et tirans ses coutelas,
Au grand tyran s’entraîne
Et luy couppa ses mats.
Quand le Duc de Mydine,
Sit ses grands arbres bas,
Dit à sa compagnie
Enfans--ne tirez pas,
Mais rondez les navires,
Ou vous mourrez tous plats.[316]
Sept navires de guerre,
Lièrent au grand “Arc”
Abordent cette vermine
Sur le “Satanas”
Pour porter pillage
Avec le Seigneur Dras.
Un noble gentil homme
Grand Seigneur des Estats
S’en va rompant les coffres
Et bahuts[317] hauts et bas,
Où il trouva des lettres
D’un fort merveilleux cas.[318]
Le grand Dauphin de Naples[319]
De ça ne ryoit pas,
Le Flamen se presente
Sur un de ses boulevards
De cette nef horrible,[320]
Du grand “St. Matthias.”
S’informe par enquête
Des gens d’armes en bas
Touchant une lettre
Quy portoit de grand mal
En contre l’Angleterre
Et tout le sang Royal.
Le peuple luy déclaroit
Seigneur ne fâchez pas
Que l’adresse de ça
C’est au Prince Farnése[321]
De par le Roy d’Espagne
Qui de ça chargera.
Demande au grand de Naples
Ce qu’il disoit de cela
Encontre sa maîtresse
Quoi penser en tel cas.
En disant deux ou trois paroles,
Le grand Prince le tua.
Puis luy fendit le ventre,
Jusqu’à l’estomac,
Son pauvre cœur luy tira
Qui soudain luy trancha
Devant la compagnie
Qui beaucoup soupira.
Lors l’Amiral d’Espagne
Soudain apparreilla
Avec sa compagnie
A vau la mer s’en va
Mettant basse enseigne
Par grand deuil s’en va.
Sortant vers Irlande
Sous tout leur appareil
Sur la haute mi-été[322]
Le vent leur prend su-est
Qui les mis sur la terre
D’Irlande et y reste.
Les prudens Irlandois
A leurs secours venoient
En plaignant leurs misères
Aux maisons les portaient
Faisant au grands d’Espagne
Plus qu’ils ne méritoient.
Le général d’Espagne
Ses mourtres fits dresser,
Appeller ses gens d’armes
Et tous ses centeniers,
Fit en grand’ diligence
Sa grande troupe marcher.
Au peuple d’Irlande,
Rendit tous ses bienfaits,
Mit par toute la terre
Gens d’armes en harnois,[323]
Tuant homme et femme
Sans merci ni délai.
Tous les Irlandois s’adressoient
Au Comte de Tyrone
Qui tenoit pour la Reine
Contre la nation,
Luy priant donner aide
Contre les Castillons.
Le Comte met en ordre
Ses princes et barons,
Tous au fil de l’épée[324]
Leur ordonner la fronde,[325]
La douleur redoublée
Qui les déconfit tous.
Lors voilà la ruine
Des meurtriers Espagnols
Qui faisoient tant de mines
Dans de bien grands flibots,[326]
Pensant prendre Angleterre
Comme de fols idiots.
À Dieu soit la louange
Qui de son bras tout fort,
De tous leurs grands vaisseaux
De nous pris la revanche
Nous pensant détruire
Et démembrer nos corps.
Les braves gens d’Espagne
Partant de leurs maisons
Pensant en Angleterre
Sarcler[327] tous les chardons,
Mais leurs gens et leurs moufles[328]
N’étoient pas assez bons.
Quand on va par les villes
Pour vendre les moutons,
Chacun se donne à croire
Que les viandes vaudront
Mais c’est bien le contraire
La plupart en donneront.[329]
FIN.
[306] _Rebrousser_--Retourner sur ses pas.
[307] _Quille_--“C’est un morçeaux de bois tourné, plus gros par le bas
que par le haut, dont on se sert pour jouer.”
The English captains were playing bowls when the Spanish ships were
announced as being in sight.
[308] _Bigots_--Terme de Marine. C’est une petite pièce de bois percée
de deux ou trois trous, par où l’on passe le bâtard pour la composition
de racage.
[309] _Flagner_--Jetter.
[310] Sir Francis Drake commanded the ship _Revenge_ during the fight
with the Armada.
[311] _Plumas_--Plumage.
[312] _L’Amiral d’Angleterre_--Lord Howard of Effingham.
[313] Quas--Brisé.
[314]_Ras_--Terme de Mer. C’est un bâtiment qui n’a ni pont, ni tillac,
ni couverture.
[315] _Dras_--Drake. Motley, in his _History of the Netherlands_,
Vol. II., pp. 498-9, says: There were many quarrels among the English
admirals at this period, and much jealousy of Drake.
[316] _Duc de Mydine_--The Duke of Medina-Sidonia, leader of the
Spanish Armada, who, when the great hulk Satana and a galleon of
Portugal were attacked by the _Triumph_ and some other vessels, on the
flag-ship, (the _St. Martin_) tried to repel Lord Howard on the _Ark
Royal_ and other men-of-war, and thence arose the hottest conflict of
the day. He had previously, when Don Pedro de Valdez, commander of the
Andelusian squadron,--having got his foremast carried away close to the
deck,--lay crippled and helpless, calmly fired a gun to collect his
scattered ships, and abandoned Valdez to his fate.… The next day Valdez
surrendered to the _Revenge_.--Motley’s _Netherlands_, Vol. II., pp.
456-7.
[317] _Bahut_--Coffre couvert de cuir orné de petits clous.
[318] _Cas_--Terme de Pratique, Matière, Crime.
[319] _Le Grand Dauphin, etc._--Don Diego de Pimental, nephew of the
Viceroy of Sicily, and uncle to the Viceroy of Naples, was captured in
his ship the _St. Matthew_, by Admiral Van der Does, of the Holland
fleet.--_Motley_, Vol. II., p. 473.
[320] _Nef_--Navire.
[321] Alexander, Prince Farnèse, and Duke of Parma, was commandant
of the Spanish Army, and was waiting in Flanders for an opportunity
of co-operating with the Spanish fleet. He was suspected of having a
secret treaty with Queen Elizabeth, (_Motley_, Vol. II., p. 273-4),
but these verses are so very obscure, it is impossible to identify the
incidents to which they allude. It may be that they, as well as the
last verse of this poem are interpolations from some other ballad,
which has got confused with this one.
[322] _Mi-été_--le milieu de l’été.
[323] _Harnois_.--signifie l’habillement d’un homme d’armes.
[324] _Fil de l’epée_--est en usage depuis long temps. Ronsard a dit
parlant de Henri III., … “devant le _fil_ de son epée.”
[325] _Fronder_--Attaquer quelque chose.
[326] _Flibot_--Terme de marine. C’est un moïen vaisseau qui est armé
en course.
[327] _Sarcler_--Terme de Laboureur. Couper les méchantes herbes avec
le sarcloir.
[328] _Moufles_--Garnie de poulies de cuivre, de boulons, et de
cordages pour monter les pièces d’artillerie à l’elesoir.
[329] That this poem is very defective, and therefore obscure,
is obvious, but I thought even this mutilated fragment was worth
preserving. Many of the statements made in it are not borne out by
history, though they probably formed part of the gossip of that day,
and had filtered over to the Islands from sailors who had themselves
had a share in some of the events narrated. This last verse seems to
have no connection with the rest of the poem, but I have copied it as
Job Mauger wrote it, nearly two centuries ago.
Secular Poems.
BELLE ROSE AU ROSIER BLANC.
J’ai cueilli la belle rose
Qui pendait au rosier blanc,
Belle Rose
Belle Rose au rosier blanc!
Je la cueillis feuille à feuille
Et la mis dans mon tablier blanc
Belle Rose
Belle Rose au rosier blanc.
Je l’ai portée chez mon père
Entre Paris et Rouen
Belle Rose
Belle Rose au rosier blanc.
Las!--je n’ai trouvé personne
Que le rossignol chantant
Belle Rose
Belle Rose au rosier blanc.
Qui me dit dans son langage
Mariez vous à quinze ans
Belle Rose
Belle Rose au rosier blanc!
Hélas comment me marîrai-je?
Moi qui suis baisse[330] pour un an,
Belle Rose,
Belle Rose au rosier blanc!
Combien gagnez vous, la belle?
Combien gagnez vous par an?
Belle Rose
Belle Rose au rosier blanc!
Je gagne bien cent pistoles
Cent pistoles en argent blanc
Belle Rose
Belle Rose au rosier blanc.
Venez avec moi, ma belle,
Vous en aurez bien autant
Belle Rose
Belle Rose au rosier blanc.
Je ne vais avec personne
Si l’on ne m’épouse avant
Belle Rose
Belle Rose au rosier blanc.
Si l’on ne me mène à l’église
Par devant tous mes parents
Belle Rose
Belle Rose au rosier blanc![331]
[330] Baisse--servant girl.
[331] There are many versions of this song to be found among the
country people, I have compared this with five or six others, and it
is, I think, the most generally received.
À LA CLAIRE FONTAINE.
À la claire fontaine
Dondaine, ma dondaine
Les mains me suis lavé
Dondaine ma lou-lou-la
Les mains me suis lavé,
Dondaine m’a dondé.
A la feuille d’un chêne
Dondaine, ma dondaine
Je les ai essuyées
Dondaine ma lou-lou-la
Je les ai essuyées
Dondaine m’a dondé.
À la plus haute branche
Dondaine, ma dondaine
Un rossignol chantait
Dondaine ma lou-lou-la
Un rossignol chantait
Dondaine m’a dondé.
Chante, rossignol, chante
Dondaine, ma dondaine,
Toi qui as le cœur gai
Dondaine ma lou-lou-la
Toi qui as le cœur gai
Dondaine m’a dondé.
Le mien n’est pas de mème
Dondaine, ma dondaine,
Il est bien affligé
Dondaine ma lou-lou-la
Il est bien affligé
Dondaine m’a dondé.
Pierre, mon ami Pierre,
Dondaine, ma dondaine,
À la guerre est allé
Dondaine ma lou-lou-la
A la guerre est allé
Dondaine m’a dondé.
Pour un bouton de rose
Dondaine, ma dondaine
Que je lui refusai
Dondaine ma lou-lou-la
Que je lui refusai
Dondaine m’a dondé.
Je voudrais que la rose
Dondaine, ma dondaine
Fut encore au rosier
Dondaine ma lou-lou-la
Fut encore au rosier
Dondaine m’a dondé.
Et que mon ami Pierre
Dondaine, ma dondaine
Fut ici à m’aimer
Dondaine ma lou-lou-la
Fut ici à m’aimer
Dondaine m’a, dondé.
QUI VEUT OUÏR.
Qui veut ouïr, qui veut savoir } bis.
Comment les maris aiment? }
Ils aiment si brutalement
Ils sont de si brutales gens,
Qu’on les entend toujours disant
(Parlé) “Ah Madame allez gardez
Le ménage et les enfants!”
Fal-la-la.
Qui veut ouïr, qui veut savoir } bis.
Comment les filles aiment? }
Elles aiment si discrètement
Elles sont de si discrètes gens,
Qu’on les entend toujours disant
(Parlé) “Ah Monsieur ne parlez pas si haut
Car Maman nous entendra.”
Fal-la-la.
Qui veut ouïr, qui veut savoir } bis.
Comment les veuves aiment? }
Elles aiment si sensiblement
Elles sont de si sensibles gens,
Qu’on les entend toujours disant
(Parlé) “Ah! le beau jeune homme!
Comme il ressemble à feu mon mari.”
Fal-la-la.
Qui veut ouïr, qui veut savoir } bis.
Comment les soldats aiment? }
Ils aiment si cavalièrement
Ils sont de si cavaliers gens
Qu’on les entend toujours disant
(Parlé) “Ah! Madame m’aimez vous?
Ne m’aimez vous pas? dictes moi,
Car il me faut rejoindre mon régiment.”
Fal-la-la.
Qui veut ouïr, qui veut savoir } bis.
Comment les Français aiment? }
Ils aiment si frivolement
Ils sont de si frivoles gens,
Qu’on les entend toujours disant
(Parlé) “Ah! Madame depuis que je vous ai vue
Je ne songe qu’a vous!”
Fal-la-la.
Qui veut ouïr, qui veut savoir } bis.
Comment les Anglais aiment? }
Ils aiment si stupidement
Ils sont si stupides gens
Qu’on les entend toujours disant
(Parlé) “Tantôt la chasse, tantôt la
Gazette, tantôt l’amour!”
Fal-la-la.
Qui veut ouïr, qui veut savoir } bis.
Comment les Guernesiais aiment? }
Ils aiment si prudemment,
Ils sont de si prudents gens
Qu’on les entends toujours disant
(Parlé) “Mademoiselle a-t’elle de l’argent!”
Fal-la-la.
I have to thank Mr. J. T. R. de Havilland, of Havilland Hall, for
kindly supplying me with a copy of this song.
MARGUERITE S’EST ASSISE.
Marguerite s’est assise--Tra-la-la.
À l’ombre d’un rocher
À son plaisir écoute--Tra-la-la
Les mariniers chanter,
Tra-la-la. Tra-la-la.
Elle fit un’ rencontre--Tra-la-la
De trente matelots
Le plus jeune des trente--Tra-la-la.
Il se mit à chanter.
Tra-la-la. Tra-la-la.
Qu’avez vous la belle--Tra-la-la.
Qu’avez vous a pleurer?
Je pleure mon anneau d’or--Tra-la-la.
Qui dans la mer est tombé
Tra-la-la. Tra-la-la.
Que donnerez-vous la belle--Tra-la-la
À qui le pêcherait?
Un baiser sur la bouche--Tra-la-la.
Ou deux s’il fallait
Tra-la-la. Tra-la-la.
Le galant se dépouille--Tra-la-la.
Dans la mer a plongé
La première fois qu’il plonge--Tra-la-la
Il n’en a rien apporté
Tra-la-la. Tra-la-la.
La seconde fois qu’il plonge--Tra-la-la
Les cloches vont ric-tin-té
La troisième fois qu’il plonge--Tra-la-la.
Le galant s’est noyé!
Tra-la-la. Tra-la-la.
Nous l’ferons enterrer--Tra-la-la
Et puis dessus sa tombe
Un rosmarin planter--Tra-la-la.
Sur ce pauvre jeune homme!
Tra-la-la. Tra-la-la.
Nous dirons à sa mère--Tra-la-la
Qu’il s’est embarqué
Sur un vaisseau de guerre--Tra-la-la.
Qui de loin est allé!
Tra-la-la. Tra-la-la.
LA MEUNIÈRE.
Je vais épouser la Meunière
Dont on voit le moulin là bas
Mais j’aime une pauvre bergère
Comprenez-vous mon embarras,
Ma Fanchette est si jolie
Mais la Meunière a du bien
S’il faut faire une folie
Que cela ne soit pas pour rien.
Bah! j’épouserai la Meunière
Qui me fait toujours les yeux doux
En me disant “Beau petit Pierre
Mais quand donc nous marierons nous?”
Un instant--n’allons pas si vite,
Suis je bien certain d’être heureux
Avec la femme du moulin
Dont je ne suis pas amoureux?
Il s’agit de mariage
C’est hélas! pour plus d’un jour,
Oui! mais pour vivre en ménage
C’est bien maigre de l’amour!
Bah! j’épouserai la Meunière
Qui me fait toujours les yeux doux
En me disant “Beau petit Pierre
Mais quand donc nous marierons nous?”
Cependant mon cœur s’inquiète
Et me dit que c’est mal à moi
De trahir la pauvre Fanchette
À qui j’avais donné ma foi
Elle est si tendre et si bonne
Comme son cœur va souffrir.
Hélas! si je l’abandonne
Elle est capable d’en mourir
Ma foi! tant pis pour la Meunière,
Je ne serai pas son époux
Qu’elle dise “Beau petit Pierre!
Petit Pierre n’est pas pour vous?”
LE GLANEUR.
Sur nos grands blès déjà le soleil brille
Quels lourds épis--en fût il de pareils!
Va! travaillons, vite, en main la faucille
Mais suivrez vous, suivrez vous mes conseils.
CHORUS:
Enfant, de chaque gerbe
Que mûrit le Seigneur
Laissez tomber dans l’herbe
Quelques épis pour le glâneur
Pensez au pauvre glâneur } bis
Faites le bien--vous porterez bonheur. }
Notre ministre dit que le bien qu’on donne
Est le meilleur qu’on pense récolter
Il dépose lorsqu’il disait aux hommes.
Donner aux pauvres, à Dieu n’est que prêter.
Chorus.--Enfant, etc.
Aux pauvres içi le peu qu’on abandonne
Dieu pour beaucoup ailleurs le comptera
Des grains donnés, la moisson sera bonne
Pour nous au Ciel, Dieu les centuplera.
Chorus.--Enfant, etc.
LES TROIS TAMBOURS.
Trois jeunes tambours, revenant de la guerre,
Le plus jeune des trois avait un bouquet de roses
Au ron-ron-ron-te-tan-plan.
La fille du roi étant par sa fenêtre
“Ah! jeune tambour, veux tu me donner tes roses?”
Au ron-ron-ron-te-tan-plan.
“Mes roses sont pour mon mariage
La fille du roi, veux tu être ma femme?”
Au ron-ron-ron-te-tan-plan.
“Và jeune tambour, demander à mon père”
“Sire le Roi, veux tu me donner ta fille?”
Au ron-ron-ron-te-tan-plan.
“Ah! jeune tambour dis moi qu’est tes richesses?”
“Mes richesses sont mes caisses[332] et mes balletes,[333]”
Au ron-ron-ron-te-tan-plan.
“Và! jeune tambour, demain je te ferai pendre”
“Six cent mille canons dans ce cas vont me défendre”
Au ron-ron-ron-te-tan plan.
“Ah! jeune tambour, dis moi qui est ton père?”
“Mon père il est le roi--le roi d’Angleterre!”
Au ron-ron-ron-te-tan-plan.
“Ah! jeune tambour, voudrais tu bien ma fille?”
“Ah! je m’en moque de vous et de votre fille,
Dans mon pays y’ en a de bien plus gentilles.”
Au ron-ron-ron-te-tan-plan.
SI J’AVAIS LE CHAPEAU.
Si j’avais le chapeau
Que ma mie m’avait donné
Mon chapeau est bel et beau
CHORUS:
Adieu ma mignonne
Adieu donc mes amours
Si j’avais la casaque[334]
Que ma mie m’avait donné
Ma casaque est zic et zac
Mon chapeau est bel et beau.
Chorus.--Adieu, etc.
Si j’avais le corselet
Que ma mie m’avait donné
Mon corselet est fort bien fait
Ma casaque est zic et zac,
Mon chapeau est bel et beau
Chorus.--Adieu, etc.
Si j’avais la cravate
Que ma mie m’avait donnée
Ma cravate est ric et rac
Mon corselet est fort bien fait
Ma casaque est zic et zac
Mon chapeau est bel et beau.
Chorus.--Adieu, etc.
Si j’avais la culotte
Que ma mie m’avait donnée
Mes culottes débotes[335] et botes,
Ma cravate est ric et rac,
Mon corselet est fort bien fait
Ma casaque est zic et zac,
Mon chapeau est bel et beau.
Chorus.--Adieu, etc.
Si j’avais les blancs bas
Que ma mie m’avait donnés
Mes blancs bas sont de damas,
Mes culottes débotes et botes,
Ma cravate est ric et rac
Mon corselet est fort bien fait,
Ma casaque est zic et zac,
Mon chapeau est bel est beau.
Chorus.--Adieu, etc.
Si j’avais les souliers
Que ma mie m’avait donnés
Mes souliers sont de cuir doux,
Mes blancs bas sont de damas,
Mes culottes débotes et botes,
Ma cravate est ric et rac,
Mon corselet est fort bien fait,
Ma casaque est zic et zac,
Et mon chapeau est bel et beau.
Chorus.--Adieu, etc.
[332] _Caisses_--Coffres.
[333] _Ballettes_--Petites Valises.
[334] _Casaque_--“Habillement qui est plus large qu’un juste-au-corps
et qui se porte sur les épaules en forme de manteau.”--_Richelet._
[335] _Débotes_--Tirer les botes de quelqu’un.
VENEZ PEUPLES FIDÈLES.
Venez peuple fidèle pour entendre chanter
Un jeune militaire qui revient de la guerre,
Qui revient de la guerre, muni de son congé
En entrant dans son isle sa sœur l’a rencontré.
La sœur avec tendresse, de la joie qu’elle avait
Vint embrasser son frère, et lui donner des baisers
Le frère avec tendresse dit à sa chère sœur
Ne m’y fais pas connaître, garde cela dans ton cœur.
Et le jeun’ militaire tout de suite est allé.
Chercher son père et mère, en gardant son secret,
Bonjour Monsieur et Dame aurez vous chambre à louer
A un jeune militaire de la guerre retourné.
Ah oui! notre bon jeune homme, nous avons logement,
Sur le lit de notre fils, nous te ferons coucher
Les affaires de la guerre, tu nous raconteras
Le soir à la table, après avoir soupé.
Il donne à la dame son argent à garder,
Tenez ma très-chère dame, gardez moi cet argent,
C’est pour soulager les peines de mes parents,
Et la méchante femme de là s’en est allée.
Trouver son mari, lui dire, “C’est une fortune
Faut le tuer de suite, nous aurons son argent.”
Les deux méchants armés des gros couteaux
Ont trainé dans la cave son corps tout sanglant.
Le lendemain matin la pauvre fille arrive,
Ah! bon jour père et mère, je voudrais bien parler
A ce beau jeune militaire,
Que je vous ai amené.
La méchante mère, lui répond hardiment,
Mais que dis tu ma fille? Est ce de nos parents?
Ah! oui, ma très chère mère, c’est mon frère arrivé,
Il revint de la guerre, mon cœur en est content.
La cruelle mère, si tôt elle écria
J’ai égorgé ton frère, hélas! n’en parle pas.
Mais la fille tout de suite les fît être emmenés
Devant les justiciers, hélas! pour être jugés.
Les justiciers s’empressent de juger le procès
Et les condamnent, tous les deux d’être brulés
Oh vous pères et mères oyez ces malheurs
Que les biens de ce monde ne vous tiennent point au cœurs.
Par la barbarie et l’ambition d’argent,
Ces deux dans les flammes passent leurs derniers moments.[336]
[336] This legend, which is found with slight variations in the
Folk-Lore of almost every European nation, seems to be deeply impressed
on the older St. Martinais, in fact some say that the two rocks between
Moulin Huet and Saints’ Bays, which look like two kneeling figures, are
the petrified forms of the man and the woman, condemned there to kneel
and expiate their crime till the end of the world.