 offered, has made himself capable of
conversing with any gipsy whom he meets, or can, like the royal Hal, drink with
any tinker in his own language. The astonishment excited among these vagrants on
finding a stranger participant of their mystery, occasions very ludicrous
scenes. It is to be hoped this gentleman will publish the knowledge he possesses
on so singular a topic.
There are prudential reasons for postponing this disclosure at present; for
although much more reconciled to society since they have been less the objects
of legal persecution, the gipsies are still a ferocious and vindictive people.
But notwithstanding this is certainly the case, I cannot but add, from my own
observation of nearly fifty years, that the manners of these vagrant tribes are
much ameliorated; - that I have known individuals amongst them who have united
themselves to civilised society, and maintain respectable characters, and that a
great alteration has been wrought in their cleanliness and general mode of life.
 
18 Such disputes between the Scots Guards, and the other constituted authorities
of the ordinary military corps, often occurred. In 1474, two Scotsmen had been
concerned in robbing John Pensart, a fishmonger, of a large sum of money. They
were accordingly apprehended by Philip du Four, Provost, with some of his
followers. But ere they could lodge one of them, called Mortimer, in the prison
of the Chastellet, they were attacked by two Archers of the King's Scottish
Guard, who rescued the prisoner. - See Chronique de Jean de Troyes, at the said
year, 1474.
 
19 A quarrel, videlicet.
 
20 That is, if your courage corresponds with your personal appearance.
 
21 In both these battles, the Scottish auxiliaries of France, under Stewart,
Earl of Buchan, were distinguished. At Beaugé they were victorious, killing the
Duke of Clarence, Henry Vth's brother, and cutting off his army. At Vernoil they
were defeated, and nearly extirpated.
 
22 »Cut a tale with a drink;« an expression used when a man preaches over his
liquor, as bons vivans say in England.
 
23 Here the King touches on the very purpose for which he pressed on the match
with such tyrannic severity, which was, that as the Princess's personal
deformity admitted little chance of its being fruitful, the branch of Orleans,
which was next in succession to the crown, might be, by the want of heirs,
weakened or extinguished. In a letter to the Comte de Dammarten, Louis, speaking
of his daughter's match, says, »Qu'ils n'auroient pas beaucoup d'embarras à
