In the words of Maitresse Aimable, “Ah bah, so it goes.” FINIS
NOTE: IT is possible that students of English naval history may find in the life of Philip d’Avranche, as set forth in this book, certain resemblances to the singular and long forgotten career of the young Jerseyman, Philip d’Auvergne of the “Arethusa,” who in good time became Vice-Admiral of the White and His Serene Highness the Duke of Bouillon.
Because all the relatives and direct descendants of Admiral Prince Philip d’Auvergne are dead, I am the more anxious to state that, apart from one main incident, the story here-before written is not taken from the life of that remarkable man. Yet I will say also that I have drawn upon the eloquence, courage, and ability of Philip d’Auvergne to make the better part of Philip d’Avranche, whose great natural fault, an overleaping ambition, was the same fault that brought the famous Prince Admiral to a piteous death in the end.
In any case, this tale has no claim to be called a historical novel.
JERSEY WORDS AND PHRASES
WITH THEIR EQUIVALENTS IN ENGLISH OR FRENCH
A bi’tot = a bientot.
Achocre = dolt, ass.
Ah bah! (Difficult to render in English, but meaning much the same as
“Well! well!”)
Ah be! = eh bien.
Alles kedainne = to go quickly, to skedaddle.
Bachouar = a fool.
Ba su! = bien sur.
Bashin = large copper-lined stew-pan.
Batd’lagoule = chatterbox.
Bedgone = shortgown or deep bodice of print.
Beganne = daft fellow.
Biaou = beau.
Bidemme! = exclamation of astonishment.
Bouchi = mouthful.
Bilzard = idiot.
Chelin = shilling.
Ch’est ben = c’est bien.
Cotil = slope of a dale.
Coum est qu’on etes? }
Coum est qu’ou vos portest? } Comment vous portez-vous!
Couzain or couzaine = cousin.
Crasset = metal oil-lamp of classic shape.
Critchett = cricket.
Diantre = diable.
Dreschiaux = dresser.
E’fant = enfant.
E’fin = enfin.
Eh ben = eh bien.
Esmanus = scarecrow.
Es-tu gentiment? = are you well?
Et ben = and now.
Gache-a-penn! = misery me!
Gaderabotin! = deuce take it!
Garche = lass.
Gatd’en’ale! = God be with us!
Grandpethe = grandpere.
Han = kind of grass for the making of ropes, baskets, etc.
Hanap = drinking-cup.
Hardi = very.
Hus = lower half of a door. (Doors of many old Jersey houses were
divided horizontally, for protection against cattle, to let out the
smoke, etc.)
Je me crais; je to crais; je crais ben! = I believe it; true for you; I
well believe it!
Ma fe! }
Ma fistre! }= ma foi!
Ma fuifre! }
Mai grand doux! = but goodness gracious!
Man doux! = my good, oh dear! (Originally man Dieu!)
Man doux d’la vie! = upon my life!
Man gui, mon pethe! = mon Dieu, mon pere!
Man pethe benin! = my good father!
Marchi = marche.
Mogue = drinking-cup.
Nannin; nannin-gia! = no; no indeed!
Ni bouf ni baf } Expression of absolute negation, untranslatable.
Ni fiche ni bran }
Oui-gia! = yes indeed!
Par made = par mon Dieu.
Pardi! }
Pardingue! }= old forms of par Dieul
Pergui! }
Pend’loque = ragamuffin.
Queminzolle = overcoat.
Racllyi = hanging rack from the rafters of a kitchen.
Respe d’la compagnie! = with all respect for present company.
Shale ben = very well.
Simnel = a sort of biscuit, cup-shaped, supposed to represent unleavened
bread, specially eaten at Easter.
Soupe a la graisse = very thin soup, chiefly made of water, with a few
vegetables and some dripping.
Su’ m’n ame = sur mon ame!
Tcheche? = what’s that you say?
Trejous = toujours.
Tres-ba = tres bien.
Veille = a wide low settle. (Probably from lit de fouaille.) Also
applied to evening gatherings, when, sitting cross-legged on the
veille, the neighbours sang, talked, and told stories.
Verges = the land measure of Jersey, equal to forty perches. Two and a
quarter vergees are equivalent to the English acre.
Vier = vieux.
Vraic = a kind of sea-weed.