grlmacLem, 'clowns,' literally 'makers of grimaces

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8. Qaand on se tronve avec les pouroeanx, &c., a proverb which has the same meaning as our ' When you are at Rome, you must do as the Romans do.'

II. se réfugient dans une église. This was the 'right of sanctuary,' of which debtors and criminals largely availed themselves during the Middle Ages, as they could not be arrested in a church.

13. après nous avoir fait des cédules, 'after having given us promissory notes.' Céduîe was a term for a signed promise to pay.

les passent, 'hand them over.' This association in order to évade pa3rment of debts, or to prosecute lawsuits, was called * maintenance ' in England, and many laws were made against it.

16. du tiers, * by a third.' The genitive is used to answer the question *by how much?' See Eve § 134.

17. qui laissent mettre un drapeau sur leur pignon. This hoisting of a flag on the bankrupt's roof would serve two purposes ; it would call his creditors together and it would wam tradesmen and others not to give him crédit. It was the mediaeval substitute for an advertisement.

a6. il semble que notre indépendance soit, 'he thinks tkat our independence is.* // semble is hère équivalent to U lui semble^ *he believes.' // me semble^ *I believe,' must be followed by the indicative; but il lui semble when the speaker does not assert the truth of the belief, but (as in this case) dénies it, is followed by the subjuncHve, See Eve§ 341.