II Cej'-tain Delusions of the North Britons 313 



receipt for the making of ' Venaison Haggis,' and 

 there the curious in these matters may see it and 

 try it by experience ; and methinks it would prove 

 a mighty savoury dish. Other traces of the French 

 influence have the Scotch in dishes which they fancy 

 Scottish, as certain cates, called by them ' petticoat- 

 tails,' which I am informed by a right noble lady of 

 the Clan Campbell meaneth ' Lcs petites gatelleSy or 

 ' little cakes.' Also they are wont to speak of an 

 ' aschet ' or assiette of meat ; but most curious, 

 although they use the French gigot when speaking 

 of a leg of mutton, they retain the old Saxon 

 * flesher ' for a butcher, which latter word we South 

 Saxons took from the Norman-French. Whence it 

 arises that a man in the northern parts called 

 Fletcher deriveth that name from one of his 

 ancestors having been a butcher, whereas the 

 Fletchers of the South derive theirs from one of 

 their ancestors having been of the mystery of 

 fiechiers, or arrow- makers, a craft which, when 

 there was no other artillery, must have been a 

 respected one, and of greater state than the butcher ; 

 and so let these Fletchers of both sides of the 

 Border look to it for precedence. 



It were base to call the fancies of the Scotch in 

 the matter of drink, delusions, for their drinks be 

 now all noble, and they themselves most true and 

 trusty knights of the seven-hooped pot, as beseemeth 

 the countrymen of the only man who could ever 

 translate the works of Master Francois Rabelais. 



