№ 681: Fool Britannia!

French was the mother tongue of every English king from William the Conqueror (1066–1087) until Henry IV (1399–1413). Henry IV was the first to take the oath in English, and his son, Henry V (1413–1422), was the first to write in English. — “Anglo-Norman language”, Wikipedia

DOWNTHEBREXITWHOLE (September 11)

From William I to Henry IV

when at the Royal Court you were called for,

to understand what your king had to say

the language you spoke would be français.

NOT Shakespearean English iambic pentameter!

(Nobody ever spoke in that manner.)

In those days (please pardon the stench),

the “King's English” was Norman-Old French.

Later, of course, came those George's in ermine

who, in fact, mostly spoke German.

Still later, the Stuarts ascended the throne.

They, being Scots, spoke a language unknown.

Moral:

Dear Boris,

You should be ashamed.

“Boris”? 
How's that

A GOOD ENGLISH NAME?