But remember the Brits (or actually the French/Normans when the book was written) are enlightened. Here is a small sample from the book:
"The Church of St. Mary of Lambeth holds ... There are 6 slaves and 3 female slaves. It was worth 100 s(hillings); now 4 pounds."
The Normans were the descendants of Vikings that had invaded "France" a few generations earlier. So its not like the the Brits are proud of there "French" ancestry. The real French could barely invade Lichtenstein.