f 
 
 
 
 
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 i 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
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 lAi. 
 


 
f 
 
 The ancient spirit is itot dead._ 
 Old limes, we trust, art^ living here. 
 
 L O D O N: 
 
 SIMFKIN, M AKSH A l.L. k (’ «> 
 -M). 
 
BRITAIN’S BOAST, 
 
 HER GLORY AND HER SHAME; 
 
 OB, 
 
 A MIRROR FOR ALL RANKS, 
 
 IK WHICH ARE DISHNCTLY SEEN THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF 
 
 KINGS, NOBLEMEN, GENTLEMEN, CLERGYMEN, MEN 
 OF LEARNING AND GENIUS, LAWYERS, PHYSICIANS, 
 MERCHANTS, MANUFACTURERS, MECHANICS, 
 SOLDIERS, SAILORS, &c. 
 
 WITH THE TRUE CHAHACTERISTICS OF EACH: — THE NECESSITY 
 AND ADVANTAGES OF EDUCATION, COMMERCE, AND TRADE. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF THE CHIVALRY OF THE ANCIENTS, 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 IN A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE SHADES OF A KING AND HIS 
 PRECEPTOR, A KNIGHT, IN THE ELVSIAN FIELDS. 
 
 By PETER BUCHAN, Cor. Mem. S.A.S. 
 
 ^c. ^c. ^c. 
 
 “ Although this volume for a Crown be sold, 
 ’Tls worth in value a Sov’reign in gold.” 
 
 TO BE HAD OF THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS IN 
 
 LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW, LIVERPOOL, 
 AND DUBLIN. 
 
 MDCCCXL. 
 
 (Price Five Shillings.) 
 
PKOEM. 
 
 A FEW months have only elapsed since this work was ushered 
 into the world under the inauspicious cognomen of “ The 
 Eglinton Tournament,” &c., which misnomer I abandon for 
 ever. In the Dedication and Prefatory Remarks, I have 
 sufficiently explained the nature and object of my undertak- 
 ing, a work calculated not only to instruct but amuse those 
 hours of relaxation with which my countrymen may be blest, 
 instead of that deadly poison issuing daily, weekly, and 
 monthly from an unprincipled press, in the name of Essays, 
 Plays, Novels, Political, Schismatical, and Heretical Pam- 
 phlets, &c., by which the morals of too many of the unwary 
 are contaminated, and religion and virtue treated with 
 contempt. 
 
 It is now nearly two thousand years since the Latin his- 
 torian, Cornelius Nepos, said, that “ It is a man’s manners 
 that make his fortune,” which w'e daily see exemplified in 
 the conduct and character of thousands ; and we also know 
 that a nation’s honour and a nation’s wealth depend more 
 upon the constitution, conduct, and characteristics of its 
 people, than upon their bravery. For this purpose have I 
 then given a true and impartial view of all grades in society 
 — how they may become respected, happy, wealthy, and 
 wise. I have given unto every class its due, renderii^ unto 
 Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, but unto God the things 
 which belong unto God, alike fearless as independent of the 
 consequences, and am now proud to say, that my honest 
 and impartial labours have been crowned with that admira- 
 tion and respect, so much coveted by those who have done 
 their country an essential service, in promoting her name 
 amongst the honourables of the earth. I must however say, 
 as I anticipated and foretold, when speaking of Ci'itics and 
 Critieism, that my best endeavours for my country’s good 
 would be maligned by a few' of the poor and pitiful hirelings 
 of a dastardly and licentious press ; but as they have been 
 
IV 
 
 PROEM. 
 
 but a few^ and are only of such character as pander to the 
 grossest appetites of their vulgar readers, to notice them more 
 would be to confer an improper importance upon their sting- 
 less weapons, of which I stand in no ways afraid. The many 
 public and private testimonials by which the work has been 
 honoured and received from the good and the great^ for whom 
 
 fication and pleasure; and while they appreciate and support 
 my literary labours, when in a good and an honourable cause, 
 I shall endeavour to walk worthy of those favours so often 
 and so liberally bestowed upon them on former occasions. 
 In the meantime, from amongst the many flattering Reviews 
 and Notices of this work that have just appeared in the Lon- 
 don and other Magazines, &c., I take the liberty of giving 
 an extract from a highly respectable periodical. — “ We were 
 amongst the first to notice this curious and very interesting 
 volume; but as the object of the author, and the nature of 
 the work, seem to be misunderstood by the public, we again 
 take the liberty of giving an extract from the work itself, as 
 we understand the author has already been honoured with 
 the most polite letters from St. James’s Palace, by special 
 command of her Majesty, Queen Victoria, a complete history 
 of whose ancestors is given ; from Marlborough House, by 
 her Majesty the Queen Dowager; Lord Brougham, the ! 
 Mayor of London, &c. 
 
 “To commercial gentlemen, and mechanics of every class, 
 particularly those of Glasgow, Liverpool, and London, who 
 are more immediately spoken of in the work, it will prove an 
 agreeable and interesting companion, and very deserving of 
 their attention and patronage, to which we beg to recommend 
 it, more particularly at the present time, when the true char- 
 acteristics of a real Gentleman are so little known and prac- 
 tised,” &c. 
 
 14, Renfrew Street, ^ 
 
 it was designed, have been to me a source of much grati- 
 
 Glasgow, 1840. 3 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Tagc 
 
 Dedication to the Earl of Eglintoii, x. 
 
 Launcelott du Lake, a very old romantic ballad, xviii. 
 Prefatory Remarks, origin of the Work, and 
 
 first Title, xxii. 
 
 Meeting of the Shades of King James and Sir 
 David Lindsay in the Elysian Fields — the 
 
 title of Gentleman Misunderstood, 2 
 
 An Account of the Eglinton Tournament — Ori- 
 gin and history of Tournaments in general — 
 Tournaments held by king Richard II., Edward 
 
 III., and Edward IV., G 
 
 Three Scotch and three English champions fight 
 in Smithfield — description of a celebrated 
 Tournament between the Britons and Nor- 
 mans — Laws of the first Tournaments in 938, 7 
 
 Brief Sketch of the family of Eglinton, 18 
 
 The laws of, and the names of the Knights of, 
 
 the Eglinton Tournament, 20 
 
 IIow to become a Gentleman — those wearing fine 
 clothes not so, G4 
 
 The nature, rights, duties, and powers of Kings 
 — a good king a blessing to his people — Nim- 
 rod the first king — the first estate and origin 
 of kings — all judges and rulers nominated by 
 the king — The king of Britain head of the 
 church — The honour and respect paid to a 
 British king — Origin of the name of emperor 
 
iv. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 The name of king forbidden to be used among 
 tlie Romans — Nero, a cruel monster — Cali- 
 gula’s cruelty — Kings not always Gentlemen — 
 Kings descended from poor parents — The first 
 state of society, and origin of government — 
 
 — King James IV. of Scotland, called the poor 
 man’s king — Origin and History of the prede- 
 cessors of her present majesty, queen Victoria 
 — Anecdote of the emperor Taitsong and a 
 Chinese historian — Of his late majesty William 
 IV., and his character to the title of a Gentle- 
 man — King Charles I., called the worthiest 
 Gentleman of his time — Henry III. of Franco 
 and the duke of Guise — Monarchial form of 
 government the best — Advantages derived from 
 
 a kingly government, 4G 
 
 Nobility, what it is. — Origin of dukes, marquises, 
 earls, &c. — The title of earl, when first used 
 — The title of majesty, when first used — Vis- 
 counts and barons made by patent — The dig- 
 nity and title of lord, and when first used in 
 Scotland — The fees paid for the titles of baron, 
 viscount, and earl — Privileges enjoyed by the 
 nobility of Britain — Dissertation on nobility — 
 
 Anecdote of Charlemagne, 120 
 
 Interesting account of the mutability of fortune 
 in the character of Richard Plantaganet, who, 
 from being son of king Richard III., became 
 a working mason, and died with a trowel in his 
 hand — Cardinal Campejius and the duke of 
 Modena — Pliilosophical comparisons between 
 high and low, rich and poor — Mutability of 
 fortune in tlie lives of several great and emin- 
 ent men — Rich men the stewards of heaven — 
 Croesus’s soliloquy at death — No certain happi- 
 ness in riches — high birth and riches often 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 V. 
 
 rage 
 
 productive of arrogance — Occupation of the 
 decayed noblemen of Verona — In law, all no- 
 blemen accounted Gentlemen — In honour, all 
 noblemen not Gentlemen — The oath of a 
 
 nobleman, 128 
 
 Origin of knights, baronets, when, and by whom, 
 instituted — fees paid for the title of baronet — 
 
 Of knighthood, and the order of St. Andrew, 
 or the Thistle — The order of the Garter, when 
 instituted, and fees paid — Of the first order of 
 knights batchelors — The chief order of knight- 
 hood in foreign countries — Origin and rise of 
 . knighthood — The first order of knighthood — 
 
 Of the knights-hospitalers — Knights, when they 
 first settled in England — The crusaders, or 
 red-cross knights — The knights of Malta, 
 Templars, St. Mary, &c. — The manner of in- 
 stalling a knight, &c. — The oath of a knight — 
 Account of the ceremonies used in conferring 
 the order of knighthood — All knights not Gen- 
 ^ tlemen — Anecdote of Admiral Payne — Anec- 
 
 dote of Saladin, sultan of Egypt — Remarks on 
 hypocritical patrons of literature — Literary 
 
 men ill attended to when alive, 146 
 
 Esquire, its origin, who, and who are not, entitled 
 to the name — The duties and offices of an 
 esquire often misapplied, 169 
 
 Members of Parliament, their duty and when 
 first elected — Account of the ancient parlia- 
 ments of Scotland — Powers and privileges 
 vested in ancient parliaments — The British 
 
 constitution the best in E urope, 172 
 
 Law, and Lawyers in general. — Of the first law- 
 givers — The king of Britain, the fountain of 
 honour, and head of the law — Judges, magis- 
 trates, and rulers — Origin of the College of 
 
VI. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Justice, or Court of Session — The faculty of 
 Advocates — The speech of a dying advocate 
 — King’s advocate, his duties and powers un- 
 definable and absurd — Writers to his majesty’s 
 signet — Origin and office of sheriffs, and sher- 
 iff-substitutes in Scotland — Justices of the 
 Peace, and their duty — Bailies, their' powers 
 and privileges — The office of a Notary Public 
 — Messengers-at-Arms — Sheriff-officers, &c. — 
 Advantages of law and good lawyers — Lord 
 Erskine’s speech to a jury — St. Evona, a law- 
 yer, and the devil — Pettyfogging lawyers, a 
 curse to every place where they inhabit, &c., 178 
 Ministers of the Gospel, their office and duty. — 
 
 The first forms and ceremonies of divine wor- 
 ship — Religion, what it is, and its advantages 
 to the well-being of a state — Man, a religious 
 creature — Origin of bishops and archbishops 
 — Their ignorance, &c. — Printing, its utility 
 to religion — History of good and faithful 
 preachers — The respect paid to some preachers 
 by the kings of old — King James’s opinion of 
 
 preachers, 195 
 
 physicians and physic. — The origin of tlio art, 
 and by whom invented — Physicians much re- 
 spected by the Indians — Origin of the title of 
 doctor — Office of a doctor in the kirk of Scot- 
 land — Of barbar-cherurgeons in 1505 — Their 
 petition to the provost of Edinburgh — Barbers 
 and surgeons now separated — Regular physi- 
 cians and quacks compared — Dissertation on 
 
 the healing art, 203 
 
 Education. — Dissertation on, and encouragement 
 given to learned men, and men of genius — 
 Schoolmasters, and professors of Colleges, their 
 duty, and responsibility — Advantages of cdu- 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 VII. 
 
 cation — Respect paid to men of learning and 
 genius — The opinion, and anecdotes of Plato, 
 Alexander the Great, and several heathen phi- 
 losophers, on education — Poverty and misery 
 of men of learning and genius — An author's 
 preface to a catalogue of his books for sale — 
 Literary Fund Society, its history and useful- 
 ness — Men of genius allowed to starve — Kings 
 and queen’s patronage to men of genius — 
 Learning prized in China, &c. — Anecdote of 
 Holbein, the Dutch painter — Anecdote of lord 
 
 Sandwich, and ten drunken parsons, 
 
 Poets and poetry. Dissertation on — Sublime 
 poetry, a speaking picture — Comparison be- 
 tween poets and warriors — Poets rewarded by 
 the early kings of Scotland — Influence of 
 poetry on the morals and spiritsof the people — 
 ^ True poets, good hearted, and worthy men, &c. 
 Critics and Criticism. — The duty and oflice of a 
 critic or reviewer — Aristarchus and Zoilus, 
 critics of antiquity — Advantages of impartial 
 
 criticism, &c 
 
 Historians and History. — Antiquarian Societies, 
 Bannatyne, Maitland, and Abbotsford clubs, 
 in Edinburgli and Glasgow — History the nurse 
 
 and preserver of arts, &c 
 
 Soldiers and Sailors, their usefulness — Their re- 
 ward — The mutability of fortune in the lives 
 of the greatest generals, Belisarius, Hannibal, 
 &c. — Galcacus, the Caledonian general’s speech 
 to his army — Advantages derived by man from 
 the spirited conduct and discoveries of sailors 
 
 — Anecdoto of the late king William IV 
 
 Mechanics and Artisans. — The most necessary 
 part of tlie creation — The first created person, 
 a tailor, a gardener, and king of the wliole 
 
 Page 
 
 219 
 
 224 
 
 245 
 
 247 
 
Vlll. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 universe — Kings, noblemen, and the greatest 
 of men have descended from mechanics — King 
 Ilenrj VIII. and Holbein — Kings, excellent 
 workmen as artists and mechanics — The late 
 duke Alexander Gordon, present duke of Ar- 
 gyle, lord Graj, and other noblemen’s inge- 
 nuity in turning, &c. — Pictish king’s daugh- 
 ters — Bravery and loyalty of the souters of 
 Selkirk — The crafts of Edinburgh unfurl the 
 blue blanket on the walls of Jerusalem — 
 Proof of the superior advantages of art to igno- 
 rance, in the history of a rich and poor man 
 who were banished to a savage island, and left 
 to shift for themselves — The artisan not to be 
 despised although poor and unassuming; they 
 are the treasure of the eartli — Noah, and his 
 three sons — Explanation of the nine degrees 
 of Gentlemen — Those commonly called Gen- 
 tlemen, 251 
 
 Merchants, Manufacturers, Chamber of Com- 
 merce, and Manufactures^ &c. — Merchants 
 ranked amongst the princes and honourable 
 of the earth — Their advantages to a kingdom 
 — The Merchants of London, Glasgow, and 
 Liverpool, compared with those of Tyre, the 
 crowning city, mentioned in the bible — Anti- 
 quity of commerce — Many kings merchants — 
 Glasgow and Genoa contrasted — King Alfred, 
 a great patron of trade — Britain without mer- 
 chants and commerce, a barren waste, 2G9 
 
 Gentlemen, commonly called by the ignorant — 
 Anecdote of a press-gang and a would-be gen- 
 tleman — Fine clothes, &c. necessary requisites 
 for the title, according to use and wont — Jack 
 will never make a Gentleman — Biscayan’s 
 ideas of Gentlemen — Beau Brummel — Dis- 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 IX. 
 
 scrtation on British Gentlemen — Earl of 
 Buchan’s definition of a Gentleman — Johnson’s 
 opinion of Gentlemen — A curious defence in 
 the Court of Session, 1709, proving that all 
 heritors of land were not Gentlemen — The 
 true Gentleman known under any disguise — 
 The opinion of Edward the black prince re- 
 garding his cousin, king John of France, as a 
 
 Gentleman, 274 
 
 Tlie duty, office, characteristics, and definition of 
 a Gentleman, and separation of the Ghosts of 
 the speakers, &c 290 
 
DEDICATED, 
 
 (By reniiission,) 
 
 TO THE 
 
 RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF EGLINTON, 
 
 BARON ARDROSSAN, &c. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Mj late esteemed friend and correspondent, Sir 
 Walter Scott, Baronet, sajs in one of his letters, 
 that — “ There is a fashion in books as well as in men.” 
 This is a fact that none who know human nature can 
 denj. It may bo added, in their Dedications also. 
 It was once the fashion for authors, who had obtained 
 tlie consent of some gi’eat man to stand sponsor or 
 god-fatlier to the child of their brain, to be very lavish 
 of their praise on his surety’s own, or progenitor’s ta- 
 lents, although they were as destitute of virtue as tho 
 horses on which they rode. But for these panegyrics 
 they were generally well rewarded. Such fulsome 
 and unmerited adulation I ever loathed — sycophancy 
 not being one of my besetting sins. Your lordship, 
 will therefore, I trust, bear with me, when I speak the 
 truth plainly and honestly, as more consonant to vir- 
 tue and honom-, which, I presume, will be more 
 agreeable to your lordship than dastard flattery. 
 Y our name has now made a considerable noise, and a 
 marked impression upon tho minds of many both at 
 home and abroad; and as there arc more eyes, verily 
 Aryus with his hundred, watching over your conduct, 
 it will become your lordsliip to be more guarded than 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 XI. 
 
 ever in your walk through life, for a good name is 
 much easier lost than gained. You liave, by your 
 late generous and affable demeanour, won the hearts 
 of thousands, and reaped a plentiful harvest of golden 
 wishes from those in whose favour you stand high. I 
 should therefore be sorry, sorry indeed, to hear that 
 any of these well won opinions were sacrificed by an 
 ungentlemanly act, of which, I believe, your lordship 
 to be incapable of committing; or, that any spot or 
 blemish should stain your family escutcheon so nobly 
 adorned by former years. The actions of your prede- 
 cessors have been, and are worthy of being recorded. 
 They throw a bright halo of never dying fame around 
 you, not only as nobles of the land which gave them 
 birth, but as warriors, poets, minstrels, and patrons 
 and protectors of religion, of chivalry, and of virtue, 
 in whatever shape or person in which it appeared.* 
 May your lordship follow their bright example without 
 ceasing. 
 
 In a brief sketch of your family history given in 
 
 * By some ignorant people, the classing of poets and musicians with 
 nobles, may be thought out of place here, but if they will turn to one of 
 the acts of parliament by James III. 1171, they will find that “ na man 
 sal weir silks in tyme cummyng, in gown, doublate, and clokis, except 
 knychtis, menstralis, and herraldis, without the werar of the samyn, may 
 spend a hundredht pundis wortht of landisrent, &c.” So that they were 
 then on a par with the great of the land, like King Arthur’s kuiglits of 
 the Round Table. And, if any one will turn to page 226 of tliis volume, 
 he will see that the greatest emperors and kings were not only the pa- 
 trons of poets, but poets themselves, and were prouder of being called 
 such, than they were of their golden crowns. 
 
 Poets resided in the courts of kings and princes, whom it was part of 
 their duty to accompany to battle, in order to be eye-witnesses of the 
 actions they were to celebrate and record, and which they afterwards 
 sung at great and solemn entertainments. They animated the soldiers to 
 fight, and extolled the chieftains who signalized their courage or fell in 
 arms..^ Not only the particular exploits, but sometimes the whole lives 
 of their kings and heroes were thus recited. Great numbers of these songs 
 are still preserved by the old people, some iu manuscript, and some in 
 print, &c. 
 
Xll. 
 
 ] EDICATION. 
 
 this work, I have mentioned a few of those who stood 
 most conspicuously forward in defence of their king, 
 their country, its religion and laws, and as patrons 
 and protectors of merit. It is therefore unnecessary 
 for me to repeat them again here. I may mention, 
 however, a few not yet introduced, which may be found 
 in Dunbar’s “ Lament for the death of the Makkarisf 
 in the Bannatyne MSS. written some hundred yeai's 
 ago. 
 
 “ The gude Schir Hew of Eglintoun, 
 
 Etrick, Ileriot, and Wintoun, 
 
 He has tane out of this countrie, 
 
 Timor mortis conturbat me.” 
 
 Of the time of his death I am uncertain. There 
 was another cadet of your family, a favourite with the 
 Nine^ Captain Alexander Montgomery,* author of the 
 celebrated poem of “ The Cherry and the Slaef &c. 
 And in addition to these, were the noble patrons of 
 the poets, Ramsay and Burns. Such benevolenc el 
 look upon as a brighter and more lasting gem in their 
 coronets than that implanted by the I^yon king-at- 
 arms, or emblazoned on their shields by the college of 
 heraldry. 
 
 The learned John Home, author of “ Bouglasf in 
 an epistle to one of your forefathers, writes tlius,— 
 Thou friend of princes, poets, wits, 
 
 And judge infallible of tits. 
 
 That art, yet will not be a peer, 
 
 O £glinion / thy poet hear. 
 
 My steed of Pegasean blood, 
 
 Pierey, so famous and so good. 
 
 Bending beneath a load of years, 
 
 Slowly his rapid master bears. 
 
 Say, is it fitting that the bard 
 Whom Caledonia’s chiefs regard, 
 
 A foot should walk, or by some jade 
 With broken bones in dust be laid?” &c. 
 
 * esteemed antiquarian friend, David Laing, Esq. uf Ediubui’gli, Eas 
 
 done justice to this author and his writings. 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 xm. 
 
 Of the rest of mj labours on the subject of chivalry, 
 nobility, gentry, and commonalty, in the duty and 
 character of a gentleman, I need scarcely speak. I 
 know I will please some, and displease others ; but I 
 assure your lordship, that my wish is not to court the 
 frowns of any one, nor to please one party at the ex- 
 pense of another, but if possible, to satisfy all : and, if 
 my exertions to give satisfaction generally be but half 
 as well received as have been those of your lordships’, 
 it will be to mo a source of endless gratification. 
 Your lordship may think, perhaps, that I have made 
 too free with the characters and titles of the nobility, 
 in pointing out the duty and characteristics of a Gen- 
 tlemariy but upon an attentive and impartial perusal, 
 you will find that I am no respecter of persons; high 
 and low, rich and poor, share the same fate when deserv- 
 ing; but your lordship will also see that it is not with 
 the titles, nor the men, that I find fault and repro- 
 bate, but with their mces. Titles are meant to be 
 bestowed as distinguishing badges of honour on the 
 deserving ; and are still honourable, if rightly obtained 
 and nobly maintained. Some of my predecessors 
 once filled a blank in tlie peerage of their country ; 
 and in these days of luxuriant baron-maJdny, who 
 knows how soon some of my successors will again be 
 ennobled, and enrich the pages of the herald’s volume? 
 We live, if not in the days of chivalry and romance, 
 days of wonder and amazement. However, be this as 
 it may, I shall not be like the fox in the fable, curse 
 the grapes because they are beyond my reach. 
 
 “ Nor fame I slight, nor for her favours call. 
 
 She comes unlocked for, if she comes at all ; 
 
 But if the purchase cost so dear a price, 
 
 As soothing folly, or exalting vice ; 
 
 Or, if the muse must flatter lawless sway, 
 
 And follow still where fortune leads the way; 
 
 Or if no basis bear my rising name. 
 
 But the fail’ll ruins of another’s fame; 
 
 / 
 
XIV. 
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 Then teach me, heav’n ! to scorn the guilty bays ! 
 
 Drive from my breast that wretched lust of praise! 
 Unblemish’d let me live, or die unknown, 
 
 Oh I grant an honest fame, or grant me none !” 
 
 You have said that jou looked back to the age of 
 chivalry and romance with admiration; and, when a 
 boy, have pored over the exploits of King Arthur, the 
 glories of a Sir Tristram, or a Sir Launcelott, who, 
 with Guy, Earl of Warwick, were knights of the 
 Round Table ; and in yom* latter years have pondered 
 over the pages of Froissart, till you fancied you heard 
 the clang of armour and the shrill blast of the trum- 
 pet calling you to the tented field, &c. From the 
 noble specimens of the sports and pastimes of a chivalric 
 and romantic age, which your lordship have given, 
 you have proved to a demonstration, that you are no 
 novice, and that you have not pored and pondered in 
 vain. Although much of the history of your champion 
 Arthur, be fabulous, and not to be trusted, there are 
 a few facts, notwithstanding the age in which he 
 flourished (516,) was pregnant Avith legendary and 
 romantic lore. And, had it not been for music and 
 poetry, say the Welsh, his deeds would have inevita- 
 bly perished. His institution of the Bound Table,* 
 for one, however, may be said to be true, as it was the 
 origin of all others of a similar nature in Europe. He 
 was, however, a daring knight, and is tlius charac- 
 terized by the poet. Sir Richard Rlackmore, — 
 
 Thus bright in polish’d arms great Arthur shines, 
 
 Darting keen radiance thro* the Saxon lines. 
 
 'I'he echoing skies ring with the blended noise 
 Of shooting warriors, and the trumpet’s voice. 
 
 * It is written that Artlmre tukc gryt delyt and delectatioun in werst- 
 ling of strange kempis, havand them in sic familiarite, that quhen he 
 usit to dyne, or tuke consultatiouns in his weris, he garit thaim sit down 
 with him in n.anner of ane roun crown, that nane of them suld be pre- 
 ferrit till others in dignytie ; for quhilkis his seit was called the Roun 
 Tabil. And though his vailyant deidos were worthy to have memory, 
 yet the vulgare fabillis (luhilkis ar fenyeit of the saniyn lies violat thair 
 fame, and makes them to have the less credence. 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 XV. 
 
 The prince, his course of glory to pursue, 
 
 Swift from his side broad Caliburna drew ; 
 
 Which from the ample scabbard, like a flame 
 Of lightning from a cloud, refulgent came. 
 
 And now th’ embattled Cohorts to invade 
 He brandish’d high in air the flashing blade, 
 
 Spurr’d hi? hot steed, and with a martial air 
 Flew, like a rapid tempest, ’midst the war. 
 
 But did he not meet with his match in the person 
 of one of your own warlike countrymen, when he met 
 with — 
 
 The mighty Donald of the Northern Isles 
 Of visage stern, and dreadful with the spoils 
 Of grisly bears, and of the foaming boar. 
 
 With hideous pride he o’er his shoulders wore, 
 
 Marches his hardy Cohorts to the field. 
 
 Whose ponderous swojds themselves could only wield. 
 
 Led by barbarian chiafs they jeft the land. 
 
 Where once the oidisMeatiansi did command ; 
 
 And where the walle from sea to sea extend 
 By Romans built thsir province to defend ; 
 
 Stapendous bulwark, whose unnumber’d tow’rs 
 Repell’d the incursions of the Northern pow’rs 
 When Rome was vig’rous, but when feeble growi>, 
 
 The barb’rous deluge broke her fences down. 
 
 Now ruins show, where the fam’d fabrick stood 
 Between wide Tinna's- and Jiunna's '> flood. 
 
 They came from all the towns, that did obey 
 In ancient time the mild Novantiani sway : 
 
 With those who own’d th’ Elgovian') seats, and those 
 Who till’d the land, where silver Devia : flows ; 
 
 Or on th’ unfaithful shore did wild reside 
 Insulted by Jerne’s raging tide. 
 
 Those where Randvara^ rears her lofty spires. 
 
 And Glotta's^ current to the main retires. 
 
 Where heretofore Orestian-^ princes reign’d 
 And AUacottian^^ lords their pow’r maintain'd, 
 
 1. They inhabited near the Piets’ well.— 2. River Tyne.— 3. River Eden, 
 or Solway Firth in Scotland.— 4. Inhabitants of Galloway, &c.— 5. Inha- 
 bitants of Liddesdale, Annandale,&c.— 6. River Dee in Scotland.— 7. Ren- 
 frew, on the banks of the Clyde.— 8. River Clyde, and Island of Arran.— 
 y. Inhabitauts of Argyll and Perthshire.- -10. People north of the river 
 
XVI. 
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 They march from Castralata}^ and the shore 
 Where wide Boderia's^'^ noisy billows roar, 
 
 And where the Ottadenian^ ' cities stood 
 Between Alanus^^ and fair Vedru's'-' flood ; 
 
 With those from Findolana, ^ and the land 
 Where Alian's^^ bridge and high Cilumum^^ stand, 
 
 To aid the Saxon from their country came. 
 
 By Dougal led, a lord of martial fame. 
 
 What I have said of king Arthur, I may also say 
 of the history of Sir Tristrim and Sir Launcelott. 
 The heroic achievements of these worthies, com- 
 memorated in these early but dark ages, spring from 
 the same source, — minstrelsy, and romance of chivalry. 
 But when these studies have been so much cherished 
 by your lordship in your infantine years, the same 
 spirit of enthusiasm must have led your lordship to an 
 early acquaintance with the ancient minstrelsy of 
 your fatherland, the North Countrie, and embued 
 you with a taste for the writings of these glorious old 
 bards who are now so little respected by the insipid 
 sons of the world. Need I ask — Did your lordship 
 ever read the beautiful old romantic ballad of “ Sir 
 Luncelott du Lake,'*' quoted by Shakespeare in his 2d 
 part of Henry IV. act 2, scene 4? — If your lordship 
 have, a few others may not ; and, as it is worthy of 
 being read by every good and true knight ; and as my 
 chief delight is in restoring to the woidd the deeds re- 
 corded in the black letter musty pages of other years, 
 I shall take all the blame for inserting it in this Dedi- 
 cation, if my doing so be a crime. 
 
 In your riper and more matured years, your lord- 
 ship says, you have made the legacies of Sir John 
 Froissart, poet, priest, canon, and treasurer of the 
 collegiate church of Chimay, your principal compa- 
 
 Tiiy.— 11. City of Edinburgh.— 12. Edinburgh Frith,— 13. Inhabitants of 
 Yorkshire.— 14. River Alne in Northumberland.— 15. River Ware in Dur- 
 ham.— 16. Windburu.— 17. An old town go called.— 18. A town in Eng- 
 land now extinct. 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 XVll. 
 
 iiions. The writings of this man, above all others, 
 were just the works to implant in jour chivalric bosom, 
 a taste for those feats of valour so common in his days, 
 and although five hundred and twenty years nearer 
 your own time than that of king Arthur, still tiiey are 
 marked as days of treachery, ferocity, and cruelty ; 
 and had he been alive when you gave the great gala 
 at Eglinton Castle, and been your guest as he was 
 that of the celebrated Gaston, earl of Foix, to whom 
 lie nightly sung his verses, you would have found him 
 as ready to celebrate the contract of marriage between 
 himself and a bottle of good claret, at your festive 
 board, priest and canon as he was, as any one there to 
 be found, and would 
 
 “ Qualf with thee the purple wine, 
 
 And in youthful pleasures join ; 
 
 With thee would love the blooming fair. 
 
 And crown with thee the flowing hair.” 
 
 For he says, without blushing, that his “ ears quick- 
 ened at the sound of uncorking a wine flask and, 
 that “ he loved to see dances and carolling ; to hear 
 minstrelsy and tales of glee, and to toy with his fair 
 companions at school.” And to boot, was a mean 
 flatterer for the loaves and fishes, as he admits him- 
 self ; for on his presenting a well spiced poem, and a 
 virelay of his own composition, which was danced dur- 
 ing a three days feast given by Amadeus, count of 
 Savoy, to an English prince, he was presented with 
 a good Cottehardie, and a purse containing twenty 
 florins of gold, a good sum in those days, but a prac- 
 tice common to poets and minstrels. But with this, 
 I have nothing to do at present, as I run no risk of 
 the one or the other. Your lordship having had of 
 late a sufficient herd of flatterers worshipping at the 
 shrine of Psyche, any additional offering of incense 
 made by me, I fear would fall to the ground unheed- 
 ed. I must, however, say, that it is not always ho 
 
XVlll. 
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 who places himself most conspicuously in the ranks 
 that is most to be depended upon in the hour of dan- 
 ger; nor he who roars the loudest the most secure — 
 the shallow stream, and the empty cask make the most 
 noise ; so does an empty skull, while the deep waters 
 run smooth, and glide quietly along. 
 
 Before finishing my remarks on the ancient heroes 
 of chivalry and romance, permit me, my lord, to call 
 your lordship’s attention to the beautiful old ballad, 
 
 as promised, of 
 
 sill LAUNCELOTT DU LAKE. 
 
 When Arthur first in court began. 
 
 And was approved king, 
 
 By force of armes great victoryes wanne, 
 
 And conquest home did bring. 
 
 Then into England straight he came 
 With fifty good and able 
 Knights, that resorted unto him, 
 
 And were of his Round Table. 
 
 And many justs and turnaments, 
 
 Whereto were many prest, 
 
 V’l herein some knights did them excell 
 And far surmount the rest. 
 
 But one Sir Launcelott du Lake, 
 
 Who was approved well, 
 
 He for his deeds and feates of arms. 
 
 All others did excell. 
 
 When he had rested him a while, 
 
 In play, and game, and sport, 
 lie said he wold goe prove himsclfe 
 In some adventurous sort. 
 
 lie armed rode in forrest wide, 
 
 And met a damsell faire, 
 
 Who told him of adventures great. 
 
 Whereto he gave good care. 
 
 Such wold I find, quoth Launcelott : 
 
 For that cause came I hither. 
 
 Thou seemst, quoth she, a knight full good, 
 
 And I will bring thcc thither. 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 Whereas a mighty kihglit doth dwell, 
 
 That now is of great fame : 
 
 Therefore tell me what vvight thou art, 
 
 And what may be thy name. 
 
 “My name is Launcelott du Lake,” 
 
 Quoth she, it likes me than : 
 
 Here dwelles a knight who never was 
 Yet matcht with any man ; 
 
 Who has in prison threescore knights 
 And four that he did wound ; 
 
 Knights of King Arthurs courts they he 
 And of his Table Round. 
 
 She brought him to a river side. 
 
 And also to a tree. 
 
 Whereon a copper bason hung. 
 
 And many shields to see. 
 
 He struck soe hard the bason broke; 
 
 And Tarquin soon he spied : 
 
 Who drove a horse before him fast. 
 
 Whereon a knight lay tied. 
 
 Sir knight, then sayed Sir Launcelott, 
 
 Bring me that horse-load hither, 
 
 And lay him downe, and let him rest; 
 
 Weel try our force together. 
 
 For, as I understand, thou hast, 
 
 Soe far as thou art able. 
 
 Done great despite and shame unto 
 The knights of the Round Table. 
 
 If thou be of the Table Round, 
 
 Quoth Tarquin speedilye. 
 
 Both thee and all thy fellowship 
 I utterly defye. 
 
 That’s over much, quoth Launcelott, 
 
 Defend thee by and by. 
 
 They sett their spears unto their steeds. 
 And each at other fly. 
 
 They coucht their spears, their horses ran 
 As though there had been thunder. 
 
 And strucke them each amidst their shields. 
 Wherewith they broke in sunder. 
 
XX. 
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 Their horses backes brake under them, 
 The knights were both astound : 
 
 To avoyd their horses they made haste 
 And fight upon the ground. 
 
 They tooke them to their shields full fast, 
 Their swords they drew out than, 
 
 With mighty strokes most eagerlye 
 Eache at the other ran. 
 
 They wounded were, and bled full sore, 
 For breath they both did stand, 
 
 And leaning on their swords awhile^— 
 Quoth Tarquin, hold thy hand, 
 
 And tell to me what I shall aske. 
 
 Say on quoth Launcelott tho’ 
 
 Thou art, quoth Tarquin, the best knight 
 That ever I did know ; 
 
 And like a knight, that I did hate ; 
 
 Soe that thou be not hee, 
 
 I will deliver all the rest, 
 
 And eke accoid with thee. 
 
 That is w’ell sayd, quoth Launcelott; 
 
 But sith it must be soe. 
 
 What knight is that thou hatest thus ? 
 
 I pray thee to me show. 
 
 His name is Launcelott du Lake, 
 
 He slew my brother deere ; 
 
 Him I suspect of all the rest ; 
 
 I would I had him here. 
 
 Thy wish thou hast, but yet unknowr.e, 
 
 I am Launcelott du Lake, 
 
 Now knight of Arthur’s Table Round ; 
 King Hand’s son of Schiiwake ; 
 
 And I desire thee do thy worst. 
 
 Ho, ho, quoth Tarquin, tho’ 
 
 One of us two shall end our lives 
 Before that we do go. 
 
 If thou be Launcelott du Lake, 
 
 Then welcome shalt thou bee: 
 
 W herefore see thou thyself defend, 
 
 I^^or now defye I thee. 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 IaI. 
 
 They buckled then together so, 
 
 Like unto wild boares rushing, 
 
 And with their swords and shields they ran 
 At one another slashing : 
 
 The ground besprinkled was with blood : 
 
 Tarquin began to yield, 
 
 For he gave backe for wearinesse, 
 
 And lowe did beare his shield. 
 
 1 . 
 
 This soon Sir Launcelott espyde, 
 
 He leapt upon him then, 
 
 He pull’d him down upon his knee, 
 
 And rushing off his helm. 
 
 Forthwith he struck his necke in two. 
 
 And when he had soe done. 
 
 From prison threescore knights and four 
 Delivered everye one. 
 
 It was once mj intention to have presented your 
 lordship with the old family ballad of the Memorahles 
 of the Montgomerie Sy but shall wait till another oppor- 
 tunity. I now conclude my Dedication^ and have the 
 honour to be, with every wish for your health and 
 happiness, 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Your Lordship’s 
 
 Most obedient Servant, 
 
 PETER BUCHAN, 
 
 (late of fetehiiead, now of Glasgow.) 
 
PR13PAT0RY REMARKkS. 
 
 
 It is said that no work should be put to press till it 
 has suffered to cool for at least seven years after it 
 was written, as then the author would see the subject 
 in another and clearer light. I have done so, for the 
 greater part of the following pages came from my 
 sanctorum about ten years ago, and was then submit* 
 ted to several of my literary friends, amongst whom 
 were the late Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford, and 
 William Motherwell, Esq. of Glasgow; but to give 
 their opinions hero would be savouring too much of 
 egotistical conceit. Since, I have followed the judi* 
 cious advice of the sage poet, Wordsworth, in a private 
 letter to his friend, the Rev. Mr. Montgomery of 
 Glasgow, whose writings as well as his preachings, are 
 esteemed excellent by all those who have read and 
 heard them. He says, “ Do not be anxious about any 
 individual’s opinion concerning your writings, how* 
 ever highly you may tliink of his genius, or rate his 
 judgment. Be a severe critic to yourself, and depend 
 upon it no person’s decision upon the merit of your 
 works will bear comparison in point of value with your 
 own.” He also adds, “ Posterity will settle aU accounts 
 justly; and that works which deserve to last, will last; 
 and if undeserving tliis fate, the sooner they perish the 
 better.” From long experience, I know and can ap- 
 preciate the genuineness of this advice ; and, although 
 I by no means despise the opinions of private friends, 
 their advice, however well meant, is not always whole- 
 some, which often causes me with great reluctance to 
 
1‘llEFATORY REMARKS. Xxiii. 
 
 deny them and myself the pleasure of adopting it, in 
 preference to my own projected scliemes. 
 
 A few of my friends on first Iioaring of tlie task I 
 had imposed upon myself, in thus writing, “ The most 
 wonderful hook which the world ever read — a hook in 
 which every incident shall he incredihlef yet strictly true;'^ 
 and the manner in which I was to treat the subject, 
 said that it was merely impossible for one, nor for 
 many volumes, to contain the one half of the different 
 elucidations I intended to introduce into the work; 
 but the careful reader will be able to judge of this, 
 and how far I have succeeded in my well-meant de- 
 sign, when he peruses the whole. It is true that I 
 could have written and filled volumes upon each head 
 here introduced, had my wish been book or money 
 making. But my aim being more to bo useful tlian 
 voluminous, I have endeavoured in the compass of 
 this volume, to throw as much light as could be ob- 
 tained or devised upon every distinct article, as far as 
 illustrative of the main object I had at first in view, 
 the duty and character of a Gentleman in as few words 
 or pages as possible, so that the work may be read and 
 acted upon by as many as have a thirst for knowledge ; 
 for I know, from a long intimacy with sensible and 
 learned men, that one well written volume to an intel- 
 ligent and right-thinking person, is of more value and 
 interest, and as sufficient for all the purposes of use- 
 fulness, as one hundred to a man void of discernment, 
 or common sense. I have therefore done my best in 
 this condensed form, to elucidate, in as far as in me 
 lay, the subject I have now laid before the world. I 
 have gone minutely and circumstantially into every 
 cranney and crevice of the characteristics of a gentle- 
 man, I have used the scalpel freely, and by my dis- 
 section, the reader may clearly see every nerve and 
 sinew of high and low, rich and poor ; for be what the 
 subject will, when once on the dissecting table before 
 
XXIV. 
 
 PREFATORY REMARKS. 
 
 me, I shall do mj duty — kings and tlieir lowest sub- 
 jects when once placed there, are with me as one and 
 the same. I give honour only to whom honour is due. 
 
 I have carefully abstained from introducing reli- 
 gious and political party feeling. It is not a question 
 of church and state policy, but one of private interest 
 to every intelligent being. My object is not to sow 
 the seeds of contention between man and man, but to 
 disseminate useful knowdedge in as far as the duty and 
 character of a gentleman are concerned, which should 
 equally apply to every rational and civilized member 
 of society, and serve as a manual or cyclopaedia of 
 moral action and feeling. Sorry, indeed, should I 
 be to make an enemy even of one of the least of the 
 human race, but friends without number. 
 
 “ Curs’d be the verse how smooth so e’er it flow 
 That tends to make one honest man my foe.” 
 
 I must state, however, that if by thus fearlessly and 
 honestly speaking the truth, have given offence, I was 
 bound to do it ; for in all my former writings, I have 
 maintained the same straightforward conduct, and 
 always found it the true road to honour and fame. — 
 For, like the jolly miller of Dee, 
 
 ” I care for nobody, no not I, 
 
 If nobody care for me.” 
 
 I have written political works and Sermons that have 
 been favourably received by the highest personages in 
 the Church, (England,) the State, and the Army, and 
 others, but am indebted to neither the one or the other 
 for the least favour, preferment, post or pension. I 
 live unshackled, and as free as the air in which we 
 breathe. The freedom I have used with the deserv- 
 ing among the gi’eat, will not, perhaps, be so well 
 relished by them as a dish of high seasoned flattery ; 
 and although my wish is not to offend, nor do I court 
 the frowns of any one, I will not sacrifice truth at the 
 shrine of hypocrisy, nor at the altar of Mammon. Mr. 
 
PREFATURY REMARKS. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Montgomery, already mentioned], in the preface to 
 his admirable poem of “ Satan,'' says, that its moral 
 is this — “ The highest intellectual refinement may be 
 associated with tlie greatest moral debasement and 
 the reverend gentleman is right. Are not his senti- 
 ments too awfully verified in the daily walk, conduct, 
 and conversation of many from whom we have been 
 taught to look for, and expect better things? — Yes! 
 
 The gentleman of refined taste and discernment 
 will also see that 1 have embarked in a curiously con- 
 structed vessel, on a troubled and tumultuous ocean, 
 and the caution that is necessary to guide the sails 
 and the helm of such a bark, having but few mariners 
 on board on whose help I could depend, none having 
 steered through the same channel before. Should I 
 therefore arrive in safety at the wished for haven with 
 pendants and pennons flying, I may then say that — I 
 stand alone in my glory ! This being, to the best of my 
 knowledge, the first book written on the subject in this 
 or any other country or language. I therefore claim 
 the merit of its originality, if nothing else fall to my 
 share ; for the late learned and noble earl Eldon, when 
 in the course of a casual discussion on the presenta- 
 tion of a petition relative to the Irish poor laws, ob- 
 served that, — “ lie had been studying terms for 
 upwards of fifty years, but had never met with any- 
 body who could give him the proper construction of 
 the word Gentleman!” I admit my presumption and 
 boldness in tiiis attempt; but as “a faint heart never 
 gained a fair lady,” I have put my hand to the plough, 
 and have determined that I sliall either hold or drive. 
 For, as poor Richard says, — 
 
 He that by tbe plough would thrive, 
 
 Must either hold himself, or drive. 
 
 And, if I have not succeeded to the wishes of some, 
 I pray they would themselves construct a better — it 
 will give me great pleasure to liear of their success; 
 
XXVI. 
 
 TREFATOllY REMARKS. 
 
 for to say the present lias no fault, would be doing the 
 work injustice, but it is not my intention to palliate 
 these faults with a selfish plea, much less advocate its 
 beauties, for — 
 
 “ Who ever thinks a faultless piece to see, 
 
 Thinks what ne’er was, nor is, nor e’er can be.” 
 
 This was the opinion of Pope, an English poet. I 
 shall next tender the advice of Gawin Douglas, an old 
 Scotch poet, who says, — 
 
 Consider it warily, read aftenir than anis ! 
 
 Weel at ane blink slye poetry not tane is. 
 
 I must say, however, that it has not sprung up like 
 some mushrooms from a mole-hill, or heap of rubbish. 
 It is the fruit of much research and labour amongst 
 the time-worn monuments of antiquity, as well as the 
 works of the moderns. I have gone to the gardens 
 of foreign climes to cull the rich repast, and like the 
 humble but busy bee, extract from their sweetly smil- 
 ing flowers the choicest drops of that mellifluous 
 cordial, honey. 
 
 “ Thus doth the little busy bee 
 Improve each shining hour. 
 
 And gather honey all the day. 
 
 From ev’ry op’ning flow'r.” 
 
 I may also say, that I have tried a little of the 
 alchymist’s art, by which, with the aid of the philoso- 
 pher’s .stone, I have turned a few of these antiquarian 
 relics into gold: or, in other words, into a substance 
 more passible and current in the present day, by many 
 who take pleasure in renovation, and bringing hidden 
 things to light, although not exactly in the same garb 
 as our fathers wore in the days of langsyne and of 
 yore. By others of more unpalatable stomachs, whose 
 taste has been vitiated by spleen and chagrin, will my 
 labours bo treated with unceremonious disrespect, 
 partly to attract the vulgar gaze of a few, by saying 
 that my best metal is only dross, or a gilded pill. To 
 these I shall say nothing here. Sir David Lindsay hav- 
 ing already given his opinion of .such characters, under 
 
rilEFATOKY REM AUKS. 
 
 XXVll. 
 
 the head of critics and reviewers^ which I would wish 
 a few of them to peruse prior to too hastily exposing 
 t'lemselves before a discerning public, remembering at 
 the time, that one man’s meat is another’s poison. 
 
 From my literary kinsmen, and brothers of the 
 press, particularly those of a kindred spirit and feel- 
 ing, do I expect a different reception, as they only can 
 rightly know how to appreciate the labours of such an 
 undertaking, and say with the divinely inspired Pen- 
 man, 
 
 “ 0 that mine enemy had written a book,” 
 
 triflng as it may appear in the saffron sight of some 
 little-minded and would-be critics. The sinews of 
 peace and war are in their hands, which I pray 
 them to use honourably, and as becometh good Gen- 
 tlemen, and true brother knights, for much depends 
 upon their frowns and favours as such. An old author 
 says, — “ It is the commoun and accustomit manner of 
 all them that dois prehemiatc on ony other mannis 
 wark, cheiflie to travell about twa pointis. The ane 
 is, to declair the properteis of the author; not only 
 cxternall, as his originall, birth, vocatioun, estait, 
 strenth, giftis of tlie bodie, substance, and maneir of 
 leiving; but alswa internall, as the qualiteis, habites, 
 and dispositionis of the minde, his ingyne, knawledge, 
 wisdome, giftis of the spreit, and all other verteuis, 
 quhilk culd iustly be knawin to have bene in him. 
 The other is, to declair his maner of wryting, the 
 utilitie of his warkis, and what finite, profit and com- 
 moditie may ensew and follow to the diligent reider 
 and reuoluar of the samin.” For my own part, I have 
 no objections to the one or the other, and to assist the 
 inquirer more readily, he will find the greater part of 
 the above contained in a letter addressed to the late 
 carl of Buchan, in the Paisley Magazine, and some 
 London and American publications, where sketches of 
 my life have appeared. 
 
XXVllI. 
 
 PREFATOKY REMARKS. 
 
 I noAv come to offer a few lines as explanatory of 
 the origin of this work, and that which led to its pub- 
 lication. “ To catch the manners living as they rise,” 
 was always with me a theme of much importance; 
 and to separate the grain from the chaff, and the sheep 
 from the goats, a highly commendable, as well as 
 necessary act of justice. Impressed with these senti- 
 ments, and a desire to be useful in my day and gene- 
 ration, to others of the same feelings, I began my 
 comparisons, by placing in the same scale of justice, 
 the conduct of two parties of the same rank, title, 
 caste, and status in society. The one I found pos- 
 sessed of a greatness of soul, nobleness of mind, can- 
 dour and generosity; while the other was wrapt up in 
 Iiis owm nothingness, selfish, unworthy, degraded and 
 mean, with all the airs of a jackdaw dressed in the 
 plumage of the bird of paradise. The manners and 
 actions of the one, angelic, and of heavenly origin, 
 while those of the other, of earth, and earthly. The 
 one refined gold; the other burnished clay. Com- 
 parisons are odious, but at times necessary. 
 
 The first title intended for the work w^as, “ Who is 
 a Gentleman ?” but I have since changed it to “ The 
 Gentleman UnmasJeed” which some say they do not 
 understand, but I hope it is not my blame, as I have 
 done every thing in my power to render it accessible 
 to, and understood by the meanest capacity, liy being 
 unmasked,'' is to be deprived of that visor, veil, or 
 covering, which prevents the real object before us being 
 seen in its true colours and character. The Iiypocrito 
 often veils his conduct with a covering of religion ; 
 and the Avould-be gentleman, wdth a suit of broad 
 blacks, w'hite neckcloth, gold watch, and massy chain 
 and rings; but, when tried wdth the true test of 
 honour, tliose false allurements vanish as a morning 
 cloud ; and can no more endure the scrutiny of truth, 
 tlian the owd and the bat can stand the dazzling rays 
 
rilEFATOIlY IlEMAIUvS. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 of a mcredian sun at noon day, while the real gentle- 
 man, like the eagle, glories in the light and sunshine 
 of truth, and the higher he soars, the nearer he becomes 
 to his native element. To draw a line of demarka- 
 tion between the genuine and the mashed gentleman, 
 was then my care, my pride, and my pleasure. By 
 doing so, I have endeavoured to enrich the subject by 
 interesting, amusing, and instructive illustrations, 
 drawn from the works of those who are dead yet 
 spcaketh; and, should my labours have the desired 
 effect of reclaiming some, and amusing others, the 
 time may come when I, or a more competent hand, 
 shall provide the Gentleman with a help-mate, in the 
 character of the “ Lady Unmasked for it is not 
 always good for man to be alone. 
 
 The ghosts which I have so happily conjured from 
 the elysium shades, as my speakers, are those of royal 
 and noble personages, well known to those versed in 
 Scottish history, who, while on earth, filled very re- 
 sponsible situations, and figured conspicuously in the 
 drama of life. The one a king, the other a knight, 
 the king’s tutor. In one of Sir David’s epistles to his 
 master, he writes thus, — 
 
 When thou wast young I bai’e thee in my arm. 
 
 Full tenderly till thou began to gang ; 
 
 And in thy bed oft happed thee full warm, 
 
 With lute in hand, then sweetly to thee sang, 
 
 Sometimes in dancing fiercefully I flang, 
 
 And sometimes playing fairsies on the flurc, 
 
 And sometimes of mine office taking cure. 
 
 And sometimes like a fiend transfigurate, 
 
 And sometimes like a greozly ghost of gay, 
 
 In divers forms oftimes disfigurate. 
 
 And sometimes disguised full pleasantly. 
 
 So since thy birth, I have continually 
 Been exercis’d, and aye to thy pleasure ; 
 
 And sometimes steward, capper, and carsour. 
 
 # # # # # 
 
 How as a chapman bcax*s his pack, 
 
 I bare thy grace upon my back : 
 
XXX. 
 
 TREFATOllY REMARKS. 
 
 And sometimes stridlings on my neck, 
 
 Dancing Avith many bend and beck. 
 
 Tlie first syllabs that thou didst mute. 
 
 Was pa- da-lyne upon the lute. 
 
 Then played 1 twenty springs perqueer 
 Which VA ere great pleasure for to hear, 
 
 From play thou never let me rest ; 
 
 But Ginkerton thou lik’d aye best. 
 
 * * * # 
 
 But noAv thou art by natural influence, 
 
 High of ingine, and right inquisitive, 
 
 Of antique stories and deeds martial ; 
 
 More pleasantly the time to o’er drive, 
 
 1 have at length the stories to descrive. 
 
 Noav Avith support of the King of Glory, 
 
 1 shall thee shoAv a story of the new, 
 
 But humbly I beseech thine excellence. 
 
 With ornate terms though I cannot express 
 Tills simple matter for lack of eloquence ; 
 
 Yet notAvithstanding all my business. 
 
 With heart and hand my mind I aa ill address. 
 
 As best I can and most compendious. 
 
 Now, I begin tlie matter happened thus,-- 
 
 I hope it is not necessary for me to inform my 
 readers where Sir David begins his conversation with 
 his majesty; and, although, as he remarks, his terms, 
 or style is not so ornate, as that of our modern high- 
 Jlgers, I trust it is passible ; for, if it be of the right 
 metal, in whatever shape it appears, it must possess 
 some value ; but let it speak for itself. 
 
 Redeth forthe to the end, seriously. 
 
 For though old AATytynges apere to be rude, 
 
 Yet notwithstandying, theye do include 
 The pythe of matter most fructuously. 
 
 It was once my intention of classing the different 
 subjects under their respective heads, and holding a 
 separate meeting for a free discussion, and conversa- 
 tion upon each; but upon a second consideration, 
 thought it would be better to adopt the plan taken, 
 and leave the whole to be summed up at the conclu- 
 sion, when a full explanation of each, with suitable 
 reflections, would be given. 
 
PREFATOllY REAIAUKS. 
 
 XiXl. 
 
 Ill addition to wliat was previously written, I have 
 added a particular and compreliensive account of the 
 rise and progress of Tournaments, & c . particularly 
 the one which took place at Eglinton Castle, on the 
 28th and 30th of August last, under the generous 
 auspices of that spirited nobleman, the Lord of the 
 Manor. 
 
 “ Hero chiefs their thirst of power in blood assuage, 
 
 And straight their llames with tenfold fierceness burn ; 
 
 Here smiling virtue prompts* the patriots’ rage, 
 
 Hut lo, ere long, is left alone to mourn, 
 
 And languish in the dust, and clasp th’ abandon’d urn.” 
 
 Had the work been entirely confined to this subject, 
 I could have launched more deeply into the vortex of 
 chivalry and romance, and given endless quotations 
 from the works of the ancients now little known, read, 
 or understood, but by tlie antiquary, particularly the 
 “ Collectanea Domini Dauidis Lindesay do Mountha, 
 mititis Leonis Armorum Regis,” &c. It contains. 
 First, “ The office of kingis et armes, heraulds, and 
 seriaundis of armes.” Dated at Touris the VII. day 
 of Februare, the zeir of God 1447 zeiris. Second, 
 “ The law of armes, wtin lystis.” Third, The 
 ordinance and manor how turnayis wes wont to be 
 maid, and the harness for knytis and squyaris, and 
 quhat differences suld be in ye abulzement betwix 
 knytis and squyaris, and how ye cry suld be maid,” &c. 
 
 The work, although styled the “ Eglinton Tourna- 
 ment, &c. is not exclusively confined to Tournaments, 
 Chivalry, and Romance, but embraces a wider range 
 of subjects, which ought to be known and practised by 
 every faithful king and ruler, as well as every faith- 
 ful subject in their realm; — noblemen and commoners 
 of every grade, viz.. Ministers of State; Ministers of 
 the Gospel; Lawyers; Doctors; Merchants; Manu- 
 facturers; Artisans and Mechanics, high and low, 
 rich and poor. The origin and history of each class 
 Iiaving been given, and how every one may know who 
 
XXXll. 
 
 rKEFATOUY REMARKS. 
 
 is, and himself become a Gentleman; all having sprung 
 from the same stock and lineage ; for, were not Adam 
 and his beautiful spouse. Eve, the first head and jxireiits 
 of us all ? 
 
 From a glance of the contents, it will be seen what 
 my object has been, and will at once explain not only 
 the usefulness, but the absolute necessity of such a 
 companion to all who have the least desire to become 
 acquainted with the duty, character, and etiquette of 
 a Gentleman, as herein defined. Ladies will also find 
 it a no less instructive and interesting melange of use- 
 ful and necessary knowledge to them, than to their 
 male friends. Gentlemen. “ For to be, or not to be, 
 is the question.” And, to know, or to be the Gentle- 
 man aright, is not such an easy task as too many 
 blindly suppose. Many are more expert in veiling 
 their vices than others are in detecting them. It is 
 like the order of Free Masonry, although the theory 
 is universal, the secret and practical part are only 
 known to, and practised by a few. 
 
 “ Bot quhat dangere is ocht to compile, allace ! 
 
 Here and thir detractouris in every place, 
 
 Or euer thay rede the wei k, biddis birne the buke; 
 
 Sum bene sa frawart in malice and wangrace. 
 
 1 say na moire quen al the rerde is roung, 
 
 Tliat wicht mon speih, that cannot hald liis toung.” 
 
 r. B. 
 
TITE 
 
 EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 » AND 
 
 GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 King James . — Well met, Sir David, in this P]Ijsian 
 place: I have long had a wish to converse witli jou. 
 According to the method of computing time on earth, 
 it is now nearly three hundred years since I left the 
 other world, and not till this time have I had the 
 pleasure of meeting with you. Since we parted, 
 arts, sciences, and polite literature have flourished 
 greatly, and a rich harvest of discoveries been the re- 
 sult of that patronage which has been so liberally 
 given by those in poAver. There is one subject, how- 
 ever, although of the utmost consequence to be knoMm 
 by all men, that has never yet been explained — I mean 
 the word, title, and character of a Gentleman ! 
 
 When we were upon earth, I a king, and you a 
 subject, you were my faithful and esteemed instructor, 
 and in all tilings pertaining to my happiness, faithfully 
 discharged your duty as became a noble and inde- 
 pendent mind, although you had to contend vvdtii much 
 opposition, and were but poorly rewarded for your toil 
 and trouble, while others reaped the fruits of your la ’ 
 hours. But we are now met where all distinction ceases 
 — kings, queens, and their subjects, are on equal terms 
 in this land of l^Iiss and cheerfulness. Every one avIio 
 is permitted to visit tliis paradise of pleasure, is in no 
 
 A 
 
THE EGLIXTOX TOURX AMENT, 
 
 2 
 
 subjection to anv other of liis fellow inhabitants; he 
 is free as the balmy air he breathes from yonder beds 
 of unfading roses. Would to lieaven that tlie high 
 and mighty ones on that perishing world we left, 
 would lay this more to heart, and consider in time the 
 state that many are now in, and before it be too late 
 redeem their mispent time, and prepare for this un- 
 changeable abode of endless joy, and everlasting day. 
 It is the opinion of some that, on passing the gulph 
 of death, all is knowledge;* and happiness or misery 
 the immediate reward of their toils on earth, but it is 
 not so, altiiough sanctioned by some of the most schol- 
 astic divines, for I remain enshrouded in the same 
 cloud of ignorance as I did the day I was called hence, 
 not being one of those intelligent and intellectual ob- 
 servers of men and manners that you always were. 
 
 The word, or term Gentleman, has now become so 
 very common, and used so profusely by all ranks, that 
 it is not only indiscriminately applied, but woefully mis- 
 applied and misunderstood ; so that I sincerely pray 
 you will rightly explain the phrase, and unmash to me 
 the Gentleman, for I wush much to know to whom tlie 
 lionoured name and title most properly belongs — a title 
 which, when a man truly deserves, is far more noble than 
 any which majesty can bestow. The epithet. Gentleman, 
 has more adjectives applied to it than any other word 
 with which 1 am acquainted in the language ; from the 
 highest to the lowest, from the richest to the poorest, 
 
 * Tlie state of the dead is called in scripture the land of forgetfulness, 
 and by some believed that those in Hades, or the spirits of the departed* 
 are destitute of reflection and memory, and that all animosity, distinction 
 of rank , and worldly' greatness cease at death. By others, and not a few who 
 consider themselves orthodox Christians, that the souls of the departed 
 know, and are quite conversant with the changes and all the movements 
 that are daily taking place on eafdh, and that departed friends have a 
 care over those relations they left below : hence the reason and belief of 
 the members of the church of Rome praying to them, to saints, Arc , for 
 tJieir blessings, protection, and intercession, &c. 
 
a:?d gentleman unmasked. 
 
 3 
 
 from the best to the worst, whatever be his character 
 or rank in life, all, all, according to time and circum- 
 stances, are greeted with this luxuriant appellation. 
 I am therefore at a loss to know how it possibly can 
 apply to all, when it can only belong to one particular 
 class of men whose conduct, and not their riches, 
 merits it. I am aware that, according to the common 
 acceptation of the word, it is only he who is rich, can 
 live without manual labour, and wear fine clothes, that 
 is entitled to be called a Gentleman ; all else, however 
 meritorious and honourable their actions, are pre- 
 cluded. 
 
 I have also another request. Sir David, to make of 
 you. You are well aware of the gathering from all 
 parts of Europe, and the sports which have taken 
 place of late at Eglinton Castle, the seat of that spirit- 
 ed and higlily distinguished nobleman, the Earl of 
 Eglinton, and what he has done for the amusement of 
 his guests and the public in that locality, so that you 
 will not refuse, I trust, to entertain me Avith some ac- 
 count of those early and now almost forgotten pastimes, 
 which at one period were so prevalent in different 
 parts of Christendom; and of the Tournament which 
 took place upon the 28th of August, 1839, and con- 
 tinued there for several days, to the great satisfaction 
 of all present.- 
 
 Sir David. — Sire, as I was wont to call you, I was 
 indeed your preceptor, and for many years discharged 
 the arduous duties of my office as such, faithfully, 
 none making me afraid ; but like most of those who 
 fill similar situations to what you did, you were blind 
 to my candour and services, being surrounded by 
 sycophant courtiers who flattered your vanity, and 
 pampered your A^ain and silly desires, for the purpose 
 of gaining your favour, and augmenting their OAvn 
 fortune, and that of their more servile and ignoble 
 friends. They knew how susceptible you were to be 
 
4 
 
 THE EGLTNTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 led away from the truth, and to despise an honest 
 servant, and make him an enemy, because he told you 
 your faults, and those around you. However, in vir- 
 tue and prerogative of the office that I held on earth, 
 as Lyon-King-at-Ai'ms, I shall endeavour to give you 
 a full, distinct, and satisfactory explanation of the word 
 Gentleman, and to whom it most properly belongs, as 
 I have never yet heard it rightly defined by ancient 
 or modern authors. But, as you have requested, I 
 siiall first endeavour to gratify you with a brief history 
 of Tournaments, <tc. as practised by the ancients; 
 next, an account of the one held at Eglinton Castle, 
 and a biographical sketch of the ancestors of the pre- 
 sent noble Earl, who has so spiritedly revived these 
 warlike and almost obsolete feats of Chivalry and 
 Romance. 
 
 The Tournaments of the ancients were honourable 
 exercises, in which their cavaliers entered the lists to 
 show their dexterity and courage. The word Tour- 
 nament comes from Tournen, either because they rode 
 round a ring, or turned as often as there was occasion, 
 in imitation of the Circi, and improvements on the 
 Olympic and Circassian games. These military ex- 
 ercises were in use under the second race of the kings 
 of France ; for Nithard reports, that at the interview 
 of Charles the bald, king of France, and his brother 
 Lewis, king of Germany at Strasbourg, the gentlemen 
 of both these princes’ retinue fought on horseback to 
 show their skill. And M. Du Cange takes notice that 
 tliese sports were so particular to the French, that 
 they were termed Conflictus Gallici. The Englisli 
 imitated these mibtary exercises in king Stephen’s 
 reign, about 1 140 ; but the use of them was not fully 
 settled till king Ricliard’s time, about 1194. The 
 Germans also began to practice these kind of sports 
 about 1030. Modius, who pretends they were known 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 5 
 
 before that time, has rather romanced than written a 
 true history; the Greeks themselves acknowledging, 
 that they learned them of the Latins, i. e. the Freiicli, 
 as their authors allege. John Cantacuzenus says, that 
 these military plays were first seen in the eastern em- 
 pire in 1326, at the marriage of Anne of S.avoy, 
 daughter of Ainedeus IV. Count of Savoy, witli the 
 young emperor Andronicus Paleologus; yet Nicetas 
 and Cinamus report, that the Emperor Emmanuel 
 Comnenus instituted them in imitation of the Ercnch, 
 about 1145. As these Tournaments were designed 
 to teach men the art of war, so there were no arms 
 used that might hurt the combatants ; the points of 
 the swords and lances being blunted, as also the edges 
 of the swords rebated, which, for that reason, were 
 called courteous iceapons. Yet notwithstanding these 
 precautions, there often happened great accidents in 
 the heat of the fight, either by chance, or through the 
 malice of the combatants, some taking an occasion to 
 revenge themselves of their enemies for private 
 grudges. 
 
 The first Tournaments were only courses on horse- 
 back, wherein the cavaliers tilted at each other mtli 
 canes in manner of lances; and were distinguished 
 from Justs, which were courses or careers, accompanied 
 with attacks and combats. The prince who published 
 the Tournament, used to send a king-at-arms, with a 
 safe conduct, and a sword, to all the princes, knights, 
 Ac. signifying that he intended a Tournament and 
 clashing of swords, in the presence of ladies and dam- 
 sels ; wliich was the usual formula of invitation. They 
 first engaged man against man, and then troop against 
 troop; and after the combat, the judges allotted the 
 prize to the best cavalier,, and the best striker of 
 swords; who was accordingly conducted in pomp to 
 the lady of the Tournament ; where, after thanking 
 her very reverently, he saluted her and likewise her 
 
0 ‘ THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 two attendants. These Tournaments made the prin- 
 cipal diversion of the 13th and 14th centuries. It 
 appears from the chronicle of Tours, that the true 
 inventor of this famous sport, at least in France, was 
 one Geolfrj, lord of Preuilli, about the year 106G. 
 Instai,ices of them occur among the English at a later 
 period, with extraordinary magnificence in the Tilt- 
 yard near St. James’s, Smithfield, and other places. 
 In the meantime, however, the following accounts of 
 the English Tournaments I shall freely give you. 
 
 King Richard II. designing to hold a Tournament 
 at London on the Sunday after Michaelmas, sent 
 divers heralds to make proclamations of it in all the 
 principal courts of Europe; and accordingly not a few 
 princes, and great numbers of the prime nobibty, re- 
 sorted hither from France, Germany, the Netherlands, 
 &c. This solemnity began on Sunday afternoon, from 
 the Tower of London, with a pompous cavalcade of 
 sixty ladies, each leading an armed knight by a silver 
 chain, being attended by their squires of honour, and, 
 passing through Cheapside, rode to Smithfield, where 
 the Justs and Tournaments continued several days 
 with magnificent variety of entertainments; on which 
 occasion the king kept open house at the bishop of 
 London’s palace for all persons of distinction, and 
 every night concluded wntli a ball. 
 
 Edward III. to shew the French ambassadors the 
 gallantry of his subjects, entertained them with a 
 Tournament of eighteen knights in each party, which 
 was performed in Cheapside, the streets being covered 
 witli sand to prevent the horses slipping. A stately 
 scaffold had been erected for the queen and her ladies, 
 which breaking down, thougli no hurt was done, the 
 king being passionately fond of his queen, swore he 
 would punish the workmen in an examplary manner, but 
 the queen, on her knees, interceded for them ; that both 
 king and people were charmed with her goodness. 
 
xVND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. T 
 
 In the reign of Kdward IV. Koch, who was better 
 known by the appellation of the bastard of Burgundy, 
 being greatly celebrated for his acts of chivalry, caino 
 over and challenged the lord Scales, brother to t!io 
 queen, to just with him, which Scales readily accept- 
 ing, tlie king commanded lists to be prepared in 
 Smithfield (wherein to perform combat) of the length 
 of three hundred and seventy feet, and breadth of 
 two hundred and sixty, with magnihcent galleries for 
 the reception of the illustrious spectators ; where as- 
 sembled the king, the nobility and principal gentry 
 of both sexes. The first day they Justed with spears, 
 without a visible advantage on either side. Tiio 
 second tliey Tourneyed on horseback, when t!ic lord 
 Scales, having a long spike fixed on his chafiron (pom- 
 mel of his saddle) which as they enclosed, ran into 
 the nostrils of the bastard’s horse, by the anguish 
 whereof, he reared himself with that violence, that he 
 tumbled backwards, whereby his rider was unfortu- 
 nately unhorsed, which occasioned him to cry out, 
 that he could not hold hy the clouds ; and that though 
 his horse had failed him, he would not fail to meet his 
 adversary the next day ; wliich being accordingly per- 
 formed, they fought on foot with polo axes, when 
 Scales soon penetrating the bastard’s helmet, the king 
 threw down his warder, whereupon they were im- 
 mediately parted by the marshal. But the bastard 
 insisting upon fighting out that weapon, a council was 
 held to deliberate thereon; the result whereof was, 
 that if he persisted in renewing the combat ho must, 
 according to the laws of arms, be delivered to his ad- 
 versary in the same condition he was in at his horse’s 
 misfortune. But rather than submit to those terms 
 he waved Iiis pretension. 
 
 I shall also bring to your remembrance the Justs 
 of the three Scotch champions, wlio, about 1390, chal- 
 lenged tliree English, to figlit at Justs or Tournaments,. 
 
8 
 
 TII]5 EGLINTON TOURNAiI£}<T, 
 
 which was performed in Smithfield, with the greatest 
 solemnity, tlio earl of Mar against the lord Notting- 
 ham; Sir William Dowell, the king of Scotland s 
 banner-bearer, against Sir Pierce Courtney ; the king 
 of England’s standard-bearer ; Cockburne, Esq/against 
 Sir Nicholas Hawkirke. Mar, and Cockburne were 
 unhorsed, but the two standai’d-bearers were so well 
 matched, that betwixt them it was a drawn battle. 
 
 And Joannes Monacus Majoris, Monasterii, in his 
 life of Jeffrey Plantagenet, son of Foulque, earl of 
 Anjou, gives the following splendid description of a 
 celebrated Tournament, at his marriage with Maude, 
 daugiiter of the king of England, and widow to the 
 Emperor Henry V. 
 
 Ilis father Foulque, being king of the knights, 
 Gaufrede, an eminent warrior, tried every endeavour 
 to carry off the palm. Sometime after, a day for the 
 combatants to meet was appointed by the Britons and 
 Normans: on the side of the Normans appeared the 
 earl of Handrensis; Theobadus, earl of Blesensis, 
 and his brother Stephen, lord Tellanritania. These 
 three were, nephews of Henry, king of England. 
 He, with an immense retinue appeared, himself lead- 
 ing them on. Against the Britons stood also a line of 
 heroic hearts, although in point of numbers they fell 
 short of their opponents. Gaufrede, commander of the 
 British legion, on seeing such a meagre display, their 
 force being so much inferior to his own, withdrew 
 them from the ranks, and with a handful commenced 
 the attack. Onwards they rush ; the din of arms, and 
 the neighing of their frantic steeds make the woods 
 and valleys to re-echo; the mountain Michaelitus 
 seemed in one blaze from the illuminating brilliancy 
 of their golden shields. The 'warriors are impetuously 
 keen; their oaken spears are broken — shield meets 
 shield — saddles are emptied — the riders overthrown, 
 and the horses with broken reias fly over the field 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 0 
 
 neighing. Terror seized the opponents, and Gaufrede 
 rushes on the foe, running hither and thither, and 
 anxious to aid his allies, overthrowing many with the 
 lance, and killing without number. 
 
 The Britons follow their leader, assured of victory, 
 and in their path spread desolation and death. An- 
 degavensis, more fierce than the others, stands forth. 
 The British phalanx, anticipating success, also stand 
 out. The Normans, fatigued by the conflict, take to 
 flight, and the handful that was left taken to the 
 camp. The Normams being dejected by such an un- 
 expected and sudden confusion, and attributing their 
 defeat to the suddenness of the onset, again throw down 
 the gauntlet to the Britons. 
 
 The fame of the Tournament having spread far and 
 wide, a soldier, Sansonicus, of a gigantic height, came 
 to their aid. Relying on his herculean strength and 
 bravery, they made themselves confident of victory. 
 This fellow, on whom they so much depended, had the 
 audacity to proceed over, and transgress the agreed 
 boundaries, and by posting himself up in a conspicuous 
 manner, provoked the Britons, and challenged them 
 to fight. The countenances of the victors flushed, and 
 their breasts burned within them, to think that a 
 single individual would dare to enter the lists with 
 such a force. But the king’s son-in-law, whose breast 
 was inflamed with courage, beholding liis comrades 
 sinking under the empty boasting of the provocation, 
 impatient to attack, and unrestrainablo by delay, 
 leaps upon his horse, snatches his spear, and, single 
 handed, engages with this goliah, »an immense con- 
 course looking on. The contest was sharp, for his 
 opponent exceeded the usual stature and strength of 
 men, and wielding a large and ponderous lance, he 
 attacks Aiidegavensis, and perforates his shield and 
 arrow. Aiidegavensis, seated immoveable on his steed, 
 and poising his spear, lodged it in his breast, who, 
 
 A 2 
 
10 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAME5JT, 
 
 when falling on the ground, ho stood and with his 
 sword, cut olf the braggart’s head. The conqueror 
 gloriously left the field, leaving the Normans to share 
 their disgrace, and, as a trophy of his achievement, 
 led away the horse of the decapitated knight. 
 
 While we are on the subject of Chivalry, Tilts, and 
 Tournaments, it may not be improper at this time and 
 place, as requested, to give your majesty the opinions 
 of different of the ancients who have written upon this 
 all-ingrossing topic, for you know the bustle and noise 
 that has been already made at Eglinton Castle and else- 
 where, in consequence of the Tournament held there. 
 
 Fransiscus Modius, in his Pandectoe triumphales, 
 says, that Henry the Fowler, emperor of Germany, in 
 order to martialise liis nobility, and make them per- 
 fect in horsemanship, instituted the first public Tour - 
 nament, anno. 938, but that they had been long before 
 in France and England, his secretary procuring a 
 transcript of the laws relating to that exercise, some 
 of which were as follows: — 
 
 I. Any of the nobility abusing by word or deed the 
 lionour of a maid, or widow, or forcibly possessing 
 himself of their goods, to be rejected. 
 
 II. Whosoever hath not defended his fellow citizens, 
 his servants, or other persons, putting themselves into 
 his safe- guard, is to bo excluded Justs and Tourneys. 
 
 III. Whosoever shall treacherously surprise his 
 enemy, otherwise than allowed by the laws of war, 
 burning Ins houses and farm, and spoiling Ins gromids. 
 
 IV. Whosoever shall oppress liis subjects or ser- 
 vants, for augmenting his own private demesnes, and 
 shall, within his dependencies, lay any duty on foreign 
 commo<lities, by means of wliich strangers may be ill 
 used, and commerce hindered. 
 
 V. Any one convicted of adultery, or of seducing a 
 religious sister. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 11 
 
 VI. Any one not satisfied with his patrimony, or 
 what he has otherwise gained and conquered, receives 
 in wages or pensions from his prince, or shall deal in 
 goods, fruits, or commodities, under borrowed names, 
 he himself not daring to avouch it. 
 
 VII. Anyone presenting himself at a Just and Tour- 
 ney under pretence of being enrolled by his prince, and 
 cannot verify his nobility, in the four degrees, by liis 
 father s side, or at least by the mother’s, such a 
 gentleman of the first edition, ought to be beaten with 
 switches, his horse taken from Iiim, and he to ride tlie 
 railes. 
 
 VIII. Any person of noble extraction, who has 
 married for covetousness, or delight, a woman of mean 
 condition, was also to be switched, stripped of his 
 armour, to lose his horse, and to ride the railes, so 
 long as the assembly lasted; at the ending of wliicli, 
 ho was to be proclaimed by the herald, incapable and 
 unworthy for ever to appear before noblemen; and 
 his cliildren, to the third degree, declared ignoble. 
 
 These must be allowed to be excellent laws for 
 preserving the lustre of nobility, and well calculated 
 to work upon that strong principle, the love of esteem 
 and glory, and the dread of ignominy. ’ They were 
 likewise to make oath, to forget all hatre<l, rancour, 
 and grudge; and that their only intent, was fairly 
 to signalize themselves by acts of chivalry. Their 
 only arms at fii’st being but a knight’s club, a sword, 
 and a lance, with a blunted head. The club was a 
 staff of crab-tree, heavy, and very knotty ; the haft, 
 or handle of whicli, was garnished with gold, or silver, 
 aad the wdiole damasked with divers figures and 
 devices. 
 
 Kings, princes, and dukes were dispensed from 
 acting in these Justs and Tournaments. 
 
 At the conclusion of the Tournament, wliicli gene- 
 rally lasted a fortnight, the combatants suppo<l at tho 
 
V2 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 general banquet of tlieir own country, or provinee; 
 when the ladies, with gi’eat applause, delivered the 
 prizes given bj the prince of the Tournament, to 
 those whom the judges had declared victors ; after 
 whicli tlianks were returned on all sides to the prince, 
 who defrayed the charges of such a magnificent assem- 
 bly, and to the judges of the Tournament. 
 
 The German historians reckon thirty-six Tourna- 
 ments, the first was in the year 938 ; the last of which 
 was in 1487. And though they fell under the dis- 
 pleasure of the church, yet Sebastian Munster, a 
 judicious writer, in the third book of his Cosmogra- 
 phies, thus laments the discountenance of them. 
 “After wliich we have seen the nobility openly plunge 
 themselves into the puddle of all vices, without shamo 
 or restraint; whereas the ignominy which they re- 
 ceived publicly in these Tournays, besides the irre- 
 proachable character required to act in them, served 
 as a caution, as a curb in a yomig colt’s mouth, to 
 restrain our gentlemen upon the terms of virtue and 
 honour. By extirpation of these lionourable exercises 
 among them, they became even prostituted to all vile 
 abuses, without observing any real goodness, or so 
 much as outward decency.” 
 
 In consequence of the popes’, but particularly 
 Alexander the tliird’s denunciation, and some tragi- 
 cal incidents that befall the knights engaged therein, 
 they were finally abolislied in France, in 15 GO, and 
 with them fell the ancient spirit of chivalry. Between 
 the age of Edward III. and Henry VIII. chivalry 
 Iiad languished in England, but with the latter. Tour- 
 naments were renewed witli the greatest splendour. 
 The elegance, the pomp, and circumstances of war, 
 fascinated the youthful ideas of Henry VIII. who 
 was known to take great delight in those exercises, 
 and gave several, Mutli the most profuse magnificence, 
 and was so expert at them, being, 'withal of extraordin- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 13 
 
 ary strength, that at a Tournament at Greenwich he 
 broke no less than seven lances. 
 
 The most accomplished cavalier in this country, 
 was the duke of Suffolk. This gallant nobleman had 
 been successful in several Tournaments, had enchanted 
 princesses, had been raised from the station of squire 
 of the body to the king, to the highest dignities, llo 
 had shone wdth uncommon lustre in the courts of 
 France, and Flanders; Tvas the principal object intiio 
 splendid masks, tilts, and revels, that were given in 
 England; and possessed that romantic passion, that 
 kind of superlative gallantry, wliich rendered him tlie 
 theme of universal admiration. It is little to be 
 wondered at, therefore, that Henry should become 
 attached to him ; and still less so that liis sister, the 
 princess Mary, should conceive a most intense passion 
 for him, long before she was made a political sacrifice 
 to Louis XII. King of France. Violent, it has been 
 said, was the resistance, which the princess made to 
 this match. In favour of her lover, she braved the 
 fury of her relentless brother. But, here she was 
 foiled; she was opposing a man whose attachment to 
 his own opinion is w^ell known; and, although the 
 spirit of the lovely Mary was nearly equal to his own, 
 yet, after having goaded the monarch almost to mad- 
 ness, she at length reluctantly yielded to his wishes. 
 The last article which she insisted on, Tras, that 
 Suffolk should attend her. To this, however, Henry, 
 — who knew the man, and indeed, the Avoman too, — 
 peremptorily withheld his consent. In consequence 
 of this refusal, the duke stole away in disguise, and 
 folloAved his beloved princess to France, in spite of 
 the denunciations wliich the enraged monarch sent 
 thundering after him. 
 
 The duke’s enemies now endeavoured to alienate 
 tlie affections of his sovereign from him; but Henry 
 declared that he thought Charles had done a very 
 
14 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 spirited thing, and that if he had been in his situation, 
 he should have acted just the same himself! 
 
 When the duke arrived at Paris, he still continued 
 his disguise, and appeared at the magnificent Tour- 
 nament that was celebrated at St. Dennis, on the 
 joyful occasion of the royal nuptials. As a strange 
 knight, in black armour, he was known to no person 
 but the queen, who recognized him by a small white 
 scarf which he wore on his arm: for, this scarf she 
 lierself had worked for him, and had presented to him. 
 Glowing with all the animation which the sight of 
 the lovely object, the desire of vengeance, and his 
 jealousy inspired, the duke of Suffolk was irresistible. 
 He flew like lightning against the due de Vendome, 
 wliom he overturned in an instant ; tlie count de St. 
 Pol shared the same fate; and acclamations are said 
 by the French historian, to have rent the skies. The 
 due d’ Angouleme himself next approached; but, 
 expectation had scarcely time to respire before he was 
 unhorsed ; at the same instant, however, his conqueror 
 was discovered. Whether accident or vanity induced 
 Suffolk to raise his beaver, is uncertain; but, the 
 moment he was known, he was conducted to the 
 queen, to receive the prize which his valour had most 
 indisputably obtained. This was a trying moment for 
 Mary; and, accordingly, she is said to have fainted. 
 She, however, recovered sufficiently to introduce him 
 to the king, who received him with the greatest 
 politeness and respect. 
 
 Louis XII. had, in the former part of his reign, 
 acquired great glory ; but was at this time, advanced 
 in years. At all events, he was certainly more than 
 twice the age of his wife. Yet he possessed a strong 
 constitution, notwithstanding which, he only survived 
 this wedding eight days, a considerable part of which, 
 the duke of Suffolk had passed in attendance on the 
 queen. Whether the due d’ Angouleme, afterwarfis 
 
AKD gentleman UNMASKEI>. 
 
 15 
 
 Francis I. judged of others by himself, or, had any 
 real cause for suspicion, Mezcrai asserts that he took 
 care Suffolk should be narrowly watched, lest he 
 should give the king a successor. Two months after 
 the death of the monarch, his young and beautiful 
 widow was led to the altar by the gallant Suffolk. 
 Henry stormed at the indelicacy of their conduct, as 
 he termed it, and tlu-eatened Suffolk : but the lovely 
 duchess boldly opposed his rage, and averred that if 
 there were any blame in the case, it ought to be laid 
 to her charge, for it was she who had absolutely court- 
 ed the duke. 
 
 And in the yere a thousand was full then. 
 
 Two hundred also sixty and nyntene. 
 
 When Sir Roger Mortimer so began ' 
 
 At Kenelworth, the round taule as was sene, . 
 
 Of a thousand Knyghts for diseipliiie, 
 
 Of young menne, after he could devise 
 Of Turnements and Justes to exercise. 
 
 A thousand Ladies, excellyng in beautey 
 
 lie had also there, in tentes high above 
 
 Tlie JusTEs, that thei might well and clerely see 
 
 Who Justed beste there, for their Lady Love 
 
 For whose beautie, it should the Knyghts move 
 
 In arms to eche other to revie 
 
 To get a fame in play of Chivalry. 
 
 The old romance of Perce- forest gives a curious 
 picture of the effects visible after a Tournament, by 
 the eagerness with which the fair spectators had en- 
 couraged the knights. “At the close of the Tourna- 
 ment,” says the writer, “the ladies were so stripped 
 of their ornaments, that the greater part of them were 
 bare-headed. Thus they went their ways with their 
 hair floating on their shoulders more glossy than fine 
 gold; and with their robes without the sleeves, for 
 they had given to the knights to decorate themselves, 
 wimples and hoods, mantles and shifts, sleeves and 
 bodies. When they found themselves undressed to 
 such a pitch, they were at first quite asliamed ; but as 
 
16 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 soon as they saw every oiio in tlio same state, they 
 began to laugh at the whole adventure, for they had 
 all bestowed their jewels and their clothes upon the 
 knights with so' good a will, that they had. not per- 
 ceived that they uncovered themselves.” 
 
 It would occupy too much space to enter into all 
 tlie details of the Tournament, or to notice all the 
 laws by which it was governed. Every care was taken 
 that the various knights should meet upon equal terms ; 
 and many a precaution was made use of to prevent 
 accidents, and to render the sports both innocent and 
 useful. But no regulations could be found sufficient 
 to guard against the dangerous consequences of sucli 
 furious amusements ; and Ducange gives a long list of 
 princes and nobles who lost their lives in these fatal 
 exercises. The church often interfered, though in 
 vain, as I have already stated to you, to put them 
 down ; and many monarchs forbade them in their do- 
 minions ; but the pomp with which they were accom- 
 panied, and the excitement that they afforded to a peo- 
 ple ffind of every mental stimulus, rendered them far 
 more permanent than might have been expected. The 
 round table was also another sort of Tournament, held 
 in a circular amphitheatre, wherein the knights invited 
 jousted against each other. From the account taken 
 from the History of the Priory of Wigmore, Menes- 
 trier deduces that those exercises, called ‘round tables,’ 
 were only Tournaments, during wliich the lord or 
 sovereign giving the festival entertained his guests at 
 a table which, to prevent all ceremony in respect to 
 procedure, was in the form of a circle, but it might, 
 liowever, have had a different and an earlier origin, 
 although not mentioned by any author previous to the 
 year 1279. 
 
 1 lenry Knighton, speaking of the Tournament tliat 
 was kept in 1274 at Chalon, where king Edward and 
 the English fought the count of Chalon and Biirgun- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 17 
 
 diaiis, says, that several were killed upon tlie spot ; so 
 that this Tournament was called the little war of 
 Chalon; and liistories are full of such unhappy acci- 
 dents. Tliis gave the popes occasion to forbid them, 
 and excommunicate all those that should assist at them. 
 Secular princes have also prohibited them, by reason 
 of the disorders they commonly caused, or that they 
 wanted the lords and gentlemen that assisted at them 
 for other employments. And Tillet reports that king 
 Philip Augustus made both his sons swear, that they 
 would not go to any such sports. Yet, since his time, 
 several kings of France have fought in person, as 
 Charles VI. in 1385, at Cambray ; Francis I. in 1520, 
 between Andres and Guines. And finally, Henry I. 
 in 1550, at Parisj where he received a wound in the 
 eye by a splinter of the count of Montgomery’s lance, 
 whereof he died in eleven days after. There have 
 also been challenges of tliis nature, wherein people 
 fought in good earnest, and wlijch seldom ended with- 
 out spilling of blood, or the death of those that entered 
 the lists. 
 
 Tliis is but a brief outline of the Tilts Tournaments 
 of our predecessors ; but hope it will sufiice, ere a more 
 convenient opportunity throws itself in the way. Of 
 the Knights and tlieir Esquires, I shall afterwards 
 speak largely; but were it not intruding too mucli 
 upon your time and patience, I would bring to your 
 recollection a few of the noble feats performed by those 
 doughty heroes whose names grace the pages of ancient 
 heraldry, and shine in the heartfelt effusions of the 
 Poets’ lines, such as “The History of Sir Egeir, Sir 
 Gryme, and Sir Gray Steill.” In this most amusing 
 Scottish Tale, you will perhaps remember one of your 
 favourites. Sir Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie, who, 
 with. William, first earl of Gowrie, and Alexander, 
 sixth earl of Eglinton, severally obtained the name of 
 Gray Steill, for their valour and intrepidity. 
 
18 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURIfAMENT, 
 
 Of the noble family of Eglinton, I shall give at 
 present but a brief account, suffice it to say, that in 
 1503 your illustrious father James IV. created the 
 first Earl of Eglinton. lie was of French extraction, 
 and descended from Roger de Montgomery, the son 
 of Hugh de Montgomery, knight, a near relation to 
 William, duke of Normandy, and was one of those 
 nobles who, in the year 1066, accompanied him into 
 England ; and, commanding the body of his army 
 at the memorable battle of Hastings, where King 
 Harold was slain, for that signal service the Duke 
 bestowed on him very large gifts, as the territory and 
 honour of Arundel, with the Earldom of Salisbury, 
 in which city he founded the Abbey of St. Peter, 
 and there died. His son Philip, ' in the reign of 
 king Henry I. coming to Scotland, got a fair inherit- 
 ance in the shire of Renfrew, and from him descended 
 Sir John Montgomery of Eaglesham; who, in 1388, 
 being at the battle of Otterburn, took prisoner, with 
 his own hand. Sir Henry Piercy, son to the earl of 
 Northumberland; and for his ransom obliged him to 
 build the Castle of Punoon, the chief messuage of the 
 lordship of Eaglesham. And, in that old and beau- 
 tiful ballad of (fiievy-Chace, we find it recorded, that 
 
 A knight among the Scots there was, 
 
 Who saw Earl Douglas die, 
 
 Who straight in wrath did vow revenge 
 Upon the Earl Piercy. 
 
 Sir Hugh Montgomery he was call’d. 
 
 Who with a spear full bright, 
 
 Well mounted on a gallant steed. 
 
 Rode fiercely through the fight. 
 
 He past the English archers all. 
 
 Without e’er dread or fear. 
 
 And through Earl Piercy’ s body there, 
 lie thrust his hateful spear. 
 
 With such a vehement force and miglit 
 He did his body gore; 
 
 The spear went through the other side 
 A long cloth yard and more. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 10 
 
 He afterwards married the daughter and heir of Sir 
 Hugh Eglinton of that ilk, (by Giles his wife, daughter 
 to Walter, Lord High Steward of Scotland, and sister 
 to King Robert II.,) and with her having the Baronies 
 of Eglinton and Ardrossan, in the county of Cun- 
 ningham, the family from thence quarter the arms 
 of Eglinton. 
 
 Such is the origin of tliis highly distinguished fa- 
 mily ; for me to say more would be but an unneces- 
 sary waste of time ; tlie rest being so well known to 
 all those who take an interest in the peerage of our 
 country. Let me, however, add, that greatness of 
 rank and military glory alone, are not the only cha- 
 racteristic features in its history, several of the heads 
 have signalized themselves by their attachment to the 
 cause, and support of, religion and literature. In the 
 persecution of 1622, when the Rev. Mr. David Dick- 
 son, minister of Irvine, was banished for doing the 
 service of his Divine Master, the Earl of Eglinton, 
 (Grey Steill,) was the means of getting him returned 
 to his flock without any condition whatever. His 
 wife also, Anne, Countess of Eglinton, daughter to 
 Alexander, Earl of Linlithgow, was an humble and 
 eminent Christian, and exerted all her influence for 
 the promotion of the interests of religion. Eglinton 
 Castle being often a shelter for the persecuted minis- 
 ters of the Gospel, she took a deep and lively interest 
 ill the revival at Stewarton, and persuaded her noble 
 husband to give up for a few days the sports of the 
 field, to converse with some of the people slie had in- 
 vited to the Castle for that purpose. His Lordship 
 declared, after conferring with them, “ that he never 
 spoke with the Uke of them, and wondered at tlie 
 wisdom they manifested in their conversation.” 
 
 It is also well known to the readers of Ramsay and 
 Burns, two of our esteemed Scottish poets, the pa- 
 tronage they met with from two of tliis family. Tim 
 
20 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 “ Gentle Shepherd,” one of the best pastoral comedies 
 the world ever saw, was dedicated to Susannah, 
 Comitess of Eglinton, and daughter to Sir Archibald 
 Kennedy of Cobzean, baronet, whose attention to the 
 author was very great, but not. misplaced ; the subject 
 deserved her best respects, and she gave it them ; 
 and lier name, along with it, now stands engraved on 
 the immortal Temple of Fame. 
 
 “ Thrice happy ! who succeed their mother’s praise, 
 
 Tlie lovely Eglintons of other days.” 
 
 Burns was also sensible of the high honour bestowed 
 upon him by Archibald, eleventh Earl of Eglinton, 
 as the spirited and manly letter of the grateful bard, 
 dated Edinburgh, 1787, can testify. 
 
 Of the present noble Earl, Archibald- WilUamy I 
 will speak but sparingly ; suffice it to say, that he was 
 born in 1812, and is now in the twenty-seventh year 
 of his age. Long may he enjoy the titles, honours, 
 and noble-mindedness of liis worthy ancestors, and be 
 enabled to add another laurel to the family escutcheon; 
 but, above all tilings, may he live the life, and his 
 conduct always be that of, a Gentleman. 
 
 Having tlius far communicated unto you, agreeably 
 to your desire, a brief but circumstantial account of 
 ancient TournamentSy Jousts, and TiltingSy with a 
 biographical sketch of the origin and rise of tlio noble 
 family of Eglinton, I shall next proceed to detail 
 unto you the particidars of the Tournament which 
 commenced at the beautiful demesne of the generous 
 and gallant Earl of Eglinton, on Wednesday, the 28th 
 of August, 1839, as taken down and Reported by the 
 gentlemen of the Press, who were there in droves 
 from all quarters of the globe, for the pm’pose of 
 witnessing, and wafting its fame from pole to pole, 
 and handing its glory and unrivalled brilliancy down 
 to ages yet unborn. 
 
 The proceedings of the day opened with the mar- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 21 
 
 Siialling of tlio Grand Procession, wliicli took place 
 about ono o’clock, when the immense body, accom- 
 panied bj spirit-stirring music from tho Bands of the 
 1st or Queen’s Dragoon Guards, and of tlie 78th, that 
 awakened echoes new to the sylvan solitude around, 
 having a very grand and imposing effect, moved by a 
 circuitous route, staked off by wooden palings, through 
 the policies, across the bridge north of tho Castle, and, 
 circling it, arrived at the Lists. 
 
 The Procession from the Castle was marshalled in 
 the following order : — 
 
 The horses of the knights and esquires, under care 
 of the grooms, &c., were arranged on the right of the 
 grand entrance; and the retainers and men-at-arms 
 on the left, according to their priority in the proces- 
 sion. A chamberlain and a trumpeter were on each 
 side of the door. A deputy-marshal, with the senes- 
 chal, were situated in the outer hall. A chamberlain 
 was placed at the door of the inner hall or vestibule, 
 and at each of the three doors leading from the vesti- 
 bule into the three principal reception rooms. 
 
 The knights, esquires, and the principal personages 
 forming part of the procession, assembled in the three 
 above named rooms, and were arranged in their order 
 of joining the procession by the deputy-marshals and 
 pursuivants. The deputy-master called from his roll 
 the name of the first person to head the procession — 
 the chamberlain at the outer door ordered Ids horses, 
 retinue, &c. to advance — tlie chamberlain stationed 
 at the inner door summoned the personage so named 
 to take his place in the procession. This done, tho 
 party rode up the line of route to a given point, so as 
 to allow a space for the marshalling of the whole caval- 
 cade — this order was continued until the whole were 
 mounted and marshalled, which being proclaimed by 
 the chamberlains and trumpet at the entrance, tho 
 procession proceeded cn route to the lists, to the 
 
22 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 sound of warlike music and blasts of tbo trumpet* 
 The line of march was kept bj mounted men-at-arms 
 at regular distances, assisted bj the retainers and 
 halberdiers (on foot) of the Lord of tlie Tournament. 
 On arriving at the lists, the procession entered at the ‘ 
 principal gate ; and, after making the half circuit, the 
 King of the Tournament, the judges of the field, &c. 
 with their attendant knights and esquires, were dis- 
 mounted and marshalled to their appointed seats in 
 the Gothic gallery. The King, Queen, &c., having 
 assumed their thrones, (to which she was conveyed 
 in a coach and four) a prolonged flourish of the trump- 
 ets summoned the knights and esquires to pay their 
 devoirs to the Queen of Beauty : and the whole riding 
 again round, received fix)m their ladies the favours, 
 gloves, scarfs, &c., to be worn in their helmets during 
 the Tourney. Another blast of trumpets gave notice 
 to the knights to retire to their separate pavilions, to 
 complete their arming, and await the summons of 
 the herald and his trumpeters. The knights rode 
 from their pavilions, completely armed, after being 
 assisted to their chargers by their esquires, and took 
 their stations on the ground appointed to them : 
 when, the trumpets having again sounded, the herald 
 of the Tourney gave notice that they were ready to 
 do their devoir against any knight who might demand 
 the combat. On this the knight elected to run the 
 first course against the challengers left his tent, armed 
 at all points, and, riding up to the gallery, demanded 
 permission to make his assay, which was granted. 
 At the cry of “ Laisser les allez,” the trumpets sound- 
 ed the charge, and the knights ran the appointed 
 courses. 
 
 The following is the order in which tlie Procession 
 reached the ground, taken from the Ofiicial Pro- 
 gramme, the only digression from which was the cir- 
 cumstance of the “ Queen of Beauty,” and her 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 23 
 
 attendants being conveyed to the ground in carriages, 
 owing to the wetness of the weather : — 
 
 Behold the noble youths, of form divine, 
 
 Upon the plain advancing in a line ; 
 
 The riders grace the steeds, the steeds with glory shine. 
 
 Men at Arms, 
 
 111 demi-suits of armour and costumes. 
 M^isicians, 
 
 In rich costumes of silk — their horses trapped 
 and caparisoned. 
 
 Trumpeters, 
 
 In full costumes — the trumpet and banner emblazoned 
 with the arms of the Lord of the Tournament. 
 Banner-Bearers of the Lord of the Tournament. 
 Two Deputy- Marshals, 
 
 In costumes, on horses caparisoned. 
 Attendants on foot. 
 
 The EgUnton Herald, 
 
 In a tabard, richly embroidered. 
 
 Two Pursuivants, 
 
 In emblazoned surcoats. 
 
 The Judge of Peace, 
 
 Lord Saltoun, 
 
 In his robes, and bearing a wand, on a horse 
 richly caparisoned. ^ 
 
 Retainers, 
 
 On foot, in costumes, carrying heavy steel battle-axes. 
 Officer of the Halberdiers, 
 
 On horseback, in a suit of demi-armour, 
 with a gilt parti zan. 
 
 Halberdiers, 
 
 On foot, in liveries of the Lord carrying their halberds 
 Men at Arms, 
 
 In demi-suits of armour. 
 
24 
 
 THE EGLIJJTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 The Herald of the Tournament, 
 
 In his tabard, riclilj emblazoned with 
 emblematical devices. 
 
 The Knight Marshal of the Lists, 
 
 Sir Charles Lamb, Bart., 
 
 Groom. In a rich embroidered surcoat, and Groom, 
 embossed and gilt suit of armour, 
 his horse richly caparisoned, &c. 
 
 Esquire, Esquire, 
 
 Lord Chelsea. Major M‘Dowall. 
 
 Attendants of the Knight Marshal, 
 
 In costumes of liis colours, blue, white, and gold. 
 Halberdiers of the Knight Marshal, 
 
 In liveries of his colours, with their halberds. 
 Ladies Visitors, 
 
 Lady Montgomery, Lady Jane Montgomery, 
 Miss Macdonald, 
 
 On horses, caparisoned with blue and white silk, 
 embroidered with gold and silver, each 
 led by a groom in costume 
 of their colours. 
 
 The King of the Tournament, 
 
 Marquis of Londonderry, 
 
 Halberdier, in his robes of velvet and Halberdier, 
 ermine, and wearing his 
 coronet — his horse richly 
 caparisoned. 
 
 Esquire, Esquire, 
 
 Colonel Wood. II. Irvine, Esq. 
 
 Halberdiers. 
 
 In liveries, as before. 
 
 The Queen of Beauty, 
 
 Groom. Lady Seymour, Groom. 
 
 In a rich costume, on a horse richly 
 caparisoned — a silk canopy borne 
 over her l)y attendants in 
 costumes. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 25 
 
 Ladies Attendants on the Queen, 
 In rich costumes. 
 
 Pages of the Queen, 
 
 In costumes of her colours. 
 
 Esquire, Esquire, 
 
 F. Charteris, Esq. 
 
 The Jester, 
 
 In a characteristic costume, bearing his sceptre, 
 on a mule, caparisoned and trapped, 
 with bells, &c. 
 
 Retainers, 
 
 On foot, in liveries of tlie 
 colours of the Lord of the Tournament. 
 
 The Irvine Archers, 
 
 In costumes of Lincoln Green, Black Velvet Baldric, 
 Rondelle, &c. 
 
 Claude Alexander, Esq. 
 
 Lord Kelburne. 
 
 Sir Robert Dallas. 
 Captain Blair. 
 Stuart Haj, Esq. 
 J. Brownlow, Esq. 
 — Hamilton, Esq. 
 Captain Blane. 
 
 A. Cunningham, Esq. 
 C. S. Buchanan, Esq. 
 Sir A. Hamilton. 
 Capt. Montgomerie. 
 J. Burnett, Esq. 
 
 Hon. J, Strangways. 
 George Rankin, Esq. 
 
 Retainers of the Lord of the Tournament. 
 
 Halberdiers of the Lord, in liveries of his colours. 
 Man at Arms, The Gonfalon, Man at Arms, 
 in half-armour. borne by a Man in half-armour, 
 at Arms. 
 
 The Lord of the Tournament, 
 
 Earl of Eglinton, 
 
 Groom. In a suit of gilt armom*, richly Groom, 
 chased ; on a barbed charger — caparisons, 
 
 <fcc. of blue and gold. 
 
 B 
 
2G THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 The Banner, 
 
 borne bj Lord A. Seymour. 
 
 Esquire, Esquire, Esquire, 
 
 G. Dundas. F. Cavendish, Esq. G. M‘Doual, Esq. 
 Retainers of the Lord, as before. 
 Ilalherdiers of the Knight of the Griffin, 
 
 In liveries of his colours. 
 
 Man at Arms, The Gonfalon, Man at Arms, 
 in half-armour. borne by a Man in half-armour, 
 at Arms. 
 
 The Knight of the Griffin, 
 
 The Earl of Craven, 
 
 Groom. In a suit of engraved Milanese Groom, 
 armour, inlaid with gold ; 
 on a barbed charger — caparisons, &c. 
 of scarlet, wliite, and gold. 
 
 Esquire, The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 The Hon. borne by a Man at The Hon. 
 
 F. Craven. Arms, F. Macdonald, 
 
 in half-armour. 
 
 Retainers. 
 
 Ilalherdiers of the Knight of the Dragon, 
 
 In liveries of his colours. 
 
 Man at Arms, The Gonfalon, Man at Arms, 
 in half-armour. borne by a Man in half-armour, 
 at Arms. 
 
 Knight of the Dragon, 
 black and white, 
 
 in full suit of German fluted armour, 
 of the period of Richard II., 
 white barb steed, 
 caparison. 
 
 Marquis of Waterford, 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 27 
 
 Headed by Mr. Mandeville as a friar, 
 in brown russet, cross, beads, 
 book, bell, and candle. 
 
 Esquires, 
 
 Lord John Beresford, Lord William Beresford, 
 Lord Maidstone, Count Lewis Ricardo, 
 
 Sir Charles Kent, Bart., Captain Lumley, 
 Mark Wliite, and C. Knight, Esqs. 
 
 Lord Viscount Ingestrie, as Turkish Doctor. 
 Halbercficrs of the Knight of the Black Lion. 
 
 Man at Arms, The Gonfalon, Man at Arms, 
 in half armour. borne by a Man in half-armour, 
 at Arms. 
 
 The Knight of the Black Lion^ 
 
 Viscount Alford, 
 in a suit of polished steel armour. 
 
 Groom, on a charger — caparisons of blue Groom, 
 and white. 
 
 Esquire, The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 The Hon. Mr. borne by a Man T. 0. Gascoigne, 
 Cust. at Arms. Esq. 
 
 Retainers. 
 
 Halberdiers of the Knight of Gael. 
 
 Man at Arms, The Gonfalon, Man at Arms, 
 in half-armour. borne by a Man in half-armour, 
 at Arms. 
 
 The Knight of Gael, 
 
 Viscount Glenlyon. 
 
 In a suit of polished steel armour. 
 
 Groom, on a barbed charger — caparisons. Groom. 
 &c. of green, blue, and crimson. 
 
 Esquire, The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 Sir D. Dundas. borne by a Man J. Balfour, Esq. 
 at Arms. 
 
 Retainers. 
 
28 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 Retainers of the Knight of the Dolphin. 
 
 Man at Arras, The Gonfalon, Man at Ai-ras, 
 
 in lialf-arraour. borne bj a Man in half-armour, 
 
 at Arms. 
 
 The Knight of the Dolphin, 
 
 The Earl of Cassillis, 
 
 Grooni. In a suit of engraved steel armour. Groom. 
 
 \ inlaid with gold, on a barbed 
 ^ charger — caparisons, &c. of 
 
 scarlet, black, and white. « 
 
 Esquire.' " Esquire. 
 
 ' The Knight of the Crane, 
 
 . . Lord Cranstoun. 
 
 In a suit of polislied steel armour, 
 on a barbed charger — capari- 
 sons, &c. of red and white. 
 
 Esquire. The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 borne bj a Man at Aimis. 
 
 Retainers of the Knight of the Ram. 
 
 The Gonfalon, 
 borne bj a Man at Arms. 
 
 The Knight of the Ram, 
 
 The Hon. Captain Gage, 
 
 Groom. In a suit of polished steel armour. Groom, 
 on a barbed charger — caparisons, 
 
 &c. of blue, white, and crimson. 
 
 Esquire, The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 R. Murray, Esq. borne by a Man J. Ferguson, Esq. 
 at Arms. 
 
 Halberdiers of the BlacJc Knight. 
 
 Man at Arms, The Gonfalon, Man at Arms, 
 ill half armour. borne by a Alan in half- armour, 
 
 at Arms. 
 
 [ 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 20 
 
 The Black Knight, 
 
 Mr. J. Little Gilmour, 
 without Esquires or Retainers, and with no 
 device upon his shield, clothed in a suit 
 of black armour, and mounted on 
 a superb black horse, ricldy 
 caparisoned. 
 
 The Knight of the Swan, 
 
 Ilonom’able Mr. Jerningham. 
 
 Groom. In a suit of polished steel armour. Groom, 
 on a barbed charger — caparisons, 
 
 &c. of crimson and white. 
 
 Esquire, The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 Capt. Stephenson, borne bj a Garden Campbell, 
 Man at Arms. Esq. 
 
 Retainers of the Knight of the Golden Lion, in 
 liveries of his colours. 
 
 Halberdiers, 
 
 in emblazoned costumes, bearing their halberds. 
 Man at Arms, The Gonfalon, Man at Arms, 
 in half-armour. borne by a Man in half-armour, 
 at Arms. 
 
 The Knight of the Golden Lion, 
 
 Captain J. 0. Fairlie, 
 
 Groom. In a suit of richly gilt and embla- Groom, 
 zoned armour ; caparisons, &c. of 
 blue and crimson. 
 
 Page. The Banner, Page. 
 
 borne by Cox, Esq. 
 
 Esquire, Esquire, Esquire. 
 
 II. Wilson, Esq. Captain Purves. Captain Pettat. 
 Halberdiers as before. — Retainers, &c. 
 Retainers of the Knight of the White Rose. 
 
 B 2 
 
30 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 Body Guard of The Gonfalon, Body Guard of 
 Bowmen, in borne by a Man Bowmen, in 
 Ancient Cos- at Arms. Ancient Cos- 
 tume. tume. 
 
 The Knight of the White Eose, 
 
 Charles Lamb, Esq. 
 
 Groom. In a suit of polished steel armour ; Groom, 
 on a barbed charger — caparisons, 
 
 &c., of blue and gold lozenge. 
 
 Esquire, The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 J. Gordon, Esq. borne by a R. Crawiiird, Esq. 
 Man at Arms. 
 
 Retainers. 
 
 The Knight of the Stages Head, 
 
 Captain Beresford, 
 
 Groom. In a suit of polished steel armour ; Groom, 
 on a barbed charger — capari- 
 sons, &c., white and black. 
 
 Esquire, The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 Lord Maidstone, borne by a Man — Lumley, Esq. 
 at Arms. 
 
 The Knight of the Border, 
 
 Sir E. Johnstone, 
 
 Groom. In a suit of polished steel armour ; Groom, 
 on a horse — caparisons, Ac., 
 white and gold. 
 
 Esquire, The Banner, Esquire. 
 
 Lord Drumlanrig, borne by a Man 
 at Arms. 
 
 The Knight of the Burning Tower, 
 
 Sir F. Hopkins, 
 
 Groom. In a suit of polished steel armour ; Groom, 
 on a charger — caparisons, Ac., 
 black and gold. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 31 
 
 Esquire. The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 borne bj a Man at Arms. 
 
 Retainers of the Knight of the Red Rose. 
 
 The Gonfalon, 
 borne by a Man at Aimis. 
 
 The Knight of the Bed Bose, 
 
 R. J. Leciimere, Esq., 
 
 Groom. In a suit of fluted German armour ; Groom, 
 on a barbed charger — caparisons, 
 
 &c., scarlet and white. 
 
 Esquire, The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 Cony, borne by Corbet Smith, R. Horlock, 
 
 Esq. Esq. Esq. 
 
 Retainers of the Knight of the Lion’s Paw. 
 
 The Gonfalon, 
 borne by a Man at Arms. 
 
 The Knight of the Lions Paw, 
 
 Cecil Boothby, Esq. 
 
 Groom. In a suit of polished steel armour ; Groom, 
 on a barbed horse — caparisons, 
 
 &c., blue and crimson, 
 
 Esquire. The Banner, Esquire, 
 
 borne by a Man at Arms. 
 
 The Knights Visitors, 
 in Ancient Costumes. 
 
 Swordsmen, 
 
 in characteristic costumes, on foot, each bearing 
 a two-handed sword on his right shoulder. 
 Bowmen, 
 
 with their hoods and bows. 
 
 The Seneschal of the Castle, 
 in his costume of ofiice, and bearing his wand. 
 
THE EGLINTON TOUUNAMEN'T, 
 
 Two Deputy-Marsiuls, 
 ill costumes; on horseback, as before. 
 Attendants of the Deputy-Marshals,, 
 Chamberlains of the Household, 
 in costumes of office, each bearing liis key. 
 Servitors of the Castle, 
 on foot. 
 
 Men at Arms, 
 
 as before. 
 
 Thus marcliing on in military pride, 
 
 Shouts of applause resound from side to side. 
 
 Their casques adorned with laurel ^Treaths they wear. 
 
 Each brandishing aloft a Cornel spear : 
 
 Some at their backs their gilded quivers bore. 
 
 Their chains of burnish’d gold hung down before. 
 
 Three graceful troops they form’d upon the green ; 
 
 Tluree graceful leaders at their head were seen ; 
 
 Twelve followed every chief, and left a space between. 
 
 Tlien, at the appointed sign, 
 
 Drau-n up in beauteous order form a line : 
 
 Tlie second signal sounds, the troop divides 
 
 In three distinguish’d parts, with three distinguished guides 
 
 Again they close, and once again disjoin, 
 
 In troop to troop oppos’d, and line to line ; 
 
 They meet, tliey wheel, they throw their darts afar 
 With harnJess rage, and well-dissembled war. 
 
 Then in a round the mingled bodies run : 
 
 Flying they follow, and pursuing shun. 
 
 Broken they break, and rallying they renew 
 In otlier forms tlie military sliow. 
 
 At last, in order, undiscem’d they join. 
 
 And march togetlier in a friendly line ; 
 
 And as the Cbktan labyrinth of old, 
 
 With wand ring wave, and many a winding fold. 
 
 Involved the weary feet, without redress. 
 
 In a round error, which denied recess ; 
 
 So fought tlie Tkojan boys in wsirlike play. 
 
 Turn’d and return’d, and still a different way. 
 
 The knights in battle doubling blow on blow ; 
 
 Like light’ning flamed their falchions to and fro, 
 
 And shot a dreadful gleam : so strong they struck. 
 
 There seem’d less force required to fell an oak. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 The Lists were erected in a beautiful level field, 
 which geutlj slopes on either side, towards siumnits 
 surmounted with umbrageous trees. The area en- 
 closed for the Lists contained about three acres of 
 ground, being six hundred and fifty feet long, by two 
 hundred and fifty feet broad. Down the centre the 
 barrier extended to the length of three hundred yards, 
 being five and a half feet high ; for twenty-five feet 
 immediately around the barrier the soil was covered 
 with sawdust five inches deep. The Lists were sur- 
 rounded by strong pallisades of wood five feet higli. 
 The eastern side was occupied by three galleries; the 
 opposite side open, and the view from the brow of the 
 rising ground was thus left unobstructed. The ends 
 of the lists were appropriated to the tents and i)avilions 
 of the knights. At the south end of the lists, on either 
 side of the entrance, stood the tent and pavilions of the 
 earl of Eglinton, azure and or. Immediately on the 
 right stood the pavilion of lord G. Eeresford, sable and 
 argent; also on the south side of the lists, and on the 
 other side of lord Eglinton’s encampment stood the pa- 
 vilion of Mr. Jerningham, gides and argent. Lord Glen- 
 lyon’s tent and pavilions, azure, gules, and vert, were 
 erected on the east side of the lists, immediately beside 
 lord G. Beresford’s ; and Mr. Lechmere’s appeared next 
 in order, with the pavilion of the Black Knight, sable, 
 on the right. At tlie northern end of the lists, earl 
 Craven’s tent and pavilions, gules and argent, occu- 
 pied the centre, with capt. Fairlie’s, gules and azui’e ; 
 Mr. Lamb’s, azure and or lozenge, over argent ; the 
 earl of Cassillis, captain Gage’s, and Sir F. Hopkins’, 
 argent, extending towards the east ; and with viscount 
 Alford’s, azure and argent; and the marquis of Wa- 
 terford’s, argent and sable, towards the west. Of the 
 galleries with which the eastern side of the lists was 
 occupied, the central one was fitted up with great mag- 
 nificence, and built in the Gothic style of architecture. 
 
54 
 
 THE EOLIXTOxV TOURNAMENT, 
 
 The throne for the queen of Beauty formed a part of 
 the grand gallery, which at this point slightly jutting 
 out, at once catched the eye, not less from its pro- 
 minence than from the elaborate carved work overlaid 
 with gold, which surmounted this regal seat, and from 
 the drapery of crimson damask with which it was hung. 
 The smaller galleries were also richly ornamented. 
 The grand gallery accommodated eight hundred per- 
 sons, and in the lower part of it seats were provided 
 for the Eglinton tenantry ; while the galleries by which 
 it was flanked held six hundred each. 
 
 Up till one o’clock, the hour the procession was 
 expected on the gi'ound, the sun shone brightly, the 
 sky was beautifully serene, and the pavilion and tents 
 being then filled, never before did we behold a spec- 
 tacle more varied, gorgeous, and imposing. Enthroned 
 in front of the centre of the grand paviHon sat Lady 
 Seymour, the elected queen of Beauty and Love, and 
 the supreme judge of the Touniament, whose duty it 
 was to crown the knights with laurels who should bear 
 themselves best in the sports of the day — 
 
 “ And, as in beauty she surpassed the choir, 
 
 So nobler than the rest was her attire— 
 
 A crown of ruddy gold enclosed her brow, 
 riaiu without pomp, and rich without a show.” 
 
 The queen of the festivities wore a rich antique 
 dress, and was attended by her maids of honour and 
 body guard of ladies, equipped as archers, in elegant 
 and appropriate costume. The pavilion which was 
 ornamented with Gothic architecture, and tastefully 
 liuiig with drapery studded with cloth of gold, was 
 crowded with a dazzling display of the beauty, rank, 
 and wealth of the kingdom, whose splendid and costly 
 attire, (amongst which the crimson and black velvet 
 cape, edged with gold, was very effective,) was w^ell 
 relieved by the plainer, though not less varied, cost- 
 umes of the spectators in the stands on eithei; side. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 35 
 
 The interval which elapsed betwixt the filling of the 
 pavilions and stands, and the arrival of the procession, 
 allowed the spectators ample time to feast the eye on 
 the magnificent spectacle before it. But the elements 
 now began to threaten ; and, to the bitter disappoint- 
 ment of the vast multitude, the procession was ushered 
 into the arena, at a quarter to four o’clock, p.m. amidst 
 a heavy shower of rain, which lessened the grandeur 
 of the sight, as the stands and ground outside pre- 
 sented an unbroken surface of umbrellas, wliile the 
 “ Queen of Beauty” and her fair attendants formed no 
 part of the cavalcade, but were carried to the pavilion 
 in their equipages. Truly it was most lamentable to 
 see so much costly splendour in a few minutes lose 
 its most attractive features, and such a host of peo- 
 ple, thousands from the lightness of their dress but ill 
 prepared for such inclement weather, exposed to the 
 pelting of the pitiless storm. In about a quarter of 
 an hour the rain abated, and showed to advantage, in 
 the arena, noble knights, with their plumage waving, 
 glistening helmets, suits of bright armour, and gallant 
 steeds in rich trappings, impatient for the onset: — 
 
 “ Knights, with a long retinue of their squii'es. 
 
 In gaudy liveries march’d, and quaint attires; 
 
 One laced the helm— another held the lance-- 
 A third the shining buckler did advance ; 
 
 The courser pawed the ground with restless feet, 
 
 And snorting foam’d and champ’d the burnish’d bit, 
 
 The yeomen guard the lists in seemly bands. 
 
 And clovras came crowding on, with cudgels in their hands.” 
 
 The armour worn by some of these chevaliers was 
 of a very splendid description, and the caparisons of 
 the horses equally so. The earl of Eglinton wore a 
 costly and beautiful suit of brass armour. The crest 
 which surmounted his helmet contained a plume of 
 blue and yellow feathers. His horse was richly capari- 
 soned with blue satin and cloth of gold. The most 
 splendid specimen of ancient armour, worn on this 
 
3G THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 occasion, was considered to be that from the armoury 
 of the baronial hall of Hylton Castle, near Sunderland, 
 worn by the right hon. earl of Craven. The suit 
 was made of pure Milan steel, burnished blue, decor- 
 ated with gold studs or rivets, curiously inlaid with 
 the same costly metal, and exquisitely wrought in 
 arabesque. The casque or helmet alone weighed 
 nearly 401bs., and the bars of the visor were of solid 
 gold. This armour was worn by the then Baron 
 Hylton at the victorious battle of Cressy. Some of 
 the heralds’ and pursuivants’ costumes were very 
 splendid. All the knights had golden stirrups and 
 spurs. There was an immense store of armour of all 
 sorts, pennons, lances, trappings, and all the details of 
 war of tlic middle ages. 
 
 The following were the rules observed at the tilting 
 ground: — 
 
 1. No knight can be permitted to ride without 
 ] laving on the whole of his tilting pieces. 
 
 2. No knight to ride more than six courses with the 
 same opponent. 
 
 3. It is expressly enjoined by the Earl of Eglinton, 
 and must be distinctly understood by each knight upon 
 engaging to run a course, that he is to strike his op- 
 ponent on no other part than the sliield, and that an 
 atteint made elsewhere (or the lance broken across) 
 will be adjudged foul, and advantage in former course 
 forfeited. 
 
 4. Lances of equal length, substance, and quality, 
 as far as can be seen, will be delivered to each knight, 
 and none others will be allowed. 
 
 Particular attention will be most earnestly request- 
 ed to be paid to this injunction, for the general good 
 and credit of the tournament. 
 
 N. B. — In default of the lances being splintered in 
 any course, the judge will decide for the atteint made 
 nearest to the centre of the shield. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 37 
 
 ACTIONS WORTHY OF HONOUR. 
 
 1. To break the most lances. 
 
 2. To break the lance in more places than one. 
 
 3. Not to' put the lance in rest until near jour op- 
 
 ponent. 
 
 4. To meet point to point of the lances. 
 
 5. To strike on the emblazonment of the shield. 
 
 G. To perfonn all the determined courses. 
 
 ACTIONS OF DISHONOUR. 
 
 1. To break the lance across the opponent. 
 
 2. To strike or hurt the horse. 
 
 3. To strike the saddle. 
 
 4. To drop the lance or sword. 
 
 5. To lose the management of the horse at the en- 
 
 counter. 
 
 6. To be unhorsed — the greatest dishonour. 
 
 7. All lances broken bj striking below the girdle 
 
 to be disallowed. 
 
 ACTIONS MOST WORTHY. 
 
 1. To break the lance in many pieces. 
 
 AT THE TOURNEY OR BARRIER. 
 
 1. Two blows to be given in passing, and ten at tlie 
 
 encounter. 
 
 The ground outside the pallisade was densely 
 crowded by spectators on foot, forming a mass of not 
 less than 80,000 persons, that filled up the spectacle 
 — the gaiety and grandeur of which, though impaired 
 by the rain, and the uncomfort it occasioned, was 
 heightened by the novelty with which it was naturally 
 invested, by the representation, in 1839, of the bygone 
 splendour and sports of the 14th and 15th centuries. 
 
 Of the galaxy of attractions pertaining to the chi- 
 valric stud, the most exquisite were four beautiful 
 steeds belonging to the lord of the Tournament, the 
 
 C 
 
38 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 fine breeding and faultless symmetry of which were 
 set off to great advantage by the richest trappings ; 
 while each carried on his head, perched on a proudly 
 arched neck, a plume of ostrich feathers that might 
 with eclat have graced Almack’s. 
 
 The knights commenced the tilting under every 
 disadvantage, the rain having thrown a damp over the 
 whole proceedings, and the concourse of people having 
 exercised the virtue of patience to a very great extent ; 
 indeed, when the heralds sounded the onset, the rain 
 was falling so heavily, that we believe all assembled 
 sympathized with the lord of the Tournament, know- 
 ing that he must have been sacrificing much considera- 
 tion for the comfort of his guests and himself, in pro- 
 ceeding with the amusements, evidently unwilling to 
 disappoint the multitude by sending them away before 
 witnessing a specimen of the deeds of chivalry. And 
 for this his lordship deserves the highest credit — his 
 manly bearing, and his determination to gratify the 
 public, as far as that was within the compass of his 
 ability, being observable to all, and frequently elicit- 
 ing rounds of applause from the spectators, as his lord- 
 :ship passed near them. 
 
 The Irvine archers, clad in Lincoln green, took 
 their station in a line in front of the grand gallery ; 
 and the sturdy followers of lord Glenlyon, to the 
 number of a hundred, all arrayed in the highland garb 
 of Athole tartan, remained on the opposite side of the 
 lists. The ground was kept by a party of the Ayr- 
 shire Yeomanry. 
 
 When the lord of the Tournament, the earl of 
 Eglinton, proceeded with head uncovered to pay his 
 devoirs to the queen of Beauty, shouts of applause 
 burst from every side ; and the woods re-echoed the 
 plaudits which were repeated, as he gracefully bowed 
 to the noble and fair occupants of the grand gallery. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 39 
 
 The lances of the knights, which were arranged in 
 conical form on stands at either end of the lists, were 
 about twice the length of the combatants, and were 
 headed with rochets, or round flat pieces of wood, as 
 “the arms of courtesy” were wont to be. It may also 
 be premised that, in tilting, the combatants first pro- 
 ceed to the opposite ends of the barrier, parallel with 
 which they are then to gallop, the one on the one side 
 and the other on the other, until meeting in mid ca- 
 reer, they do honour to themselves by breaking their 
 lance on the defensive armour of their adversary. 
 
 “The Knight of the Swan,” the hon. Mr. Jerning- 
 ham, was the first knight who appeared for the pur- 
 pose of tilting, lie was opposed by “the Knight of tlio 
 Golden Lion,” capt. G. 0. Fairlie. In the first course 
 they passed without touching, and the course was not 
 reckoned; the masque of iron on the horse of “the 
 Knight of the Swan” was loosened in the second; in 
 the third his horse swerved from the barrier; but in 
 the fourth “the Knight of the Swan” broke his lance 
 on the shield of his opponent. 
 
 The earl of Eglinton, lord of the Tournament, ap- 
 peared as challenger in the next tilt. He was clad in 
 a complete suit of gilded armour, which far outshone 
 in brilliancy the panoply of his compeers. His noble 
 mien and magnificent appearance, the beauty of his 
 charger, and his skill in the management of the animal, 
 drew down' the repeated acclamations of the multitude. 
 Nor was his opponent, “tlie Knight of the Dragon,” tho^ 
 marquis of Waterford, observed with less interest by 
 those who could identify him by his device. From tho 
 opposite end of the barrier, the distinguished knights 
 each attended by a squire, ruslied on to the combat. 
 The knight of the Griffin, plunging his rowels into the 
 sides of his horse, impetuously urging to its utmost 
 speed the noble animal, over whicli he had complete 
 mastery, while the lord of the Tournament advance<l 
 
40 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 in stately pride, but yet with scarcely less velocity, 
 on his well managed charger, till they met in the mid- 
 dle of their career. The lord of the Tournament 
 shivered liis lance on the shield of liis opponent, which 
 rang with the stroke, and the victor was saluted by 
 the greetings of his squires and the enthusiastic accla- 
 mations of the spectators, gratified with the skill dis- 
 played in the encounter. In the second course both 
 knights missed, but, in the third, the noble earl again 
 broke his lance on the armour of his opponent. After 
 another burst of applause, the noble earl, amidst con- 
 tinued shouts and the martial music of the band, rode 
 up to the grand gallery and paid liis devoirs to the 
 queen of Beauty. 
 
 The next challenger was “tlie Knight of the Burn- 
 ing Tower,” Sir Francis Hopkins, who was opposed 
 by “the Knight of the Red Rose,” A. J. Lechmere, 
 esq. In the first course, the former hit his adversary ; 
 in the second, the lance of “the Knight of the Burn- 
 ing Tower” was shivered, and thrown liigh in the air, 
 and the top of the other combatant’s lance was also 
 broken. In the third, “ the Knight of tlie Burning 
 Tower” broke his lance on the casket of “ the Knight 
 of the Red Rose ;” and a burst of acclamation rent 
 the air in honour of the knight who had so gallantly 
 borne himself in the rencontre, which was not less 
 skilfully conducted than that of the preceding com- 
 batants. When sir F. Hopkins had paid his devoirs 
 >to the queen of Beauty, “ the Knight of the Black 
 Lion,” viscount Alford, and “ the Knight of Gael,” 
 viscount Glenlyon, proceeded to the extremities of the 
 barrier. In the first course both knights missed ; in 
 the second, “the Knight of the Black Lyon” struck 
 “the Knight of Gael’s” lance; and in the third course 
 “the Knight of the Black Lion” broke his lance 
 against the armour of Iiis opponent. 
 
 Immediately .in front of the queen of ^Beauty’s 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 41 
 
 throne, a combat with two-handed swords was then 
 fought by Mr. M‘Kay and Mr. Redbury. The lists 
 rang with the dint on the armour in wliich the com- 
 batants were sheathed, and the ponderous weapons 
 were wielded with remarkable skill and dexterity. 
 
 “ Tlie Knight of the Dolphin,” the earl of Cassillis, 
 and “the Knight of the Black Lyon,” viscount Alford, 
 were next opposed. In the first encounter their lances 
 crossed without breaking; in the second, the knight 
 of the Dolpliin broke his lance on the armour of his 
 adversary ; and in the last, the lances crossed, and the 
 knight of the Dolpliin’s was broken. 
 
 As the rain, which had been falling heavy at inter- 
 vals, threatened now (6 p.m.) to be permanent, the 
 lord of the Tournament, much to the satisfaction of 
 all present, brought the proceedings to a close, by 
 ordering the procession again to form in line. In the 
 meantime, the spectators were very highly interested 
 by a spirited single combat with the broad sword, or 
 rather “Andrew Ferrara,” which was admirably sus- 
 tained, eliciting loud bursts of applause from all parts 
 of the arena. The trumpets sounded a retreat, the 
 band played “ God save the Queen,” and the proces- 
 sion returned to the castle in the order in which it 
 came. On leaving the lists, the earl of Eglinton was 
 repeatedly cheered by the assemblage. The signal 
 for dispersion having thus been given, the multitude, 
 that morning so gaily apparelled, returned in such a 
 plight as might beseem the train of the “Knight of the 
 Rueful Countenance.” The light and fantastic cos- 
 tumes were completely soaked, the representatives of 
 the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries marched home- 
 wards under the cover of unromantic modern um- 
 brellas; men and women, horses, coaches, and omni- 
 buses, hurried helter-skelter through the avenues, now 
 trodden and drenched into mire; and the railway 
 station was l)esieged by a host of applicants for seats 
 
42 
 
 ■ > 
 
 THE EGLINTOX TOUIlXAMEXT, 
 
 to Ayr, from six o’clock till twelve, many of them 
 being compelled to wait at the place for four or five 
 hours before tickets could be secured. Every house 
 and hostelry was crowded with cold and hungry 
 swarms; and many, it is even stated, could not pro- 
 cure shelter, while others in parties lay on floors in 
 their daily dress. But notwithstanding all the dis- 
 advantages of the day, none who were present at the 
 most remarkable spectacle which modern eyes have 
 witnessed, can regret the hours spent amidst the 
 woods of Eglinton, in gazing on the achievements of 
 the gallant knights of the nineteenth century. Indeed, 
 hundreds were heard to say, that notwithstanding 
 the inclemency of the weather, they had been de- 
 lighted far beyond their anticipations, by the grandeur 
 of the spectacle; and that, for the sight of another 
 such magnificent exhibition of chivalry, in favourable 
 weather, they would cheerfully double the “lang 
 Scotch miles” between them and their homes. 
 
 Not a single incident occurred on the grounds 
 around the arena worthy of notice ; the people were 
 orderly and well-disposed, and we did not hear of the 
 slightest accident. 
 
 After the Tournament, lord Eglinton intended to 
 have entertained a large and distinguished company 
 at dinner ; and a splendid fancy ball was to have taken 
 place in the evening, in a pavilion behind the castle, 
 fitted up for the occasion, 375 feet in length, by 45 
 broad, calculated to hold 2000. This spacious build- 
 ing, which is close to, and communicates with the 
 castle, affords abundance of space for a dining-room 
 at the end, a ball-room at the other, and a saloon in 
 the centre. In consequence, however, of the rain 
 liaving found its way through the temporary edifice, 
 his lordship intimated to his guests, that he must for 
 the present postpone these public entertainments; 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 43 
 
 which anuouncement was hailed with plaudits of sa- 
 tisfaction from all present. 
 
 The following are a few of the names of the com- 
 pany residing in the castle, and of the nobility and 
 gentry who were to have attended the ball, or had 
 seats in the grand pavilion : — 
 
 Duke and duchess of Montrose, marquis and mar- 
 chioness of Londonderry and daughter, lord Sealiam, 
 lady Frances Vane, prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte 
 and a French count, lady Rendelsham and daughter, 
 the marquis of Waterford, lord and lady Seymour, 
 carl of Charleville, lord Kelburne, viscount Maid- 
 stone, lady Glenlyon, the Misses Murray, and lord 
 Glenlyon, Mr. and Mrs. Grant, sir Francis Head, 
 sir George Head, Mr. Dowall, honourable Frederick 
 Cavendish, lord and lady Belhaven, sir Jas. Grahame 
 of Netherby, Mr. and Mrs. Garden Campbell of Fife- 
 shire, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley, J. H. Vivian, esq., M.P., 
 lady Caroline Maxse, viscount Myestre, viscount Al- 
 ford, sir F. Hopkins, captain Cox, Mr. Williamson, 
 sir David and lady Hunter Blair, and the Misses 
 Blair, sir James and lady Boswell, sir John and lady 
 C. Fairlie, lady Mexborough, lady Stewart, Mr. Lake, 
 Mr. Brook, Mr. Blair Warren, Mr. Corbould, hon. 
 Master of Rollo, the hon. R. Rollo and Miss Rollo, 
 lord Burghersh, lord Powerscourt, Mr. J. 0. Fairlie, 
 colonel Standen, captain Stevenson, lieut. Gordon, 
 lieutenant Crawford, Mr. and lady Jane Hamilton, 
 lord and lady Stuart de Rothsay and Miss Stuart, 
 countess of Mexborough, and lady Sarah Saville, Mr. 
 and Mrs. C. Wombwell, Mr. White, countess dowager 
 of Lestowel and Miss Bushe, Mr. Mrs. and Miss Mar- 
 gesson, Mr. and Miss Upton, capt. Pettat, sir Wm. 
 Dun, sir M. Wallace, sir Hugh Campbell, captain 
 M‘ Dowall, lord Chelsea, sir C. Lamb, lady Mont- 
 gomerie, and Mr. Lamb, hon. J. Macdonald, lord 
 Saltoun, lord Craven, Mr. Lechmere, Mr. Gilmour, 
 
44 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 capt. J. 0. Fairlie, lord G. Beresford, Mr. Purves, lord 
 Tullamore, Mr. and Mrs. Grant Macdoual, Mr. Irvine, 
 lord A. Seymour, lion. Cecil Forrester, lord and lady 
 Maynard, and the hon. Miss Maynard, lord and lady 
 Ashley, lord Forrester, the marquis and marcliioness of 
 Douro, earl of Cassillis, hon. Henry H. Gage, earl and 
 countess Cowper, lord and lady Waterpark, count 
 Lubeski, lord George Bentinck, sir James Stirling, 
 R.N., and lady Stirling, Mr. and Mrs. Ai*thur Onslow, 
 Mrs. General Hughes, Mr. Hamilton of Sundrum and 
 the Misses Hamilton, Mrs. Hamilton of Pinmore and 
 the Misses Hamilton, major Montgomery of Aimick, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie of Cloncaird, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Alexander of Ballochmyle, Mr. Ballantyne of Castle- 
 hill, Mrs. and the Misses M‘Leod of M‘Leod, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Campbell of Craigie, and the Misses Camp- 
 bell, colonel and Mrs. Smith Neill of Swinridgemuir, 
 and the Misses Neill, Mr. Miller of Monkcastle, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Hunter of Doonholm, and Miss Hunter, Mr. 
 Ramsay of Barnton, Mr. Forbes of Callender, Mr. 
 Houston, M.P., Mr. Burnet of Gargirth, and the 
 Misses Burnet, Mr. Bogle of Rosemount, Mr. and 
 the Misses Smith Cunninghame of Caprington, colonel 
 and Mrs. Crawfurd of Newfield, and the Misses Craw- 
 furd, Mr. and Mrs. Hay, Coilsfield, colonel Hugh 
 Hamilton, Mr. Montgomerie, Belmont, Mr. Cunning- 
 hame of Thorntoun, Messrs. Boyle of Shewalton, sir 
 A. Montgomerie Cunningliam, Mr. and Mrs. Stirling 
 of Garngunnock, colonel Kelso of Dankeith, Mr. and 
 Mrs. A. Cunninghame of Logan, Mr. Ranken, Drum- 
 ley, colonel Macalester of Kennox, Mr. Crawfurd of 
 Doonside, Mr. Campbell of Sormby, Mr. Alexander 
 Hunter, Mr. Hamilton of Braehead, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Craufurd of Craufurdland, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell of 
 Fairfield, Mr. and Mrs. Fairlie of Holmes, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Campbell of Treesbaiiks, Mr. Boswell of Garal- 
 lan, and the Misses Boswell, Mr. W. Blair, younger of 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 45 
 
 Blair, Mr. Biicliaiian, younger of Catriiiebaiik, Mr. T. 
 Gordon of Newton Lodge, Mr. Alexander of South- 
 bar, Mr. and Mrs. Blane of Seafield, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Lady Seymour is youngest daughter of the late T. 
 Sheridan, esq.; was married, on 10th June 1830, to 
 Edward Adolphus lord Seymour, a lord of the Trea- 
 sury, M.P., eldest son of Edward Adolphus St. Maur, 
 duke of Somerset, and baron Seymour, in the peerage 
 of England, and a baronet : vice-admiral of the coast 
 of Somersetshire, president of the Royal Institution, 
 &c. The duke of Somerset was born 24th February 
 1775, succeeded 15th December 1793, married, first, 
 24th June, 1800, Lady Charlotte Hamilton, second 
 daughter of Archibald, 9th Duke of Hamilton, who 
 died 10th June 1827 ; his grace married, secondly, on 
 28th July, 1836, Margaret, eldest daughter of the late 
 sir Michael Shaw Stewart, bart. 
 
 Lord Glenlyon, a baron in the peerage of the united 
 kingdom, was born 20th September, 1814. His lord- 
 ship’s father was the second son of his grace John, 4th 
 duke of AthoU, and he is nephew and heir presumptive 
 of the present duke. 
 
 Eglinton Castle is situated near tlie south-eastern 
 extremity of Cunninghame, the most northerly of the 
 three districts into which Ayrshire is divided, standing 
 a short way inland in the bosom of the noble and 
 townskirted bay of the frith of Clyde, which stretches 
 in form of a crescent from the Cumbraes to Ballater. 
 The district of country which has seen the “field, 
 feast, and combat” of former times renewed, is rich in 
 the most elevating associations. It is “the land of 
 Bruce and of Burns.” The ground has been hallowed 
 by the deeds of chivalry, the genius of poesy, the spirit 
 of religion, and the energy of patient industry. It was 
 here that Wallace, when the liberties of his country 
 had been cloven down, first struggled to restore its 
 c 2 
 
46 
 
 THE EGLLVTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 independence; and here it was where “many a hero 
 shone” — 
 
 “ Where Bruce once ruled the martial ranks, 
 
 And shook his Garrick spear.” 
 
 Nor should it be forgotten, that in more recent times 
 the hamlets of Kilwinning and Irvine, in the imme- 
 diate vicinity of Eglinton Castle were illustrated by 
 the moral lights of another world — when Baillie and 
 Dickson were pastors in these humble parsonages, yet 
 were associated with the nobles of the day in a great 
 national movement two hundred years ago — nor that 
 the wide-spread plains which now gladden the eye, 
 smiling in all the golden promise of autumn’s abun- 
 dance, were once scourged and desolated by the bloody 
 hand of persecution, under the auspices of the infamous 
 Turner, and his yet more infamous masters. 
 
 These are the reminiscences of times gone by. A 
 generation lias scarcely passed away since the Ayr- 
 shire ploughman and Irvine flax-dresser was hailed as 
 the National Bard of Scotland; and cold must the 
 heart be that could mark unmoved “ Alloway’s auld 
 haunted kirk,” “the banks of Boon,” and all the scenes 
 amidst which his genius was nursed. The town of 
 Irvine, whicli witnessed some of Burns’ earliest strug- 
 gles with uncongenial pursuits, boasts itself the birth- 
 place of Galt; and there, too, James Montgomery, 
 the Christian poet of the age, first drew breath. Nor 
 is this locality without interest to the “brethren of 
 the mystic tye;” for it was at Kilwinning that Free- 
 masonry was first introduced into Scotland, some 
 craftsmen having been brought thither to aid in build- 
 ing a priory, of which the ruins still remain. 
 
 THURSDAY, AUGUST 29 . 
 
 This should have been the second day of the Tour- 
 nament; but the morning was ushered in by storm, 
 and doubt and anxiety pervaded the minds of thousands. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN CNMASIvED. 
 
 47 
 
 Bitter as the rain was, and wild the wind, numerous 
 parties liied them to Eglinton as a charmed spot,. 
 Hundreds of visitors, too, who had been unable to at- 
 tend on the first daj, came in from a distance, in spito 
 of wind and weather, and amongst these were numer- 
 ous deputations from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dumfries, 
 &c. At an early hour, a rumour got abroad that the 
 work of the Tournament would be entirely given up, 
 from the bitterness of the weather, and this impression 
 was afterwards officially confirmed, by an intimation 
 from lord Eglinton, to the regret of thousands, though 
 all at the same time felt pain that his lordship was 
 likely to be baulked by the elements in giving a na- 
 tional treat, which the present generation may not 
 witness again. If the strangers could not see the tilt-- 
 ing, they resolved to see the tilting ground, and dur- 
 ing the forenoon, the grounds and lists were covered 
 by some thousands, who feasted their eyes, and ex- 
 pressed the hope that a change of weather might yet 
 allow the tourney to be enacted in proper style.. 
 Though all regretted the event, as we have said, no 
 one could affix blame; and the result showed, that 
 causes to which all human intentions and actions sink 
 into abject insignificance, had alone, for a time, clouded 
 the expectations of the mass; for the wish to gratify 
 was prominent in every action of the lord of the 
 Tournament. About mid-day the clouds dispersed, 
 and the sun showed his welcome countenance; thous- 
 ands, who had till then kept their chambers, were in- 
 vited out, and at two o’clock the grounds of Eglinton 
 were nearly as much crowded as before. All this was 
 cheering, and, no doubt, his lordship felt that a cer- 
 tain degree of responsibility attached to him in bring- 
 ing from their homes, near at home and far away, 
 legions of merchants, tradesmen, shopkeepers, and 
 indeed every class of the community, and that it was 
 his duty to gratify them by hook or by crook. The 
 
48 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 willing mind can compass much, and at once his lord- 
 ship resolved that the two day’s tourney should take 
 place, come what may, and Friday, at one o’clock, was 
 fixed for the completion of the Tournament. Active 
 and energetic measures were immediately taken to 
 counteract and nullify the effect of the previous an- 
 nouncement, and the news that Friday would give a 
 tournament, flew with the rapidity of the “ Fiery 
 Cross of other days.” Lord Eglinton liimself mounted 
 horse, galloped over the principal part of his grounds, 
 and out of them, announcing to every party whom he 
 encountered, whether amounting to two or twenty, 
 that “there will be a Tournament to-morrow at one 
 o’clock.” The announcement was everywhere receiv- 
 ed with gladness; and witliin half an hour after the 
 resolution was formed, the news was in possession of 
 twenty thousand people, and numberless persons who 
 had placed themselves under sailing orders, counter- 
 manded their intentions, and resolved to be there to 
 see. The band of the 78th was brought to the lawn 
 before the castle, and played many spirit-stirring airs, 
 while all assumed the appearance of gladness. 
 
 Within the castle the excitement was not less. The 
 armour had been early removed to the banquet hall, 
 where the rust which yesterday had attached to it was 
 removed, and all was placed in readiness for another 
 bout. In this room we had an opportunity of inspect- 
 ing the gear in which the various knights had appeared 
 on the preceeding day. From the weight of the de- 
 tached pieces, the entire suit must have been so heavy, 
 that our wonder grows how the knights were able not 
 only to support them, but to preserve their agility, 
 and that cool, though active, exertion which the prac- 
 tice of the lists requires. The armour is no holiday 
 or tinsel fabrication, but, in a true and hona fide sense, 
 has braced the persons of knights when tournaments 
 were in fashion, and periodically practised by the noble 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 40 
 
 and priucelj. Some of it is as venerable as the days 
 of Richard II., and none is more modern than the days 
 of Queen Elizabeth. All, in fact, that the moderns 
 have done, is patcliing or repairing the rents which 
 time may have left open; but, on the whole, the va- 
 rious plates and pieces composing the suit were firm 
 and substantial, and showed little marks of decay. It 
 has taken a long time to make the collection which is 
 now at Eglinton castle, and, independently of what 
 has been gathered in England, extensive purchases 
 have been made on the continent — at Liege, in Spain, 
 Italy, and elsewhere. 
 
 As the day brightened, various members of the 
 company in the castle repaired to the ball-room for a 
 lounge or promenade, and it soon became a centre of 
 attraction, from the beautiful forms who, for a space, 
 enlightened it by their presence. Whatever miglit be 
 the state of the weather, it is not to be supposed that 
 tedium could affect the company ; for doubtless there 
 were many present, who, like Chaucer’s Squire — 
 
 “ Could songs make and well indite, 
 
 Just, and eke dance, and well pourtray and write 
 
 and no doubt they lent their powers to enliven within 
 doors, when exercise or enjoyment was for a time de- 
 nied without. Some animating work, however, went 
 on in the ball-room, and not the least exciting was a 
 series of tilts on foot, made by prince Louis Napoleon 
 and Mr. Lamb, who were both in armour, and between 
 whom the mimic course was run with much spirit. 
 At the same time every exertion was made to banish 
 moisture from the ball-room, in wliich it had been ar- 
 ranged that a glittering throng would assemble the 
 same evening, and make up for the intermission of 
 Wednesday. Every thing now, therefore, wears a 
 new and improved aspect, and to-morrow we shall 
 have “the dust of conflict, and the hot breath of 
 charging steeds.” 
 
50 
 
 THE EGLIXTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 . 
 
 The tilting was resumed to-daj: and if the elements- 
 conspired to mar the amusements of Wednesday, there 
 was almost ample compensation bj the more than 
 usual splendour of this day. The morning dawned 
 propitiously, and at two o’clock, when the procession 
 entered the lists, tlie sky was serene, without a cloud, 
 and the sun beamed with effulgence on a spectacle, 
 less extensive it might be, but much more brilliant 
 than that presented on Wednesday. The coup d*oeil 
 was truly magnificent, and more than realized, in its 
 rich attractiveness, the highest anticipations formed of 
 it. The grand pavilion and stands were crowded — 
 dashing equipages skirted the adjacent grounds — the 
 multitude outside the lists was dense ; and altogether, 
 though the number of spectators scarcely equalled that 
 present on the first day, their comfortable appearance 
 (being less huddled together, to avoid the rain) ren- 
 dered the difference scarcely perceptible. The effect 
 of the tout ensemble was greatly heightened by the 
 grandeur of the procession being increased by the 
 presence of the queen of Beauty, her attendants and 
 pages, and the ladies visitors, mounted on richly ca- 
 parisoned steeds, of beautiful symmetry, followed by 
 her body guard of ladies, on foot, tastefully equipped 
 as archers with bows and quivers. Under the exhil- 
 arating influence of bright sunshine, every feature and 
 object in the brilliant spectacle were seen to double 
 advantage : and the ceremonies of the day with which 
 the weather on Wednesday greatly interfered, strictly 
 observed, added vastly to the general effect. On the 
 procession entering the lists, it passed slowly and ma- 
 jestically round them, while the most distinguished 
 personages composing the glittering cavalcade, and 
 particularly the queen of Beauty with her lovely train, 
 and also the king of the Tournament, and the lord of 
 the Tournament, were greeted with prolonged bursts 
 
AKD GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 51 
 
 of applause from the pavilions and reporters’ stand — 
 the parties condescendingly and gracefully acknow- 
 ledging the rapturously conveyed compliment by 
 reining in their steeds, and gratifying the public 
 with a full view of the procession. 8o magnificent a 
 pageant never was witnessed in her Majesty’s do- 
 minions. 
 
 The tilting commenced at three o’clock, and the 
 first candidates for chivalric honours were the knight 
 of Gael, (viscount Glenlyon) and the knight of the 
 Black Lion, (viscount Alford). In the first two 
 courses, the knights failed to strike each other ; but in 
 the third, the Northern Chieftain shivered his weapon 
 upon his antagonist’s shield, was declared victor, and 
 passing before the Grand Pavilion, paid his devoirs to 
 the queen of Beauty, and retired. 
 
 The second encounter was betwixt the knight of 
 the Griflin, (the earl of Craven) and the knight of 
 the Golden Lioix, (Captain J. 0. Fairlie). In the 
 first course, both knights splintered their lances; in 
 the second both missed; and in the third, the knight 
 of the Griffin directed liis lance so truly as to shiver 
 it, leaving only a small piece in his hand ; and passing 
 before the queen, was acknowledged victor, and re- 
 tired to liis tent. 
 
 The lord of the Tournanient, (tlie earl of Eglin- 
 ton) then took the field against the knight of the 
 Bed Bose, (B. J. Lechmere, esq.) In the first and 
 second courses, the knights, though apparently intent 
 on splintering lances, failed to send them home. In 
 the third, however, that of the earl of Eglinton was 
 delivered and broken, in fine style, on his antagonist’s 
 shield; and the lord of the Tournament received the 
 honours of victory from the queen of Beauty, amid 
 clapping of hands, deafening plaudits, and waving of 
 hats and handkerchiefs from all sides of the amphi- 
 theatre. 
 
.52 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 The knight of the Stag’s head, (captain Beresford) 
 then ran his courses against the Black knight, (W. 
 Little Gilmour, esq. of the Inch). The first and 
 second were without effect; in the third, the lances 
 crossed, and a fourth ineffective course having been 
 run, the tilt was undecided. 
 
 The tilts of the knight of the Dolphin, (earl of 
 Cassillis) against the knight of the Wliite Rose, (C. 
 Lamb, esq.) — and of the knight of the Swan, (tho 
 lion. Mr. Jerningham) against the knight of the Ram, 
 (the hon. captain Gage) — though contested with 
 spirit, were likewise triumphantless. 
 
 The knight of the Dragon, (the marquis of Water- 
 ford), then entered the lists against the knight of the 
 Border, (sir J. Johnstone). The courses were run 
 with great fleetness. In the first, the lances crossed 
 without breaking, and no point having been made, 
 victory was undecided. 
 
 The knight of the Golden Lion, (captain J. 0. 
 Fairlie), ran the last tilt of the day against the knight 
 of the Burning Tower, (sir F. Hopkins). The first 
 and third courses were ineffective; in the second the 
 knight of the Golden Lion triumphed, and received 
 the honom’s of victory from the queen of Beauty. 
 
 The lord of the Tournament then announced, in 
 front of the Grand Pavilion, that the tilting was con- 
 cluded, but that other exercises were about to com- 
 mence ; and that if the weather proved favoiu’able, the 
 Passage-at-Arms would be resumed again next day, 
 at the usual hoim, wliich intimation was received with 
 rounds of applause. 
 
 The knights then commenced tilting at a small 
 ring, suspended on a cord between two poles, in tho 
 carrying off of which, upon the point of the lance, 
 feats of horsemanship, combined with qiuckness of eye, 
 and steadiness of hand, were exhibited, that elicited 
 loud acclamations from the spectators. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 53 
 
 The sports of the day concluded with what by many 
 was considered their most animating and entertaining 
 item — a grand equestrian Melee with the broad sword 
 by the Scotch and Irish against the English knights. 
 The Scotch and Irish knights were — 
 
 The lord of the Tournament, the earl of Eglinton, 
 The knight of the Dragon, the marquis of Waterford, 
 The Black knight, W. Little Gilmour, esq. and — 
 The knight of the Gael, viscount Glenlyon, 
 
 AGAINST 
 
 The knight of the Black Lion, viscount Alford, 
 The knight of the Red Rose, R. J. Lechmere, esq. 
 The knight of the White Rose, Charles Lamb, esq. 
 The knight of the Golden Lion, capt. J. O. Fairlie. 
 The knights set to work with great spirit, main- 
 taining the contest so long and so gallantly, as firstly 
 to excite the most intense interest of the assembled 
 multitude, and latterly their apprehension for the per- 
 sonal safety of the gallant maintainers of the honour 
 of their respective countries. 
 
 A splendid ball and banquet was held in the eve- 
 ning, and lord Eglinton announced that the tilting 
 would be carried on with all spirit the following day, 
 shoidd the weather permit. The amusements in the 
 field were not finished till after seven, f. m. 
 
 On Saturday the weather proved unfavourable, and 
 lord Eglinton’s promise of a tliird day’s tilting could 
 not be carried into effect. 
 
 Tlieir visors clos’d, their lances in the rest, 
 
 Or at the helmet pointed. Or the crest; 
 
 Tliey vanish from the barrier, speed the race. 
 
 And spurring, see decrease the middle space : 
 
 A cloud of smoke envelopes either host. 
 
 And all at once the combatants are lost : 
 
 Darkling they join adverse, and shock unseen. 
 
 Coursers with coursers justling, men with men. 
 
 As lab’ring in eclipse a while they stay. 
 
 Till the next blast of wind restores the day : 
 
 They look anew : the beauteous forms of hght 
 Is changed, and war appears a griezly right. 
 
54 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 This magnificent drama has thus been enacted, 
 and, as matter of history, its recollection will be 
 perpetuated by the pencil of the painter, and the pen 
 of those, who, by different machinery, fill the office of 
 the minstrels and troubadours of other days. All that 
 man could do to render the pageant attractive and 
 pleasing, and worthy to commemorate the chivalric 
 spirit and actions of our fathers, has been done ; and 
 if this has been partially marred, it was from causes 
 which neither nobles, knights, nor serfs could control. 
 The storm of Wednesday was indeed a most desolat- 
 ing visitation, and nothing but the chivalric disposition 
 of the lord of the Tournament, and his brethren, 
 could have induced them to brave the merciless storm 
 which raged for hours on the 28th. The procession 
 and tilting of that day were indeed acts of deference 
 to the gratification of the people, which, if omitted 
 under the circumstances, could not have been well 
 cavilled at ; and this impression was particularly vivid 
 when lord Eglinton uncovered and acknowledged the 
 plaudits of the assembled thousands. Never did a 
 mass of spectators endure the onslaught of the elements 
 with greater patience or good humour; and though 
 the splendour of the spectacle was sadly marred, still 
 every one had ample opportunity to observe the treat 
 which would have been accorded them had the day 
 brought sunshine instead of storm. And Friday 
 proved it; for under the infiuences of favourable 
 weather a more brilliant pageant has not been wit- 
 nessed for many a day. The procession of this 
 day, extending upwards of half a mile, moved along 
 at a pace which gave ample opportunity for all to 
 witness, gaze, and gaze again, on every member of the 
 cavalcade. It is somewhat unusual to see ladies en- 
 acting a part in a public drama, and the more so when 
 tliey are titled and high born; but the esprit de corps 
 which the Tournament engendered has banished all 
 
AXD GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 5j 
 
 feelings of squeamishness, and the thousands along tho 
 line looked on the fairy forms and ambling palfreys 
 with feelings alike of delight, admiration, and wonder. 
 Every one admires a graceful female on horseback, 
 and this mode of exercise is daily growing in prac- 
 tice and favour from the example set by England’s 
 queen; but it is doubtful whether a fairer cavalcade 
 has ever been mustered than that which followed and 
 preceded the queen of Love and Beauty on Friday 
 last. And equally interesting were the archeresses, 
 who, a piedy mingled in the procession, clad in tunies 
 and turbans of forest green, with bows in hand, and 
 the quiver and arrows slung across the back. Various 
 members of the procession attracted considerable in- 
 terest, and amongst these, the first was lord London- 
 derry, who rode a curvetting steed, and was attired 
 in a crimson cloak, wore the collar of the garter, and 
 the stars of other orders, and whose brows were adorn- 
 ed by the Crown of the Tournament. Both in the 
 procession, and during the day, his lordship was ac- 
 companied by count Valentine Esterhazy, a very 
 handsome youth, and nephew of the prince of that 
 name. The marquis of Waterford was not observed 
 with less interest, but that interest arose from different 
 causes ; and his lordship fully sustained his reputation 
 for jollity and merriment. Ilis age is 28 , his person 
 of the middle size, but withal well knit, and there is 
 to be seen, too plainly to be misunderstood, a “laugh- 
 ing devil in his eye.” His lordship was accompanied 
 by the due number of squires and retainers, and in 
 the front of his procession a jolly friar and lean monk 
 marched along: the friar ever and anon burst out 
 with some old ballad; the monk, Waterford, and his 
 party joined in chorus, and as the merry men moved 
 through the green- wood, the burden of their song rose 
 on the breeze, and the effect altogether had in it a 
 koucli of the romantic. 
 
56 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 The tilting we look upon as a secondary act in the 
 drama, for the performance was so rapid that the game 
 had ended before you could well say that it had begun. 
 The trial, too, was perfectly innocuous, for the spears 
 were fasliioned from the lightest pine, and gave way 
 without a very severe shock. Had it been otherwise 
 unhorsing might have been frequent, and painful in its 
 consequences. As it was, not a few of the knights 
 were tlu-own by the curvetting and unmanageable dis- 
 position of their steeds, though all of them got up 
 unharmed. The armour was made of such sterling 
 metal, that it appeared almost impossible to hurt the 
 frame which it enclosed, and this must account for 
 the fact, that many of them were jerked most unce- 
 remoniously from their seats, and yet they rose with 
 whole bones. The only dangerous looking part of the 
 proceedings was that in which the lances were tlu-own 
 away, and the knights were ranged at opposite sides 
 of the lists, sword in hand. At the sound of the 
 trumpet, each urged liis steed to the utmost bent, met 
 Iiis opponent in the middle, and the pair slashed at 
 each other for a second or two with right good-will; 
 the helmets and armour rung with the blows ; and, at 
 the termination of the first bout, it was found that one 
 of the swords had been snapped at the hilt, and others 
 were variously injured. Some folks have made merry 
 at the notion of the rounded spears, but this, at least, 
 was no holiday work ; and, in the second course, the 
 hon. Mr. Jerningham was so severely cut in the wrist, 
 that he was conducted out of the melee, freed from his 
 armour, and his wound dressed on the field. The 
 Black knight, his opponent, retired from the contest, 
 as no one seemed prepared to fill Mr. Jerningham ’s 
 place. But the most exciting matter of all occurred 
 in the tliird contest, when lords Waterford and Alford 
 met in the midst of the ground, and, instead of moving 
 on after a blow or two, the pair wheeled round their 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 57 
 
 steeds, and commenced hard Iiitting in real earnest. 
 This was conceived to be part of the performance by 
 the spectators, but it was no such thing; and sir 
 Charles Lamb, who dashed up between the combat- 
 ants, had quite enough to do to separate the pair. 
 Tilting at the ring was followed on Friday with much 
 heart and activity. The ring is suspended from a 
 cord, nearly on a level with the horses’ head, and 
 taking a start, perhaps 36 yards distant, the knight or 
 squire urges his steed to the gallop, and the triumph 
 consists in bearing away the ring on the point of a 
 spear. Lord Eglinton was successful above all others 
 in this manly exercise. 
 
 The attempt to revive, at the present day, the 
 chivalrous pastime of “the Tournament,” has been de- 
 rided by the cold “philosophy” of a money-getting, 
 utilitarian age. Yet, let me ask, are the mass of the 
 people happier because the “age of chivalry has past,” 
 and, in what was once “merry England,” the sordid, 
 heartless, sensual doctrines, of utilitarianism have tri- 
 umphed over sentiment, and nearly extinguished the 
 fine impulses and generous instincts of man’s nature? 
 
 Chivalry, divorced from the feudal system, of wliich 
 it was the graceful accompaniment and softening in- 
 fluence, may be thought to be altogether out of place 
 and out of season. What is there in our advanced 
 state of civilization, it may be asked, wliich can make 
 it desirable to re-introduce its forms and usages — the 
 inventions of ages comparatively illiterate ? We answer 
 that, though the feudal system has vanished, the spirit 
 that tempered its despotism — that mitigated its fero- 
 city — that, in an age of comparative darkness, re- 
 strained the arm of savage violence, and led power 
 captive in the silken chains of woman’s finest influence, 
 may not be without an object to operate upon, and a 
 field for the "exercise of its noblest powers. 
 
 If the feudal power was fierce, and rude, and law- 
 
53 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNxVMENT, 
 
 less, until chivalry came to subdue its passions beneath 
 the yoke of an artificial refinement, is not the utilita- 
 rian age grovelling, mean, and sordid, and does it not 
 require some counteracting influence — some elevating 
 and inspiring sentiment to redeem its character from 
 the debasing bondage of that material “philosophy” 
 under which the manly virtues, and all those generous 
 energies that exalt and adorn humanity, are fast per- 
 ishing from the soil of England, where they once 
 flourished in such vigorous luxuriance? 
 
 Is not such a condition of society tending rapidly 
 to realize the melancholy prediction of the poet Gold- 
 smith, who, with the prophetic eye of genius, foresaw 
 the national degeneracy which the utilitarian system, 
 then only beginning to develope itself, would eventu- 
 ally produce: — 
 
 “ A time may come when, stripped of all her charms, 
 
 The land of scholars and the nurse of arms. 
 
 Where noble stems transmit the patriot flame, 
 
 Where kings have toiled and poets wrote, for fame. 
 
 One sink of level avarice shall lie. 
 
 And scholars, soldiers, kings, unhorned die." 
 
 Of all systems of tyranny a ploutocracy is the most 
 cruel, selfish, and grinding. It is, therefore, that our 
 utilitarian “philosophers” admire a money-govern- 
 ment ; for they are cold-hearted and unfeeling sen- 
 sualists, who trample the poor in the dust, and rail at 
 the aristocracy of birth, because it is associated with 
 generous, elevating, and heroic recollections. They 
 despise, or affect to despise, the patriot-passion which 
 makes a man prefer his own country, its interests, and 
 its glory, to all others, because that passion, whatever 
 it may be, is not a selfish one. To those who have no 
 directing power but selfishness, it costs no struggle of 
 intellect to get rid of the generous attachment, or 
 prejudice, or whatever it is, to one’s country. Their 
 cosmopolitism is but the absence of manly sympathy 
 — but the negation of heart — -just as latitudinarianism 
 
I 
 
 AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 59 
 
 ill religion is not a triumph of charity, but a result of 
 cold indifference. 
 
 How can such persons understand the feelings of 
 the bard, when, in the fervour of a patriot’s enthusiasm, 
 he exclaims, — 
 
 “ O, Caledonia, stern and wild ! 
 
 Meet nurse for a poetic child : 
 
 Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, 
 
 Land of the mountain and the flood- - 
 Land of my sires--what mortal hand 
 Shall e’er untie the filial band 
 That binds me to thy rugged strand I” 
 
 Had that bard himself, the learned, graceful, and 
 impassioned poet of Chivalry, lived to see the tour- 
 nament revived on the soil of his beloved Caledonia, 
 how would he have welcomed, with the fascinating 
 strains of his magnificent genius, the revival of the 
 chivalrous splendours of the “olden time.” Then, 
 perhaps, another canto would have been added to the 
 “Lay of the Last Minstrel.” Even in the feebleness 
 of old age such an event would 
 
 “ Have lighted up his faded eye , 
 
 With all a poet's ecstacy.” 
 
 To view the “tournament” merely in the light of a 
 manly exercise and pastime, is not one which deserves 
 the encouragement of those who are admirers of re- 
 creations which strengthen instead of enervating the 
 human frame, and teach the noble combination of 
 hardihood of spirit and gentleness of character ? What 
 can be more masculine, adroit, and graceful, than the 
 action and riding of a well-accomplished knight in the 
 enterprise and evolutions of the tournament? As an 
 exhibition of mere animal dexterity and prowess, it is 
 a most interesting spectacle ; but when there is added 
 to. all that the indispensible accompaniment of the pre- 
 siding charm of beauty, and the virtuous infiuence of 
 women, all civilized men must admit that the interest 
 of the spectacle is greatly enhanced. Even the mighty 
 
()0 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 genius of Milton did homage at the throne of the 
 “Queen of Beautj,” when he sang of the scenes 
 
 “ Where ladies’ eyes 
 Rained influence, and judged the prize 
 Of wit or arms, where all contend 
 To Avin her smile Avhom all commend.” 
 
 Now, what other masculine exercise is there which 
 invigorates the mind and frame of man, at which it is 
 graceful and becoming in woman to preside? 
 
 Is it fox-hunting, in which a lady is occasionally 
 seen, but never to advantage? The poet of “The 
 Seasons,” in speaking of the British fair, says — 
 
 “ Far be the spirit of the chase from them— 
 
 Uncomely courage— unbeseeming skill. 
 
 Whereby they roughen to the sense, and all 
 The winning softness of the sex is lost.” 
 
 Is it steeple and hurdle chases, those brutal and 
 barbarous pastimes of mercenary and unmitigated 
 cruelty in which that generous animal, the horse, is 
 inhumanly sacrificed to the cupidity of betting specu- 
 lators? Scarcely ever do we hear of one of those 
 cruel and senseless exliibitions in wliich one or more 
 horses have not their backs or necks broken, and not 
 unfrequently the inhuman riders. Tliis is a pastime, 
 if anything so savage can be called so, which deteri- 
 orates both horse and man ; and surely if the revival 
 of the exercises — the manly and graceful exercises of 
 the tournament were to put it out of fashion among 
 the young aristocracy of the country, who are follow- 
 ed in this vice by a crowd of vulgar imitators, it would 
 confer a great benefit on society, or, at least, abate a 
 most disgraceful nuisance. 
 
 How different to behold 
 
 “ Young knights and squires— a gallant train— 
 
 Practise their chargers on the plain 
 Ry aid of leg- -of hand and rein. 
 
 Each warlike feat to show. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 01 
 
 To pass— to wheel— the eroupe to gain, 
 
 Mid higli curvet, tliat not in vain 
 Tlie sword -sway might descend amain 
 On foeman’s casque below.” 
 
 All this is exercise which serves to develope all the 
 strength and all the activity of the human frame. It 
 was the recollection of the personal prowess of the 
 steel-clad knights of old which caused the^ great lord 
 Chatham to make a somewhat disparaging comparison 
 between “the silken barons of the present day and the 
 iron barons of antiquity.” 
 
 Lord Eglinton has had the laudable ambition of en- 
 deavouring to remove that reproach from the young 
 aristocracy of the present day. How different is the 
 recreation which he, by a most bountiful expenditure 
 of wealth, has endeavoured to make fashionable from 
 that which destroys the health and ruins the morals of 
 its votaries at the gambling table. Better are the 
 tented lists of Eglinton Castle, than the gilded Saloons 
 of Crockford’s. There the success of him upon whom 
 Fortune smiles is not followed by the anguish, destitu- 
 tion, and despair of the vanquished. There no sordid 
 passions take possession of the heart and burden human 
 nature until it puts on the malignity of the demon. 
 There the ancient patrimony of the infatuated devotee 
 of this miserable vice is not flung away on the cast of 
 a die or the turn of a spotted card. How many noble 
 castles, beauteous parks and woods, and lawns, have 
 been passed in this way, as if by the wand of the en- 
 chanter, from the silly inheritor to some practised 
 sharper, which, in “the age of cliivalry” had display - 
 ed, as lord Eglinton ’s domains have lately done, tlio 
 noble array of that panoplied knighthood which was 
 the “cheap defence of nations,” and all the circum- 
 stances of a splendid hospitality ! 
 
 The scene of the Tournament was graced by tlie 
 fairest women of Scotland, and among them was tlie 
 noble mother of the chivalrous host. It is not one of 
 
 D 
 
02 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 the least recommendations of such a scene that it 
 cannot be considered complete without the presiding 
 attractions of the fair sex. And, surely, in all times 
 and countries there has been no such incentive to deeds 
 of high emprise and honourable estimation as the vir- 
 tuous influence of woman. 
 
 The last gleams of chivalry were shed upon a 
 “maiden reign.” The father of Elizabeth trod the 
 “field of the clotli of gold,” and that great princess 
 spoke as with the lion- heart of real knighthood, (if 
 we can apply that word to a woman) when she rode 
 on her splendidly caparisoned steed to Tilbury Fort, 
 and in addressing her troops wliile the armada of 
 Spain, then the greatest nation of the earth, threaten- 
 ed her kingdom with extinction, spoke of “the foul 
 scorn that Spain and Parma should dare to invade her 
 dominions.” Oh! if but a small portion of that great 
 queen’s spirit animated the hearts of the men who rule 
 England at the present day, the flag of England 
 would not have been so dishonoured as it has been by 
 the barbarians of the north and the treacherous allies 
 of the west. 
 
 If the “age of chivalry” expired with a “maiden 
 reign,” the revival of one of its most manly and beauti- 
 ful spectacles has been attempted, and we hope with 
 success, in another “maiden reign.” 
 
 If ever a powerful enemy should again attempt our 
 shores, would England be in a worse or better position 
 for triumphant resistance by having a nobility not lap- 
 ped ill enervating pleasures, and debased and enfeebled 
 by luxurious indolence, but trained in atliletic and 
 masculine exercises, inured to danger, and inspiretl 
 with that high feeling of honour which caused chivalry 
 to be of old “ the nurse of manly sentiment and heroic 
 enterprise.” 
 
 Another national advantage of the revival of such 
 spectacles would bo the inducing the nobility and gen- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 G3 
 
 try to think more of their own country than of foreign 
 lands, and to spend more of their money at home than 
 among foreigners, who, while they worship tlie name 
 of an English purse, hate the very name of England. 
 
 We are glad to observe the ardent, and, indeed, en- 
 thusiastic feelings which the noble and high-minded 
 conduct of lord Eglinton called forth from our north- 
 ern fellow-subjects. We were also glad to find, tliat 
 in a spirit of nationality, which is greatly on the de- 
 cline in England, they adopted their country’s cos- 
 tume. It has been said by some critics on the Tour- 
 nament that this was improper, because the Tourna- 
 ment was of Gothic not of Celtic origin. This is true ; 
 but when they also go on to say that the Celtic cos- 
 tume was never seen at Tournaments, this is not true. 
 
 Were there no j oustings and tourneys in the reign 
 of James IV. of Scotland, who fell at Flodden-field? 
 Did not the national dress of the Celtic race then ap- 
 pear in the monarch’s army, and at his court? But 
 let us quote, as the best argument on this subject, the 
 authority of tlie great minstrel of Scottish chivalry — 
 
 “ Next Marniion marked the Celtic race 
 Of different language, form and face— 
 
 A various race of man. 
 
 Just then the chiefs their tribes arrayed. 
 
 And >nld and garish semblance made ; 
 
 'Die chequered trew's and belted plaid, 
 
 And varying notes the war-pipes played 
 To every varying clan. 
 
 Wild through their red or sable hair 
 Looked out their eyes with savage stare 
 On Marmion as he past ; 
 
 Dieir legs above the knee were bare, 
 
 Dieir frames were sinewy, short, and spare. 
 
 And hardened to the blast. 
 
 Of taller race, the chiefs they own 
 Were by the eagle’s plumage known.” 
 
 That was the time when the Scottish monarch in- 
 dulged in 
 
 “ By day the tourney, and by night 
 The merry dance——.” 
 
THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 C)4 
 
 Here I leave the Tournament and its hospitalities 
 for the present, hoping that tlie golden sun which with- 
 held its beams on the late occasion, may sliine auspi- 
 ciously on a future day. 
 
 King James. — You have now, my esteemed friend, 
 gratified me beyond my most sanguine expectations ; 
 permit me still to put a few more questions to you, 
 hoping you will indulge me with as satisfactory an- 
 swers as you have already done, as I have yet to learn 
 the meaning and import of the word Gentleman. 
 
 Sir David. — Most willingly, noble Sire. It has 
 always been the proudest wish of my heart, and the 
 greatest glory of my existence, to be able to aid and 
 assist the ignorant ; for not only you, but all others 
 who hunger and thirst after knowledge, and come unto 
 me with a willing ear, I will with great cheerfulness 
 impart unto them what I possess. 
 
 The first and only sure way, then, to be a Gentle- 
 man, is to have the feelings of one ; to be gentle in its 
 proper acceptation ; to be elevated above otliers in 
 sentiment rather than situation ; and to let benevolonco 
 of the heart be manifested in the general courtesy and 
 affability of the demeanour. 
 
 King James . — The first few things I would tlien 
 propose for your special consideration, and beg your 
 particular attention to the same, are — the title, nature, 
 rights, and duties of Kings; and if kings are not always 
 entitled to the most honourable of all titles, that of a 
 Gentleman. 
 
 Sir David. — >Yg, who were crowned king, and be- 
 gan to reign as such over Scotland when only one 
 year old, and swayed the sceptre of that kingdom for 
 thirty-two years, ought to have known the duties and 
 oftices of a king long ere now ; but, like too many in 
 subordinate situations, you trusted to liirelings around 
 you. However, with but little consideration, I am 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 Gif 
 
 able to define to you the nature, rights, and duties of 
 kings, and also of their subjects ; when, without giv- 
 ing any opinion, or insisting on such privilege, you can 
 judge of their merits, and how far you tliink they aro 
 entitled to the name of Gentlemen. 
 
 In a moral point of view, a king stands in the same 
 connection with liis subjects- and people as a father 
 does with his children. It is the duty of both to pro- 
 vide for the happiness and welfare of those under their 
 care. A king’s ears are open to the complaints of his 
 subjects; he restraineth the hand of their oppressors, 
 and delivereth them from their tyranny. His people 
 look up to him as a father, with reverence and love: 
 they consider him as the guardian of all they enjoy. 
 A king is the supreme governor and ruler over states 
 and monarchies, placed by the hand of God to figure 
 to the world his Almighty power. If he is virtuous, 
 he is the blessing of the realm; if vicious, a scourge 
 allotted for his subjects’ iniquities. 
 
 The first kjing we read of was Nimrod, said in sa- 
 cred Writ to be a mighty hunter. He, according to 
 some authors, obtained his kingly power by force and 
 violence; but by others, by the free will of a free 
 people. Salust says, that tlie first name of empire 
 and rule known in the earth was that of the royal 
 estate: but then men lived without covetousness, 
 every one being content with his own. From the be- 
 ginning of countries and nations, the government was 
 in the hands of kings, who were not lifted up to that 
 high degree of majesty by popular ambition, but for 
 their modesty, which was known and approved of by 
 good men. The first kings were only cliiefs of the 
 highest order, elevated to that rank by the free voice 
 of the people — at first only during pleasure — then for 
 life by election — and at last it became hereditary. 
 
 A king in Britain is now the person in whom the 
 supreme executive power of the state is vested; and, 
 
CG THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 ill law, can never die : for, immediately on the decease 
 of the reigning monarch, his kingly dignity is, by the 
 act of the law, vested in his successor. It is an un- 
 deniable fact that the preservation of the wealth and 
 happiness of the people, is the end of government. 
 For which end the monarchy of Great Britain is ad- 
 mirably weU framed, being limited in such a manner 
 as secures the people’s liberty, without making the king 
 little. It is an instrument of three strings, which being 
 well proportioned, yields an admirable harmony to the 
 beneht and glory of the kingdom. A mixed govern- 
 ment of monarchy in the king, aristocracy in the 
 lords, and democracy in the commons. Here the 
 king makes the figure of a great monarch, tlie lords 
 keep up their state, and the commons their bberty; 
 and they are all three a check upon one another. 
 
 The king has all the ensigns of royalty, as tlie crown, 
 sceptre, purple robe, golden globe, and holy unction. 
 At his accession to the crown he is proclaimed with 
 great solemnity; and his coronation performed with 
 great pomp and magnificence. 
 
 He has also all the marks of sovereignty, as the 
 power of making treaties and leagues with foreign 
 states, of making peace and war, sending and receiv- 
 ing ambassadors, creating of magistrates; of calling, 
 proroguing, and dissolving the parliament ; of confer- 
 ring titles of honour, coining, pardoning of crimin- 
 als, Ac. 
 
 To make war, the king may raise men and arms, 
 both for sea and land ; press seamen and ships for the 
 sea-service, and vagabonds for either. He alone has 
 the choice and nomination of the superior officers, the 
 principal direction and command of his armies, of all 
 magazines and ammunition, castles, forts, ports, havens, 
 and ships of war. The militia is likewise wholly at 
 his command, and the public monies at his disposal ; 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. G7 
 
 but the parliament have a right to call for tlie accounts 
 to be laid before them. 
 
 Without his royal assent, no bill in parliament can 
 pass into a law ; and he may increase tlie number of 
 peers, by creating more barons, or calling to their 
 house whom he thinks fit by writ. 
 
 All counsellors, officers of state, and judges, are no- 
 minated by him. None but the king has the sover- 
 eign power in the administration of justice; and no 
 subject has here, as in France, high, mean, or low juris- 
 diction. The king only is judge in his own cause, 
 though he delivers his judgment by the mouth of the 
 judges, who act by virtue of his commission only. 
 
 In point of punishments, he may either pardon the 
 offence, or alleviate the punishment, after sentence 
 given according to law ; but this is to be understood 
 in criminal cases, and not then in the case of murder, 
 when an appeal is lodged against the murderer. 
 
 The king is the supreme head of the church, as ho 
 is of the state, and is looked upon as her guardian and 
 nursing father: so that there lies no appeal from him, 
 as from some other kingdoms beyond sea, either to the 
 pope of Rome, or to the emperor, or any other power 
 whatever. 
 
 At his coronation he is annointed with oil, as were 
 the kings of Israel, to intimate that his person is sa- 
 cred and spiritual; and has the dalmatica, and other 
 priestly vestments put upon him, to show he is to go- 
 vern the church as well as the state. 
 
 As he is the lord paramount, or supreme landlord 
 of all the lands in his dominions, so ho has the supreme 
 right of patronage in the church, called patronage- 
 paramount. So that if the mean patron, or the ordi- 
 nary, or the metropolitan present not in due time, the 
 j-ight of presentation comes to tlie king. 
 
 He alone has the patronage of all bishoprics, for 
 none can be chosen bishop but whom he nominates in 
 
G8 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 Iiis CoiKjG (T Esline. Nor can a bishop elect be con- 
 secrated, or take possession of the revenues of the 
 bishopric, without the king’s special writ or assent: 
 he hath also power to create new bishoprics, alter or 
 contract old ones, &c. 
 
 In short, this monarchy is free and independent, and 
 acknowledges no superior upon earth. It is true, the 
 Roman emperors were anciently possessed of this 
 country, but upon their quitting it, the right, by the 
 law of nations, returned to the former owners. Tliis 
 crown has long since been declared in parliament to 
 be an imperial crown. Therefore, its kings never 
 yielded precedence to any monarch, but only to the 
 emperor, on the score of antiquity. 
 
 So tender is the law for the preservation of the king’s 
 person, that the very imagining or intending his death, 
 proved by any overt act, is high treason by law. And, 
 though a lunatic, idiot, or one non compos mentis, can- 
 not commit felony by law, yet if, during his* idiocy or 
 lunacy, he shall kill, or go about to kill, the king, he 
 shall be punished as a traitor. 
 
 Such is the honour and respect paid to the king by 
 his subjects, that they all stand bare-headed, not only 
 in his presence, but even in his absence, where he has 
 a chair of state. All people, at their first address, 
 kneel to him, and ho is at ^1 times served upon the 
 knee. 
 
 The making of new laws, and the raising of new 
 taxes, cannot be done by the king’s authority only, but 
 by and with the consent of the Lords and Commons in 
 parliament assembled. 
 
 By what has been said, it is plain that a British 
 monarch, notwithstanding his limited power, htos 
 enough to satisfy the ambition of any reasonable 
 prince, Who makes the happiness of liis people the 
 end of his government. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 G9 
 
 King James . — You have now given me the rights 
 and privileges of British kings, which are great and 
 many ; one thing, however, I observed you to say, that 
 they yielded precedence to the emperor on the score 
 of antiquity. Do, Sir David, explain this paradox, 
 as it seems to me, for I always supposed it till now, 
 that king and emperor were synonymous, or nearly so. 
 
 Sir David . — They do not altogether mean the samo 
 thing, although their offices are nearly alike, both 
 bearing rule over several largo countries, as chance 
 may be. 
 
 The origin of emperor is thus: — The Romans were 
 the first who took unto themselves this name, by which 
 tlioy used to call their generals in war. 
 
 “ Emperor ! why that’s the style of victory ! 
 
 The conq’ring soldier, red witli unfelt wounds. 
 
 Salutes liis general so ! but never more 
 Shall that sou id reach my ears. 
 
 For i have lost my reason, have disgrac’d 
 Tlio name of soldier with inglorious ease : 
 
 In the full vintage of my flowing honours. 
 
 Sate still, and saw it press’d by other hands. 
 
 Owing to king Tarquin’s (Tarquinius Collatrinus) 
 pride and cruelty, who was banished Rome in the year 
 of the world 3457, for his ravisliing of Lucretia, wife 
 of Brutus, the name of king, upon his account, became 
 so odious among the Romans, that it was forbidden to 
 be used, by an edict and solemn oath. Whereupon, 
 when their popular estate was changed into a monarchy, 
 they would not call their monarch by tlie name of king, 
 by reason of their ancient oath, but called him emperor. 
 Lawyers, indeed, give the pre-eminence to emperors, 
 as tliey say they have ruled over other kings till the 
 present time ; but this is not correct ; and in no coun- 
 try whatever does there now remain more superiority 
 than tlie name and shadow. 
 
 King James . — Surely then, emperors and kings, in 
 
70 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 all senses of the word, must be Gentlemen. They are, 
 in the first place, chosen for their superior virtues, no- 
 bleness of soul, and greatness of mind. In the second, 
 they are nobly born and bred: and, in the third, they 
 will not stoop to be the perpetrators of a mean or in- 
 glorious action, nor sanction its performance in others. 
 
 Sir David . — You speak of wliat should be, not what 
 have always been, the deeds of emperors and kings. 
 It is true, in the first place, in the primary ages of the 
 world, when society was in a state of infancy, the first 
 sovereignty was instituted upon their good will and 
 liking, who, for their accommodation and security, sub- 
 mitted themselves to such as excelled most in virtue 
 and heroism. “Who knoweth not, (says Cicero, in 
 his oration for Sestius), that the nature of men was 
 sometimes such, that not having natural equity, they 
 wandered up and down, dispersed in the fields, and had 
 nothing but that which they could catch and keep for- 
 cibly by murders and wounds. Wherefore, some excell- 
 ing in virtue and counsel, and knowing the docility and 
 understanding of man, gathered and collected together 
 into one place, those that were found without a leader, 
 and brought them from that rudeness wherein they 
 were, unto justice and gentleness. Then they establish- 
 ed those things that belonged to common profit, which we 
 call public, and appointed assemblies, afterwards called 
 cities, and walled about their buildings joined together, 
 which they called towns, having first found out both 
 divine and human equity. And, to guard against evils, 
 it then became necessary to constitute one among them- 
 selves, as first ruler, prince, general or king; who, while 
 the othei's were busied about their domestic concerns, 
 should watch over the general welfare, and at whose 
 summons, in cases of exigency, the whole force of the 
 nation could be brought to act as one body. With this 
 view they elected a ruler from among themselves, whose 
 cliief business should be to attend to all public matters. 
 
AXD GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 71 
 
 This was the first state of society, and the origin of 
 rulers, governors, and kings. They were, as I have 
 already mentioned, first chosen to continue during 
 pleasure, afterwards for life ; but now, in almost every 
 country, the sovereignty is become hereditary. As 
 this is the case, kings may degenerate, corruption is 
 liable to creep in, and make inroads in the hearts of 
 the best and wisest of men, and evil advisers may 
 estrange and wean the affections of a good king from 
 his people, as I shall show you has already been the 
 case in almost all ages, and in all kingdoms and empires 
 of the world. 
 
 Nero, one of the Roman emperors, was a man of 
 good understanding, and wanted neither spirit nor ca- 
 pacity for the managing of a great kingdom, which he 
 did for the first five years of his reign with all the 
 mildness and humanity of his predecessor, Augustus, 
 but what was his end? He, on whom the Romans 
 once looked as a person sent from heaven, at last proved 
 a monster. He committed incest with his mother, 
 caused her to be slain ; slew his wife great with child ; 
 set Rome on fire, which burned six days, while he sang 
 Homer’s lUiad; and murdered by poison and sword 
 many thousands of his best friends, among whom were 
 his preceptors,. Seneca and Burrhus, with Lucan the 
 poet, and many more. And, in our own native coun- 
 try, witness the mild and humane manner that Mac- 
 beth began his reign, that is to say, after he was 
 crowned, (I do not speak of the murder of king Dun- 
 can), and the salutary laws that he made for the go- 
 verning of the same ; but, at the expiry of ten years, 
 to what extravagancy of excess did he carry his cruelty ? 
 No honour nor faith was found in him. And in Eng- 
 land, with these, and hundreds more that I could 
 mention, are instances that emperors and kings are 
 not always, according to my definition. Gentlemen. 
 
 In the second place, emperors and kings are not 
 
72 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 always nobly bora and bred, as you will find by the 
 lives of the few I shall presently name. 
 
 Nimrod was a hunter; Saul and David, kings of Is- 
 rael, were shepherds ; Romulus, the founder, and first 
 king of the Romans, and Tullus Hostilius, the third 
 king, were both shepherds in their younger days : Tar- 
 quinius Prisons, and Servius, two other kings of the 
 Romans, were bond slaves: Agathocles, king of Sicily, 
 was the son of a potter, and wrought himself amongst 
 the dirty clay ; at length became successively a thief, 
 a soldier, centurion, general, pirate, and king: 
 Maximianus, Marcus Aurelius Valerius Herculius, a 
 Roman emperor, was originally a common soldier; he 
 was made emperor in 304, when Diocletian abdicated 
 the throne. Maximianus, Galerius Valerius, emperor 
 of the east, was at one time, a shepherd in Dacia ; 
 afterwards a soldier, and raised to the imperial dignity 
 by Diocletian, who gave him his daughter in marriage. 
 Maximinus, Caius Julius Verus, emperor of Rome, was 
 the son of a peasant in Thrace. Otho, first emperor 
 of Germany, called the great, was the eldest son of 
 Henry the fowler, and crowned in 936, at the age of 
 fourteen. Pertinax, emperor of Rome, was the grand- 
 son of a bondman, and born of poor parents near Alba, 
 A. D. 126 ; however, having obtained a good education, 
 he became an instructor of youth, and afterwards rose 
 to the imperial dignity. Servius Tullius, king of the 
 Romans, was the son of a female slave. Tamerlane, 
 (called by his relations, Timur-the-lame) emperor of 
 the east, was born in 1335, at Kesch, in the territory 
 of the ancient Sogdiana, and was in early life a shep- 
 herd. Viriat, king of Portugal, was also a shepherd. 
 Arsaccs, king of the Parthians, was born of poor pa- 
 rents. Ptolemy, the first of that name, king of Egypt, 
 was the son of an esquire. Eumenes, one of the suc- 
 cessors of Alexander, was the son of a poor carrier, and 
 himself a scribe. Diocletian, Caius Valerius, one of 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 7 ;^ 
 
 the Roman emperors, was born of an obscure family 
 ill Dalmatia ; but rose from being a common soldier to 
 the rank of general, and on the death of Numerianin 
 284, was chosen emperor. Probus, Marcus Aurelius 
 Valerius, was the son of a poor gardener in Dalmatia ; 
 ho was chosen after Tacitus, by the army that was 
 then in the east in 276. PIiu, king of China, was a 
 native of China, and a servant to one of those tliat 
 were deputed to offer sacrifice to their idols. Justin 
 the first, emperor of the east, was the son of a Thra- 
 cian shepherd, and himself a swine-herd: he succeeded 
 Anastasius the 9th of July, 518. Anastasius, a mean 
 officer of the court of Turkey, by the favour of the 
 empress, was created emperor. Michael the fifth, 
 emperor of the Turks, was a man of obscure birth, but 
 adopted by Toe in A. D. 1041. Artaxerxes, from a 
 private Persian soldier, raised himself to be king. 
 Dallonyrnus, king of Tyre, was clothed with the royal 
 robes while ladci.ig water out of a pit in ragged 
 apparel, for a little money ; and thus, from being a 
 day-labourer became a gi*eat king. Licungzus, at first 
 a common thief, rose to tlie imperial throne of China. 
 Lamissus, king of the Lombards, knew not his parents, 
 as he was drawn, when a child, from a fish pond, into 
 wliich he had been thrown by his mother to drown. 
 Peres, monarch of tlie Indies, was tlie son of a barber, 
 and wrought himself as a tinker. When ho was taken 
 prisoner by Alexander the great, in the 427th year of 
 Rome, the victorious prince bid him ask whatever he 
 desired ; when he replied — I desire only to be treated 
 like a king; which so charmed Alexander, that he gave 
 him all his country again. Braydillus, prince of 
 Sclavonians, was the son of a collier. And William 
 tlie first of England, commonly called the conqueror, 
 was the son of a skinner’s daughter. 
 
 Sucli have been tlie beginnings of some of the great- 
 est emperors and kings recorded in ancient history. 
 
 E 
 
74 - THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 And I might also mention a few of modern date, such 
 as Bonaparte, &c. but this would only prolong our 
 conversation without any beneficial effect. From 
 these, then, I hope, you will now allow, that all who 
 have filled the office of king and of emperor, have not 
 been nobly born and bred. 
 
 In the third place, I shall endeavour to convince 
 you that some emperors and kings have not only been 
 themselves the perpetrators of base and inglorious 
 deeds, but have encouraged others to commit them. 
 A tliousand instances might be produced, in almost 
 every country, but I trust one or two, for the present, 
 will suffice. 
 
 Caius Caligula, the emperor of Rome, was of a most 
 bloody and cruel disposition ; he caused Tiberius, who 
 was made co-heir with him, to be murdered : he caused 
 Syllanus’s wife’s father to murder himself: he caused 
 several of the senators to be privately murdered, and 
 then gave it out that they had murdered themselves: 
 many other noblemen he stigmatized, and then con- 
 demned to the metal mines; or to mending the high 
 ways : some he condemned to be torn by wild beasts, 
 others he sawed asunder : he caused parents to be pre- 
 sent at their children’s death: he often wished that all 
 the people of Rome had but one neck, that he might 
 cut them all off at one blow.* Sylla, another of the 
 Roman emperors, even exceeded in cruelty, Caligula ; 
 for, making an oration to the people, he told them 
 openly, that he had appointed all men to die that ho 
 could call to his remembrance : he not only kiUed the 
 fathers and grandfathers, but deprived their sons and 
 grandsons of all credit and good name, and confiscated 
 all their goods. There was no temple of any god 
 whatever, no altar, tlio’ ever so lioly, no privilege of 
 
 * Byron, in his Don Juan, has a similar wish, viz. That all women on 
 earth had but one mouth, so as he might kiss them all at once. What a 
 glutton ! 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 75 
 
 hospital, or father’s house, that was not embriied with 
 blood, and horrid murders; for the husbands were 
 slain in their wives’ arms, and the children in their 
 mothers’ lap. At the massacre of Paris, the king of 
 France, altliough he did not with his own hands com- 
 mit murders, he caused thousands of innocent Christi- 
 ans to be slain: hearing of a worthy and learned 
 minister, Mr. John Mason, he caused a gentleman to 
 go to his house and slioot him, which he accomplished 
 in the following fiend-like manner: — Going to the 
 house of the innocent divine, he met his wife at the 
 entrance, whom he saluted and kissed, enquiring where 
 her husband was : she said in the garden, and directed 
 him to the place, whom he also lovingly embraced, 
 asking if he knew wherefore he was come to liim. 
 The king, (saith he) hath commanded me to kill you 
 presently, and without more ceremony presented a pis- 
 tol. The minister said he knew nothing wherein he 
 had olf ended the king; however, he must needs die, 
 and was immediately shot dead. Much also might be 
 said of the dishonourable conduct of some of the early 
 kings of Britain, but I shall forbear to say any thing 
 of them for the present. Having only to observe to 
 you, that the life of a king is the rule, the square, the 
 frame and form of an honest life ; according to which, 
 their subjects frame the manner of their lives, and 
 order their families ; and rather from the lives of kings 
 do subjects take their patterns and examples than 
 from their precepts: for malice and vice taking their 
 full swing through the career of the power and liberty 
 which wicked princes yield unto them, do push for- 
 ward every violent passion, make every little clioler 
 turn to murder or banishment, and every regard and 
 love to rape and adultery, and covetousness to confis- 
 cation. But, as the strength of a prince is the friend- 
 ship and love of his people, he ought to govern his 
 realm as a father doth over his children. There, when 
 
70 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 lie knows how to rule, his subjects will know how to 
 obey ; for, your successor, James the sixth of Scotland, 
 and first of England, used to say, — “A king can never 
 be so notoriously vicious, but he will generally favour 
 justice, and maintain some order, except in the par- 
 ticulars, wherein his inordinate host carries him away. 
 Even Domitian, Dionysius, the renowned tyrants, and 
 many others, are signalized as great observers of jus- 
 tice. No tyrant is so barbarously wicked, but liis own 
 reason will tell him, that though he live like a god, ho 
 must die like a man. 
 
 Chaucer says, — 
 
 A king can kill, a king can save ; 
 
 A king can make a lord— a knave.” 
 
 From what I have now spoken, it is evident to a 
 demonstration, that emperors and kings have not al- 
 ways been, nor will always be entitled to the true 
 character of Gentlemen: for, when I come to speak 
 more particularly on the nature and qualifications of 
 a Gentleman, I shall satisfy you to the contrary. In 
 the meantime I wish you to observe tliat, as the word 
 Gentleman is a compound, composed of an adjective 
 and noun: the adjective. Gentle^ denotes one that is 
 mild, tame, civil, obliging, &c. ; Man, is a name given 
 to the whole human race without distinction, aud ap- 
 plies equally as well to a subject as a king; so that 
 you will see by my bringing to your recollection the 
 lives of those few emperors and kings just mentioned, 
 who once flourished upon earth, enjoying all its great- 
 ness, how much they have come short of this most 
 honourable of all titles, that of a Gentleman. For, as 
 the old proverb says, — “ Jack will never make a Gen- 
 tleman;'' that is to say, there is more than the bare 
 name required to the making of a Gentleman, such as 
 hirtli, honour, and merit : for, let a man possess never 
 so much money, be descended from the most noble aud 
 wealthy parents, ride in his gilded coach witli all tlie 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 77 
 
 attendants that rank and money can command, still 
 lie cannot purchase one grain of Gentility, but will re- 
 main Jack in the proverb still, without learniwj, virtue, 
 and tcisdom, to enrich the faculties of his mind, to en- 
 hance the glory of his wealth, and to ennoble his blood; 
 for, put him into what circumstances you please, ho 
 will discover himself one time or other, in point of be- 
 haviour, to be of a mean extract, aukward, ungenteel, 
 and ungenerous; a Gentleman at second hand only, 
 or a vain glorious upstart: for you cannot make a 
 silken purse out of a sow’s ear. 
 
 King James . — You have now, I must confess, over- 
 come all my scruples, and convinced me of my error. 
 That all kings are not Gentlemen, I too plainly per- 
 ceive, and regret; but, that all kings ought to bo 
 Gentlemen, you will, I presume, most readily allow. 
 
 Sir David . — Most certainly. And, it is in the 
 power of every one to bo so : for our old word honing, 
 but now by contraction king, is derived of con, (saith 
 Becanus) which comprehends three things, possum, 
 scio, audeo ; which signify , — I can do it; I know how to 
 do it; and I dare do it. Therefore, if he either want 
 power, or skill, or courage, or inclination to act up to 
 the necessary requisites of a Gentleman, his people, 
 instead of admiring, will cry out as the Romans did of 
 Pompey — “ This Grandee is our great misery.” There 
 are many good deeds required of kings to entitle them 
 to the character of Gentlemen; but the principal is 
 justice to their subjects; and they should ^so remem- 
 ber that, as the people are their subjects, so are tliey 
 the subjects of time and providence. Your royal 
 father and predecessor, James the fourth, king of 
 Scotland, from his ready and impartial execution of 
 justice, was called the poor man’s king. Milton says — 
 
 “ A'monarch’s crown, 
 
 Golden in show, is but a crown of thorns ; 
 
 Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and slceidcss nights, 
 
 To him that wears the regal diadem ; 
 
78 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 When on his shoulders each man’s burden lies : 
 
 For therein lies the office of a king, 
 
 His honour, virtue, merit, and chief praise. 
 
 That for the public all his weight he bears.” 
 
 King James . — I have observed that during our dis- 
 course, you have studiously avoided introducing into 
 your remarks on the characters of emperors and kings 
 any of our British kings, so that I should like much to 
 know something of their origin, history, and behaviour, 
 that 1 may judge from the tenor of their lives and 
 conduct, how far they have deserved to be ranked 
 among those that deserve the title of Gentlemen. 
 
 Sir David. With all my heart: nothing can give 
 me gi’eater pleasure ; but as it would be too tedious to 
 go over the whole history and actions of all the kings 
 of Scotland, particularly, as you are already acquaint- 
 ed with them, I shall only begin with the origin and 
 history of the predecessors of that illustrious sovereign 
 who at present sways the sceptre of the happy island 
 of Britain, and its dominions, as handed down by some 
 old and respected authors. 
 
 The Atlas assures us, that several authors derive 
 this family from Actius, king of Alba, father to another 
 of the same name, who was king of the Volci, and 
 father to Marcus Actius Balbus, grandfather, by the 
 mother’s side, to the emperor Augustus. 
 
 Mr. Disney observes, that Henninges and Reusner 
 pretend to derive Azo or Albert d’Este, great marquis 
 in Lombardy, and the founder of the Brunswick 
 family, lineally from Gains Acetius, a Roman of note 
 at Aleste or Este, A. D. 390, who, they say, was of tlie 
 same family with Augustus’s grandfather, that des- 
 cended from Actius Navius the Augur: but this is a 
 mere conjecture from the affinity of names, and the 
 residence of the Actian family at Este. 
 
 The Atlas says, that most German authors make 
 this Azo son to Hugh, marquis of Ferrara. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 7D 
 
 Others derive him from Hugh, king of Italy, and 
 by consequence from Charlemain. Others suppose 
 him to have been of German extraction; but let this 
 be as it will, it is certain he was a very rich prince, of 
 great power in Lombardy, and lived near a hundred 
 years. The authors for this are Heusner, llenninges, 
 Spener in his Syll. Genealog. 
 
 Others, according to the Atlas, carry his genealogy 
 higher, and derive him from Azo I. count of Este, 
 who was the emperor’s vicar in Italy, and died A. D. 
 070. He had a son called Thibant, who succeeded 
 liim, was created marquis of Este, and lord of Lucca, 
 and died in 976. He was succeeded by his son Albert 
 Azo, whom others called Sigefrid, and say he died in 
 005. He was succeeded by his son Hugh, whose wife 
 was Mary, daughter to Theodore, marquis of Parma. 
 He died in 1014, and was succeeded by his son. 
 
 Azo, or Albert, who is agreed by most authors to be 
 the founder of rhe Brunswick family. The Atlas 
 agrees with Mr. Disney, that he was a very powerful 
 prince in Lombardy, and adds, that he was marquis of 
 Tuscany; that when the emperor Conrad II. returned 
 to Germany, Azo followed liim, and there married 
 Cunigunda, or Cunigundis, the only daughter of 
 Guelph, (anciently Welil*) by whom he had Guelph 
 d’Este, his successor. The Atlas says he lived above 
 a hundred years. 
 
 Mr. Disney calls .this lady sister of Guelph III. carl 
 of Altorf, and Kavensberg, and duke of Carintliia. 
 He adds, that the first, or ancient Guelphs, of wliom 
 this lady descended, were very considerable in the em- 
 pire, as appears from the account which Urspergensis 
 gives of them. The marriage of Rudolph, grandfather 
 of Cunigundis, with Itha, grand-daughter of Othol. sur- 
 named the great, introduced the imperial blood of Sax- 
 ony into their veins; and though they were only earls of 
 Altorf and Ravensberg, till Guelph 111. (the last male- 
 
80 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 heir of that race) possessed himself of tlie dutchy of 
 Cariiithia and the Veroneze, their power w'as formid- 
 able, and some of tlie German emperors found it so by 
 experience. This Guelph III. dying without issue in 
 1 055, his dominions passed, in right of his sister, to her 
 son Guelph IV. from whom the second, or present 
 Guelphic family, the most illustrious house of Bruns- 
 wick is descended. 
 
 Mr. Disney and the Atlas both agree, that Azo, or 
 Albert above mentioned, had a second wife called 
 Ermengard, who was daughter of Hugh, count of 
 Maine; and Mr. Disney says he had a son by her 
 called Azo or Fulco, marquis or lord of Este, from 
 whom descends the noble house of Este in Italy, dukes 
 of Modena, &c. 
 
 Azo’s eldest son by his first wife was Guelph IV. 
 carl of Altorf, &c. first duke of Bavaria of this family, 
 says Mr. Disney. His first wife was Ethclina, daughter 
 to Otho, duke of Bavaria, whom he divorced, and had 
 no issue by her. The duke, her father, being pro- 
 scribed by the emperor Henry IV. his title and dom- 
 inions were given to Guelph, A. D. 1071. His second 
 wife was Judith, daughter of Baldwin, earl of Flanders, 
 by wliom slie had issue: she died in 1094, and Guelph 
 IV. died in 1101. 
 
 The Atlas calls him Guelph the valiant. He agrees 
 with Mr. Disney in what has been said before, and 
 adds, that he made a voyage into the Holy Land, and 
 died in his return. 
 
 By Judith of Flanders he had two sons, viz. — 1. 
 Guelph II. duke of Bavaria, who died without issue in 
 1119. He was a pious and valiant prince, married 
 Maud, duchess of Lombardy, and assisted the emperor 
 Henry V. against pope Paschal II. in which war he fell. 
 And 2. Henry the Black, duke of Bavaria, who married 
 Wulfield, daughter of Magnus Billing, duke of cast 
 Saxony, wliich includes Luncnbur(j and Brunswick, 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 81 
 
 Mr. Disney observes, that the first of this family, 
 Herman Billingius, was created duke of Saxony by 
 tlie emperor Otho I. A. D. 9GG. Duke Magnus, the 
 fourth in descent from him, was proscribed by Henry 
 IV. of all his feudal dominions, and his dutchy was 
 given to Lotharius, afterwards emperor; but Lunen- 
 burg not being held of the imperial crown, passed with 
 Wulfield, his eldest daughter, and heiress to Henry 
 the Black, duke of Bavaria, by her husband. By this 
 marriage she transmitted to her posterity the royal 
 blood of Norway and Denmark by her father’s side, 
 and the royal blood of Hungary by that of her 
 mother. 
 
 Henry the Black had issue by her, to Henry the 
 Proud, duke of Bavaria and Saxony, who continued 
 the line, as you shall hear anon. 2. Conrad, who be- 
 came a Benedictine monk, was afterwards created car- 
 dinal, and died in 1125. 3. Guelph III. who was 
 
 made prince of Tuscany and Sardinia, and duke of 
 Spoleto, by the emperor Frederick I. but being wholly 
 addicted to his pleasures, which ran him in debt, he 
 sold those principalities again to the emperor, and his 
 estate in Swabia and Bavaria to his nephew Henry 
 the Lion. He had a son called Guelph the IV. who 
 died before him in 1 1 G8, and he himself gave up the 
 ghost in 1191. 
 
 I shall return to the eldest son, Henry the Proud: 
 he married Gertrudis, daughter to the emperor Lotli- 
 arius II. with whom he received the dutchies of Saxony 
 and Brunswick in 1137. Henry the Proud was de- 
 signed successor to the empire by his father-in-law, 
 Lotharius, who thereupon sent him the imperial or- 
 naments; but Conrad 111. being elected, he sent to 
 Henry for the Uegalia in 1138, which he refused to 
 deliver. Upon this Conrad complained to the dyet 
 at Goslar, charged Henry with a design to overturn 
 the coiistitution of the cm])ire, and that ho was 
 E 2 
 
82 
 
 THE EGLLNTON TOUllNAMENT, 
 
 encouraged to it by his overgrown dominions, wliicli 
 reached from Denmark to Sicily, and by his relation 
 to many great families in Germany and Italy. Ho 
 also took notice of the trouble that Henry’s ancestor 
 Hugo, had given to the emperor Henry II. and in 
 short prevailed with the dyet to deprive Henry of the 
 dutchies of Bavaria and Saxony. The former was 
 given to Leopold of Austria, and the latter to Albert 
 of Brandenburg. Henry the black prince died the 
 same year, but his brother Guelpho or Welpho, vindi- 
 cated Henry’s memory, maintained his pretension, and 
 carried on a war against Conrad with various successes ; 
 but at last being closely besieged by Conrad in Wems- 
 burg, anno. 1140, was obliged to surrender on this 
 condition — that Guelpho’s lady and others should have 
 leave to march unmolested tlu’ough the emperor’s 
 camp with their best jewels, &c. This being granted, 
 that lady and the others came out with their husbands 
 on their backs, and left all their riches behind. This 
 generous stratagem did so mnicli please the emperor, 
 that he readily granted pardon to Guelpho and his 
 officers, and entered into an alliance with him. Guel- 
 pho afterwards recovered Bavaria and Saxony by arms 
 from the houses of Austria and Brandenburg; but 
 the emperor obliged him to quit Bavaria, and, took 
 him along with liim to the Holy Land. Guelpho and 
 liis nephew died. 
 
 Henry the Lion, son to Henry the Black, duke of 
 Bavaria and Saxony, succeeded. He married Maud, 
 daughter to Henry the II. king of England ; by which 
 the English, Saxon, Norman, and Scottish blood royal 
 was transmitted to their posterity: for Henry the II. 
 her father, was of the English Norman blood, being 
 great grandson to William the Conqueror ; and by his 
 grandmotlier Maud, daughter to Malcolm, king of 
 Scotland, and Margaret, sister to Edgar Atheling, the 
 Scotish and Saxon blood royal were united in Iiis veins. 
 
AN'D GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 83 ^ 
 
 lie made a pilgrimage to tlic Ilolj Land with a 
 great retinue of princes, bishops, &c. and the emperor 
 Frederick Barbarossa sent an embassy to the Greek 
 emperor on liis behalf ; so that he received liim with 
 the greatest magnificence. When he came to the 
 Holy sepulchre, he gave great proofs of his bberality 
 to those "who kept it, and all the marks of devotion 
 which were usual in those times. Ho was also at great 
 expense in repairing and beautifying the place. He 
 narrowly escaped an ambush, laid for him by a 
 treacherous saracen on his return ; had a splendid re- 
 ception from the sultan of the Turks, who called him 
 brother, congratulated his escape from that treacherous 
 plot, and made him many, rich presents. 
 
 This Henry was by far the most potent prince in 
 the empire, his dominions extending in breadth from 
 the Elbe to the Rhine, besides the dutchies of Holstein 
 and Mecklenburg obtained by conquest, beyond the 
 Elbe; and in length they lay from the German ocean 
 and the Baltic, to the confines of Italy. This over- 
 grown power drew upon him the envy of other princes, 
 who exasperated the emperor Frederick Barbarossa 
 against him, because he refused to assist in the war 
 against Pope Alexander III. so that in the dyet of* 
 Wurtsburg, anno. 1179, or 1180, he was proscribed; 
 his dutchy of Bavaria given to Otho, count Wittel- 
 patch, from whom are descended the present electorial 
 families of Bavaria and the Palatinate. The dutchy 
 of Saxony was given to Bernard Ascanius, founder of 
 the house of Anhalt ; and all its other territories were 
 distributed among several ether princes and free 
 towns. Upon this he retired to England, and by his 
 father-in-law’s intercession, Brunswick and Lunenburg 
 were restored to him, or lower Saxony. His lady, 
 Maud, died, in 1189, and he liimself in 1195, 
 
 Kadevicus de Gestis Frederick I. Imp. Lib. IV, 
 cap. XLII. who was his contemporary, gives the 
 
84 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 following character of this prince. lie was of a grace- 
 ful presence, strong body, and extraordinary genius, 
 lie alFected generous exercises, abhorred sloth and 
 luxury, was modest and grave, had a manly severity 
 of temper, was a constant terror to offenders, who 
 rarely escaped him, and was exceedingly loved by the 
 innocent and good, whom he protected by a duo 
 execution of justice. His courage was great, and his 
 actions considerable ; yet he was always more desirous 
 of doing what deserved applause, than of receiving it ; 
 and accordingly never loved to speak of liimself, but 
 did great things with little pomp and noise. He had, 
 by Maud of England, 1. Henry, who was count Pala- 
 tine of the Rhine, in right of his wife Agnes, daughter 
 and heir of Conrad of Swabia; and from a daughter 
 and son by her the present families of Bavaria, the 
 Palatinate, and Baden are descended: he died in 1227. 
 2. Otho IV. who was elected emperor in 1198, and 
 again in 1208. He was very much favoured by king 
 Richard I. of England, his uncle, who gave him the 
 earldom of Poictou in France in 119G, and made him 
 carl of York in England. Ho was there when ho was 
 first chosen emperor by the archbishop of Cologne, and 
 , some other princes, against Philip of Swabia, who, 
 with all liis adherents, was excommunicated by pope 
 Innocent III. Otho was crowned at Atx la Chapelle 
 that same year, and again at Montz in 1200. Ho 
 maintained his title to the empire with various suc- 
 cess ; and, though he was at last forsaken by the pope, 
 and most of his friends, ho would never quit his claim, 
 but Iield it resolutely till the death of his rival, Philip, 
 ill 1208, when, with the unanimous consent of the 
 liriiices, ho was re-elected emperor, and succeeded 
 peaceably. Pope Innocent ill. received him with 
 great joy at Rome, and crowned him there, A.D. 1209. 
 The solemn oath which the pope then imposed, and 
 made liim take, contained, amongst other articles, that 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 85 
 
 lio should obey the Holy See, and restore to it entire 
 the patrimony of St. Peter, which had been detained 
 by several preceding emperors; as also, that he should 
 assert with all his powers, the dignity of the empire, 
 recover its rights, however dispersed or alienated, and 
 vigorously defend the same. The pope did not con- 
 sider how far this last clause would extend; for, after 
 the ceremony was over, Otho, enquiring carefully of 
 those that were best able to inform him, wdiat imper- 
 ial fiefs had been alienated and usurped, he discovered 
 the bishops of Pome to have been the chief usurpers 
 on the empire ; tliey having torn Apulia and Calabria 
 from it, and disposed of them, as pretended fiefs of tlie 
 church, to the king of Sicily; and that what they 
 called the patrimony of St. Peter, was in truth a great 
 part of Italy, the mark of Ancona, the dutchies of 
 Thuscia, or Tuscany, and Spoleto, &c., wliich were 
 imperial fiefs; but, contrary to all right, had been 
 given by that bigotted lady, Matildis, (whose domin- 
 ions they were), to the papacy in 1077, but had been 
 justly re-seized by several of the emperor’s prede- 
 cessors. 
 
 It is fit to observe here, that Matildis, whose gift 
 of her dominions to the pope Otho did controvert, was 
 lady to Welph V., brother to Henry the Black of 
 Brunswick, and grand uncle to Otho himself; that 
 slie inherited, from her father, Lucca, Tuscany, Man- 
 tua, and Ferrara, and hOj^d no right to dispose of the 
 fiefs of the empire without consent of the diet ; so that 
 Otho had a right to claim those dominions, and the 
 liouse of Brunswick’s pretensions to them were also 
 confirmed by the donation of the emperor Frederick 
 I. ill 1100. » 
 
 When Otho understood this, he perceived that ono 
 ]>art of his oath must necessarily be broke, as incon- 
 sistent with the other; and considering that his duty 
 to the empire was much less disputable that his 
 
8G THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 obedience to the Roman See, he wisely resolved to ad- 
 here to that part of his oath for preserving the imperial 
 rights: and, therefore, refused not only to restore the 
 mark of Ancona, but recovered by arms what the pope 
 had possessed himself of in prejudice of the empire, 
 with a great share of Apulia. Upon this the pope 
 excommunicated him, pronounced him to have for- 
 feited the imperial dignity, absolved his subjects from 
 their allegiance in 1210, and set up against him Fre- 
 derick IL, then king of Sicily, as emperor. Otho 
 returned to Germany, where the papal faction pre- 
 vailed; rebellions were raised against him on every 
 side by the interest and power of the clergy, and 
 many of the secular princes fell off from him. Otho 
 made a pathetic oration to the dyet at Nuremberg in 
 1212, wherein he represented to them the grounds of 
 his quarrel with the pope; the insufferable avarice 
 and usurpations of the See of Rome upon the empire; 
 how mean it was for the German princes to be led 
 and directed as slaves to the papacy, and what danger 
 must ensue to their undoubted right of electing, if 
 they suffered the popes to nominate and dethrone the 
 emperors at pleasure. But, notwithstanding the in- 
 fluence that this speech had upon some of the princes, 
 the king of Bohemia, the archbishops of Mentz and 
 Treves, the duke of Austria, and landgrave of Thu- 
 ringia, and several otliers, elected Frederick, and 
 called him to take possession. 
 
 When Frederick came, every body submitted to 
 him, and among the rest those who were under the 
 greatest personal obligations to Otho, and had promised 
 never to abandon him. Being thus forsaken, and 
 shamefully deserted by the empire, whose rights ho 
 maintained, he thought it in vain to struggle farther 
 at home, so joined his forces with the English against 
 his old enemy, Philip of France, and fought valiantly 
 at Bovines, in 1214, where the French obtaining the 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 87 
 
 victory, he retired to liis own dominions in Saxony, 
 and retained the imperial title and regalia till he died, 
 which was in 1218, and left no issue behind him. The 
 authors who mention this are, Hoveden, Mat. Paris, 
 Godefridus, Merbomius, Mutius, &c. 
 
 Henry the Lion’s third son was William de Lunen- 
 burg, born at Winchester in England, was exiled in 
 1184. He was also surnamed Long- Sword, and mar- 
 ried Helena, daughter to Woldemar I., king of Den- 
 mark, succeeded his father in the dominions of Lun- 
 enburg, &c., was made prisoner in the wars of Hungary, 
 in 1205, ransomed himself for a great sum of money, 
 and died in the year 1213. 
 
 His son Otho succeeded, and Mr. Disney says, was 
 created duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg. He adds, 
 that the two sons-in-law of Henry Count Palatine sold 
 their right in Brunswick to the emperor Frederick II., 
 but Otho, unwilling to suffer such an alienation, seized 
 that city, turned out the imperial garrison, in 1227, 
 and held it till 1235, when, by the advice of his 
 friends, he submitted to the emperor at the dyet of 
 Mentz ; which Frederick took so well that he gener- 
 ously restored to him, and gave him the title of the 
 duke of Brunswick, because he had assisted him against 
 the pope, who set up Frederick’s own son as his rival. 
 Thus those dominions, which before were free and 
 hereditary to the family, became imperial fiefs, ac- 
 cording to Merbomius and Spener. The Atlas says, 
 he was called Otho the short, and by somo the infant, 
 because little in stature. He was born in 1204, mar- 
 ried Maud of Brandenburg, had several differences 
 with Gerard II., archbishop of Bremen, for the county 
 of Staden, took part with Woldemar, king of Den- 
 mark against the count of Schwerin, by whom he was 
 taken prisoner, and afterwards set at liberty. He died 
 in 1252, and left four sons. 1. John, called duke of 
 Limenbiu’g, because that part of the dominions fell to 
 
88 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 his share; of whom and his posterity you shall hear 
 soon. 2. Albert, the great duke of J3ruiiswick, whose 
 posterity continued the line, as you shall hear in its 
 place. 3. Conrad, bishop of Verden ; and 4. Otho, 
 bishop of Ilildesheim, who, being ecclesiastics, could 
 not have any lawful issue. Otho had likewise five 
 daughters: the first married to Albert of Saxony, the 
 second to Henry of Anlialt, the third to the landgrave 
 of Hesse, the fourth to Wenceslaus, prince of Kugen, 
 and the fifth to William, king of tho Homans. As to 
 John, tho first son of Otho, he married Agnes, or 
 Luitgard, daughter to Gerard, count of Holstein, by 
 whom he had Otho the strong, dulce of Limenburg, 
 who died in 1330, and left by Maud, daughter to 
 Lewis, elector palatine, four sons : the first was Otho, 
 duke of Lunenburg, who married Maud, sister of Al- 
 bert, duke of Mecklenburg ; he died in 1354, and left 
 only one daughter, called Maud, who was married to 
 Henry, count of Waldec. 
 
 The second was William, duke of Lunenburg, who 
 married, 1. Mary, princess of Majorca. 2. Sophia, 
 or Helena, a princess of Sweden. 3. Heseca, countess 
 of Ravensberg. And 4. Agnes, daughter to Erick, 
 duke of Saxony. He had only two daughters, but by 
 which of his wives is not said. The eldest was Eliza- 
 beth, who was married to Otho,* duke of Saxony, and 
 afterwards to Nicholas, count of Holstein. The young- 
 est was Maud, married first to Lewis, son of Magnus, 
 duke of Brunswick, and afterwards to Otho, count of 
 Schawenburg. William, being thus destitute of male 
 issue, left the dutchy by will to Magnus Torquatus, 
 duke of Brunswick ; but having, by a former will, made 
 his son-in-law, tho duke of Saxony, his heir, a long 
 war ensued between the houses of Brunswick and 
 Saxony, which terminated at length in tho elector 
 Wenceslaus’s marrying his daughters to the sons 
 of Torquatus, (afterwiuds duke of Brunswick and 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMxVSKED. 
 
 80 
 
 ciiburg), and -with them quitted his pretensions upon 
 Lunenburg to that family. Otho the strong had ano- 
 ther sou called Lewis, who was elected bishop of 
 Minden, A.D. 1324, and died 134G, and a fourth 
 called John, who was administrator of the archbishop- 
 ric of Bremen ; but neither of these two had any issue. 
 
 I shall return to Albert the great, second son of, 
 and successor to, that Otho who was created duke of 
 Brunswick and Lunenburg by the emperor Frederick 
 II. as formerly mentioned. Albert married Adelheid, 
 daughter to Henry the magnanimous, duke of Bra- 
 bant, whoso portion was to be paid by Henry III. of 
 England, who advised him to the match. 
 
 It is proper also to observe, that this lady wi’ote to 
 Edward I. of England, putting him in mind of tho 
 portion which his father had promised her with his 
 consent ; and after the death of her husband, the duke, 
 she wrote to him again, desiring tho portion might bo 
 paid, and that he would take her sons under his pro- 
 tection. In these letters she calls herself Adelheid; 
 so that there must be a mistake, both in Mr. Disney 
 and the Atlas, who make Adelheid daughter to the 
 marquis of Montserrat, Albert’s second wife, and the 
 mother of his sons; and the author of the history of 
 the house of Brunswick, Lunenburg, printed at Lon- 
 don in 1715, must also be mistaken in calling her 
 Elizabeth, since the contrary appears by her letters in 
 the appendix to his book ; and in tho 40th page of tho 
 book itself, where he calls her Adelhaiza, and says, 
 she was queen Leonora’s cousin, and married in Eng- 
 land. It is observable, that her husband Albert must 
 have had Bremen ; for he writes to Edward I. in be- 
 half of the townsmen, whom he calls his subjects, there 
 being a controversy betwixt them and the Londoners 
 about trade. . 
 
 The Atlas says, he made war upon Gerard, arcli- 
 bishop of Mentz, and Conrad, count of Eberstein, took 
 
90 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 them both prisoners, and ordered the latter to be hung 
 up by the feet, lie died afterwards of a wound receiv- 
 ed in a battle against the marquis of Misnia in 1279. 
 lie had six sons and a daughter: the first son was 
 Henry the wonderful, duke of Brunswick Grubenhagen, 
 the founder of that line. The second was Albert the 
 fat, duke of Bruns^vick, the founder of that first called 
 the line of Brunswick by way of distinction. The 
 third was William, duke of Brunswick- Wolfembuttel, 
 who died in 1292, witliout issue. The fom-tli was 
 Luder, and the fifth Conrad, both knights of St. John 
 of Jerusalem. The sixth, Otho, a Knight- Templar ; 
 which last three could have no lawful issue because of 
 their order. He had one daughter called Maud, first 
 married to Erick VII., king of Denmark, and then to 
 Henry III. duke of Silesia Glogan. 
 
 I shall now return to the second son of Albert the 
 Fat. The Atlas says, he inherited, by his father’s 
 will, the county of Gottingen, and afterwards the dom- 
 inions of his brother William. He married Kichsa, 
 daugliter to a prince of the Wenden or Vandals. He 
 took Brunswick and Wolfembuttel from his brother, 
 died in 1318, and left eight sons. 1. Otho the liberal, 
 duke of Brunswick, who married Agnes, daughter of 
 Conrad or Herman, elector of Brandenburg; and liis 
 second wife was Jetta of Hesse. The Atlas says, he 
 succeeded to his father, and died in 1334, leaving no 
 issue but a daughter called Agnes, who married Bar- 
 nimus III. duke of Pomerania. Albert the Fat’s 
 second son was Albert, chosen bisliop of Halberstadt, 
 in 1324. He was afterwards duke of Brunswick, and 
 died in 1358, without issue. Pope John made null 
 his election to the see of Halberstadt, and named Gis- 
 Icr of Holstein to be bishop : but Albert kept him out 
 of possession, and in short held the bishoprick thirty- 
 five years against four successive popes. He wits a 
 great captain, and liad wars with the marquis of Mis- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 91 
 
 Ilia, the counts of Regenstein, and other princes in 
 league against liim, which involved him in great 
 troubles ; but he kept his see till he was very old, and 
 then quitted it to Lewis, brother to the marquis of 
 Misnia, by order of Pope Innocent VI. and died not 
 long after. The third son was William; of whom I 
 know nothing more than that he died without issue. 
 The fourth was Henry, made bishop of Ilildesheim in 
 1331, and died in 1362, without issue. The fifth was 
 Luder, great master of the Teutonick order in Prussia, 
 who died without issue in 1335. The sixth was John, 
 who also died without issue, but not said when. The 
 seventh was Magnus, duke of Brunswick, who con- 
 tinued the line. The eighth was Ernest, duke of 
 Gottingen and Lina; he married a daughter of Henry 
 IV. duke of Lagan, but his lino was extinguished in 
 his grandson, anno. 1463. 
 
 I shall again return to Magnus, duke of Brunswick. 
 The Atlas calls him Magnus of Sangerhausen and 
 Landsperg, and says, he succeeded to Brunswick after 
 the death of his brother, and died in 1368. Mr. 
 Disney says, he married Sophia, daughter to Henry, 
 marquis of Brandenburg- Landsperg, by whom he had 
 four sons: first, Lewis, who married Maud, daughter 
 to his cousin William, duke of Lunenburg, and died 
 without issue in 1358. Secondly, Magnus Torquatus, 
 who continued the family ; of whom more by and bye. 
 Thirdly, Otho, who died without issue. Fourthly, 
 Albert, made bishop of Bremen, in 1361, and died 
 without issue in anno. 1395. 
 
 I shall next return to Magnus, who continued the 
 family, and was called Torquatus, because he wore a 
 silver chain about his neck on the following occasion; 
 He was very disorderly in his younger days, and made 
 his father’s neighbours and subjects very uneasy, upon 
 which that prince endeavoured to reclaim him by 
 admonitions and letters; but finding it in vain, ho 
 
02 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 threatened to hang him if ever he catched him in the 
 field ill an hostile manner; which Magnus made so little 
 account of, that he put a silver chain about his neck 
 bj way of derision, saying, if liis father caught him, 
 he should not bo at a loss for something to hang him 
 by. After his father’s death he succeeded and had a 
 great controversy with duke William of Lunenburg, 
 and Albert duke of Sax-Lawenburg, about the suc- 
 cession to the dutchy of Lmienburg. Duke William 
 favoured Albert of Saxony, third son to liis second 
 daughter, and solicited the emperor Charles IV. to 
 invest him as his heir. The emperor invested Albert 
 and his two elder brothers ; but William soon after re- 
 voked what he had done, and gave it to Albert alone. 
 Afterwards duke William changed his mind, and gave 
 it to Magnus Torquatus; which the emperor taking as 
 an affront, ho put duke William into the ban of the 
 empire. The Lunenburgers, not knowing what to 
 do, desired security that they might bo indemnified, if 
 they acted contrary to the emperor’s mind: Duke 
 Magnus promised to secure them, and upon AViUiam’s 
 death took possession. The dukes of Sax-Lawenburg 
 disputed it with him, and procured the emperor’s man- 
 date for their admission ; but Magnus still kept them 
 out. Having several of his great men taken in this 
 war with the duke of Mecklenburg, ho agreed to pay 
 him a sum for their ransom ; and because the senate 
 of Lunenburg scrupled to advance it, he quarrelled 
 with them, upon which they admitted duke Albert to 
 bo their sovereign. Duke Magnus obliged him to re- 
 tire by force, and was put under the ban of the empire 
 for it. In 1372, they referred their differences to the 
 decision of the emperor, who summoned them to ap- 
 pear at a certain day, wherein Magnus failing, he had 
 judgment given against him ; but Magnus still kept 
 possession, upon which a battle ensued, wherein dnko 
 Magnus was basely stabbed in the back, as he singled 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 93 
 
 out count Otho of Schawcnburg, wlio took peart with 
 duke Albert, in 1373. Magnus left by bis wife Ca- 
 therine, daughter to Woldema, elector of Branden- 
 burg, four sons. 
 
 The first was Frederick, who was elected emperor, 
 but slain in his return from the dyet in 1400. lie 
 married Anne, daughter to Wenccslaus, elector of 
 Saxony, by whom lie had two daughters; first, Anne, 
 married to Frederick of Austria, duke of Swabia, and 
 count of Tyrol. The second, Catherine, married to 
 Henry, count Schwartsburg. 
 
 Magnus Torquatuss’s second son was Bernard I. 
 duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg, founder of the 
 line of Lunenburg, from whom king George is descend- 
 ed, as you shall see further by and bye. Torquatus’s 
 third son was Henry, duke of Brunswick and Lunen- 
 burg, the founder of the line of Brunswick. The fourth 
 was Otho, made bishop of Verden in 1338, archbishop 
 of Bremen in 1395, and died without issue in 1406. 
 
 I shall now return to Bernard I. He married 
 Margaret, daughter to Wenceslaus, elector of Saxony, 
 was defeated in battle by Swiecheld, carried prisoner 
 to Poppenburg, and ransomed himself for seven 
 thousand livres of gold. He died in 1434, and left 
 two sons; first, Otho the Lame, who married Elizabeth 
 of Eberstein, took the fort of Hachemole from the 
 countess of Spiogelberg, and died without issue in 1445. 
 Secondly, Frederick, a very pious prince, his wife was 
 Magdalen, daughter to Frederick I. elector of Bran- 
 denburg. He built a cloyster at Zell, in order to live 
 retiredly, in 1458, and resigned the government to his 
 son Bernard II. who dying in 1464, Frederick resumed 
 the government, which he afterwards put into the 
 hands of his second son Otho, named the conqueror or 
 magnanimous; who married Anne, daughter of John, 
 count of Nassau Dillenburg, who died in 1471, before 
 his father, who died in 1478. 
 
04 
 
 THE EGLINTOX TOURNAMENT, 
 
 The next successor was Henry, duke of Lunenburg, 
 son to Otho the magnanimous. The Atlas says, he 
 was born in 1468, married Margaret, daughter to Er- 
 nest, elector of Saxony, assisted Henry, duke of Wol- 
 fembuttel, against the Friezlanders, and died in 1532, 
 according to Mr. Disney ; but the Atlas says, in 1546, 
 which I suppose to be a mistake. 
 
 Duke Henry had three sons ; first, Otho, who affect- 
 ing retirement, resigned the dutchy to his brother 
 Ernest, and contented himself with an annual pension, 
 and a residence at Harburg. He died in 1549, and 
 founded the line of Harburg. 
 
 Duke Henry’s second son was Ernest, who continued 
 the family, as you shall hear soon. The tliird son was 
 Francis, who married Clara, daughter to Magnus, 
 duke of Sax-Lawenburg. He died in 1549, and left 
 only two daughters; the first Catherine, married to 
 Bernard, prince of Anhalt, and then to Bogeslaus, 
 duke of Pomerania. 
 
 Again, I return to Ernest, who was first protestant 
 prince of this family, and both his brothers were of the 
 same religion. Ernest, together with his brother, 
 Duke Fraucis, the elector of Saxony, George, marquis 
 of Brandenburg, the landgrave of Hesse, and the prince 
 of Anhalt, were amongst those who signed the protest 
 against the decree made in the dyet of the Spire, for 
 restraining the reformation in 1529, from which pro- 
 test those of the reformed religion were called Pro- 
 testants. Duke Ernest and his brother, with the rest 
 of those princes, subscribed the famous Confession of 
 Augsburg, and presented it to the emperor. They 
 likewise engaged in the league of Smalculd, made be- 
 twixt several protestant princes and cities for mutual 
 defence, if attacked on account of religion ; and amongst 
 those cities were Brunswick, Gottingen, and Hanover, 
 all in the dominions of tliis family: so that his majesty 
 George II. was by descent as weU as principle, and by 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 95 
 
 the prerogative of the crown, justly styled Defender of 
 the Faith. Ernest died in 1546, and left by his wife 
 Sophia, daughter to Henry, duke of Mecklenburg, 
 four sons, all protestants; the first, Francis Otho, duke 
 of Lunenburg, who die.d without issue in 1559 ; the 
 second, Frederick, slain at the battle of Silverhausen 
 dn 1333, who left no issue; the third, Henry, duke of 
 Lunenburg- Danneburg: he resolved at first, upon a 
 single life, and gave up the dutchy of Lunenburg to 
 his younger brother William, reserving to himself the 
 small principality of Danneburg; but changing his 
 mind, he afterwards married Ursula, daughter to 
 Francis, duke of Sax-Lawenburg, and by her issue 
 formed the line of Wolfembuttel. 
 
 His younger brother, WilUam, previously mention- 
 ed, the fourth son to duke Ernest, founded thebranch 
 of Zell, and from them the present queen is descended. 
 William was born in 1535, married Dorothy, daughter 
 to Christian IJI. king of Denmark, became heir to 
 the dominions of Frederick, count of Diepholt, and 
 died in 1592: he left seven sons, all protestants. The 
 first Ernest, duke of Lunenburg and Zell, born in 
 1564, and died a bachelor in 1611. The second, 
 Christian, made bishop of Minden in 1599 : he after- 
 wards succeeded his brother as duke of Zell, and died 
 without issue in 1633. The tliird was Augustus, who 
 was duke of Lunenburg- Zell, and administrator of 
 Ratesburgh: he died without issue in 1636. The 
 fourth was Frederick, who succeeded his brother, was 
 also president of the chapter of Bremen, and died 
 without issue in 1648. The fifth was Magnus, who 
 died without issue in 1632. The sixth was George, 
 prince of Calenberg, or duke of Hanover, the first of 
 that line, the continuer of the family. The seventh 
 son was John, canon of Minden, who died without 
 issue ill 1628. 
 
 Duke William had also six daughters; first, Sophia, 
 
90 THE EOLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 married to George Frederick of Brandenburg Anspacli. 
 Second, Sybil, to Julius, count of Danueberg. Third, 
 Elizabeth, to Ernest, count of Hohenloe. Fourth, 
 Dorothy, to Charles, count of Birkenfield. Fiftli, 
 Clara, to William, count of Scliwartzburg. Sixth, 
 Margaret, to John, duke of Sax- Coburg. 
 
 I return to George, prince of Calenberg, or duke of 
 Hanover : he was born in 1582, married Anne Eleanor, 
 daughter to Lewis, prince of Hesse d’Armstadt, gave 
 proofs of his valour at the taking of Colmar, delivered 
 Lunenburg from the Swedes, and died in 1641: he 
 left four sons. First, Christian Lewis, duke of Lunen- 
 burg- Zell, who married Dorothy of Holstein Gluck- 
 burg: he was a protestant, and died without issue in 
 
 1665. The second, George Wilham, duke of Lunen- 
 burg- Zell, who was born in 1624, succeeded his father 
 in the government, and married Eleanora Desmieres, 
 daughter of Alexander, lord of Olbreuze, by whom he 
 had Sophia Dorothea, his only child, who was born in 
 
 1666, and married 1682, to George Lewis, son to his 
 brother Ernest Augustus. George William died in 
 1705, without heirs male, which put^ an end to the 
 line of Zell. 
 
 George, duke of Hanover’s third son was John 
 Frederick, duke of Hanover, a papist: he married 
 Benedicta Henrietta Philippa, daughter of Edward, 
 prince of Palatine, brother to the princess Sophia of 
 Hanover : he left no male issue, but had two daughters, 
 the first, Charlotte Felicitas, married in 1695, to 
 Rinaldo, duke of Modena; the second, Wilhelmina 
 Amelia, married in 1699, to the late emperor Joseph, 
 king of the Romans and Hungary. 
 
 Duke George’s fourth son was Ernest Augustus, a 
 protestant: he married in 1538, Sophia, daughter to 
 Frederick V. elector Palatine, (crowned king of Bo- 
 hemia in 1619) by Elizabeth, only daugliter of king 
 James 1. of Great Britain. Ernest Augustus was 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 97 
 
 made bishop of Osiiaburg in 1002, and succeeded his 
 brotlier Duke -John, who liad no male issue: lie was 
 afterwards created elector of Brunswick- Lunenburg; 
 of which it may be gratifying to give you a short 
 history. 
 
 The protestant powers in the empire having lost 
 ground by the devolution of the electorate palatine to 
 the popish line of Newburg, upon the death of the 
 jirotestant elector Charles Lewis, nephew to princess 
 Sophia, without heirs male ; it was thought reasonable 
 tliat a new electorate sliould be erected in their favour. 
 This was concerted by king William of Britain, and 
 other potentates, in a congress at the Hague in IGOl, 
 when they agreed that the fittest person was duke 
 Ernest Augustus of Hanover, because he had married 
 a protestant daughter of the protestant family ; that 
 his personal merit was incontrovertible, and the dig- 
 nity of the family such, that they had the first seat at 
 tlie dyet in the college of princes, and were esteemed 
 one of the most considerable in the empire for an- 
 tiquity, wealth, and power. 
 
 The emperor Leopold, being willing to testify his 
 gratitude to the protestants for their gallant assistance 
 in liis war against France, and desirous to engage 
 them farther in his interest, did readily consent to it. 
 Several of the German princes, among whom was the 
 duke of Brunswick- Wolfembutt el, out of their own 
 private piques opposed it. Upon which the emperor 
 ordered it to be put to the question in the college of 
 electors, where it was carried in the afiirmitive by a 
 majority of voices, and the resolve was accordingly 
 drawn up in form, and signed at Ratisbon, Oct. 17, 
 1692, to this effect — That in consideration of the great 
 merits of his liighness the duke of Hanover and his 
 predecessors, as also of his power, the considerable 
 rank which he held in the empire, the succours which 
 he had already granted, and which he had also promised 
 
 F 
 

 98 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 for tlie future, and for other weighty reasons, (which 
 were tlie words of the resolve) tlie dignity of elector 
 should be conferred upon him and his heirs male. 
 
 The college of princes immediately entered their 
 protest against this resolve, as contrary to the laws of 
 the empire, being done without their consent. Never- 
 theless the emperor gave the solemn investiture at 
 Vienna, December 29, 1092, by delivering the elec- 
 toral cap tlie duke of Hanover’s plenipotentiaries, and 
 declaring him elector, with the office of Gonsalonier, 
 or Standard-hearer of the empire. The pope also 
 stormed, protested, and would have annulled the im- 
 perial decree, by another from the Vatican; but he 
 was better advised, that his power did not extend so 
 far, nevertheless, he forbad all persons to own the new 
 elector. The opposition of other princes nearer home 
 continued till June 30, 1708, when all the three col- 
 leges of the empire agreed to the establishment of this 
 new electorate in the person of that elector’s eldest 
 son, George Lewis, with all the formality and strength 
 which the laws of the empire could give it. 
 
 ' It is also proper to observe, while on this subject, 
 that the title and office of Standard-bearer, which was 
 annexed to the dignity of the electorate, in favour of 
 this most illustrious house, being claimed also by the 
 duke of AVirtemberg, as belonging to his family, that 
 of Arch- Treasurer of the empire was given to tlie 
 elector of Brunswick in 1709, the elector Palatine, 
 who had it before, being upon the proscription of the 
 duke of Bavaria, restored to his ancient prerogative 
 of first secular elector and arch-steward. 
 
 He bears an escutcheon as elector and arch-treasurer, 
 Charlemain’s crown, which is of pure gold, weighs 
 fourteen pounds, and is still preserved at Nuremberg; 
 it is in tlie form of an octagon, tlie front and hinder 
 part at the largest, and of equal size. On the front 
 there are twelve unpolished jewels; the corner on the 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 90 
 
 riglit hand has our Saviour represented in a sitting 
 posture, and on each side of liiin a cherub with four 
 wings, whereof two are upward and two downwards, 
 with the motto under them. Per me Reges regnant. 
 The third angle is adorned with gems and pearls. The 
 fourth angle has king Hezekiah sitting with his head 
 leaning on his right hand, as if he was sick, and bj his 
 side the prophet Isaiah with a scroll, and these words 
 on it, Ecce adjiciam sper dies tuos XV. annos. The 
 fifth corner is adorned with jewels semeo. The sixth 
 has the effiges of king David crowned, and a scroll in 
 his hand with these words. Honor Regis Judicium dili- 
 git. The seventh corner consists of gems. The eiglitli 
 represents king Solomon crowned, and holding a scroll 
 in both hands, with this inscription. Time Dominum, cb 
 Regem amato. On the top of the crown there is a 
 cross, the front of which is adorned with seventeen 
 jewels, and on the top of the cross arc these words, 
 IKS NAZARENUS REX JUD.E DRUM, and in 
 the arch or semi-circle these, CHONRADUS DEI 
 GRATIA ROMANORUM IMPERATOR AUG. 
 
 Ernest Augustus had six sons and one daughter by 
 princess Sophia. I. Georgo Lewis, born May 28, 
 1660, late king of Great Britain, died at Osnaburg, 
 Juno 11, 1727, as ho was on his journey to Hanover. 
 2. Frederick Augustus, born 1661, killed in a battle 
 by the Turks in Transylvania in 1690, and left no is- 
 sue. 3. Maximilian William, bcrii December 14, 
 1666, was one of the chief generals in the emperor’s 
 service, and died unmarried. 4. Charles Philip, born 
 in 1669, and was killed by the Tartars in Albania, in 
 the emperor’s service in 1690. 5. Christian, who was 
 
 field-general to the emperor, killed by the French at 
 Munderkingen, near Ulm, in 17U3. 6. Ernest Au- 
 
 gustus, born September 17, 1674; all protestants ex- 
 cept the prince Maximilian. 
 
 I return again to George Lewis, who was king of 
 
100 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 Great Britain, lie had in riglit of his wife Sophia 
 Dorothea of Zell, her father’s dominions; and his is- 
 sue bj her were: First, George Augustus, who was 
 born October 30, 1683, and married August 22, 170o, 
 VVilhehnina Charlotte, queen- Consort, daughter of 
 John Frederick, marquis of Brandenburg- Anspach ; 
 she was born March 1, 1G82-3; and besides being a 
 most accomplished princess in all other respects, she 
 was so zealous a protestant that though solicited in 
 marriage by the emperor and king of Spain, in 1704, 
 she preferred her religion to the first throne in Christ- 
 endom ; for he was at that time in a fair prospect of 
 the imperial crown, which he afterwards obtained. 
 This raised her character so higli in the esteem of the 
 elector of Hanover, that he thought her the fittest 
 match for his son the prince, George II. of Great 
 Britain, Ac. lie had by her the following issue : — 
 1. Frederick Lewis, prince of Wales, born January 
 19, 1716-7. 2. Ann, tlie princess royal, born Octo- 
 ber 22, 1709. 3. Amelia Sophia Eleanora, born May 
 
 30, 1711. 4. Elizabeth Caroline, born May 30, 1713. 
 5. William, his royal highness the duke, born April 
 15, 1721. 6. Maria, born February 22, 1722-3. 7. 
 
 Louisa, born December 7, 1724. 
 
 llis majesty king George II., had also a sister, 
 Dorothea, born March 16, 1686-7, and married in 
 1706, to Frederick William, king of Prussia, her first 
 cousin, born in 1688, by whom she had one son, 
 Charles Frederick, born January 13, 1711-2, and two 
 daughters. 1. Frederick Augusta, born June 22, 
 1709. 2. Frederica Louisa, born Sept. 17, 1714. 
 
 I may also mention here, that, as Frederick, king 
 of Bohemia, and liis great grandmother Elizabetli, 
 were deprived, not only of that elective crown in 1 620, 
 but of their own hereditary dominions in Germany in 
 1621, for their firm adherence to the protestant reli- 
 gion, his majesty, by the over-ruling hand of providence 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 101 
 
 deuce, is not only advanced to the dignity of an elector, 
 but to the crowns of Great Britain and Ireland: so 
 that the protestant offspring of those royal confessors, 
 is amply rewarded, and advanced to a higher degree 
 of honour, both in Britain and Germany, than what 
 they lost; for, beside the advancement of his majesty, 
 his aunt Sophia, their grand-daughter, was honoured 
 with the crown of Prussia, and their great grandson 
 and great grand-daughter, with their descendants, are 
 still possessed of the same dignity. What still adds to 
 the glory of those confessors, and to the comfort of all 
 true protestants, there are several of their posterity 
 protestant kings and queens. 
 
 I come next to speak of the other branches of tliis 
 family, which was referred to in the genealogy. 
 
 The first is that of Grubenhagen, descended from 
 Henry the wonderful, duke of Brunswick-Grubenha- 
 gen, as formerly mentioned. He was chosen bishop 
 of llildesheim, but the pope disallowed it ; he kept it, 
 however, against several popes for thirty-seven years, 
 and at last the see of Rome brought him to this ex- 
 pedient, that he should resign it to the pope, and have 
 it conferred upon him again. Henry attempted to 
 seize the dutchy of Brunswick upon the death of his 
 brother William, but was prevented by Albert the fat. 
 He married Agnes, daughter to Albert the degenerate, 
 marquis of Misnia, by whom he had four sons and 
 three daugl iters. He died in 1322. 
 
 The first son was called Henry the younger, duke 
 of Brunswick- Grubenhagen. lie accompanied the 
 emperor Andronicus to the Holy Land, brought home 
 many curiosities, and died about 1357. He had two 
 wives; the first Helena, daughter of Woldemar, elec- 
 tor of Brandenburg, by whom he had two sons ; the 
 first, Otho, duke of Brunswick Grubenhagen, and 
 prince of Tarento. He married Joan, the first queen 
 of Naples in 1376. He was verv kind to pope l^rban 
 
 F 2 
 
102 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 V I. before his exaltation to the pontificate ; but that 
 pope was afterwards so insolent, that Otho, holding 
 the cup to him at dinner on liis knee, he let him kneel 
 so long before he took it, that the cardinals were 
 ashamed of his treating so great a prince in that man- 
 ner, and told him that it was time for him to drink ; 
 but he was still more ungrateful to Otho, as appears 
 bj the following story. That prince, finding he was 
 like to have no children by liis queen, persuaded her 
 to adopt Charles de D liras, his cousin, and marry him 
 to her niece. Pope Urban made Charles as ungi-ate- 
 ful as himself, and excited him to rebel against Otho 
 and Juan; upon which Otho besieged Charles in the 
 city of Xaples, and brought liim to great distress. But 
 Charles delivered himself by the following knavish 
 stratagem: he suborned an old Neapolitan soldier, in 
 whom Otho and Joan had great confidence, to coun- 
 terfeit the signature of the queen, who was then be- 
 sieged in Castelnuovo by Charles’s adherents, and in 
 her name to write to Otho, that, with six of his confi- 
 dents lie should come to her that night, by a secret 
 way she named; otherwise, she must sm-render and 
 fall into the hands of her enemies, but she had some- 
 thing to propose to him which could certainly never 
 prevent it. Otho, believing this to be true, set out 
 accordingly, was intercepted by an ambush and brought 
 before Charles, wlio put him in prison, and detained 
 him three years. This made Otho’s men break up 
 the siege, and gave Charles an opportunity to take 
 queen J oan, and put her to death ; but Otho escaping 
 from prison, renewed the war, punished the chief Nea- 
 politans severely for their treachery to his queen and 
 himself, but pardoned the rest upon their petition ; and 
 when they came before him lie expostulated with them 
 for behaving themselves so ungratefully towards liis 
 (piceii, who had been so tender to them, and could not 
 forbear tears. There happened a quarrel between this 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 103 
 
 prince and Henry, duke of Lancaster, whom he chal- 
 lenged to a combat, because of some injurious words 
 which the duke was said to have spoken against him. 
 The place for deciding it was that called the Clergy’s 
 Mead, near Paris; they both appeared, but the duke 
 of Lancaster denying the words he was charged with, 
 king John of France decided the quarrel with a salvo 
 for both tlieir honours, by declaring that it proceeded 
 from misinformation, and published his definitive sen- 
 tence accordingly, at Paris, December 11, 1352. 
 
 The second son was Balthaser, count of Fundy in 
 Italy, in right of his wife, who was an heiress, lie 
 was put to death by Charles III. king of Naples, in 
 1381, and left no issue. 
 
 Henry the younger’s second wife was Mary, daughter 
 to the king of Cyprus, by whom he had two sons : — 
 1. Riddacus, who died in Italy without issue about 
 1357 ; the second was Melchoir, bishop of Osnaburg 
 and Schwerin, poisoned in 1381, which put an end to 
 Henry the younger’s line. 
 
 Henry the wonderful’s second son was John, pro- 
 vost of Einbeck, and also of Embden, where liis epi- 
 taph is still to be seen; he died without issue in 1037. 
 His third was William, who died without issue about 
 1328. His fourth son was Ernest, who died in 1344, 
 but left issue, of whom anon. Henry the wonderful 
 had three daughters, two of which I have no account 
 of ; but the second, called Adelheid, (or, as the Greeks 
 call her, Irene), married in 1318, to Andronicus Pal- 
 alologus II., emperor of Constantinople, and died in 
 1326. 
 
 To return again to duke Ernest. By his wife 
 Agnes, daughter of Henry, count of Eberstein, he had 
 three sons : — I. Albert, duke of Brunswick, Gruben- 
 hagen, who continued the line, as you shall hear pre- 
 sently. 2. Frederick of Osterrode, who married 
 Elizabeth of Hamburgh, and died in 1404. His son 
 
104 
 
 THE EGLINTOX TOURNAMENT, 
 
 Otho married a daughter of Nassau, and died in 1411, 
 leaving only one daughter, who married Bogislaus, 
 duke of romerania. Ernest’s third son was called 
 Ernest the warlike, made provost of Eynbeck and 
 abbot of Corbej, and slain in 1422, leaving no issue. 
 
 Again, to return to the hrst son, Albert, who was 
 called duke of Saltz. He assisted the bishop of Hil- 
 desheim, married a daughter of Sax- Lunenburg, and 
 died in 1397. His son Eric succeeded, married Eli- 
 zabeth, daughter to Otho the bad, duke of Gottingen, 
 by whom he had, 1. Henry, his successor, who married 
 Margaret, daughter of John, duke of Lagan, died in 
 1469, and was succeeded by his son Henry, who was a ' 
 papist, and died without issue in 1526. 
 
 Eric’s third son, called Ernest, was a canon of Hal- 
 berstadt, and provost of Oynbeck, and died without 
 issue. Eric’s second son, Albert, succeeded to the 
 dukedom, married Elizabeth, daughter to Yolrad count 
 AValdeck, assisted count Hochensteiii against those of 
 Achterleben, and died in 1490. He leit three sons, 
 the first, called Philip, senior, duke of Hrunswick- 
 Grubenhagen, who was a protestant, established that 
 religion in his dominions, and continued the family. 
 His second son Ernest, died unmarried ; his third son 
 Eric, was bishop of Osnaburg, a papist, and died in 
 1532. 
 
 Again, to Philip. He married Catherine, daughter 
 of Ernest, count Mansfield, by whom he had five sons, 
 all protestants, and died 1551. 1. Ernest, who suc- 
 
 ceeded him, married Margaret, daughter of George, 
 duke of Pomerania, by whom he had only one 
 daugliter, Elizabeth, married to John, duke of Hol- 
 stein. Ernest died in 1567. 
 
 His second brother, Albert, died in battle against 
 the papists, and left no issue. His third brother, John, 
 died at the battle of St. Quintin in 1557, also without 
 i.ssue. His fourth brother, Wolfgang, died in 1595, 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 105 
 
 and Ills fifth, Philip, in 15G6, who, being the last male 
 lieir of the line, the succession fell to Henry Julius, 
 duke of Brunswick. So much for the line of Gruben * 
 hagen. 
 
 The next line is that of Brunswick, of which Henry, 
 third son to Magnus Torquatus, was the founder, as 
 already mentioned. He was taken in battle by the 
 count of Lippe, and released on promise of a ransom. 
 He had two wives, and died in 1416. His first wife 
 was Sophia, daughter of AVrastislaus, duke of Pomer- 
 ania, whose issue continued the family. His second 
 wife was Margaret, daughter to Herman, landgrave 
 of Hesse, by whom he had a son called Henry Lap- 
 pencrieg. He married Helena, daughter of Adolphus 
 L, duke of Cleves, died in 1573, and left only one 
 daughter, Margaret, married to William, prince of 
 Hannenberg. 
 
 Next, I shall rut urn to Henry’s son by his first wife, 
 wlio continued the family, as previously mentioned. 
 His name was William the victorious, duke of Bruns- 
 wick. He defeated the Hustis in Bohemia, in 1421, 
 married Cecilia, daughter to Frederick I.,* elector of 
 Brandenburg, and died in 1482. He left two sons, 
 the first, WiUiam, who continued the family ; the se- 
 cond, Frederick, called duke of Hanover, who had 
 two wives, but left no issue, and died in 1494. 
 
 His eldest brother, William, bought the town of 
 Helmstad, from the abbot Verden, married Elizabeth, 
 daughter of Otho, count Stolberg, and died in 1504. 
 He left two sons, 1. Henry, who continued the line. 
 2. Eric, duke of Hanover and Gottingen. He mar- 
 ried Elizabeth, daughter of Joachim I., elector of 
 Brandenburg, died in 1540, and left a son, Eric, who 
 died without issue in 1584. 
 
 William’s eldest son, Henry, married Catherine, 
 daughter of Eric 11., duke of Pomerania. He be- 
 sieged Brunswick, but raised it on conditions, died at 
 
lOG TUE EGLINTON TOURNAME^JT, 
 
 the siege of Potli, in Friezland, in 1514, and left six 
 sons; the first, Christopher, who was made bishop of 
 Verden in 1493, archbishop of Bremen in 1511, and 
 died without issue in 1558. The second was Henry, 
 who continued the line, as you shall see presently. 
 The third son was Eric, commendator of the Teutonic 
 Order, died in 1527, without issue. The fourth, 
 Francis, bishop of Minden, who died in 1539. The 
 fifth, William, commendator of the Teutonic Order, 
 died in 1558, without issue. The sixth was George, 
 bishop of Minden and Verden, afterwards archbisliop 
 of Bremen, and died a protestant in 1506, but left no 
 issue. 
 
 To return again to Henry, who continued tlie line. 
 Ho lived a most violent papist, but died a protestant 
 in 1568. By his wife Mary, daughter of Henry, count 
 of Wirtemberg, he had three sons: 1. Charles Victor, 
 a papist, slain at the battle of Silvershuse, in 1553, 
 and left no issue. 2. Philip Magnus, a papist, killed 
 at the same time, and left no issue. 3. Julius, a pro- 
 testant: he inherited the dominions of Calenberg, and 
 founded the university of Julius at Helmstad. He 
 married Hedwig, a daughter of Joachim 11., elector 
 of Brandenburg, and left four sons, all protestants. 
 1. Henry Julius, who continued the line. 2. Philip 
 Sigismund, bishop of Verden, and afterwards of Osna- 
 burg; he died in 1623. 3. Joachim Charles, provost 
 of Strasburg, who died in 1616, ?J1 three without 
 issue. 
 
 To return to Henry Julius, the elder brother. He 
 married first, Dorothy of Saxony, and then Elizabeth, 
 daughter of Frederick 11., king of Denmark. He be- 
 sieged the town of Brunswick in vain, died in 1613, 
 and left four sons, all protestants, wlio died without 
 issue. The first was Frederick Ulrick, who died in 
 1634. The dutchy of Brunswick fell to Augustus, of 
 the line of Lunenburg- Dannenburg, now called the 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 107 
 
 house of Brunswick- Wolfembuttel. 2. Christian, 
 bishop of Ilalberstadt, who died in 1G2G. 3. Rudolph, 
 who was also bishop of Ilalberstadt, and died before 
 Christian, who succeeded him. 4, llenrj Charles, 
 who was also bishop of the same place, and died before 
 his brother Rudolph, who succeeded him. 
 
 The next line is that of Harburg, all protestants, 
 founded bj Otho, duke of Lunenburg, as I haye already 
 mentioned, who was also a protestant. lie married 
 Maud de Campen, a Lunenburg lady, by whom he had 
 Otho, duke of Lunenburg-llarburg, who married, first, 
 Margaret, daughter of John Henry, count of Schartz- 
 burg, by whom he had two sons; and then lledwig, 
 dang] iter to Enno, count of East Frize, by whom he 
 had seven sons, but all of them died without issue. 
 The first was Otho Henry, who died unmarried in 1591. 
 The second was John Frederick, who died in 1G19. 
 The third was William, a very able divine, who sur- 
 vived all the rest, and died unmarried in 1G42. The 
 foui-tli was Christopher, he married Elizabeth of Bruns- 
 wick, and died in IGOG. The fifth was Otho, who died 
 in 1G41. The sixth was John, who died in 1G25. The 
 seventh was Frederick, who served the king of Sweden, 
 and was killed in battle in 1G05. 
 
 The next line is that of Brunswick- Wolfembuttel, 
 which was founded by Henry, duke of Lunenburg- 
 Dannenburg, as already mentioned. He was a protest- 
 ant, died in 1598, and left three sons, all protestants. 
 The first was Julius Ernest, prince of Dannenburg, 
 born in 1571. His first wife was Mary of East Erie/.- 
 land, and his second, Sibylla of Lunenburg, according 
 to the Atlas; but, Mr. Disney says, she was Mary of 
 Mecklenburg; he died without issue in 153G. The 
 second was Francis, dean or canon of Strasbnrg, who 
 was near that city in IGOl. The tliird was Augustus, 
 duke of Brunswick- AVolfembuttel, who continued the 
 line. Henry had also one daughter, callcl Sibylla, 
 
108 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 married to count Antlionj of Oldenburg Delmenlioot, 
 who died in 1030. 
 
 Again, to return to Augustus. He was born in 
 1579, and had three wives; the first was Clara Maria 
 of Pomerania; the second was Dorothy of Anlialt, 
 and the third Sophia Elizabeth of Mecklenburg. He 
 died in 1060, and left three sons ; the first was Rudolpli 
 Augustus, by Dorothy of Anhalt, born 1627: betook 
 the town of Brunswick, and married Christina Eliza- 
 beth of Barby, daughter to iVlbert Frederick, the last 
 count of that name, by whom he had no male issue 
 but three daughters; 1. Dorothea Sophia, born in 
 1653, and married to John Adolphus, duke of Hol- 
 stein- Ploen. 2. Christina Sophia, born in 1054. Slie 
 was abbess of Grandersheim, afterwards maj-ried her 
 cousin Prince Augustus William, duke of Brunswick- 
 Wolfembuttel, and died in 1695. 3. Eleonora Sophia, 
 who died unmarried in 1056. 
 
 Augustus’s second son was Anthony Ulrick, duke 
 of Brunswick- Wolfembuttel, who continued the line. 
 His third son was Ferdinand ^Albert, prince of Bevern, 
 who founded the line of that name ; of which in its 
 place. 
 
 Augustus had throe daughters: 1. Mary Elizabeth, 
 who married Adolph William of Sax-Eyseneck, and 
 after his death, Albert of Sax- Coburg; she died in 
 1687. The second Sibylla Ursula; she married 
 Christian of Holstein- Glucksburg, and died in 1671. 
 The third was Clara Augustina, who married Frederick 
 of Wirtemburg-Neustadt, and died in 1700. 
 
 I return to Anthony Ulrick, duke Augustus’s se- 
 cond son, by Dorothy of Anhalt. He was born in 
 1633, succeeded his brother Rudolph Augustus, and 
 married Elizabeth Juliana, daughter of Frederick, 
 duke of Holstein Norburg. He had the character of 
 a very learned prince, and his library was one of the 
 best in Europe. He professed himself a protestant 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 109 
 
 till tlie 7 6tli year of liis age, when some cunning pa- 
 pists improving his dotage, prevailed upon him by 
 promises of great advantages to his family, &c. to 
 profess their religion. He seemed, however, but an 
 aukward sort of a convert, and died in 1714. He 
 had the following children: 1. Augustus Frederick, a 
 protestant, born in 1G57. He received a wound be- 
 fore Philipsburg, of whicli he died in 1G7G without 
 issue. 2. Elizabeth Eleonora, born in 1G58, married 
 first to John George, duke of Mecklenburg, and after 
 his death, to Barnard of Sax Menningen. 3. Anne 
 Sophia, born in 1G59, married to Charles Gustavus of 
 Baden- Bur lach. 4. Leopold Augustus, born in IGGl,. 
 and died in 1GG2. 5. Augustus William, a protes- 
 
 tant, duke regent of Brunswick- Wolfembuttel, born 
 in 1GG2. He married Christina Sophia of Brunswick, 
 and after Iier death, Sophia Amelia of Holstein Got- 
 torp. G. Augustus Henry, born in 1GG3, died 1GG4. 
 7. Augustus Charles, born and died in 1GG4. 8. 
 
 Augustus Francis, born in 1GG5, and died in IGGG. 
 9. Augustina Dorothea, born IGGG, and married to 
 Anthony Gunther of Schwanburg-Arnstat. 10. Hen- 
 rietta Christina, born in 1GG9. She was abbess of 
 Gandersheim. 11. Lewis Rudolphus, a protestant. 
 He was born in 1G71, and married Christina Louisa, 
 daughter of Albert Ernest, prince of Oetingen. 
 
 He had three daughters, — 1. Elizabeth Christina, 
 a papist, born in 1G91, and married in 1708 to the 
 emperor, by whom she had tw^o daughters. 2. Char- 
 lotte Christina Sophia, a protestant, born in 1G9G. 
 She was married in 1711, to Alexius Petrowitz, the 
 prince royal of Muscovy. 3. Antonetta Amelia, a 
 protestant, born in 1G9G, and married in 1712, to her 
 cousin Ferdinand Albert, prince of Bevern. 
 
 The next line is that of Bevern. It was foimded 
 by Ferdinand Albert, third son to Duke Augustus, as 
 already mentioned. He was born in 1G3G, married 
 
 G 
 
110 
 
 THE EOLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 Cliristina, daughter to Frederick, landgrave of Hesse, 
 had his residence at Bevern, died in 1G87, and had 
 eight children, all protestants. 1. Augustus Ferdi- 
 nand, prince of Bevern. He was major-general of 
 the troops of Wolfembuttel, and killed at the battle 
 of ScheUernburgh or Donawert in 1704; he left no 
 issue. 2. Ferdinand Albert, prince of Bevern, born 
 in 1680, a lieutenant-general in the emperor’s service 
 and prince regnant. 3. Ferdinand Christian, born 
 March 4, 1682. Ho was provost of the college of 
 Brunswick, and died in 1706, without issue. 4. So- 
 phia Eleanora, canoness at Grandersheim. 5. Ernest 
 Ferdinand, born Marcli 4, 1682, and provost of the 
 college of Brunswick. 6. Henry Ferdinand, born in 
 1684, killed at the raising of the siege at Turin in 
 1706, and left no issue. 7. Leopold Charles, born 
 and died in 1670. 8. Frederick Albert, born in 1672, 
 
 and died in 1673. 
 
 Such is the account given by Mr. Disney and tlio 
 Atlas, of the origin, rise, and progress of the house of 
 Brunswick, <fec. 1 shall next briefly shew the con- 
 nexion with the Scottish crown, from your daughter, 
 the unfortunate but beautiful Mary, who succeeded 
 you in 1543. The relationship which preceded lier 
 time, you know already. 
 
 She married hrst the dauphin of France, afterwards 
 Francis TI. by whom she had no issue. After his 
 death she married Henry Steuart, duke of Albany, 
 lord Darnle}% <fcc. son to the earl of Lennox, and by 
 his mother the lady Margaret Douglas, great grand- 
 son to Henry VII. king of England: so that he was 
 the first prince of the English blood royal. She was 
 not only a pi’incess of great beauty, but of great parts. 
 S;ie was educated in France, which made her so fond 
 of the church of Rome and arbitrary power, that tho 
 nobility took arms against, and dethroned her. She 
 was afterwards put ignominiously to death by her 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 Ill 
 
 cruel persecutors in 1586, for being in plot against 
 queen Elizabetli, whose legitimacj being questioned 
 bj the popisli faction, Mary was bj them reckoned 
 the true heiress of tlie crown. 
 
 James the VI. her son, succeeded upon her dethrone- 
 ment, in 1567. He married Anne, daughter to 
 Frederick II. king of Denmark, by Sophia of Meck- 
 lenburg, wlio brought him the lady PIlizabeth, an 
 incomparable princess, married to the elector Palatine, 
 afterwards king of Boliemia, by whom she had tlie 
 princess Sopliia, mother to George 1. and grandmother 
 to king George IT. of Great Britain. 
 
 George III. a virtuous and pious king, succeeded 
 his grandfather George II. in the twenty-third year 
 of his age. In 1761, he married the princess Char- 
 lotte of Mecklenburg- Strelitz, a princess distinguished 
 by every eminent virtue and amiable endowments, by 
 whom he had issue. 
 
 1. George Augustus Frederick, prince of Wales 
 (George IV.), born August 12, 1762; succeeded his 
 father George III. January 29, 1820; married April 
 8, 1795, his cousin, princess Caroline of Brunswick, 
 who died August 7, 1821. Issue, princess Charlotte, 
 born January 7, 1796; married May 2, 1816, prince 
 Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg; died November 6, 1817. 
 His majesty died June 26, 1830. 
 
 2. Frederick, duke of York, born August 16, 1763; 
 married September 29, 1791, Frederica Charlotte, 
 princess royal of Prussia, who died August 6, 1820. 
 His royal liighness died January 5, 1827. 
 
 3. Willlcmi Ilenrg, duke of Clarence, (William IV.), 
 born August 21, 1765; succeeded his brother, George 
 IV., June 26, 1830; married July 11, 1818, princess 
 Adelaide, sister of the duke of Saxc-Meiningen. His 
 majesty died June 20, 1837. 
 
 4. Charlotte Augusta Matilda, princes royal, born 
 September 29, 17*66; married May 18, 1797, Fred- 
 
112 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 ei’ick I. late king of Wurtemberg; died October 0, 
 1828. 
 
 5. Edward, duke of Kent, born November 2, 17G7; 
 married Maj 29, 1818, princess Victoria Maria 
 Louisa of Saxe-Coburg. Issue, her majesty (Alex- 
 andrina) Victoria, born May 24, 1819. His royal 
 highness died January 23, 1820. 
 
 G. Augusta Sophia, born November 8, 17G8. 
 
 7. Elizabeth, born May 22, 1770; married April 7, 
 1818, Frederick Joseph, landgrave of Hesse- Hombiirg, 
 who died April 2, 1829. 
 
 8. Ernest Augustus, duke of Cumberland, (king of 
 Hanover), born June 5, 1771. 
 
 9. Augustus Frederick, duke of Sussex, born Jan. 
 
 27, mi 
 
 10. Adolphus Frederick, duke of Cambridge, born 
 February 24, 1774; married May 7, 1818, Augusta 
 Wilhelmina Louisa, daughter of Frederick, landgrave 
 of Hesse-Cassel, born July 25, 1797. Issue, George 
 William, born March 2G, 1819; Augusta Caroline, 
 born July 19, 1822; !Mary Adelaide, born November 
 27, 1833. 
 
 11. Mary, ducliess of Gloucester, born April 25, 
 177G; married July 22, 181G, her cousin, William 
 Frederick, duke of Gloucester, who died November 
 30, 1834. 
 
 12. Sophia, born November 3, 1777. 
 
 13. Octavius, born February 23, 1779; (bed May 2, 
 1783. 
 
 14. Alfred, born September 22, 1780; died August 
 2G, 1782. 
 
 15. Amelia, born August 7, 1789; died November 
 2, 1810. 
 
 The queen-dowager , — Adelaide, sister of the duke 
 of Saxe-Meiningen, born August 13, 1792, espoused 
 his late majesty William IV., July 11, 1818. 
 
 Mother of the queen, — Victoria Maria Louisa, 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 113 
 
 duciiess of Kent; daughter of Francis, late duke of 
 Saxe- Coburg, and sister of Leopold I. king of tlie 
 Belgians, born August 17, 1786; married, 1st, Dec. 
 21, 1803, Emich Charles, prince of Leiningen, who 
 died July 4, 1814. Issue, Charles Frederick, prince 
 of Leiningen, born September 12, 1804; princess 
 Teodore, born December 7, 1807 ; 2nd, May 20, 1818, 
 Edward, duke of Kent, who died January 23, 1820. 
 Issue, her majesty (Alexandrina) Victoria, born May 
 24, 1819. 
 
 Uncle of the queen , — Leopold I. king of the Bel- 
 gians: brother to the duchess of Kent. 
 
 Niece of George III . — Sophia Matilda of Glouces- 
 ter, born May 29, 1773. 
 
 Such are the generations of the Brunswick family 
 of Great Britain, as recorded in the ancient and 
 modern chronicles of Britain, Germany, and other 
 countries, as now laid before you. 
 
 From what I have now stated, it appears that her 
 majesty’s family is descended from, and intermarried 
 with most, if not all of the sovereign princes of Europe. 
 That her present majesty, Victoria, is the twenty-fifth 
 sovereign of the family of Brunswick by lineal descent, 
 since Azo, or Albert of Este, who died in 1081, besides 
 a long race of princes in the family before that time. 
 
 King James . — You have now given me a very satis- 
 factory account of the origin and descent of the royal 
 family of Great Britain: have the goodness to con- 
 tinue your interesting history and account of the late 
 ruling sovereign, AVilliam IV. ; although, I admit that, 
 to give a faithful representation of the actions of a late 
 or present reigning monarch, is not, to an historian, a 
 very pleasant task, unless they are such as will bear 
 the nicest scrutiny. To you, however, who live in a 
 land beyond the reach of pain or woe, joy or sorrow, 
 favours or frowns, it is otherwise. 
 
 Sir David. — Yes: I am now beyond the reach of 
 
114 
 
 THE EGLINTOX TOURNAMENT, 
 
 persecution, malice, rewards or punishments ; but 
 although I stood as unprotected as I did a few hun- 
 dred years ago, I have nothing to fear, I was al- 
 ways knoAvn to speak the truth, and not to flatter. 
 Historians, in some countries, may act differently, 
 although in China it was the reverse, as you shall 
 hear presently. In China there had existed from time 
 immemorial an historical tribunal, instituted in order 
 to perpetuate the virtues and vices of the reigning 
 monarch. One day the emperor Taitsong ordered 
 this tribunal to produce the history of his reign. “ You 
 know,” answered the president, “ that we give an 
 exact detail of the virtues and vices of our sovereigns ; 
 and we are no longer at liberty to record the truth, if 
 our registers be subject to your inspection.” “ What! ” 
 replied the emperor, “ you transmit my history to 
 posterity, and do you assume the liberty to acquaint 
 it with my faults ?” “ It is inconsistent with my cha- 
 
 racter,” rejoined the president, “ and with the dignity 
 of my place, ever to disguise the truth. I am bound 
 to record the whole. If you are guilty even of the 
 slightest fault, I shall sensibly feel it; but I must not 
 forget my duty; I cannot be silent. And such are 
 the exactness and severity of the duties which my 
 office of historian impose upon me, that I am not even 
 suffered to omit our present conversation.” Taitsong 
 had an elevation of soul: “ continue,” said he, to the 
 president, “ to write the truth without restraint. May 
 my virtues and vices contribute to the public utility, 
 and be instructive to my successors ! Your tribunal 
 is free. I will for ever protect it, and permit it to 
 write my history with the greatest impartiality.” 
 
 Such was the character and nobleness of soul of 
 Taitsong, emperor of Cliina; and happy would it be 
 for the subjects of every prince, did they constantly 
 reflect, that the faithful hand of history will not fail 
 to render them dear or odious to the latest times I 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 Having now shown you the fidelity of tlie Chinese 
 liistorian, 1 shall be as faithful in the delineation of 
 the character of he who was tlie people’s favourite, 
 whom they constantly adored, his majesty William IV. 
 king of Great Britain and Ireland, &c. Although 
 none but Apelles, the famous painter, was allowed to 
 draw the picture of Alexander the Great; and none 
 but the most learned of men should make the attempt 
 to pourtray a wise, a just, a merciful, a vigilant, and 
 a magnanimous sovereign. One who had done more 
 for the happiness of his subjects than any other monarch 
 on earth. He rewarded the brave — encouraged the 
 ingenious and meritorious — was the patron and pro- 
 tector of arts and science — under him literature flou- 
 rished, — he befriended the poor and needy, for Iiis 
 beneficence was to all. And although he had not 
 liiraself dived so deep into the stream of human learn- 
 ing, and studied men and books with so great zeal and 
 attention as some men have done, still he possessed all 
 those rich and estimable cpialities of refined and affable 
 manners that endear one person to another. His good 
 sense and discernment prevented him from being im- 
 posed upon by sycophants, or interested minions ; and 
 Ins talents such as were eminently calculated to en- 
 sure peace and happiness to his beloved subjects and 
 people; for his nobleness of heart and soul shed a 
 lustre round his court, which is not to be found in the 
 tyrannical palaces of Eastern potentates. Long may 
 Ids successor reap the fruits of such a joyous liarvest; 
 and, while his time was happily spent on earth, may 
 his memory be honoured by all who reverence and re- 
 spect a noble and generous soul. 
 
 King James . — This is a faithful and a just picture 
 of William IV. without exaggeration in any one point. 
 Surely then such a king as this is entitled, in the 
 strictest sense of the word, to the honourable appella- 
 tion of Gentleman : for the late lord Clarendon, when 
 
IIG THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 speaking of the unfortunate Charles I. king of Bri- 
 tain, says, — “ He was the worthiest Gentleman, the 
 best master, the best friend, the best husband, the 
 best father, the best Christian, that the age in which 
 he lived produced.” And Randolph, (ambassador to 
 queen Elizabeth,) when writing to the lord president 
 of Scotland, Feb. 25, 1581, speaks of the earl of Marr, 
 thus, — “ It is chiefly hee that must doe us good, being 
 as worthie an yonge Gentleman as ever Scotland 
 brcdd.” 
 
 Sir David . — Although it is not my intention to 
 speak but as sparingly as possible of the living charac- 
 ters of Britain, I could not abstain from paying that 
 tribute of respect so justly due to the memory of a 
 sovereign who was so much beloved, nay, even idolized 
 by some, for his virtues and praiseworthy deeds. If 
 any king, dead or alive, ever were a Gentleman of 
 honour, he must be allowed to have been one, as you 
 will find Avhen I come to explain to you the qualifica- 
 tions of such: for I may say of his majesty what was 
 said of the duke of Guise, when Henry the third of 
 France, one day asked those about him what it was 
 that the duke of Guise did to charm and allure every 
 one’s lieart ? he received this answer: “ Sir, the duke 
 of Guise does good to all the world without exception, 
 either directly by himself, or indirectly by his recom- 
 mendations. He is civil, courteous, liberal; has al- 
 ways some good to say of every body, but never speaks 
 evil of any; and this is the reason he reigns in men’s 
 hearts, as absolutely as your majesty does in your 
 kingdom.” I wish many would follow his example; 
 and, I am glad to say, that her present majesty pro- 
 mises well. Long may she live and happy, enjoying 
 all the honours of a British sovereign. 
 
 King James . — As we are now on the subject of 
 monarchs, what is your opinion of a monarchial form 
 of government ? 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 117 
 
 Sir David . — This form of government, by the com- 
 mon consent of the wisest philosophers, and most ex- 
 cellent men, lias always been considered the best, hap- 
 piest, and most assured commonwealth of all others, 
 as that wherein all the laws of nature guide men ; 
 whether they look to the little world which has but 
 one body, and over all the members only one Iiead, of 
 which the wnll, motion, and sense depend ; or whether 
 they take the great world, which hath but one sove- 
 reign, God; whether they look up to heaven they 
 shall see but one sun, or wdiether they look down upon 
 the sociable creatures below, they will see that they 
 cannot abide the rule of many amongst them; for 
 amongst all creatures, both with and without life, they 
 will always find one that hath the pre-eminence over 
 the rest of his kind. Amongst all reasonable creatures, 
 man; amongst beasts, the lion is taken for chief; 
 amongst birds, the eagle ; amongst grain, wheat ; 
 amongst drinks, v ine ; amongst spices, balm ; amongst 
 metals, gold ; and amongst elements, fire. 
 
 By this demonstration, you will see that the kingly, 
 or monarchial government is nearest to nature. Aris- 
 totle says, “ That, as men lived in old time under 
 kings, so they thought that the gods had a king.” 
 All nations, (saith Cicero) obeyed kings in old time, 
 which kind of rule was at the first bestowed upon 
 just men.” And it has greatly profited the British 
 nation, that from the beginning it has been governed 
 by a king. Much have been spoken and written 
 against a monarchy as tyrannical and cruel: but could 
 any one prove that even all the murders which were 
 committed in Rome by her tyrannical emperors, 
 Tiberius, Caligula, Nero, Domitian, and Commodus, 
 put together, could equal that civil tragedy which was 
 acted in tliat one sedition between Marius and Sylla, 
 nay even by Sylla’s part alone, where there were no 
 less than ninety senators put to death, fourteen coun- 
 G 2 
 
113 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 suls, two thousand six hundred gentlemen, and on^ 
 hundred thousand others: not to mention what took 
 place in England before the conquest, the only time, 
 (properly speaking,) that England ever knew a com- 
 monwealth. You will therefore see I am no friend 
 to a democracy, an aristocracy, nor a monarchy alone, 
 but a mixture of all the three, such as the British 
 government, which for excellency, stands unequalled 
 by all the existing governments in the world. In it 
 democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy, are combined 
 with that admirable wisdom, which greatly diminishes 
 the imperfections, and increases the excellencies of 
 each of these three simple forms of government, when 
 they exist separately. Zimmerman says, under a 
 wise monarch all the energies of the hearts and minds 
 of his subjects are called forth into action. In repub- 
 lics, the dull, phlegmatic man is held in higher esti- 
 mation than the superior genius ; there the conduct 
 of the latter is in general exposed only to the eye of 
 envy, on which account the boldest mind often with- 
 draws itself from public view, and condemns itself to 
 a' life of melancholy and inactive obscurity. But un- 
 der the eye of an enlightened monarch, a theatre opens 
 for the exercise of genius, where talents measure their 
 powers, where the character is displayed, where genius 
 is developed, where good sense and virtue break through 
 the crowd, and may venture to show themselves with- 
 out being ashamed. Ahrtue flows from every heart 
 in which it is honoured. Gold itself is considered of 
 no value in comparison to mere trifles, if they are be- 
 stowed as a pledge of the gratitude and regard of the 
 sovereign, lie is a magnet which attracts the greatest 
 talents and the most sublime virtues, the genial sun 
 which unfolds them, the spirit which animates them, 
 and the centre of their activity. The most exalted 
 talents lie dormant, if not called forth by the sove- 
 reign ; for what private person could bring to perfection 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 110 
 
 the vast discoveries that have been made, had it 
 not been for the liberality of a wise and benevolent 
 sovereign. It was this that moved Antigonus, king 
 of Macedonia to write thus to Zeno the philosopher: — 
 I am assured that I excel thee in the goods and favour 
 of fortune, and in the renown of such things, but I 
 know withal, that thou art far above me, and goest 
 beyond me in that true felicity, which consistetli in 
 the knowledge and discipline of studies. Therefore, 
 I desire earnestly that thou wouldst come unto me: 
 wherein I pray thee deny me not, that 1 may enjoy 
 thy conversation and company, as well for mine own 
 profit, as for the profit of all the Macedonians my sub- 
 jects; for he that instructeth a prince doth also profit 
 as many as are under his charge. The same love of 
 knowledge was inherent in Ptolemy, Pliiladelphus,. 
 king of Egypt. And the bounty of Artaxerxes, the 
 great monarch of the Persians, is well known to you. 
 Augustus, the Roman emperor, was the friend and 
 companion of Maca3nes, who was tlie patron and friend 
 of Virgil. 
 
 King James . — I am now perfectly satisfied with 
 wliat you have said on the subject of emperors and 
 kings, and find that it is not such an easy matter as 
 I at first imagined to be a gentleman: for, although 
 you have not yet finally pointed out to me all the ne- 
 cessary requisites, I am convinced you ai’o able, and 
 wull oblige me by doing it. In the next place, please 
 give me your opinion of the nobles of the land, and if 
 they are capable of becoming Gentlemen. 
 
 Sir David . — Nobility is a glittering excellency pro- 
 ceeding from ancestors, and an honour which cometh 
 from ancient lineage and stock: it is also a praise that 
 proceedeth from the deserts of our elders and fore- 
 fathers. And of this nobleness tliere are three sorts; 
 the first bred of virtue and excellent deeds : the second 
 proceedeth from the knowledge of honc.st discipline 
 
120 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOUIlXAMENTy 
 
 and true sciences ; the tliird cometh from the scut- 
 cheons and arms of our ancestors, or from riches. 
 Aristotle, in his politics, mentions four kinds of nobi- 
 lity, that is nobleness of riches, nobleness of lineage, 
 nobleness of virtue, and nobleness of science; among 
 which those of virtue and lineage are of the first esti- 
 mation, being such from wlience the others do proceed. 
 And Cicero says, “ Nobility is of more. antiquity than 
 possessions. The time of our life is short, but the 
 race of nobility and honour everlasting. True nobi- 
 lity is not after the vulgar opinion of the common peo- 
 ple, but is the only praise and surname of virtue.’^ 
 True nobility consisteth not in dignity, lineage, great 
 revenues, lands or possessions ; but in wisdom, know- 
 ledge, and virtue, which in man is true nobility, and 
 that nobility bringeth man to dignity. 
 
 The people of Britain are generally divided into 
 laity and clergy; and the first sub-divided into nobi- 
 lity, gentry, and commonalty. 
 
 By the nobility, I mean only the temporal peers of 
 the realm, being lords of parliament ; of whom there 
 are five degrees, distinguished by the several titles of 
 duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron. These on 
 their first institution, were merely the names of places 
 of trust, that were filled by such men as were thought 
 deserving of authority. The names continued, though 
 the persons who held tlie office were officers subordi- 
 nate to the king, having the command of large or 
 smaller districts according to their rank. Individuals 
 at first, like the king, only held these places for a 
 limited time, till they at length came to be held for 
 life, and then became hereditary. 
 
 The origin of dukes and earls is assigned to the 
 emperor Adrian, who reigned in 130, and elected a 
 certain number of senators to be his counsellors, and 
 to follow him everywhere ; therefore he called them 
 comites, i.c. companions. His successors gave those 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 121 
 
 counsellors the administration of the treasury, justice, 
 and even the command of tlie armies in time of war. 
 In the time of the Romans, there were dukes, who 
 commanded the armies and^ governed the provinces, 
 and were called duces^ i.e. leaders or captains. They 
 are also mentioned in scripture. 
 
 In Great Britain, the title dukey is the next to that 
 of prince of Wales. The first English duke was Ed- 
 ward the Black Prince, who was created duke of 
 Cornwall in the year 1337. A duke is created by 
 patent, cincture of sword, mantle of state, imposition 
 of a cap and coronet of gold on his head, and a verge 
 of gold put into his hand. lie is girt with a sword, 
 to put him in mind, that he is bound to defend the 
 king and kingdom in time of war : and his head is 
 adorned with a crown of gold, as a token that he is 
 counsellor to the king and kingdom in time of peace. 
 He is called Ms grace, a title formerly given to the 
 kings of England, before they assumed the title of 
 majesty.'^ 
 
 A marquis and an earl are created as a duke, by 
 cincture of sword, &c. but with this difference in their 
 coronets, that a marquis’s has a pearl and a straw- 
 berry leaf round, of equal height ; and an earl’s has the 
 pearls raised upon points. Their mantles of state are 
 as a duke’s faced with ermine ; but where?.s a duke’s 
 has four yards, a marquis’s mantle has but three and 
 a half, and an earl’s but three. 
 
 The title of earl, or comes, was known amongst the 
 Saxons, and is the most ancient in the English peer- 
 
 * The word majesty, when stripped of its externals, becomes A jest ; 
 however, the title was not used in England till the reign of Uenry VIII. 
 who was first called nis highness, and afterwards nis majesty ; and 
 from that time the title has been improved to sacked majesty ; 
 whereas, in foi-mer times, as about the reign of Henry IV. the king was 
 called HIS GRACE ; Henry VI. ms excellent grace; and Henry Vlll. 
 sometimes his grace, and sometimes his highness. 
 
123 
 
 THE EGLINT05 TOURNAMENT, 
 
 age. Formerlj, both in Scotland and in England, an 
 earl or count appears to have been the governor of a 
 county or province, over which ho had the chief juris- 
 diction. The office was at first only held for life ; but 
 William the Conqueror rendered it feudal and heredi- 
 tary in England, and endowed it with certain fees 
 exigible from the suitors in the carl’s court. Depu- 
 ties for the earls were afterwards appointed, who were 
 called mcecomitas or sheriffs; and the earldom itself 
 came to be looked upon not as an office, but as a ter- 
 ritorial dignity, which passed along with the land to 
 which it was attached. The dignity of earl, however, 
 like all other titles of honour, is now merely personal, 
 and independent of any territorial property. It is 
 the next dignity to that of marquis, and immediately 
 superior to that of viscount; and as those who were 
 anciently created earls were of the blood royal, the 
 sovereign in all formal writings addresses an earl as 
 “ cousin.” An earl is also styled lord, a title by which 
 the ancient kings of Ireland were once known. Tho 
 great Augustus, emperor of Rome, however, would 
 never suffer himself to be called lord, so much as by 
 his own children, cither in jest or earnest; and forbid 
 them the use of all such kind of complaisance to one 
 another, as he always abhorred the title of lord, as a 
 scandalous affront, not tliinking himself worthy of 
 such a name. 
 
 Tiie title of carl, is said by some, to be Danish, be- 
 ing first used by Alfred in 920, as a substitute for king. 
 The first created was in 1066. The first earl maris- 
 chal, 1383. Malcolm was fiio first who gave the titlo 
 of earl to any in Scotland. 
 
 “ In France,” says Voltaire, “the title of marquis 
 is given to any one who will accept of it ; and who- 
 ever arrives at Paris, from the most remote provinces 
 with money in his purse, and a name terminating in 
 ac or ille, may strut about and cry, such a man as 1 1 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 123 
 
 a man of my rank and ligure ! and may look down 
 upon a trader with soyereign contempt; whilst tho 
 trader, on the other side, hy thus hearing his profes- 
 sion treated so disdainfully, is fool enough to blush at 
 it. However, I need not say which is most useful to 
 a nation ; a lord powdered in the tip of the mode, who 
 knows exactly at wliat o’clock the king rises and goes 
 to bed, and who gives himself airs of grandeur and 
 state, at the same time that he is acting the slave in 
 tlie anti-cliamber of a prime minister ; or a merchant, 
 who enriches his country, dispatches orders from his 
 counting-house to Surat and Grand Cairo: and con- 
 tributes to the felicity of the world.” 
 
 Viscounts and barons are made by patent, the last 
 sometimes by writ, when called to t!io house of lords. 
 The difference in their coronets, is, that a viscount’s 
 has a circle of pearls without number ; and a baron’s 
 six pearls upon the circle. Their mantles are both 
 faced with plain white fur. 
 
 Sir Thomas Craig says in his book do Feudis, p. 79, 
 the name of lords and their dignity in the government, 
 arose thus: in the beginning they were only barons, 
 and are no more still ; but the name came from hence, 
 all barons were obliged to give their presence in par- 
 liament; but when they were all there, it being im- 
 possible to collect their suffrages, because of their 
 multitude, one or two was chosen from every provinco 
 to treat with the king about tlie affairs of the kingdom. 
 At first, those of the greatest dignity and experience 
 in affairs were delegated, and called by the name of 
 lords; but after ages growing more frequent, because 
 most controversies were decided in them, the lesser 
 barons were not able to bear the charge of attending; 
 and hence it came to pass, that those who had most 
 riches were delegated instead of those who had most 
 experience, and so those richer barons retained that 
 dignity during their life. And as mankind is always 
 
124 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNA.MENT, 
 
 prone to flattery, they retained the name when the 
 j)arliament was up, and their heirs being possessed of 
 the same estates, were unwilling to part with the name. 
 And thus it came to pass, in progress of time, that 
 those who at first were only commissioners from the 
 barons, were taken into the number of the lords of 
 parliament, as often as parliament was summoned.” 
 The Scots barons were anciently the only title of 
 honour in that kingdom, and had power of life and 
 death in their own hands. The word, in the Saxon 
 language, signifies man; and is also defined thus, a 
 loaf and ford, or afford, as lords were wont to be 
 liberal and charitable, giving loaves to a certain num- 
 ber of poor people. 
 
 In 1611, king James VI. in order to raise money 
 for some emergent occasion, sold titles to a vast amount. 
 The price which was then paid for an English baron, 
 was 10,000 pounds ; an English viscount, 15,000 
 pounds; and an English carl, 20,000 pounds. 
 
 The nobility of Great Britain enjoy many great 
 privileges, the principal of which are these : — 
 
 First. That they are free from all arrests for 
 debts, as being the king’s hereditary counsellors. 
 Therefore, a peer cannot be outlawed in any civil 
 action, and no attachment lies against his person: but 
 execution may be taken upon his lands and goods. 
 
 Second. In criminal causes they are only tried by 
 their peers; who give in their verdict, not upon oath, 
 as other juries, but only upon their honour. 
 
 Third. To secure the honour of, and prevent the 
 spreading of any scandal upon peers, or any great offi- 
 cer of the realm, by reports, there is an express law, 
 called Scandalam Magnatum, by which any man con- 
 victed of making a scandalous report against a peer of 
 the realm, (though true), is condemned to an arbitrary 
 line, and to remain in prison till the same be paid. 
 
AND gentleman UNMASKED. 
 
 125 
 
 Fourth. Upon any ^reat trial in a court of justice, 
 a peer may come into court, and sit there covered. 
 
 They possess a great many other privileges, which, 
 for brevity’s sake, 1 shaU at present decline mentioning. 
 
 King James . — You have now given me an explana- 
 tion of the titles enjoyed, and an outline of the ad- 
 vantages derived by the British nobility: how far do 
 they agree, and are consistent with the chai*acter of 
 a Gentleman'? 
 
 Sir David . — Nobility resideth not but in the soul ; 
 nor is there true honoiu' except in virtue. The favour 
 of princes may be bought ; rank and titles, (as I have 
 already shewn you), may be purchased for money ; but 
 these are not true honour, nor do they constitute the 
 Gentleman: for, as Burns says, — 
 
 “ The king can make a belted knight, 
 
 A duke, a lord, and a’ that, 
 
 But an HONEST man’s aboon his might, 
 
 Guid faith he canno’ fa’ that.” 
 
 Iiigo, king of the Braves, wdio, making a great feast, 
 appointed his nobles, at that time pagans, to sit in the 
 hall below, and commanded certain poor Christians to 
 be brought up into his presence chamber, to sit with 
 him at table, to eat and drink of his kingly cheer, at 
 wliich many wondering, he said he accounted Christians, 
 though never so poor, a greater ornament to his table, 
 and more worthy of his company, than the greatest 
 peers unconverted to tlie Christian faith; for, when 
 when these might be thrust down to hell, those might 
 be his fellow princes in heaven. Although you see 
 the stars sometimes by their reflexion in a puddle, in 
 the bottom of a well, or ditch, yet the stars have their 
 situation in heaven: so, though you see a godly man 
 in a poor, miserable, low, despised condition, for the 
 things of this world, yet he is fixed in the region of 
 heaven. 
 
 Nobility is to be considered only as an imaginary 
 
12G 
 
 THE EGLIXTON TOUIIXAMEXT, 
 
 distinction, unless accompanied bj the practice of 
 those generous virtues by wlimli it ought to be ob- 
 tained. Titles of honour conferred upon such as have 
 no personal merit to deserve them, are at least but the 
 royal stamp set upon base metal. There is no nobility 
 like to that of a great heart: for it never stoops to 
 artifice, nor is wanting in good offices, where they are 
 reasonable. Title and ancestry render a good man 
 more illustrious, but an ill one more contemptible. 
 Vice is infamous, though in a prince ; and virtue hon- 
 ourable, though in a peasant. Even the duke de la 
 Roche Foucault says, tliat “titles, instead of exalting, 
 debase those who do not act up to them.” The wise 
 Seneca also adds, that “the original of all mankind was 
 the same ; and, it is only a clear conscience that makes 
 any man noble: for, that derives even from heaven 
 itself.” It is the saying of a great man, that if we 
 could trace our descents, we should find all slaves to 
 come from princes, and all princes from slaves. But 
 fortune has turned all things topsy-turvy, in a long 
 series of revolutions. It is most certain that our be- 
 ginning had nothing before it ; and our ancestors were 
 some of them splendid, others sordid, as it happened. 
 We have lost the memorials of our extraction, and, in 
 truth, it matters not whence we came, but whether we 
 go. Nor is it any more to our honour, the glory of 
 our predecessors, than it is to their sliame, the wicked- 
 ness of their posterity. We are all of us composed of 
 the same elements; why should we then value ourselves 
 upon our nobility of blood, as if we were not all of us 
 equal, if we could but recover our evidence? But, 
 wlien we can carry it no furtlier, the herald provides 
 some hero to supply the place of an illustrious original ; 
 and there’s the rise of arms and families. For a man 
 to spend his life in pursuit of a title, that serves only 
 when he dies to furnish out an epitaph, is below a wiso 
 man’s business. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 127 
 
 “ Tlic boast of UERALDRY, the pomp of pow'r, 
 
 And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, 
 
 Await alike the inevitable hour. 
 
 The paths of glory lead but to the grave.” 
 
 Ill Venice, Florence, Genoa, Luca, and manj other 
 places in Italy, the nobles are merchants: and in 
 Spain every citizen and farmer has his pedigree, and 
 these genealogies, like those of the Irish, or the 
 Urqiiharts of Cromarty, generally go back as far as 
 Noah’s family in the ark. 
 
 The following anecdote may be told of Charlemagne: 
 Several boys had their education at the great school 
 in Paris, by particular warrant from Charlemagne. 
 This prince, returning to France after a long absence, 
 ordered these children to be brought before him, to 
 produce prose and verse compositions. It appeared 
 that the performances of those of a middling and ob- 
 scure class, greatly excelled those of higher birth ; on 
 wdiich that wise nrince, separating the diligent from 
 the remiss, and causing the former to be placed at his 
 right hand, thus addressed them: — “ Beloved children, 
 as you have sedulously applied yourselves to answer 
 the end of my putting you to school, and have made 
 proficiency in such studies as will be useful to you in 
 the course of your life, you may be assured of my 
 favour and good will. Go on, exert your genius, carry 
 your improvements to the higliest pitch, and I will 
 ever have a value for you, and reward you with bish- 
 oprics and abbey s.^^ Then turning to the left, with a 
 stern countenance and contemptuous accent, he said: 
 “As for you idlers of a noble blood, unworthy children of 
 the most eminent families in my kingdom, male lilieSy 
 delicate puppets, taken up witli beautifying 3murselves, 
 because titles and lands will fall to your share, you, 
 forsooth, have made no account of my orders — but, 
 instead of walking in the path of true honour, and 
 minding your studies, you have given yourselves up to 
 play and idleness. I declare, however, upon my 
 
128 THE EGLLNTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 honour, that all your nobility and girlish pretty faces, 
 and the clothes, are of no weight with me: and depend 
 on it, unless you turn over a new leaf, and by un- 
 wearied diligence recover your lost time, you are never 
 to expect any thing from Charles. 
 
 It becomes, then, the nobles of the earth, to act 
 consistently in every vocation of life, and to preserve 
 undefiled to the latest posterity their honourable cal- 
 ling. To pique themselves on their empty titles is 
 frivolous and vain, and shows a weakness of intellect 
 unbecoming a noble mind. What their fathers were 
 hath nothing to do with their conduct, for true 
 nobility descending from ancestry proves base if 
 present life continue not the dignity. Noblemen 
 enterprising great things, ought not to employ their 
 force as their own mind willeth, but as honour and 
 reason teacheth. Honour is brittle, and riches are 
 blossoms which every frost of fortune causeth to wither. 
 It is true greatness that constitutes glory, and virtue 
 is the cause of both. But vice and ignorance taint 
 the blood; and an unworthy behaviour degrades and 
 disennobles a man more than birth and fortune aggi’an - 
 dize and exalt him. Perhaps there is not a beggar 
 or slave upon earth whose sometime progenitor was 
 not a prince or emperor. Perhaps there is not a 
 prince or emperor upon earth whose sometime pro- 
 genitor, was not a slave or beggar. Have you then 
 discernment to perceive in the beggar the lineaments 
 of a prince, or in a prince to retrace the lineaments 
 of the beggar ? — You have not. Or, could you trace 
 the features of Richard IIL, king of England, in those 
 of his son’s, while an operative mason, and died with 
 a trowel in his hand ? — I am afraid it would be more 
 difficult than many imagine. 
 
 King James . — What do you mean, my good sir 
 David, by saying that the son of Ricliard III. died 
 with a trowel in his hands ? I do not recollect of 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASICED. 
 
 129 
 
 ever hearing' of his marriage, nor that he was ever 
 blessed with a son. 
 
 Sir David . — It may be so ; but tliat is no cause why 
 he should not have had a son. He was an illegitimate 
 son, whose history is singular and interesting, and very 
 much to the point we have now in hand, which will 
 cause me to tell it to you. 
 
 Sir Thomas Moyle, being employed in building a 
 castle ill the parish of Eastville, (in the burial regis- 
 ters of which are still to be seen these words, Richard 
 Plantaganet was interred on the 22nd of December, 
 1550,) observed that his principal mason retired at 
 the usual hours of breakfast and dinner, and that when 
 he got to the distance of about one hundred paces, he 
 took a book from his pocket, and read while he was 
 making his repast. Sir Thomas being desirous of 
 knowing what the book was which so much engaged 
 the attention of las mason, endeavoured for some days 
 to surprise him, but always without effect ; for, as soon 
 as the mason heard him approacliing, he put the book 
 in his pocket and went away. Sir Thomas’s curiosity 
 was still more excited by this caution; and as he was 
 continually on the watch, he at length discovered that 
 his master mason read Virgil’s iEiieid, and that he 
 was a man of no mean talents. He, therefore, formed 
 a close intimacy with him, and admitted him to his 
 table ; when, by treating him with every mark of re- 
 spect and attention, he drew from him the following 
 confession: — “Fate, which does every thing in this 
 world, would have it that I should be a mason ; never- 
 theless, my ancestors caused cities to be built, and I 
 build your castle. They had palaces, and possessed a 
 throne ; but I possess only an humble cot. I liave not 
 always known what I am; but when ignorant of my 
 own extraction, I was happier and more contented 
 than at present. Until the age of sixteen I was 
 boarded with a master, at wdiose house I was visited 
 
130 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 every three months by a man of great dignity, who 
 paid for my board, saluted me very respectfully, and 
 then retired, after having taken great pains to let me 
 know that he was not my father. This man came 
 one day, (a month before the expiry of a quarter,) 
 begged me to accompany him, and, making me get 
 into an elegant coach, conducted me to the gate of a 
 beautiful palace, before which we alighted. After 
 crossing several large halls, we arrived at one much 
 better ornamented than the rest, where my conductor 
 left me, and desired me to wait for a few moments. 
 
 I had not remained hero long, when a nobleman, about 
 the age of forty-six, superbly dressed, and wearing a 
 garter enriched with diamonds, entered the apartment, 
 advanced towards me, and clasping me for sometime 
 in his arms, embraced me, and asked me a great num- 
 ber of questions, which I answered in the best manner 
 I could. With this person I remained a quarter of an 
 hour ; at the expiration of wliich he gave me a purse 
 filled with pieces of gold, embraced me again, and de- 
 parted. My first guide then made his appearance, 
 and, without revealing the mystery of this strange 
 visit, conducted me back to my place of residence, and 
 left me a prey to a thousand reflections, which afford- 
 ed me very little satisfaction. Some months after, 
 when it was scarcely day, t’le same man returned, and 
 brought me a rich dress, which he made me put on, 
 and desired mo to follow him. Having obeyed, I found 
 a phaeton, with six horses, waiting for us at tlie gate; 
 into which "we mounted, and immediately drove to 
 Bosworth, to the tent of king Bichard 111., who, as 
 soon as he perceived us, came to meet me, laid hold 
 of my liand, and discovered himself to be the same 
 person who liad before received me with so mucli kind- 
 ness. This prince, after clasping me in his arms, 
 shewed me to some noblemen who stood round him, 
 saying, “Behold my son!” Then, turning towards 
 
AXD GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 131 
 
 me, “My child,” said he, “I shall fight to-morrow for 
 my crown and yours; it sliall either remain on my 
 head, or I shall lose my life. As you are by far too 
 young, my son, do not expose yourself in the combat. 
 You see that eminence before you, post yourself there; 
 your guide will follow you, and tlience may you be a 
 spectator of the event of the battle. If I am victori- 
 ous, fly to my arms, and I shall acknowledge you as 
 my son ; but if I am vanquished, be persuaded that 
 you have no father surviving ; fly as far as you can, 
 and reveal to no one the secret of your birth, for none 
 of my friends can hope for mercy from tlio conqueror, 
 whoso interest it will be to destroy even the last branch 
 of my family.” “ Go,” said he, with his eyes bathed in 
 tears, while his words were interrupted by sighs, “ Go, 
 my son, fulfil your destiny, carry with you this portfolio, 
 and give it to your guide, who will take care of it for 
 you ;” and then, turning towards him, he added,' “ I re- 
 commend to you my son, and this deposit.” Motionless 
 at this discourse, 1 was struck almost senseless ; and, 
 divided between a desire to follow the destiny of my 
 father, and the fear of disobeying him, I waited with 
 my eyes fixed on him, till he should renew his orders 
 for me to retire, or permit me to remain near him ; 
 but my guide took me by the hand, and dragged mo 
 towards the eminence, for my legs were almost incapa- 
 ble of supporting the weight of my body. I shall only 
 tell you that I saw my unhappy father, on a white 
 horse, make wonderful efforts by his valour, an<i 
 bringing back to the charge his sliattered troops, al- 
 ways ready to fly. I saw, and I still shudder at the 
 thoughts of it, a Scotsman fall furiously upon him, and, 
 after losing one of his arms by a sabre, make use of 
 the other to cut off the prince’s head ; and this head, 
 at length carried in triumph on the end of a pole, de- 
 cided my fate, and that of the battle. When I had 
 lost all hopes, I turned towards my guide, to pour forth 
 
132 
 
 TII12 EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 ill his bosom the burthen of my grief : but, alas ! the 
 unhappy man was no longer near me ; he had fled 
 with the portfolio which my father delivered to him, 
 and thus deprived me of every resource. Not know- 
 ing what course to pursue in this critical conjuncture, 
 I mounted a horse which I found tied to a tree, and 
 which he had left me, and repaired to London, where 
 I sold him, and all the other effects which I possessed. 
 I took lodgings in Piccadilly, where the money I had 
 procured from the sale of my effects supported me for 
 nearly eighteen months ; but my purse being at length 
 empty, I saw no other resource to preserve my life 
 but to conceal my name, and no means of escaping 
 misery but to labour. As some masons lodged in the 
 same tavern with me, I one day accosted them as they 
 were sitting down to dinner. Contentment seemed to 
 beam in all their countenances, joy animated their 
 conversation, and the food which was set before them, 
 though exceedingly simple, awakened my appetite. 
 Having entered into conversation with them, I asked 
 several questions respecting their condition, and their 
 emoluments ; and being very well satisfied with their 
 answers, I hired myself to them as a day-labourer. 
 My first attempts were successful, and my progress so 
 rapid, that at the end of twenty years, being highly 
 distinguished by my master, I became his foreman. 
 He then proposed to admit me to his table ; and the 
 son of Richard, who had not disdained to handle the 
 trowel, thought himself extremely happy to eat at 
 the table of a man who had taught him the use of it : 
 I, therefore, accepted his offer with pleasure. Sir 
 William, for this was the name of my master, had a 
 daughter, who rendered my residence in his house very 
 agreeable. Like Hebe, she was fidl of graces ; her 
 virtue was equal to that of Lucretia, and her conn- 
 tenance was never contracted by a frown. I lived with 
 tlie father and daughter till the deatli of the former. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 133 
 
 in the most perfect harmony, without ever think- 
 ing of the future ; but this unexpected loss, by filling 
 our hearts with sorrow, told us that we could no longer 
 live in a manner that would wound the delicacy of my 
 virtuous companion, and scandalize our neighbours, 
 and that we must either separate or unite together for 
 life. The idea of the grandeur I was going to renounce 
 for ever, could not even for a moment prevail over the 
 friendship which I entertained for the daughter of my 
 deceased master. I disclosed my passion to her ; she 
 gave me a favourable reception, and when the time of 
 mourning expired, I married her. By this virtuous 
 spouse I had three children, who are still my greatest 
 comfort. Having succeeded to the employment of my 
 master, I am now become your principal mason. This 
 is my history, which you were so desirous to learn.” 
 
 I may also mention how sir Robert Cotton said that 
 he met in a morn'ng, a true and undoubted Planta- 
 ganet holding the plough, in the country. 
 
 Thus, gentle blood fetcheth a circuit in the body of 
 a nation, running from yeomanry through gentry to 
 nobility, and so retrograde, returning through gentry to 
 yeomanry again. 
 
 The cardinal Campejius happened to have a dispute 
 with the duke of Modena. Altercation rose high. 
 Do you know, says the prince, in passion, that your 
 father was no better than my father's hog-herd ? I 
 know it full well, cooly answered the cardinal : and I 
 am persuaded that had your highness been the son of 
 my father, you would have continued to be of the same 
 profession to this day. It is by far more honourable 
 to be the first of a new race of nobility, than the last 
 of an old. Iphicrates, the Athenian, was of a very 
 mean extraction, his fatlier having been a shoemaker; 
 but in a free city, like Athens, merit was the sole no- 
 bility. This person may be truly said to have been 
 the son of his actions. Having signalized himself in 
 
 H 
 
134 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 a naval combat, wherein he was only a private soldier, 
 he was soon after employed witli distinction, and 
 honoured with a command. In a prosecution after- 
 wards carried on against him, his accuser, who was 
 one of the descendants of Ilarmodius, and made very 
 great use of his ancestor’s name, having reproached 
 him with the baseness of his birth, “Yes,” replied 
 Iphicrates, “the nobility of my family begins in me : 
 but that of yours ends in you.” 
 
 In such a world as that we have left, all things are 
 in perpetual change, rotation, and revolution; it is 
 nature’s process. As the summer and winter gradually 
 succeed and encroach upon each other: or, as the sun 
 dawns and arises from darkness, till he reaches the 
 mid-day fervour of his culminating beam, and thence 
 declines till he sets in utter darkness, even so mighty 
 nations, as well as families, have their commencement, 
 ascent, and summit, declension, decay, and period. 
 The virtue of all nations and families begins in poverty, 
 thence arises to industry, genius, honour, perhaps to 
 conquests and empire ; there’s their zenith : but then 
 comes on the load of ponderous wealth, that gradually 
 weighs them down from this meridian to indulgence, 
 sensuality, guilt, corruption, prostitution, slavery, per- 
 dition. Let us now, with the eye of philosophy, con- 
 sider two men in the most contrasted state that the 
 world can admit, suppose a king and a beggar. Hero 
 the king is more highly fed and more gaily clothed 
 than the beggar ; but if these are advantages deserv- 
 ing estimation, we behold both tliis luxury and lustre 
 surpassed by the bee in the garden, and lily in the 
 valley. 
 
 Further, whatever the native qualities of the king 
 or beggar may be, independent of the said external or 
 personal distinction, we may, however, be assured that 
 an education in the midst of sensuality and deception, 
 of tho exhibition of temptations, and gratification of 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 135 
 
 lusts, of parasites and panders, obeisance and prostra- 
 tion, of corporal indulgence and mental imposition, 
 can be no very good friend to the virtues. If we carry 
 the comparison further than this, we find the body of 
 the king to be as frail, as obnoxious to pains, disease, 
 and uncleanness, even as naked, poor and perishable as 
 that of the beggar. But if we take the eye of faith to 
 see further than with that of philosophy, we behold their 
 souls alike immortal, of equal dignity and extent. We 
 see creatures resembling the Creator himself, breathed 
 from his own spirit, formed in his own image, and 
 ordained to his own beatitude and eternity. Here all 
 distinctions fall and lose their respect, or an instant 
 would do in the comparison of ages, as a molehill in 
 comparison of yon boundless expanse. And here wo 
 find a beggar, whom the king is bound to reverence, 
 as being the unquestioned heir of a king in comparison 
 with whom all other kings are but as beggars. • IIow 
 utterly vile and contemptible is all dignity and do- 
 minion to such an heirship as this! An heirship hourly 
 approaching, perhaps just at hand, when the magnifi- 
 cent ruins of man shall be rebuilt, when his weakness 
 shall put on power, his corruption put on glory, and 
 his mortal be wholly swallowed up of immortality ! 
 
 When we consider the mutability to which the great 
 are liable, the changes that are daily taking place 
 among men, particularly those in power, and the ex- 
 amples of the ancients that are to be found in the 
 annals of every country, should they not be more 
 watchful of their actions and behaviour ? Every man, 
 every state, and every thing in the world, is a planet, 
 whose spherical revolutions are some of longer, and 
 some of shorter continuance, there is a perpetual 
 ascending and descending of life, like the spokes of a 
 chariot or coach wheel, what is uppermost the one 
 time is down the next. Adonibezek, under whose 
 table seventy kings, with their thumbs and great toes 
 
136 THE EGLINTON TOURNA’dENT, 
 
 cut olf, gathered their meat, was shortly after served 
 himself in the same manner. Artaxerxes Mnemon 
 was reduced to that strait, that he was glad to get a 
 drink of dirty water out of a stinking puddle. Alex- 
 ander, the son of Perseus, king of Macedon, being 
 carried away captive, together with his father, to the 
 city of Rome, was reduced to that poverty and miser- 
 able want, that, prince as he<^s, he was forced to 
 learn the art of a turner and joiner, whereby to get his 
 living. Perseus, Alexander’s father, a brave warrior, 
 and one who was a terror to the Roman empire, yet 
 at last being overcome, and taken by ^^milius, was led 
 in triumph Avitli his children into Rome, where, after 
 four years’ imprisonment he died. Pompey the Great, 
 who had been three times consul of Rome, and had 
 three times triumphed after his famous victories, and 
 was exalted to that height of honour, that the world 
 could afford no greater, yet being overcome by Ctesar 
 ill the Pharsalian plains, he was forced to fly into 
 Egypt in a little fisher boat, where his head was cut 
 off, and his body wanted a bmial. Nero, who at one 
 time wallowed in all maimer of excess, was at length 
 driven to that extreme want, and forsaken by his 
 friends, that he laded water with his hand out of a 
 dirty puddle to quench his thirst. 
 
 “ And poor Eumenes of a potter’s son, 
 
 By fickle fortune’s help a kingdom won ; 
 
 But she for him such diet did provide, 
 
 That he of hunger shortly after died.” 
 
 Gillimer, king of the Vandals, in Africa, having lived 
 in all manner of affluence and prosperity for many 
 years, was at last in sucli want that he sent to a friend 
 requesting him to send him a spunge, an harp, and a 
 loaf of bread : a spunge to dry up his tears, an harp to 
 solace him in his sorrows, and a loaf of bread to satisfy 
 his hunger. Pithias pined away for lack of bread, who 
 formerly was able to entertain and feast Xerxes and 
 his whole army. Sir Edward do Sancto Mauro, 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 137 
 
 coinmoiilj called Seiinour, being advanced by king 
 Edward VI., was most powerful, honourable, and laden 
 \vitli titles, being duke of Somerset, earl of Hartford, 
 viscount Beauchamp, baron Seimour, uncle to the 
 king, governor of the king, protector of his realms, 
 dominions, and subjects; lieutenant of all his forces 
 by land and sea ; lord high treasurer, and marshal of 
 England ; captain of the isles of Guernsey and Jer- 
 sey, &c., yet for a small crime was deprived of all his 
 titles, and his life also. Henry Holland, duke of 
 Exeter and earl of Huntingdon, was driven to such 
 want, that Commines saith, that he saw him run on 
 foot, bare legged, after the duke of Burgundy’s train, 
 begging his bread for God’s sake. The duke of Buck- 
 ingham, who had been a chief instrument of advancing 
 Richard III. to the crown, and the chief man of power 
 in the kingdom, falling into the displeasure of the 
 king, and forced to hide himself at a servant’s house, 
 he was betrayed by him, and found disguised like a 
 poor countryman, and digging in a grove. He was 
 carried before the king, who caused him to lose his 
 head without trial or judgment. Lysiniachus gave up 
 himself and his army into the hands of Bromochet, 
 king of the Getes, for a little water, and thereby made 
 liimself of a great king a miserable captive. Esau sold 
 his birthright for a mess of pottage. Valerian, the 
 Roman emperor, after fifteen years’ glorious reign, 
 being overthrown in battle by Saphor, king of Persia, 
 and taken prisoner, was carried away into captivity, 
 and, by the command of cruel Saphor, had his eyes 
 thrust out, and was held for long time in miserable 
 slavery, and when Saphor was to mount on horseback, 
 he caused him to lie down on his hands and knees, 
 making a footstool of him, and at last he caused him 
 to be flayed, by which torment he ended his life. 
 Bajazet, the first emperor of the Turks, having reigned 
 victoriously ten years together, in a battle, which he 
 H 2 
 
138 
 
 THE EGLINTO:t TOURNAMENT, 
 
 fought with Tamerlane, was taken prisoner, and put 
 into an iron cage, and led about like a wild beast, to 
 be a spectacle and object of scorn to aU men for three 
 years together, and that wliile was fed with scraps and 
 crumbs that fell from the conqueror’s table, so that at 
 last, being tired out with misery, he dashed out his 
 brains against the cage. Charles Caraffa was made 
 cardinal by pope Paul IV., and his brother Jolm was 
 made duke of Paliau, and earl of Montone, so that 
 they lived in great honour and wealth all that pope’s 
 days ; but when, by the assistance of these men espe- 
 cially, Pius IV. was made pope, ho took these two 
 brothers, with others of their kindred, and imprisoned 
 them in the castle of St. Angelo, where they endured 
 three years’ miserable captivity ; and at last, by the 
 command of the pope, cardinal Charles was strangled, 
 and liis brother John’s head cut olf, and their bodies 
 thrown into the open streets of Rome, to be a gazing 
 stock to the people. Henry IV., emperor of Germany, 
 was at last reduced to such exigencies, that he had not 
 wherewith to buy him bread, but was forced to come to 
 the great church at Spires, which he himself had built, 
 and there beg to be a chorister, that so he might get a 
 small stipend to keep him from starving, but could not 
 obtain it ; which repulse caused him to speak to the 
 standers by in the words of lamenting Job. “ Have pity 
 on me, 0 my friends, for the hand of God hath touched 
 me. ” The weight of these miseries shortly after brought 
 him to the grave, but he found none so humane as to 
 put him in, for he lay five years imburied. The great 
 king Henr}^ IV. of Prance, was as remarkable an ex- 
 ample of the unstableness of mundane affairs, and of 
 the sandy foundation whereon the liighest pomp and 
 purposes of men are grounded, as almost any age can 
 parallel, in the height of his glory, and in the midst 
 of his nobles, was stabbed to the heart by one of the 
 meanest of his subjects. Darius, who entituled himself 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 130 
 
 king of kings, and kinsmen to the gods, died miserably 
 in a cart, covered with the stinking liides of beasts, 
 after his mother, wife, and daughters had been made 
 prisoners. 
 
 I could give you a great many more examples of 
 the mutability of fortune in the lives of great men, 
 but shall conclude with two or three. 
 
 Never was there a more notable example of the 
 vanity and inconstancy of all earthly things, than in 
 the life of the earl of Morton, anno. 1581, who was 
 regent in Scotland in the minority of king James, 
 abounding in wealth, honour, and a multitude of friends 
 and followers ; whereas not long after he was forsaken 
 of aU, and made the very scorn of all men ; and being, 
 by the malice of his adversaries, accused, condemned, 
 and executed at Edinburgh, had his corpse left on the 
 scaffold, from the hour of his execution to sun setting, 
 covered with a beggarly cloak, every man fearing to 
 show any kindness, or so much as to express a sign of 
 sorrow, llis corpse was afterwards carried by some 
 base fellows to the common place of burial, and his 
 head fixed on the tolbooth. Belisarius, a noble and 
 famous general under the emperor Justinian, having 
 with great success, fought many battles against the 
 Persians, Goths and Vandals, in his old age, by the 
 malice and cruelty of the empress had his eyes put 
 out, and fell into such extreme want, that he was 
 forced to beg by the highwayside ; date oholum Beli- 
 saria, “ Give a halfpenny to poor Belisarius, vdiom 
 virtue raised, and envy hath thus made blind.” 
 You well remember how the great cardinal Wolsey 
 fell down headlong from all his greatness; and also 
 cardinal Richeleu’s miserable end. Prince William 
 was a conqueror adored while in life by almost all 
 the English nation, yet his dead body was aban- 
 doned by all his nobles and followers; and by his 
 meaner servants, he was robbed of armour, vessels,. 
 
140 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 apparel, and all princely furniture, while liis naked 
 corpse was left upon the floor, and his funeral wholly 
 neglected till one Harluins, a poor country knight, 
 undertook the carriage of his corpse from Caen, in 
 Normandy, to St. Stephens’ church, which this 
 dead king had formerly founded. At his entrance 
 into Caen, the convent of monks came forth to meet 
 him, hut at the same instant there happened a great 
 Are, so that, as liis corpse before, so was his hearse of 
 all men forsaken, every one running to quench the 
 fire ; which done, his body being at length carried to 
 the church, and the funeral sermon ended, and the 
 stone coffin set into the earth in the chancel, as the 
 body was ready to be laid therein, one Ascelinus Fitz- 
 Artliur, stood up and forbade the burial, alleging that 
 the very place was the floor of his father’s house, which 
 this dead duke violently took from him to build this 
 church upon: therefore, said he, I challenge this 
 gi’ound, and in the name of God forbid that the body 
 of this despoiler be covered in my earth : so that they 
 were forced to compound with him for one hundred 
 pounds; but when the body came to be laid in the 
 tomb, it proved too little for it, so that being pressed, 
 the belly, not boweled, brake and with intolerable 
 stench so annoyed the byestanders, that all their gums 
 and spices fuming in their censers could not relieve 
 them, whereupon all with great amazement hasted 
 away, leaving the monks only to shuffle up the burial, 
 Avhich they did in haste, and so got them to their cells. 
 William Kuffus, king of England, as ho was hunting 
 in the new forest, was by an arrow sliot in the breast, 
 and died, whereupon most of his followers hasted 
 away, and those few which remained, laid his body 
 basely into a collier’s cart, which being drawn with 
 one silly lean beast, in a very foul and filthy way, the 
 cart broke, where lay the spectacle of worldly glory, 
 both pitifully gored, and filthily besmeared, till being 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 141 
 
 conveyed to Winchester, he was buried under a plain 
 marble stone. Richard’s III. body after the battle of 
 Bosworth was found entirely naked, covered with 
 blood and dirt, and being thrown across a horse, was 
 conveyed to Leicester, and interred without the least 
 ceremony. And, to this day, the vicissitudes of for- 
 tune are nowhere so striking as in despotic states. 
 Princes of the blood royal in Persia are obliged to 
 become sciioolmasters ; and this is the only method of 
 subsistence left by Kouli Khan to several of liis minis - 
 ters. At Constantinoplo the great officers of the 
 court are hourly liable to be disgraced; and the life 
 of him, who there acts his part with the greatest suc- 
 cess, is nothing but uncertainty, suspicion, and terror. 
 Under the last dynasty in China, princes of the impe- 
 rial blood were seen exercising the humble calling of 
 porters, undistinguished from persons of the same 
 class, excepting that they employed cords of yellow 
 silk, a colour which none but the imperial family is 
 permitted to wear. So much for worldly greatness ! 
 
 Noblemen, in general, have much in their power, 
 they may be called the stewards of heaven, ordained 
 to give relief to those under them, and have not been 
 so much favoured with the good things of this life. 
 Many noblemen do honour to their country, while 
 others disgrace the name and arms they bear. They 
 are a means in tlie hands of Providence, of doing 
 good, if they will ; for the riches they possess are not 
 given solely for their own use, but also for that of their 
 dependents. Riches nor honours will not prolong 
 life ; being bound to no man, nor can they insure hap- 
 piness to the possessor ; for they often take wings to 
 themselves and fly away like a morning cloud. When 
 Crmsus, the rich king of Lydia, showed Solon all his 
 riches and mountains of treasure, he asked the philoso- 
 pher if he thought there was any man which he knew 
 more happy than he was, i.c. Crmsus ? “ There is,” 
 
142 
 
 THE EGLINTO:f TOURNAMENT, 
 
 said Solon, and named one Tellus, “ a man of mean 
 fortune, but content with it.” And tlien he named 
 two others, who having lived well, were now dead. 
 Croesus laughed: “ and,” said he, what state take you 
 me to be in?” “ I cannot tell,” said Solon; “nor 
 can we reasonably account that man happy who is 
 tossed in the waves of this life, till he is arrived at the 
 haven, seeing a tempest may come, that may overturn 
 all.” For there often happens a great slip between 
 the cup and the lip. Croesus made little of this at the 
 time ; but being overcome by Cyrus, bound, and laid 
 upon a pile, to be burned alive ! Croesus cried out, 
 “ 0 Solon ! Solon !” Cyrus admiring, caused him to 
 be asked “ what god or man it was he invoked in his 
 extremity ?” He replied, “ that Solon came into his 
 mind, who had wisely admonished him not to think him- 
 self happy before he came to his end.” “ I laughed,” 
 said lie, “ at that time ; but now I approve and admire 
 that saying.” So did Cyrus also, who commanded 
 Croosus to be freed, and made him one of his friends. 
 The caliph of Babylon being taken, together with his 
 city, by Haalon the Tavtavian, was by him shut up 
 in the midst of his infinite treasure, which he and his 
 predecessors had with much care and pains scraped 
 together, who bade him take and eat what he pleased 
 of gold and silver, or precious stones ; for said he, it 
 is fit that so gainful a guest should be fed with the 
 best, and therefore make no spare of any thing. The 
 miserable catiff being so kept for many days, died of 
 hunger in the midst of those things whereof he thought 
 that he should never have had enough, and whereby 
 he thought to have secured himself against any dearth 
 or danger. 
 
 King James . — You have now given me a fair sam- 
 ple of the vanity of earthly greatness and gi-andeur, 
 in the changes that have taken place in the fives of 
 some of the greatest and most illustrious personages 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 143 
 
 the world ever saw ; although from what you have 
 said, I should conclude, that people of wealth, of sta- 
 tion, and power, are the least impassioned, and the 
 most virtuous of all living: forasmuch as they are al- 
 ready in possession of what their inferiors so earnestly 
 continue to tliirst, and to chase, and to labour after. 
 The great are above temptation; the world has nothing 
 further to exliibit for their seduction: and in this light 
 also, they are become the most respectable of all peo- 
 ple, and consequently must be Gentlemen. 
 
 Sir David . — This was the case at the beginning, 
 but it is now otherwise. In men of narrow minds, 
 noble birth and riches are only productive of arro- 
 gance and cupidity. At V erona, a decayed nobleman 
 of one of the first families of that city, performs the 
 ofiice of cicerone to strangers ; and such noblemen who 
 are known by the title of excellency, are to be seen in 
 abundance at Naples, parading in the public places in 
 old gold-laced waistcoats, and without stockings. In 
 the mountains of Piedmont, in the county of Vizza, 
 you will find the descendants of noble and illustrious 
 houses reduced to the simple situation of farmers. It 
 is not an uncommon thing in these places to hear a 
 father say to his son, “ sir knight, have you fed the 
 pigs ?” Could these, then, be free of seduction ? or, 
 in what respect are they entitled to the most sublime, 
 venerable, and most honourable of aU titles, that of 
 Gentleman ? I also say, that, neither finery of clothes, 
 grandeur of equipage, title, wealth, superior airs, affec- 
 tation of generosity, nor haughty and insolent beha- 
 viour, are the true constituents nor characteri.stics of 
 a Gentleman : Something else is awanting, which I 
 
 will explain to you at an after period ; although, in 
 the meantime, I must say, that though I despise that 
 proud race of mortals, who by birth and fortune, think 
 themselves beings privileged beyond the rest of their 
 .‘ipecies, because they are exalted a little higher. God 
 
144 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 formed them of the same clay, their ashes will not be 
 distinguished in the bowels of the earth, nor will tlie 
 worms pay any respect to their bodies. Yet those 
 truths will not persuade any one to descend from the 
 ladder on which he has mounted ; and therefore many 
 go with the stream, and bow their heads to liim whom 
 chance has placed above them. 
 
 King James . — What you have said just now does 
 not apply equally to the nobility of Britain. They 
 are the fruit of another garden. And by the laws of 
 heraldry, a British nobleman is a Gentleman, although 
 a gentleman is not a nobleman. 
 
 Sir David. — True: in law all noblemen are ac- 
 counted, and ought to be Gentlemen, i. e. Gentlemen 
 of honour, not according to the degrees of rank and 
 precedence, but law and honour are often divided. 
 Honour and all its concomitant auxiliaries are neces- 
 sary to the formation of a Gentleman. I must how- 
 ever, admit on the one hand, there are many noble- 
 men just now in Britain deserving and worthy of being 
 called Gentlemen. Their daily actions are a source 
 of virtuous deeds, which will hand down their names 
 and memories to the latest posterity, and be revered 
 and esteemed by children yet unborn; while, on the 
 other hand, I must also allow, with sorrow, (if sorrow 
 were hero,) do I tell it, that there are a few to be 
 found that would disgrace the meanest occupation or 
 artisan in the land. 
 
 King James . — Sir David, you seem to strike at the . 
 root of all human greatness. Do you not remember 
 that you were a knight yourself: and it should be 
 those only who are not great themselves that should 
 delight in railing at greatness, like the fox in the fable, 
 curse the grapes for their sourness because he could 
 not reach them himself. Montaigne says, “ since wo 
 cannot attain to greatness, let’s have our revenge by 
 railing at it.” 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 145 
 
 Sir David. — Sire, I do remember that I had the 
 lionour to be a knight; and you mistake me much if 
 you think that I have, or ever had any aversion to tho 
 nobles of the land. No: I revere and esteem them, 
 and ever will, if they are such as to deserve my love. 
 Some of my progenitors, at no di.stant period, were 
 ranked among the great ones of the earth, and called 
 l(»'ds. My intention is only to sift the grain from 
 the chaff, and to lay them in different garners — tlie 
 one to be preserved as good seed in a fertile soil, to 
 spring up and nourish the little ones of the earth — 
 the other to be cast to the fire to be consumed and 
 forgotten ; for there are three kinds of nobility. 
 The first celestial ; the second philosophical ; the third 
 political. Before a man can become noble in the two 
 first classes, he must be good ; that is to say, he must 
 be possessed of moral virtues, and be religious. In 
 the third case, he may even excel in wickedness Cali- 
 gula, Nero, Macheth, and many others, who were 
 ranked among the political class of nobility of their 
 time. 
 
 “ Tliough to your title there is honour due, 
 
 It is YOURSELF that makes me honour you !” 
 
 I am perfectly aware of the sentiments of Montaigne, 
 but what you have repeated of his just now, was only 
 said in joke, not by way of derision, the sentiment not 
 being his own. 
 
 “ What though no gaudy titles grace my birth ; 
 
 Yet heav’n that made me honest, made me more 
 
 Tlian even king did when he made a lord.” 
 
 For, 
 
 “ Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade, 
 
 A breath can make them, as a breath has made.” 
 
 And Young says, — 
 
 “ The private path, the secret acts of men. 
 
 If NOBLE, far the noblest of our livesi” 
 
 King James . — I forgive all that you have said, 
 as I see it has arisen from the purest motives, and 
 
 I 
 
i4G THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 not from hatred or ill will ; and as you have expatiated 
 pretty freely and honestly on the merits and titles of 
 the first part of the laity, I mean the nobility; pray, 
 go on with the second, as impartially, those called the 
 gentry and commonalty. 
 
 Sir David. — With all my heart: and shall begin 
 with hmglits. Baronets, although not the oldest title 
 among knights, they are the first who claim prece- 
 dence among the gentry; have sir prefixed to their 
 Christian, and baronet to their surname, and the only 
 one that is hereditary. 
 
 This honour was first instituted in the year IGll, 
 (some say 1G14,) by king James VI. of Scotland, and 
 T. of England, to raise money to maintain forces in 
 the province of Ulster in Ireland. He limited at 
 first the number to two hundred, which made many 
 gentlemen anxious to purchase the title, whereby 
 many thousand pounds were raised: but his succes- 
 sors increased the number. At first, to be qualified 
 for it, one must be a gentleman born, of good reputa- 
 tion, and have an estate of £1000 per annum. He 
 must pay to the exchequer as mucli as would maintain 
 thirty foot soldiers three years at eightpence a-day, 
 which amounts to near £1100 sterling : so that includ- 
 ing the fees, the whole charge miglit be about £1200. 
 At an after period, the order of knighthood became 
 less respected: for many were forced into it whoso 
 estates and qualities were altogether unfit. Lavrey 
 says, “ The king had recourse to extraordinary levies 
 to supply his necessities. The creation of a great 
 number of knights was one project, and the subject of 
 mirth and raillery in those times; for it seems as if 
 knighthood was but of little use in a reign wherein all 
 was quiet and peaceable.” The lord keeper Coventry, 
 was one of the commissioners for imposing of this 
 merry tax, which obliged the yeomen of England to 
 pass over the heads of the esquires and gentlemen, and 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 147 
 
 commence knights; for we are told that his majesty’s 
 ministers levied money by lines and imprisonment 
 upon all men of ^40 per aimuin and upwards, wlio 
 refused to take upon them the order of knighthood. 
 Thus they were thrust into knighthood, or a jail, 
 upon refusing to pay the unjust romantic imposi- 
 tion, which turned industry into errantry. And, so 
 little was this arbitrary buckling of honours on folk’s 
 back, esteemed in the days of admiral Payne, that, 
 when one told him he was to bo knighted, exclaimed, 
 with affected indignation, “No, no, by G — , not 
 without a court martial!” There are so many dif- 
 
 ferent orders of knighthood at present in the world, 
 that it would be too tedious to mention them all. I 
 shall therefore, for brevity’s sake, only mention a few 
 of the most particular, then give you some account of 
 the origin and rise of knighthood, then leave you to 
 judge how far a knight is entituled to the appellation 
 of Gentleman. 
 
 In Scotland, the most ancient, and most honourable, 
 is the order of St. Andrew, or the Thistle. It is called 
 the most noble order of tlie Thistle, being founded by 
 Achaius the sixty-fifth king of Scotland, after a signal 
 victory obtained over the Saxons, anno. 819, and 
 dedicated to St. Andrew, the patron, or tutelar saint 
 of Scotland. I need not put you in mind that, in 
 your reign, it shone forth in its greatest splendour. 
 You who were one of the most magnificent princes, 
 are not, however, perhaps aware that, for all the 
 attention you paid it in causing the collar of the order 
 to be composed of two ancient badges or symbols of 
 the Scots and Piets, (the thistle and sprigs of rue,) 
 that, at the time of the reformation it fell into disue- 
 tude, and was scarcely used by the knights then ; 
 being so very zealous for the reformed religion, that 
 they left their order where they laid down their popery, 
 and it was never after re-assumed till the reign of 
 
*148 
 
 THE HGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 James VII. who, for the better regulating of the order 
 in all its proceedings, signed a body of statutes, and 
 appointed the knights’ brethren to wear the image of 
 St. Andrew upon a blue watered tabby ribbon; and 
 likewise named the royal chapel, or Abbey church of 
 Holyrood House to be the chapel of the order. Queen 
 Anne, to distinguish the order from that of the Garter, 
 in 1703, caused to change the ribbon from blue to 
 green. 
 
 The next order, wliich is accounted tlie most an- 
 cient in Europe is that of the Garter^ instituted in 
 1350 by Edward III. and also called the order of St. 
 George. It is called the order of the Garter, because 
 this was the only part of the whole habit of the order 
 worn at first, as a tie of affection and love for one 
 another. And that none might believe that the sove- 
 reign had any other design but what was just and 
 honourable, this motto was ordered to be wrought on 
 the Garter, “ Iloni soil qui mol y pense^^^ “ Evil be to 
 him that evil thinks.” The same was put in French, 
 because the king being then possessed of a great part 
 of France, the French tongue w'as very familiar with 
 the court of England. This honourable society con- 
 sists of the sovereign, the king or queen of Great 
 Britain, and twenty-five companions, called knights 
 of the Garter. The chapter ought to be held every 
 year on the 23d of April, (being St. George’s day, 
 the patron of England) in the chapel of the castle of 
 Windsor, since it was built by king Edward III. for 
 that purpose. The nomination of the knights apper- 
 tains solely to his majesty. The fees of honour paid 
 at the time of creation and installation amount to the 
 fixed sum of eiglit hundred guineas. It is said that 
 king Charles II. established it so, for ever. 
 
 The knights of the Bath are so called from their 
 bathing, used before they were created. Henry IV. 
 (some say Richard II.) was the founder of this order 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 149 
 
 in 1399, when to grace his coronation, he made forty- 
 six of these knights. They wear a scarlet ribbon 
 belt-wise. The fees of honour paid by the knights of 
 this order, amount to the fixed sum of one thousand 
 guineas. 
 
 Knight Batchelors are the most common, and there- 
 fore the least esteemed: whereas formerly tliis honour 
 was bestowed only upon swordsmen for their military 
 service, or upon noblemen’s sons. Then they were 
 knighted, being girt with a sword, and having gilt spurs 
 put on. The method of making these knights is much 
 altered from what it was formerly. The king bids 
 tlie gentleman, (calling him by his name as a gentle- 
 man) to kneel down, upon which he lightly touches 
 his left shoulder with a naked sword, then bids him 
 rise up by tl>e title of sir prefixed to his Christian 
 name. In the thirteenth century, not only the king 
 but the earls also conferred knighthood. The earl of 
 Gloucester having proclaimed a tournament, knighted 
 his brother William; and Simon de Montefort, earl 
 of Leicester, conferred the same honour upon Gilbert 
 de Clare. 
 
 The chief orders of knighthood in the different 
 countries at present are: — In France, that of the 
 Holy Ghost — in Spain and Germany, that of the 
 Golden Fleece — in Portugal, Santa Crusada — in Den- 
 mark, St. Mary, or the Elephant — in Poland, the 
 White Eagle — in Tuscany, St. Stephen — in Mantua, 
 the blood of Christ — in Savoy, Anunciada — in Italy, 
 St. Mary, Peter, Paul — in Holland, St. James — in 
 Venice, St. Mark — in Hungary, the Dragon — in Swe- 
 den, Brician, Seraphim, &c. 
 
 King James . — You have now explained to me the 
 principal orders of knighthood, both in this and other 
 countries; I would feel obliged by your giving me the 
 origin and rise of these orders; for it seems to me, 
 as if they had begun in some Iionoiirablo action ; 
 
loO THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 consequently, something commemorative of the deed 
 must be known to you, which, when I have once heard, 
 I will be the better able to judge whether or not, a true 
 knight can be a true Gentleman. 
 
 Sir David . — The original of all titles is knight- 
 hood, which began in virtue and honour. The meri- 
 torious person was invested with a title or appellation 
 of excellence, as a suitable reward for his dignified 
 virtue. The Romans held honour and virtue in that 
 esteem, that they deified and dedicated temples to 
 them: they made them so contiguous in their situa 
 tion, that there was no other passage to that of honour, 
 but through the temple of virtue, mystically admonish- 
 ing, that honour was not to be attained by any other 
 way. AVhen the order of knighthood was first insti- 
 tuted, it is in vain to say: for the French make St. 
 Michael the premier chevalier. This, however, I pre- 
 sume, you will not be inclined to believe: nor that it 
 began with the Trojans and Greeks; although it is 
 said that Hector, Troilus, H^neas, Agamemnon, &c. 
 were knights of great renown. 
 
 More difficulties are in tracing and fixing the period 
 of the origin of chivalry, or knighthood, than at first 
 would be supposed. An institution so singular and 
 striking which stood forth amongst ignorance, rude- 
 ness, and barbarism, distinguished for its refinement 
 and elegance ; and •which forms the subject, in a 
 greater or less degree, of almost every writer, during 
 the period at which it flourished, it might have been 
 naturally imagined, would have been described, and 
 therefore have been detected in its infancy. Tliis, 
 however, is not the case. Almost every distinguish- 
 ing feature of it may indeed be found in the manners 
 and institutions of different nations, and at very eaidy 
 periods. In the beginning of the eleventh century, 
 the rudiments of the laws of cliivalry may bo found in 
 decisions of the famous council of Clermont. About 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 151 
 
 the year 1025, several prelates, and particularly the 
 archbishop of Bourges, drew up a set of laws for the 
 maintenance of order, and the protection of the weak ; 
 which were afterwards submitted to, and confirmed 
 by, the council of Clermont. These laws every per- 
 son of noble birth, when he had attained the age of 
 twelve years, w^as obliged to submit himself to, by 
 swearing to their observance before the bishop of the 
 diocese. By the oath which he then took, he bound 
 himself to defend and protect the oppressed, thewddows 
 and orphans; to take under his especial care married 
 and unmarried women of noble birth ; and to use his 
 utmost endeavours to render travelling safe, and to 
 destroy tyranny. 
 
 The first order of knighthood in Christendom was 
 religious, and called the Hospitalers of St. John of 
 Jerusalem, and is indisputably the oldest and most 
 famous equestrian confraternity that ever existed 
 since the establisliment of Christianity. It has served 
 as the model from which every other order has been 
 copied. And its reputation has been diffused through- 
 out the -whole world. Dr. Clark says, “ They had 
 in several parts of Christendom 20,000 manners ; in 
 England the lord prior of the order was accounted tho 
 prime baron in the realm. In the year 1100, Jordan 
 Brizet, a rich and religious man, built them a house 
 near West Smithfield, called St. John of Jerusalem ; 
 and from their great austerity of living, they obtained 
 vast possessions in England ; before what belonged to 
 tho Templars was settled upon them. In Warwick- 
 shire they had lands in Grafton, Chestei’ton, Preston, 
 Bagot, Whitmarsh, Newbold, Pacie, Bilney, Bicton, 
 Dimsmore, Halford, Anstie, and other places; by the 
 gift of sundry persons.” 
 
 Tho knights Hospitalers were the first who got 
 leave from the caliph of Egypt to build a monastery 
 in Jerusalem, wliich they dedicated to tho Virgin 
 
THE p:glinton tournament, 
 
 lo2 
 
 Mary : the tirst abbot and monks of this convent were 
 sent thither from Amalpbia in Italy. The same 
 Amalphitans built also at Jerusalem a nunnery for 
 such women as came on pilgrimage thither. The first 
 abbotess hereof was Saint Agnes, a noble matron; 
 these monks of Jerusalem, for the greater ease of poor 
 pilgrims, built an hospital to receive them in, and 
 withal a chapel or oratory to the honour of St. John 
 the Baptist; or as some think to John Elcemosy- 
 narius, so called from his bounteous alms to the poor ; 
 he in the time of Phocas w^as patriarch of Alexandria ; 
 this hospital was maintained by the Amalphitans. 
 The Hospitalers, anno. 1099, when Jerusalem was 
 taken by the Christians, began to grow rich, pot nt, 
 and in great esteem, both with king Godfrid,and ehis 
 successor Baldwin ; their order was confirmed by popo 
 Honorius II. so having obtained much wealth, they 
 bound themselves by vows to be hospitable to all the 
 Latin pilgrims, and to defend with their arms Chris- 
 tianity against all infidelity. And those who engaged 
 in the expedition of the Christians against the infidels 
 w’ere called Crusaders, and had a red cross on the 
 riglit shoulder of their clothes, and bore the same 
 badge in their standards, and hence called the Red- 
 Cross kuiglits. Some also went armed, having a belt 
 with a -white cross ; over wliich they wore a black 
 cloak with a white cross: many of them in time of 
 peace wear a black cross ; but in time of war a red one ; 
 tliey have a master over them, whom they choose 
 themselves. Their first master was Gerard ; the next 
 Raymundus de Podio, a Florintine, chosen in the year 
 1103. In every province they have also a prior. 
 Every one that enters into their order vo-ft*eth to God, 
 the Virgin Mary, and St. John the Baptist, obedience, 
 poverty, and chastity ; they are tied three times 
 yearly, viz. at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide, 
 to receive the Eucharist ; they must not use merchan- 
 
AND GDNTDKMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 153 
 
 dizing, nor be usurers, nor make wills, or make any 
 their heirs, or alienate anything without consent of 
 their masters : none born of Infidels, Jews, Saracens, 
 Arabians, and Turks, must be admitted into this 
 order ; nor murderers, nor married men, nor bastards, 
 except they be of earls or princes ; they must have 
 special care of strangers, and of the sick to lodge 
 them ; they must admit only such as are sound and 
 strong of body, nobly descended, and at least eighteen 
 years old. They are distinguished into three ranks, 
 viz. piiests, or chaplains. Second, serving men. 
 Third, knights: these last must be of noble extraction. 
 When Christian princes fall at variance, these knights 
 must side with neither, but stand neutrals, and endea- 
 vour to reconcile them. Pope Adrian IV. exempted 
 them from paying of tithes to the patriarch of Jerusa- 
 lem, who claimed them as his due. Pope Alexander 
 III. for their brave exploits against the infidels, ex- 
 empted them also from tithes, and the jurisdiction of 
 bishops. At length, about the year 1299, when the 
 western princes by reason of their domestic wars, 
 could afford these knights no help, they were forced 
 by the governor of Damascus, called Capcapus, to 
 quit all their castles, lands, and garrisons they had in 
 8yria, and totally abandon that country in the year 
 1300, after almost three hundred years’ possession; 
 and so having got a fleet of ships, they invaded and 
 took the Isle of Rhodes from the Turks, anno. 1308, 
 and possessed it against all opposition two hundred 
 and fourteen years. From tliis they were called the 
 knights of Rhodes ; and had eight several families in 
 eight provinces of Europe, viz., Gillia, Avernia, 
 Francia, Italy, Arragon, Britain, Germany, and Cas- 
 tile. Each of these provinces had a prior, these 
 priors chose the great ma,ster ; they have also their 
 marshal, hospitaler, bailie, treasurer, and chancellor. 
 These send out of their provinces to the great master 
 
 ^ I 2 
 
r 
 
 
 1 
 
 154 THE EGLIXTOX tournamext, 
 
 young men nobly born, who give them their oath to 
 be chaste, poor, and obedient, and to promote the 
 welfare of Christendom against the infidels; and so 
 he is admitted knight of the order. Here they stay 
 five years, and have fifty ducats yearly pension for 
 their service ; then they are sent home into their coun- 
 try, and by the great master are set over some house. 
 If in the election of the great master there be equal 
 suffrages, one chief knight is chosen for umpire, who 
 by his sufirage ends the contraversy. The great mas- 
 ter in spiritualities is only subject to the pope; in his 
 temporalities to secular princes. After these knights 
 had possessed Khodes two hundred and twelve yeai’s, 
 and had endured a siege of six months for want of 
 help from the western princes, were forced to deliver 
 up the island to the Turks, anno. 1523. From thenco 
 they sailed to Candy, where they were entertained a 
 while by the Venetians; at last they resolved to seat 
 their great master in Nicea, a town under Charles, 
 duke of Savoy, upon the Ligustich sea, in a province 
 between Marseilles and Genoa, being a fit place to 
 descry and suppress pirates. But wdien 13uda in 
 Hungary was taken by the Turks, fearing least Soly- 
 man would assault Italy, they fortified Nicea, and 
 from thence removed to Syracuse in Sicily, wdien these 
 with the kingdom of Naples belonged to Charles the 
 emperor; there they stoutly defended the Christian 
 coasts from Turks and pirates ; but Charles the em- 
 peror perceiving they might do more good if they were 
 seated in Malta, gives them that island, wdiicii they 
 accepted, anno. 1529, promising to defend Tripolis, 
 to suppress the pirates, and to acknowledge the kings 
 of Spain and both Sicilies for their protectors, to 
 wdioni every year they should present a falcon. This 
 island they stoutly defended against Solyman for five 
 months, anno. 1505, w lio w^as forced to leave it. Tho 
 great master’s revenue is ten thousand ducats yearly, 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 155 
 
 besides some thousands of crowns out of the common 
 treasury, and the tenth of all goods taken at sea. They 
 have for the most part six gallies, every one being able 
 to contain five hundred men, and sixteen great cannon. 
 This celebrated order of the knights of Jerusalem ; or, 
 as it is now called the knights of Malta, had its rise 
 about the year 1048 of the Christian era. 
 
 About the year of Christ 1123, not long after tho 
 institution of the Hospitalers, Hugo de Paginis, and 
 Gaufrid do S. Aldermaro, with seven other prime 
 men, vowed to secure the highways, and to defend 
 from robbers all pilgrims that came to visit the holy 
 sepulchre. And because these had no habitation, 
 Baldwin, king of Jerusalem, assigned them a place in 
 his own palace near the temple to dwell in ; whence 
 they were called Templarii : they lived after the 
 manner of the Canon Regulars, possessing nothing in 
 propriety, but were sustained by the bounty of the 
 patriarch, and Christian pilgrims. Thus they con- 
 tinued nine years, till the year 1122, then did Honorius 
 II. bishop of Rome, with the patriarchs, erect them 
 into an order, assigning a white cloak to be worn by 
 them; afterward pope Eugenius added a red cross. 
 These in few years by their valour and care of pil- 
 grims, grew mighty, numerous, and rich ; so that 
 sometimes in public meetings, three hundred knights 
 have been together, besides infinite numbers of brothers; 
 they had about nine thousand manors in Christendom. 
 I have been informed that the lands of Mary Culter, 
 belonging to WiUiam Gordon, Esq. on Dee side, Aber- 
 deenshire, once belonged to them, and that part of 
 them lived in the house, which is still in excellent re- 
 pair and condition: whereas tho Hospitalers had but 
 nineteen. They had the same rule prescribed them 
 tliat other monks had, viz., obedience, poverty, chas- 
 tity, gravity, piety, charity, patience, vigilance, forti- 
 tude, devotion, and such like virtues. When any of 
 
15(3 
 
 TilE EGLINTON TOURNA.MEXT, 
 
 them were taken prisoners bj the infidels, thej were 
 to be redeemed only with a girdle and knife. They 
 were exempted from the bishop’s jurisdiction by pope 
 Calixtus II. in the council of Khenes, anno. 1119, and 
 from tithes by pope Alexander III. It was excom- 
 munication to lay violent hands on any Templar. At 
 last this order with their pride and luxury became so 
 odious, that having continued two hmidred years, they 
 were utterly rooted out of France by king Philip the 
 Fair, and likewise out of other kingdoms by the insti- 
 gation of pope Clement V. In Franco they were put 
 to death, and their estates confiscated to the pope and 
 king. But in Germany their lives were spared, and 
 their estates bestowed on the Hospitalers, and the 
 Teutonic knights of St. Mary. 
 
 The Teutonic were a mixed order of the Hospitalers 
 and Templars, for they both used hospitality to pil- 
 grims, and defended them in the highways from robbers. 
 They were called Teutonic from their country, for they 
 were Germans that undertook this order, who, living 
 in Jerusalem, bestowed all their wealth on the main- 
 tenance of pilgrims, and, by the Patriarch’s leave, 
 assigned to them our lady’s chapel ; from tliis chapel 
 of St. Mary, they were named Mariani. The chief pro- 
 moters of this order were the Lubikers and Bremers, 
 with Adolphus, earl of Holstein, who, with a lleet of 
 ships, assisted the Christians, besieging Ptoleinais, and 
 provided tents, with all necessaries for the sick and 
 maimed soldiers. This order was created before Ac- 
 cona, or Pfcolemais, by the king of Jerusalem, the 
 Patriarch, divers archbishops, bishops, and princes of 
 Germany then present, and was confirmed by the 
 emperor, Henry VI., and pope Calenstine III., who 
 assigned them a white cloak with a black cross ; and 
 added a white target with a black cross also ; and gave 
 them leave to wear their beards, and granted indul- 
 gencies, with otiier acts of grace, to those that should 
 
AND (JENTLEMAN UNM ASKED. 
 
 137 
 
 undertake or promote the order; they had power to 
 bestow knighthood on such as deserved, and are en- 
 joined to follow tlie rule of St. Austin; but none must 
 be admitted into this order except he be a Teutonic 
 born, and nobly descended. Their charge was to be 
 ready on all occasions to oppose the enemies of the 
 cross; and ai’e tied to say two hundred paternosters, 
 creeds, and ave maries in twenty-four hours. When 
 the Holy Land was lost, the knights came into Ger- 
 many, on whom the pope and emperor, Frederick II., 
 anno 1226, bestowed the country of Prussia, condi- 
 tionally that they subdue the infidels there; which 
 they did in the space of fifty-three years, and so got 
 the full possession thereof. Upon the river Vistula, 
 where they had raised a fort against the enemy, they 
 built their chief city, and called it Marlenburgh ; they 
 set up tliree great masters, the one in Germany, tlie 
 second in Livonia, and the third in Prussia; this was 
 over the other two. They aided the Polonians against 
 the Lituanians, much of whose country they sudued ; 
 which caused great wars between these Teutonics and 
 the Polonians, after that Poland and Lituania were 
 united under one prince. The knights are thus in- 
 stalled. The Commendator places him that is to be 
 knighted in the midst of the laiights, then asketh every 
 one of them if they find any exception against him, 
 either for his body, mind, or parentage ; the same is 
 demanded of the party to be knighted, and withal if 
 he be skilful in any useful art, if in debt, married, or 
 if he have any bodily infirmity: if he have he must 
 not enter into that order ; then he is commanded to 
 kneel, and by laying his hand on the gospel, and rule 
 of the order, to vow and promise obedience, chastity, 
 poverty, care of the sick, and perpetual war with the 
 infidels; which done, the Commendator promiseth to 
 him sufficient bread and water, and coarse clotli for 
 liis life-time; then he riseth, and having kissed the 
 
158 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOUR^^AMENr, 
 
 master, and each one of his brothers, he sitteth down 
 in the place appointed for him. Then the Master, or 
 Commendator, exhorts the brotliers to observe this rule 
 carefullj : after this he is inaugurated, his kindred at- 
 tend on him to church with a torch burning before him, 
 in which are fastened thirty pieces of silver and a gold 
 ring. Then he kneels before the altar, and riseth 
 again behind the offertory, and so are delivered to him 
 a sword, target, spurs, and a cloak, which were all 
 consecrated before; the Commendator draweth his 
 sword, with which ho is girt, and with it strikes his 
 target twice, saying. Knighthood is better than ser- 
 vice ; and with the same sword striking him on tho 
 back, saith, “ Take this blow particularly, but no more 
 hereafter;” then, the responsory being sung, the rest 
 of the day is spent in feasting and drinking. 
 
 The order of St. Lazarus was instituted about tho 
 year of Christ, 1119, and, being almost extinct, was 
 renewed by pope Pius IV. They wear a dark coloured 
 garment, with a red cross before their breast. 
 
 The knights of St. James, in Spain, were instituted 
 in 1170, under pope Alexander IIL, who confirmed 
 this order, and were to follow St. Austin’s rule. Their 
 first master was Peter Ferdinand, whose yearly re- 
 venue was one hundred and fifty thousand crowns. 
 In peace and war they were to wear a purple cross 
 before their breast, resembling tho liilt of a two-handed 
 sword, called Spatha. 
 
 There are a few others of minor importance, but, 
 for brevity’s sake, for the present I shall pass them by; 
 those I have already mentioned being the principal of 
 tlie religious orders of knighthood, instituted in the 
 Holy Land for the protection of pilgrims. 
 
 The next order of knightliood of which 1 shall ex- 
 plain presently, is military, and was called llavents, 
 or Bannerets, being created by tlie king under tlio 
 royal standard or banner, for life only, and seldom or 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 159 
 
 never conferred but upon persons of extraordinary 
 merit, many of whom were able, by their arms and 
 numerous vassals, to raise, command, and lead gal- 
 lantly a company of soldiers to field in time of war, 
 under their own particular banners of their arms; and 
 very many of the predecessors of the old families in 
 Scotland have been advanced to this truly honourable 
 degree of knighthood, on the consideration of their 
 courage and valorous exploits in times of war and bat- 
 tles ; so that Scotland of old, having produced so many 
 of these gallant heroes, that it would take me too long 
 to enumerate all their names and heroic deeds: sir 
 Robert de Bruce, sir William Wallace, sir John do 
 Graham, and many hundreds more, being all advanced 
 to this military order of knighthood on account of their 
 valour, and the same being but only a temporary dig- 
 nity, deserved it; and the son could not succeed the 
 father in this dignity, till he also had performed some 
 valorous action to merit the same, in order to fit him 
 for being a leader of a company of men of war. 
 
 Sir George Mackenzie, in his precedency, p. 55, 
 says, “ That he finds of old a bannerent, (or ban-rent), 
 has been with us a title higher than a baron, for, by 
 act 102, parliament 7th, James I., anno 1427, barons 
 may choose their own commissioners, but bishops, 
 dukes, earls, lords, and ban-rents, are to be summoned 
 to parliament by the king’s special precept ; and it is 
 probable, (continues he) that these ban-rents were 
 knights of extraordinary reputation, who were allowed 
 to raise a company of men under their own banners; 
 but now it is commonly taken for such as are kniglited 
 by the king or prince under the royal standard in time 
 of war.” 
 
 The origin of this order, like every thing uncertain, 
 has given rise to much controversy among antiipiar- 
 ians. Some contend that this dignity first originated 
 in France, while others assign that honour to Brittany, 
 
IGO THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 and others to England. Those who are of the last 
 opinion, trace the order of bannerets to Conan, lieu- 
 tenant of Maximus, who commanded the Roman forces 
 in England, under the reign of Gratian. Revolting 
 from his government, say they, he portioned out Eng- 
 land into forty cantons, over which he appointed forty 
 knights, with power to assemble, when necessary, un- 
 der their own banners, as many fighting men as they 
 could muster in their several districts. Without pre- 
 tending to decide as to the origin of the order, I can 
 say, with sufficient certainty, when it expired in Bri- 
 tain ; for the last knight-banneret was sir J ohn Smith, 
 who was invested with that dignity by Charles I. after 
 the battle of Edgehill, as a reward for his bravery in 
 rescuing the royal standard from the rebels. 
 
 In France the title of banneret is different from 
 what it was in Britain. They were gentlemen of great 
 estates, privileged to carry colours in the king’s army: 
 he was a banneret that could raise a troop of gentle- 
 men, his own vassals, and could maintain them at his 
 charge. There were also esquire bannerets, wdio had 
 a freehold with privilege of a banner ; but they wore 
 white spurs, to distinguish them from the others that 
 'wore gilt spurs. This title at the beginning was per- 
 sonal, and he that had it, held it by his valour and 
 merit ; but it became hereditary afterward, and de- 
 scended to those that held the banneret’s estate. 
 
 When it was the fashion to disunite territory from 
 lionours, titles came into use. Hence, the late ap- 
 pearance of mere titles of nobility in all the kingdoms 
 of Europe. In Scotland, the dignity of duke was 
 much posterior to those of earl and baron. It does 
 not seem to have been known till the times of Robert 
 III. And the titles of marquis and viscount were 
 not in existence till the days of James VI. Knight- 
 hood, as an honour in connection with arms and with 
 land, w^as, 1 conceive, of high antiquity in Scotland, as 
 
AND tJENTLfJMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 IGl 
 
 well as ill other nations ; though it is difficult to find 
 any traces of it, before the age of Malcolm III. The 
 oath administered to knights in Scotland, has been 
 preserved with more care than the other circumstances 
 which relate to this order; and it illustrates the spirit 
 and gallantry which took their rise from chivalry. 
 As it will illustrate the order and nature of knight- 
 hood more than I could otherwise do in tlie samo 
 length of time, I sliall repeat it to you, and is as fol- 
 lows : — 
 
 THE OATH OF A KNIGHT. 
 
 I. — I shall fortify and defend the true holy catholic 
 and Christian iu3ligion, presently professed, at all my 
 power. 
 
 II. — I shall be loyal and true to my sovereign lord 
 the king his majesty, and do honour and reverence to 
 all orders of chivalry, and to the noble office of arms. 
 
 III. — I shall fortify and defend justice to the utter- 
 most of my power, but fued or favour. 
 
 IV. — I shall never fly from the king’s majesty, my 
 lord and master, or his lieutenant in time of battle, or 
 medley with dishonour. 
 
 V. — I shall defend my native country from all aliens 
 and strangers at all my power. 
 
 VI. — I shall maintain and defend the honest a-does 
 and quarrels of all ladies of honour, widows, orphans, 
 and maids of good fame. 
 
 VII. — I shall do diligence wherever I hear tell there 
 are any traitors, murtherers, rovers, and masterful 
 thieves and outlaws, that suppress the poor, to bring 
 them to the law at all my power. 
 
 VIII. — I shall maintain and defend the noble and 
 gallant state of cliivalry with horses, harnesses, and 
 other knightly apparel, to my power. 
 
 IX. — I shall be diligent to enquire, and seek to have 
 knowledge of all articles and points touching, or con- 
 cerning my duty, in the book of chivalry. 
 
162 
 
 THE EGLIXTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 X. — All and sundry the premisses I oblige me to 
 keep and fulfil. So help me God; by my one hand,, 
 and by God himself. 
 
 Every true and loyal knight was also expected to 
 have the door of his castle constantly open : if it were 
 found shut, his character for hospitality and therefore 
 for true knighthood, was stained. As soon as a knight 
 entered the castle of another, he considered himself, 
 and he was treated, as if he were at home ; every thing 
 that could minister to his comfort and luxury was at 
 his command. So much a part of the regular domes- 
 tic economy was the reception and entertainment of 
 strangers, that, let their number be ever so great, and 
 their coming be ever so sudden and unexpected, they 
 found every thing prepared for them. Were I to en- 
 ter minutely into the labyrinth of chivalry, knight- 
 errantry, and all its Quixotism, as it is trumpeted 
 througli the many writers of fiction and romance, both 
 in Scotland and other countries, I know not when I 
 might finish my history. My design is not to give a 
 finished narration of the beginning and end of knight- 
 hood in all its varied parts, but point out for your con- 
 sideration a few of the leading principles, by which the 
 different knights are actuated in their progress through 
 life, and how far tliey are justly worthy of the highly 
 reverenced name and character of Gentlemen. 
 
 I shall, therefore, conclude this part of our conver- 
 sation with an anecdote, which took place some time 
 ago, relating to the ceremonies used in conferring the 
 order of knighthood. 
 
 Hugh of Tiberias, lord of Galilee, with many other 
 knights, had the misfortune to be taken prisoners by 
 Saladin, sultan of Egypt, after performing amazing 
 feats of valour. The sultan, who was no stranger to 
 tlie character of the unfortunate Hugh, was greatly 
 pleased with having him in his power, and told him, 
 unless ho agreed to pay a large ransom, he must 
 
AND GENTLExMAN UNxMASKED. 
 
 1G3 
 
 instantly prepare for death. The kniglit replied, that 
 he woidd readily pay the ransom, if it did not exceed 
 liis abilities — and desired to know what sum he de- 
 manded. JSaladin told him, that nothing less than an 
 hundred thousand bysants of gold would be sufficient 
 to purchase his liberty. “Alas, sir!” answered Hugli, 
 “you demand more than all the value of my estates.” 
 “ Be not discouraged,” replied the sultan ; “it will not 
 be difficult for you to acquire the sum demanded. 
 You are remarkable for courage and intrepidity, and 
 have often distinguished yourself by the most glorious 
 actions; and can it then be supposed that there is a 
 single knight who will refuse to contribute towards 
 the ransom of so brave a warrior ? I will permit you 
 to return to the Christian army, provided you will pro- 
 mise either to pay the ransom at the end of two years, 
 or deliver yourself up a prisoner.” Hugh readily ac- 
 cepted the offer, and prepared for his departure ; but 
 in a few minutes the sultan returned, took him by tho 
 hand, led him into his own apartment, and thus ad- 
 dressed his prisoner. “I conjure you, by the religion 
 which you profess, to reveal to me a secret which I 
 have long desired to know. The Christian knights 
 have long rendered themselves famous all over tho 
 world : what ceremonies are used at their taking tho 
 order, and by what means can I obtain it?” “ Sir,” 
 replied Hugh, “the sacred order of knighthood would 
 be ill bestowed on you; for, according to our law, you 
 are destitute of grace, and an enemy to the true reli- 
 gion. Would it not be considered as an egregious piece 
 of folly if I should adorn a dunghill with flowers, which, 
 after all my care, would still retain its filthy savour? 
 In like manner I should commit the grossest error by 
 decking you in the robes of the Christian order. 1 dare 
 not undertake it.” “You have nothing to fear,” re- 
 plied the sultan; “you are my prisoner, and, as such, 
 are bound to execute whatever I command. It is my 
 
1G4 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 pleasure tliat you immediately perform the ceremony; 
 nor will I admit of an excuse.” Hugh, finding it in 
 vain to contend, began to instruct him in the several 
 ceremonies. He first caused the sultan’s beard to be 
 trimmed, as becomes a new knight, and then led him 
 to the batli. Saladin enquired the meaning of these 
 several forms ; to which Hugh answered, “As the ten- 
 der babe, after being washed in the waters of baptism, 
 is freed from all pollution ; so you, sir, are to come 
 from tliis bath free from all baseness, and filled with 
 courtesy. You are to bathe yourself in the waters of 
 humility, gentleness, and benevolence, and endeavour 
 to render yourself beloved by all the world. ” Saladin, 
 pleased with the explanation, cried out, “ This, by tlie 
 great Allah ! is a noble beginning.” Hugh now took 
 him from the bath, and placed him on a rich and soft 
 bed, saying, “ This bed intimates, that by the acliieve- 
 ments of knighthood we are to purchase the bed of 
 true rest in the mansions of eternity.” When the 
 sultan had lain some time on the bed, Hugh bade him 
 arise, and put on him a garment of fine linen ; and 
 then arrayed him in a scarlet robe. Saladin, with some 
 wonder, asked the meaning of these dilferent pieces 
 of apparel ; to which Hugh answered, “ The first in- 
 dicates, that a knight ought to be particularly careful 
 to keep himself free from every vice, spotless like a 
 linen garment from the whitter’s fields ; and the second, 
 that he thinks nothing too great, nor too hard, if it 
 tends to promote the honour of the Almighty, and the 
 service of religion.” Saladin, struck with the propriety 
 of the remark, answered, “ This is truly singular, and 
 gives me infinite delight.” The knight then put on 
 the feet of Saladin a pair of dark brown shoes, saying, 
 “ Let this earthly colour remind you continually of 
 death, and the subterraneous mansion to which you 
 must shortly retire, and from which you cannot return. 
 The thought of this should teach you humility and 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 1G5 
 
 modesty ; a proud knight being a scandal to the order, 
 and a reproach to human nature.” lie then girded 
 the sultan with a white sash, adding, “ This intimates, 
 that you are carefully to preserve an unspotted purity, 
 and despise luxury of every kind. A true knight 
 should be irreproachable in his conduct, and intrepid 
 in every action that has a tendency to promote the 
 cause of virtue.” Hugh next put on the feet of Sala- 
 din a pair of gilt spurs, saying, “These spurs, which 
 are intended to augment tlie fury and swiftness of the 
 horse, denote, that with the speed of the rapid courser, 
 you shall fly to the assistance of every person in dis- 
 tress, and lay prostrate before you those who trample 
 on the sacred laws of justice of every knight who de- 
 sires to obey the precepts, and supports the dignity of 
 his order.” Hugh then girded on the sword, adding, 
 “This weapon is to defend you from the assaults of your 
 enemies, and punish the champions of vice and im- 
 mortality. Its two edges intimate, that the two 
 motives wliich regulate a kniglit’s conduct, are upright- 
 ness and loyalty: the former animates liiin to assist 
 the weak, when oppressed by the weighty hand of 
 flagitious tyranny; and the latter, to defend his country 
 against all the attempts of its perfidious enemies.” 
 Hence the knight made a pause ; and, the sultan ask- 
 ing if anything was wanting to complete the ceremony, 
 Hugh answered, “There is still one particular re- 
 maining, which cannot now be performed; I mean the 
 kiss of peace, given in remembrance of him for whoso 
 sake the order was established. This must be omitted, 
 as I am now your prisoner.” Highly pleased with the 
 ceremony, and its emblematical intention, Saladin 
 arose, and, in the robes of knighthood, led Hugh into 
 the divan, where fifty emirs were assembled, and, after 
 causing him to sit down, recommended him to their 
 liberality as an unfortunate warrior. Nor ”was this re- 
 commendation in vain: they collected for the prisoner 
 
IGG THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 thirteen thousand bjsants of gold above what the 
 sultan demanded for his ransom. An instance of ge - 
 nerosity so remarkable astonished the knight, and 
 convinced him (which was no easy task in those times) 
 “that even infidels may be capable of good works.” 
 He received their liberality with gratitude, and em- 
 ployed it in ransoming a great number of cliristian 
 captives. Saladin also released gratuitously ten kniglits 
 to accompany Hugh, who, loaded with honours and 
 presents, departed from the tents of that royal com- 
 mander, whose valour subdued all the kingdoms of the 
 east. 
 
 The objects, therefore, of the institution of knight- 
 hood and chivalry, were to check the insolence of 
 overgrown oppressors, to vindicate the helpless, espe- 
 cially females, and to redress grievances. Knighthood 
 was esteemed more honourable than royalty itself ; 
 and monarchs were even known to receive it from the 
 hands of private gentlemen. As valour, gallantry, 
 and religion, equally entered into the character of a 
 true knight, it is believed that the spirit of chivalry 
 had a great share in refining the manners of the 
 European nations, during the twelfth, and the three 
 following centuries. The combatants fighting more 
 for glory than for revenge, or interest, became eminent 
 for magnanimity and heroism. The Jieroes who had 
 signalized themselves ill the crusades, anxious to acquire 
 fame at home, entered into the bonds of chivalry, for 
 redressing wrongs, and protecting widows and orphans. 
 Female beauty — which makes the deepest impression 
 on the benevolent — came to bo tlie capital object of 
 their protection : every ceremony regarding Tourna- 
 ments, was contrived to honour the ladies. Accord- 
 ingly it belonged to tliem to inspect the arms of the 
 combatants, and to distribute the rewards. In 1414, 
 John, Duke de Bourbonnois, caused it to be proclaim- 
 ed that ho intended an expedition to England, with 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED, 
 
 1G7 
 
 Sixteen kniglits, in order to combat an equal number 
 of English kniglits, — for glorifying the angel he wor- 
 shipped. Instances of this kind, without number, 
 stand upon record. James IV. of Scotland, in all 
 Tournaments, professed himself the knight of Anne, 
 queen of France. She afterwards summoned him to 
 prove himself her true and valorous champion by 
 taking the field in her defence, against Henry VIII. 
 of England; and, accordingly, James declared war 
 against his brother-in-law. 
 
 When many a knight and baron bold, 
 
 Renown’d for hardie deedes ; 
 
 Whose names fame’s ample list enrolled, 
 
 Opposed their steedes to steedes. 
 
 The court of chivalry, or marshaFs court, the judges 
 of which were the lord high constable and earl marshal, 
 formed part of the avia regis, established by William 
 the conqueror. To their decision were referred all 
 matters of honour and arms: and when Edward I. 
 new modelled our judicial polity, the same officers 
 were appointed to preside over the court of chivalry, 
 with jurisdiction to try matters of arms and war, such 
 as the bearings of coat-armour, the right of place and 
 precedence: but they could only give reparation to the 
 party injured in point of honour, and not by an award 
 of damages. As to matters of war, they had the mar- 
 shalling of the king’s army, and kept a list of the 
 officers and soldiers of which it was composed. Pre- 
 paratory to a war, they were charged with drawing up 
 rules and orders for the due observance of discipline; 
 and the offences and miscarriages of soldiers were sub- 
 ject to their trial and judgement. 
 
 King James — Most nobly spoken, sir David; I 
 glory in the honour of a knight. Surely no one could 
 withhold a meed of praise from men so deservedly 
 entitled to it, as in all ages, and in all countries, have 
 been the patrons and protectors of religion, the widows 
 
IBS THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 and orphans, and the poor and oppressed. Are they 
 not Gentlemen? 
 
 Sir David . — Before I answer tliis question, permit 
 me to say, that, as it is not always all gold which 
 shines, neither are they all Gentlemen who have been 
 knighted, and taken the oath of such : for it would be 
 as much a misnomer to say that all knights were Gen- 
 tlemen, as to say that all knights were kings. Are 
 you not aware that hundreds of men have made, and 
 are making, themselves infamous by their associating 
 with, and binding themselves to the performance of 
 things utterly beyond their reach? How often, (while 
 in life) have we seen and heard of men uniting with, 
 and becoming members of, learned associations, &c., 
 while they themselves cared no more for the advan- 
 tages derived from such institutions than children : nor 
 could they appreciate their merits, if alone. It is not 
 an uncommon thing for many to pretend to be patrons 
 and encouragers of literary pursuits, and for that pur- 
 pose get their names enrolled along with the generous, 
 the liberal, and benevolent gentlemen on the books 
 of the institution ; while, at the same time, were they 
 called upon privately to open their purses, for the pur- 
 pose of aiding or assisting real merit, they would find 
 some way or another of excusing themselves from the 
 loosing of the strings, although, in public, they wish to 
 rank first on the head of the list. A name is all they 
 want, and they too often obtain the object of their base 
 desires at the expense of the truly meritorious. Few 
 act up to the profession they make.*' 
 
 * Tlie patronage of some men are not to be coveted. I mean those vain, 
 hypocritical, and would-be gentlemen, who wish the world to look upon 
 them as religious, philanthropic, generous, and patriotic, by adhibiting 
 their names to every public paper as donors, worthy of being emblazoned 
 abroad for their benevolence, &c. Such men I have known to treat with 
 cold contempt, and insolent inhumanity, the man of genius struggling 
 with the world in secret, when applied to for aid and assistance to relieve 
 his pressing wants, and prolong his miserable existence ; but, when death 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 109 
 
 King James . — You are right, sir David, I did not 
 think of the fallacj of man. His duplicity is past mj 
 comprehension. I find I must yield to your greater 
 experience, and better discernment. Do go on with 
 the next class of men, and shew me their merits and 
 demerits, that I may form an opinion of their claim to 
 that of Gentlemen. 
 
 Sir David . — Those next to knights are esquires, a 
 title which has been very profusely bandied about of 
 late, and sadly abused by all classes of the common 
 laity. Esquire is now as common among operative 
 tradesmen and mechanics, as Master was when you 
 swayed the Scottish sceptre. Not that I blame them 
 altogether for arrogating to themselves this pompous 
 title, but through real ignorance do they assume it, 
 and bestow it one upon another; which, while I shew 
 you how far they may be Gentlemen, I shall explain. 
 
 The late lord Barrington was one day asked by a 
 German, “Pray, my lord, what is the title of esquire 
 in England?” Why, sir, replied his lordship, I cannot 
 exactly tell you, as you have no equivalent for it in 
 Germany; but an English esquire is considerably above 
 a German baron, and something below a German 
 prince.” Esquire is a word derived from the French 
 Escuger, and the Latin Scutifer, or Scutanus ; the root 
 of all the terms being the Greek, skvtos, a shield. 
 The rank of esquire was at first officiary, but now it 
 is merely honorary, and belongs to the younger sons of 
 earls, viscounts, and barons ; and the eldest sons of the 
 younger sons of peers and knights, and their eldest 
 
 put a period to his weary pilgrimage, would be the first in the field in 
 contributing liberally in public for a monument to the memory of the 
 very man they starved to death in private. I have also known a base 
 and unprincipled petty- fogging lawyer plunder an honest, worthy, and 
 industrious family of their all on one day, and on the next I have seen 
 his name in the public prints as a subscriber to a charitable fund, and 
 religious institution. Such deception is too often practised by many. 
 To rob Peter to pay Paul is common ; but the day will come ! 
 
 K 
 
170 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 sons for ever. There are also esquires created by the 
 king, bj putting about their necks a collar of S. S. S. S., 
 and bestowing upon them a pair of silver spurs. And, 
 at the king’s court, there were formerly two consider- 
 able officers, called esquires of the body. Those that 
 are in public offices, or in any eminent station, such 
 as justices of the peace, chief magistrates, counsellors 
 at law, Serjeants of the several offices of the king’s 
 court, and other noted officers, are also reputed 
 esquires. Even among the Britains, according to 
 Tacitus, the office of esquire, or armour-bearer, was 
 known ; for he says that Cartismandica, queen of the 
 Bigantes, married the esquire, (armigerum), of her 
 Imsband. The knights of ancient Gaul were attended 
 in their wars by two oiketai or ministers; who seem 
 to have been the same whom Posidorius represents as 
 sitting with them at table, bearing their shields. In- 
 deed, almost all the ancient nations of Europe, who 
 signalised themselves in arms, appear to have had this 
 office. The Longobards, denominated the person who 
 held it schilpor, i. e., shield-bearer; and the Germans, 
 in the time of Charlemagne, called him schildknappa: 
 an appellation not uncommon among our Saxon ances- 
 tors, before the word esquire was borrowed from the 
 French. Originally, the office of an esquire was 
 merely to carry the shield of the knight to whom ho 
 was attached; but afterwards his offices were more 
 important and numerous. Among the French, the 
 grand escuyer was master of the horse. His business 
 w^as to assist the sovereign in mounting or dismounting 
 from liis horse, and to give him his sword and belt. 
 It appears from these instances, that the titles armiger, 
 escuyer, esquire, &c., did not originally imply that tlie 
 ])ersons possessing them were entitled to bear coats of 
 arms, but only that their office was to carry the arms of 
 the kniglits, or of those persons of superior rank to whom 
 they were attached; so that there is no connection 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 171 
 
 between the strict etymology of the name, and the 
 common acceptation in which it is generally used. 
 The name of esquire began to be honorary about the 
 time of Richard IL, there being an instance of a per- 
 son being made an esquire by patent, with arms, by 
 this king. It is still, however, a matter of difficulty 
 and dispute, what constitutes tlie distinction, or who 
 is a real esquire; for it is a vulgar error, that any 
 estate, however large, can confer this rank and title 
 upon its owner. In the country, however, every vil- 
 lage has its ’squire, and to dub him less, would be an 
 affront not easily forgiven. The fact is, none are de 
 facto esquires but those I have already mentioned, and 
 all members of her majesty’s government, and various 
 public offices pertaining thereto; all officers in the 
 army down to a captain, and all officers in the navy 
 down to a lieutenant. These are the only esquires, 
 de facto, however the title or distinction may be as- 
 sumed, or courteously bestowed. 
 
 From what I have now explained to you regarding 
 esquires, who are accounted above the common accep- 
 tation of gentlemen, when I come to speak of the true 
 lionour and dignity of a Gentleman, you can make 
 comparisons, or draw inferences from the conduct and 
 behaviour of each. 
 
 King James . — You have now unloosed to me a very 
 knotty point, and explained to my satisfaction that of 
 which I was long doubtful. An explanation of tho 
 title of esquire, like gentleman, has long been a desi- 
 deratum in the polite and courteous world. Titles 
 of honour are now becoming titles of courtesy and 
 compliment, without meaning. I only regret that tho 
 people upon earth cannot be as much benefited by 
 your sage instruction as wliat I have been. 
 
 Sir David . — This might bo easily accomplished 
 were it to improve mankind, but I am much afraid I 
 would, by tliis time, be accounted one of the old school. 
 
172 
 
 THE EGLIXTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 and mj labours treated with disdain: for you are aware, 
 that many of my words are now become obsolete upon 
 earth, and the manner of delivering my instruction 
 out of the fashionable routine of elocution. Fine 
 oratory constitutes the principal attraction, not the 
 subject, let it be what it will ; for few, very few indeed, 
 think of attending a public speaker for instruction 
 but for amusement. It is the same with many books, 
 if the style is not purely chaste and classical, they are 
 immediately tlirown aside. It matters not what in- 
 formation they contain, all go one way. On the other 
 hand^ a book full of nonsensical jargon, if, (to use 
 the booksellers’ phrase) well got up, and here and 
 there a few flashes of wit, although ill-timed, and out 
 of season, it is sure to be read, at lea^st to sell. Such 
 is the predominant rage for fine style and fine print- 
 ing, <fcc. 
 
 King James . — Your observations are just : however, 
 there are many who would read our present conversa- 
 tion upon such an interesting topic with gi’eat avidity, 
 and I have no doubt but would profit much thereby, 
 let the little-minded punctilious sort of quibblers say 
 what they would. I wish, therefore, you would devise 
 some method of laying it before the public on earth. 
 
 Sir David . — Nothing can be more easy: but as I 
 have still much to say upon the same subject, i. e. the 
 character and behaviour of a Gentleman, I shall finish 
 our present discourse without interruption, then, if 
 the whole meet with your approbation, I shall propose 
 a plan, whereby it may be promulgated upon earth. 
 In the meantime, shall go on with the next part of 
 the explanation of esquire, knight, or as sometimes 
 called, squire of the shire, viz., a member of parlia- 
 ment. 
 
 The ancient parliament of Scotland, before the 
 revolution, consisted of three estates, prelates, barons, 
 (the greater in person, and the lesser by deputies) 
 
AND GENTLEMAN ENM ASKED. 173 
 
 and burgesses. Anciently all freeholders who hold 
 lands of the crown in capite, of such a value, had a 
 right to sit in parliament in person, and were called 
 lords in parliament ; but that denomination came af- 
 terwards to be appropriated to peers, (i. e. pares, or 
 equals,) viz. such of them as the king had advanced 
 to higher titles, as dukes, earls, &c. The election of 
 commoners, to be immediate trustees and apt repre- 
 sentatives of the people in parliament, is the hereditary 
 and indefeasible privilege of the people. It is tiio 
 privilege which they accepted, and which they retain, 
 in exchange of their original inherent and hereditary 
 right of sitting with the king and peers in person, for 
 the guardianship of their own liberties, and the insti- 
 tution of their own laws. At one time, the whole 
 estates of parliament sat in one house, and voted 
 together as one deliberate body — consequently, the 
 vote of every individual member was of equal weight ; 
 for the question seems to have been determined by a 
 majority of the individual votes of the aggregate as- 
 sembly, and not by the votes of the different estates 
 as distinct and independent bodies. But in the year 
 1332, the bishops, with the proctors of tlie clergy, 
 probably from the contempt they entertained for tiio 
 knights and burgesses, withdrew by themselves, the 
 nobles by themselves, and the representatives of the 
 commons by themselves. Here then is the first 
 embryo of the house of commons; but how much unlike 
 to the respectable assembly which now bears that 
 name ! Instead of claiming a right to judge of every 
 particular respecting government, they for many years, 
 declined to give any opinion on this subject. When 
 the old practice of making an act in one parliament, 
 appointing the time for the meeting of the next, was 
 laid aside, the parliament was summoned by the pro- 
 clamation at the head borough of every shire, forty 
 days before they met ; and when the freeholders, 
 K 2 
 
174 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 instead of coming in person, chose representatives, 
 every one that held lands of the crown valued at forty 
 shillings, according to the old taxation, which is now 
 equal to at least twenty pounds sterling, per annuniy 
 might elect, or be elected by the common council of 
 the said boroughs, and contraverted elections were 
 determined by the parliament. And the statute, 16th 
 Geo. II. c. 11 and 8, provides that no person shall be 
 entitled to vote, or to be put on the roll of electors 
 for Scotland, “ in respect of the old extent of his 
 lands holden of the king or prince, unless such old 
 extent is proved by a retour of the lands, of a date 
 prior to the 16th September, 1681 ; and that no divi- 
 sion of the old extent made since the aforesaid 16th 
 September, 1681, or to be made in time coming, by 
 retour or any other way, is, or shall be, sustained as 
 sufficient evidence of the old extent.” Anciently, a 
 knight of the shire was allowed four shillings, and a 
 citizen or burgess two shillings a day, from the respec- 
 tive places for which they were chosen ; a good allow- 
 ance in those days ; but now so inconsiderable, that it 
 is quite laid aside, and all members serve at their own 
 expence. The full number of the house of commons 
 is 658, from the time of the union. But if 300 are 
 met, it is reckoned a full house. They sit promiscu- 
 ously upon forms, except the speaker, who sits upon 
 a chair in the middle of the room, with a table before 
 him, the clerk of the house sitting near him at the 
 table. 
 
 From what I have now spoken and explained to 
 you, regarding the ancient parliament of Scotland; 
 and of which, lam afraid, you are by this time right 
 weary, you will see the honour and privileges of a 
 member of parliament. 
 
 King James . — I am by no means weary of your 
 dissertation on the parliament of Scotland; although 
 I could not plead ignorant of what you have advanced 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 17 O 
 
 for mj instruction. At the same time, I must use 
 the liberty of putting you in mind of a few omissions 
 you have made regarding the powers, privileges, and 
 rights of Parliament, even in the days that I wore the 
 Scottish crown. 
 
 Sir David. — True : I did wilfully omit a few of the 
 ancient rights and powers of the Scottish parliament; 
 my intention not being to treat of the parliament as a 
 body politic, solely, but as in connection with its mem- 
 bers, and to shew how far the laws and government of 
 a nation were vested in their hands ; consequently the 
 great honour and trust reposed in them by their con- 
 stituents as Gentlemen. And, I must also state, that it 
 is not my wish to bring the ancient and modern rights 
 and privileges of parliament into contact ; the ditfer- 
 ence being so mighty great ; for what was at one time 
 considered as a matter of right, would now be con- 
 sidered as treason. There are three things, said an 
 eminent lawyer, the bounds of which are unknown, 
 viz., the royal prerogative, the peoples' liberties, and 
 the privileges of parliament. Many have written 
 against the absolute authority or supremacy of the 
 kings of Scotland; and that what jurisdiction they 
 possessed was given by the parliament ; while sir 
 George Mackenzie and others say, that since we had 
 kings before we had parliaments, it is evident that the 
 king s power could not flow from them, but on the 
 contrary. And Daniel de Foe, in a work called 
 “ The Original Power of the Collective Body of the 
 People of England, examined and asserted,” has these 
 statements : — 
 
 “ 1. Salus Populi Siiprema Lex, all government, and 
 consequently our whole constitution, was originally 
 designed, and is maintained, for the support of the 
 people’s property, who are the governed. 
 
 “ 2. That all the members of government, wliether 
 king, lords, or commons, if they invert the great end 
 
17G 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 of their institution, tlio public good, cease to be in the' 
 same public capacity. 
 
 “ And power retreats to its original.” 
 
 “ 3. That no collective or representative body of 
 men whatsoever, in matters of politics any more than 
 religion, are, or ever have been, infallible. 
 
 “ 4. That reason is the test and touch-stone of laws, 
 and that all law or power that is contradictory to 
 reason is, ipso facto, void in itself, and ought not to 
 bo obeyed.” 
 
 As it is not my intention at present to discuss tliis 
 point, although much might be said on both sides, I 
 shall only observe to you that, in one of your own acts, 
 cap. 38, I find you paying great deference to the con- 
 stitution of your country, and the dignity of the three 
 estates ; and that you would not move or do anything 
 hut what you, might justly Ao hy their advice. Do you 
 recollect of having spoken thus to your advocate, and 
 tliat you were present when what was called the decla- 
 ration of parliament was made ; which is as follows : — 
 “ The quhilk day, master Henry Lauder, advocate to 
 our sovereign lord, expondit in presence of the kingis 
 grace, and thre estatis of parliament, how that his 
 grace had raisit summoundis upon the airis of umquhilo 
 Robert Leslie, to heir his name and memorie deleit 
 and extinct for certain punctis and crimes of lese 
 majestic commitit and done be him or his deccis, and 
 thairfor all his guidis, movabill and unmovabill, per- 
 taining to him, the time of the committing of the said 
 cryme, and sensyne, to be decernit to pertene to his 
 grace. And because it is murmurit, that it is ane 
 noveltie to raise summoundis, and move sic agains 
 ane persoun that is deid (howbeit the common law 
 directlie provydis tlie samin) not the les for stanching 
 of sic mu r mure, and that his grace tends on ne sort to 
 move or do ony thing, hut that he may justlie he the 
 advise of the thre estatis. Thairfor desyrit the saidis 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 177 
 
 three estatis to aviso thairupoii, and that his grace 
 may have the- censement of parliament, quither hat 
 he has an action to pursue sic summoundis ornot. 
 The hail estatis spiritual and temporal, and commis- 
 saries of burrowis, all in ane voice, but variance or 
 discrepance, lies deliverit and concludit, that his grace 
 has gude just cause and actioun to perseiv the said 
 summoundis of treason, done and committed againis 
 his persoun and commoun-weil conform to the com- 
 moun law, gude equitie and reason : notwithstanding 
 thair is na special law, act, nor provision of the realm 
 maid thairupon of befoir.” Thus, it is evident, you 
 could do nothing but with the consent and advice of 
 the parliament, even in such cases as this, that were 
 ruled by the common law. You knew the constitu- 
 tion of the government to be so, as indeed it must 
 evidently appear to those who have taken the trouble 
 to consult the statute books, that the kings of Scotland 
 could do nothing without the concurrence of the three 
 estates. Since the union of the crowns, the case is 
 quite altered: but the ancient parliaments stood up 
 for the interest of the people from whom they had 
 their commissions ; and that their princes, whose office 
 was only a power of trust, should be faithful in the 
 discharge of that power with which they had entrusted 
 them. Others who favour the royal side say, “ That 
 the parliaments derived their power from the king; 
 that the lords of the articles were a check upon them, 
 and that they were only to treat of such articles as 
 the king proposed, and gave into those lords.” 
 
 I am afraid I have dwelt too long upon this subject ; 
 but as it was of considerable interest, and one in which 
 millions are interested, I trust you will readily excuse 
 me : for it is to the king and the governors of a 
 nation that the people have to look for their ultimate 
 happiness. Cicero says, “ Men are not born for 
 themselves, but for their country, parents, kindred. 
 
178 THE EGLINTON TOURNAAIENT, 
 
 and friends.” The pliilosopher does not mean the soif 
 or the earth on which he treads, exclusively, to bo his 
 country, but its inhabitants, constitution, and govern- 
 ment. Our country is the region or climate under 
 whicli we are born, the common mother of us all; 
 which we ought to hold so dear, that in the defence 
 thereof we should not fear to hazard our lives. Would 
 not then a man of honour and integrity sacrifice his 
 all for the good and prosperity of his country? Much 
 is in the hands of a member of parliament, — they 
 would require to be well picked and chosen. It is a 
 place of holy trust. 
 
 King James . — You have now given mo a tolerably 
 good idea of a member of parliament, including a 
 sketch of the British constitution, or government, but 
 left me to form my own opinion of his title or claim 
 to the most honoured of names, the name of a Gen- 
 tleman. I shall not, however, bo too precipitate in 
 my judgment, but with patience wait the concluding 
 part of your interesting conversation, when I shall 
 make one inference serve for all. In the meantime, 
 be pleased to give me an account of a Lawyer^ with 
 strictures on the nature, uses, abuses, and principles 
 of Law, &c., as you have already done on other sub- 
 jects. 
 
 Sir David . — The law is a singular reason imprinted 
 in nature, commanding those things that are to be 
 done, and forbidding the contrary. It is divided into 
 two parts; the law of nature, and the law written. 
 The law of nature is a sense of feeling, which every 
 one hath in himself, and his conscience, whereby he 
 discerneth between good and evil, as much as sufliceth 
 to take from him the cloak of ignorance, in that he is 
 reproved even by his own witness. The law written 
 is that which is divided into divinity and civility: the 
 first teaching manners, ceremonies, and judgments; 
 the latter, matters of policy and government. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 179 
 
 The use of law consistetli in two things: the one to 
 protect property from injury; tho other to dispose and 
 convey the property of lands, goods, and chattels. 
 Ulpian says, “The law is king of all human and divine 
 things; whose office is, as Modostinus remarks, to 
 command, forbid, punish, and permit.” Pomponius 
 defines the law to be the invention and gift of God, 
 and the maxims of wise men. Moses was the first 
 who gave laws to the jews; and ever since, almost all 
 nations have submitted themselves to some kind or 
 other of laws of their own framing, which may be com- 
 prehended under three points; to live honestly, to 
 hurt no man wilfully, and to render unto every man 
 his due carefully. Law and wisdom are two laudable 
 things, the one concenieth virtue, and the other good 
 works. Cicero calls laws the souls of commonwealths ; 
 for, as the soul guideth the body, and endueth it with 
 ability to work, so the law is the direction and main- 
 tenance of every estate. By the law is the magistrate 
 obeyed, and the subjects kept in peace and quietness. 
 Romulus first gave laws to the Romans, which were 
 called curiatoe: after whom, Numa invented the cere- 
 monies of their religion, and all the succeeding kings 
 added their peculiar laws ; which, being all written 
 down in the books of Papyrius, w'ere afterwards called 
 the Papyrian laws. After that time came the laws of 
 the twelve tables. (The Romans added two of their 
 own, to the tables brought from Greece.) The Fla- 
 vian law ; the Helian law ; the Hortension law ; tlie 
 lloiiorarian law ; the Praetor’s law ; decrees of tho 
 senate ; edicts of the people ; law of the magistrates ; 
 and custom, and the power of the lawgiving, given to 
 every supreme prince, there being legislators innum- 
 erable. At the time Moses gave laws to the Hebrews, 
 Cecnops gave laws to the Egyptians ; after whom 
 Pheroncus gave laws to the Greeks ; Lycurgus was 
 lawgiver to the Lacedemonians ; Solon to the Athen- 
 
180 THE EGLTNTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 ians ; Zamolxis to the Thracians ; Diodes to the Sj- 
 racusians ; Zeleucus to the Locrians ; Charondus to 
 the Thurians ; Nicodorus to the Mantineans ; Pjtta- 
 cus to the Mjtelenians; S. Olaus to the Norwegians ; 
 Pharamonde made the saliqe law to the French, al- 
 though some assert that it was Charles the great. It 
 was a saying of Plato, that “there was a necessity that 
 laws should be made for men ; and that they should 
 be obliged to live according to them ; or otherwise, 
 men would differ but very little from the beasts them- 
 selves.” The reason of this is, that no man is natur- 
 ally so well composed as rightly to understand what 
 do best conduce to the public good of human life ; or 
 if he do, yet he either cannot or will not always act 
 according to that which in his judgement is the best. 
 Hence it is that so many nations have submitted to 
 the wisdom of some one man who hath been eminent 
 among them, and have been contented to live by ,the 
 rules he has prescribed. We can form no idea of the 
 existence of man in society without subordination. 
 A child is no sooner born than it is perfectly depend- 
 ent upon its parents for its support, and every thing 
 it enjoys ; it is weak and helpless ; it looks up to them 
 for assistance, and nature has bestowed upon the pa- 
 rents affections that induce them to cherish and sup- 
 port it. It is wayward and foolish ; nature has also 
 endowed them with strength to correct its errors. 
 Reason comes gradually to be developed. The child 
 becomes sensible of the superior understanding that 
 experience has conferred upon its parents, and, though 
 at first it submitted merely from necessity, it at length 
 yields to their authority from a conviction of its bodily 
 powers increase, and the understanding improves, is 
 strengthened by habit and motives of gratitude. Com- 
 pulsion is then out of the question ; and as society ad- 
 vances, it is from the sway that reason, derived from 
 experience, confers upon him that the patriarch com- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 181 
 
 mauds respect over his descendants, wlien they have 
 obtained families of their own, and have acquired 
 ideas of personal independence, his advice will be at- 
 tended to when his commands can be no longer obli- 
 gatory; and when, from the effects of age, he becomes 
 debilitated in body and in mind, he will still be treated 
 with respect, from a gentle recollection of what ho 
 has been. This must have been the first state of 
 society, and given the earliest idea of government and 
 laws to every country. I have therefore no hesita- 
 tion to say, that the British constitution is the form 
 of civil government, the most friendly to liberty, and, 
 in every respect, the best that is to be found, at this 
 moment, on the whole earth. Where is the man that 
 can point out the civil government of any country on 
 the four quarters of the globe, which, in point of true 
 liberty, and real excellency, can be compared with 
 this one, or under which any wise or good man would 
 clioose to live in preference to the Britisli government? 
 The end of civil government is the preservation, the 
 protection, and the real interest of the whole society 
 or nation, comprehending all the ranks of persons in 
 it, and all the individuals in these ranks. They asso- 
 ciate in order to accomplish these important purposes, 
 in the way, and by the means, which are the best for 
 each individual, not as in a state of nature, but as 
 connected with others in a state of society for their 
 mutual protection and advantage. As, in fact, in 
 every nation on earth, there are many foolish, impru- 
 dent, unjust, and vicious men, as well as wise, pru- 
 dent, just and virtuous men, the inhabitants of all 
 ranks, in every nation, stand in need of protection, 
 alike from wicked citizens among themselves, and 
 from foreign powers. There are many men among 
 themselves who are so wicked, that if not restrained 
 by a power greater than their own, they would injure 
 their characters, cheat them in their dealings, secretly 
 
 L 
 
182 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 steal away, or openly rob them of their property, 
 wound their persons, or take away their lives. These, 
 therefore, being the great concerns of men, that is to 
 say, their lives, fortunes, and reputation, it is the 
 great interest of mankind to know how to avoid such 
 accusation, or to defend themselves when they are 
 accused ; but to accomplish these important purposes 
 under divine providence, rulers, judges, inferior magis- 
 trates, admirals, generals, inferior officers, sailors, 
 soldiers, merchants, lawyers, physicians, ministers of 
 religion, husbandmen, manufacturers, mechanics, la- 
 bourers, and many others in the different departments 
 of society, are necessary. Every one should fill such 
 a situation as is most congenial to his feelings, and 
 talents most flitted for, and conducive to the good 
 order and harmony of the whole ; for how weak, help- 
 less, and fading would a nation be, wholly kings with- 
 out subjects; wholly subjects without kings or rulers; 
 wholly generals without soldiers ; wholly soldiers with- 
 out officers; wholly rich men without poor; or wholly 
 poor men without rich ? Rulers, magistrates, or law- 
 yers, .are therefore the instruments used to execute 
 these laws, or to make them of any effect to the indi- 
 viduals concerned. As the king is the liead and foun- 
 tain of honour, so is he of the law, and all otliers in 
 subordination to him. lie is the chief magistrate, 
 and rules over all. Archidamus being asked, “ Who 
 was the master of Sparta?” “The laws,” said he, 
 “ and next them the magistrates.” Justice being the 
 end of the law, and the law a work of the magistrate, 
 so also the magistrate is the image of God, who ruleth 
 Riid governeth all, according to which mould and 
 ])attcrn he must fashion himself through the means of 
 virtue, and above all things labour, that he be not un- 
 wortliy of that person which he sustaineth. The name 
 magistrate, hath had divers significations among the 
 ancients: Plato maketh seventeen kinds of them, 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 183 
 
 calling some necessary and otliers honourable. Aris- 
 totle said, tliat they ought chiefly to be called magis- 
 trates, that have power to take counsel, to judge, and 
 to command, but especially to command : and that it 
 is his duty thereby to honour the good and to punish 
 the evil, declaring thereby that he is the protector 
 and preserver of public tranquility, honesty, innocence, 
 and modesty, and appointed to maintain the common 
 safety and peace of all men. To do justly is the duty 
 of every Christian, but especially of magistrates, and 
 such as are in authority; and then people may sit 
 under their own vines and fig trees in safety. In 
 Athens were erected certain images of judges without 
 hands and eyes, to show that judges should neither bo 
 corrupted with bribes, nor by any person drawn from 
 that wliich is right and law. A judge should be true 
 in word, honest in thought, and virtuous in his deeds, 
 without fear of any but God, without hate of any 
 but the wicked. 
 
 It is not my intention at present to dwell long upon 
 this subject, the merits, nor demerits of the law, nor 
 its votaries, the lawyers, and those connected with it, 
 or I should have given you a few instances wherein 
 kings had acted as righteous judges and magistrates, 
 and been an honour to the law of their land, while 
 others had disgraced the name and profession : And, 
 
 I may also add, that it is perfectly needless for me to 
 say that the College of Justice, commonly called the 
 Court of Session, is the principal or liead court in Scot- 
 land, where justice is administered impartially, by a 
 class of men who know their duty, and do it conscien- 
 tiously. You, sire, have the honour of giving this 
 blessing to your native land, anno. 1533, which was 
 confirmed by the authority of parliament, wlierein tlio 
 lords were named, the time and place of their meet- 
 ing appointed, and the manner of tlieir proceedings 
 regulated, Ac. There are so many ranks of men con- 
 
184 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 nccted with the profession of law, and the administra- 
 tion of justice, that it would be tedious to name them 
 all. From the lord high chancellor of England, and 
 the lord advocate of Scotland, down to the lowest 
 gi’ado of sheriff officer, or constable, many great and 
 worthy Gentlemen might be included. 
 
 It is the province of the king’s advocate, or the lord 
 advocate, more usually called, to prosecute all crimi- 
 nal actions to the effect of bringing the offender to 
 punishment, &c. although often very injudiciously, in 
 consequence of the advocate not knowing his duty, or 
 but superficially, as you will learn from what follows, 
 which took place a little time ago. 
 
 At a meeting of the convention of royal burglis, 
 held on the 9th of July, 1839, in the high church aisle, 
 Edinburgh, Mr. J. W. Mackenzie, in a long speech, 
 contended that there should be an important reform 
 in the regulation of the duties of the lord advocate, 
 an officer who, he said, was vested with powers utterly 
 repugnant to every principle of freedom. He also 
 maintained that the office of minister for Scotland 
 should be disjoined from that of the lord advocate, 
 and should be held by a secretary or under-secretary 
 of state, resident at the seat of government. He said 
 that the reason why the interests of Ireland were bet- 
 ter attended to than those of Scotland was, because 
 the former country had a separate secretary of state 
 trained in the arena of politics, and trusting to the dis- 
 play of talent in that department for future advance- 
 ment. Until the affairs of Scotland were entrusted to 
 a similar functionary, we never need expect that jus- 
 tice which she was equally entitled with Ireland. Mr. 
 Mackenzie concluded by moving the following resolu- 
 tions: — 
 
 “ 1st, That a loyal and dutiful address be present- 
 ed to her majesty, praying her to give directions that 
 tlie more immediate management of tlie affairs of 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 185 
 
 Scotland shall bo entrusted to a secretary or under 
 secretary of state for this department, as was the case 
 prior to the year 1723. 
 
 “ 2d, That a petition be presented to the house of 
 commons, praying it to institute an investigation into 
 the powers said to be possessed by the lord advocate 
 of Scotland, and afterwards so to regulate the office as 
 to make it more consonant to the spirit of a free con- 
 stitution. 
 
 “ 3d, That the address to her majesty bo transmit- 
 ted to lord John Russell for presentation; and that 
 the petition to the house of commons be sent to Mr! 
 Macaulay, with a request that he will present and 
 support it.” 
 
 Bailie Paul thought this was a matter with which 
 the convention ought not to interfere. They should 
 confine themselves strictly to the questions that con- 
 cerned the interests of the burghs, and avoid mingling 
 themselves up with political matters. It might be 
 true that the powers of the lord advocate were most 
 extraordinary, but he thought Mr. Mackenzie would 
 attain his object better by applying to another quarter. 
 As he did not wish to detain the meeting, he would 
 move that the convention considered it inexpedient to 
 entertain the question. 
 
 After a few words from Mr. Macandrew for, and 
 from the lord provost against, Mr. Mackenzie’s reso- 
 lutions, the vote was taken, when 10 voted against, 
 and 9 for, the resolutions, three declining to vote. 
 The resolutions were therefore lost. 
 
 I am truly sorry these well meant resolutions were 
 lost, particularly by so small a majority. For, as Mr. 
 Mackenzie justly remarks, the duties of the lord advo- 
 cate is repugnant not only to freedom, but to common 
 sense; for I firmly believe, there is not one out of 
 every hundred that is appointed to this high office, 
 that knows the fiftieth part of his duties, or the powers 
 
186 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 with which he is entrusted, being sole and absolute. 
 They are, in fact, such as cannot bo defined bv him, 
 nor any one else, lie is too often the mere poli- 
 tical tool of those in power, having had his appoint- 
 ment from the ministry he must serve, without 
 regard to his knowledge of law, justice, or honour, 
 as may be seen in examining the records of our coun- 
 try, but more particularly in the affairs of private 
 individuals who have had the misfortune to bo depen- 
 dent upon liis execution of justice, having the power 
 to give or withhold it. I shall only produce one or 
 two instances which may be relied upon. 
 
 Not many years ago, in the Yorkshire of the north, 
 a gentleman of the highest respectability as far as re- 
 gards character, <fcc. had the misfortune to come in 
 contact with one of those blood-suckers, alias, petty- 
 fogging lawyers, with which the place abounds. This 
 vampire, according to the opinion of the gentleman, 
 and all the friends to whom he applied, was guilty of 
 not only the meanest, the basest, but the most wilful 
 fraud and imposition. The gentleman, who had been 
 previously plundered of the greatest part of his pro- 
 perty, by this petty-fogger and a few of such calibre, 
 by the advice of his friends, at once applied to the 
 then lord advocate, giving a clear and circumstantial 
 statement of tlie whole affair. But, for many weeks 
 after no notice was taken of the case; a second appli- 
 cation was made, with an earnest request that an 
 investigation of the matter should take place, but 
 behold the result. In the interim it was found by his 
 lordship, that the petty-fogger had been law-agent, 
 
 and one of ’s election committee, who held the 
 
 same political principles, and was one of those con- 
 venient tools, who, to please the laird, could vote that 
 white was black, and black was wdiite — his opponent 
 was the reverse. At length an answer arrived on a 
 card, open at both ends, so as to be read distinctly by 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 187 
 
 the postman, or those of his friends whom he wislied 
 to honour, and for this learned epistle, dated Lomlon, 
 the receiver had to pay full postage, although the 
 writer at that time was an M.P. wdth the liberty of 
 franking, but it would have been too much condescen- 
 sion for this official dignitary to have put his name on 
 the outside. After what I have stated, I need scarcely 
 tell you the contents ; they go, however, to say, that, 
 in ambiguous terms, he could not undertake the prose- 
 cution, whether from ignorance of his duty, or what, 
 I know not, so that the base and degraded petty- 
 fogger for once chuckled over his good fortune, in 
 escaping from the exposure and reproach of law and 
 justice. But although the creature at that time found 
 a friend willing to make a sacrifice, it will not always 
 be the case ; there is one greater than he, who will 
 
 neither be cajoled by fear, nor swayed by . 
 
 Before this high tribunal he must appear face to face, 
 and woe, w^oe to him, if ho be found guilty ! ! ! 
 
 The faculty of Advocates w^ere first appointed upon 
 the institution of the college of justice, or supreme 
 court, when ten persons of the best reputiition, know- 
 ledge and experience, were chosen in all actions before 
 that court ; and when any were wanting, the number 
 was to bo supplied by advice of the senators or lords; 
 but business increasing, their numbers increased also. 
 Most of them attend the house, but many of them 
 are gentlemen of good families and estates, who 
 entered into that body with no other view than the 
 honour of being members of it. Many of the Edin- 
 burgh advocates at the present day, are among tho 
 most learned men in Europe; nay, I may say, in the 
 whole world; gentlemanly in all their actions, and an 
 honour to the place that gave them birth. And, it is 
 to them, in a great measure, that the metropolis of 
 ancient Caledonia is indebted for the high rank she 
 holds among the literary cities of the world, and is 
 
188 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 now very appropriately called modern Athens. There 
 arc, however, amongst advocates, as amongst other 
 professions, a few that do not merit the compliment — 
 men ready to risk soul and body for a trifling gain, 
 mean and despicable in all their actions, ready to 
 devour the goods and chattels of the helpless orphan, 
 and swallow the mite of the friendless widow; for 
 laws are like spiders’ webs, which catch the small 
 flies, and let the great break tlirough. In the world, 
 some men thrive by villany ; and lying and deceiving 
 are accounted just, and to be rich is to be wise, and 
 tyranny is honourable : although I account the defend- 
 ing of a bad cause worse than the cause itself ; and he 
 that pleads for a mighty man in a wrong matter must 
 forget the truth, or forsake his client’s friendship. 
 Bellarmine tells of a desperate advocate in the court 
 of Rome, who being exhorted on his death-bed to 
 make his peace with God, made this speech to him, 
 “ Lord, I have a word to say to thee, not for myself, 
 but for my wife and children ; for I am hastening to 
 hell, neither is there anything that I would beg of 
 thee in mine own behalf.” And thus he spake, saith 
 Bellarmine, as boldly, and without fear, as if he had 
 been but to take his journey to some neighbouring 
 village. 
 
 The name of advocate is honourable, if not abused. 
 To plead the cause of the poor and needy, and support 
 them with their counsel when destitute of money, and 
 abandoned by the world, is an act of great tender- 
 ness, and I may add, mercy ; particularly when prose- 
 cuted innocently by an unrighteous enemy or judge. 
 Christ advocates the cause of the whole guilty human 
 race, and pleads their cause before the throne of his 
 righteous Lather, tlie great Judge of heaven and earth. 
 
 Clerks to the signet, or, as they are oftener called. 
 Writers to his Majesty’s Signet, are also a classof highly 
 respected and learned men. At the time of the 
 
 A 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 180 
 
 establishment of the college of justice, tlie writers to the 
 signet were in the exercise of the same duties in which 
 tliej are engaged at the present day; and they arc 
 recognized as a constituent part of the college. Their 
 principal duty is to prepare all charters of lands flow- 
 ing from the crown ; all summonses for citing parties 
 to appear in the court of session, all diligences of the 
 law for affecting the person or estate of a debtor, or 
 for. compelling implement of the decrees of the supremo 
 court. 
 
 The office of sheriff, is one of groat trust and 
 honour; but in Scotland differs very considerably from 
 the same office in England. The jurisdiction of the 
 sheriff’ seems to have been anciently very extensive, 
 both in its criminal and civil branches; as is to bo 
 found in the trial and condemnation of,Macpherson by 
 the sheriff’ of Banffshire. lie must also be at least an 
 advocate of three years standing. 
 
 Sir George Mackenzie says, that, “ sheriffs in Scot- 
 land, are either during life, and then the office passes 
 by a signatour, and passes the great seal, or otherwise 
 it is conferred as an heritable right, qou casu, though 
 it be transmitted in the same way and manner with 
 other heritable rights, yet because it is merum jus in- 
 corporeum, it requires no seasing, but albeit all these 
 heritable offices were upon good reasons discharged by 
 the 44- act 11 pari, king James VI. King Charles I. 
 did design to buy in all the heritable sheriffships, and 
 bought in many, yet there were many of them which 
 were enjoyed by noblemen and others till of late years. 
 The sheriff is in effect the supreme justice of the peace, 
 to whom is mainly entrusted by the law, the securing 
 of the quiet, and tranquility of that part of the king- 
 dom which is subject to his jurisdiction. If a sheriff 
 refuse to do justice, he loses his office, and is punisli- 
 able at his majesty’s pleasure; but if he do injustice, 
 he loses his office, if it be heritable, for three years; 
 
 L 2 
 
100 
 
 THE EGLIXTO.V T0UR>TA:I EXT, 
 
 but if not Iieritable, lio loses it during t’le time he was 
 to enjoy it formerly, and in both cases he is punish- 
 able arbitrary in his person, and is obliged to refund 
 the damage, and interest sustained by the parties 
 liesed. 
 
 There is also a class of men called sheriff- substitutes y 
 or, in other words, journeymen sheriffs, who do the 
 greater part of the dirty work in the petty courts of 
 law, while the absentee sheriff is himself living at ease 
 at a distance from the scene of action, regardless of 
 Ills duty, or those who look up to him as their guardian 
 from the tyrannical hand of the base and unprinci- 
 palled oppressor. The substitute is appointed, and 
 lives by the breath of his master, the depute. Although 
 I will freely say, that, there are many an unfortunate 
 wight who can bear ample testimony to the abilities, 
 the honour, and the honesty of several filling these 
 important stations, at present on earth.* 
 
 Justices of the Peace, were called Irenarcha?, which 
 signifies in the Greek, the keeper of the peace. Their 
 office was to apprehend rebels and thieves. Justices 
 of the peace and constables were once fully settled by 
 king James VI., but their offices having fallen into 
 disuetude, it was revived again by king Charles IL 
 The justices of the peace are declared judges compe- 
 tent to all riots, and breaking of peace, if the commit- 
 ters be under the degree of noblemen, prelates, coun- 
 
 * Bob Wallace, M.P., the great advocate for law reform, seems to Iiave 
 quite a different opinion of the merits and talents of sheriff-substitutes 
 in general, than Avhat some people have. Had he suffered as mucli by 
 the IGNORANCE, &c. of soiue of them as many have done, he would not 
 so readily extol their usefulness and worth, patriot as he is. Be it, 
 however, perfectly understood, that these lines bear no reference what- 
 ever to the sheriff-substitutes of the west, some of whom being peison- 
 ally known to the writer as gentlemen of acknowledged talents, Ac. 
 Tlie system however, is in itself bad and absurd, and stanels much ia 
 need of reform. Could he not try his powers upon it ? 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMaSKED. 
 
 101 
 
 cellors, and senators of tlie college of justice; but 
 cannot exercise any judicial or coercive power as 
 justices beyond the county to wliicli they belong. 
 Tliey are appointed by royal commission, and the 
 commission may be recalled at any time by the king. 
 
 Bailies, are another kind of magistrates, who are 
 officers appointed not by tlie king, but by proprietors 
 to give iufeftment in land, and have power to hold 
 courts, and appoint officers under them. Their crimi- 
 nal jurisdiction extends to petty riots, and at common 
 law, are held to possess the same power within tlieir 
 territories as the sheriffs in their counties. 
 
 Notary Public, the office of which is very ancient, 
 being known in Rome. After the establishment of 
 Christianity, notaries were appointed by the pope origi- 
 nally for the purpose of preserving the records of the 
 church; but afterwards for purposes almost entirely 
 secular. The duties of notaries are to prepare instru- 
 ments of sasine, executing deeds, attesting copies of 
 writing and the like. 
 
 Messengers-at-arms are officers appointed by the 
 Lyon king-at-arms, to be subservient to the supreme 
 courts of Session and Justiciary; and employed in 
 executing all summonses and letters of diligence, both 
 ill civil and criminal matters. 
 
 I next come to speak of the lowest and meanest of 
 the whole fraternity — I mean the slierid* s sergand, or 
 officer, more commonly called. They are, in general, 
 the lowest of the low — the very dregs of the people, 
 and illiterate to the last degree, but assuming to them- 
 selves a dignity and consequence far above the sheritf 
 himself. In the most unpleasant of all occupations 
 they take pleasure, and glory not in the honest exer- 
 cise of their duty, but in insolence and tyranny over 
 tlie ill-fated wights that misfortune have punished by 
 subjecting them to be devoured by tlieir merciless 
 
102 
 
 TUE EQLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 hands.* They, in justice, may be called the finishers 
 of the law, and I wonder much that the rank of pre- 
 cedence between them and the hangmen has never 
 been disputed. “In the execution of their ofiicethey 
 suld have ane home, and ane reid wand of three 
 quarters of ane yairde lang at the least ; and gif they 
 have nocht the samin, they suld be challenged tliereforc 
 be the scliireff in head courtes.” James I. p. G, c. 99. 
 
 I shall now close this long, and, I am afraid, tedious 
 dissertation on law, and a few of those adherents most 
 necessarily engaged in its execution, by making a few 
 remarks on the whole, that you may be the better able 
 to say how many, and how far they have a right to be 
 called Gentlemen. 
 
 The law is honourable when it is executed by an 
 honourable person ; and, like a wall of fire around us, 
 it protects the weak from the attacks and insults of the 
 strong — secures the property of the unarmed from the 
 hands of the armed ruffian — alfords protection to in- 
 nocence, and secures and pimishes the guilty. The ^ 
 feeble and weak-minded are prevented from becoming 
 a prey to the wiles and deceit of the crafty — lets the 
 innocent prisoner free from his tyrannical and unjust 
 oppressor, and watches over his midnight slumbers ; for 
 he can lie down in safety and enjoy the sweet repose 
 of an immaculate soul. Law is the very basis of 
 government, the support of society and commerce ; it 
 is a science that stops not at airy notions, nor sleeps in 
 speculation and reverie; it sets hand to work, puts 
 bounds to right and wrong, protects the clown from 
 slavery, and the nobility from tho violent encroach- 
 ments of the multitude. It is as necessary for the 
 
 * Tlic picture that Sir David draws of these reptiles is just. They are 
 vampires and domesticated blood-hounds, feeding on the inward vitals of 
 a helpless and unfortunate race of beings doomed to a punislnnent of 
 misery worse than deatli. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 193 
 
 preservation of order, as air for that of life. Without 
 it great empires must fall into a heap of confusion, and 
 the world becomo a retreat to thieves and assassins. — 
 It is the guardian of our liberties and om’ rights. 
 Power will determine right, and force justify extortion 
 and violence ; a long sword will be title, and force will 
 put in possession. As the profession is commendable, 
 so thousands of its professors have not only been above 
 praise, but even above calumny. Flattery could not 
 fawn them into an ill action, nor menaces fright them 
 from a good one; they were just in spite of interest, 
 and upright in spite of temptation; they bore up 
 against the provocation of greatness and favours ; they 
 durst defend justice under disguise of a beggar, and 
 prosecute injustice, though protected by title and 
 authority. 
 
 I could yet point out to you some gentlemen of the 
 law, (bad as the times are reported to be on the earth) 
 such as , whose honesty vies with the most up- 
 
 right examples of antiquity, as well as their science. 
 
 “ Yet I repeat there are, who nobly strive 
 To keep the sense of moral worth alive ; 
 
 Men who would starve, ere meanly deign to live. 
 
 On what deception and chican’ry give.” 
 
 Tlie following declaration of Mr Erskine, afterwards 
 Lord High Chancellor of England, in a speech on the 
 rights of Juries, deserves the attention and imitation 
 of all lawyers: — “It was the first command,” said he, 
 “and counsel of my youth, always to do what my 
 conscience told me to be my duty, and to leave tho 
 consequence to God. I shall carry with me the 
 memory, and I hope the practice of this parental les- 
 son to the grave. I have hitlierto followed it, and 
 have no reason to complain that the adherence to it 
 has been even a temporal sacrifice: I have found it, 
 on tho contrary, the road to prosperity and wealth, 
 and I sliall point it out as such to my children.” 
 
194 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 I may say, there are many of them still of the same 
 mind and practice, that will neither yield to favour, 
 nor bow to interest; that prosecute injustice in power, 
 and abate justice under all the disadvantages of pover- 
 ty and confinement: they mind not the plaintiff, but 
 the cause, and rather stand for right without fee, than 
 side with wrong for the double. Yet I confess the ir- 
 regular conduct of some has thrown a scandal on the 
 very profession ; and the probity of many suffers in 
 the opinion of the world, for the mean artifices of the 
 few; but what wonder if some children of wicked 
 Cain mingle their blood and their practice with the 
 race of Seth? A lawyer and a cheat are, with many, 
 terms almost synonymous ; and men that thrive by the 
 law, are supposed to live without any. But it is un- 
 just to stigmatize a whole body for the failures of some 
 members; the punishment and the fault should go 
 together, and he alone should bear the reproach of a 
 bad action, that had the face and pleasure of commit- 
 ting it. These are men of low fortunes, and profli- 
 gate manners; unable to rise by merit, they turn off 
 to over-reaching, and supply the want of worth by 
 tricks and artifices. They live by the prostitution of 
 conscience and sale of probity, and live on the princi- 
 ples, that nothing is unjust that is profitable. 
 
 An amusing anecdote is told of Saint Erona, a 
 lawyer of Britain, who went to Rome to entreat the 
 pope to give the lawyers a patron ; after asking one, 
 the pope replied, that he knew of no saint not dispos- 
 ed of to some other profession. His holiness proposed, 
 however, to Saint Erona, that he should go round the 
 church of St. Giovanni de Latcrans, blindfold, and 
 after saying a certain number of ave-marias, the first 
 saint he laid his hand on should be his patron. This 
 the good old lawyer undertook, and at the end of his 
 ave-marias, stopped at the altar of St. Michael, where 
 he laid hold, not of the saint, but , unfortunately of the 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 195 
 
 devil, under the saint’s feet, crying out, “ This is our 
 saint, let him be our protector !” 
 
 King James . — You have now given me to under- 
 stand something of the nature of law, and its adher- 
 ents, lawyers, and lawgivers ; of whom I shall form 
 my own opinion once we have ended our conversation. 
 Will you next oblige me by saying something on the 
 pastoral charge of the ministers of the gospel ; their 
 duty and office, that I may know how far they are 
 worthy of the name and designation of Gentlemen ? 
 
 Sir David . — By all means. My delight is to sow 
 instruction. I wish every one had been as eager to 
 reap the benefit of my teacliing while I lingered on 
 eartli, and pined away a mournful existence, as you 
 seem to be now. 
 
 There are few of the human species on the face of 
 the earth, even in a rude, a barbarous, and a savage 
 state, but what believe in the existence of a superior 
 power — a power that rules over all; consequently, 
 must be subservient to his will. They have therefore 
 set apart solemn or public places for the worship of 
 this deity, built altars, and offered sacrifices, sometimes 
 on the brows or tops of mountains, other times on the 
 borders and margins of springs, brooks, or rivers, and at 
 times in woods. The first that made sacrifices to God 
 were Cain and Abel, though Enoch was the first that 
 taught the forms and ceremonies of divine worship. 
 It was then that the name of the Lord first began to 
 be called upon. After the flood, innumerable forms 
 and ceremonies were used, almost every nation had 
 different deities, and invoked them in a different man- 
 ner from the others, till teachers and ministers were 
 chosen, who made it their profession to lead and direct 
 these misguided creatures in the way of salvation. 
 
 Religion is of main concernment to the true happi- 
 ness of a state, and may be said to be a certain disci- 
 pline of outward rights and ceremonies, by means 
 
19G 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOUllNAMENT, 
 
 whereof wc are admonished of our internal and spirit- 
 ual duties. Cicero defines it to be a discipline teaching 
 us to exercise the ceremonies of divine worship, with 
 a reverend famulatic, which is most useful and neces- 
 sary for all cities and governments, the same Cicero 
 together with Aristotle, firmly holds. For thus, said 
 he, in liis politics : it behoves a prince, above all others, 
 to seem religious; for the people from such a prince 
 expect least harm. Now that religion is naturally 
 grafted in us, Aristotle confesses ; besides, that it is 
 apparent from this very experiment, that as often as 
 we are oppressed with sudden danger, or frighted, pre- 
 sently we have recourse to celestial invocation, before 
 we search into the cause, or seek for any help, lleli- 
 gion may be considered either as a system of truth, 
 and of duty, existing without us, and totally independ- 
 ent of us ; or as that truth and duty believed, loved, 
 and obeyed by us; existing in, regulating, improving, 
 our head, our heart, and our life : for man is evidently 
 a religious creature. He is endowed with those men- 
 tal powers and desires which qualify and prompt him 
 to lift up his soul to the contemplation, adoration, 
 obedience, and enjoyment of God. It is by a capacity 
 for, and a propensity to religion, more than even by 
 understanding and reason, that man is honourably dis- 
 tinguished from all the orders of the brutes. Man 
 was created for the service of God, and ought, above 
 all things, to make account of religion. It is a justice 
 of men towards God, or a divine honouring of him, in 
 the perfect and true knowledge of his word, peculiar 
 only to man ; it is the ground of all other virtues, and 
 the only means to unite and reconcile man unto God 
 for his salvation. The ancient fathers have given three 
 principal marks by which the true religion is known: 
 First, that it servetli the true God ; secondly, that it 
 serveth him according to his word ; thirdly, that it re- 
 concileth that man unto liim which foUoweth it. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 107 
 
 Pure religion, and undefiled before God the Father, 
 is tliis, to visit the fatherless and widows in their ad- 
 versity, and for a man to keep himself unspotted of 
 the world. As the bible, a book written by inspired 
 and good men, was given for instruction to all those 
 who believe its precious contents, it was found necessary 
 to explain the same to ignorant and weak-minded men. 
 Hence became the office and duty of ministers indis- 
 pensible. Patriarch w^as the title anciently given to 
 the head of the Christian church. Thus, there was 
 the patriarch of Jerusalem, of Alexandria, of Antioch, 
 of Rome, and of Constantinople, each of whom had 
 primates, archbisliops, and bishops under him ; though 
 the title of bishop was used to express even the patri- 
 arch himself. These patriarchs originally were all of 
 equal authority, and continued to bo so until the be- 
 ginning of the seventh century, when, from several 
 favourable incidents, the patriarch of Rome was ac- 
 knowledged by almost aU the western parts of Christ- 
 endom as the first and universal bishop of the church, 
 by the name of Papa^ or Father, an apellation common 
 to all bishops. 
 
 During the establishment of episcopacy in Scotland, 
 there were two archbishops; the archbishop of St. 
 Andrews, who was primate of all Scotland, and the 
 archbishop of Glasgow, who was primate of Scotland. 
 In England, the archbishop of Canterbury is primate 
 of all England; and the archbishop of York primato 
 of England. The archbishop of Canterbury is the first 
 peer of the realm, next to the royal family. He is 
 called most reverend, and has the title of Grace given 
 him. There are also bishops and other inferior clergy in 
 the church of England, whose offices, &c., would, at the 
 present, be too tedious to mention. 1 shall, therefore, 
 only confine myself to the office of a minister of tlie 
 gospel, whatever rank or station ho holds in the church, 
 or in civil society ; or to whatever church he belongs. 
 
198 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURYAMEXT, 
 
 A minister is one who should serve, execute an of- 
 fice, give charitable supplies, and teach and explain 
 the doctrine contained in the old and new testaments. 
 Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was a minister, for he 
 tanght the trnths of the everlasting gospel, and taught 
 as man never taught. In heaven he still executes his 
 office, bj interceding for, and pouring down blessings 
 upon the sons and daughters of affliction. Angels are 
 'God’s ministers; they attend his throne, are always 
 ready to execute his commands, and to help and com- 
 fort his people. Apostles, evangelists, pastors, and 
 teachers, are ministers; they attend the service of 
 God and his church, and did, or do faithfnlly and 
 wisely dispense Christ’s word, sacraments, and censures 
 to his people. The duty of a minister is one of holy 
 trnst, and should not be rashly engaged in. He ought 
 to be wise, holy, and good ; and one who fears none but 
 God, whose law he is able and bound to explain to those 
 living in darkness and eiTor. As one who turns a 
 traveller out of his way is to be detested, much more 
 is the minister who teaches false doctrine to the nn- 
 wary, for such mischief lead men to destruction. In 
 the early ages, many of the clergy were shamefully 
 ignorant, even of those truths they pretended to teach 
 unto others: many instances might be adduced, but a 
 few will serve for the present.* 
 
 The bishop of Dunkeld, in Scotland, thanked God 
 that ho never knew what the old and new testaments 
 were, and yet had prospered well enough all his days, 
 affirming that ho cared to know no more than his 
 Portuis and Pontifical. And the priests of Dundee 
 were so ignorant of the holy scriptures, as to conscien- 
 tiously aver that they were written by Martin Luther, 
 
 * To those who love to feast on fat things, a rich treat is to be found in 
 “ The Presbyterian Eloquence," and the “ Answer” to this most obnoxious 
 and abominable collection of trash, collected and published by the orai- 
 sarics of Satan’s self. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASXED. 
 
 199 
 
 the reformer. — Siicli priests, siicli people! At au as- 
 sembly of the states in Germany, one Albertus, a 
 bisliop, ligiiting by chance upon a bible, as he was 
 reading therein, one of the states asked him wliat book 
 it was ? “I know not,” said the bishop, “ but this I 
 find, that whatsoever I read in it, is utterly against 
 our religion.” And Dr. Bennet, chancellor of London, 
 objected it as an heinous crime against Richard But- 
 ler, that divers times he did erroneously and damna- 
 bly read in a great book of heresy, (meaning the bible) 
 certain chapters of the evangelists in English, contain • 
 ing in them divers erroneous and damnable opinions, 
 and conclusions of heresy. 
 
 These dark clouds of ignorance are now dispelled ; 
 and thank God, these blind leaders of the blind have 
 given place to men of understanding, piety, and virtue. 
 In no age whatever, did the people enjoy the same 
 means of knowledge as at the present day in Britain ; 
 for besides the scriptures in a known tongue, volumes 
 upon volumes of light and truth are daily in circula- 
 tion from the tongue and pens of the most learned and 
 religious divines, owing to that most excellent and 
 exquisite art of printing. It is therefore the faults of 
 all, if they live longer in the Egyptian darkness of 
 superstition and idolatry. Faithful ministers are set 
 lip by God in a special manner, to oppose and beat 
 down the kingdom of sin and satan ; so usually they 
 are singled out by the devil and liis instruments, as 
 the principal butts against which the envenomed 
 arrows of their malice are most directed; and tliere- 
 fore not only serpentine wisdom, and dove-like inno- 
 cency is necessary for them above others; but also 
 courage and magnanimity not to fear the faces of men : 
 sanctity and holiness, without which all their natural 
 and acquired parts are but as a pearl in the head of a 
 toad, where the body is poison. They ought also to 
 be diligent and indefatigable in that great work of 
 
200 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 Gods ; for an evil, or an idle servant, is an abomina- 
 tion. Bishop Jewel said that a bishop should die 
 preaching; and so indeed he did. Calvin being much 
 ■weakened by his incessant labours in the work of the 
 ministry, was advised by his friends to take care of 
 his health; when he replied, “ Would you have the 
 Lord when he comes find me idle?” Melancthon 
 used to say, “ that none underwent such pains as 
 preachers, rulers, and women in travail; and Luther 
 said, that a master of a family hath something to do, 
 a magistrate more, and a minister most of all. So 
 diligent was that voluminous writer of the “ Annals of 
 the Chm'ch,” Baronins, that, for thirty years together, 
 he preached three or four times a week. Origen’s 
 teaching and living were said to be both one; and ho 
 requested that ministers sliould not only speak great 
 things but live them. Many in the present day 
 despise his counsel, for they preach one thing, and 
 practice another; heaping burdens on the backs of 
 their hearers, that they themselves could not move 
 with all their might. Aidonus, a bishop in Scotland, 
 in 600, was an example to all men in abstinence, 
 sobriety, chastity, and charity. As he taught, so he 
 lived, was never idle, nor admitted any of his family 
 to be so, but kept them in continual exercise, either 
 reading the scriptures, or learning the Psalms of David 
 by heart. In preaching, he was most diligent, tra- 
 velling up and down the country, and usually on foot, 
 instructing the people wherever he went. As minis- 
 ters are the messengers and ambassadors of God, they 
 ought to be honoured and reverenced, not for them- 
 selves as men, but as in the relation they stand to, 
 and representative of God, while his servants, or pleni- 
 potentiaries. When Ehud told king Eglon that he 
 had a message to him from God, to shew his reverence, 
 lie rose up out of his seat. Alexander Severus the 
 emperor, did so reverence the high priest, that what- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 201 
 
 ever sentence he had passed in judgment, he suffered 
 the same to be revoked by the priest, if ho saw cause 
 for it. Constantine the (Ireat made a decree, that all 
 ministers should bo exempt from taxes and public 
 duties whatever, that they miglit the more easily 
 attend to their own divine administrations. Solomon, 
 the wisest of kings, thought it an honour to be styled 
 a preacher. Joseph of Arimathea, a councillor of 
 state, became a preacher of the gospel. So did 
 Chrysostome, a noble Antiochian ; and Ambrose of 
 Millan, who was a lieutenant and consul. Likewise, 
 George, prince of Anhalt ; and Martinengus, an Italian 
 earl; and John a Lasco, a nobleman of Polonia. Paul 
 says in his first epistle to the Thessalonians, v. 12, 13, 
 “We beseech you brethren to know them which labour 
 amongst you, and are over you in the Lord, and admo- 
 nish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for 
 their work’s sake.” I have also read of one that said, 
 “ If he should meet a preacher and an angel together, 
 he would first salute the preacher, and then the angel 
 afterwards.” The Grecians used to give far greater 
 respect and honour to their philosophers than to their 
 orators, because that their orators did only teach them 
 to speak well, but their philosophers to live well. 
 What honour then is due to those who teach their fel- 
 low creatures to speak well and to live well ; how to 
 be happy here, and how to be blessed hereafter? Who 
 makes their case their own, and weep and pray with 
 them in the evil day of their calamity and trouble. 
 Who are the pilots of their immortal souls — who 
 wi’estle with God in prayer for their salvation — who 
 comfort the broken-hearted, and cure the bleeding 
 soul. To him who sits in the valley of the shadow of 
 death, under the bond of iniquity, and in the gall of 
 bitterness, they are as lights to his feet, and as lamps 
 to his path. They dispel the dark clouds of ignorance, 
 and cherish the downcast and desponding sinner. 
 
202 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 These are a few of the duties and offices of a faithful 
 minister of the gospel ; and as such they ought to bo 
 esteemed without regard to fortune or personal ap- 
 pearance. There are, however, others of a different 
 stamp, who take upon themselves the office and duties 
 of ministers, with no more love to the service than 
 they would have to toil as day-labourers in a field or 
 vineyard exposed to the burning rays of a noonday 
 sun. Their object for following Christ is not to do 
 good to the heavenly-minded, groaning under a sense 
 of sin and unworthiness; but that they may be boun- 
 tifully fed, and partake of the loaves and fishes. They 
 subscribe to articles that they do not believe; and 
 neglect practice for profession ; and God for his grace ; 
 who preaches faith without works, and damns all who 
 differ from them: their pride and ignorance are in- 
 tolerable. They may be called, as was Heraclitus, 
 the dark doctor, for they affect sublime notions, 
 obscure expressions, uncouth phrases, making plain 
 truths difficult, and easy words hard. As Job says, 
 “ They darken council with words without knowledge.” 
 Some of their sermons are like Asaliel’s carcase in the 
 way, they only stop men and make them gaze, but no 
 ways profit them. They shame the profession by the 
 lives they lead; as a painter once said to a cardinal 
 who blamed him for puttjng too much red upon the 
 visages of Peter and Paul, he painted them so, as 
 blushing at the lives of those men who styled them- 
 selves their successors. Many Christian professors in 
 the present day have cause to blush, and make others 
 to blush. Milton, the poet, had a very bad opinion 
 of bishops in general, for he said, without respect to 
 persons, “ they would all go to hell.” This is what 
 no man should be so uncharitable as to believe; it 
 was spoken during a fit of the spleen, when religious 
 contraversy and polemical theology ran high, and en- 
 grossed the attention of, as well as separated husband 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 203 
 
 and wife, father and son, and caused strifes and dis- 
 sentions to arise between brothers and nearest of kin. 
 
 I might have said much more upon this very inter- 
 esting part of our conversation ; but, as I am anxious 
 to get through with the remaining part of our liistory, 
 I trust the pictures of the ministers I have just now 
 laid before you, will enable you to judge how far the 
 original of the likenesses are entitled to the name of 
 Gentlemen.* 
 
 King James . — I thank you for your kind attention. 
 They are a class of men I always delighted to honour ; 
 although I must confess, many of them did not merit 
 it by their lives and actions ; for they came not in at 
 the door but clambered over the wall. There are bad 
 men amongst ministers, as in every other profession: 
 even amonst the angels in heaven there were some 
 who rebelled against God; and in the little band that 
 followed our blessed Saviour there was one found to 
 deny, and the other to betray him. The one through 
 fear, and the other through the lust of wretched gain. 
 I shall, however, weigh their merits afterwards. In 
 the meantime, please go on with the next class of 
 public characters, those who profess the heahiig art, 
 and dispense health to the sick and afflicted. *1 mean 
 those commonly called Doctor s.-\ 
 
 * From -what has been said, I trust that no minister to whatever sect 
 or party of professing Christians he belongs, will for one moment suppose 
 that he is the object pointed at ; far from such partiality being shew’n, 
 I mean quite the reverse. Every one is alike, if his heart and soul be 
 right with God, and one of his race travelling Zionwards, with his chosen 
 band of faithful worshipers, singing as they shine,— 
 
 “ I’m not asham’d to own my Lord, 
 
 Nor to defend his cause. 
 
 Maintain the glory of his cross, 
 
 And honour all his laws." 
 
 t It is as common now to caU and address the apprentice or shopkeeper 
 of a surgeon, or apothecary, doctoe, as it is to call and address the in- 
 significant puppy of a petty-fogging lawyer’s apprentice, esquike. 
 Botli contemptible of their kind, and undeserving of further notice. 
 
204 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 Sir David . — Tlio word, or title of doctor, is used 
 in a wide and vague sense, of which I shall speak 
 more fully before I finish this part of my discourse ; 
 for there are doctors of divinity ; doctors of law ; and 
 doctors of medicine, &c. I may be allowed to sup- 
 pose, however, that you mean a physician, or surgeon, 
 and those engaged in administering medicine to the 
 
 sick. 
 
 King James . — I do : and by giving me their Iiistory, 
 interwoven as much as possible witli their craft, as 
 you have done the other professions, you will oblige 
 me much. 
 
 Sir David . — Physic is that natural philosophy which 
 tendeth to the knowledge of man, and those causes 
 which concern the health and good estate of his body. 
 
 This art was invented by a famed physician in 
 Egypt, named Hermes Trismegistus, though some 
 attribute it to Esculapius. “ It is of all arts the most 
 excellent,” saith Hippocrates ; which is not to bo 
 denied, when we consider the antiquity, necessity 
 thereof, and the nobleness of its subject, viz., man's 
 body. She sits above the law, next to divinity in 
 degree in place, which hath caused no small conten- 
 tion between the civilians and physicians, who say 
 they are three sorts of goods, the goods of the soul, 
 the goods of the body, and the goods of fortune. Of 
 the first, the divine takes care ; of the second, the 
 physician; and of the third, the lawyer. 
 
 Physic is divided into several sorts, called rational, 
 sophistical, and dogmatical, which was practised by 
 Hippocrates, Diodes, Chrysippus, Caristinus, Paraxa- 
 goras, and Herosistratus, approved after by Galen, 
 who following Hippocrates, brought all the art of 
 pliysic to be comprehended in the knowledge of tlio 
 causes, judgments upon signs and symptoms, qualities 
 of things, and the several habits and ages of ‘bodies. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 205 
 
 Physicians among tho Indians were of that honour, 
 that excepting only their Brachmanni, they had no 
 sort of men whom they received with equal venera- 
 tion and reverence. They deservedly accounted that 
 a noble study that was conversant about the preserva- 
 tion of the body of man in its due soundness of con- 
 stitution and health. The frailty of it they knew 
 was assaultable by a thousand accidents, to meet with 
 which no acquirable wisdom and experience can be 
 thought too much in them who have taken upon them 
 so worthy a profession ; and thereupon they suited 
 tho honour to the difficulty of the employment, wherein 
 some have happily succeeded, though to some patients 
 chance hath proved the best physician. Nicocles 
 says, physicians are happy men, because the sun makes 
 manifest what good success soever liappeneth in their 
 cures, and the earth burieth what fanlt soever they 
 commit. The thief is commonly executed that killetli 
 but one man, and the physician escapetli that killetli 
 a thousand. The sick man desireth not an eloquent, 
 but a skillful physician ; for physic is a continual 
 fountain or spring of knowledge, by which we main- 
 tain long life. 
 
 Physicians and surgeons in general, are called doc- 
 tors, i.e. teachers; but how far they are entitled to 
 this appellation, you can judge, when I give the origin 
 of the name, &c. Anthony Wood says, that “tho 
 degree of doctor was first given at the English uni- 
 versities, in the reign of Henry II.;” but this is fixing 
 it at too early a period. Spelman, a more nice and 
 accurate sifter of facts, believes that the appellation 
 of doctor was not among the degrees granted to gradu- 
 ates in England till the reign of king John, about 
 1207. It is known that this title was created on the 
 Continent about tlio middle of the twelfth century, as 
 more honourable than that of master, whicli was be- 
 come too common. Its original signification implied 
 
 M 
 
20G THE EGLLVTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 not only learning and skill, but abilities to teacli, 
 according to the opinion of Aristotle, who sajs, that 
 “ the most certain proof of knowledge in any science, 
 is the being able to instruct others. The first degree 
 of this kind, which was conferred in a public school 
 or academy, was at Bologna, about the year 1130, 
 where according to Bayle, it was an honour instituted 
 in favour of Irnerius, chancellor to the emperor 
 Lotharius, who was created doctor of civil law. This 
 ceremony soon after was adopted in other universities, 
 and passed from the law to theology. Peter Lom- 
 bard is the first doctor in sacred theology upon record, 
 in the university of Paris. According to the fifth 
 chapter of the Policy of the Kirk of Scotland, in the 
 General Assembly 1581, the office of the doctor or 
 catechizer, is one of the two ordinary and perpetual 
 functions that travel in the word. He is to open up 
 the mind of the spirit of God simply, without such 
 applications as the ministers use ; they are such pro- 
 perly who teach in schools, colleges, or universities. 
 But to preach unto the people, to administer the 
 sacraments, and to celebrate marriage, do not pertain 
 to him, except he be called and ordained thereto. If 
 the pastor be qualified for it, he may perform all the 
 parts of the doctor’s office, that being included in the 
 pastoral. By the second article, cap. 11, of the dis- 
 cipline of the French church, a doctor in the church 
 cannot preach nor administer the sacraments, unless 
 he be both doctor and minister. 
 
 The precise time when this creation extended to 
 the faculties of medicine and music does not appear; 
 nor can the names be found of those professions in 
 either, to whom the title was first granted. 
 
 Surgeons, or as they were originally called chirur- 
 gcons and barbers, were formerly incorporated, under 
 the denomination of barber-chirurgeons, as may be 
 seen from a bill and supplication presented to the 
 
AND GENTLEMAX UNMASKED. 207 
 
 provost and bailies of Edinburgh, the 1st of July, 
 1505; quhilk after follows : — 
 
 “ To you my lord provost, bailies, and worthy coun- 
 cil of this guid tonne, right humblie means and shaws, 
 your dayly servitors the kirk master and brether of 
 the surgeons and barbars within this brughe, that where 
 we believe it is weall knawne till yor wisdoms, how 
 that we uphald an altar situate within the Colledge 
 kirk of St. Giles, in the honour of God and St. Mungo 
 our patrone, and has nae importance to uphald the 
 same, but our sober oukleye penny and upsets, quhilks 
 ane small in effect till sustance and uphald our said 
 altar in all necessary things convenient thereto. And 
 because we ar, and ever was of guid mynd to do this 
 guid toune all the stede pleasure and service that we 
 cane or may, baith in walking, warding, stenting, and 
 bearing of all portable charges within this brugh at 
 all tyms, as other nightbours and crafts does within 
 the same. We desire at your lordships and wisdoms, 
 till give and grant till us, and our successors, the 
 rules, statuts and priviledges underwritten, quhilk are 
 consonant to reason, honour to our sovereigne lord, 
 and all his leidges profit, and love to this guid toune. 
 
 In the first, That we might have yearly chosne 
 amongst us, our kirk master and over-man, to whom 
 tlie hail brethren of the crafts forsaids shall obey for 
 that year. 
 
 2do item, That nae maner of person occupy nor 
 use any poynts of our said crafts of surgery or barbar 
 craft, within this brugh, but gif he be first frie man 
 and burges of the samen, and that he be worthy and 
 expert in all the poynts belangand to the said crafts, 
 diligently and avisedly examined, and admitted by 
 the masters of the said crafte, for the sovereign lord, 
 his lieges, and nightbours of this brugh. Aiid also, 
 that every man that is to be made frie man among ns, 
 be examined and provit in thir points following : that 
 
208 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 is to say, that he kiiaw anatomia, natur and complexion 
 of every member of humans body ; and lykwise, that 
 he knaw all the veins of the samen, that he may make 
 phlebothomia in due tyme. And also, that he knaw 
 in quhilk member the sign hes domination for the 
 tyme ; for ever ilk man aught to knaw the natur and 
 substance of every thing he wirks, or else he’s negli- 
 gent; and that we may have anes in the year ane 
 condempait man after he be deid, to maik anatomia 
 of, wherthrow we may have experience ilk ane to 
 instruct others, and we shall do sufiferage for the saul. 
 
 ’ Stio, And that nae barbar, master nor servant 
 within this brugh, hant, use nor exerce the craft of 
 surgery, without he be expert, and knaw perfectly the 
 things above written ; and qhat persons that shall hap- 
 pen to be admitted frie men or masters to the said 
 crafts, or occupys any part of the samen shall payat 
 his entrie for his upset, five pounds usual money of 
 Scotland, to the reparation and uphalding of our said 
 altar of St. Mungo, for divyne service to be done 
 thereat, with a dinner to the masters of the saids crafts 
 at his admission and entress amangst us; exceptand, 
 that every frie man master of the said crafts, one of 
 his lawful gottne sons to be frie of any money paying, 
 except the dinner to be made to the masters, after he 
 be examined and admitted by them, as said is. 
 
 4to, item. That nae master of the said crafts shall 
 taik any apprentice or fied man in tyme coming, 
 without ho can baith writt and reade.” 
 
 There are other three articles in the bill, but what 
 I have now stated, I liope will satisfy you of wliat I 
 formerly mentioned. They have now shaken off all 
 connection with their more humble part, the pollers 
 of hair, and mowers of chins, and taken upon them- 
 selves the cognomen of surgeons. 
 
 hlucli and justly as physicians and surgeons have 
 been, and are still held in esteem by the public, many 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 209 
 
 of them are mere quacks, who know nothing of the real 
 nature of Physic or Surgery, but how to kill and not 
 to cure, as many a poor family have found to their sad 
 experience and woe. 
 
 “ Wlio, though they have taken doctobial degree e. 
 
 Scarce know how to treat the most common disease.” 
 
 There are, however, many real Gentlemen in the pro- 
 fession, whose usefulness to society, and to private in- 
 dividuals in particular, are daily acknowledged : but 
 the best of blessings may be abused. 
 
 King James . — You have now gone over tlie char- 
 acters of kings, and of noblemen; also of tho three 
 learned professions, — Law, Divinity, and Physic. 
 You have descanted freely, largely, and independent- 
 ly on each, and raised in my mind new ideas of their 
 importance, significance and worth. I next long to 
 hear your opinion of the professors and teachers of 
 education, from whom all worldly grandeur and 
 greatness, and all eartldy happiness spring. 
 
 Sir David . — You are right, noble sire, in ascrib- 
 ing to education, man’s earthly happiness, but you 
 should also have added, and a means of his future, or 
 heavenly glory : but coming from such a person as 
 you are, it surprises me much: for, although you 
 were a good sort of a king, you were by no means a 
 learned one. Learning, in your days, was thought 
 unbecoming of the great men in Scotland, although 
 not of the middling class, for among men of good 
 sense and observation, it flourished rapidly, and has 
 continued to do so, ever since, being encouraged and 
 patronized by all ranks, and degrees of society. You 
 did, it is true, give evident signs of a fertile and luxur- 
 iant imagination in the ballads you wrote, such as 
 “Christ’s Kirk o’ the Green,” “The Gaberlunzie 
 man,” &c. ; and, I have little doubt, had your mind 
 been properly trained in its infant state, but the world 
 
210 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 would have reaped an abundant harvest of talent, 
 worth, and super-excellent poetry. 
 
 To schoolmasters, professors in colleges, and 
 philosopliers, are men indebted for the care they take 
 of their moral lives, and eternal salvation; for the 
 care of education, and the instruction of youth, is a 
 sacred work, and one of the highest importance to 
 man; as all the advantages or miscarriages of his life 
 are, in a great measure, dependent upon it. It is the 
 way to smooth the passage to a pleasant life, to ren- 
 der old age comfortable, and death serene and happy. 
 It will also be allowed by all, that the great purpose 
 of education is to form the man and the citizen, that 
 he may be virtuous, happy in himself, and useful to 
 society. And Plato says, “That the chief foundation 
 of a happy life is good instruction begun in youth, so 
 that if the infancy of any be well brought up, the rest 
 of his life cannot but be good.” The inspired Penman 
 is of the same opinion, for he says “ Train up a child 
 in the way he should go, and when he is old he will 
 not depart from it.” * As a man cannot reap good 
 wheat if he hath not sown good seed. Learning is 
 the only jewel and ornament of man’s life, without 
 which a man cannot attain to any preferment in the 
 commonwealth. Alexander the Great had such an ex- 
 traordinary value and esteem for knowledge and 
 learning, that he used to say that he was more obliged 
 to Aristotle, his tutor, for his learning, than to Pliilip, 
 his father, for his life ; seeing the one was momentary, 
 and the other permanent, and never to be blotted out 
 by oblivion. I may therefore say, that professors of 
 colleges, like the philosophers of old, ought to be men 
 
 * In Britain, there are at present innumerable Seminaries “ That 
 teach the young idea how to shoot,” and many advocates for a well- 
 educated commonwealth— -amongst the rest the indefatigable Lord 
 Brougham and Vaux, whose exertions in behalf of his country have been 
 unceasing,— may they be crowned with success. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 211 
 
 to know themselves, and be able to teach otliers how 
 to live. 
 
 That the heathen world was greatly enlightened 
 and reformed by the lectures and instructions of the 
 philosophers, nobody will dispute, who considers, that 
 the chief principle which they inculcated on their 
 disciples and followers was, that happiness was attain- 
 able only by an abstinence from vice, and the practice 
 of virtue ; and that the main bent of their studies was 
 to promote the universal good of mankind. Those 
 who read the morals of Plutarch, Epictetus, Seneca, 
 and others of those illustrious ancients, must acknow- 
 ledge that their precepts had a tendency to pro- 
 mote these great and beneficial ends. Dionysius, the 
 younger, used to say, ‘‘that he kept and maintained 
 many learned men, that he might be esteemed for 
 their sake.” A philosopher being asked why rich 
 men attended not the gates of philosophers? answered, 
 “ That he could talk with himself, he could live alone, 
 he needed not to go abroad, and be beholding to 
 others for delight.” Aristippus having lost all his 
 goods by shipwreck, was cast naked upon the shore of 
 Rhodes, where yet, by reason of his learning, he 
 found such estimation, that neither he nor his com- 
 panions were suffered to want any thing convenient 
 for them : when therefore some of the company were 
 about to return home, they asked him if “ he would 
 command them any thing?” “ Yes,” said he, “ tell my 
 relations from me, that I advise them to procure such 
 riches for their children, as a tempest at sea has no 
 power over ;” sliewing thereby, how precious learning 
 is, which no storms of adverse fortune can take away. 
 And it is said of Ca3sar, that he had greater care of his 
 books than of his royal robes ; for swimming through 
 the waters to escape his enemies, he carried his books- 
 in his hands above the waters, but lost his robes. 80^ 
 much was learning prized by him. 
 
213 TilE ESLINTOX TOUa^IA.Vl E.S'T, 
 
 A fcitlior, ill giving advice to his sou, sajs, “ have a 
 high esteem of learning, this will make thee a Gentle- 
 man without the help of heraldry. If thy genius 
 aim at gain, lend thy endeavours either to the law or 
 physio, from both thou wilt find a double advantage. 
 The fii’st shews thee the way to get, and keep an 
 estate ; by the other thou mayest enrich and cure thy- 
 self. I know no professions like these, that are so 
 surely profitable; thou hazardest not what thou hast; 
 and what thou gettest is clear gain.” Seneca, the 
 master of Nero, offering to quit his fortunes to save 
 his life; Nero refused to accept thereof, and acknow- 
 ledging his immortal debt for the benefit of liis in- 
 structions, he said, “he had cause to blush, that he, 
 who for the reason of his learned merits, was of all 
 men dearest to him, was not by his means in so long 
 a time become the richest also.” Plato praised God 
 that “he had secrets for his master;” and Buchocerus 
 for that he was bred under Melancthon, Cato 
 taught his own cliildren, and thought it no disgrace, 
 though he was so great a man. Philip, king of Mace- 
 donia, gave thanks to his gods that liis son Alexander 
 was born in that time when Aristotle flourislied, 
 because by him he might receive instructions for life 
 and learning. 
 
 I could speak for an endless period on the ad- 
 vantages to be derived from learning, and those who 
 have made it their study ; but shall only add a few 
 more particulars for the present. Clirysiphus was 
 sometimes so transported at his study, that he had 
 perished with hunger, if his maid had not thrust meat 
 into bis mouth. Theodosius the emperor, wrote out 
 the whole new testament with his own Iiaiid, 
 accounted it a great jewel, and read part of it every 
 day. Henry the first, king of England, was bred 
 up in learning, and thought such a prize of it, that he 
 often said, that he esteemed an unlearned king but 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 213 
 
 as a crowned ass. Aristotle used to study with a 
 bullet in his hand over a brazen pan, that if he fell 
 asleep, when it fell out of his hand he might be 
 awakened by the noise. Pythagoras used with a thread 
 to tie the hair of his head to a beam over liim, that so 
 when he did but nod by reason of sleep, he might be 
 awakened thereby. Diocletian the emperor, gave to 
 Eumenius, a professor of rhetoric, fifteen hundred pieces 
 of gold. JuUus Caesar was as great a friend to the muses 
 as to Mars. M. Antonius the emperor, was surnamed 
 the philosopher for his learning and skill. And Robert 
 king of Naples, esteemed learning more than his king- 
 dom. Alexander the Great rewarded Aristotle with 
 eighty talents for his history of living creatures. 
 Hieron, king of Syracuse, rewarded Archimelus, for 
 a short and witty epigram he had made, by sending 
 liim a thousand measures of wheat. Scipio Affricanus 
 did so much honour Ennius the poet, that when he 
 died he set up his statue amongst the monuments of 
 his own ancestors. Julius Caesar made all the teachers 
 of the liberal arts free of the city of Rome. Plato 
 gave tlmee hundred florins for a book that he liked. 
 Dionysius said, Aristippus was always craving money 
 of him, but Plato desired nothing but books. Lord 
 Burleigh, treasurer to queen Elizabeth, always carried 
 about with him Tully’s offices. King James, when 
 he first came into the public library in Oxford, 
 seeing the little chains wherewith the books were 
 fastened, wished, that if ever it were his destiny to 
 be a prisoner, that that library might bo his prison, 
 those books his fellow prisoners, and those chains his 
 fetters. King James of Scotland did greatly advance 
 and encourage learning at the University of St. An- 
 drews. Solon travelled through Egypt, Cyprus, and 
 Asia, for the improvement of his learning. So much 
 are learned men valued by some, that a certain man 
 living at Cadiz, in Spain, went from thence to Rome 
 
214 
 
 TJIE EGLINTON TOURXAMEXT, 
 
 to see Livie, and returned again without looking at a 
 single article; nothing being worthy of his notice after 
 having seen so great a man. — I wish such thoughts 
 were more general. 
 
 In the present day, I am sorry to say, no such re- 
 spect is paid to learning or genius. Few, indeed, are 
 the Miecenases that exist among those of wealth and 
 power. The man of genius often lingers out a pitiful 
 existence, while his condescending patron deals out 
 his smiles, shakes the needy by the hand, assures him 
 of his protection one hour, but forgets that he has ever 
 seen him the next. Many are the patrons of this de- 
 scription to bo met with, who may justly be called a 
 mass of arrogance, pride, and vanity; dupes to the 
 designing ; slaves to flatterers ; ardent to pass for 
 artists and wits ; impatient of control, and anxious for 
 applause ! Such is the treatment the man of genius 
 has to encounter from many who could spare him a 
 corner of their land, without diminishing their great- 
 ness or glory. Every nation is proud of its literati, 
 philosophers, and artists, but how few shew them much 
 respect when living ? They are too often left to starve 
 in a country flowing with milk and honey ; as a proof 
 of which, the few following, out of many thousand in- 
 stances, might be advanced. 
 
 Homer, the father and prince of poets, smig his own 
 verses from door to door to keep him from starving ; 
 Virgil, the Mantuan sheplierd, wove baskets ; Plautus 
 drove a mill ; Terenee was a slave ; Boethius died in 
 prison ; Tasso was often hard distressed for a shilling ; 
 Bentivoglio was refused admission into the hospital he 
 himself erected ; Cervantes died of hunger ; Cameons 
 ended his days in an alms-house ; and Vaugelas left 
 his body to pay his debts. Such are a few of the pri- 
 vations and sufferings of those men whoso works are 
 read and admired by every one competent to appreci- 
 ate real merit and superior worth. These were for- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 215 
 
 eigiiers which I have just now mentioned ; but Britain, 
 for all its boasted greatness, glorj and grandeur, has 
 come far short of her duty to her sons and daughters 
 of afflicted genius. They too have often been left to 
 wither in the breeze of penury, — 
 
 “ Then sink into the grave unpitied and unknou-n !” 
 
 I am at present unwilling to state particulars, al- 
 though a few may be mentioned, such as Dryden, who, 
 when alive, was in misery, and when dead, his body 
 arrested for debt ; Otway, after a long fast, died with 
 a crust of bread in his mouth ; Savage, the poet, in 
 prison ; Sydenham, that excellent scholar and critic, 
 died for a trifling sum due for provisions ; Chatterton, 
 driven to desperation through neglect, finished his 
 weary existence in despair ; poor Cunningham, while 
 rapaciously devouring a salt herring he had received 
 in charity, the spark of life fled ; Collins, Ferguson, 
 and other eminent poets, ended their career in Bed- 
 lam ; and the immortal Burns, from the misanthropic 
 treatment he received at the hands of his callous 
 countrymen, died forlorn, neglected, and in indigence. 
 
 Even in the present day, will it be believed, that 
 many talented and good men are still left a prey to 
 all the horrors and privations of woe! In my late 
 wanderings on earth, for you know I still delight to 
 visit the haunts of men, my attention was arrested by 
 a written paper lying on the table of one, who, for 
 many years has been known to the world as a literary 
 man of some reputation, liaving given at least no less 
 
 than interesting volumes, on different subjects, 
 
 to the public, within the last twenty years. Curiosity 
 led me to read the MS., which I found was intended 
 as a preface to a catalogue of his books whicli he was 
 preparing for saU; but as I understand he withdrew 
 the address when his library was sold, I shall give it 
 you as I found it written. 
 
210 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 “ TO THE PURCHASERS OF MY BOOKS. 
 
 Mj friends, — It is not a customarj thing for you 
 to be thus addressed by an author, by way of preface, 
 to a catalogue of books; but then, it is as uncom- 
 mon a practice for authors to sell, or alienate their 
 dearly beloved libraries; for as D’Israeli says, “ in 
 the life of a true collector, the selling of lus boohs is a 
 singular incident.” This, then, to be deemed my ex- 
 cuse. Once on a day my books were my principal 
 pride, and my greatest pleasure. They were to me 
 dear as the apple of my eye. In short, they were my 
 chief consolation in a trying hour, my only solace 
 under affliction, and my best though silent friends in 
 the days of mental anguish, and heaven knows, neither 
 of these have been few nor far between; I have been 
 blessed with an ample store of them since I first be- 
 came a pilgrim on earth. 
 
 And BOOKS are still my highest joy. 
 
 These earliest please, and latest cloy. 
 
 Tlie FEAST OF BEASON, which from BEADING Springs, 
 
 To reas’ningman the highest solace brings. 
 
 ’Tis BOOKS a lasting pleasure can supply, 
 
 Clfarm while we live, and teach us how to die ! 
 
 But now we must part! And, at the end of this 
 address, you will see for what laudable purpose. I 
 have been basely and innocently plundered of my 
 property by base and unprincipled miscreants, and 
 not by debauchery or riotous living, too often the bane 
 of man’s misery. But without further explanation of 
 the cause, 1 may state without offence tliat, when poor 
 Robin Bloomfield got a wife, he was shortly after 
 necessitated to sell his fiddle ; and the harper of Mull, 
 to comfort a false fair one, burned his harp — Ita est 
 gloria conjugis. But as the same cause do not always 
 produce the same effect, I will not burn my fiddle, 
 my harp, nor my books. My books, for a small re- 
 compense I will dispone to another; my harp I will 
 Jjxmg on the willows ; and my fiddle shall once more. 
 
AND CiKNTLKMAN" UNMASlvl'.D. 
 
 217 
 
 when my l)ooks are parted from mo, (for tlie be-d of 
 friends must part,) clicor my drooping spirits with*its 
 enlivening tones. I was at much pains in making the 
 collection, but I trust they will fall into such hands as 
 can appreciate their merits, and reap the same advan- 
 tage from their perusal as 1 have done. I do not 
 look upon books as some do, a mere marketable article. 
 I value them as I do a man of genius, not for his case, 
 or outward covering, but from the noble and refined 
 soul ’which he possesses. All wise men, from tlio 
 earliest ages to the present, have dedicated much of 
 their time and their property to the accumulation of 
 books, and literary property. Fortunes have been 
 spent in pursuit of these pleasures; as, at one time 
 prior to the art of printing, an ordinary estate would 
 have made but a sorry figure in the purchase of a 
 library. Still, there were then people who willingly 
 sacrificed all their other comforts for the sake of a few 
 parchment scrolls, MSS., as witness Cicero, (and 
 Cicero was no vulgar boy,) and many others, who 
 sold, and gave in exchange their lands for books. 
 Antonio Becatelli gave a large field for a copy of 
 Li vie: and Cicero in his epistles to Atticus, (who was 
 going to sell his library, as I am novr mine,) says, 
 “ Pray keep your books for me, and do not despair of 
 my being able to make them mine; which, if I can 
 compass, I shall think myself richer than Croesus, and 
 despise the fine villas and gardens of them all.” 
 Again, “ Take care that you do not part with your 
 library to any man, how eager soever he may bo to 
 buy it; for I am setting apart all my rents to pur- 
 chase that relief for my old age.” In a third letter, 
 he says, “ That he had placed all his comfort and 
 pleasures, whenever he should retire from business, on 
 Atticus ’s reserving these liooks for him.” And you 
 ■will see from the epistle of Antonins Bononia Beca- 
 tellus, (to whom I have just alluded) to Alphonsus 
 
 N 
 
218 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 king of iVaples and Sicily, that books were his chief 
 pleasure. “ You lately wrote to me from Florence, 
 that the works of Titus Livius are there to be sold in 
 very handsome books ; and that the price of each book 
 is 120 crowns of gold; therefore, I entreat your ma- 
 jesty, that you cause to be bought for us, Li vie, whom 
 we use to call the king of books, and cause it to be 
 sent hither to us. I should in the meantime procure 
 the money, which I am to give as the price of the 
 book. One thing I want to know of your prudence, 
 whether I or Poggius have done best ; he, that he might 
 buy a country house near Florence, sold Livie, which 
 he had writ in a fair hand; and I, to purchase Livie, 
 have exposed a piece of land to sell: your goodness 
 and modesty have encouraged me to ask these things 
 with familiarity, of you. Farewell, and triumph.” — 
 Books, at that time, were of so much value that, when 
 they were transferred from one person to another, it 
 ■was done as land is at present, with all the formalities 
 of legal proceedings by a notary public ; but times are 
 clianged. What would some of our forefathers have 
 given for a glimpse of tlie lights that are now shed 
 around us? Thanks to the noble art of printing, the 
 mists are fled far from before us, and we can see 
 clearly; even the poor as well as the ricli can pur- 
 chase a few of these luxuries. The pittance of the 
 day labourer -will go a good length in the purchasing 
 of an ordinary meal — such is now the plentiful and 
 cheap rate of mental provisions. 
 
 Tliere is only one tiling I have now to add before 
 I conclude this address, and that is, that although I 
 liave in general paid the highest prices for many of 
 the books in the following list, and consider many of 
 them scarce and valuable, and rarely to be met with, 
 /jven amongst antiquarians, I by no means wish that 
 they should bring prices above their value; so, for 
 that reason, I have not put a price upon any of them, 
 
 k 
 
AND GE.VTLEMAX UNMASKED. 
 
 210 
 
 but liave left this part of tlio ceromonj entirely 
 
 to the jiulgineiit of the purchasers. 1 freely give them 
 up as 1 did my houses and lands, although with quite 
 ditferent feelings, for the laudable purpose of paying 
 debts which I never contracted, nor ever owed, that 
 I might thereby do what I had always done, pay every 
 claim against me, right and wrong, at the rate of 
 twenty shillings per pound, so that I may die, as I 
 Iiave always endeavoured to live, — an honest and an 
 honourahle member of the commonwealth, — for I would 
 much ratlier leave this ungrateful world, in which I 
 liave had so many hard fought battles, destitute of 
 the common necessaries of life, than wallowing in all 
 the luxuries that man can desire, or in the unlawful 
 possession of thousands ten dishonourably or dishonestly 
 gotten, knowing, as every one ought, that it would 
 prolit me nothing to gain the wdiole world, if, by so 
 doing, I was thereby to lose my own soul. 
 
 “ An honest man’s the noblest work of God !" 
 
 Such, your majesty, is the lot of those men, with 
 all their nobleness of soul and sentiment, doomed to 
 bve by the fruit of their brain; and, like — 
 
 " Tlie rich physician, honoured lawyers ride, 
 
 While the poor scholar foots it by their side." 
 
 There is now, however, a catholican provided for 
 tlie alleviation of the miseries of the unfortunate sons 
 of genius, in the formation of that noble, generous, 
 and best of institutions, “ The Literary Fund So- 
 ciety,'' London, where authors have often found a 
 healing balm, and softening ointment to their distressed 
 and distracted souls and bodies. It having been the 
 purpose of this institution to establish a fund, on whicli 
 deserving authors may rely for assistance, in propor- 
 tion to its produce. 
 
 Much has been done, and is still doing by this 
 benevolent society, not only in relieving living authors 
 in distress, but iu affording assistance to their widows 
 
220 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 and children, when they, themselves, are beyond the 
 reach of pain and woe. This society was first insti- 
 tuted about 1789, by a few philanthropic noblemen 
 and gentlemen of high respectability, who had seen 
 and felt for the distresses of their kindred spirits when 
 unprovided for by the government, and wealthy of 
 their country. 
 
 Let it then no longer be said that unfortunate 
 authors are ignominiously sufiPering in prison, as was 
 w’ont to be the case, although many have immortalized 
 their names by the works they have written while in 
 durance vile, such as Buchanan’s Psalms, Bunyan’s 
 Pilgrim’s Progress, and hundreds more that might bo 
 mentioned, equally honourable to the British name. 
 
 “ Yc friends of genius, friends of human kind, 
 
 Who still the throbbings of the wounded mind ; 
 
 Ye little tlock, seleeted from the crowd, 
 
 The stern, the vain, the thoughtless, and the proud. 
 
 To pity’s humble shrine your off’rings bring, 
 
 Afflicted genius is a sacred thing : 
 
 You suffer with the man of studious mood. 
 
 Who starves by labours for the public good ; 
 
 Whose wisdom forms us, and whose magic pen 
 Softens our hearts, and tames us into men. 
 
 Rouse, sons of wealth, whom heaven in anger sees. 
 
 Stretch’d on your sofas, in the pomp of ease ; 
 
 Who mark the poets’ or historian’s art, 
 
 And praise the truths that never reach your heart, 
 
 Who read an author as you quaff champaign, 
 
 To warm the frozen blood, and fire the brain ; 
 
 And while the flights of genius you admire, 
 
 View the scorn’d owner in a jail expire ; 
 
 Or, like poor Chatterton, resign his breath, 
 
 Self-murder’d to preclude a ling’ring death. 
 
 Rouse, sons of wealth, when pity calls, and find 
 How woes of sympathy exalt the mind ; 
 
 IIow oft, by small relief in season given. 
 
 We build in sorrow’s breast a little heaven ; 
 
 And who, when such sublime eft’ects are known, 
 
 Wlio but must feel it rising in liis own ?” 
 
 .Burton says of scholars, — “ Tliey can measure the 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 221 
 
 heavens, range over the world, teach others wisdom, 
 and yet in bargains and contracts, they are circum- 
 vented by every base tradesman.” Pliny, when 
 Isoeus, says, “ lie is yet a scholar; than which kind 
 of men, there is nothing so simple, so sincere, none 
 better, harmless, upright, innocent, plain dealingmen.” 
 In another place, it is said by the same philosopher, 
 “ We can make majors and officers every year 
 kings can invest knights and barons, as Sigismund 
 the emperor, confessed ; but he, nor they, nor all the 
 world, can give learning, make philosophers, orators, 
 artists, poets, &c. Learning is not so quickly got. 
 
 Men who have instructed their country by their 
 talents, who have invigorated it by their pliilosophy, 
 who have adorned it by their genius, and extended its 
 fame to the most distant countries, and the remotest 
 posterity, to be abandoned by the rich, and those who 
 have reaped the fruits of their toils, is certainly a 
 chilling and heartless thought; but there are, and 
 have been, some exceptions to be met with. The 
 British government has bestowed a few pensions upon 
 men of learning and genius, as a reward of their use- 
 fulness; and, no doubt, as a stimulant to encourage 
 others to follow in the same tract, but they have been 
 few and far between, compared with those that have 
 been given to others, for purposes that I would bo 
 ashamed to name. Kings and queens have at times 
 been known to befriend deserving merit, but rarely 
 their advisers, they having too many of their own 
 time-serving sycophant flatterers to gratify, to have 
 anything to spare to an honest and honourable man of 
 genius. I do not remember of one single solitary 
 instance of a prime minister, doing a laudable and 
 disinterested act of this nature, of his own accord, but 
 several to the contrary, even when applied to. Let 
 one instance, that of Walpole, suffice. — Poor Chat- 
 terton, alas ! alas ! 
 
222 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 As 1 have just now stated, some kings and emperors 
 have acted differently from that of their ministers, in 
 Britain, as well as in foreign countries. Give a retro- 
 spective glance to the generous conduct of the mighty 
 Augustus, the Roman emperor. Did he not become 
 a patron of the prince of Mantuan shepherds, the 
 sublimely inspired Virgil, who repeated his verses hi 
 the imperial palace to this noble patron of the muses ; 
 and, when fatigued witli reading, was not the first 
 minister of the state directed to relieve him ? But, 
 such were the divine and melting strains of his muse, 
 that Octavia by them was so overcome, that he fell 
 senseless by his side, while the great Augustus himself 
 was moved to tears. Need I inform you, that the 
 noble hearted and generous Augustus, did not let his 
 guest and his faithful muse go unprincely rewarded ? 
 
 And such was the regard paid at one time to know- 
 ledge and genius, that doctors of laws, (L.L.D.) if of 
 a corresponding behaviour, were accounted as noble, 
 and this they prove from their sitting as judges in the 
 imperial courts, from their admission to those posts of 
 which nobles only were capable; adding, that they 
 were styled literata militia ; and that the most exalted 
 character was nohilis marte and arte, Uteris and armis ; 
 that Constantine the Great issued a formal decree 
 exempting professors of laws, together with their wives 
 and children, from all taxes and burdensome offices ; 
 omnes doctores sunt nohiles, was a position never con- 
 troverted. In China, it is learning only which pro- 
 motes to honours ; all candidates for offices undergo a 
 strict examination, when (without any regard to birth, 
 and no interest must be made) the best qualified car- 
 ries it. Doctor is a title of which the most distin- 
 guished nobility is not ashamed; and many British 
 dukes, earls, and barons just now are L.L.D. and look 
 upon this title as a high honour. I shall mention, 
 Ijowever, a reprimand given by the emperor Sigismund 
 
AND GEXTLE.MAN UNMASKED. 
 
 223 
 
 to a great scholar whom he had lately knighted, for 
 having left his doctorial seat to sit amongst the 
 knights : — “ Sir, you have degraded yourself — sove- 
 reigns being able to make knights by dozens, but to 
 make one man of learning was beyond all their power.’' 
 You will also remember the anecdote of Ilolbien, the 
 famous painter. 
 
 From what I have now spoken on this important 
 subject, you will see the necessity of schoolmasters, 
 and professors in colleges being learned and good men, 
 as they have much to do in the way of making men 
 happy ; and much in their power, if they incline, to 
 make men miserable ; and, if they do their duty faith- 
 fully, I have little doubt but you will most readily 
 confer tlie title of Gentlemen on many of them, for 
 many of them do, indeed deserve it. Still, there are 
 some who take upon themselves these high and impor- 
 tant offices, that arc by no means qualified to honour 
 them ; and in other respects, come short of that 
 liecoming placidnoss wliich distinguishes the gentleman 
 and scholar from the vulgar herd of ignorant and im- 
 pudent clowns. Once in place, they fish no more in 
 troubled waters, but become useless drones, cumberers 
 of the ground, and patrons of nothing but Flpicurian 
 eating, and Bacchus cbdiiking. 
 
 In justification of what I have here stated, the fol- 
 lowing anecdote was related by lord Sandwich, to 
 prove that many of the priests in his time, were more 
 inclined to drink than pray: — “ I was in company,” 
 says he, “ where there were ten parsons, and I made 
 a wager privately — and won it, that among them there 
 was not one prayer book. I then offered to lay 
 another wager that, among the ten parsons there were 
 half a score of cork screws — it was accepted, the but- 
 ler received his instructions, pretended to break his 
 cork screw, and requested any gentleman to lend him 
 
224 
 
 THE EGLIXTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 one, when each priest pulled a cork screw from Ii is 
 pocket.” — Enough ! 
 
 King James . — In your account of learned men, you 
 touched slightly on men of genius and talents. Will 
 you now say something of poets and poetry ? I long 
 to hear your opinion of both, particularly poets, and 
 explained in our conversation, for we were both ac- 
 counted rhymers in our day. Aye, I know not if 
 many who had a better name at the time, have had 
 such a lasting one, which is a sure sign of our supe- 
 riority ; for the public opinion of nearly three hundred 
 years, is surely criterion enough to warrant what I 
 have said in the most extended sense of the word, both 
 of our works having stood the tooth of time, and test 
 of critics for that lengthened period, in spite of all the 
 censure malice could devise. True merit always 
 burns briglit, and is a lamp none can extinguish. 
 
 Sir David . — You now make me proud, by bringing 
 to my recollection my intimacy with the muses; and, 
 as you were also a welcome guest at Parnassus, I may 
 say witii Congreve, — 
 
 “ Poets have an undoubted right to claim, 
 
 If not the greatest, the most lasting name.” 
 
 History informs us that poetry began with shep- 
 lierds, wliose god was Pan ; having from their many 
 leisure and abstracted hours (while tending their 
 hocks,) a fit opportunity for such a pursuit, llencc, 
 they first composed couplets, next verses, and these 
 they perfected themselves in, and sung, while follow- 
 ing their daily occupations. Poetry, says Strabo, 
 was the first philosophy that ever was taught ; nor 
 were there ever any writers thereof known before 
 Musoeus, Hesiod, and Homer ; by whoso authority 
 Plato, Aristotle, and Galen, determine their weightiest 
 controversies, and confirm their reasons in philosophy. 
 And vvdiat were the songs of Linus, Orpheus, Ainphion, 
 Olympus, and that ditty Jopas sung to his harp at 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 223 
 
 Dido’s banquet, but natural and moral philosophy, 
 sweetened with the pleasance of numbers, that rude- 
 ness and barbarism might the better taste and digest 
 the lessons of civility. It is generally affirmed, that 
 poesy was the most ancient of all artificial literature, 
 especially amongst the Grecians ; Plierecides was the 
 first who wrote prose in the Greek language, and he 
 lived about the time of Cyrus, which was some hun- 
 dred years after Homer and Hesiod ; and Strabo un- 
 dertakes to prove that prose is only an imitation of 
 poetry. The first specimen of poetry was shown in 
 hymns and prayers to the Deity, and began in wild 
 notes, before the invention of feet and measures. 
 That poetry is still most sublime and lasting, where 
 the subjects and ideas are religious, without which the 
 dignity essential cannot be supported. And if wo 
 consider poetry in her first institution, ere she became 
 a prostitute to lust, flattery, and ambition, we shall 
 find her giving laws to religion, politics and manners. 
 In her custody was that fountain, whence all the profi- 
 table rules for the economy of life were to be drawn. 
 The greatest prince formed their courts to hers; nor 
 was the divine mistress less courteously received in 
 the camp. Hence mighty generals had the best in- 
 structions both for their conduct and valour, and were 
 encouraged by the records of antiquity, faithfully pre- 
 served by some poet’s hand, to signalize themselves in 
 sucli famous acts, as should render them worthy the 
 like praise of posterity. For it is well known that 
 Alexander, by reading Homer, (a copy of which he 
 constantly carried with him, and placed the same 
 beneath his pillow at night,) was especially moved to 
 go through with his conquests. And so much did he 
 esteem this poet, that, when the messenger of a great 
 victory came running to him with great joy in his 
 countenance, he said, “ What are you about to tell 
 me worthy of so great joy ? Is Homer alive again ?” 
 
 N 2 
 
22G 
 
 TUE EGLINTON TOUIIXAMENT, 
 
 lie, also, having taken Thebes, spared the posterity 
 of Pindar, a poet born in that city, and ordered that 
 his house should stand safe. Among the spoils of 
 Darius, king of the Persians, having taken a casket 
 of perfumes, which was adorned with gems and pearls, 
 he said, “ Let the works of Homer be deposited in 
 it.” For he was desirous, that the most valuable 
 work of human genius should be kept in a piece of 
 workmanship as rich as possible. He said, “that the 
 writings of Homer contained all the instructions neces- 
 sary, either for a king or a general.” And, I may say 
 of him what was said of our national poet, Thomson, — 
 
 “ Tutor’d by thee, sweet poetry exalts 
 Her voice through ages, and informs tlie page 
 With music, image, sentiment, and thought, 
 
 Never to die.” 
 
 The ancient bards of Britain gave no small en- 
 couragement to the valour of their countrymen, as is 
 mentioned by Athenscus, Lucan, &c. which is no 
 small addition to its praise. And almost every one 
 knoweth how dear the works of Homer were to Alex- 
 ander, as I have already mentioned, as well as to 
 Euripides, and Amyntas, king of Macedon. Virgil 
 to Augustus, king of Xaples; Theocritus to Ptolomy 
 and Berenice, king and queen of Egypt; the stately 
 Pindar to Hiero, king of Sicily; Ennius to Scipio; 
 Ansonius to Gratian. who made him proconsul; and 
 Chaucer to king Richard II. ; Gower to Henry IV. 
 of England; Buchanan to yourself, &c. And Charlc- 
 maigne, Augustus Ca3sar, Octavius, Adrian, Germani- 
 cus, Theobald, John II. king of Arragon. and your 
 predecessor James I. not mentioning yourself, dis- 
 dained not to make poetry their pleasure ; but took 
 delight ill composing the same ; so that they are, with 
 many others, both ancient and modern, immortalized 
 more for their skill therein, than for the crowns they 
 wore. To this art the heroes of all ages have been 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UN?JASKED. 
 
 227 
 
 indebted for their lasting name ; whereas, without it, 
 perhaps we should hardly have known there had been 
 any such men, at least very obscurely. 
 
 Surely, then, poetry is a noble art ; and the poet, 
 whether of the present or the past times — he who 
 seeks to exalt and not to debase human nature — is 
 one who occupies the most exalted station in tlie 
 literary world. On the contrary, the man who for- 
 gets the noble and godlike ends which poetry was 
 designed to promote, and degrades the art by applying 
 it to the circulation of licentiousness or blasplierny, is 
 one at whom every honest man should point the linger 
 of scorn and detestation. 
 
 “ Blest betlie day 1 scap’d the vvranjjlinj' crew,. 
 
 From Pyrrho’s maze, and Epicurus’ sty ; 
 
 And held high converse with thegodlike few. 
 
 Who to the enraptured heart, and ear, and eye. 
 
 Teach beauty, virtue, truth, and love, and melody. 
 
 “ Then hail, ye mighty masters of the lay. 
 
 Natures true sons, the friends of man and truth ! 
 
 Whose song, sublimely sweet, serenely gay. 
 
 Amused my childhood, and inform’d my youth. 
 
 For well I know wherever ye reside, 
 
 Tliere harmony, and peace, and innocence abide.” 
 
 Much have been written in praise and dispraise of 
 poetry, some calling it a madness in the mind, others 
 again affirming it to be in some sense a prophetic 
 sjiirit. And that theatres and stately amphitheatres 
 were not raised for historians, philosophers, lawyei’s, 
 physicians, &c. but only to represent the poetry of 
 poets and their works ; for the perfection of other arts 
 is limited, but this of poetry has no bounds: so that 
 it is no wonder that many persons should find such 
 charming emotions upon reading Homer, Virgil, and 
 the rest of the ancient poets; and tliat the passions- 
 should be extremely touched at the tragedies of Shake- 
 speare, and otliers of the poets ancient and moderin 
 
 The power of poetry is universally known and 
 acknowledged, and sufficiently justifies the foimdatioiv 
 
228 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 of those opinions of old, wliich derived from it divine 
 inspiration. As Oldham, in his imitation of Horace ’sr 
 Art of Poetry, savs, — 
 
 Hence poets have been held a sacred name. 
 
 And in another place, adds, — 
 
 Vei’se was the language of the Gods of old, 
 
 In which their sacred oracles were told. 
 
 Of late, poets and poetry, have been little regarded, 
 for they have been too plentiful ; nature has been too 
 lavish of her gifts ; like beautiful women, the scarcer 
 they are, the more they are valued and esteemed, but 
 when plentiful they cloy. Pity it is that so few noble 
 and generous Meccenasses are to bo found among the 
 rich and great, at the present day, in Britain, to 
 patronize and encourage those noble-minded men, the 
 sons of nature : for a poet is not like other men, he is 
 made by miracle in his mother’s womb, each man 
 bringing with him an innate property thereto at the 
 time of his birth. Hence Tully is said to be long 
 ere he could be delivered of a few, and those but poor 
 verses, -whilst Ovid could speak nothing but verse. 
 
 A poet was called Vates, which is as much as divine, 
 fore-seer, or prophet ; and of this word Carmina, 
 which was taken for poetry, came this word chai'm, 
 because it is as a divine enchantment to the senses, 
 dra vfing tliem by the sweetness of deligiitful numbers 
 to a wondrous admiration. The Greeks derive a poet 
 from this word poiem, which signifies to make; and 
 we following it, call a poet a Maker; which name 
 how' great it is, the simplest can judge; and poetry, 
 Aristotle calleth an art of imitation, or to speak meta- 
 phorically, a speaking picture. A king ought now 
 and then to take pleasure in hearing' and reading of 
 poetry, because thereby he may learn many things 
 done in the kingdom, which otlierwise he would not 
 know. 
 
 Tolland, in his histoi-y of the Druids, says, that it 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMAyKED. 
 
 220 
 
 'vras decreed by Adius, king of Scotland, and the great 
 Columba, that, for the better preservation of their his- 
 tory, genealogies, and the purity of their language, the 
 supreme monarch, and the subordinate kings, with 
 every lord of a cartred, should entertain a poet of his 
 own, no more being allowed by the ancient law of the 
 island ; and that upon each of these and their posterity, 
 a portion of land, free from all duties, should bo settled 
 for ever ; that for encouraging the learning these poets 
 and antiquaries protest, public schools should be ap- 
 pointed and endowed under the national inspection; 
 and that the monarch’s own bard should be the arch- 
 poet, and have superintendency over the rest. Among 
 the ancient Celts, their person and offices w^ere held 
 sacred; for they were prophets, priests, and physicians. 
 Kven in modern times, their very dust is more esteem- 
 ed than the greatest hero, for the late lord Byron gives 
 tiie following account of wdiat he was an eye witness, 
 near Koine in Italy. 
 
 “ I canter by the spot each afternoon, 
 
 Wliere perish’d in his fame the hero boy, 
 
 Who liv’d too long for men, but died too soon 
 For human vanity, the young Ds Foix ! 
 
 A broKen pillar, not uncouthly hewn. 
 
 But which neglect is hastening to destroy, 
 liecords Ravenna’s carnage on its face. 
 
 While weeds and ordure rankle round the base. 
 
 “ I pass each day where Dante’s * bones are laid— 
 
 A little cupola, more neat than solemn. 
 
 Protects his dust, but reverence here is paid 
 To the bard’s tomb, and not the warrior’s column; 
 
 * Dante was the first great poet of modern Italy, whose works so largely 
 contributed to fix the language of his country, and give the inhabitants 
 a taste for polite literature. lie was born at Florence in 12G5, and died 
 at Ravenna in 1321, win. re lived his friend, Guido Novella da Polenta, a 
 patron of literature, w ho first erected a monument to his memory. In 
 1780 a more sumptuous one was erected by cardinal Gonzago, with this 
 inscription Danti Alighario, Poetoe sui temporis primo, Re.stitutori 
 politioris humanitatis,” It is to this monument that Byron alludes in his 
 Don Juan. 
 
230 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOUllNAMENT, 
 
 The time must come, when both alike decay'd, 
 
 The chieftain’s trophy, and the poet's volume, 
 
 Will sink where lie the songs and wars of earth, 
 
 Before Pelide’s birth or Homer’s death.” 
 
 And, 'when the oracle of Apollo at Delplios was 
 asked whj Jupiter should be the chief of t!ie gods, 
 since Mars was the best soldier, made this answer, — 
 “ Mars is valiant, but Jupiter is wise^ And, is it not 
 well known to you, that on the late General Wolfe’s 
 receiving a copy of Grey’s “Elegy in a country church- 
 yard,” on the eve of the battle in which he lost Ins 
 life, was so enchanted with its beauties, that he ex- 
 claimed that he would rather be the author of this 
 inimitable poem, than the victor of the projected 
 battle ? 
 
 After this honourable manner have poets and poetry 
 been treated, even by the less civilized part of the 
 human race ; for, besides the advantages to be derived 
 from the riglit use of poetry itself, I must say that I 
 never knew an inspired poet with a bad heart, nor be 
 guilty of a mean or dishonourable action. It is true, 
 they are in general poor, but that is owing to them- 
 selves, for they will not stoop to flatter as other peo- 
 ])le do, their being a consciousness of superiority on 
 their parts, though not of riches, of talents inestimable. 
 Indeed, all those who bear the name of poets are not 
 so ; and many have assumed the name and office, that 
 are by no means worthy of the same ; merely rhymers, 
 and not poets. But surely you would not despise the 
 faithful physician, because tlicre are quacks and im- 
 postors in the profession, who disgrace the name ; nor 
 would you think less of the honest and able lawyer, 
 because there are many mean and dishonest petti- 
 foggers follo-w the same ocupation; nor would the pious 
 diristian turn from his bible with disgust, because a 
 false })ropliet expounds it in a manner contrary to Ids 
 wish, and its right reading. There are good and bad 
 in all ranks and professions. I will, therefore, shortly 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 231 
 
 close this discourse with observing that, although poets 
 in general are poor, they are lioiiest and honourable, 
 and many of them deserving the title of Gentlemen. 
 For, as his grace, John duke of Buckingham, says, — 
 
 Of all those arts in which the wise excel, 
 
 Nature’s chief masterpiece is writing well : 
 
 No writing lifts exalted man so high, 
 
 As sacred and soul-moving poest : 
 
 No kind of work requires so nice a touch, 
 
 And if well finish d, notliing shines so much. 
 
 I may also state its influence on the spirits and 
 morals of the people, as well as its usefulness and 
 pleasures to society. Did not the great political 
 Fletcher, in speaking of his country’s vices, say, — 
 “ Give me the making of the ballads, and I care not 
 who make the laws,” thereby implying that the poetry 
 Avas more productive of moral good than the laws. 
 You will also remember what influence the voice of 
 song had, when delivered by the minstrel who accom- 
 panied William the conqueror to the invasion of Fng- 
 land. Did he not, by rushing into the enemy’s ranks 
 chaunting the song of Rollo, lead on his countrymen 
 to the victory of Hastings ? And, did not the songs 
 of the Welch bards inspire with a spirit of resistance 
 the authority of the English, that Edward I. caused 
 the whole fraternity to be exterminated, which Hume 
 has styled a barbarous but not absurd feeling ? And 
 lord Wharton’s song of “ Lullibullero,” — immortal as 
 the favourite of Uncle Toby — is supposed to have had 
 no slight influence in promoting the English revolu- 
 tions. Many modern instances might also be quoted, 
 particularly the “ Hymne Marselloise,” which shook 
 the Bourbons from their throne ; and the unrivalled 
 naval songs of Dibdin, which Avere so instrumental in 
 quelling the mutiny at the Nore. And, did not the 
 Georgies of Virgil inspire his countrymen with ncAv 
 ardour in their pastoral and agricultural pursuits ^ 
 The writings of Homer, in art, science, and war, Ac. 
 
232 
 
 THE EGLINTON TODiOAMENT, 
 
 And, ill our own country, wliat can be compared to it:3 
 ballads for simplicity, sublimity, and powerful effect 
 on the minds and understandings of every sensible 
 person, the narratives embodying every thing great 
 and noble in life, and pathetic in death ? Do you re- 
 member what a favourite Scottish poet says when writ- 
 ing on tliis subject? — “ There is a noble sublimity, a 
 heart-melting tenderness, in some of our ancient bal- 
 lads, which shew them to be the work of a masterly 
 hand : and it has often given me many a heartache to 
 reflect, that such glorious old bards — -bards, who very 
 probably owed all their talents to native genius, yet 
 have described the exploits of heroes, the pangs of dis- 
 appointment, and the meltings of love, with such fine 
 strokes of nature — that their very names (O how 
 mortifying to a poet’s vanity !) are now buried among 
 the wreck of things that were.” 
 
 “ Then ^-ieve not, thou to whom th’ indulgent muso 
 Vouchsafes a portion of celestial fire ; 
 
 Nor blame the partial Fates, if they refuse 
 Til’ imperial banquet, and the rich attire. 
 
 Know thine own worth and reverence the lyre. 
 
 Wilt thou debase the heart which God refined ? 
 
 No : let thy heaven taught soul to heaven aspire, 
 
 To fancy, freedom, harmony, resigned; 
 
 Ambition’s grovelling crew for ever left behind.”^ 
 
 King James . — I am much pleased with your defini- 
 tion of poets and poetry : it is, indeed, very flattering 
 to me, who, at one time, made Parnassus my banquet, 
 Pegasus my companion, the muses my sisters, the 
 
 * I have had the honour of the company, conversation, and correspond- 
 ence of many of the best poets to whom Britain has given birth for several 
 years past, and at this time, I do declare, that amongst the whole I never 
 found one base or deceitful heart. While I am writing this, I can rank 
 amongst my living friends, bards whose lyrics, «tc. will do honour toUieir 
 native land, w hile their authors’ bodies are mouldering in the clay. Were 
 it not invidious to make a selection, I would name a few, particularly 
 A. Laing, Esq. of Brechin, and , <5:.c. ; but why thus particular- 
 
 ise , out amongst so many ? Their works are their best comments. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 233 
 
 Castaliaii spring the fountain of my pleasure, and 
 poetry my greatest delight. I have written many fine 
 songs myself, and encouraged otliers to follow my ex- 
 ample. It was under the reign of my father and my- 
 self, that many of the best Scottish poets flourished, 
 such as Gavin Douglas, bishop of Dunkeld; Bellenden, 
 arch-dean of Moray ; Dunbar, Ilenryson, Scott, Mont- 
 gomery, Kennedy, the three Wedderburns, and many 
 others, as well as yourself, and Buchanan, whose works 
 are to be found in the libraries of the curious, and in 
 the Bannatyne's manuscript collection of rare Scottish 
 poems, in the advocates’ library of Edinburgh. 
 
 Sir David . — Yes : it was in your time that the beau- 
 tiful old ballads of the deaths of Johnny Armstrong 
 and Gilderoy, the first whom you caused to be slain, 
 and the latter hanged, unjustly, were written. I mean 
 unjustly, as it was after you had promised them their 
 lives. This is a stain in your character which all the 
 good deeds of your life and history will never be able 
 to obliterate. Do you recollect of having written to 
 this effect, as characterized in the ballad, — 
 
 “ The king he \vrote a letter then, 
 
 A letter which was large an lang ; 
 lie signed it wi’ his ain hand, 
 
 An’ promis’d to do him nae wkang.” 
 
 That is, John Armstrong, but shortly after, as tho 
 song says, — 
 
 “ Fourscore an’ ten o’ John’s best men, 
 
 An’ HE, lay gasping on the ground.” 
 
 This might teach people not to put their trust in 
 princes, nor in the son of man in whom there is no 
 help. 
 
 Of your poetry, nor of my own, do I intend to speak 
 at present. I know many have ascribed some of your 
 best pieces to your predecessor, James I., but, unge- 
 nerous as they have been, tliey have not dared to rob 
 you of all, tiicrc is still as much left as immortalize 
 
234 
 
 THE EGLLNTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 jour name. It is, however, a matter of small impor- 
 tance to either of us now to know particulars, which 
 shall cause me wave this part of the conversation, and 
 turn it to another of more importance, that of tlie 
 character and office of a critic and reviewer, and 
 criticism. 
 
 King James . — I am right glad of this, good sir 
 David. Critics and reviewers form a class of men I 
 always abhorred. Can it be possible that any one of 
 them is worthy of your attention ? Or that it is pos- 
 sible for any of them to bo a Crentleman ? 
 
 Sir David . — It is perfectly possible, noldc sire. 
 There are many at present lives in your old metropolis, 
 who would do Iionour to any trade or profession. Tiie 
 only fault they have as reviewers is, that they are a 
 little too tardy in their notice of young and rising as- 
 pirants to literary fame ; and, when noticed, give so 
 little allowance to their youth and want of experience, 
 their situation in life, and the disadvantages they have 
 to labour under, as well as obstacles with which they 
 have to contend, that they at once plunge into the very 
 vortex of the stream, dragging their followers along, 
 and he that has no buoyant apparatus, sinks for ever. 
 
 The office of a critic, in former times, consisted in 
 a defence of poetry, or an author’s failings, as well as 
 his business to illustrate obscure beauties; to place 
 some passages in a better light, and to redeem otliers 
 from malicious interpretation. To help out an author’!* 
 modesty, and shield him from the ill-nature of those 
 persons who unjustly set up for censors ; but in this 
 age they, for the most part, think it their principal 
 business to find fault. Criticism, as it was first insti- 
 tuted by Aristotle, was meant as a standard of judging 
 well. The chief part of wliich is to point out those 
 beauties that sliould delight a reasonable reader. It 
 is malicious to cavil at small failings, and no good cri- 
 tic will do it, for tlicy know that the greatest authors 
 
AND GENTLEMA^N UNMASKED. 23j 
 
 stand not free of faults. The author of the Duiiciad 
 sajs, — 
 
 Let such teach others who themselves excel, 
 
 Ami censure freely, who have written well : 
 
 Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see, 
 
 Thinks what ne’er was, nor is, nor e’er can be. 
 
 There have, however, of late years, been some pre- 
 sumptuous critics, that imagined they might censure 
 tlie best writers with impunity; as did Anytus, Meli- 
 tus, and Lycoii censure Socrates, Ac. Many among 
 the ancients lost their lives for their daring assurance, 
 and became odious to all good and learned men. 
 Even among the moderns, several have lost their lives, 
 and the good opinion of the more learned part of man- 
 kind. David ilume, the historian, was one who mor- 
 tally hated critics, so much so, that he was once known 
 to liave chased a reviewer, who had written unfavour - 
 ably of his w’orks, round and round a counter with a 
 drawn sword with the intent to murder him. 
 
 Aristarchus and Zoilus, famous critics of antiquity, 
 had this ditference between them, that the first was 
 learned and judicious, the other passionate and insin- 
 cere; so that his name lias been given to impertinent 
 critics, jealous of the renown of good autliors. All do 
 not agree about tlie place or manner of Zoilus ’s death, 
 but say it was a violent one, being a just punishment 
 for his rashness and spite. Aristarchus’s reputation 
 was so well established, that his censure made all the 
 works be received that he approved, and all rejected 
 that he condemned. It is, therefore, necessary for a 
 critic to be master of many qualifications, to be learned 
 and sincere, free of prejudice, and have a discern ent 
 between truth and falsehood, and good and evil.ksHe 
 should also be superior to the person whose wor ho 
 reviews, or rather censures. As the character of cri- 
 tics is not my forte, I shall not dwell long on the sub- 
 ject; but, in the mean time, endeavour to divest you 
 
236 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 I, of that rooted prejudice which you say has made you 
 
 1 loath the very name. 
 
 ! The advantages that flow from an impartial review 
 
 ( of any new publication, both to the author and pub- 
 
 !| lisher, are scarcely to be credited ; that is to say if it 
 
 j be a work of merit: if not, the faults are pointed out, 
 
 I and every muscle and vein so laid open to the mean- | 
 
 I est capacity that the author must improve both in style I 
 
 I and composition, and guard against committing the 
 
 ' same faults in future. We had no such public moni- 
 
 i tors in our days. No man of genius need be afraid 
 
 j of impartial criticism ; for, although it is the preroga- 
 
 1 tive of critics to judge of the merits of other people’s 
 
 I works, and partiality in a critic rarely allowed, they 
 
 all have their vocation, and weak side at wliich they j 
 
 ! are pregnable. Some are swayed by one glittering 
 
 toy, and some by another. The press, which has been ' 
 
 justly styled the “Nurse and preserver of the arts and ^ 
 
 sciences,” has been a great means of multiplying the i 
 
 works of the learned ; and, at the same time, subjected 
 tliem to hosts of foes. ' 
 
 The liberty of the press has been a blessing to I 
 tliousands; but, in the hands of an envious and un- 
 principled person, a dangerous weapon. Instead of 
 disseminating that useful knowledge for which it was 
 at first designed, it has often become worse than a 
 dagger in tlie hands of a midnight assassin. It has 
 robbed many of their good name, which was dearer 
 than life itself ; and I cannot but think that those who 
 privily assault the one, could destroy the other, miglit 
 they do it with the same security and impunity. Who 
 does not glory in the liberty of the press? But who 
 would take pleasure in robbing his fellow- creature 
 of his good name? And who would not consider the ! 
 editor of a quarterly, a monthly, or a weekly review, 
 and the editor of a book, a newspaper, or any other 
 printed paper, to have the same liberty of exercising 
 
 I 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 2;i7 
 
 his calling as his fellow-citizen ? But who would tliiiik 
 or say that he had a riglit to abandon truth, and re- 
 cede from the principle of veracity, in any case what- 
 ever? Yet, although the conductor of a press, or the 
 editor of a review, of a magazine, or newspaper, has 
 more power of indulging in calumny and detraction, 
 in slander and falsehood, against the person and cha- 
 racter of an author, he is as culpable in the eyes of 
 justice as any other person, having thus plunged a 
 moral dagger in the bosom of one who never intended 
 him the least harm. Those who boast of the liberty 
 of the press, and a toleration to criticise, do not mean, 
 nor will you, sire, contend, that it should thereby be- 
 come the vehicle of abuse ; but of boldly publishing 
 every thing consistent with truth and justice between 
 man and man. When the press and its conductor, be 
 what he may, deviate from honour for the sake of 
 public or private revenge, they then justly become the 
 object of attack and persecution. The one to be de- 
 stroyed, and the other to be branded with infamy and 
 disgrace ever after. 
 
 Printing presses have now been set up in almost 
 every little hamlet and village in Scotland, and re- 
 views and newspapers established, edited, in many 
 cases, by illiterate men, who grasp at every new work 
 with the savage ferocity of a hyaena. To fish for beau- 
 ties, like some of the critics of old, is not their aim, 
 but to pull it in pieces, and exhibit its mangled defects 
 to a gazing and gaping multitude, ready to swallow all 
 that has been told, that they may have the appellation 
 of wits, men of genius, with sound and erudite under- 
 standings; and who condemn whatever they do not 
 know, or cannot comprehend. But such puny author- 
 ities I ever loathed. 
 
 “ The poor in wit, or judgment, like all poor, 
 
 Revile, for having least, those who have more : 
 
 So ’tis the critic’s scarcity of wit 
 
 Makes him traduce those who have most of it. 
 
238 
 
 THE EGLINT02T TOURNAMENT, 
 
 {since to their pitch himself he cannot raise. 
 
 He them to liis mean level would debase ; 
 
 Acting like demons, that would all deprive 
 Of heaven, to which themselves can ne’er arrive.” 
 
 There are also many insignificant and contemptible 
 critics, wlio revile and despise every good work, that 
 they may thereby become singular, and get themselves 
 brought into notice, not for their wisdom, but their 
 insignificance and absurdities, as the heathen said when 
 lie set the temple of Diana on fire, “ He wished to make 
 himself immortal by some means, and as he could not 
 accomplish it by a good, it was all one to him if by a 
 bad cause.” Tliis is the case with many reviewers. 
 
 When I said, a little ago, that in many cases the 
 literary department of newspapers, &c., was managed 
 by ignorant people, I did not mean in general ; for, at 
 the present day, there are many of the local and pro- 
 vincial newspapers, not only of Scotland, but through- 
 out Britain, conducted by gentlemen of the highest 
 qualifications, the finest feelings, most unprejudiced 
 principles, learned, eminent, and honourable, and who 
 would not stoop to a mean or ignoble action for the 
 universe. And, were I again on earth, and had to 
 pass tlie ordeal of criticism, I would sincerely pray that 
 these critics were my task-masters, and awarded me 
 the hire of my labours. 
 
 Criticism has now become so general, and so severe, 
 that not only the works, but the authors, are censured 
 by some. Even great an advocate as I am for liberal 
 criticism, I can by no means agree witli those who 
 make attacks upon the private life and character of an 
 author; for, although his writings, as soon as publish- 
 ed, become public property, and the purchaser at free- 
 dom to use them as he pleases, he lias no right what- 
 ever to calumniate and vilify tlie writer’s name and 
 profession, if he have one. The life of an author, dur- 
 ing his life time at least, ought to be his own property, 
 and lie alone have the right to give or withhold it from 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 1?30 
 
 the public. Would you not then think with mo, tliat 
 iie is Init a villain and a miscreant that would rob him 
 of this, and drag him against his will, witli all his faults 
 and imperfections on his head, before the bar of a pub- 
 lic, and often prejudiced tribunal ? The poet says, — 
 
 “ Some judge of authobs’ names, not works, and then, 
 
 Nor praise nor blame the wbitings, but the men.” 
 
 The Irish Cunningham, who felt indignant at such 
 treatment, expresses himself as follows: — 
 
 When a wretch to public notice 
 Would a man of worth defame. 
 
 Wit, as threadbare as his coat is. 
 
 Only shews his want of shame. 
 
 I have now shewn you the advantages and disad- 
 vantages that an author labours under when he com- 
 mits the children of his brain to the fury of those 
 called critics and reviewers. I have also pointed out 
 to you, for your consideration, both classes of critics, 
 good and bad, that you may be able to say, wdien we 
 close our conversation, who are, and who are not 
 Gentlemen. 
 
 But first, I shall offer, by way of remarks, a few 
 tilings upon criticism in general, a study very necessary, 
 as I have already observed ; but fallen into contempt 
 through the abuse of it ; as the opinion of one capable 
 of judging. 
 
 At the restoration of learning it was particularly 
 necessary ; authors had long been buried in obscurity, 
 and consequently had contracted some rust through 
 the ignorance and barbarism of preceding ages : it was, 
 therefore, very requisite that they should be polished 
 by a critical hand, and restored to their original pur- 
 ity. In this consists the office of critics; but, instead 
 of making copies agreeable to the manuscripts, they 
 have long inserted their own conjectures; and from 
 this licence arise most of the various readings, the 
 burdens of modern editions : whereas, books are like 
 pictures, they may be varnished, but not a feature is 
 
240 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 to be altered, and ever/ stroke that is thus added de- 
 stroys in some degree the resemblance; and the ori- 
 ginal is no longer a Homer or a Virgil, biA a mere 
 ideal person, the creature of the editor’s fancy. Who- 
 ever deviates from this rule, does not correct his 
 author. And, therefore, since most books worth read- 
 ing have now good impressions, it is a folly to devote 
 too much time to tliis branch of criticism ; it is ridi- 
 culous to make it the supreme business of life to repair 
 the ruins of a decayed world, to trouble the world with 
 vain niceties about a letter, or a syllable, or the trans- 
 position of a phrase, wlieii the present reading is suf- 
 ficiently intelligible. These learned triflers are mere 
 weeders of an author, they collect the weeds for their 
 own use, and permit others to gather the herbs and 
 flowers. It would be of more advantage to mankind 
 when once an author is faithfully published, to turn 
 our thoughts from the words to the sentiments, and 
 make them more easy and intelligible. A sldll in 
 verbal criticism is in reality but a skill in guessing, 
 and, consequently, he is the best critic who guesses 
 best : a mighty attainment! And yet witli what pomp 
 is a trivial alteration ushered into the world ? Sucli 
 writers are like Caligula, who raised a mighty army, 
 and alarmed the whole world, and then led it to gather 
 cockle-shells. In short, the question is not what the 
 author might have said, but what he has actually said ; 
 it is not what a different word will agree with the 
 sense, and turn of the period, but whether it was used 
 by the author; if it was, it has a good title still to 
 maintain its post, and the authority of the manuscript 
 ought to be followed rather tlian the fancy of the 
 editor; for can a modern be a better judge of the lan- 
 guage of the purest ancients, than those ancients who 
 wrote it in the greatest purity? or, if he could, was 
 ever any author so happy as always to choose the most 
 proper word? Experience shews the impossibility. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 241 
 
 Besides, of what use is verbal criticism when once wo 
 have a faithful edition? It only embarrasses tlie reader 
 instead of giving new light, and hinders his proficiency 
 by engrossing his time, and calling off the attention 
 from the author to the editor ; it increases the expense 
 of books, and makes us pay an high price for trifles, 
 and often for absurdities. I will only add, with sir 
 Henry Saville, that various lections are now* grown so 
 voluminous, that we begin to value the first editions of 
 books as most correct, because least corrected. 
 
 There are other critics who think themselves obliged 
 to see no imperfections in their author: from the mo- 
 ment they undertake his cause, they look upon him as 
 a lover upon his mistress, he has no faults, or his very 
 faults improve into beauties. This, indeed, is a well- 
 natured error, but still blameable, because it misguides 
 the judgment. Such critics act no less erroneously, 
 than a judge who should resolve to acquit a person, 
 w'hether innocent or guilty, who comes before him upon 
 his trial. It is frequent for the partial critic to praise 
 the work as he likes the author ; he admires a book 
 as an antiquary a medal, solely from the impression of 
 the name, and not from the intrinsic value. The cop- 
 per of a favourite writer shall be more esteemed than 
 the finest gold of a less acceptible author. For this 
 reason many persons have chosen to publish their 
 works without a name, and by this method, like 
 Appelles, who stood unseen behind his own Venus, have 
 received a praise, which perhaps might have been de- 
 nied if the author had been visible. 
 
 But there are other critics who act a contrary part, 
 and condemn all as criminals whom they try. They 
 dwell only on the faults of an author, and endeavour 
 to raise a reputation by dispraising every thing that 
 other men praise ; they have an antipathy to a shining 
 character, like some animals, that hate the sun only 
 because of its brightness : it is a crime with them to 
 
 0 
 
243 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 excel; tliej are a kind of Tartars in learning, wlio, 
 seeing a person of distinguished qualifications, imme- 
 diately endeavour to kill him, in hopes to obtain just 
 so much merit as they destroy in their adversary. I 
 never look into one of these critics than he puts me 
 in mind of a giant in romance. The glory of the 
 giant consists in the number of the limbs of men whom 
 he has destroyed; that of the critic in reviewing — 
 
 “Disjecti membra Poet«," 
 
 If ever he accidentally deviates into praise, he does 
 it tliat his ensuing blame may fall with the greater 
 weight ; he adorns an author with a few flowers, as the 
 ancients those victims that they were ready to sacri- 
 fice. He studies criticism as if it extended only to 
 dispraise; a practice which, when most successful, is 
 least desirable. A painter might justly be said to have 
 a perverse imagination who should delight only to draw 
 the deformities and distortions of human nature, which, 
 when executed by the most masterly hand, strike the 
 beholder with most horror. It is usual with envious 
 critics to attack the writings of others because they 
 are good ; they constantly prey upon tlie fairest fruits, 
 and hope to spread their own works by uniting them 
 to those of their adversary. But this is like Mezen- 
 tiiis in Virgil, to join a dead carca.ss to a living body; 
 and tlie only effect of it to fill every well-natured mind 
 with detestation : their malice becomes impotent, and, 
 contrary to their design, they give a testimony of their 
 enemy’s merit, and shew him to be an hero by turning 
 all their weapons against him. Such critics are like 
 dead coals, they may blacken, but cannot burn. These 
 writers bring to my memory a passage in the I Had where 
 all tlie inferior powers, the Plebs Superum, or rabble of 
 tlie sky, are fancied to unite their endeavours to pull 
 Jupiter down to the earth; but by the attempt they only 
 betray their own inability ; Jupiter h still Jupiter, and 
 by tlieir unavailing efibrts they manifest his superiority. 
 
AND GE.NTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 243 
 
 Modesty is essential to true criticism; no man has 
 a title to bo a dictator in knowledge, and the sense of 
 our own infirmities ought to teach us to treat others 
 with humanity. The envious critic ought to consider, 
 that if the authors be dead whom he censures, it is in- 
 humanity to trample upon their ashes with insolence; 
 that it is cruelty to summon, implead, and condemn 
 them with rigour and animosity, when they are not in 
 a capacity to answer his unjust allegations. If the 
 authors be alive, tho common laws of society oblige us 
 not to commit any outrage against another’s reputa- 
 tion; we ought modestly to convince, not injuriously 
 insult; and contend for trutJi, not victory; and yet 
 the envious critic is like the tyrants of old, who thought 
 it not enough to conquer, unless their enemies were 
 made a public spectacle, and dragged in triumph at 
 tlieir chariot wheels; but what is such a triumph but 
 a barbarous insult over the calamities of their fellow- 
 creatures ? The noise of a day, purchased with tho 
 misery of nations? However, I would not be thought 
 to bo pleading for an exemption from criticism; I 
 'would only have it circumscribed within the rules of 
 candour and humanity. Writers may be told of their 
 errors, provided it be with the decency and tenderness 
 of a friend, not the malice and passion of an enemy. 
 Hoys may be whipped into sense, but men are to bo 
 guided with reason. 
 
 If we grant the malicious critic all that he claims, 
 and allow him to have proved his adversary’s dulness, 
 and his own acuteness, yet, as long as there is virtue 
 in the world, modest dulness will be preferable to 
 learned arrogance. Dulness may be a misfortune, 
 but arrogance is a crime; and where is tlie mighty ad- 
 vantage, if, while he discovers more learning, he is 
 found to have less virtue than his adversary ? and 
 though he be a better critic, yet proves himself to bo 
 a 'worse man ? Besides, no one is to be envied tlio 
 
244 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 skill ill finding such faults as others are so dull as to 
 mistake for beauties. What advantage is such quick- 
 sightedness even to the professors of it? It makes 
 them difficult to be pleased, and gives them pain, 
 while others receive a pleasure ; thej resemble tho 
 second-sighted people in Scotland, who are fabled to 
 see more than other persons ; but all the benefit they 
 reap from this privilege, is to discover objects of hor- 
 ror, ghosts, and apparitions, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 1 am afraid I have dwelt too long upon this subject 
 interesting as it is, although I could yet for an hour to 
 come, dwell upon the advantages to authors, and the 
 public in general, of fair and candid criticism. You 
 will say that, from a consciousness of my own defi- 
 ciency, I have in reality been pleading my own cause. 
 It may be so, and I trust that if ever this conversation 
 should come to light, I will meet with that candour 
 and mercy from my judges as I have formerly done 
 on almost every other occasion. But, whatever may 
 be the fate of this work, it has proved to me a source 
 of much pleasure in my solitude ; and, should it meet 
 with that cordial reception which I anticipate from the 
 right thinking part of the community, I have no doubt 
 but it will add another laurel to my brow, or, in other 
 words, a stane to my cairn. 
 
 King James . — You have now, I must candidly con- 
 fess, greatly smoothed down the prejudices that ran- 
 kled in my breast against critics and reviewers, pre- 
 vious to hearing your account of them. I now find 
 from what you have said, tliat they arc not only a use- 
 ful, but a meritorious class of men, and I will not 
 hesitate in conferring on those I find worthy, the dis- 
 tinguished and honourable title of Gentlemen. I 
 freely admit, also, the justness of your observations on 
 many of the meaner sort of editors of provincial, and, 
 I may add, metropolitan newspapers, magazines, kc. 
 
 Sir David . — I am glad I have noTv sliaken Iluj 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 245 
 
 nerves of your prejudice, and all the venom against 
 critics rooted out. I shall next proceed with Historians 
 and History. 
 
 History, as Cicero says, is time’s evidence, anti- 
 quity’s herald, truth’s light, memory’s life, and life’s 
 mistress. In time, as in a clear mirror, appears the 
 experience of former years, the conduct of predecessors; 
 and, as it were, the souls of men collected in a focus. 
 It encouraged men to virtue, and prevents them from 
 doing vicious acts, by the glorious memory of the one, 
 and the nauseous retrospection of the other. It is also 
 as a rod to the back of many men in office and trust, 
 knowing that if they be found guilty of the smallest 
 breach of confidence reposed in them, it will be re- 
 corded by the faithful hand of history, and laid before 
 their successors to their eternal disgrace. 
 
 The Antiquarian Societies, the Ilannatyne, Mait- 
 land, and Abbotsford Clubs in Edinburgh and Glas- 
 gow, have been instituted by men of rank, wealth, 
 learning, and genius, for the purpose of preserving such 
 records and literature of their country as were likely 
 to bo lost. 
 
 It may, then, be said of history, as is said of the 
 press, it is the “ Nurse and preserver of all arts and 
 sciences.” It is the best schoolmaster in war, the 
 teacher of stratagems, and giveth more directions than 
 a whole state. Alexander learned of Achilles, Scipio 
 of Xenophon’s Cyrus, and Selim the first of Alexan- 
 dria ; all of whom became valiant captains. History 
 or historians, may be said to be time’s amanuensis ; 
 for more is to be learned from history, or from the 
 pen of a faithful historian, in one hour, than what is to 
 be found in an unprofitable waste* of an age. The 
 deeds of a thousand years are given, like a panorama, 
 at one view. The historian, then, deserves every 
 mark of respect and preference, since Solomon says, 
 “That nothing is richer than wisdom ; and it is from 
 0 2 
 
24G 
 
 THE EGLIXTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 history that much of our wisdom is to be derived — no 
 subject affording more delight.” And what can bo 
 more profitable, says Diodorus Siculus, than sitting 
 on the stage of human life, and to be made wise by 
 the example and follies of those who have trod the path 
 of error and danger before. Historians began early 
 to commemorate the lives and actions of great men, 
 for which they were much revered and esteemed ; and 
 their descents in genealogy, and the annals of their 
 country, recording what was done from year to year. 
 All the transactions of tlie Jewish times and history 
 were regularly entered in a public register,*' by a per- 
 son denominated the liecordcr or Historiographer, a 
 stated officer to the Jewish kings. And the book of 
 Jaslier was the standard authentic book, in which they 
 ■were so entered by authority, and from which extracts 
 were made, as occasion required. You will recollect 
 of the anecdote I have already told you of the Chinese 
 historian. 
 
 Many of tlio works of the early historians are lost ; 
 but many yet survive, to show their great learning, 
 their persevering researches into things almost anni- 
 hilated, or buried in a chaos of mystery corrupted and 
 moth-eaten by time. There have been many histori- 
 ans in Scotland, who do great credit to their country, 
 although some of them are now accounted fabulous, 
 and little regarded by a few, who consider themselves 
 much wiser and better than their predecessors ; but 
 to write a faithful and complete history of any place 
 or circumstance, would require tlie labour of an age. 
 
 From what I have now spoken, and your own per- 
 sonal knowledge, you can judge how far an historian 
 has a right to expect the name of Gentleman, while 1 
 go on witli the history of a soldier. 
 
 King James . — You might, at the same time, add 
 
 '* Le Clerc seems to hare imagined that this record T\*as kept in versa. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 247 
 
 that of a sailor, for they go hand in hand in defence 
 of their country, and bringing home the spoils of their 
 enemies, the rewards of their toils and danger. 
 
 Sir David , — While a nation is threatened with a 
 foreign invasion, the soldier becomes her defence, 
 while the sailor, on his wooden walls, becomes a bul- 
 wark, and makes the foe to tremble as he approaches 
 her shores. 
 
 The glory of a soldier ought to be honour and not 
 gain; free from every selfish motive; humane, and 
 not cruel. Caius, a nobleman of Rome, who was tlirica 
 consul, when he had beaten Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, 
 and drove him out of Italy, he divided the land, dis- 
 tributing to every man four acres, and reserved no 
 more for himself; saying, ‘‘that none ought to bo a 
 general, who could not be content with a common sol- 
 clfier’s share; and that he would rather rule over rich 
 men than be rich himself.” Happy is that country 
 whose captains are Gentlemen^ and whose Gentlemen 
 are captains. 
 
 The able and gallant general Elliot, was of the 
 same mind and disposition ; he considered himself as 
 the father of the regiment, and as if to his care and 
 cultivation the morals and temporal happiness of his 
 men, as well as the mere machinery of the soldier, 
 were committed. The consequence was, that he was 
 revered and cherished by all his men. This worthy 
 great man is an exception to that dictum of philoso- 
 phers, that birth and high lineage are not at all to bo 
 considered in the formation of a great character, 
 which must solely rest upon the personal merits of the 
 individual who aspires to it. But in the present case, 
 the consciousness that he was really a Gentleman, was 
 what made Elliot a hero. The general was born of 
 parents to whom their ancestors had transmitted 
 nothing but the memory of a long line of predecessors, 
 who had signalized themselves by military exploits. 
 
248 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOUItJJAMEXT, 
 
 and hcrnc with honour very considerable employments 
 in the army. The father and mother of Elliot were 
 natives of Scotland, where he himself also was horn, 
 and apprenticed to the most humble of occupations, a 
 tailor^ in the early part of his life. This shews from 
 what a small beginning a towering spirit and aspiring 
 genius, by perseverance and good behaviour may in 
 time arrive at, as did the brave and virtuous general 
 Elliot, defender of Gibraltar, &c. 
 
 As the glory of a soldier is often like that of other 
 men, of short duration; he would require to be faith- 
 ful in the discharge of his military duties; for the 
 brow that is encircled to-day with a chaplet of roses, 
 may be stuck upon a pole to-morrow. Such is the 
 mutability of fortune, as may be seen in the lives of 
 many of the Roman and Carthagenian generals, par- 
 ticularly Belisarius. as already mentioned, and Ilanni- 
 led; who from the highest pitch of military greatness, 
 the one reduced to beg his bread in the streets of 
 Rome, and the other to poison himself to prevent a 
 more ignoble end. The poet says, — 
 
 “ O fortune ! how strangely thy gifts are i-ewarded ! 
 
 How much to thy shame thy caprice is recorded ! 
 
 The wise, good, and great, the pow'rs never 'scape any— 
 
 Witness poor Belisauius, that begs for a halfpenny ! 
 
 Date obolum, date obolum, date obolum Behsaiuo. 
 
 He, who’s fam’d for his brav’ry and valour in war, 
 
 C)nce the shield of llis country, and scourge of its foe. 
 
 By his poor faithful dog, blind and aged is led, 
 
 Witli one foot in the grave, forced to beg for his bi ead. 
 
 A young Koman knight, in the streets passing by. 
 
 This veteran beheld with a heart-rending sigh ; 
 
 A purse in liis helmet he dropp’d w ith a tear. 
 
 While the soldier’s sad tale thus attracted his ear: 
 
 ‘ 1 have fought, I have bled, I have conquer’d for Rome, 
 
 1 have crown d her with laurels which for ages w ill bloom, 
 
 I've enrich’d her with wealth, swell’d her pride and her power, 
 
 I’ve espous’d her for life, and disgrace is my dower!”’ 
 
 You >vill also remember the fate of general Graham., 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 249 
 
 marquis of Montrose, who was executed at Edinburgh 
 in 1650. You have also heard the bold and noble- 
 minded speech of Galcacus, the Caledonian, general to 
 his army, when about to engage with the Romans. He 
 begins thus — “Countrymen, and fellow-soldiers! when 
 I consider the cause for which we have drawn our 
 swords, and the necessity of striking an effectual blow, 
 before we sh^th them again, I feel joyful hopes arising 
 in my mind, that this day an opening will be made 
 for the restoration of British liberty, and for shaking 
 off the infamous yoke of Roman slavery. Caledonia 
 is yet free ! The all-grasping power of Rome has 
 not yet been able to seize our liberty,” &c. He ends 
 thus: “At the head of this army, I hope I do not 
 offend against modesty in saying, there is a general 
 ready to exert all his abilities, such as they are, and 
 to hazard his life in leading you to victory, and to 
 freedom. 1 conclude, my countrymen, and fellow- 
 soldiers, with putting you in mind, that on your beha- 
 viour this day depends your future enjoyment of peace 
 and liberty, or your subjection to a t}^rannical enemy, 
 with all its grievous cousequences. When, therefore, 
 you come to engage — think of yourancestors — a ncv 
 think of your posterity!” 
 
 For gold the merchant ploughs the main, 
 
 The farmer ploughs the manor ; 
 
 But GLORY is the soldier’s prize, 
 
 The soldier’s wealth is honour. 
 
 The sailor who ploughs the wide and watery main;. 
 
 And sweeps o’er the deep when the stormy winds do blow, 
 
 and explores the far distant coast to bring home trea- 
 sures to enrich his native land, deserves well of his 
 countrymen. To him the commerce of the country 
 is indebted ; lie stands unrivalled as its benefactor and 
 friend. To the sailor, the fairer part of nature’s 
 noblest work, the ladies, are indebted for their gay 
 clothing, the jewels that bedeck their lovely forms, 
 
2oi) 
 
 THE EGLLNTON T0UKXAME.N7, 
 
 and braid tlieir shining ringlets. lie brings tlio 
 sweet-scented spices from Arabia ; the gold from 
 Ophir; the universal cordial, tea, from China; and 
 the healing and health restorative drug from various 
 parts of India; and tlie furs and warm clotliing from 
 distant parts of the frigid Zones. 
 
 Many eminent men have been wanderers on the 
 great deep ; have canvassed the mighty ocean, and by 
 their discoveries have benefited the whole world ; at 
 least that part of it that is inhabited and known. 
 Among those indefatigable pilgrims who have trod 
 the compass round in search of new adventures, were 
 Christopher Columbus, born at Nevy, in the Signiory 
 of Genoa, a man of groat abilities, and born to under- 
 take great matters, lie was the first who discovered 
 America, or, as it is called, the Xew World. To him 
 succeeded Americus Vesputius, an adventurous Floren- 
 tine, who robbed Columbus of liis justly acquired name 
 as the discoverer of ^\anerica, and took the praise 
 himself, and gave the country his own name. John 
 Cabott, a Venetian, the father of Sebastian Cabott, 
 discovered the northern coasts of America, causing 
 the American lloytolets to turn homagers to the king 
 and crown of England. Ferdinandus Coitesius, a 
 Spaniard, made several new discoveries. Sir Francis 
 Drake, an Englishman, in 1577, sailed round the 
 world, and made several valuable discoveries. Sir 
 Walter Ealeigh, and Thomas Cavendish also sailed 
 round the world, and made vast discoveries, as well 
 as Captain Cook, with many others which would be 
 tedious, and are unnecessary to name. At the present 
 day, in Britain, there are many soldiers and sailors 
 who would be found equally enterprising, hardy and 
 bold, as tliose I have just mentioned. And, if ever 
 their services be called into action by land or sc^, 
 field or hood, will prove themselves Gentlemen of no 
 moan qualifications; as did, not long ago, a royal 
 
AND GENTLE-MAN UNMASKED. 
 
 2.‘;i 
 
 pvinco, the son of a British king, which made the 
 Spanish admiral, Don Jiian Langara, exclaim to 
 admiral Digby, — “ Well does Great Britain merit the 
 empire of the sea, when the liumblest stations in her 
 navy are supported by princes of the blood.” 
 
 • Tills brave and noble prince was William the F onrth, 
 king of Great Britain, Ireland, and Hanover, &-c. — 
 Long may his successors sway the sceptre of these 
 happy realms, while their loyal subjects sing — 
 
 Hard up with the helm, Britannia’s sheet flows, 
 
 Magna Charta on board will avail her ; 
 
 And better she sails as the harder it blows, 
 
 Her pilot once a king atid a sailor !” 
 
 King James . — When do you intend to finish this 
 description of men, and their requisite acquirements ; 
 Ibr 1 long to get into the arcanum of your meaning, 
 and know who are, and who are not Gentlemen. 
 
 Sir David.^lt was my intention to have gone on 
 with a few more of the public professions and cliarac- 
 ters, to whom a nation is indebted, — such as printers, 
 painters, engravers, booksellers, book-binders, garden- 
 ers, plouglimen, tailors, shoemakers, bakers, brewers, 
 butchers, weavers, hatters, hosiers, bonnotmakers, 
 glovers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, founders, masons, 
 slaters, plasterers, wrights, merchants, manufacturers, 
 saddlers, tanners, cutlers, carvers, coopers, carpenters, 
 bankers, musicians, watchmakers, &c. &c. &c. But I 
 shall now take them in the gross, and class t!iem alto- 
 getlier as one, under the head of trades or professions. 
 
 “ Where each profession in its tribe we’ll view ; 
 
 Some toiling in the old, and some inventing new.” 
 
 I need not begin to point out to you the utility of 
 one and all of them in society, it is so obvious to every 
 one ; for what would the state or commonweal tli of a 
 country be without the labouring mechanic and 
 artizan? Were the inhabitants all kings and nobles, 
 the consequences would very soon bo apparent. Did 
 
252 TUE EGLINTON TOUHNAMEXT, 
 
 I 
 
 not the husbandman toil and sow tlie gi’omid, and 
 bring its fruit to the market, the baker to make it 
 ready for the table, the tailor to prepare clothes, and 
 so on, where would kings and nobles be? Various 
 arts, sciences, and occupations, are necessary for the 
 support, the good order, the beauty, the interest, thev' 
 strength, the prosperity, and harmony of civil society ; 
 and as great varieties in the tempers, dispositions, 
 constitutions, genius, tastes, ranks, and circumstances 
 of men are necessary to incline and qualify them for 
 these studies and employments. If all men were of 
 the same constitution, temper, genius, taste, rank and 
 circumstances, of whatever kind these should be, 
 society could not exist for any length of time. For 
 the short time it should exist, it would appear the 
 most deformed monster, and it would quickly die for 
 want of the organs and members necessary for acti- 
 vity and life. Labour is, or ought to be, the honest 
 recreation of the mind, and that industrious work- 
 master which buildeth our knowledge, and makes 
 men absolute by exercise of good letters, and continual 
 travel in the sciences. Cicero says, “ Labour is a 
 burden that man undergoeth with pleasure.” Occu- 
 pations, and consequently craftsmen, are absolutely 
 necessary in every nation and city. And, as Aris- 
 totle says, “ an art is a habit of working according to 
 right reason.” Some arts consist in speculation, and 
 others in practice. Speculation is called theoretical ; 
 and action practical. The word artificer, is derived 
 of the word art, because that nature is the most per- 
 fect next to God ; the nearer that art approacheth to 
 nature, the better and perfecter it is, as appears in 
 sculpture and painting. Art is nothing but an imita- 
 tion of nature. Those arts that are commonly called 
 mechanical, or handy-crafts, differ from the liberal 
 arts, of which there are different kinds. For example, 
 I shall suppose a man to stand in need of three tern- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 253 
 
 poral things for the support of life viz., aliments, 
 houses, and clothing. He stands in need of aliments 
 to restore tlie consumption of radical moisture, wasted 
 away by natural heat, as the week consumes the oil 
 in the lamp, as bread, wine, flesh, and other aliments, 
 without wliich a man could not live. These nutri- 
 ments, as I have already mentioned, are provided and 
 prepared by men of occupations, as bakers, butchers, 
 cooks, vintners, &c. Next, man must have a house to 
 shelter him from the inclemency of the weather, a 
 private place of refuge, where he may keep his family 
 and goods. This is done by the labour and art of the 
 mason, carpenter, smith, plasterer, slater, and others. 
 Cities, walls, towers, bulwarks, ramparts, and other 
 places of defence, are made by the same means. The 
 third thing wliich man stands in need of are garments 
 to preserve natm’al heat, and keep out external cold ; 
 and these are provided by weavers, mercers, drapers, 
 tailors, hosiers, hatters, shoemakers, glovers, and such 
 like. When he goes to war, he stands in need of 
 horses and armour to defend the liberty of his coun- 
 try; and the armour must be provided by cutlers, 
 saddlers, smiths, and such like. The other trades, or 
 mechanics, are equally useful and necessary for the 
 happiness and welfare of man. It is said by the wise 
 Solomon, that “ he that tills his land shall be satis^ 
 fled:” which will be found true in every other trade 
 or occupation, manual or mental; the sweat of the 
 brow or the brain. Adam was himself a gardener, and 
 some say a tailor, as fig leaves were sowed together, 
 but of this I am doubtful, as I rather think the mak- 
 ing of the aprons had been the work of his lovely con- 
 sort Eve ; although it is said in holy writ, that they 
 sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons ; 
 or, as the Geneva translation has it, breeches, the only 
 dress they wore. There were no silks and satins in 
 tliose days. Happy, thrice happy pair! They were 
 
 r 
 
2.*)4 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 satisfied witli tlie works of tlieir own hands; no long- 
 ings after, nor breaking of tlie ninth commandment, 
 by coveting of the gaudy dresses and jewels whicli are 
 seen now to deck their fair daughters. Speak not 
 then slightingly of tliis craft, when the first lord of 
 tlie creation, the great king of the universe was liim- 
 self a tailor. It is clear, however, that Cain was a 
 husbandman, and Abel a grazier. Jabal was a shep- 
 herd, and Jubal liis brotlier, a musician. Tubal- Cain 
 was a brazier and blacksmith; Solomon was a mer- 
 chant for he sent his ships to foreign countries to trade 
 in gold, ivory, and rich spices: holy Joseph a carpen- 
 ter; and Paul, a tent-maker: Luke was a painter as 
 well as a physician; and Simon was a tanner. Peter 
 and Andrew, and others of the primitive apostles and 
 disciples of Christ, were fishermen. 
 
 Grod seems to have put a distinguisliing honour upon 
 tradesmen, that in all ages, men of the greatest learn- 
 ing, and the noblest heroes, have sprung from their 
 loins. I have already shewn you in my account of 
 kings, how many have sprung from parents who win 
 their bread by the sweat of their brow; I shall, never- 
 theless, add a few more examples of those who have 
 risen to wealth and honours. 
 
 The good archbishop Villagesius, was tlie son of a 
 carter; Artagorus, governor of the Cyconians, the son 
 of a cook; cardinal Woolsey, chancellor of England, 
 the son of a butcher; cardinal Julius Alberoni, the 
 son of a gardener ; cardinal Mazarini, was born of 
 poor parents ; pope Adrian IV., was uncommonly 
 poor; Iphicrates, the Athenian lieutenant-general to 
 Artaxerxes, was the son of a cobler; Eumeiies, one of 
 Alexander’s chief captains, was the son of a carter; 
 Tomaso Anello, vulgarly called Masainello, was the 
 son of, and himself but a poor fisherman, yet rose to 
 such rank, that at the head of a hundred and fifty 
 thousand men, he brought all Naples into his subjec- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 tion; pope Joliii XXII. was tlie sou of a currier; 
 Canguis the Scythian lawgiver, was the son of a black- 
 smith; pope Nicholas V. was the son of a poulterer ; 
 lord Cromwell, lord liigli chancellor of England, was 
 the son of a smith ; Roger Walden, archbishop of 
 Canterbury, was the son of poor parents ; the first 
 elector of Mentz, in Germany, was the son of a car- 
 man ; Francisco Pizarro’s parents were so poor, that 
 his mother laid him in a church-porch, from whence 
 he was taken and laid in the fields, where for some 
 time he sucked a sow. When growm up, you are 
 aware that he conquered all Peru, and was by the 
 king of Spain made vice-roy thereof, and marquis of 
 Anatilla ; George Villers, afterwards duke of Buck- 
 ingliam, had no great beginning ; Zeno, the famous 
 bishop of Constantia, was a weaver, and lived till he 
 was past an hundred years of age ; yet, though he 
 was the most eminent bishop, and had the largest 
 diocese in that country, kept a weaver’s shop, and 
 wrougiit himself daily at the loom, to clothe the naked. 
 When the peasants of Upper Austria rose up against 
 P. Maximelian, elector of Bavaria, their army con- 
 sisted of 60,000 ; it was commanded by Steplien 
 Tudiner, a hatter ; and after his death, by Walmer, a 
 shoemaker. 
 
 From what I have already said, you will see that 
 the seed of mechanics have risen to the highest digni- 
 ties ; and mechanics themselves swayed sceptres, and 
 proved the bravest generals, the wisest statesmen, and 
 the greatest monarchs. Though the ignorant and un- 
 thinking mass of mankind may despise a person for 
 low birth ; the first circumstance of life ought to have 
 no influence in our judgment of a great man; because 
 we cannot pretend to be thC' children of whom we 
 please ; and that a man may owe his birth to a prince, 
 whose natural temper and inclinations discover more 
 meanness of birth than if he were the son of a weaver. 
 
256 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 “ All kings and princes,” sajs Plato, “ came of slaves, 
 and all slaves of kings.” And Macrine the emperor, 
 writing to the senate of Rome, sajs, “ What profit is 
 there in nobility, if the heart of a prince be not re- 
 plenished with bounty and gentleness towards his sub- 
 jects? The goods of fortune come oftentimes to the 
 unworthy, but the virtue of the soul always maketh a 
 man worthy of the greatest praise. Nobility, riches, 
 and such like, come from without a man, and are sub- 
 ject to corruption; but justice, bounty, and otlier vir- 
 tues, are not only wonderful because they come from 
 the soul, but procure also to him that has them and 
 useth them virtuously, a perfection of all felicity. It 
 is far better and more commendable in a man, to leave 
 to his posterity a good beginning of nobility by virtue, 
 than to defame by villany and wicked behaviour that 
 praise which he has received from his predecessors.” 
 “ Is not one God,” as Malachi, the prophet says, 
 “ Father of us all ?” lie made the first kings of a 
 poor and mean stock, to teach men that they ought 
 not, by vain boasting of their nobility and greatness, 
 to esteem themselves better than others. Saul was 
 chosen as he was seeking his father’s asses ; and David 
 when he was a shepherd. The rose and the prickle 
 spring from one root ; and the nobleman and the 
 tradesman from the same lump of clay. Diogenes 
 says, “ Nobleness of blood is a cloak of sloath, and a 
 vizard of cowardice.” The greatest princes on earth 
 have been artists. Soly man’s, the magnificent, trade 
 was making of aiTOWs; as in Venice, every artificer 
 is a magnifico. In the low countries, mechanics are 
 declared Gentlemen, by a grant from king Charles V. 
 in consideration of their services, during his wars. 
 Many of the present grandees in Britain, and else- 
 where, who contemn great men because they have 
 sprung from a mechanic, might get the same compli- 
 ment paid them, as was paid by Verduge, a Spaniard, 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 257 
 
 and a general in Friezland, to some persons of quality, 
 who resented his taking the head ^of the table at a 
 public entertainment. “ Gentlemen, question not my 
 birth, though I be the son of a hangman, for I am the 
 son of my own desert and fortune. If any man do as 
 I have done, let liim take the table head with all my 
 heart.” In no country are the personal merits of a 
 man considered with such a total disregard to his birth, 
 rank, and other adventitious circumstances, as in Bri- 
 tain. “ Is lie a nobleman ?” is the first question asked 
 in Germany, concerning a stranger ; in Holland, “ Is 
 he rich ?” but in Britain, “ What kind of man is 
 he ?” 
 
 A peer complained to Henry VIII. of an affront he 
 had received from Holbein the painter. “ Don’t 
 disturb Holbein,” replied the king to his lordsliip, 
 “ for out of seven ploughmen I can make as many 
 lords, but not a single Holbein.” Solon, the Athenian 
 lawgiver, enacted that the son should not relieve his 
 father when he was old except he had brouglit him up 
 to some occupation; so that all might have some 
 honest trade, whereby they might do good to the com- 
 monwealth, and to maintain themselves and their ’s ; 
 and that the council of the Arcopagites, should en- 
 quire how every man lived, and to punish such as they 
 found idle. The Egyptians enjoined all men to be 
 of some vocation; and Amasis, one of their kings, 
 made a law, that every man once a year, should give 
 an account how he lived, failing that, he should be 
 put to death. Amongst the Turks, every man must 
 be of some trade, the grand signeur himself not ex- 
 cepted. Mahomet the Great, that conquered Greece, 
 used to carve and make wooden spoons. The Dutch, 
 and the czar of Muscovy, by encouraging craftsmen, 
 have made their countries flourish, and become the 
 envy of their neighbours. King Charles II. was an 
 excellent worker in ivory; neither the affairs of state, 
 
258 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 iior pleasures of the court, could divert him from his 
 morning task at the turner’s loom. Lewis XIV. of 
 France was so exquisitely good at making of watches, 
 that he was equalled bj few in his reign.* 
 
 The castle of Edinburgh, built by Cruthenus Came- 
 lon, king of the Piets, was called the Castle of Maidens; 
 or Maiden Castle, because the daughters of the Pictish 
 kings were kept there working at their needles till 
 they were married. I have already pointed out to 
 you, a few great and brave men that have arisen from 
 among the trades or craftsmen. I shall next put you 
 in mind of the loyalty and bravery of all of them in 
 Scotland, when necessity required their assistance. 
 
 The souters, (shoemakers) of Selkirk, rose to a man, 
 and under William Brydon, boldly marched to the 
 field of Flodden, and so distinguished themselves in 
 defence of your royal father, that almost all of them 
 were slain in the conflict with the English. You have 
 not, I hope, forgot how the trades of Edinburgh, under 
 the banner of the blue blanket, rescued you from the 
 broadswords of John Armstrong and eight score of his 
 men, by which your life was in danger for your 
 treachery. The words of the old song arc — 
 
 “ God wot, the trades of Edinburgh rose, 
 
 And sae beset poor Johnny round, 
 
 Tliat fourscore and ten of John’s best men. 
 
 Lay gasping all upon the ground.” 
 
 Many other instances of the loyalty of the crafts of 
 Edinburgh, could be mentioned, particularly to James 
 VI. and others. It is also known how willingly they 
 went under the command of Allan, lord great steward 
 
 * Last time the author of the present work had the honour of visiting 
 the duke of Gordon, at Gordon castle, a little previous to his death, he 
 Avas shewn specimens of turnery, printing, Ac. by his grace, which Avould 
 liave done honour to a regularly bred mechanic. And the present duke 
 of Argyle, late lord John Campbell, has also distinguislied himself, as I 
 have been told, as a turner of no mean abilities ; also, lord Gray of Kin- 
 fauns, Terthshire, has proved himself an artist of considerable ingenuity. 
 
AND (JENTJ.EMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 
 of Scotland, to meet their ftitc as Crusaders; and with 
 what zeal they unfurled their banner, the blue blanket, 
 on the conquered walls of Jerusalem, after taking 
 possession in 1099. 
 
 The superior advantages of manual labour, and 
 mechanical arts, are so obvious to all thinking persons, 
 that I need not dwell longer upon the characters of 
 tradesmen here, but close this part of my discourse 
 with demonstrative proofs of the same, in the history 
 of a tradesman, and one who thought himself a Gen- 
 tleman, wherein will be seen the pride of blood, and 
 high birth decried. 
 
 The descendant of one of the great men of the 
 happy island of Solomon, in the South Sea, becoming 
 a gentleman to so improved a degree as to despise the 
 good qualities which had originally ennobled his family 
 thought of nothing but how to support and distinguish 
 liis dignity by the pride of an ignorant mind, and a 
 disposition abandoned to pleasure, lie had a house 
 on the seaside, wdiere he spent a great part of his time 
 ill hunting and fishing ; but found himself at a loss in 
 pursuit of those important diversions, by means of a 
 long slip of marsh land, overgrown with higli reeds 
 that lay between his house and the sea. Resolving, 
 at lentil, that it became not a man of his quality to 
 submit to restraint in his pleasures, for the ease and 
 convenience of an obstinate mechanic ; and having 
 often endeavoured in vain to buy out the owner, who 
 was an honest poor basket-maker, and whose liveli- 
 hood depended on working up the flags of those reeds, 
 in a manner peculiar to himself, the gentleman took 
 advantage of a very high wind, and commanded his 
 servants to burn down the barrier. 
 
 The basket-maker, who saw himself undone, com- 
 plained of the oppression in terms more suited then to 
 his sense of his injury, than the respect due to the 
 rank of tlie offender ; and the rev/ard this impudence 
 
260 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 procured him, was the additional injustice of blows 
 and reproaches, and all kinds of insults and indignity. 
 
 There was but one way to a remedy, and he took 
 it ; for going to the capital with the marks of his hard 
 usage upon him, he threw himself at the feet of the 
 king, and procured a citation for his oppressor s ap- 
 pearance; who, confessing the charge, proceeded to 
 justify his behaviour by the poor man’s unmindfulness 
 of tlie submission due from the vulgar to gentlemen 
 of rank and distinction. 
 
 But pray, replied the king, what distinction of rank 
 liad the grandfather of your father, when, being a 
 cleaver of wood in the palace of my ancestors, he was 
 raised from among those vulgar you speak of with such 
 contempt, in reward of an instance he gave of his 
 courage and loyalty in defence of his master ? Yet 
 his distinction was nobler than your’s: it was the dis- 
 tinction of soul, not of birth; the superiority of worth, 
 not of fortune! I am sorry I have a gentleman in my 
 kingdom, who is base enough to be ignorant, that ease 
 and distinction of fortune were bestowed on him but 
 to this end, that, being at rest from all cares of pro- 
 viding for himself, he might apply his heart, head, and 
 hand for the public advantage of others. 
 
 Here the king discontinuing his speech, fixed an 
 eye of indignation on a sullen resentment of mein 
 whicli he observed in the haughty offender, who mut- 
 tered out his dislike of the encouragement this way of 
 thinking must give to the commonalty, who, he said, 
 were to be considered as persons of no consequence, 
 in comparison of men who were born to be honoured. 
 AVliere reflection is wanting, replied the king, with a 
 smile of disdain, men must find their defects in the 
 pain of their sufferings. Yauhuma, added he, turn- 
 ing to a captain of his galleys, strip the injured and 
 the injurer; and conveying them to one of the most 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 261 
 
 barbarous and remotest of the islands, set them ashoro 
 in the night, and leave them both to their fortune. 
 
 The place in which they were landed was a marsh ; 
 under cover of those flags the gentleman was in hopes 
 to conceal himself, and give the slip to his companion, 
 with whom he thought it a disgrace to be found ; but 
 the lights in the galley having given an alarm to the 
 savages, a considerable body of them came down, and 
 discovered in the morning, the two strangers in their 
 hiding-place. Setting up a dismal yell, they surround- 
 ed them ; and advancing nearer and nearer with a kind 
 of clubs, seemed determined to dispatch them, without 
 sense of hospitality or mercy. 
 
 Here the gentleman began to discover, that the 
 superiority of his blood was imaginary ; for, between 
 the consciousness of shame and cold, under the naked- 
 ness he had never been used to ; a fear of the event 
 from the fierceness of the savages’ approach; and the 
 want of an idea whereby to soften or divert their 
 asperity, he fell beliind the poor sharer of his cala- 
 mity ; and with an unsinewed, apprehensive, unmanly, 
 sneakingness of mein, gave up the post of honour, and 
 made a leader of the very man whom he had thought 
 it a disgrace to consider as a companion. 
 
 The basket-maker, on the contrary, to whom the 
 poverty of his condition had made nakedness habitual ; 
 to whom a life of pain and mortification represented 
 death as not dreadful; and whose remembrance of his 
 skill in arts, of which these savages were ignorant, 
 gave him hopes of becoming safe, from demonstrating 
 that he could be useful, moved with bolder and more 
 open freedom; and, having plucked a' handful of the 
 flags, sat down without emotion, and making signs 
 that he would shew them something worthy of their 
 attention, fell to work with smiles and noddings; 
 while the savages drew near and gazed with expecta- 
 tion of the consequence. 
 
 r 2 
 
V 
 
 2G2 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 It was not long before lie had wreathed a kind of ; 
 
 cornet, of pretty workmanship; and rising with re- j 
 
 spect and cheerfulness, approached the savage, wlio ; 
 
 appeared the chief, and placed it gently on his head ; 
 whoso figure under this new ornament, so charmed 
 and struck his followers, that they threw down all 
 , their clubs, and formed a dance of welcome and con- 
 
 gratulation round the author of so prized a favour. 
 
 There was not one but shewed the marks of his im- 
 patience to be made as fine as his captain ; so the poor 
 basket-maker had his hands full of employment ; and 
 the savages observing one quite idle, while the other 
 was so busy in their service, took up arms in behalf 
 1 of natural justice, and began to lay on arguments in 
 
 j favour of their purpose. 
 
 1 The basket-maker’s pity now effaced the remem- 
 brance of his sufferings: so he arose and rescued his J 
 
 ( oppressor, by making signs that he was ignorant of | 
 
 ‘ the art, but might, if they thought fit, be usefully em- ] 
 
 ])loyed on waiting on the work, and fetching flags to 
 his supply as fast as he should want them. •' j 
 
 This proposition luckily fell in with a desire the )' 
 savages had expressed, to keep themselves at leisure, 
 
 [I that they might crowd round, and mark the progress ■ 
 
 of a work they took such pleasure in. Tliey left the 
 ' gentleman, therefore, to his duty in the basket-maker’s , 
 
 \ service ; and considered Iiim, from that time forward, 
 
 >■ as one who was, and ought to be treated as inferior to 
 
 their benefactor. ! 
 
 Men, wives, and children, from all corners of the 
 island, came in droves for coronets; and, setting the 
 gentleman to work to gather boughs and poles, made ! 
 
 a fine hut to lodge the basket-maker; and brought 
 51 down daily from the country such provisions as they | 
 
 lived upon themselves, taking care to offer the ima- i 
 
 I gined servant nothing till his master had done eating. j 
 
 I Three months’ reflection in this mortified condi- 
 
 I 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 2G3 
 
 tion, gave a new and just turn to our gentleman’s im- 
 proved ideas ; insomuch, that, lying weeping and 
 awake, one night, he thus confessed his sentiments in 
 favour of the basket-maker: I have been to blame, 
 and wanted judgment to distinguish between accident 
 and excellence. When I should have measured nature, 
 I but looked to vanity. The preferenoe which for • 
 tune gives is empty and imaginary: and I perceive, 
 too late, that only things of use are naturally honour- 
 able. I am ashamed, when I compare my malice, to 
 remember your humanity ; but if the gods should 
 please to call me to a repossession of my rank and hap- 
 piness, I would divide all with you in atonement for 
 my justly punished arrogance. 
 
 lie promised, and performed his promise,* for the 
 king, soon after, sent the captain wlio had landed 
 them, with presents to the savages ; and ordered him 
 to bring both back again. And it continues to this 
 day a custom in that island, to degrade all gentlemen 
 who cannot give a better reason for their pride, than 
 that they were born to nothing; and the word for this 
 due punishment is, send Mm to the basket-maker's. 
 
 Pope says, — 
 
 Woi-th makes the man, and want of it the fellow. 
 
 The rest is all but leather and prunello. 
 
 Much good might be learned and got from observ- 
 ing the habits of the persevering and sober tradesman; 
 so much so, that, if a prince or king wishes to make 
 himself acquainted with the state of his subjects^ so as 
 to redress their grievances, and promote their Avelfare,, 
 let liim not consult the proud nobility, the gentry, nor 
 wealthy inhabitants of his kingdom, but turn to the 
 shop of the humble and useful mechanic, the mud-built 
 cottage of the industrious peasant, and the lowly vil- 
 lage of the laborious fisherman; for there 
 
 “ Many a flower is born to blush unseen, 
 
 And ^vastc its beauties on a desert air J’ 
 
2G4 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 W ortli and talent often lie dormant, or hid in the shade 
 of the more propitious sons of the earth ; the splendour 
 of riches eclipse their name, particularly as they had 
 no prop of patronage whereon they might rear a last- 
 ing fabric, and obtain that reward that ought to be 
 their due ; yet every degree of excellence is worthy of 
 our most earnest pursuit, our most sedulous applica- 
 tion, independent of any recompence which the world 
 can either give or withhold. A man who is conscious 
 of real desert, beholds with a dignified contempt the 
 insignificant or worthless beings that have got the start 
 of him in fortune or rank. He looks down from the 
 eminence of his own mind with pity or scorn, on the 
 crawling insects that appear to have been destined to 
 encumber the earth, but which have been heated into 
 new life, and winged by a genial sun. While those 
 llutter around him in all the parade of show, and in 
 all the pomp of pride, he retires within himself: he 
 reflects, perhaps, that he too might have risen, had he 
 stooped to tlie same meaness, or employed the same 
 artifice ; and though a momentary regret may cross 
 his thoughts, when he reviews the distribution that 
 fortune has made of her favours, he feels more happi- 
 ness in the shade of obscurity than those who are des- 
 titute of worth can taste, in their proudest exaltation. 
 And, although the proud man may look down on the 
 external appearance of the poor tradesman, he may 
 bear a noble mind, and possess those wonderful quali- 
 fications and properties that are to be found embedded 
 in a lump of clay. The loadstone, whose outside is 
 but rough and ill-shaped, and has not the most distant 
 claim to beauty, or appearance, directs the mariner 
 how to steer his trackless course through the vast 
 ocean, that he may bring home the sweet spices of the 
 cast, and the rich mines of Peru, and all the other 
 luxuries which commerce has poured into Europe. 
 The diamond has but a very indifferent appearance at 
 
AND gentleman UNMASKED. 
 
 2G5 
 
 first; but its value is great. So, with a little well- 
 timed assistance, the diamond of genius may be made 
 to shine forth, and prove useful as the sun in his mere- 
 dian splendour; but when left to wither on its 
 tender stalk, the 'vrorld for ever loses its benign influ- 
 ence. Sorry, truly sorry am I, that the following 
 lines of the poet are too applicable to, and too often 
 realized by, many great geniuses of the present day, 
 
 “ Ah ! who can tell how liard it is to climb 
 The steep where fame's proud temple shines afar ! 
 
 Ah ! who can tell how many a soul sublime 
 Hath felt the influence of malignant star, 
 
 And waged with fortune an eternal war ! 
 
 Check’d by the scoff of pride, by envy’s frown. 
 
 And poverty’s unconquerable bar. 
 
 In life’s low vale remote hath pined alone. 
 
 Then dropt into the grave, unpitied and unknown !” 
 
 No man, is, therefore, to be despised for his lowly 
 occupation, nor Iiis external appearance. I have al- 
 ready pointed out to you the superiority of the humble 
 artisan to his gentleman neighbour; and, at the present 
 time, remark, how useful it would be for every one to 
 learn some trade or occupation, wliereby he might 
 benefit himself and society ; and not be like an idle 
 drone, when he turns to years, forced to live on the 
 fruits of other people’s labours: or, were he shipwrecked 
 on a desert island, that he might be able to furnish 
 himself with such useful commodities from the rude 
 materials of things around liim as he found necessary, 
 and would make things more agreeable. 
 
 Of all conditions of life, the most independent of 
 fortune is the artisan, lie depends only on liis own 
 labour ; he is as free as the husbandman is a slave ; for 
 the latter depends on the produce of his fields, which 
 lies at the discretion of others. The enemy, the so- 
 vereign, a powerful neighbour, a law-suit, may run 
 away with the crop which he hath laboriously toiled 
 for; he may be distressed a thousand ways by means 
 
2GG THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 of the local stability .of his property; whereas, if an 
 artisan be oppressed in one place, his baggage is easily 
 j)acked up, he folds his arms about him, and disdain- 
 fully marches off to another. Such is the independ- 
 ence of the mechanic; which, if accompanied with a 
 magnanimous soul, and other inherent requisites, 1 
 cannot see any good reason wdiy he should not be en- 
 rolled among the candidates for the distinguished title 
 of Gentleman. I admit that there are too many of 
 them mean, and even contemptible; who would be 
 guilty of the foulest deed and blackest crime. Who 
 would falsify and deceive their best benefactors and 
 friends; and, like the parasite plant, or the caraguta 
 of the West Indies, cling round the tree that is near- 
 est to its root, and, on gaining the ascendant, covers 
 the branches with a foreign verdure, robs them of 
 nourishment, and at last destroys its supporter. 
 
 Kinrj James . — You have now, I presume, finished 
 your account of the different characters wdiich at first 
 you intended. I, therefore, long much for the golden 
 key, which you promised, to unlock the myteries which 
 hang over many of them. 
 
 Sir David. — Yes: I have now come to the prop on 
 which the whole fabric is built; and, as the key-stone 
 rests in my hands, I shall give you every satisfaction 
 according to promise. You are perfectly aw^are that 
 the title of Gentleman belongs solely to man’s self. 
 It is not like nobility; it is not conferred by kings, 
 nor left by ancestors. It is the true nobleness of a 
 virtuous and dignified soul, and may be obtained by 
 any one. Birth, fortune, nor power, has no more claim 
 to it than tlie poorest mechanic. It is a word that is 
 shamefully misunderstood, and consequently much 
 abused. He who rolls in his gilded coach and six, 
 attended with all the pomp and splendour of eastern 
 majesty, may bo farther from a Gentleman than his 
 poorest domestic or dependent. Fortune gives the 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKEI>. 
 
 267 
 
 outside, but virtue tlie in. The showj butterfly that 
 wings its airy flight, and skips from flower to flower, 
 pursued by the thoughtless and giddy youth, is but the 
 child of a day. In -winter, it is stript of its gay cloth- 
 ing, and glad to hide its head in tiie crevice of an old 
 wall, or shattered tree. I do not, however, despise 
 wealth, it is a glorious means, in tlie hands of a good 
 man, of doing himself and others a great aud lasting 
 service ; and, as riches are only given to man to try 
 his virtue, as the steward of heaven on earth, it ought 
 to bo rightly used. 
 
 Noah had three sons, who were saved witli him in 
 the ark from the deluge, viz. : — Shem, llam, and 
 Japhet; betwixt these three he divided tlie world. 
 Shem, his eldest son, he made prince of Asia ; Ham, 
 prince of Africa; and Japhet, prince of Europe. Of 
 these three sons issued divers emperors and rulers, 
 wlicreof, at this day, there are ten degi*ees; as, a 
 Gentleman, esquire, knight, baronet, baron, viscount, 
 earl, marquis, duke, and prince. There are nine dif- 
 ferent kinds of Gentlemen, that is to say, men who 
 hold a particular station in society, and, by the laws 
 of Britain, are called Gentlemen, but are different 
 from the Gentlemen of whom I am to speak more par- 
 ticularly very soon. However, I thought it necessary 
 to say something of those commonly called Gentlemen, 
 previous to my explanation. 
 
 First, A gentleman of ancestry, who must needs bo 
 a gentleman of blood. 
 
 Second, A gentleman of blood, and not of ancestry; 
 as when he is the second degree descended from the 
 first. 
 
 The third. Is a gentleman of coat-armour, and not 
 of blood ; as, when he wcareth the king’s device, given 
 liiin by a herald: but, if he have issue to the third 
 descent, that issue is a gentleman of blood. 
 
2G8 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 The fourth^ Is a gentleman of coat-armour, and not 
 of blood ; as, when the king giveth a lordship to him 
 and his heirs for ever, then he may, by virtue thereof, 
 bear the coat of the lord’s making, which belonged to 
 that lordship, the heralds approving thereof; but, if 
 any of the blood of that lordship be yet remaining, he 
 cannot bear the same. 
 
 The fifth, Is a Christian man, that, in the service of 
 God and his prince, kills a heathen gentleman; he 
 shall bear his arms, of what degree soever, (a knight 
 banneret excepted,) and use his achievement without 
 any difference, saying only the word, (viz., the motto) 
 of the same miscreant gentleman ; and, if he have is- 
 sue to the fifth degree, they are gentiles of the blood. 
 
 The sixth is. If the king do make a yeoman a knight, 
 he is then a gentleman of blood. 
 
 The seventh is. When a yeoman’s son is advanced to 
 spiritual dignity, he is then a gentleman, but not of 
 blood ; but if he be a doctor of the civil law, he is then 
 a gentleman of blood. 
 
 The eighth. Is called a gentleman-mitral, as brought 
 up in an abbey, and serving in good calling ; and also 
 is of kind to the abbots. 
 
 And the ninth. Is called a gentleman-apocriphate, 
 such a one as serving the prince as a page, groweth by 
 diligence of service to be steward or clerk of the kit- 
 chen, and is without badge of his own, except when 
 the prince, by the heralds, endoweth him with some 
 cognisance, &c. 
 
 Ohamberlayne says, “ that, in strictness, a gentle- 
 man is one whose ancestors have been freemen, and 
 owed obedience to none but their prince ; on which 
 footing no man can' be a gentleman but one who is 
 born sucli. But, amongst us, the term Gentleman is 
 applicable to all above yeomen ; so that noblemen may 
 properly be called gentlemen.” 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 2G0 
 
 In the statutes, gentiles homo^ was adjudged a good 
 addition for a gentleman ; 27 Edward 3. The addi- 
 tion of knight is very ancient, but that of esquire, or 
 gentleman, was rare before Henry V. Sir Thomas 
 Smith, who wrote in the time of Edward VL, on the 
 dignity and titles, says, as for Gentlemen, they may 
 be made good cheap in this kingdom, for whosoever 
 studieth the laws of the realm, who studies in the uni- 
 versities, who professes the liberal sciences, and, to be 
 short, who can live idly and without manual labour, 
 and will bear the post, charge, and countenance of a 
 gentleman, he shall be called master, and shall be taken 
 for a gentleman. 
 
 In Bird’s Magazine of Honour, printed in the year 
 1641, is this description of the term Gentleman: — 
 “and whoever studieth at the universities, who pro- 
 fessetli the liberal sciences, and, to be short, who can 
 live idly and without manual labour, and will bear the 
 post, charge, and countenance of a gentleman, he shall 
 be called master ; for this is the title that men give 
 to squires and other gentlemen. For, true it is with 
 us, as one said, tanti eris aliis quaniti tibifueris ; and, 
 if need be, a king of heralds shall, for money, give 
 him arms newly made and invented, with the crest and 
 all ; the title whereof, shall pretend to have been found 
 in perusing and viewing of old registers, where his an- 
 cestors in times past had been recorded to bear the 
 same, or, if he will do it more truly, and of better 
 faith, he will write, that former merits of, and certain 
 qualifications that he doth see in him, and for sundry 
 noble acts which he hath performed, he, by the au- 
 thority which he hath, asked of the heralds in his pro- 
 vince ; and of arms, give unto him and his heirs these, 
 and these heroical bearings in arms.” 
 
 Formerly, trading degraded Gentlemen, but now a 
 thriving tradesman becomes a Gentleman by the happy 
 returns of his trade, and increase of his estate. And, 
 
270 
 
 THE EULINTON TOURNA^JENT, 
 
 are not the founders of trade, and of a nation’s wealth, 
 to be ranked amongst Gentlemen ? Most certainly : 
 for, by their means, land is improved, and inbred com- 
 modities exported. They employ a world of artificers 
 and seamen, and procure a good livelihood to a vast 
 number of tradesmen and retailers. Therefore, many 
 gentlemen born, some of them younger sons of noble- 
 men, take upon them these professions of merchants, 
 manufacturers, speculators in land, and agriculturists, 
 without any blemish to their birth, as it has of late 
 been the practice in France ; and continues to the 
 present day; for, did not Louis Phillippi, before he was 
 anointed king of France, perform the part of an agri- 
 culturist and merchant, by rearing his own flocks and 
 herds, his grain, and the other produce of his land, 
 and afterwards selling them to the best advantage, and 
 it is now said that he is one of the richest men alive ? 
 The crown of France also entertains such an idea of 
 merchandise, as, by several edicts, to render it com- 
 patible with nobility ; and the late king of Portugal 
 carried on an immense trade with both the Indies, and 
 thereby became rich. The celebrated Cosmo, duke of 
 Medicis, was the- greatest merchant of his time. And 
 many of the Italian princes still think it no discredit 
 to turn a part of their palaces into warehouses. Nay, 
 it is now common in Britain for noblemen, merchants, 
 and manufacturer’s sons and daughters to marry and 
 intermarry. And, if you will turn your attention 
 to the writings in the book of that sublime and di- 
 vinely inspired prophet, Isaiah, in the 23d chapter and 
 8th verse, when, in speaking of “ Tyre, the crowning 
 city,” (which may not improperly be compared to the 
 cities of London, Glasgow, and Liverpool), you will 
 find it thus written, “ Whose merchants are princes, 
 wliose traffickers are the honourable of the earth.” 
 And, as to the antiquity of commerce, it can vie with 
 any other profession on earth. It is to commerce that 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 271 
 
 every nation is indebted for its reformation from 
 savagciiess, for its improvement in arts and sciences, 
 and for the comforts and elegancies of life. Merchan- 
 dise to a country is as necessary as blood to the body, 
 and ought to be encouraged ; and although some mer- 
 chants have been ennobled, I can see no reason why 
 distinctions of honour should not as readily bo given 
 to the merchant who deals largely, and renders sucli 
 signal services to his country by liis traffic, as to sol- 
 diers, sailors, or any one else ; for, to trade the throne 
 owes its splendour and safety, for forces cannot be kept 
 up without money, tlie sinews of war, and this money 
 must arise from the duties payable by the merchant 
 and manufacturer. Landed proprietors, indeed, pay 
 their share, but it is little when compared with 
 that of the trader. AVhen the merchant prospers the 
 state prospers, and happiness is diffused over all. It 
 is not so with the soldier ; for, before he can reach the 
 pinnacle of fame, he must wade through rivers of blood, 
 and walk over mountains of slain. I have already 
 mentioned to you the importance and utility of mer- 
 chandise to a country, and that all men will be found 
 occasionally to act the part of merchants. You aro 
 well aware that the landed proprietor makes the best 
 bargain he can with his tenants ; the clergy with their 
 tythes, glebes, and grain ; the doctor with his patient; 
 the lawyer with his client ; and the poor poet with liis 
 publisher, for his satires or panegyrics, as well as kings 
 before mentioned. I could point out many hundred 
 examples to you of the riches, and good uses made of 
 such, by merchants in various parts of the world ; but, 
 as I wish to draw to a close, I shall only descant a lit- 
 tle on the “ Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures,'^ 
 with similar institutions of the kind, for the protection 
 and encouragement of trade and commerce. The 
 members of these institutions are men of the highest 
 respectability, who, by their superior talents, industry. 
 
272 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 and commerce, have raised Glasgow to the grandeur 
 and renown it now holds amongst the other mercantile' 
 cities of Britain. I may justly say of Glasgow, what 
 Martinelli says of Genoa in his Istoria della vita civile^ 
 Let any one, if such a one can be, who is a stranger 
 to the vast benefit of trade, take a view of Genoa, 
 which is a disfavourable situation, by commerce (for 
 there the character of a merchant adds a lustre to that 
 of the noble) is risen to be, in proportion to the num- 
 ber of its inhabitants, tlie wealthiest city of all Italy, 
 when Tuscany was a large country, and at the luxu- 
 riancy of which Hannibal was so struck, that he made 
 use of it as a motive that the soldiers should love him 
 and to animate them in the prosecution of the war, 
 that he had brought them to so delicious a country, 
 yet, by neglect of traffic, and a want of industry, it 
 does not afford one rich family to twelve in Genoa. 
 All in consequence of their neglect of trade and com- 
 merce. 
 
 The inhabitants of Scotland, amongst whom mer- 
 chandise, at one time, was in as little esteem as in 
 Tuscany, are now grown so wise, that commerce is not 
 thought beneath the younger sons of the best families ; 
 and what has been the consequence of tliis countenance 
 given to trade? Commerce, says Voltaire, in his 
 letters on the English, has secured the English in their 
 liberties, and their liberty has promoted their trade ; 
 such is their wealth and power that it would take up 
 no long time to send an hundred stout ships to sea, the 
 number of their navy consisting, at tliat time, of above 
 two hundred ; and all this by virtue of their trade. 
 To the wise king Alfred, may Britain say she stands 
 indebted for the immense advantages derived from 
 trade. He did every thing in his power to promote 
 the progress of it among his subjects, by inviting over 
 ingenious and learned foreigners from all parts to in- 
 struct his people in those useful arts and sciences with 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 273 
 
 which they were but sliglitly acquainted ; and caused 
 a law to be made conferring the rank of nohle upon 
 those merchants who should cross the sea three times 
 at their own expense ; so that this excellent prince may 
 be justly styled the founder of British commerce. 
 
 “ Fairest isle, all isles excelling, 
 
 Seat of pleasure and of love, 
 
 Venus here will choose her dwelling. 
 
 And forsake her Cyprian grove." 
 
 And to commerce alone does Britain owe its supe- 
 riority, and stands unrivalled over all the nations of 
 the earth. It is not to its climate or soil ; for, although 
 much more fruitful than any other country under the 
 sun, without merchants, manufacturers, and artisans, 
 it would soon become a barren waste, and applicable 
 to the following beautiful lines, — 
 
 “ How has kind heaven adorn’d the happy land. 
 
 And scatter’d blessings with a lavish hand! 
 
 Yet what avails her unexhausted stores, 
 
 Her blooming mountains, and her sunny shores, 
 
 With all the gifts wdiich heaven and earth impart, 
 
 Tlie smiles of nature, and the charms of art, 
 
 While proud oppression in her vallies reigns. 
 
 And tyranny usurps her happy plains. 
 
 The poor inhabitant beholds in vain, 
 
 Tlie red’ning orange and the swelling grain. 
 
 Joyless he sees the growing oils and wines. 
 
 And in the myrtles fragrant shade repines. 
 
 Starve in the midst of nature’s bounty curst. 
 
 And in the laden vineyard dies for thirst. 
 
 But trade and liberty crown our happy isle. 
 
 Makes its bleak hills and barren mountains smile.” 
 
 I have, perhaps, dwelled too long upon this impor- 
 tant head, but it was with a view of exploding from 
 your mind the false and pernicious notion which you, 
 and too many like you, indulge, that is, that the mer- 
 chant and gentleman are incompatible in the same 
 person, which is by no means the case, as you will find 
 by a retrospective view of what I have just stated re- 
 garding merchants, manufacturers, and traders of 
 every description, high and low, rich and poor. 
 
274 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 111 short, the title of Gentleman is now commonly 
 given to all those that distinguish themselves from the 
 common sort of people, by a good suit of clothes, gen- 
 teel air, or good education, as a curious painter, line 
 musician, writing, fencing, drawing, and dancing mas- 
 ters, &c. For during one winter, as a press-gang were 
 patrolling round Smitlifield, they laid hold of a man 
 tolerably well-dressed, who pleaded that, being a Gen- 
 tleman, he was not liable to be impressed. “ Haul 
 him along!” cries out one of the tars, “ he is the very 
 man we want. We press a great number of Uach- 
 guards, and are much at a loss for a Gentleman to 
 teach them good manners.” 
 
 Indeed, almost at all times, among the vulgar, a 
 suit of line clothes never fail of having the desired ef- 
 fect of bestowing on its wearer the name of Gentleman, 
 without any other qualification whatever. — Such is the 
 virtue and charm of gaudy attire. Poor Ferguson, 
 who knew but too well the power of tinsel show, says, 
 in the fulness of his heart, as he had drawn his obser- 
 vation from the experience of many, — 
 
 “ Braid Claith lends folk an unco heese, 
 
 Makes mony kail-woi’ms butterflies, 
 
 Gies niony a doctor his degrees 
 For little skaith : 
 
 In short, you may be uhat you please 
 Wi’ gude Braid Claith. 
 
 For thof ye had as wise a snout on 
 As Shakespeare or sir Isaac Newton, 
 
 Your judgment f oik wou’d hae a doubt on. 
 
 I’ll tak my aith, 
 
 Till they cou’d see ye wi’ a suit on 
 0 gude Braid Claith.” 
 
 I have already proved to you the common adage of 
 “ Jack will never make a Gentleman,” which teaches, 
 that every one will not make a Gentleman, that is 
 vulgarly called so now-a-days. There is more than 
 the bare name required, to the making him what he 
 ought to be by birth, lionour, or merit. For, let 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 275 
 
 some men get never so much money to buy them 
 estates, they cannot purchase one grain of gentility 
 with it, but will remain Jack in the proverb still, with- 
 out learning, virtue, and wisdom, to enrich the facul- 
 ties of their minds, to enhance the glory of their wealtli, 
 and to ennoble their blood ; for, put them into what 
 circumstances you please, they v/ill discover themselves 
 one time or other, in point of behaviour to be mean, 
 awkward, and ungenerous. Gentlemen at second-hand 
 only, or vain-glorious upstarts. Deprive them of their 
 fine clothes, their watch-chains and seals, their rings, 
 canes, snuff-boxes, and gloves, &c., and you will find, 
 instead of the fine Gentleman, a skeleton of presump- 
 tion, ignorance, impudence, and misery, without a 
 single grain of common sense, prudence, or probity. 
 To the tailor and barber alone, are hundreds indebted 
 for the title of Gentlemen they receive from those ig- 
 norant of the name. 
 
 The usual motto of William of Wickliam, bishop of 
 Winchester, which he caused to be inscribed on Oxford 
 and Winchester Colleges, was “ Manners make the 
 J/an.” It is, therefore, not titles, wealth, nor power, 
 that makes a Gentleman, but maimers, and nobleness 
 of behaviour. The world is too apt to believe that he 
 who spends his money freely; pays his neighbour’s 
 share of the entertainment; sports with his money 
 carelessly, and gives of it to those about him in hand- 
 fuls, without calhng in question the object of his bounty 
 or generosity, must undoubtedly be a Gentleman ; but 
 they who think so, are much mistaken. For many 
 swindlers, fraudulent bankrupts, young inexperienced 
 noblemen, rich heirs, and pettyfogging lawyers, to gain 
 a little notoriety, do the same; and often with the 
 money of other people’s savings. 
 
 Many also think that to dance, fence, speak French, 
 ogle the ladies, swear with energy, know how to han- 
 dle their knife and fork with dexterity, and to behave 
 
276 
 
 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 among great persons, comprehend the whole study of 
 a Gentleman : but many deceive tho public as well as 
 themselves, for every one is not a Gentleman that the 
 public supposes to be, nor he who thinks himself one. 
 
 “ A pretty parrot, and an ape, 
 
 Are fittest implements to shape 
 A coxcomb, who with modish airs. 
 
 In all societies appears. 
 
 Yet Oh ! how many are there seen. 
 
 With artful cringes, studied mien. 
 
 And volubility of tongue. 
 
 Pass for FINE Gentlemen, among 
 Tlie sons of men- -who most abide 
 In favour of a rich outside.”* 
 
 According to the same Bird’s definition, that I have 
 already mentioned to you, none who works are Gen- 
 tlemen; consequently, there are few gentlemen to be 
 found in Britain, for almost all men and things work, 
 viz. : — men work; women work; horses work; asses 
 work ; oxen work ; dogs work ; bees work ; wind works ; 
 water works; fire works; smoke works; steam works; 
 and so on, swine only excepted. 
 
 Countries, as well as people, have different ideas of 
 the importance attached to the word Gentleman. 
 For, in the province of Biscay, every Biscayan is de- 
 clared to be an Hidalgo, or Gentleman, and to have 
 all the privileges belonging to such, not only at home, 
 but even throughout all Spain; because they have 
 always kept their blood pure from all mixture with 
 the Jews and Moors. And, in order to preserve this, 
 their purity of blood, which is of so great consequence 
 to them, and gives them so honourable distinctions all 
 
 * Ttwill be fresh in the recollection of many, ’how the great beau Ilrum- 
 mel, the friend and companion of the late kingtleorge IV., led all the 
 fashionables in the mighty llabylon of Britain, as a gentleman, merely 
 by his manners and dress. So much was his example copied, that it 
 might be said he was for many years the looking-glass of thousands. 
 Poor wretch! his greatness and gloi*y have fied. He now lies confined in 
 a foreign mud-house, supported by the charity of the humane. 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 277 
 
 over tlic kiiii^dom, no Jew, nor Moor, nor any person 
 descended of either, is to be allowed to settle in Biscay 
 on any pretence whatsoever. 
 
 In Britain, the cliaracter of a Gentleman is some- 
 what different. It is not tlie purity of blood nor birth, 
 as I have said before, that makes the Gentleman : al- 
 though, in many cases, the man of fashionable honour ^ 
 is called by that name. 
 
 A Gentleman, which is now tlie genteel synonymous 
 for a man of honour, (fashionable, not real honour) 
 must, like his Gothic ancestors, be ready for, and ra- 
 ther desirous of, a single combat. And, if by a pro- 
 per degree of wrong-headedness he provokes it, lie is 
 only so much the more jealous of his honour, and more 
 of a Gentleman. He may lie with impunity, if he is 
 neither detected nor accused of it: for it is not the lie 
 he tells, but the lie of which he is told, that dishonours 
 him. In that case he demonstrates his veracity by his 
 sword, or his pistol, and either kills or is killed with 
 the greatest honour, lie may abuse and starve his 
 own wife, daughters, or sisters, and he may seduce 
 those of other men, particularly his friends with in- 
 violate honour, because, as sir John Brute very justly 
 observes, he wears a sword. By the laws of honour 
 he is not obliged to pay his servants or his tradesmen ; 
 for, as they are a pack of scoundrels, they cannot, 
 without insolence, demand their due of a Gentleman ; 
 but he must punctually pay his gaming debts to the 
 sharpers who have cheated him, for those debts are 
 really debts of honour. He lies under one disagreea- 
 ble restraint ; for he must not cheat at play, unless in 
 a horse match ; bijt then ho may, with great Iionour, 
 defraud in an oihice, or betray a trust. In public af- 
 fairs, he may, not only with honour, but with some 
 degree of lustre, be in the same session a turbulent 
 patriot, opposing the best measures, and a servile cour- 
 tier, promoting the worst; provided a very lucrative 
 
 Q 
 
278 - TJ[E EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 consideration be known to be the motive of his con- 
 version: for in that case the point of honour turns sin- 
 gly upon the quantum. 
 
 From these premises, which, the more thej are con- 
 sidered, the truer they will be found, it appears that 
 there are but two things which a man of the nicest 
 honour may not do, which are, declining single com- 
 bat and cheating at play. Strange! that virtue should 
 be so difficult, and honour, its superior, so easy to at- 
 tain to. 
 
 Sir Thomas Brown says, there is a rabble amongst 
 the gentry, as well as the commonalty ; a sort of ple- 
 beian heads, whose fancy moves with the same wheel 
 as these ; men in the same level with mechanics, though 
 their fortunes do somewhat gild their infirmities, and 
 their purses compound for their follies.” And Ad- 
 dison adds, “ A Christian and a Gentleman are now 
 made inconsistent appellations of the same person. It 
 is not, it seems, within the rules of good breeding, to 
 tax the vices of persons of quality, as if the command- 
 ments were made only for the vulgar.” Great quali- 
 ties make great men. “ Who,” says Seneca, “ is a 
 Gentleman ?” The man whom nature hath disposed, 
 and, as it were, cut out for virtue. This man is well 
 born, indeed; for he wants nothing else to make him 
 noble, who has a mind so generous tliat he can rise 
 above, and triumph over fortune, let his condition of 
 life be what it will. It is greatness tliat constitutes 
 glory, and virtue is the cause of both. But vice and 
 ignorance taint the blood; and an unworthy behaviour 
 degrades and disennobles a man more than birth and 
 fortune aggrandize and exalt him. All things have 
 some kind of standard by which the natural goodness 
 of them is to be measured. No man, tlierefore, esteems 
 a ship to be good because she is curiously carved, 
 painted, and gilded ; but because she is fitted for all 
 tlie purposes of navigation, which is the proper end of 
 
AND GLNTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 279 
 
 a ship. It should be so, likewise, in the esteem of 
 men, who are not so much to be valued for the gran- 
 deur of their estates or titles, as for their inward good- 
 ness or excellence. What is truly great and majestic 
 looks more like itself the less it is adorned. I study 
 to make my life famous, said king Theseus, not so 
 much by splendid appearances, and the applauses of 
 others, as by my own acts of solid virtue. The man 
 of honour is an internal, the person of honour an ex- 
 ternal; the one a real, the other a fictitious character. 
 A person of honour may be a profane libertine, pen- 
 urious, proud; may insult his inferiors, and defraud 
 his creditors ; but it is impossible for a man of honour 
 to be guilty of any of these. A fine coat is but a 
 livery, when the person who wears it discovers no 
 higher sense than that of a footman. For, although 
 fine feathers make fine birds, yet surely gaudy trap- 
 pings cannot make Gentlemen. The embellishments 
 of quality are wisdom, judgment, and behaviour ; an 
 air that is noble without haughtiness, and condescend- 
 ing without meanness. Now these qualifications lodge 
 in the soul, they lie in the head, not on the back. 
 They are but little minded, indeed, who build their 
 reputation on silk, or their wmitli in sheep’s clothing 
 — the basest part of worms and sheep. Good humour, 
 fine behaviour, and a noble disposition will keep the 
 mob at a distance more than scarlet and gold lace. 
 Men are not awed by clothes but virtue. Old Fabri- 
 cius in his jerkin, and Curius in the chimney corner, 
 were more esteemed and feared than Caligula or He- 
 liogabalus in all their state and livery. 
 
 It is but a too common practice of some w^ell-dressed 
 men to break down the bulwarks of etiquette when in 
 company and conversation with their inferiors, and 
 think they may do so with impunity; but, although 
 such bad breeding may be tolerated for a time by those 
 who are dependent, still, the discerning person, even 
 
280 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 though clotlied in rags, nauseates the insult, and w-ill 
 one time or another, take revenge by exposing the 
 object of his hate to an adversary who will turn it to 
 good account. On the other hand, the truly well-bred 
 and noble-minded Gentleman, is as polite, easy in his 
 manners, familiar in his conversation, and honourable 
 in his actions to the poor, as if all his words and deeds 
 were spoken and committed before the face of royalty, 
 and to be published to the world. I admit, however, 
 with the learned lord Chesterfield, that the same cere- 
 mony in doing an act of politeness in the court, or 
 company of the great, would not be required in, nor 
 suit the cottage and company of the peasant; but tliis 
 is going too far, niceties of court parade are not re- 
 quired in common company and conversation. It is 
 the general tenor of a man’s conversation that we ap- 
 prove or condemn. Therefore, he who wishes a good 
 and lasting name, will not be high-minded, but fear, 
 and do as he would wish others to do unto him. Re- 
 spectful, just, and honourable; polite, free of ignorant 
 pride, and easy of access. “ The fine Gentlemen,” 
 says Addison, “ of this age, are distinguished for their 
 pride, luxury, and hardness of heart; they are utter 
 strangers to compassion and humanity.” 
 
 The late earl of Buchan says, Among other de- 
 tached little pieces he found the following remarks 
 on the indiscriminate appellation of Gentleman. In 
 this active and busy age, where every one is expected 
 to act a part, there is a class of men who formerly had 
 great sway in the direction of public alfairs, but seem 
 now to be fallen into general contempt, and appear 
 fitted only to minister to the avarice and luxury of 
 those whom heretofore they looked upon as greatly 
 their inferiors. It will be readily perceived that the 
 land proprietors are those I mean. To tliese, and 
 their unoccupied descendants, the epithet of gentlemen 
 was formerly only applied; now-a-days we have not 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 281 
 
 only gentlemen of physic, of divinity, and trade, (whose 
 professions seem to be entitled to it), but the appella- 
 tion is surely abused and prostituted when applied to 
 some lower orders; and evidently so when bestowed 
 upon an impudent varlet out of livery, who, forsooth, 
 is dignified with the appellation of gentleman, though, 
 perhaps, it is bestowed with gi’eat impropriety even 
 upon his master. Though the profession of divinity 
 is most honourable and respectable, when the profes- 
 sors of it behave in a suitable and becoming manner, 
 yet it does not appear to me that they ought to affect 
 the appellation of gentlemen. The idea of the sphere 
 they act in, impresses one with the notion of some 
 characteristic epithet, less worldly, and more suitable 
 to their profession; and surely those who affect it, as 
 conceiving it attached to their profession, though of 
 low birth and illiberal education, most certainly dis- 
 grace it, and bring themselves into contempt, by which 
 means the profession itself is liable to suffer, though 
 undeservedly. Though I have described the land pro- 
 prietor as unoccupied, yet I would not have it under- 
 stood to mean that it should be so : far from it ; every 
 man in his station ought to be employed; and it is 
 incumbent upon liim to act in his sphere for the good 
 of society. The question is, how a mere country gen- 
 tleman can employ himself properly ? To be sure 
 very many do not, but, on the contrary, mispend their 
 time, and waste their fortune in frivolous, and often 
 in vicious pursuits. But, are there no innocent amuse- 
 ments^ no rational occupations, to he found in a country 
 life^ Are these confined to courts and great cities 
 only, where is a constant bustle and struggle to get 
 wealth and power, and then as constant a vying with 
 each other how to dissipate and waste, what, indeed, 
 has often been acquired by unwarrantable means? 
 Have rational creatures, or, as the king of Prussia 
 defines them, rather reasoning animals, nothing else 
 q 2 
 
282 
 
 THE EGLIKTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 to do here but to amass wealth for their giddy heirs to 
 throw away ? But who, then, is tlie gentleman pro- 
 perly so called ? The foundation of quality, no doubt, 
 is to be allowed to consist in a great measure in wealth 
 and contentment. If a moderate estate has been trans- 
 mitted by ancestors who could say that they came 
 fairly and honestly by it, and looking round them 
 could see much greater opulence without envy, because 
 tiiey beheld much greater numbers in a far inferior 
 situation, and so could say it is enough, and more, 
 perhaps, than falls to my share, if every one liad his 
 due, therefore, I will spare as I ought to some who 
 deserve, but who have been denied the gifts of fortune ; 
 more has been bestov/ed upon me, than upon many 
 others of superior merit and endowments, so I conclude 
 tliat there is a trust reposed in me, to bestow part upon 
 others who stand in need of my assistance. Generosity 
 seems to he the main characteristic of a Gentleman, and 
 generous, in the old Roman language, corresponds to 
 what we mean by that term. 
 
 In addition to what has been said by his lordship, I 
 shall repeat to you what is also said by an American 
 author on the same subject. I do not know a more 
 enviable condition of life tlian that of an English 
 Gentleman, of sound judgment and good feelings, who 
 passes the greater part of his time on an hereditary 
 estate in the country. He has it greatly in his power 
 to do good, and to have that good immediately reflected 
 back upon himself. He can render essential service to 
 his country — by watching over the opinions and prin- 
 ciples of the lower orders around him — by mingling 
 frankly among tliem, gaining their confidence, becom- 
 ing the immediate auditor of their complaints, inform- 
 ing himself of their wants, making himself a chamiel 
 through which their grievances may be quietly com- 
 municated to the proper sources of mitigation and re- 
 relief; or by becoming, if need be, the enlightened 
 
AXD GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 283 
 
 cliaiiipioii of their riglits. It is when the rich and 
 w'ell-educated, and highly privileged classes, neglect 
 their duties, when they neglect to study their interests, 
 and conciliate the affections, and instruct the opinions 
 and champion the rights of tlie people, that the latter 
 become discontented and turbulent, and fall into the 
 hands of demagogues: the demagogue always steps in 
 where the patriot is wanting. It is absurd in a country 
 like England, (Britain) where there is so much free- 
 dom, and such a jealousy of rights, for any man to talk 
 superciliously of the common people. There is no 
 rank or distinction that severs a man from his fellow- 
 subjects ; and if by any gradual neglect or assumption 
 on the one side, and discontent on the other, the orders 
 of society should really separate, let those who stand 
 on the eminence beware, that the chasm is not mining 
 at their feet. There can be no such thing in a free 
 government as a vacuum, and wherever one is likely to 
 take place, by the drawing off of the rich and intelli- 
 gent from the poor, the bad passions of society will rusli 
 in to fill up the space, and rend the whole asunder. 
 So long as the English nobility and gentry pass the 
 greater part of their time in the quiet and purity of 
 the country; surrounded by monuments of their illus- 
 trious ancestors; surrounded by every thing that can 
 inspire generous pride, noble emulation, and amiable 
 and magnanimous sentiments; so long they are safe, 
 and in them the nation may repose its interests, and 
 its honour. In a constitution like that of England, 
 the titled orders are intended to be as useful as they 
 are ornamental, and it is their virtues alone that can 
 render them both. Their duties are divided between 
 the sovereign and the subject; surrounding and giving 
 lustre and dignity to the throne, and at the same time 
 tempering and mitigating its rays, until they are trans- 
 mitted in mild and gentle radiance to the people. 
 Born to leisure and opulence, they owe the exercise of 
 
284 THE EGLINTON TOUUXAMENT, 
 
 their talents, and the expenditure of their wealth to 
 their native country. Tliey may be compared to the 
 clouds; which, being drawn up by the sun, and elevated 
 in the heavens, reflect and magnify his splendour; 
 while they derive their sustenance by returning their 
 treasures to its bosom in fertilizing showers. 
 
 The opinions of men are as different regarding tlie 
 true characteristics of a Gentleman, as Gentlemen are 
 themselves. For Johnson says, (after having spoken 
 somewhat favourably of the vulgar, as some people 
 call them, i. e. tradesmen), it is to me a very great 
 meanness, and something much below a philosopher, 
 which is what I mean by a Gentleman, to rank a man 
 among the vulgar for the condition of life he is in, 
 and not according to his behaviour, his thoughts and 
 sentiments, in that condition. For if a man be load- 
 ed with riches and honours, and in that state of life 
 his thoughts and inclinations below the meanest artifi- 
 cer; is not such an artificer, who within his power is 
 good to his friends, moderate in his demands for his 
 labour, and cheerful in his occupation, very much 
 superior to him who lives for no other end but to serve 
 himself, and assumes a preference in all his words and 
 actions to those who act their part with much more 
 grace than himself ? Epictetus has made use of the 
 similitude of a stage-play to humour life with much 
 spirit. It is not, says he, to be considered among the 
 actors, who is prince, or who is beggar, but who acts 
 the prince or beggar best. The circumstance of life 
 should not be that which gives us place, but our beha- 
 viour in that circumstance is what should be our solid 
 distinction. Thus, a wise man should tliink no man 
 above him or below him, any further than it regards 
 the outward order and discipline of the world. For 
 if we take too greatan idea of the eminence of our 
 superiors, or subordination of our inferiors, it will 
 have an ill effect upon our behaviour to both. He 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 285 
 
 who thinks no man above him but for his virtue, none 
 below him but for his vice, can never be obsequious 
 or assuming in a wrong place, l)ut will frequently 
 emulate men in rank below him, and pity tliose above 
 him. This sense of mankind is so far from a levelling 
 principle, that it only sets us upon a true basis of dis- 
 tinction, and doubles the merit of such as become 
 their condition. A man in power, who can, vdthout 
 the ordinary prepossessions which stop the way to the 
 true knowledge and service of mankind, overlook the 
 little distinctions of fortune, raise obscure merit, and 
 discountenance successful indesert, has, in the minds 
 of knowing men, the figure of an angel rather than of 
 a man, and is above the rest of men in the highest 
 character he can be, even that of their benefactor. — 
 He goes on to .say in another place, that the cour- 
 tier, the trader, and the scholar, should all have an 
 equal pretension to the denomination of a Gentleman. 
 That tradesman, who deals with me in a commodity 
 which I do not understand, with upriglitness, has much 
 more right to that character, than the courtier who 
 gives me false hopes, or the scholar who laughs at my 
 ignorance. The appellation of Gentleman is never to 
 be affixed to a man’s circumstances, but to his beha- 
 viour in ttiem. 
 
 I shall also mention to you a curious defence which 
 was made and sustained in an action before the Court 
 of Session, and decided 9th November, 1709, which, 
 from the Supplement to Morrison’s Dictionary of De- 
 cisions, vol. V. p. 57, will shew you whether all heri- 
 tors of land are Gentlemen. John Purdie, fined by 
 the justices of the peace of Mid-Calder, in £100 Scots, 
 for fornication with Christian Thomson, his servant, 
 comformably to the last act 38, pari. 1661; he being 
 the eldest son of an heritor (a landowner) and so a 
 Gentleman, in the construction of law ; when charged 
 for payment by Thomas Sandilands, collector of those 
 
286 THE EGLI5TON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 fines; he suspended, upon this ground, that t!ie fin© 
 •was exorbitant, in so far, that he w’as but a small 
 heritor; and that the act of parliament imposeth the 
 £100 upon Gentlemen transgressors, and as all heri- 
 tors are not Gentlemen, so he denied that he had the 
 least pretence to the title of a Gentlemen. And far- 
 tlier, he had married the woman he had offended with, 
 which lessened the scandal, and was a ground to miti- 
 gate the fine. The lords sustained the reason of this 
 suspension, to restrict the fine to £10 Scots; because, 
 sus2yencler had not the face or air of a Gentleman. 
 
 The composition of a Gentleman, may be said to be 
 like the composition of salad, which is made of the 
 finest herbs; and he is made of virtue and honour. 
 And the greatest ornament of the most accomplished 
 Gentleman, is his perfect knowledge of things, and 
 deep inspection into the principles and characters of 
 men. Nevertheless, many bad men under tlie mask 
 and air of Gentlemen, like some under the cloak of 
 religion, have imposed upon the simple and unwary. 
 While others keep up to their character without the 
 advantageous helps of precepts, or education ; you may 
 read their birth in their faces ; their gait and mein ; 
 tell their quality ; they both charm and awe, and at 
 the same time fiash love and reverence ; their extrac- 
 tion glitters under all disguises ; it sparkles in sack- 
 cloth, and breaks through all the clouds of poverty 
 and misfortune. In fine, their trivial actions are 
 great, and their discourse is noble. Again, others 
 seem to be born Gentlemen to shame quality ; one 
 would swear nature intended to frame them for the 
 dray, and chance flung them into the world with an 
 escutcheon : they are all of a piece, clown without, 
 and coxcomb within ; and so like the foplingtons, are 
 graced with titles to play the ape by patent. To act 
 the part of a Gentleman one must study to act it well ; 
 for it is not a matter of such small concern as some 
 
AN"D gentle.ma:^ u.vmasked. 2S7 
 
 imagine ; which is the reason that so many fall below 
 their station in conduct and conversation, believing 
 that a title supported with means, places tliem in a 
 region above the niceties of breeding and good beha- 
 viour : that a nr gilds the most unbecoming behaviour, 
 and a coronet dignifies rusticity. Many mistake 
 themselves in tliis manner, and are looked upon with 
 contempt by those who would otherwise reverence 
 and esteem them. For actions are not rated by men, 
 but men by actions ; and if these are such as to de- 
 grade them, no respect will be paid to their titles ; 
 and the poorest know that they can claim no more 
 respect from nature than what they can do. They 
 are all of the same matter, the soul of a Lazarus is of 
 as pure and refined a spirit as that of Dives; there- 
 fore, if they see no other advantage on quality’s side, 
 but a coach and six ; they will be apt to think them- 
 selves as good men, and as great Gentlemen as their 
 masters, though not so rich ; and that they are be- 
 holden more to chance or injustice for their fortune 
 than to merit. In fact, rich men have not the temp- 
 tatioas of degrading themselves below the dignity of 
 Gentlemen, as the poor have. And the rich have 
 many ways of being honoured and respected on earth, 
 and their names transmitted to posterity, which tho 
 poor do not possess. To leave behind them a good 
 and a lasting name is certainly preferable to leaving 
 riches or titles ; for the rich and titled person is no 
 sooner gone than another takes possession of his lands 
 and titles, and immediately receives what honour and 
 respect flow from them : so that the former possessor 
 is no longer esteemed nor regarded; but if he have been 
 a good and a virtuous man, no heir can deprive him 
 of his lasting and good name, which will endure for 
 ages. 
 
 From these premises, you will see that the most 
 general idea which people entertain of a Gentleman, 
 
288 
 
 tllE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 is that of a person of fortune, above the vulgar, and 
 embellished by manners that are fashionable in high 
 life. But it is one thing to talk of being a Gentleman, 
 and quite another thing to have the manners, the cus- 
 toms, the noble-mindedness, and the honour of one. 
 Indeed, I know of no subject whatever that is more 
 misunderstood than the duty, true name and charac- 
 ter of a Gentleman, and to whom the term can be 
 justly applied without exaggeration. 
 
 Ulysses says, — 
 
 “ Our rank in.birth and blood be laid aside, 
 
 And by our actions let our worth be tried.” 
 
 In this case, fortune and fashion are the two con- 
 stituent ingredients in the composition of modern Gen- 
 tlemen ; for whatever the fashion may be, whetiier 
 moral or immoral, for or against reason, right or 
 wrong, it is equally the duty of a Gentleman to con- 
 form. And yet, I apprehend, that true gentility is 
 altogether independent of fortune or fashion, of time, 
 customs, or opinions of any kind. The very same 
 qualities that constituted a Gentleman in the first age 
 of the world, are permanently, invariably, and indis- 
 pensably necessary to the constitution of the same 
 character to the end of time. Homer, in his character 
 of Hector, has given the most finished lineaments of 
 the first and most complete Gentleman recorded in 
 profane history. In what I said in the character of 
 emperors and kings, you will recollect that I remarked 
 to you, en passant, that it was possible for an emperor 
 or a king to be, or not to be a Gentleman, wliicli will 
 be seen from what I shall presently state to you. 
 
 After the battle of Cressy, Edward III. of England, 
 and Edward the Black Prince, the more than heir of 
 his father’s renown, pressed John, king of France to 
 indulge them with the pleasure of his company at Lon- 
 don. John was desirous of embracing the invitation, 
 and accordingly laid the proposal before his parlia- 
 
AND GENTLEMAN UNMASKED. 
 
 289 
 
 niciit at Paris. The parliament objected, that tlie 
 invitation had been made Avith an insidious design of 
 seizing his person, thereby to make the cheaper and 
 easier acquisition of the crown, to wdiich Edward at 
 that time pretended. But John replied, with some 
 warmth, that lie was confident his brother Edward, 
 and more especially liis young cousin, Avere too much 
 of Gentlemen, to treat him in that manner, lie did 
 not say too much of tlie king, of the hero, or of the 
 saint, but too much of the Gentleman to be guilty of 
 any baseness, llis majesty George IV. w^as often 
 called The first Gentleman, as well as the first 
 monarch in Europe.* 
 
 The qualities of a Gentleman arc, to he charitable to 
 the poor and distressed, and to support widows and 
 orphans : — To do unto every mail as he would icishthem 
 do unto him again : — To despise no man, however poor 
 and mean ; for often rags and a contemptible outside, 
 covers a rich mine and many jewels within : — To love, 
 honour, and reverence God : — For subjects to he loyal 
 and serviceable to their Icing and country : — To prefer 
 honour before gain : — To cherish and encourage truth, 
 virtue, and honesty : — To keep) from intemperance, riot, 
 and all dishonest recreation and company : — To be of a 
 
 * AA’hen James I. was on the road near Chester, he was met by such 
 numbers of the Welsh, who came out of curiosity to see him, and the 
 weather being dry, and the roads dusty, he was nearly suffocated. lie 
 ^vas completely at a loss in which manner to rid himself of their civility ; 
 at last one of his attendants, putting his head out of the coach, said. 
 
 It is his majesty’s pleasure that those who are the best Gentlemen 
 shall ride forwards." Away scampered the AA’elsh, and but one solitary 
 man was left behind. " And so, sir,” said the king to him, " you are not 
 a Gentleman then!" "Oh, yes, and please your majesty, hur is as 
 good a shcntleman as the rest ; but hur horse, God lielp hur, is not so 
 good.” So much for AV’elsh gentility ! 
 
I 
 
 200 THE EGLINTON TOURNAMENT, 
 
 courteous, gentle and affable deportment to all men, and 
 to detest pride and haughtiness : — To he of a liberal and 
 open heart, delighting in hospitality, according to the 
 talent with ichich God has blessed him : — To be true 
 and just in his word and dealing : — And, in all respects, 
 to give no cause of offence to any one, by a haughty and 
 insolent behaviour, particularly to inferiors : — To honour 
 and respect every man as becometh their station, as 
 sapcriors, inferiors, or equals : — To be gentle and deli- 
 cate in his behaviour towards the fair sex : — To suffer 
 rather than do wrong : — To feel for, and be interested 
 in the welfare of another : — Never to envy superior ex- 
 cellence in another, but grow himself more excellent, by 
 being the admirer, promoter, and lover thereof : — Never 
 to be surpassed by any one in polite and good behaviour 
 to all ; as one of the kings of France said to one of his 
 followers, who icondered at his condescending politeness 
 to some people in a low station , — “ Why should I let it 
 be said that I was ever outdone in civility, even by a 
 beggar, 
 
 I now come to the finishing part of our subject, and, 
 as you have desired, I have given a faithful and dis- 
 tinct account of tlie character, or rather necessary 
 qualifications of that most reverenced, most esteemed, 
 most exalted, and most honoured of all titles, the title 
 of a Gentleman. And, in the words of an old poet, 
 shall thus conclude, — 
 
 “ When Adam delv'd and Eve span, 
 
 Who was then a Gentleman ! ! !” 
 
 GLASGOW : 
 
 J. AM) A. WILKINSON, PlU^iTEllS, AKGYLE STELLT. 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
Preparing for the Press, 
 
 ANCIENT 
 
 SCOTTISH TALES & BALLADS 
 
 TRADITIONARY, ROMANTIC, AND LEGENDARY; 
 
 FKOM THE 
 
 SINGING AND RECITATION OF THE AGED SYBILS OF 
 THE NORTH COUNTRIE, 
 
 Rv PETl-’U 13UCHAX, Cor. Mem. S. A. S. 
 
 EtUtor of the “Aiicient Ballads and Songs of the North of Scotland,” A c. 
 
 WITH 
 
 TWELVE ORIGINAL LETTERS 
 
 ON SCOTTISH BALLAD POETRY, 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 W. MOTHERWELL, ESQ., GLASGOW. 
 
 It may not be generally known, that Scotland was at 
 one time the birth place and nursery of Romantic and 
 Legendary Tales and Song. Its intercourse and 
 connexion with Scandanavia, and other northern and 
 eastern nations, implanted in the breasts of its inhab- 
 itants a love for tales of wonder and of woe. 
 
 The prose Tales mentioned in these remarks, are 
 amongst the number of those that have been snatched 
 from the all devouring hand of time. They have been 
 taken down with the most scrupulous care from the 
 recitiition of very old people, chiefly in the northern 
 counties, and may be said to be the only copies in ex- 
 i.stence. Many of them, I believe to be at least five 
 liundred years old, handed down by oral tradition from 
 one generation to another. In a list given of tliese 
 legendary Tales and Ballads in “ The Complaynt of 
 Scotland,” written in 1548, and then supposed to be 
 lost, are a few of the present, which shew the respect 
 and care our predecessors had for these gems of tlieir 
 fatherland, now known but to the enthusiastic en- 
 quirer. 
 
The Ballads and Songs, are of the same garden and 
 soil, — natives of the north countne. They were 
 fanned into existence by the same breath, and nursed 
 in the same cradle. The encomiums passed upon 
 Scottish Ballads, not only by their own countrymen, 
 but by neighbouring nations, clearly prove their 
 superiority to every other, and worthy to be recorded 
 in the best manner, and by every admirer of native, 
 and nature inspired genius. Mr. Hallam, an English 
 author, ranks the relics* of Scottish antiquity very 
 higli, for he says in his “ Introduction to the Litera- 
 ture of Europe,” There can be, I conceive, no ques- 
 tion as to the superiority of Scotland in the Ballads. 
 Those of a historic or legendary character, especially 
 the former, are ardently poetical : the nameless min- 
 strel is often inspired with an Homeric power of rapid 
 narration, bold, description, lively or pathetic touches 
 of sentiment,” &c. 
 
 The late General Stewart of Garth, in his “Sketches 
 of the Highlanders of Scotland,” says, “ There is a 
 manuscript volume preserved in the family of Steward 
 of Urrard, of 260 pages, consisting of Poems, Songs, 
 and short Tracts, in the Scotch language, written as 
 is stated on the first page, by Margaret Robertson, 
 daughter of John Robertson of liude, and wife of 
 Alexander Stewart, of Bonsheid, dated 1643. (1630) 
 It is written in a beautiful hand, and with such cor- 
 rectness, that it might be sent to the press.” 
 
 When at Pitfour Castle, the writer of these lines 
 was favoured with a perusal, and liberty to copy what 
 suited him of this antique, and literary curosity. The 
 extracts made from it, will form part of the contem- 
 plated volume now announced, besides many others 
 of a highly interesting nature, which was read and 
 approved of by the late Sir Walter Scott,* and Mr. 
 Motherwell, both of whom, when alive, were most 
 anxious to see them in print. 
 
 * For particulars see his introduction to the new edition of the “ Min- 
 strelsy of the Scottish Border,” where he speaks of tliem in the most en- 
 thusiastic inanuer. 
 

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