Have you ever thought about what fiction is? Probably, such a question may seem surprising: and so everything is clear. Every person throughout his life has to repeatedly create the works he needs for specific purposes - statements, autobiographies, dictations - using not gypsum or clay, not musical notes, not paints, but just a word. At the same time, almost every person will be very surprised if he is told that he thereby created a work of fiction, which is very different from visual art, music and sculpture making. However, everyone understands that a student's essay or dictation is fundamentally different from novels, short stories, news that are created by professional writers. In the works of professionals there is the most important difference - excogitation. But, oddly enough, in a school literature course, you don’t realize the full power of fiction. So using our website in your free time discover fiction for yourself. Redgauntlet: A Tale of the Eighteenth Century by Walter Scott (books for students to read .txt) 📖
- Author: Walter Scott
Book online «Redgauntlet: A Tale of the Eighteenth Century by Walter Scott (books for students to read .txt) 📖». Author Walter Scott
NOTE 9—CORONATION OF GEORGE III
In excuse of what may be considered as a violent infraction of probability in this chapter, the author is under the necessity of quoting a tradition which many persons may recollect having heard. It was always said, though with very little appearance of truth, that upon the Coronation of the late George III, when the champion of England, Dymock, or his representative, appeared in Westminster Hall, and in the language of chivalry solemnly wagered his body to defend in single combat the right of the young King to the crown of these realms, at the moment when he flung down his gauntlet as the gage of battle, an unknown female stepped from the crowd and lifted the pledge, leaving another gage in room of it, with a paper expressing, that if a fair field of combat should be allowed, a champion of rank and birth would appear with equal arms to dispute the claim of King George to the British kingdoms. The story is probably one of the numerous fictions which were circulated to keep up the spirits of a sinking faction, The incident was, however, possible, if it could be supposed to be attended by any motive adequate to the risk, and might be imagined to occur to a person of Redgauntlet’s enthusiastic character. George III, it is said, had a police of his own, whose agency was so efficient, that the sovereign was able to tell his prime minister upon one occasion, to his great surprise, that the Pretender was in London. The prime minister began immediately to talk of measures to be taken, warrants to be procured, messengers and guards to be got in readiness. ‘Pooh, pooh,’ said the good-natured sovereign, since I have found him out, leave me alone to deal with him.’—‘And what,’ said the minister, ‘is your Majesty’s purpose, in so important a case?’—‘To leave the young man to himself,’ said George III; ‘and when he tires he will go back again.’ The truth of this story does not depend on that of the lifting of the gauntlet; and while the latter could be but an idle bravado, the former expresses George Ill’s goodness of heart and soundness of policy.
NOTE 10.—COLLIER AND SALTER
The persons engaged in these occupations were at this time bondsmen; and in case they left the ground of the farm to which they belonged, and as pertaining to which their services were bought or sold, they were liable to be brought back by a summary process. The existence of this species of slavery being thought irreconcilable with the spirit of liberty, colliers and salters were declared free, and put upon the same footing with other servants, by the Act 15 Geo. III chapter 28th. They were so far from desiring or prizing the blessing conferred on them, that they esteemed the interest taken in their freedom to be a mere decree on the part of the proprietors to get rid of what they called head and harigald money, payable to them when a female of their number, by bearing a child, made an addition to the live stock of their master’s property.
GLOSSARY ABOON, above. AD LITEM, in law. AD VINDICTAM PUBLICAM, for the public defence. ADUST, looking as if burned or scorched. AE, one. AFFLATUS, breath, inspiration. AIRT, direct. ALCANDER, a Greek soothsayer. ALDEBORONTIPHOSCOPHORNIO, a courtier in H. Carey’s burlesque, CHRONONHOTONTHOLOGOS. ALIMENTARY, nourishing. ALQUIFE, an enchanter in the mediaeval romances of knight-errantry. AMADIS, a hero of the romances, especially in Amadis of Gaul. ANENT, about. ANES, once. ANNO DOMINI, in the year of the Lord. ARGUMENTUM AD HOMINEM, AD FEMINAM, lit. ‘the argument to a man, to a woman,’ refutation of a man’s argument by an example drawn from his own conduct. ARIES, earnest-money, a gift. ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS, art is long, life short. ARS MEDENDI, art of medicine. APPROBATE, approve. ATLANTES, a character in ORLANDO FURIOSO. AULD REEKIE, Edinburgh. ADVOCATO DEL DIABOLO, lit. ‘the devil’s advocate’, one whose duty it is to oppose the canonization of a person on whose behalf claims to sanctity are made. AWSOME, awful, fearful. BACK-GANGING, behind hand in paying. BACKSPAUL, the back of the shoulder. BALLANT, a ballad, a fable. BANNOCK, a flat, round cake. BARLEY-BROO, barley-broth. BARON-OFFICER, the magistrate’s officer in a burgh of barony. BARTIZAN, a small overhanging turret, the battlements. BEAUFET, cupboard. BEAVER, the lower part of the helmet. BEIN, comfortable. BELISARIUS, a general of the Eastern Empire ungratefully treated by the Emperor Justinian. BENEDICTE, bless you. BETIMES THE MORN, early in the morning. BICKER, a wooden vessel for holding drink; a quarrel. BILLIE, a term of familiarity, comrade. BIRKIE, a smart fellow. BIRLING, merry-making. BIT, small. BLATE, shy, bashful. BLAWING, flattering. BLEEZING, bragging. BLUE-CAP, a Scotsman. BOGLE, a ghost, a scarecrow. BON VIVANTS, lovers of good living. BONA ROBA, a showy wanton. BONUS SOCIUS, good comrade. BORREL, common, rude. BRAID, broad. BRASH, a sudden storm, an attack. BRATTLE, a clattering noise, as of a horse going at full speed. BRAW, brave, fine. BRENT BROO, high brow. BROCARD, maxim. BROSE, oatmeal which has had boiling water poured upon it. BROWN, a famous landscape gardener. BROWST, a brewing. BUCEPHALUS, the favourite horse of Alexander the Great. BUCKIE, an imp, a fellow with an evil twist in his character. BUFF NOR STYE, neither one thing nor another. BUFFERS, pistols. BUSK, deck up. BY ORDINAR, extraordinary, uncommon. BYE AND ATTOUR, over and above. CADGER, a travelling dealer. CADDIE, a porter, an errand-boy. CAETERA PRORSUS IGNORO, in short, I know nothing of the rest. CALLANT, a young lad. CALLER, cool, fresh. CANNY, shrewd, prudent, quiet. CANTLE, fragment. CAPERNOITED, crabbed, foolish. CAPRICCIOS, a fanciful composition. CAPRIOLE, a leap made by a horse without advancing. CARDINAL, a woman’s cloak. CARLINES, old women. CATILINA OMNIUM, ETC. Catilina had surrounded himself with the most vile and criminal company. CAUSEWAY, path, roadway. CAVALIERE SERVENTE, gentleman in attendance. CAVE NE LITERAS, ETC. take care that you are not carrying Bellerophon’s letters (letters unfavourable to the bearer). CHACK, a slight repast. CHANCY, safe, auspicious. CHANGE-HOUSE, a small inn or ale-house. CHANTER, the tenor or treble pipe in a bag-pipe. CHAPE, a thin metal blade at the end of a scabbard. CHAPEAU BRAS, a low, three-cornered hat. CHOUGH, a bird of the crow family. CHUCKY, fowl. CHUCKY-STONES, small stones, a child’s game. CLAP AND HOPPER, signs of the mill. CLAVERS, gossip, idle talk. CLEEK, lay hold on. CLEIK IN, to join company. CLOSE, an alley, a narrow way. CLOSE-HEADS, the entry to an alley, a meeting-place for gossips. CLOUR, to strike, to bump. COBLE, a little boat. COCKERNONY, top-knot. COGIE, small wooden bowl. COMMUNE FORUM, ETC. the common court is the common dwelling-place. CORDWAIN, Spanish leather. CORIOLANUS, a Roman
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