[The ancient title of Esquire has been recently much abused; being
assumed by mere writers, painters, and even members of the legal
professions. Though it originally meant nothing more than “ostler,” in
those barbarous times, when manual labour was not a positive disgrace,
yet, in the heyday of chivalry, it was promoted to an equivalent of
“bearer of arms.” Esquire-ship was the brevet rank of knighthood. The
esquire, in order to become a knight, having served his lord faithfully
for a certain number of years, was expected to sit up all night watching
the arms by which he had earned distinction. These, in the case of
Bardolph, adopting the heraldic acceptation of the word “arms,”--may be
described as a bottle gules, on an oak table proper, with a corkscrew
trenchant, supported by thirst rampant. These Bardolph is known to
have sat up watching, not merely all one night, but for several hundred
nights in succession. And yet this gallant soldier never attained to
the distinction of knighthood. It is true that gentle blood was an
indispensable qualification for the honour. Bardolph’s blood was not
gentle, but of the most obstinately opposite description. Coax it as he
would, it persisted in flying to his nose.]