P. 432, c. 1—“Franklin.” (1706-1790.) An American statesman and
natural philosopher. He spent his early life in Boston as a compositor
in his brother’s printing office. Going to Philadelphia, he edited
and published the _Gazette_, and in 1732 published “Poor Richard’s
Almanac,” since translated into many languages. In 1757 he was sent
to England to settle matters for the Assembly, and from that time
was active in the affairs of the country, helped to bring about the
declaration of independence, and the treaty with France. Franklin
discovered the identity of electricity with lightning, and proposed the
plan of protecting buildings by pointed conductors.
P. 432, c. 1—“Jack Falstaff.” A character in the first and second parts
of “Henry IV.” and in “Merry Wives of Windsor.” Many have said that
Shakspere found the original of Falstaff in Sir John Folstaffe, who is
introduced into “Henry VI.,” but recent commentators deny this. Others
have said Sir J. Oldcastle to be the original. Shakspere himself denies
this in the epilogue to Henry IV., where he says, speaking of Falstaff,
“Oldcastle died a martyr, and this is not the man.”
P. 432, c. 1—“Com-mit´ment.” The act of committing, keeping, putting in
charge; particularly committing to prison.
P. 432, c. 1—“Gascoigne,” gas´koin. (1350 ?-1420 ?) A man noted for his
moral courage. He was appointed chief justice of the king’s bench by
Henry IV. On the accession of Henry V., Hume says that Gascoigne “met
with praise, not reproach, for his past conduct.”
P. 432, c. 1—“Campbell.” (1779-186-?.) A British jurist; he held many
important offices under the government, was lord chancellor of Ireland
in 1841, and in 1859 lord chancellor of England. He wrote the lives of
the chief justices of England, and of the lord chancellors.
P. 432, c. 1—“Cut-purses.” Now a pick-pocket. The words show the
different ways of carrying the purse. Formerly men hung their purses at
their girdles, and thieves cut the string by which they were attached;
but when the purse was transferred to the pocket, the cut-purse became
a pick-pocket.
P. 432, c. 1—“Eftsoon;” obsolete. Soon, afterward; in a short time.
P. 432, c. 1—“Pre-cā´ri-ous.” Uncertain, doubtful.
P. 432, c. 1—“Oldcastle,” Lord Cobham. An Englishman who, by his valor
and talents, gained the favor of both Henry IV. and V.; but, becoming
the leader of the Lollards, he was condemned, and in 1418 he was hanged.
P. 432, c. 1—“King of France.” Charles VI. is referred to.
P. 432, c. 2—“Queen Regent.” She aspired to royal power, and united
with the Burgundians against her son.
P. 432, c. 2—“Orleanists.” The followers of the Duke of Orleans, the
brother of the king.
P. 432, c. 2—“Burgundians.” Those who adhered to the Duke of Burgundy,
who wished to obtain control of affairs.
P. 432, c. 2—“Pseudo.” The Greek for false.
P. 432, c. 2—“Claim.” The daughter of Philip the Fair, of France, had
married Edward II. of England. The sons of Philip had died without
male heirs, and Edward III., the son of Edward II., claimed the throne
through his mother, though the Salic law, by which French succession
was determined, denied the throne to women. In no case could this claim
revert to Henry, who belonged to another family.
P. 432, c. 2—“Cressy,” krĕs´e. See THE CHAUTAUQUAN for March: “Pictures
from English History.”
P. 432, c. 2—“Poictiers,” poi-tērz´. See THE CHAUTAUQUAN for March:
“Pictures from English History.”
P. 431, c. 2—“In´dē-fēa=´=si-ble.” Not to be defeated.
P. 432, c. 2—“Harfleur,” ar-flŭr´. A town in the north of France, near
the Seine, formerly a most important bulwark against invasion.
P. 432, c. 2—“Invasion of Edward III.” See THE CHAUTAUQUAN for March:
“Pictures from English History.”
P. 432, c. 2—“Somme,” som. A river of Northern France, flowing into the
English Channel.
P. 432, c. 2—“Blanchetacque,” blan-´sh-tāk.
P. 432, c. 2—“Agincourt,” a´zhăn-koor. A town on the road from Calais
to Paris. A wood corresponding to the one here spoken of still exists.
Agincourt is but twenty miles from Cressy.
P. 432, c. 2—“Pix.” The box in which the host is kept. The host is a
consecrated wafer believed, by Roman Catholics, to be the body of the
Savior, and is offered at mass as a sacrifice.
P. 433, c. 1—“Recoup;” to diminish.
P. 433, c. 1—“Calais,” kăl´iss.
P. 433, c. 1—“Rouen,” roo´en. A city in the north of France, on the
river Seine. It has a famous cathedral and a fine museum. The French
regained the city in 1449, and it was in their possession until the
Franco-Prussian war, when the Germans occupied it for six months.
P. 433, c. 2—“Nem´e-sis.” In Grecian mythology the daughter of night;
a personification of conscience; the goddess, that, watching over the
affairs of men, distributes to each a just reward for their deeds; thus
she became an avenger of all crime, and in this character is ordinarily
conceived.
P. 433, c. 2—“Penitential Psalm,” psalm li.
P. 433, c. 2—“James I.” (1394-1437.) At the age of nine this prince was
captured by the English and held by them for nineteen years. He was
well educated and given all advantages. Upon his restoration to the
throne he treated the rebellious nobles so severely in his attempts to
restore order, that a conspiracy was formed against him, and he was
murdered.
P. 433, c. 2—“Beaugé,” bo-gā.