Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama Part 124

"My Liege," the usual style till the Lancastrian usurpation.

"Your Grace," Henry IV.

"Your Excellent Grace," Henry VI.

"Most High and Mighty Prince," Edward IV.

"Your Highness," Henry VII.

"Your Majesty," Henry VIII. So addressed in 1520, by Francois I.

"The King's Sacred Majesty," James I.

"Your Most Excellent Majesty," Charles II.

"Your Most Gracious Majesty," the present style.

=Royal t.i.tles.=

WILLIAM I. called himself "Rex Anglorum, comes Normannorum et Cinomanentium."

WILLIAM II. called himself "Rex Anglorum," or "Monarchicus Britanniae."

HENRY I. called himself "Rex Anglorum et dux Normannorum."

Subsequent to 1106 we find "Dei gratia" introduced in charters.

HENRY II. called himself "Rex Anglorum, et dux Normannorum et Aquitannorum, et comes Andegavorum;" or "Rex Angliae, dux Normanniae et Aquitaniae, et comes Andegaviae."

RICHARD I. began his charters with "Dei gratia, rex Angliae, et dux Normaniae et Aquitaniae, et comes Andegaviae."

JOHN headed his charters with "Johannes, D.G. rex Angliae, dominus Hiberniae, dux Normanniae et Aquitaniae, et comes Andegaviae." Instead of "Hiberniae" we sometimes find "Iberniae," and sometimes "Yberniae."

HENRY III. followed the style of his father till October, 1259, when he adopted the form "D.G. rex Angliae, dominus Hiberniae, et dux Aquitaniae."

EDWARD I. adopted the latter style. So did Edward II.[TN-137] till 1326, when he used the form "Rex Angliae et dominus Hiberniae."

Edward I.[TN-137] for thirteen years headed his charters with "Edwardus, Dei gratia rex Angliae, dominus Hiberniae, et dux Aquitaniae." But after 1337 the form ran thus: "Edwardus, D.G. rex Angliae et Franciae, dominus Hiberniae, et dux Aquitaniae;" and sometimes "Franciae" stands before "Angliae."

RICHARD II. began thus: "Richardus, D.G. rex Angliae et Franciae, et dominus Hiberniae."

HENRY IV. continued the same style. So did HENRY V. till 1420, after which date he adopted the form, "Henricus, D.G. rex Angliae, haeres et regens Franciae, et dominus Hiberniae."

HENRY VI. began, "Henricus, D.G. rex Angliae et Franciae, et dominus Hiberniae."

EDWARD IV., EDWARD V., RICHARD III., HENRY VII. continued the same style.

From HENRY VIII. (1521) to GEORGE III. (1800) the royal style and t.i.tle was "* by the grace of G.o.d, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, king, Defender of the Faith."

From GEORGE III. (1800) to the present day it has been, "* by the grace of G.o.d, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, king, Defender of the Faith."

=Ru'bezahl=, Number Nip, a famous mountain-spirit of Germany corresponding to our Puck.

=Rubi=, one of the cherubs or spirits of wisdom who was with Eve in Paradise. He loved Liris, who was young, proud, and most eager for knowledge. She asked her angel lover to let her see him in his full glory; so Rubi came to her in his cherubic splendor. Liris, rus.h.i.+ng into his arms, was burnt to ashes; and the kiss she gave him became a brand upon his forehead, which shot unceasing agony into his brain.--T. Moore, _Loves of the Angels_, ii. (1822).

=Ru'bicon= (_Napoleon's_), Moscow. The invasion of Moscow was the beginning of Napoleon's fall.

Thou, Rome, who saw'st thy Caesar's deeds outdone!

Alas! why pa.s.sed he [_Napoleon_] too the Rubicon ...

Moscow! thou limit of his long career, For which rude Charles had wept his frozen tear.

Byron, _Age of Bronze_, v. (1821).

? Charles XII. of Sweden formed the resolution of humbling Peter the Great (1709).

=Rubo'nax=, a man who hanged himself from mortification and annoyance at some verses written upon him by a poet.--Sir P. Sidney, _Defence of Poesie_ (1595).

=Rubrick= (_The Rev. Mr._), chaplain to the baron of Bradwardine.--Sir W.

Scott, _Waverley_ (time, George II.).

=Ruby= (_Lady_), the young widow of Lord Ruby. Her "first love" was Frederick Mowbray, and when a widow she married him. She is described as "young, blooming and wealthy, fresh and fine as a daisy."--c.u.mberland, _First Love_ (1796).

=Rucellai= (_John_), _i.e._ Oricellarius, poet (1475-1525), son of Bernard Rucellai, of Florence, historian and diplomatist.

As hath been said by Rucellai.

Longfellow, _The Wayside Inn_ (prelude, 1863).

=Ruddymane= (3 _syl._), the name given by Sir Guyon to the babe rescued from Amavia, who had stabbed herself in grief at the death of her husband. So called because:

... in her streaming blood he [_the infant_] did embay his little hands.

Spenser, _Faery Queen_, ii. 1, 3 (1590).

=Rudge= (_Barnaby_), a half-witted young man of three and twenty years old; rather spare, of a fair height and strong make. His hair, of which he had a great profusion, was red and hung in disorder about his face and shoulders. His face was pale, his eyes gla.s.sy and protruding. His dress was green, clumsily trimmed here and there with gaudy lace. A pair of tawdry ruffles dangled at his wrists, while his throat was nearly bare. His hat was ornamented with a cl.u.s.ter of peac.o.c.k's feathers, limp, broken, and trailing down his back. Girded to his side was the steel hilt of an old sword, without blade or scabbard; and a few knee-ribbons completed his attire. He had a large raven named Grip, which he carried at his back in a basket, a most knowing imp, which used to cry out in a hoa.r.s.e voice, "Halloa!" "I'm a devil!" "Never say die!" "Polly, put the kettle on!"

Barnaby joined the Gordon rioters for the proud pleasure of carrying a flag and wearing a blue bow. He was arrested and lodged in Newgate, from whence he made his escape, with other prisoners, when the jail was burnt down by the rioters; but both he and his father and Hugh, being betrayed by Dennis, the hangman, were recaptured, brought to trial, and condemned to death, but by the influence of _Gabriel Varden_, the locksmith, the poor half-witted lad was reprieved, and lived the rest of his life with his mother in a cottage and garden near the Maypole.

Here he lived, tending the poultry and the cattle, working in a garden of his own, and helping every one. He was known to every bird and beast about the place, and had a name for every one. Never was there a lighter-hearted husbandman, a creature more popular with young and old, a blither and more happy soul than Barnaby.--Ch. lx.x.xii.