AN EXPLANATORY INDEX OF TECHNICAL AND OTHER TERMS. ABORIGINES-primitive inhabitants of a country. Accession-arriving at or coming to a throne. Annals-history arranged in order of time. Annuity-yearly rents. Antiphoners-books of church music. Apparatus-means made use of. Aristocracy-the body of the nobles, or government by the nobles. Augury-foretelling future events by the entrails of birds, &c. Auricular-secret, private, in the ear. Auspices-patronage, direction. Barons-lords, the aristocracy. Benefices-ecclesiastical possessions or livings. Bill of attainder-a bill which finds guilty or attaints. Boom-a bar laid across a harbour. Broadsides-shot fired from the whole of one side of a ship. Cabals-intrigues, persons assembled to plot. Cashiered-dismissed disgracefully. Celtic, Celts-the first people who made an irruption into Europe Chantries-places or chapels endowed to sing mass for souls. Charters-privileges. Chivalry-knighthood under the feudal government. Coifs-a sort of caps. Conference--a meeting of ecclesiastics. Conformity-agreeing with in religion. Congress a meeting of ambassadors to settle the concerns of nations. Consistorial-relating to an ecclesiastical court. Contraband-prohibited, forbidden, illegal. Covenanters-men who swore to certain covenants during the Crusade-military expedition against the Mahometans Cure of souls-the employment of a priest in a parish. Deacon-one of the major orders of the clergy, the next dignity to that of priest. Democrat-one who upholds a mob government. Desperadoes-violent, blood-thirsty men. Diocese the circuit containing the bishop's jurisdiction. Domiciliary-entering into private houses. Emissaries-spies, messengers. Entail-the rule of descent or accession settled so that it cannot be altered by the next possessor. Entrenchments-works fortified by a ditch or trench. Episcopacy-government of bishops. Escalade-climbing the walls. Exchequer the court for the revenues of the crown. Falconer-one who trains hawks Fanatics-persons with unreasonable and wild notions of religion. Farthingale-a hoop used to spread the petticoats. Fealty-duty or faith due to a superior lord. Feuds-quarrels. Finances-the revenue or income of the state. First-fruits-profits of a benefice for one year. Flank-the side of a battalion of soldiers. Flanked-exposed at the side to the fire of the enemy. Galleys-low flat vessels driven by oars. Gaul-the country now called France. Generalissimo-the general having the chief command. Guilds-corporations, societies of trades, &c. Habeas Corpus-an act which obliges the government to bring any Hangings of arras-cloth woven in regular figures. Hierarchy-a regular subordination of dignities in the churcn. Hide of land-containing about 100 acres. Illumination-adorned by painting figures, &c. Independents-a sect that holds that every separate congregation Institution-put in possession of a benefice, &c. Interregnum-the time in which a throne is vacant between the Investitures-the right of giving possession to a living or benefice. Jesuits-a religious order in the Catholic Church. Lampreys a kind of eels. Lapse-to fall by degrees from one proprietor to another. Legate-the pope's ambassador. Legion-a body of Roman soldiers, consisting of about 5,000 men. Lower House-House of Commons. Manoeuvres-skilful and unexpected action. Marauders-soldiers who, without orders, plunder. Mercenaries-soldiers hired for pay from foreign parts. Missals-books of the mass. Missionaries-persons sent to propagate religion. Monopoly-the power of selling commodities to the exclusion of Mortgages-pledges put into the hands of a creditor as security. Noviciate the time spent before the vow. Oligarchy-government of a small number. Opera-a theatre where pieces are represented by vocal and in- Palatinate-places possessing royal grants or privileges. Papal constitution-orders and regulations from the see of Rome. Pensioner guards—a band of gentlemen to guard the sovereign. Pillion-a soft saddle set behind a horseman for a female to ride on. Placarded-fixed up, posted up. Preliminaries-articles agreed upon before peace. Presbyterian-a sect who disown episcopacy. Prime mart-principal market. Privateers-vessels of war fitted out to take merchant vessels. Process-a course of law. Protest-a solemn declaration against. Protomartyr-the first martyr. Puns and quibbles-the same words used in different senses. Quartered-soldiers lodged. Quintal-a hundred-weight, one hundred and twelve pounds. Quoits a game of throwing a weight to a distance at a certain mark. Rack-an engine of torture. Razed-to throw buildings to the ground. Records-authentic memorials. Refusing quarter-putting to death prisoners in battle. Regicides-king-killers. Regular clergy-clergy under rules and vows in communities. Ruff-puckered linen, worn round the neck. See a diocese of a bishop. Sessions-an assembly of judges sitting. Sheriff a county officer, to execute the law Shrines-cases in which are deposited the relics of saints. struck by a ball of wood. Squadron--a number of ships under one command. Standard purity-tried by the test established by law. Subdeacon-next order below a deacon. Subsidies-money granted to a government. Sumptuary laws-regulating the expense and manner of dress. Synod-an assembly of ecclesiastics. Tassels-a bunch of silk, &c. for ornaments, Tennis-a game at which a ball is struck by a racket or battledore. Tonnage and poundage-money paid as tax upon merchandise. Train bands-militia soldiers. Transports-vessels of carriage, principally to convey troops. Van-the front. Vassal-one who depends on a superior. Vicars general, Archdeacons-persons who, in certain things, supply the place of bishops. PRINTED BY RICHARDSON AND SON, DERBY. |