Chapter Barnaby to Baruch of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Barons (The Last of the), an historical novel by lord Lytton (1843). Supposed to be during the time of the “Wars of the Roses.” The hero is Richard Neville earl of Warwick, called the “King-Master,” whose downfall is the main gist of the story. It is an excellent romance.

Barons (Wars of the), an insurrection of the barons against Henry III. It broke out in 1262, and terminated in 1265, when Simon de Montfort was slain n the battle of Evesham.

Sometimes the uprising of the barons (1215–1216) to compel king John to sign Magna Charta, is called “The Barons’ War,” or “The War of the Barons.”

Barrabas, the rich “Jew of Malta.” He is simply a human monster, who kills in sport, poisons whole nunneries, and invents infernal machines. Shakespeare’s “Shylock” has a humanity in the very whirlwind of his resentment, but Marlowe’s “Barrabas” is a mere ideal of that “thing” which Christian prejudice once deemed a Jew. (See Barabas, p. 87.)—Marlowe: The Jew of Malta (1586).

Barrabas, the famous robber and murderer set free instead of Christ by desire of the Jews. Called in the New Testament Barabbas. Marlowe calls the word “Barrabas” in his Jew of Malta; and Shakespeare says—

Would any of the stock of Barrabas
Had been her husband, rather than a Christian!
   —Merchant of Venice, act iv. sc. 1 (1598).

Barry Cornwall, the pseudonym of Bryan Waller Procter. It is an imperfect anagram of his name (1788–1874).

Barsad (John), alias Solomon Pross, a spy.

He had an aquiline nose, but not straight, having a peculiar inclination towards the left cheek; expression, therefore, sinister.—Dickens: A Tale of Two Citie ii. 16 (1859).

Barsisa (Santon), in The Guardian, the basis of the story called The Monk, by M. G. Lewis (1796).

Barston, alias captain Fenwicke, a jesuit and secret correspondent of the countess of Derby.—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Bartholomew (Brother), guide of the two Philipsons on their way to Strasburg.—Sir W. Scott: Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Bartholomew (St.). His day is August 24, and his symbol a knife, in allusion to the knife with which he is said to have been flayed alive.

Bartholomew Fair, a comedy by Ben Jonson (1614). It gives a good picture of the manners and amusements of the times.

Bartholomew Massacre. The great slaughter of the French huguenots [protestants] in the reign of Charles IX., begun on St. Bartholomew’s Eve, 1572, In this persecution we are told some 30,000 persons were massacred in cool blood. Some say more than double that number.

Bartholomew Pigs. Nares says these pigs were real animals roasted and sold piping hot in the Smithfield fair. Dr. Johnson thinks they were the “tidy boar-pigs” made of flour with currants for their eyes. Falstaff calls himself

A little tidy Bartholomew boar-pig.
   —Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV. act ii. sc. 4 (1598).

Bartoldo, a rich old miser, who died of fear and want of sustenance. Fazio rifled his treasures, and, at the accusation of his own wife, was tried and executed.—Dean Milman: Fazio (1815).