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

Bartole, a French lawyer of the fourteenth century, whose authority amongst French barristers is equal to that of Blackstone in our own courts. Hence the French proverb, He knows his “Bartole” as well as a cordelier his “Dormi.” The Dormi is an anonymous compilation of sermons, for the use of the cordeliers, or preaching monks.

Bartole, or Bartolus of Sasso-Ferrato, in Umbria (1313–1356), practised law in Pisa and Perouse. His great book was Commentaries on the Corpus Juris Civilis. Bartole was called “The Coryphoeus of the Interpreters of Law.”

Bartole or Bartoldo, a man who sees nothing in anything, quite used up. This is not the lawyer referred to above, but Bartoldo or Bartole, the hero of an Italian tale by Crocê, and very popular in the early part of the seventeenth century. This Bartoldo was a comedian by profession, and replies to everything, “I see nothing in it.” He treats kings and princes with no more ceremony than he does beggars and sweeps. From this character comes the French phrase, Résolu comme Bartole, “qui veut dire, un homme qui rien ne déconcerte.”—Hilaire de Gai.

Bartolus, a covetous lawyer, husband of Amaranta.—Fletcher: The Spanish Curate (1622).

Barton (Sir Andrew), a Scotch sea-officer, who had obtained in 1511 letters of marque for himself and his two sons, to make reprisals upon the subjects of Portugal. The council-board of England, at which the earl of Surrey presided, was daily pestered by complaints from British merchants and sailors against Barton, and at last it was decided to put him down. Two ships were therefore placed under the commands of sir Thomas and sir Edward Howard—an engagement took place, and sir Andrew Barton was slain, bravely fighting. A ballad in two parts, called “Sir Andrew Barton,” is inserted in Percy’s Reliques, II. ii. 12.

Baruch. Dites, donc, avez-vous lu Baruch? Said when a person puts an unexpected question, or makes a startling proposal. It arose thus: Lafontaine went one day with Racine to tenebræ, and was given a Bible. He turned at random to the “Prayer of the Jews,” in Baruch, and was so struck with it that he said aloud to Racine, “Dites, donc, who was this Baruch? Why, do you know, man, he was a fine genius;” and for some days afterwards the first question he asked his friends was, Dites, donc, Mons., avez- vous lu Baruch?