Chapter Eclecta to Edric of E by Brewer's Readers Handbook

EDGAR (959–975), “king of all the English,” was not crowned till he had reigned thirteen years (A.D. 973). Then the ceremony was performed at Bath. After this he sailed to Chester, and eight of his vassal kings came with their fleets to pay him homage, and swear fealty to him by land and sea. The eight are Kenneth (king of Scots), Malcolm (of Cumberland), Maccus (of the Isles), and five Welsh princes, whose names were Dufnal, Siferth, Huwal, Jacob, and Juchil. The eight kings rowed Edgar in a boat (while he acted as steersman) from Chester to St. John’s, where they offered prayer, and then returned.

At Chester, while he [Edgar] lived, at more than kingly charge,
Eight tributary kings there rowed him in his barge.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, xii. (1613).

Edgar, son of Gloucester, and his lawful heir. He was disinherited by Edmund, natural son of the earl.—Shakespeare: King Lear (1605).

This was one of the characters of Robert Wilks (1670–1732), and also of Charles Kemble (1774–1854).

Edgar, master of Ravenswood, son of Allan of Ravenswood (a decayed Scotch nobleman). Lucy Ashton, being attacked by a wild bull, was saved by Edgar, who shot it; and the two, falling in love with each other, plighted their mutual troth, and exchanged love-tokens at the “Mermaid’s Fountain.” While Edgar was absent in France on State affairs, sir William Ashton, being deprived of his office as lord keeper, was induced to promise his daughter Lucy in marriage to Frank Hayston, laird of Bucklaw, and they were married; but next morning, Bucklaw was found wounded, and the bride hidden in the chimney- corner, insane. Lucy died in convulsions, but Bucklaw recovered and went abroad. Edgar was lost in the quicksands at Kelpies Flow, in accordance with an ancient prophecy.—Sir W. Scott: Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

In the opera, Edgar is made to stab himself.

Edgar, an attendant on prince Robert of Scotland.—Sir W. Scott: Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Edgardo, master of Ravenswood, in love with Lucia di Lammermoor [Lucy Ashton]. While absent in France on State affairs, the lady is led to believe him faithless, and consents to marry the laird of Bucklaw; but she stabs him on the bridal night, goes mad, and dies. Edgardo also stabs himself.—Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (1835).

N.B.—In the novel called The Bride of Lammermoor, by sir W. Scott, Edgar is lost in the quicksands at Kelpies Flow, in accordance with an ancient prophecy.

Edgeworth (L’Abbé), who attended Louis XVI. to the scaffold, was called “Mons. de Firmount,” a corruption of Fairymount, in Longford (Ireland), where the Edgeworths had extensive domains.

Edging (Mistress), a prying, mischief-making waiting-woman, in The Careless Husband, by Colley Cibber (1704).

Edina, a poetical form of the word Edinburgh. It was first employed by Buchanan (1506–1582).

And pale Edina shuddered at the sound.
   —Byron: English Bards and Scotch Reviewers (1809).

Edinburgh, a corruption of Edwinsburg, the fort built by Edwin king of Northumbria (616–633).

Dun-Edin or Dunedin is a mere translation of Edinburgh. Dun = berg = hill. Edwinstowe, or Edwin’s seat.

Edinburgh Review (The), started in 1802 by Francis Jeffrey (afterwards lord Jeffrey) and others.

EDITH, daughter of Baldwin the tutor of Rollo and Otto dukes of Normandy.—Beaumont: The Bloody Brother (published 1639).