Chapter Fighting Prelate to Fion of F by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Finality John, lord John Russell (afterwards “earl Russell”), who maintained that the Reform Bill of 1832 was a finality (1792–1878).

Finch (Margaret), queen of the gipsies, who died aged 109, A.D. 1740. She was born at Sutton, in Kent, and was buried at Beckenham, in the same county.

Fine-ear, one of the seven attendants of Fortunio. He could hear the grass grow, and even the wool on a sheep’s back.—Comtesse D’Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“Fortunio,” 1682).

In Grimm’s Goblins is the same fairy tale (“Fortunio”).

Finetor, a necromancer, father of the Enchantress Damsel.—Vasco de Lobeira: Amadis de Gaul (thirteenth century).

Finetta, “the cinder girl,” a fairy tale by the comtesse D’Aulnoy (1682). This is merely the old tale of Cinderella slightly altered. Finetta was the youngest of three princesses, despised by them, and put to all sorts of menial work. The two sisters went to balls, and left Finetta at home in charge of the house. One day she found a gold key, which opened a wardrobe full of most excellent dresses; so, arraying herself in one, she followed her sisters to the ball, but she was so fine that they knew her not, and she ran home before them. This occurred two or three times, but at last, in running home, she lost one of her slippers. The young prince resolved to marry her alone whose foot fitted the slipper, and Finetta became his wife. Finetta was also called Auricula or “Fine-ear.”

Fingal (or Fion na Gael).

His father was Comhal or Combal, and his mother Morna.

(Comhal was the son of Trathal king of Morven, and Morna was the daughter of Thaddu.)

His first wife was Roscrana, mother of Ossian. His second was Clatho, mother of Fillan, etc.

(Roscrana was the daughter of Cormac I. third king of Ireland.)

His daughter was Bosmina, and his sons Ossian, Fillan, Ryno, and Fergus. (The son of Ossian was Oscar.)

(Fillan was younger than his nephew Oscar, and both, together with Ryno, were slain in battle before Fingal died.)

His bard and herald was Ullin. His sword Luno, so called from its maker, Luno of Lochlin (Denmark). His dog was named “Bran.”

His kingdom was Morven (the north-west ceast of Scotland); his capital Semo; his subjects were Caledonians or Gaels.

The old Celtic romances picture him not so much a king as the warrior to whom and his heroes all Erin looked for deliverance from their foreign foes. His standing army were a kind of militia called Feni, and it is from them the Fenians derive their name.

After the restoration of Ferad-Artho to the throne of Ireland, Fingal “resigned his spear to Ossian,” and he died A.D. 283.

Fingal, an epic in six books, by Ossian. The subject is the invasion of Ireland by Swaran king of Lochlin (Denmark) during the reign of Cormac II. (a minor), and its deliverance by the aid of Fingal king of Morven (north-west coast of Scotland). The poem opens with the overthrow of Cuthullin general of the Irish forces, and concludes with the return of Swaran to his own land.