Chapter Galatea to Gamelyn of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Galligantus, the giant who lived with Hocus-Pocus the conjurer. When Jack the Giant-killer blew the magic horn, both the giant and conjurer were overthrown.—Jack the Giant-killer.

Gallo-Belgicus, an annual register in Latin, first published in 1598.

It is believed …
As if ’twere writ in Gallo-Belgicus.
   —T. May: The Heir (1615).

Gallo-mania, a furor for everything French. Generally applied to that vile imitation of French literature and customs which prevailed in Germany in the time of Frederick II. of Prussia. It is very conspicuous in the writings of Wieland (1733–1813).

Galloping Dick, Richard Ferguson the highwayman, executed in 1800.

Galloway (A), a small nag of the breed which originally came from Galloway, in Scotland.

Galloway (The Fair Maid of), Margaret, only daughter of Archibald fifth earl of Douglas. She married her cousin William, to whom the earldom passed in 1443. After the death of her first husband, she married his brother James (the last earl of Douglas).

Gallowglasses, heavy-armed Irish foot-soldiers; their chief weapon was the pole-axe. They were “grim of countenance, tall of stature, big of limb, lusty of body, and strongly built.” The light-armed foot-soldiers were called “Kerns” or “Kernes” .

The multiplying villainies of nature
Do swarm upon him; from the western isles
Of Kernes and Gallowglasses [he’s] supplied.
   —Shakespeare: Macbeth, act i. sc. 2 (1606).

Gallura’s Bird, the cock, which was the cognizance of Gallura.

For her so fair a burial will not make
The viper [the Milanese, whose ensign was a viper]
As had been made by shrill Gallura’s bird.
   —Dante: Purgatory, viii. (1308).

Galway Jury, an independent jury, neither to be brow-beaten nor led by the nose. In 1635, certain trials were held in Ireland, respecting the right of the Crown to the counties of Ireland. Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo, and Mayo gave judgment in favour of the Crown, but Galway stood out, whereupon each of the jury was fined £4000.

Gama (Vasco da), the hero of Camoëns’s Lusiad. Sagacious, intrepid, tender-hearted, pious, and patriotic. He was the first European navigator who doubled the Cape of Good Hope (1497).

Gama, captain of the venturous band,
Of bold emprise, and born for high command,
Whose martial fires, with prudence close allied,
Ensured the smiles of fortune on his side.
   —Camoëns: Lusiad, i. (1569).

Gama is also the hero of Meyerbeer’s posthumous opera called L’Africane (1865).

Game and Playe of Chesse (The), by Caxton. The first book printed in England (1471).

Gamelyn , youngest of the three sons of sir Johan di Boundys, who, on his death-bed, left “five plowes of land” to each of his two elder sons, and the residue of his property to the youngest. The eldest son took charge of Gamelyn, but entreated him shamefully. On one occasion he said to him, “Stand still, gadelyng, and hold thy peace.” To which the proud boy retorted, “I am no gadelyng, but the lawful son of a lady and true knight.” On this, the elder brother sent his servants to chastise him, but he drove them off “with a pestel.” Not long after, Gamelyn asked his brother to lend him a horse that he might attend a wrestling-match. This he did, and “bysought Jhesu Crist that Gamelyn might breke his nekke.” At the wrestling-match young Gamelyn threw the champion, and carried off the prize ram; and on his return home in triumph, he invited his followers to a banquet, which lasted seven days. When the guests were gone, Johan, by treachery, had Gamelyn bound to a tree, and kept him without food for two days,