Chapter Gibson to Gilla Dacker and his Horse of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Gilbert with the White Hand, one of the companions of Robin Hood, mentioned often in The Lyttell Geste of Robyn Hode (fytte v. and vii.).

Thair saw I Maitlaind upon auld Beird Gray,
Robene Hude, and Gilbert “with the quhite hand,”
Quhom Hay of Nauchton slew in Madin-land.
   —Scottish Poems, i. 122.

Gilbertscleugh, cousin to lady Margaret Bellenden.—Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Gildas (The Wise), author of the chronicle De Excidio Britanniœ, first printed in 1525, utterly worthless as a history, extremely dull, meagre, and obscure. His book may be divided into two periods: (1) from the invasion of Britain by the Romans; and (2) from the revolt of Maximus to his own time. (He lived 493–570.)

Gildas de Ruys (St.), near Vannes, in France. This monastery was founded in the sixth century by St. Gildas “the Wise.” Birth and death dates uncertain.

For some of us knew a thing or two
In the abbey of St. Gildas de Ruys.
   —Longfellow: The Golden Legend.

Gilderoy, a famous robber. There were two of the name, both handsome Scotchmen, both robbers, and both were hanged. One lived in the seventeenth century, and “had the honour” of robbing cardinal Richelieu and Oliver Cromwell. The other was born in Roslin, in the eighteenth century, and was executed in Edinburgh for “stealing sheep, horses, and oxen.” In the Percy Reliques, I. iii. 12 is the lament of Gilderoy’s widow at the execution of her “handsome” and “winsome” Gilderoy; and Campbell has a ballad on the same subject. Both are entitled Gilderoy, and refer to the latter robber; but in Thomson’s Orpheus Caledonius, ii. is a copy of the older ballad.

Thomson’s ballad places Gilderoy in the reign of Mary “queen of Scots,” but this is not consistent with the tradition of his robbing Richelieu and Cromwell. We want a third Gilderoy for the reign of queen Mary—one living in the sixteenth century.

Higher than Gilderoy’s Kite. According to ancient custom, the greater the crime, the higher the gallows. Hence Haman was hanged on a very high gibbet. The gallows of Montrose was 30 feet high; and the ballad says of Gilderoy—

Of Gilderoy sae fraid they were,
They bound him mickle strong,
Tull Edenburrow they led him thair,
And on a gallows hung;
They hung him high above the rest
He was so trim a boy. …

“Higher than Gilderoy’s kite.” Gilderoy was raised so high that he was like a kite in the air.

Gilding a Boy. Leo XII. killed the boy Mortara by gilding him all over to adorn a pageant.

Gildippe, wife of Edward an English baron, who accompanied her husband to Jerusalem, and performed prodigies of valour in the war (bk. ix.). Both she and her husband were slain by Solyman (bk. xx.).—Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

GILES, a farmer in love with Patty, “the maid of the mill,” who was promised to him by her father; but Patty refuses to marry him. Ultimately, the “maid of the mill” marries lord Aimworth. Giles is a blunt, well-meaning, working farmer, of no education, no refinement, no notion of the amenities of social life.—Bicker- staff: The Maid of the Mill (1765).

Giles , serving-boy to Claud Halcro.—Sir W. Scott: The Pirate (time, William III.).

Giles , warder of the Tower.— Sir W. Scott: Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Giles, jailer of sir Reginald Front de Bœuf.—Sir W. Scott: Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).