Chapter Goosey Goderich to Gottlieb of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

conseiller Matthieu; l’ouvrage est de valeur,
Et pein de beaux dictons à réciter par cœur.
   —Molière: Sganarelle (1660).

Gorloïs, said by some to be the fat her of king Arthur. He was lord of Tintagel Castle, in Cornwall; his wife was Igrayne or Igerna, and one of his daughters (Bellicent) was, according to some authorities, the wife of Lot king of Orkney.

Gorloïs was not the father of Arthur, although his wife (Igerna or Igrayne) was his mother.

Then all the kings asked Merlin, “For what cause is that beardless boy Arthur made king?” “Sirs, said Merlin, “because he is king Uther’s son, born in wedlock. … More than three hours after the death of Gorlois did the king wed the fair Igrayne.”— Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i, 2. 6 (1470).

[Uther] was sorry for the death of Gorlois, but rejoiced that Igerna was now at liberty to marry again … they continued to live together with much affection and had a son and daughter, whose names were Arthur and Anne.—Geoffrey: British History, iii. 20 (1142).

It is quite impossible to reconcile the contradictory accounts of Arthur’s sister and Lot’s wife. Tennyson says Bellicent, but the tales compiled by sir T. Malory all give Margause. Thus in La Mort d’Arthur, i. 2, we read, “King Lot of Lothan and of Orkeney wedded Margawse [Arthur’s sister]” (pt. i. 36), “whose sons were Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth;” but Tennyson says Gareth was “the last tall son of Lot and Bellicent.”

Gormal, the mountain range of Sevo.

Her arm was white like Gormal’s snow; her bosom whiter than the foam of the main when roll the waves beneath the wrath of winds.—Fragment of a Norse Tale.

Gosh, the Right Hon. Charles Arbuth not, the most confidential friend of the duke of Wellington, with whom he lived.

Gosling (Giles), landlord of the Black Bear inn, near Cumnor Place.

Cicely Gosling, daughter of Giles.—Sir W. Scott: Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Gospel Doctor (The), John Wycliffe (1324–1384).

Gospel of the Golden Rule, “Do as you would be done by,” or “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them.”—Luke vi. 31.

He preached to all men everywhere
The Gospel of the Golden Rule.
   —Longfellow: The Wayside Inn (prelude).

Gospeller (The Hot), Dr. R. Barnes, burnt at Smithfield, 1540.

Gossamer (i.e. God’s seam or thread). The legend is that gossamer is the ravellings of the Virgin Mary’s winding-sheet, which fell away on her ascension into heaven.

Gossips (Prince of), Samuel Pepys, noted for his gossiping Diary, commencing January 1, 1659, and continued for nine years (1632–1703).

Goswin, a rich merchant of Bruges, who is in reality Florez, son of Gerrard king of the beggars. His mistress, Bertha, the supposed daughter of Vandunke the burgomaster of Bruges, is in reality the daughter of the duke of Brabant.—Fletcher: The Beggar’s Bush (1622).