Chapter Green Howards to Gretna Green Marriages of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Green Howards to Gretna Green Marriages

Green Howards (The), the 10th Foot. So called from the Hon. Charles Howard, their colonel from 1738 to 1748.

Green Isle (The) or The Emerald Isle, Ireland.

A pugnacity characteristic of the Green Isle.—Sir W. Scott.

Green Knight (The), sir Pertolope, called by Tennyson “Evening Star” or “Hesperus.” He was one of the four brothers who kept the passages of Castle Perilous, and was overthrown by sir Gareth.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i. 127 (1470); Tennyson: Idylls (“Gareth and Lynette”).

N.B.—It is evidently a blunder of Tennyson to call the Green Knight “Evening Star,” and the Blue Knight “Morning Star.” In the old romance the combat with the “Green Knight” was at dawn, and with the “Blue Knight” at sunset. (See Notes and Queries, February 16, 1878.)

Green Knight (The), a pagan knight, who demanded Fezon in marriage, but, being overcome by Orson, was obliged to resign his claim.—Valentine and Orson (fifteenth century).

Green Lettuce Lane [St. Lawrence, Poultney], a corruption of “Green Lattice;” so called from the green lattice gate which used to open into Cannon Street.

Green Linnets, the 39th Foot, now the Dorsetshire Regiment. In point of fact, the line battalions have white facings and scarlet uniforms; the volunteer battalion has a green uniform with scarlet facings; and the Cadet Corps (Sherborne School) has the same uniform and facings as the line battalions, scarlet and white.

Green Man (The). The man who used to let off fireworks was so called in the reign of James I.

Have you any squibs, any green man in yourshows?
   —John Kirke [R. Johnson]: The Seven Champions of Christendom (1617).

Green Man (The), a gentleman’s gamekeeper, at one time clad in green.

But the green man shall I pass by unsung?…
A squire’s attendant clad in keeper’s green.
   —Crabbe: Borough (1810).

Greenhalgh, messenger of the earl of Derby.—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Greenhorn (Mr. Gilbert), an attorney, in partnership with Mr. Gabriel Grinderson.

Mr. Gernigo Greenhorn, father of Mr. Gilbert.—Sir W. Scott: The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Greenland, a poem in heroic verse, in rhymes, by James Montgomery (1819). It contains four cantos.

Greenleaf (Gilbert), the old archer at Douglas Castle.—Sir W. Scott: Castle Dangerous (time, Henry I.).

Gregory, a faggot-maker of good education, first at a charity school, then as waiter on an Oxford student, and then as the fag of a travelling physician. When compelled to act the doctor, he says the disease of his patient arises from “propria quæ maribus tribuuntur mascula dicas, ut sunt divorum, Mars, Bacchus, Apollo, virorum.” And when sir Jasper says, “I always thought till now that the heart is on the left side, and the liver on the right,” he replies, “Ay, sir, so they were formerly, but we have changed all that.” In Molière’s comedy, Le Médecin Malgré Lui, Gregory is called “Sganarelle,” and all these jokes are in act ii. sc. 6.—Fielding: The Mock Doctor.