Chapter Torquil of the Oak to Touchstone of T by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Torquil of the Oak to Touchstone

Torquil of the Oak, foster-father of Eachin M’Ian. He was chief of the clan Quhele, and had eight sons, the finest men in the clan. Torquil was a seer, who was supposed to have communication with the invisible world, and he declared a demon had told him that Eachin or Hector M’Ian was the only man in the two hostile clans of Chattan and Quhele who would come off scathless in the approaching combat (ch. xxvi.).—Sir W. Scott: Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

A parallel combat is described in The Cid. When Sancho o f Castile was stabbed by Bellido of Zamora, Diego Ordoñez, of the house of Lara, challenged five of the knights of Zamora to single combat. Don Arias Gonzalo and his four sons accepted the challenge. Pedro Arias was first slain, then his brother Diego. Next came Herman, who received a mortal wound, but struck the charger of Diego Ordoñez. The charger, furious with pain, carried its rider beyond the lists, and the combat was declared to be drawn. (See Horatius (Publius), p. 503.)

Torralba (Dr.), carried by the spirit Cequiel from Valladolid to Rome and back again in an hour and a half. He was tried by the Inquisition for sorcery (time, Charles V.).—J. de Ossau Pellicer (seventeenth century). (See Toralva, p. 1121.)

Torre (Sir), son of sir Bernard, baron of Astolat. His brother was sir Lavaine, and his sister Elaine “the lily maid of Astolat.” He was blunt-mannered, but not without kindness of heart.—Tennyson: Idylls of the King (“Elaine”).

(The word “Torre” is a blunder for Tirre. Sir Torre or Tor, according to Arthurian legend, was the natural son of Pellinore king of Wales, “begotten on Aries’ wife, the cowherd” (pt. ii. 108). It was sir Tirre who was the brother of Elaine (pt. iii. 122).—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, 1470.)

Torrismond, general of the forces of Aragon. He falls in love with Leonora the usurping queen, promised in marriage to Bertran prince of the blood-royal, but she falls in love with Torrismond, who turns out to be the son of Sancho the deposed king. Ultimately, Sancho is restored, and Leonora is married to Torrismond.—Dryden: Spanish Fryar (1680).

Torso Farnase , Dircê and her sons, the work of Appollonius and Tauriscus of Rhodes.

Toshach Beg, the “second” of M’Gillie Chattanach chief of the clan Chattan in the great combat.—Sir W. Scott: Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Tothill or Tuttle, Westminster, said to be a corruption of Teut’s Hill, i.e. the Saxon god Mercury, called Teut. “Hermit’s Hill” or “Ermin’s Hill,” in the vicinity, is said to be the same word under the corrupted classic form of Hermês, which also means Mercury.

Tottenham in Boots, a popular toast in Ireland in 1731. Mr. Tottenham gave the casting vote which threw out a Government bill very obnoxious to the Irish, on the subject of the Irish parliament. He had come from the country, and rushed into the House, without changing his boots, just in time to give his vote, which prevented the bill from passing by a majority of one.

Totterly (Lord), an Adonis of 60, and a ci-devant Jeune Homme.—Selby: The Unfinished Gentleman.

Tottipottymoy, a “Hoghan Moghan,” or mock mightiness, like the mayor of Garratt, or the king of the Cannibal Islands.

The mighty Tottipottymoy
Sent to our elders an envoy,
Complaining sorely of the breach
Of league.
   —S. Butler: Hudibras, ii. 2 (1664).

Touch, quality. “Of noble touch,” of noble quality. The reference is to the touchstone by which gold is tried. Gold articles made according to the rules of alloy are called of “a true touch.” The “touch of Paris”