Chapter Joan to John of J by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Joan to John

Joan (Pope). A supposed female "pope" between Leo IV. and Benedict III. She is said to have been born in England and educated at Cologne, passing under the name of Joannes Anglicus (John of England). Blondel, a Calvinist, wrote a book in 1640 to prove that no such person ever occupied the papal chair; but at least a hundred and fifty authors between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries repeat the tale as an historic fact. The last person who critically examined the question was Döllinger, in 1868. (See Historic Note Book, 701-2, for authorities pro and con.)

Joan Cromwell Joan Cromwell's kitchen-stuff tub. A tub of kitchen perquisites. The filchings of servants sold for "market pennies." The Royalists used to call the Protector's wife, whose name was Elizabeth, Joan Cromwell, and declared that she exchanged the kitchen-stuff of the palace for tallow candles.

Joan of Arc or Jeanne la Pucelle. M. Octave Delepierre has published a pamphlet, called Doute Historique, to deny the tradition that Joan of Arc was burnt at Rouen for sorcery. He cites a document discovered by Father Vignier in the seventeenth century, in the archives of Metz, to prove that she became the wife of Sieur des Armoise, with whom she resided at Metz, and became the mother of a family. Vignier subsequently found in the family muniment-chest the contract of marriage between "Robert des Armoise, knight, and Jeanne D'Arcy, surnamed the Maid of Orleans." In 1740 there were found in the archives of the Maison de Ville (Orléans) records of several payments to certain messengers from Joan to her brother John, bearing the dates 1435, 1436. There is also the entry of a presentation from the council of the city to the Maid, for her services at the siege (dated 1439). M. Delepierre has brought forward a host of other documents to corroborate the same fact, and show that the tale of her martyrdom was invented to throw odium on the English. A sermon is preached annually in France towards the beatification of the Maid, who will eventually become the patron saint of that nation, and Shakespeare will prove a true prophet in the words -

"No longer on St. Denis will we cry,
But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint."

Joannes Hagustaldensis is John, Prior of Hexham, author of an old English Chronicle, and Lives of the Bishops of Hexham, in two books.

Job (o long). The personification of poverty and patience. "Patient as Job," in allusion to the patriarch whose history is given in the Bible.
   Poor as Job. Referring to the patriarch when he was by Satan deprived of all his worldly possessions.

"I am as poor as Job, my lord, but not so patient." -
Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV., i. 2.

Job's Comforter One who pretends to sympathise in your grief, but says that you brought it on yourself; thus in reality adding weight to your sorrow. (See above.)
   Job's wife. Some call her Rahmat, daughter of Ephraim, son of Joseph; and others call her Makhir, daughter of Manasses. (Sale: Korân xxi., note.)
   She is also called by some Sitis; and a tradition exists that Job, at the command of God, struck the earth with his foot from the dunghill where he lay, and instantly there welled up a spring of water with which his wife washed his sores, and they were miraculously healed. (Korân, xxxvi. 41.)

Job's Pound Bridewell; prison.

Job (o short) A job is a piece of chance work; a public work or office not for the public benefit, but for the profit of the person employed; a sudden blow or "dig" into one.
   A bad job. An unsuccessful work; one that brings loss instead of profit; a bad speculation.
   To do the job for one. To kill him.

Job (o short). A ministerial job. Sheridan says: - "Whenever any emolument, profit, salary, or honour is conferred on any person not deserving it - that is a job; if from private friendship, personal attachment, or any view except the interest of the public, anyone is appointed to any public office ... that is a job."

"No cheek is known to blush, or heart to throb,
Save when they lose a question or a job."
Pope: Essay on Criticism, i. 104.

Job Lot (A). A lot of miscellaneous goods to be sold a bargain.