Little French Lawyer (The), a comedy by Beaumont and Fletcher (1647). The person so called is La Writ, a wrangling French advocate.
Little Gentleman in Velvet (To the), a favorite Jacobite toast in the reign of Queen Anne. The reference is to the mole that raised the hill against which the horse of William III. stumbled while riding in the park of Hampton Court. By this accident the king broke his collar-bone, a severe illness ensued, and he died early in 1702.
Little (Henry), young inventor and mechanic, persecuted by the Trades Unions, driven to set up a forge in a disused church, and resort to other means to conceal the fact that he is doing honest work in an honest man’s way, carrying on a love affair at the same time. He is nearly murdered by the emissaries of the “Union,” spirited away, and comes to light again just in time to vindicate his loyalty to his fianceé, who has been duped into a form of marriage with another man.—Charles Reade, Put Yourself in His Place.
Little John, (whose surname was Nailor), the fidus Achatês of Robin Hood.[Hood.] He could shoot an arrow a measured mile and somewhat more. So could Robin Hood; but no other man ever lived who could perform the same feat. In one of the Robin Hood ballads we are told that the name of this free-shooter was John Little, and that Wiliam Stutely, in merry mood, reversed the names.
“O, here is my hand,” the stranger replyed;
“I’ll serve you with all my whole heart.
My name is John Little, a man of good mettle;
Ne’er doubt me, for I play my part.”
He was, I must tell you, full seven foot high,
And maybe an ell in the waste....