He is an imaginary personage, who is the embodiment of the peculiarities of the Russian people, in the same way as John Bull represents the English, and Johnny Crapaud the French character. He is described as a lazy, good-natured person.
292. Who is “John Bull”?
This is a well-known collective name of the English nation, first used in Arbuthnot’s satire, “The History of John Bull,” usually published in Swift’s works. In this satire, the French are designated as Lewis Baboon, the Dutch as Nicholas Frog, etc. The “History of John Bull” was designed to ridicule the Duke of Marlborough.
293. Who is “Peeping Tom of Coventry”?
This epithet is given to a person of ungovernable inquisitiveness. The term is said to have arisen thus: “The Countess Godiva, bearing an extraordinary affection to this place (Coventry), often and earnestly besought her husband (Leofric, Earl of Murcia), that, for the love of God and the blessed Virgin, he would free it from that grievous servitude whereunto it was subject; but he, rebuking her for importuning him in a matter so inconsistent with his profit, commanded that she should thenceforth forbear to move therein; yet she, out of her womanish pertinacity, continued to solicit him; insomuch that he told her if she would ride on horseback, naked, from one end of the town to the other, in the sight of all the people, he would grant her request. Whereunto she answered, ‘But will you give me leave so to do?’ And he replying ‘yes’ the noble lady, upon an appointed day, got on horseback, naked, with her hair loose, so that it covered all her body but her legs, and thus performing the journey, returned with joy to her husband, who therefore granted to the inhabitants a charter of freedom, which immunity I rather conceive to have been a kind of manumission from some such servile tenure, whereby they then held what they had under this great earl, than only a freedom from all manner of toll, except horses, as Knighton affirms.” It is said by Rapin, that the countess, previous to her riding, commanded all persons to keep within doors and from their windows on pain of death; but, notwithstanding this severe penalty, there was one person who could not forbear giving a look, out of curiosity; but it cost him his life.
294. What was the “Battle of Spurs”?
This name is given to the battle of Courtrai (1302), the first great engagement between the nobles and the burghers, which, with the subsequent battles of Bannockburn, Crecy, and Poictiers, decided the fate of feudalism. In this encounter the knights and gentlemen of France were entirely overthrown by the citizens of a Flemish manufacturing town. The French nobility rushed forward with loose bridles, and fell headlong, one after another, into an enormous ditch which lay between them and their enemies. The whole army was annihilated; and when the spoils were gathered, there were found 4,000 golden spurs to mark the extent of the knightly slaughter, and give a name to the engagement.
This name is also given to the affair at Guinegate, near Calais (1513), in which the English troops under Henry VIII. defeated the French forces. The allusion is said to be to the unusual energy of the beaten party in spurring off the field.
295. What city is called “Auld Reekie”?
This designation is given to Edinburgh on account of its smoky appearance, as seen from a distance; or, according to others, on account of the uncleanliness of its public streets.