Sheffield.
Blackguard.—When did this word Come into use, and from what?
Beaumont and Fletcher, in the Elder Brother, use it thus:—
"It is a Faith
That we will die in, since from the blackguard
To the grim sir in office, there are few
Hold other tenets."
Thomas Hobbes, in his Microcosmus, says,—
"Since my lady's decay I am degraded from a cook and I fear the devil himself will entertain me but for one of his blackguard, and he shall be sure to have his roast burnt."
JARLTZBERG.