The two brothers married two sisters. Both the wives were false. Clytemnestra became the mistress of the regent Ægisthos, and Helen eloped with Paris, son of Priam king of Troy.

Ag'apæ. Originally love feasts, in which contributions for the poor brethren were made. These feasts were held after the communion service. Afterwards, they were degraded into wakes, took the place of the heathen Parentalis, and were held at the tombs of relatives or 'saints.' Great efforts were mude to abolish these unseemly gatherings, but they continued even into the 18th cent.

Enjoined by the council of Gangra, A.D. 840; forbidden by the council of Laodicea in 366; by the council of Carthage in 307; by the council of Orleans in 523; and by the council of Aix-laChapelle in 816. The last mention of them is in 1250.

Agapem'one (The abode of love), in Somersetshire, 1848. Founded by Henry James Prince and a Mr. Starkey, and hence the members are called Princeites, Starkeyites, and Agapemonians. The object of this abode is perpetual joy. Pain and grief, sorrow and sickness should be banished from the abode. The Princeites are taught perfect resig nation, and Prince himself tells us, 'He has no wish, no desire, no will of his own at all.'

See 'Princeites.'

Agapemo'nians (The); Agapemo'nianism. The Agapemonians are those who dwell in Agapemonê, and Agapemonianism is their special views, social, moral, and religious.

Agape'tæ, 3rd cent. Certain ascetics who lived together as man and wife, but preserved a life of celibacy. St. Cyprian (200-258) condemned the practice, and the church generally did the same, though several of these Agapetæ are enrolled among the saints, as Cecilia and Valerian, Gombert and Bertha, Injurieux and Scholastica, Jeanne Marie de Maillé and Robert de Sillery, Julian and Basilissa, Thierry and his wife, &c.

Du Cange says (vol. i. p. 129, col. 1): So called, 'quod cum mulieribus ac virginibus, quas domi Bub agapetarum seu dilectarum appellatione detinebant, prava commercia habere dicerentur."

Age of Leo X. (The), 1513-1521. A proverbial phrase for magnificence and high art. Leo X. was a great patron of learning and art, and his court was magnificent in the highest degree.

AGITATOR

Agents of Captain Right. See under 'Whiteboys.'

Ages. The Golden Age, a mythical period when the earth brought forth spontaneously, and the gods held converse with men.

The Silver Age, the second period, when the gods taught men the useful arts.

The Age of Bronze, the third or transition period, semi-historical. The age of heroes. It followed the 'Stone Age' (q.v.).

The Iron Age, the historic period, when wars abound, and man earns his food by labour.

The Wire Age, the present age of telegraphs and telephones.

Aggregate Bodies, 1785. Irish volunteers in favour of free trade, and the extension of the franchise to the people at large. Some of them adopted the American fashion of tarring and feathering their victims; and some, calling themselves 'houghers,' deliberately maimed their victims, especially the soldiers. The introduction of the question of Catholic disabilities broke up the associations. As Plowden says, 'at night they existed with all their attributes of power but on the following day the room of their assembly was shut, their colours waved no more, their uniform was no longer seen in the streets, and the body was disbanded.' See 'Irish Associations.'

Ag'ida (Dynasty of the), B.c. 1058219. One of the dynasties of Sparta; the other was the dynasty of the Proclida. They were contemporaneous. The former was founded by Agis, son of Eurysthen's; and the latter by Proclês, son of Aristodēmos. These dynastic kings were followed in B.C. 219 by the 'Tyrants,' viz.-Lycurgos, 219; Machanīdas, 210; and Nabis, 216.

Agiosemandrum.

A wooden instrument used in Christian churches in Turkey instead of a bell; because the use of bells in Turkey is forbidden.

Greek agios semaino, meaning the holy (service) caller. Incorrectly, but generally spelt sy.

Pronounce Agʼgi-os'sy-man'-drum.

Agitator (The). Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847). He began agitating for the Repeal of the Union in 1842, and the 'Monster Meeting' was held in 1843. He was arrested for sedition and con

AGITATORS

victed, but the judgment was reversed by the House of Lords (1844).

Agitators (The). The committee appointed in 1647 to manage the affairs of the army when it formed a separate body in the state. The committee consisted of two of the superior officers of each of the eleven parliamentary regiments. The secret object of the council was to get possession of the person of the king (Charles I.), and withdraw him from the power of the Parliament. Cornet Joyce was one of these agitators, and, at the head of fifty horse, actually took possession of the king at Holmby House. The real appellation of this committee was the Council of Adjutators or Assistors, but the Presbyterians nicknamed them the Council of Agitators, which they readily adopted.

Ag'labites (3 syl.). Califs of Kairwan, so called from Ibrahim ibn el Aglab, who was invested with the government by Harun al Raschid, A.D. 800. He made himself independent in 802, and founded the dynasty of the Aglabites.

Succeeded by Abu l'Abbas (811); Ziadet Allah (81: Abu Akkal (827); Abdul Abbas (837); Abu Ishak Ibrahim (874); Abd ul Abbas II., murdered by his son and successor, Ziadet Allah (996); dynasty overthrown A.D. 909.

Ag'noites or Agnoita' (3 syl.). I A.D. 870, followers of Theophronius the Cappadocian, who denied the omniscience of God.

II. A.D. 535, followers of Themistius, deacon of Alexandria, who denied that Christ knew the time of the day of judgment. Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father [only].' (Mark xiii. 82.) They die out before 700.

Du Cango says (vol. i. p. 187, col. 1) 'quod novis simam horam Christo, etiam quoad divinam ejus naturam, ignotam esse arbitrarentur."

Agnostic (An), 1885. One who maintains that there are subjects wholly beyond the scope of human thought; not subjects now unknown, but subjects actually unknowable. On the other hand, an agnostic repudiates the belief that there are propositions which men ought to believe without such logical evidence.

Agnosticism. The faith of an agnostic. The refusal to say that we

know or believe what we have no scientific or experimental grounds for professing to believe or know.

Agnostics are not atheists, because they believe the question of God's existence unfathomable, and the question of his non-existence equally so. Man, they say, has no means of knowing either the one or the other. Human knowledge cannot go beyond human observation and experience. The term 'agnostic was introduced by Professor Huxley in 1863 at a private meeting preliminary to the formation of the Metaphysical Society. Phto said, 'Speculations about the gods are speculations of man respecting the gods."

Agonalia. A Roman festival held several times a year in honour of the guardian deities of the state. So called from Agonius, the god who presided over business. (Ovid, Fasti i. 331.)

Agrarian Agitation, B.C. 480. The great Roman agrarian agitation was set on foot by Spurius Cassius, who had been three times consul. To win popular favour, he told the people that the senate ought to give an account of the land taken from the Volsci, which ought to have been equally divided amongst the whole people irrespective of rank. The senate, to allay the popular clamour, promised to give the matter their best consideration, but arrested Cassius and hurled him from the Tarpeian rock. Things went on till B.C. 464, when Herdonius the Sabine got possession of the Capitol. Then the senate promised to pass an agrarian law, if the people would eject the invaders. The invaders were expelled, but it was not till B.C. 865 that Licinius Stolo, the plebeian tribune, got a law passed makit penal for anyone to hold more than 500 acres of the public lands.

ing

Agreement of the People (The), 1647. A paper drawn up by the Levellers and presented to the Council of Agitators or Adjutators, for the abolition of kings and lords; biennial parliaments with sixmonthly sessions; a widely-extended franchise, and a more equal distribution of representation. See 'Lilburne.'

Biennial parliaments with six monthly ses. sions means the parliament was to meet for six months every two years, the other eighteen months were to be wholly under the control of the Executive Council. In 1649 Colonel John Lilburne objected to this clause, and said it was not agreed to by the people at all.

Agriculture.

The Board of Agriculture was incorporated in 1733, and dissolved in 1816.

The Report of Children's Employment Commis. sion on Agricultural Gangs was published in 1947. and their employment was regulated by Act of Parliament the same year.

The Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester was chartered in 1845, and opened in 1846.

The Royal Auricultural Societ, was incorporated by charter in 1840.

The Scotch Society, called 'Improvers of Agri culture in Scotland,' was established in 1723. Minister of Agriculture appointed 1889.

Agricultural Protection Society of Great Britain (The), 17 Feb., 1844. Founded in opposition to the Anti-Corn-Law League to advocate protection in opposition to free trade.

Agrippa. Son of Aristobulus, who was the son of Herod the Great and his second wife Mariamne the Asmonean. It was this grandson of Herod the Great who was made king by Caligula. He slew James the apostle. His son, also named Agrippa, went with his sister Berenice to hear Paul's defence.

Ahab of the Nation (The). Charles I. was so called by the Levellers.

Aids. Sums to be paid by the tenant to ransom his lord if taken prisoner, or to make his lord's eldest son a knight, or to dower at marriage the lord's eldest daughter. Subsequently aids were exacted to pay a lord's debts, or to enable a lord to pay aids to his own superior lord. Of course, those who held immediately of the king could never be called upon for this last-named contribution. Introduced by William the Conqueror, and abolished by 12 Car. II. c. 24.

Ainaly-Cavak (Treaty of), Jan. 8, 1784, between Turkey and Russia, whereby the Ottoman Porte abandoned the Crimea and Kuban to Russia.

Ainslie's Supper, 1566. A supper given at Ainslie's tavern in Edinburgh by the Earl of Bothwell, at the rising of parliament, to its leading members. After the banquet Bothwell informed his guests that he was about to marry the widowed Queen Mary; and drawing forth a bond, he induced them to sign their full and entire approval of the alliance, although at the time he was married to Jane Gordon.

The tavern itself was afterwards called' Ains lie's Supper.'

Aix-la-Chapelle (Congress of), from 14 Feb. to 24 Nov., 1818. To settle the affairs of Europe after the restoration of the Bourbons.

Aix-la-Chapelle (Convention of), 80 Nov., 1818. For the evacuation of France by the Allies. It was signed by

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the plenipotentiaries Oct. 9, and ratified by France Oct. 13.

Aix-la-Chapelle (Peace of), 2 May, 1668. Between Louis XIV. and Carlos II. respecting the Spanish Netherlands.

Aix-la-Chapelle (Treaty of), 1748. Between George II., Louis XV., Maria Theresa of Austria, Ferdinand VI., Charles Emmanuel III., the Republic of Genoa, and the United Provinces. Signed by England, France, and the United Provinces, 18 Oct.; by Spain, 20 Oct.; by Austria, 23 Oct.; by Modena, 25 Oct.; by Genoa, 28 Oct.; by Sardinia 7 Nov. (1748). It was a mere truce forced on the signatories by sheer exhaustion. France still contemplated the humiliation of England; the 'Family Compact' was still maintained; Maria Theresa had still designs on Silesia. In 1755 a league was secretly formed between Russia, Spain, Austria, and France for the renewal of war on the first favourable occasion; and, in 1756, the 'Seven Years War' began.

Between

Akerman, in Bessarabia (Treaty of), 26 Oct. (4 Sept.), 1826. Russia and Turkey, placing Moldavia, Valachia, and Servia under the protection of Russia. This was to secure the fulfilment of the treaty of Bucharest.

Akh'shidites (3 syl.). An Egyptian dynasty, generally called 'The dynasty of the Ikhshidites,' founded by Abu Bekr Mohammed Akhshid, or Ikhshid, A.D. 936. The dynasty was overthrown in 970 by the Fatimite general Goher.

Alabama. An American state, so named, in 1817, from its principal river. The river was so called by the Indians in allusion to the well-stocked huntinggrounds. The name is properly that of an Indian band, or tribe, of the Muscogee stock.

Pronounce Al'-a-bah'-mah.

Alaba'ma (The). A vessel built by Messrs. Laird of Birkenhead, and known as 'No. 290.' On 31 July, 1862, it sailed surreptitiously from the Mersey and pro

ALABAMA

ceeded to Terceira, one of the Western islands, where she was supplied with guns, coals, and stores by a vessel sent from London for the purpose. Captain Semmes then took charge of her, named her the 'Alabama,' and hoisted the Confederate flag. She committed great damage to the American shipping, capturing 65 vessels, and destroying property to the amount of four million dollars; but in June 1864 she was sunk near Cherbourg by the United States steamer 'Kearsage.' In 1871 it was agreed to refer the question to five arbitrators, who were to decide if the English Government were responsible, and if so, what fine was to be paid by England for the damage done to the United States of North America.

Alaba'ma Claims (The), 1868. A money demand made by the United States of America on Great Britain for damage done by a corvette named the 'Alabama,' and built at Birkenhead for the Confederates, who were at war with the United States. The British Government, which had declared itself a neutral power, had forbidden the corvette to leave the docks; but, notwithstanding this prohibition, it put to sea, displaying a British flag, and succeeded in destroying 65 of the United States vessels; but in 1864 it encountered the 'Kearsage' off Cherbourg, and was sunk. After the war, the United States demanded compensation, and five arbitrators met at Geneva to consider the question in 1872. The sentence of these arbitrators was to award damages to the amount of 3,250,000/., with interest in settlement of the American claims.

The money was duly paid, and a large surplus remained in the hands of the American Government after all recognised claims had been paid in full. See 'Alexandra.'

The arbitrators were the king of Italy, the President of the Swiss Confederation, the Emperor of Brazil, s representative of Great Britain, and another of the United States.

Alba Comiti'va. A free company of English, also called 'Les Tards Venus,' q.v.

Alban Hall (St.), Oxford, 1549; founded by Robert de St. Alban. The head of the Hall is called the principal.

Albany or Albyn. The ancient name of Scotland; a corrupt spelling of Albanigh, connected with the word Alps,

and meaning hilly or mountainous. The Romans called the south part Caledonia. The west, now called Argyllshire, was colonised by the Scoti of Ulster, and these Irish Scots, in the time of their chief, Kenneth Macalpine, having conquered the Picts who occupied the eastern parts, added that portion to his dominion, and called the two Scot-land (q.v.).

Albany, New York, North America. So called in honour of James, duke of York and Albany (afterwards James II.), to whom Charles II. gave the proprietor. ship of the colony.

Alba'ti (The), 1899. A class of hermits who dressed in white linen. Pope Boniface IX. fancied their leader aimed at his deposition, and put him to death.

Albe or Albane'ser. Lord Byron was so called. A correspondent in 'Notes and Queries' (March 23, 1887, p. 425) says: Madame Cottin wrote a romanco entitled "Claire d'Albé.” This romance was well known to Shelley, who induced his first wife to translate it into English.' May not the intimacy between Claire and Byron have suggested the application of Albé to Lord Byron?

Mr. Forman suggests L-B (Lord Byron). Others fancy it is a contraction of Albemarle (Strect), the place of business of Murray, his lordship's publisher.

Albert I. (Albrecht I.). One of the promiscuous kings of Germany (1218, 1298-1308), son of Rudolf I. of Habsburg. In this reign is placed the tale of William Tell.

Albert (Albrecht) II. Founder of the present line of Austrian emperors, and first of the House of Habsburg (1394, 1438-1439), son of Albert IV., duke of Austria, and son-in-law of Siegmund, the preceding kaiser-king. He was surnamed 'the Illustrious,' 'the Magna nimous,' and 'the Grave,' but reigned only about a year and a half. Like his next two successors, Frederick III. and

aximilian, he died of dysentery brought on by eating too freely of melon.

Albert (Albrecht) the Bear, so called because his cognisance was a bear. He was & fine tall fellow with a quick eye, and so well featured that he was familiarly called 'the handsome.' He was the first margrafot Brandenburg (1106-1170).

C