Part 23

Following on the victory of Gujerat, which closed the second Sikh war, the Punjaub was annexed in 1851, an arrangement being made to pay a life annuity of £50,000 to the Maharajah, Dhuleep Singh. Among the treasures which were surrendered to the British was the Koh-i-Noor.

Purandhar, Treaty of.

A treaty between the British and the Mahrattas, signed in 1776, by which the Treaty of Surat was annulled, Salsette being surrendered and Raghoba’s cause abandoned. This was due to the action of the Council of Bengal, which declared that the Treaty of Surat was unjust and inexpedient, and that the Bombay Council had acted _ultra vires_ in agreeing to it.

Purveyance.

The right claimed by the followers of the early Norman Kings who attended their lord during his progresses, to exact from the inhabitants such supplies as they might think fit, without payment. The abuses which grew out of this system were to some extent alleviated by Henry I, and the right was afterwards restricted by Magna Charta, and by the Statute of Stamford.

Puseyites.

The followers of Dr. Pusey, one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement in 1841.

Pyrenees, Treaty of the.

A treaty between France and Spain, signed in 1659, after the defeat of the Spaniards by Turenne at Dunes. France acquired Artois and Roussillon, and surrendered in return all the territory she held beyond the Pyrenees. The duchy of Lorraine was restored to the Duke, but France reserved the right of marching her troops through his country on their way to or from Alsace.

Q

Quadrilateral.

The name given to four fortresses in Northern Italy, Peschiera, Mantua, Legnago and Verona.

Quadrilateral, Bulgarian.

The four fortresses of Varna, Silistria, Rustchuk and Schumla are known by this name.

Quadrilateral Treaty.

A treaty signed in 1840, by Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, by which the signatories bound themselves to protect the Porte against aggression.

Quadruple Alliance, 1718.

An alliance between England, France, Austria and Holland, formed to prevent Spain recovering her former possessions in Italy. It became the Quadruple Alliance through the adhesion of Austria to the Triple Alliance of 1717. Its operations were completely successful, and Spain gave way in 1719.

Quadruple Alliance, 1834.

An alliance of Great Britain, France, Spain and Portugal, effected by Palmerston as a counterpoise to the Holy Alliance of Russia, Prussia and Austria.

Quakers.

The name commonly given to the Society of Friends, a sect founded in 1648 by George Fox, a Leicestershire shoemaker. The sect was organized into a Society in 1866.

Quarantaine le Roy.

An ordinance issued in the early part of the reign of Louis IX, designed to put a stop to private warfare. It provided that in the event of a crime being committed, a period of forty days should elapse before vengeance was exacted, and that at any time during that period the relatives of the murdered man might call upon the Bailli to execute the justice of the King.

Quarterage.

A special tax levied in the reign of Queen Anne upon all Catholics who established a business in Ireland.

Quebec Act.

An Act passed in 1775 by Lord North’s Government, authorizing the Crown to throw open posts of honour to the Catholics in Canada, and restoring the French system of law in the French Canadian provinces. It also confirmed the Roman Catholic Clergy in their benefices.

Queen Anne’s Bounty.

The revenue derived from annates and tithes on Church property, which had been transferred from the Church to the Crown by Henry VIII. In 1704, Queen Anne, with the consent of Parliament, retransferred these revenues to commissioners, to be employed in supplementing the incomes of benefices of less than £200 per annum. The amount annually distributed is about £36,000.

Queen Dick.

A nickname of Richard Cromwell, having reference to the weakness of his character.

Queen of the Adriatic.

The city of Venice is so called.

Queen of the Antilles.

A name given to the island of Cuba.

Queen of Tears.

The sobriquet of Mary of Modena, wife of James II of England.

Queen Sarah.

Sarah Duchess of Marlborough (1660-1744) was so called on account of the ascendency she exercised over Queen Anne.

Queen’s Gold.

The right of the Queen Consort of England to every tenth mark paid to the King on the granting or renewal of leases or charters. Charles I bought the right from his wife for £10,000, and it has never since been enforced. It was also called the _aurum reginæ_, and is probably the _Gersamma Reginæ_ of Domesday Book.

Queensberry Plot.

A plot on the part of Lord Lovat, in 1703, to ruin Lord Athole, the Keeper of the Privy Seal in Scotland, with whom he had a feud. The plan was to implicate him in a pretended Jacobite rising in the Highlands. Lord Queensberry, the Commissioner, who also had a grudge against Athole, was drawn into the plot by the production of a letter from the ex-Queen, purporting to be addressed to Athole, as a proof that he was in correspondence with the exiled Stuarts. Athole had no great difficulty in clearing himself of suspicion, and Queensberry was forced to resign. This is known also as the Scots Plot.

Queensland, Separation of.

The erection of the northern portion of New South Wales into a separate colony under the title of Queensland was effected by an Act passed in 1859.

Quia Emptores, Statute of.

A Statute passed in 1290, with the object of preventing the formation of new manors. By this Statute land granted by a feudal lord ceased to belong to him, and owed feudal dues to the superior lord of the estate. Its result was to increase largely the number of gentlemen holding direct from the Crown.

Quietists.

A sect which arose in France about 1780, under the leadership of Mme. Guyon, who advocated a contemplative rather than an active religious life. Fénélon was to a considerable extent influenced by these tenets.

Quixote of the North.

A nickname of Charles XII of Sweden (1697-1718).

Quo Warranto.

Commissions of Quo Warranto were issued by Edward I to enquire as to how estates and judicial rights had passed from the Crown into the hands of individuals and corporations, and to settle definitely which were the Royal Manors.

R

Rabbling the Curates.

The expulsion of Episcopalian clergymen in the west of Scotland by the Covenanters in 1689 is so called. These proceedings were subsequently legalized by the Scottish Parliament.

Radicals.

A name given to the advanced wing of the Liberal Party about 1816. Its leaders were Hunt, Cobbett, and Sir Francis Burdett.

Ragman Rolls.

A series of documents recording the progress of Edward I through Scotland in 1296, with the names of the nobles and others who did homage to him.

Raid of the Redswear.

A border fight between the English and Scotch in 1575, arising out of a dispute at a meeting between the two Wardens of the Marches for the surrender of criminals who had crossed the border. It is the last border fight recorded.

Rail Splitter.

A nickname of Abraham Lincoln, who is said to have earned his living in 1830 by splitting rails.

Raipur Ghât, Treaty of.

A treaty signed in 1805 between the British and Holkar, by which the latter renounced all rights to territory north of the Chambul, and all his claims to Bundelcund and Poonah, while the East India Company agreed not to interfere with Holkar’s enjoyment of the territories he possessed to the south of the Chambul.

Rákóczy’s Rebellion.

A Magyar rising, headed by Rákóczy in 1704, against the Austrian domination. The war which ensued lasted over seven years, and was at last ended by the peace of Szatmar.

Ralliés.

Members of the Catholic and Reactionary parties in France who in 1890 declared their adhesion to the Republican Government, and their abandonment of reactionary principles. The leader of the movement was Cardinal Lavigerie, Archbishop of Algiers.

Rapparees.

Bands of Irish brigands who waged a guerilla warfare against the Protestant settlers in Ireland circ. 1711.

Rappenkrieg.

The War of Farthings, a revolt of the peasants against the city of Berne in 1594.

Raskol.

The great schism in the Russian Church in the seventeenth century. The dissenters objected to certain innovations in ritual introduced by Nikon, the Patriarch, in order to correct errors which had crept in owing to careless copying of Liturgies and other religious books. The dissenters were excommunicated, and thousands fled from the country.

Ratipole.

A nickname of Napoleon III.

Re Galantuomo.

The name given to Victor Emmanuel, the first king of United Italy.

Reason, Council of.

A council established by the States General summoned by Henri IV of France in 1596. Its functions were to administer one half of the revenues of the State, for the payment of all civil officials, the remaining half being handed to the King for his private purse and for the defence of the realm.

Rebellions, Mutinies, etc.

Arabi, Arima, Attalik, Barrackpur, Bengal, Bounty, Boxers, Bread and Cheese, Cabanagem, Camisards, Commune, Communeros, Dorr, Dozsa, Dysiefald, Emmett, Eureka, Fifteen, Forty-five, Frankfurter, Fronde, Geraldines, Hungarian, Jacquerie, Ket, Lincolnshire, Madras, Maillotins, Nobles’, Nore, Panthay, Peasants’, Pilgrimage, Poor Conrad, Praguerie, Rákóczy, Red River, Riel, Santa Junta, Satsuma, Shays’, Slachter’s Nek, Sonthal, Taeping, Tököli, Whiskey.

Rebecca Riots.

Riots in Wales in 1843, in protest against the excessive tolls exacted on the Welsh roads. Mobs, led by a man in woman’s clothes, assembled and pulled down the turnpike gates. The name Rebecca is taken from a passage in Genesis: “And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her, let thy seed possess the gates of those which hate them.” The riots were suppressed and a commission appointed to inquire into the alleged grievances.

Recess of Colding.

A codification of the law of Denmark, promulgated during the reign of Christian III, circ. 1540.

Reconcentrados.

The inhabitants of the country districts of Cuba which during the insurrection of 1895-9, were laid waste by General Weyler. By his orders these people were driven from their homes and herded into concentration camps where, owing to Government neglect, they died in thousands of famine and pestilence.

Reconciliation, Act of.

An Act passed in 1554, shortly after the accession of Mary, to give effect to the proposals of Cardinal Pole, the Papal Legate, for the re-establishment of the Papal authority in Church matters as it existed before the ecclesiastical legislation of Henry VIII.

Recruiters.

The name given by the Royalists to the members of the Long Parliament elected to fill the places of those who had been “disabled” by Parliament for joining the King’s forces.

Recusant Act.

An Act passed in the first year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, subjecting to fine all persons who absented themselves from Divine Service in their parish church on Sundays and Holy Days. Protestant dissenters were relieved from the penalties of this Act by the Toleration Act of William and Mary, but Roman Catholics obtained no relief until 1791.

Red Comyn.

The nickname of Alexander Comyn, a claimant to the Scottish throne, murdered by Robert Bruce in 1306.

Red Cross Knights.

The Knights Templars were so called.

Red Cross League.

_See_ Geneva Convention.

Red Cross Society.

The generic name of the various associations formed, under the Geneva Convention, for the relief of the wounded in war. The Red Cross is the badge of military hospitals, ambulances, doctors, etc.

Red Prince.

The sobriquet of Prince Frederick Charles (1828-1885), nephew of William I of Germany.

Red River Rebellion.

An outbreak in 1869 of the half-breed settlers on the Red River, who resented the transfer of their settlement from the Hudson’s Bay Company to the newly formed province of Manitoba. It was found necessary to send regular troops against the insurgents, and the revolt was promptly quelled by Colonel (now Viscount) Wolseley. Their leader, Louis Riel, escaped, and was later the ringleader in the rising of 1885 known as Riel’s Rebellion.

Redif.

The reserve of the Turkish Army.

Redistribution Bill.

A Bill passed in 1885 as the complement of the Franchise Act of 1884. It subdivided the old constituencies so as to leave only a few two-member constituencies in the boroughs. All the counties were divided into districts, each district returning one member. The plan adopted was the result of a conference between the two parties.

Reeve.

The Shire-reeve or Sheriff in Saxon times was the representative of the King for judicial and fiscal purposes. He presided over the Shire Court.

Referendum.

A provision in the constitution of Switzerland to the effect that all laws passed by the Federal Assembly must be submitted to the popular vote, if such a course is demanded by 30,000 Swiss citizens, or by the legislatures of eight Cantons.

Reform Bill.

The Great Reform Bill of 1832 abolished no less than fifty-six rotten boroughs, but its provisions as to redistribution and the franchise still left the larger share of political power in the hands of the landowning classes. It was first introduced in 1831, and passed the Commons by a majority of one, but was rejected by the Lords. A dissolution followed and, on the new Parliament assembling, the Bill again passed the Commons, this time by a majority of 109, but was again rejected by the Lords. The Ministry refused to resign, and the popular feeling was so strong that the Lords were forced to give way, and the Bill became law in 1832. In addition to 111 seats obtained by the disfranchisement of the rotten boroughs, some thirty boroughs were deprived of one member each. Of the seats thus obtained sixty-five were distributed among the counties, sixty-five among the larger towns, and thirteen were allotted to Scotland and Ireland. The borough franchise was given to ten pound householders, and in the counties the vote was given to copyholders and leaseholders, and to tenants at will paying £50 in rent.

Reform Bill of 1867.

This Bill, passed by Lord Derby’s Ministry in 1867, enfranchised all occupiers and all lodgers, of one year’s residence, paying £10 per annum rent in the boroughs, and in the counties all owners of property of £5 annual value and all occupiers paying £12 per annum. Tacked on to it was a Redistribution Bill which disfranchised certain small boroughs, and created a corresponding number of new constituencies. It gave an additional member each to Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Liverpool, and a member to London University.

Reform Committee.

_See_ Transvaal National Union.

Reforma, Guerra de la.

The war between the followers of Juarez, the Mexican Liberal leader, and the reactionary party under Miramon, which broke out in 1858. It ended with the triumph of Juarez in 1861.

Reformation, Edict of.

An edict issued by Charles V in 1548 at the Diet of Ratisbon, providing for the reform of the Catholic Church throughout the Empire. It contained regulations for the election of the clergy, for the administration of the sacraments and for the better disciplining of the holders of benefices.

Reformed Parliament.

The Parliament summoned in 1654 under the Instrument. Cromwell dissolved it at the end of five months.

Reformverein.

An association formed in 1862, having for its object the unification of Germany under the leadership of Austria.

Régale.

The right of the French Kings to present to benefices falling vacant during a vacancy in the diocese to which they belonged, and to enjoy the revenues of vacant sees. The question of the exercise of this right caused a somewhat acrimonious discussion between Louis XIV and Innocent XI in 1681, and led to the publication of Bossuet’s “Declaration of the Clergy of France.”

Regiam Majestatem.

A collection of the ancient laws of Scotland, said to have been compiled by order of David I. Its authenticity is disputed.

Regicides.

The name given by the Royalists to the signatories of the death-warrant of Charles I.

Regimen Militantis, Bull.

The Bull of Paul III, issued in 1540, giving the Papal approval to the rules of the Society of Jesus, as drawn up by Loyola.

Registration Act.

An Act passed in 1836, and amended by subsequent enactments, rendering obligatory the registration of all births and deaths in the United Kingdom. Prior to this Act registration was in the hands of the Church, the parish register being the only record kept.

Regium Donum.

A grant from the Crown for the maintenance of Presbyterian ministers in Ireland. It was originally granted by Charles II, and after having lapsed during the reign of his successor, was revived by William III. It was finally abolished in 1869, at the time of the Disestablishment of the Irish Church.

Regulating Act (America).

An Act passed by Lord North’s Government in 1774, after the Boston Riots, “for better regulating the Province of Massachusetts.” It withdrew all rights and privileges hitherto granted, and placed the whole executive and judicial power in the hands of the Governor.

Regulating Act (India).

An Act passed in 1773, altering the form of government of India, under the East India Company. The Governor of Bengal was made Governor-General of India, with authority over the Governors of the other two Presidencies. A council nominated by Parliament was formed, and a Supreme Court on the English model instituted.

Regulators.

The herdsmen and farmers in the west of North Carolina, finding it impossible to attend the law courts, which were seldom held elsewhere than at Charlestown, formed associations for the purpose of regulating their own affairs of police. In 1770 and 1771 they came into conflict with the State authorities, and being defeated, emigrated west in large numbers and colonized Tennessee.

Reichenbach, Treaty of.

A treaty between Great Britain, Russia and Prussia, signed in 1813. It provided for the maintenance in the field by Prussia of an army of 80,000 men, in return for a subsidy from Great Britain of two-thirds of a million, while a secret clause stipulated for the restoration of Prussia to her territorial position in 1806. Russia was to supply an army of 160,000 men, and receive a subsidy double that of Prussia. There was to be an issue of paper money, under the joint guarantee of the three Powers, of £5,000,000 sterling, of which two-thirds was to be at the disposal of Russia. This treaty may be said to have laid the foundation of the Grand Alliance, which finally freed Europe from the domination of Napoleon.

Reichskammergericht.

The Supreme Tribunal of the German Empire, reorganized from the Imperial Council by Maximilian I in 1495. Unlike the Aulic Council, which accompanied the Emperor wherever he went, this tribunal sat permanently at Spires.

Reichsrath.

The Austrian Parliament. It consists of two Houses, the upper composed of princes of the blood, nobles, archbishops and bishops, and certain life members nominated by the Emperor; the lower of elected members.

Reichstag.

The National Assembly of the German Empire.

Reine Blanche.

The name given by the French to Mary Queen of Scots, because she wore white as mourning for her husband.

Reinsurance Treaty.

A secret treaty signed by Russia and Germany, after the establishment of the alliance between Germany and Austria, remaining in force from 1887 to 1890. It is said to have secured the contracting parties mutually against invasion by Austria. The existence of this treaty was revealed by the _Hamburger Nachrichten_, one of Bismarck’s organs, in 1896, and was not denied by the Government.

Relief.

A tribute due to a feudal lord on succession to a fief by inheritance.

Religiosis, Statute de.

The correct title of the Statute more commonly known as the Statute of Mortmain.

Religious Peace.

An edict of the States-General in 1578 enacting complete toleration to all religions throughout the United Netherlands. It ordered that churches should be provided by the town authorities for all forms of worship, and that no inquiry should be made into any man’s religious belief. This edict caused great discontent in the Walloon provinces, and was one of the causes of the “Malcontent” rising.

Religious Peace of Augsburg.

The grant by Charles V, in 1555, of toleration to all who accepted the Confession of Augsburg, but to no other sect. Any State in the Empire might set up either form of faith as its State religion, permission being given to dissentients to dispose of their estates and emigrate. It was, however, provided that any spiritual prince who accepted the new doctrine should lose his office and his revenues.

Religious Peace of Nuremburg.

An agreement, in 1632, between the League of Schmalkald and the Catholics, by which the latter agreed not to molest the Lutherans, who in their turn undertook not to give any support to the Zwinglists and Anabaptists.

Remonstrance, Great.

A recapitulation of the tyrannical and unconstitutional acts of Charles the First’s reign, issued by the Long Parliament in 1641.

Remonstrance, Petition of.

A petition drawn up by Peter Walsh, on behalf of the Irish Catholics, and presented to Charles II in 1666. It protested against the prevailing opinion that the toleration of Catholicism was a danger to the State.

Remonstrants (Netherlands).

The followers of Arminius, who in 1610 presented to the States-General a remonstrance against the charges of heresy that had been brought against them. They set forth in this document what are known as the “Five Articles of Arminianism.”

Remonstrants (Scotland).

The Scotch Presbyterians who remonstrated against the union of Argyle and others with the Royalist party to oppose Cromwell in 1650.

Renaissance.

The revival of learning in Italy in the fifteenth century. It was largely due to the advent in the West of many Greek scholars who fled from Constantinople on its capture by the Turks in 1453, and introduced the masterpieces of Greek literature for the first time to the scholars of the West. The revival was further aided and stimulated by the invention of printing, which had recently taken place.

Rense, Union of.

A league of the electors to the Imperial throne, pledged to support the Emperor, Louis of Bavaria against the pretensions of Benedict XII, and to maintain the independence of Germany.

Repartimiento.

A system prevailing in Spanish South America, whereby the natives were divided into districts, for the purpose of forced labour, and Government depôts provided to supply them with necessaries. This system led to the most outrageous extortion, the officials forcing on the natives commodities they did not need, at exorbitant prices. In 1780 the misconduct of those officials brought about a rising of Indians, under Condorcanqui, an Inca Cacique, who, however, was captured by the Spaniards and put to death. The revolt was continued by his cousin, Andres, the last of the Incas, who captured Sorate, and massacred all the inhabitants. He was, however, shortly afterwards captured, and the revolt suppressed, but it was not fruitless, for it led to the abolition of the Repartimiento system.

Repealers.

The supporters of Daniel O’Connell in his agitation for the Repeal of the Union in 1825 and onwards.

Reptile Fund.

The interest on the indemnity payable to the ex-King of Hanover for the loss of his sovereign rights, which indemnity had been impounded by Prussia on the ground that the ex-King continued his attacks on her. This fund was employed by Bismarck to subsidise the semi-official Press.

Reptile Press.

The German newspapers which received payment from Bismarck out of the Guelf fund to support his views, were known by this name.

Republicans (U.S.A.).