KING'S BENCH, continued. 1331. Geoffrey le Scroope. 1334. Richard de Willoughby. John de Cavendish, beheaded by the 1382. Robert Tresylian. 1440. John Hody. 1462. John Markham. 1496. John Finux. 1526. John Fitzjames. 1574. Sir Christopher Wray, knt. 1607. Thomas Fleming. 1613. Sir Edward Coke, knt. 1620. John Ley, January 29. 1683. Sir George Jefferies, knt., afterwards 1685. Sir Edward Herbert, knt. 1687. Sir Robert Wright, knt. 1689. Sir John Holt, knt. 1710. Sir Thomas Parker, knt., afterwards lord Parker, and Lord Chancellor. 1718. Sir John Pratt, knt. 1724. Sir Robert Raymond, knt., afterwards lord Raymond. 1733. Sir Philip Yorke, knt., afterwards lord Hardwicke, and Lord Chancellor. 1737. Sir William Lee, knt. 1754. Sir Dudley Ryder, knt. 1756. William Murray, lord Mansfield, and then earl of Mansfield. 1788. Lloyd, lord Kenyon. 1802. Edward, lord Ellenborough. 1818. Sir Charles Abbott, afterwards lord Tenterden. 1834. Sir Thomas Denman, afterwards lord Denman. The name of this court has been altered to that of Queen's Bench, since the accession of Victoria, in June, 1837, as is the case with all institutions in immediate connexion with, or dependent upon the sovereign. KING'S BENCH PRISON. One of the chief prisons of London for the confinement of debtors; the present edifice was built in 1781, and contains about 230 rooms, and besides this accommodation, the debtors are allowed to purchase the liberties, to enable them to have houses or lodgings without the walls, or to purchase day-rules, to go out of the prison under certain regulations. The rules include the whole of St. George's Fields, one side of Blackman-street, and part of High-street. The prison, which was built in 1751, was burnt down by the London rioters, June 3, 1780. See Gordon's No-Popery Mob. KING'S COLLEGES. That of Aberdeen, founded in 1500. King's College, Cambridge, the pride of that university, was founded by Henry VI., in 1441. King's College, Halifax, chartered in May, 1802. King's College, London, incorporated August 14, 1829, and opened October 8, 1831; when an address was delivered by the bishop of London. Its object is to secure to the rising generation in the metropolis and its vicinity the benefits of an economical, scientific, and religious course of instruction, according to the doctrines of the Church of England. KING'S COUNSEL. The first king's counsel under the degree of serjeant, was sir Francis Bacon, made so honoris causa, without patent or fee, in 1604, when James I. bestowed upon him knighthood, and a pension. The first king's counsel of the modern order, was sir Francis North, afterwards lord-keeper to Charles II., in 1663. KING'S COUNTY, Ireland. This county was so named from Philip, king of Spain, the husband of queen Mary of England, in 1555.-Burn's Annals. KING'S EVIL. Supposed to be cured by the touch of the kings of England. The first who touched for it was Edward the Confessor, in 1058. This vulgar credulity had in the age of Charles II. arisen to such a height, that in fourteen years, 92,107 persons were touched; and, according to Wiseman, the king's physician, they were nearly all cured! Queen Anne officially announced in the London Gazette, March 12, 1712, her royal intention to touch publicly for the cure of the evil; and touching for it continued a custom until it was wisely discouraged, and ultimately dropped by George I. 1714. KING'S SPEECH. The first royal speech from the throne was delivered by Henry I. in 1107. A late celebrated writer, after remarking with his accustomed harshness upon Mr. Canning, who had just then (April 1827) become chief of a new administration, said " Canning being now minister, of one thing, and one thing only, we are certain, we shall have no more grammatical blunders in king's speeches; these things will still be written in the same meagre way, in point of matter, as before; but we shall have them in a perspicuous and pure style."- Cobbett. KINGDOMS. The origin of kingdoms may be referred to Belus, supposed to have been the Nimrod of Holy Writ; he was the founder of the Babylonian monarchy, 2245 B.C.-Usher. Menès, or Misraïm, makes his son Atholas, surnamed the first Mercury, king of Upper Egypt; and another son, Tosothrus, he establishes at Memphis, 2188 B.C.-Blair. Ninus founds the Assyrian monarchy, 2059 B.C.-Lenglet. KINGSTON, DUCHESS OF, TRIAL OF THE. The most celebrated trial of a peeress upon record; she was arraigned before the Lords in Westminster-hall on a charge of bigamy, having married captain Hervey, afterwards earl of Bristol, and during his lifetime, Evelyn Pierrepoint, duke of Kingston; she was found guilty, but, on her pleading the privilege of peerage, the usual punishment of burning in the hand was remitted, and she was discharged on paying the fees of office, April 15, 1776. KINGSTON, JAMAICA, founded after the great earthquake, which destroyed Port Royal in 1692, since when it has continued to increase in size and opulence. An awful fire here ravaged a vast portion of the town, and consumed 500,0007. of property, Feb. 8, 1782. For various occurrences see Jamaica. KINGSTON, SURREY. A national council was held here A.D. 838, at which Egbert, the first king of all England, and his son Athelwolf, were present; and several of the Saxon monarchs were crowned here. This town sent members to parliament in the reign of Edward II. A new town of considerable promise, called New Kingston, contiguously situated, has been in course of erection, and many buildings completed, since 1839. KINGSTOWN, DUBLIN. The fine harbour here was commenced in June 1817. The place was originally called Dunleary, but the name was changed in compliment to George IV. Here George IV. embarked for England at the close of his visit to Ireland, September 3, 1821. The opposite harbour of Howth was commenced in September 1807. The Kingstown railway from Dublin was opened Dec. 17, 1834. KISSING. Kissing the hands of great men was a Grecian custom. Kissing was a mode of salutation among the Jews, as we may collect from Judas approaching his master with a kiss; it was also customary in Rome. Kissing the pope's foot took its rise from the custom of kneeling to sovereigns, and began with Adrian I. or Leo III. at the close of the eighth century. From kneeling to sovereigns came also the ceremony of a vassal kneeling to his lord in homage, first practised, a.d. 709. KIT-KAT CLUB. A society which consisted of about thirty noblemen and gentlemen of distinguished abilities, instituted in 1703, for the purpose of promoting the Protestant succession in the house of Hanover, which they effected by spirited publications as well as other measures. Addison, Steele, and Dr. Garth were members, and made several epigrams upon the toasts of the club. The club took its name from one Christopher Kat, a pastry-cook, who lived near the tavern where they met, in King-street, Westminster, and who served them with pastry.-Bowyer's Life of Queen Anne. KNEELING. See Kissing. The knee was ordered to be bent at the name of Jesus, about the year 1275, either by the order of pope Gregory X. or Innocent V. This custom is observed not only in divine worship, but on all occasions, in Catholic countries.-Ashe. KNIGHT. The origin of this title as a military honour is said to be derived from the siege of Troy, but this solely depends upon a passage or two in Homer. With certainty we may trace the distinction to the Romans, who after their union with the Sabines created three centuries of knights, about 750 B.C.-Livy. KNIGHT ERRANTRY. Took its rise in the combats of the Celtic nations, particularly the judicial combats, and much prevailed in Spain, France, and Germany. Tilts and tournaments commenced with the return of the crusaders from the Holy wars, and for about 300 years they were the chief amusements of courts, and the successful combatants acquired knighthood, and the favour of the ladies. When public combats declined, the knights travelled in quest of adventures, to correct injustice, and fight in the cause of the fair; and the consequent follies gave rise to the novel of Don Quixote. KNIGHTHOOD. Was conferred in England by the priest at the altar, after confession and consecration of the sword, during the Saxon Heptarchy. The first knight made by the sovereign with the sword of state was Athelstan, on whom Alfred bestowed this new dignity, A.D. 900.-Spelman. The custom of ecclesiastics conferring the honour of knighthood was suppressed in a synod held at Westminster in 1100.— Ashmole's Institutes. All persons having ten pounds yearly income were obliged to be knighted, or pay a fine, 38 Henry III. 1254.-Salmon. KNIGHTHOOD IN EUROPE. As a system, under the denomination of chivalry, knighthood is to be dated from the eleventh century. On the decline of the empire of Charlemagne, all Europe being reduced to a state of anarchy, the proprietor of every manor became a petty sovereign; his mansion was fortified by a moat, and defended by a guard, and called a castle. Excursions were made by one petty lord against another, and the women and treasure were carried off by the conqueror. At length the owners of rich fiefs associated to repress these marauders, and to make property secure, and to protect the ladies; binding themselves to these duties by a solemn vow, and the sanction of a religious ceremony. The first knights being men of the highest rank and largest possessions, admission into the order was deemed a great honour. MILITARY, RELIGIOUS, AND HONORARY ORDERS OF KNIGHTHood. KNIGHTS, FEMALE. The title of knight, which was given to men of superior worth, ability, and fortune, in former times, was sometimes given to women also. As an instance, it was conferred on the women who preserved the city of Tortosa from falling into the hands of the Moors in 1149, by their stout resistance and vigorous attack of the besiegers, by which means the Moors were forced to raise the siege. Large immunities and favours were granted to them and their descendants for their heroism on this occasion. KNIGHTS OF GLYN AND KERRY. The heads of two ancient families in Ireland, to whom are still permitted the distinctions bestowed on their ancestors by the ancient sovereigns of their country; these titles are of very remote date. KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. Instituted by king Arthur about A.D. 528.Asser's Life of Alfred. This ancient order was revived by Edward III. at Windsor, upon New Year's day, 1344. The king, with a view to the recovery of France, which descended to him in right of his mother, became anxious to draw the best soldiers of Europe into his interest, and thereupon projecting and setting up king Arthur's Round Table, he proclaimed a solemn tilting, to invite foreigners of quality and courage to the exercise. He published his royal letters of protection, for the safe coming and return of such foreign knights as had a mind to venture their reputation at those jousts and tournaments.-Beatson. KNIGHTS OF THE SHIRE. The barons, or tenants in chief, or freeholders by Doomsday-book, were 700 in number, but being split into smail parts, were greater and lesser, all of whom were entitled to sit in parliament; but the latter, or lesser barons, were allowed to choose two representatives, hence called knights of the shire, A.D. 1307. KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. A religious and military order, instituted A.D. 1118. They came to England early in Stephen's reign, and settled at the Temple in London; and at other places in the reign of Henry II. All the knights were arrested in France in one day, being charged with great crimes, and possessing great riches; fifty-nine of them were burnt alive at Paris in October 1307. Those in England were all seized the same year. Their order was abolished by Philip the Fair of France, at the council of Vienne, in 1312; and many thousands were subsequently massacred, their wealth being given to the knights of Malta.-See Malta. KNIVES. First made in England in 1563. They were the earliest branch of cutlery, and were first manufactured by one Mathews, of Fleet-bridge, London, 5th Eliz., 1563.-Chamberlain's Present State of England, edit. 1683. See Forks. KONIAH, BATTLE OF, fought on the plains of Koniah, formerly Iconium, between the army of the sultan and that of the pacha of Egypt, in which, after a dreadful and sanguinary fight that continued all the day, the Turkish army was defeated, and the grand-vizier himself wounded and taken prisoner, Dec. 21, 1833. KONIGSTEIN TUN. This tun, one of the most capacious in the world, was built by Frederick Augustus, king of Poland, in 1725. It was made to hold 233,667 gallons of wine; and on the top, which was railed in, was accommodation for twenty persons to regale themselves. The famous tun of St. Bernard's holds eight hundred tuns.-See Heidelberg Tun. KORAN, OR ALCORAN OF MAHOMET, written about A.D. 610. Its general aim was, to unite the professors of Idolatry and the Jews and Christians in the worship of one God (whose unity was the chief point inculcated), under certain laws and ceremonies, exacting obedience to Mahomet as the prophet. It was written in the Koreish Arabic, and this language, which certainly possesses every fine quality, was said to be that of paradise. Mahomet asserted that the Koran was revealed to him, during a period of twenty-three years, by the angel Gabriel. The style of this volume is beautiful, fluent, and concise, and where the majesty and attributes of God are described, it is sublime and magnificent. Mahomet admitted the divine mission both of Moses and Jesus Christ.-Dr. Jortin. The leading article of faith which this impostor preached, is compounded of an eternal truth, and a necessary fiction, namely, that there is only one God, and that Mahomet is the apostle of God. Gibbon. The Koran was translated into Latin in 1143; and into English and other European languages about 1763, et seq. It is a rhapsody of 3000 verses, divided into 114 sections. See Alcoran; Islamism; Mecca; Mahometism, &c. KOWNO, BATTLE OF, between the French and Russian armies, in which the former was defeated by the latter, with great slaughter, and the loss of 6000 prisoners and 21 pieces of cannon, and many thousands slain, Dec. 14, 1812. KRASNOI, BATTLE OF, between the French army under Davoust, prince of Eckmuhl, and the Russian army commanded by Kutusoff; in this sanguinary contest Davoust was entirely overthrown, and his army dispersed, leaving many thousands slain upon the field, Nov. 16, 1812. KUNNERSDORF, OR CUNNERSDORF, BATTLE OF, one of the most bloody on record, fought between the Prussian and Russian armies: the king of Prussia, after a great slaughter of the enemy for upwards of six hours, had gained many advantages, and had nearly accomplished victory, but too eager in pursuing the retreating Russians, the latter rallied, and in the end the Prussians were defeated with the loss of 20,000, men, and 200 pieces of cannon, August 12, 1759. L. LA HOGUE, BATTLE OF, between the English and Dutch combined fleets, under admirals Russell and Rooke, and the French fleet commanded by admiral Tourville. The English attacked the French near La Hogue, gaining a splendid victory, burning thirteen of the enemy's ships, destroying eight more, forcing the rest to fly, and thus preventing a threatened descent upon England, May 19, 1692. x 2 |