GENTLEMAN. Under this denomination are
comprehended all above the rank of yeomen*, where-
by noblemen are truly called gentlemen.
A gentleman is usually defined to be one who, with-
out any title, bears a coat of arms, or whose ancestors
have been freemen; and by the coat that a gentle-
man giveth, he is known to be, or not to be, descend-
ed from those of his name that lived many hundred
years since.
The word is formed of the French gentilhomme; or
rather of gentil, "fine, fashionable, or becoming;" and
the Saxon man, q. d. bonestas, or bonesto loco natus.—
The same signification has the Italian gentiluomo, and
the Spanish hidalgo, or hijo dalgo, that is, the son of
somebody, or of a person of note.—If we go farther
back, we shall find gentleman originally derived from
the Latin gentilis homo; which was used among the
Romans for a race of noble persons of the same name,
born of free or ingenuous parents, and whose ancestors
had never been slaves or put to death by law. Thus Cicero,
in his Topics, "Gentiles sunt, qui inter se eodem sunt
nomine, ab ingenuis oriundi, quorum majorum nemo ser-
vitutem servivit, qui capite non sunt diminuti, &c."—Some
hold that it was formed from gentile, i. e. pagan; and
that the ancient Franks, who conquered Gaul, which
was then converted to Christianity, were called gentiles
by the natives, as being yet heathens.—Others relate,
that towards the declension of the Roman empire, as
recorded by Ammianus Marcellinus, there were two
companies of brave soldiery, the one called gentilianum,
and the other seuturibrum; and that it was hence we
derive the names gentleman and esquire. See ESQUIRE.
—This sentiment is confirmed by Pasquier, who sup-
poses the appellation gentiles and ecuyers to have been
transmitted to us from the Roman soldiery; it being
to the gentiles and seutarii, who were the bravest of the
soldiery, that the principal benefices and portions of
lands were assigned. See BENEFICE.—The Gauls ob-
serving, that, during the empire of the Romans, the
seutarii and gentiles had the best tenements or appoint-
ments of all the soldiers on the frontiers of the pro-
vinces, became insensibly accustomed to apply the same
names, gentilhommes and ecuyers, to such as they
found their kings gave the best provisions or appoint-
ments to.
GENTLEMAN—Usher of the Black Rod. See ROD.
GENTLEMEN of the Chapel, officers whose duty and
attendance is in the royal chapel, being in number
thirty-two. Twelve of them are priests; the other
twenty, commonly called clerks of the chapel, assist in
the performance of divine service. One of the first
twelve is chosen for confessor of the household; whose
office it is to read prayers every morning to the house-
hold servants, to visit the sick, examine and prepare
communicants, and administer the sacrament. One of
twenty clerks, well versed in music, is chosen first or-
ganist, who is master of the children, to instruct them
in music, and whatever else is necessary for the service
of the chapel; a second is likewise an organist; a third,
a lutanist; and a fourth, a violist. There are likewise
three vergers, so called from the silver rods they carry
in their hands; being a sergeant, a yeoman, and groom
of the vestry: the first attends the dean and sub-dean,
and finds surplices and other necessaries for the chapel;
the second has the whole care of the chapel, keeps the
pews, and seats the nobility and gentry; the groom
has his attendance within the chapel-door, and looks
after it.