a testimony of esteem or submission, expressed by words, actions, and an exterior behaviour, by which we make known the veneration and respect we entertain for any one on account of his dignity or merit. The word honour is also used in general for the esteem due to virtue, glory, and reputation. It is also used for virtue and probity themselves, and for an exactness in performing whatever we have promised; and in this last sense we use the term, a man of honour. But honour is more particularly applied to two different kinds of virtue; bravery in men, and chastity in women.—Virtue and Honour were deified among the ancient Greeks and Romans, and had a joint temple consecrated to them at Rome; but afterwards each of them had separate temples, which were so placed, that no one could enter the temple of Honour without passing through that of Virtue; by which the Romans were continually put in mind, that virtue is the only direct path to true glory. Plutarch tells us, that the Romans, contrary to their usual custom, sacrificed to Honour uncovered: perhaps to denote, that wherever honour is, it wants no covering, but shows itself openly to the world.
The Spanish historians relate a memorable instance of honour and regard to truth. A Spanish cavalier in a sudden quarrel slew a Moorish gentleman, and fled. His pursuers soon lost sight of him, for he had unperceived thrown himself over a garden wall. The owner, a Moor, happening to be in his garden, was addressed by the Spaniard on his knees, who acquainted him with his case, and implored concealment. "Eat this," said the Moor (giving him half a peach), "you now know that you may confide in my protection." He then locked him up in his garden apartment, telling him as soon as it was night he would provide for his escape to a place of greater safety. The Moor then went into his house, where he had but just seated himself, when a great crowd, with loud lamentations, came to his gate, bringing the corpse of his son, who had just been killed by a Spaniard. When the first shock of surprize was a little over, he learnt from the description given, that the fatal deed was done by the very person then in his power. He mentioned this to none; but as soon as it was dark retired to his garden, as if to grieve alone, giving orders that none should follow him. Then accosting the Spaniard, he said, "Christian, the person you have killed is my son; his body is now in my house. You ought to suffer; but you have eaten with me, and I have given you my faith, which must not be broken." He then led the astonished Spaniard to his stables, mounted him on one of his fleetest horses, and said, "Fly far while the night can cover you; you will be safe in the morning. You are indeed guilty of my son's blood: but God is just and good; and I thank him I am innocent of yours, and that my faith given is preserved."
This point of honour is most religiously observed by the Arabs and Saracens, from whom it was adopted by the Moors of Africa, and by them was brought into Spain. The following instance of Spanish honour may still dwell in the memory of many living, and deserves to be handed down to the latest posterity. In the year 1746, when we were in hot war with Spain, the Elizabeth of London, Captain William Edwards, coming through the gulf from Jamaica, richly laden, met with a most violent storm, in which the ship sprung a leak, that obliged them, for the saving of their lives, to run into the Havannah, a Spanish port. The captain went on shore, and directly waited on the governor, told the occasion of his putting in, and that he surrendered the ship as a prize, and himself and his men as prisoners of war, only requesting good quarter. "No, Sir," replied the Spanish governor, "if we had taken you in fair war at sea, or approaching our coast with hostile intentions, your ship would then have been a prize, and your people prisoners; but when, distressed by a tempest, you come into our ports for the safety of your lives, we, the enemies, being men, are bound as such by the laws of humanity to afford relief Honour. relief to distressed men who ask it of us. We cannot even against our enemies take advantage of an act of God. You have leave therefore to unload your ship, if that be necessary, to stop the leak; you may refit her here, and traffic so far as shall be necessary to pay the charges; you may then depart, and I will give you a pass to be in force till you are beyond Bermuda: if after that you are taken, you will then be a lawful prize; but now you are only a stranger, and have a stranger's right to safety and protection." The ship accordingly departed, and arrived safe in London.
A remarkable instance of the like honour is recorded of a poor unenlightened African negro, in Captain Snellgrave's account of his voyage to Guinea. A New England sloop, trading there in 1752, left a second mate, William Murray, sick on shore, and failed without him. Murray was at the house of a black named Cudjoe, with whom he had contracted an acquaintance during their trade. He recovered; and the sloop being gone, he continued with his black friend till some other opportunity should offer of his getting home. In the mean time a Dutch ship came into the road, and some of the blacks coming on board her, were treacherously seized and carried off as their slaves. The relations and friends, transported with sudden rage, ran into the house of Cudjoe, to take revenge by killing Murray. Cudjoe stopped them at the door, and demanded what they wanted. "The white men," said they, "have carried away our brothers and sons, and we will kill all white men. Give us the white man you have in your house, for we will kill him." "Nay," said Cudjoe, "the white men that carried away your relations are bad men, kill them when you can take them; but this white man is a good man, and you must not kill him."—"But he is a white man," they cried: "and the white men are all bad men, we will kill them all." "Nay," says he, "you must not kill a man that has done no harm, only for being white. This man is my friend, my house is his post, I am his soldier, and must fight for him; you must kill me before you can kill him. What good man will ever come again under my roof, if I let my floor be stained with a good man's blood?" The negroes seeing his resolution, and being convinced by his discourse that they were wrong, went away ashamed. In a few days Murray ventured abroad again with his friend Cudjoe, when several of them took him by the hand, and told him, "They were glad they had not killed him; for as he was a good (meaning innocent) man, their God would have been very angry, and would have spoiled their fishing."
the beau monde, has a meaning materially different from the above, and which it is easier to illustrate than define. It is, however, subject to a system of rules, called the law of honour, constructed by people of fashion, calculated to facilitate their intercourse with one another, and for no other purpose. Consequently, nothing is considered as inconsistent with honour, but what tends to inconvenience this intercourse. Hence, as Archdeacon Paley states the matter, profaneness, neglect of public worship or private devotion, cruelty to servants, rigorous treatment of tenants or other dependents, want of charity to the poor, injuries done to tradesmen by insolvency or delay of payment, with numberless examples of the same kind, are accounted no breaches of honour; because a man is not a less agreeable companion for these vices, nor the worse to deal with in those concerns which are usually transacted between one gentleman and another.
Again, the law of honour being constituted by men occupied in the pursuit of pleasure, and for the mutual convenience of such men, will be found, as might be expected from the character and design of the law-makers, to be, in most instances, favourable to the licentious indulgence of the natural passions. Thus it allows of fornication, adultery, drunkenness, prodigality, duelling, and revenge in the extreme; and lays no stress upon the virtues opposite to these.
Honour or Rank.—The degrees of honour which are observed in Britain may be comprehended under these two heads, viz. nobiles majores, and nobiles minores. Those included under the first rank are, archbishops, dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, bishops, and barons; which are all distinguished by the respective ornaments of these escutcheons: and those of the last are baronets, knights, esquires, and gentlemen. There are some authors who will have baronets to be the last under the first rank; and their reason is, because their honour is hereditary, and-by patent, as that of the nobility. See Commonalty and Nobility.
Honours of War, in a siege, is, when a governor, having made a long and vigorous defence, is at last obliged to surrender the place to the enemy [for want of men and provisions], and makes it one of his principal articles to march out with the honours of war; that is, with shouldered arms, drums beating, colours flying, and all their baggage, &c.
Military Honours. All armies salute crowned heads in the most respectful manner, drums beating a march, colours and standards dropping, and officers saluting. Their guards pay no compliment, except to the princes of the blood; and even that by courtesy, in the absence of the crowned head.
To the commander in chief the whole line turns out without arms, and the camp-guards beat a march, and salute. To generals of horse and foot, they beat a march, and salute. Lieutenant-generals of ditto, three ruffs, and salute. Major-generals of ditto, two ruffs, and salute. Brigadiers of ditto, refted arms, one ruff, and salute. Colonels of ditto, refted arms, and no beating. Centinels reft their arms to all field-officers, and shoulder to every officer. All governors, that are not general officers, shall, in all places where they are governors, have one ruff, with refted arms; but for those who have no commission as governors, no drum shall beat. Lieutenant-governors shall have the main-guard turned out to them with shouldered arms.
Prussian Honours of War, chiefly imitated by most powers in Europe, are,
To the king, all guards beat the march, and all officers salute. Field-marshals received with the march, and saluted in the king's absence. General of horse or foot, four ruffs; but if he commands in chief, a march and salute. Lieutenant-generals of horse or foot, commanding or not, guards beat three ruffs. Major-generals of horse and foot, two ruffs. Officers, when their guards are under arms, and a general makes a signal, must reft to him, but not beat; when not got under arms, and a signal made, only stand by their arms. Village-guards go under arms only to the king, field-marshals, generals of horse and foot, and to the general of the day. Generals guard go under arms only to the king, field-marshals, and the general over whom they mount. Commanding officers of regiments and battalions, their own quarter and rear guards to turn out; but not to other field-officers, unless they are of the day. Generals in foreign service, the fame.
HONOURS paid by Centinels. Field-marshals; two centinels with ordered firelocks, at their tent or quarters. Generals of horse or foot; two centinels, one with his firelock shouldered, the other ordered. Lieutenant-generals; one, with firelock ordered. Major-generals; one, with firelock shouldered.
The first battalion of guards go under arms to the king only; not to stand by, nor draw up in the rear of their arms to any other; nor to give centinels to foreigners. Second and third battalions draw up behind their arms to the princes, and to field-marshals; but when on grenadier guards or out-polls, they turn out, as other guards do, to the officers of the day. They give one centinel with shouldered arms to the princes of the blood, and to field-marshals when they lie alone in garrisons.
Court of HONOUR. See Court of CHIVALRY.
Fountain of HONOUR. The king is so styled, as being the source of honours, dignities, &c. See PREROGATIVE.
It is impossible that government can be maintained without a due subordination of rank; that the people may know and distinguish such as are set over them, in order to yield them their due respect and obedience; and also that the officers themselves, being encouraged by emulation and the hopes of superiority, may the better discharge their functions; and the law supposes, that no one can be so good a judge of their several merits and services as the king himself who employs them. It has therefore entrusted him with the sole power of conferring dignities and honours, in confidence that he will bestow them upon none but such as deserve them. And therefore all degrees of nobility, of knighthood, and other titles, are received by immediate grant from the crown; either expressed in writing, by writs or letters patent, as in the creation of peers and baronets; or by corporeal investiture, as in the creation of a simple knight.
From the same principle also arises the prerogative of erecting and disposing of offices; for honours and offices are in their nature convertible and synonymous. All offices under the crown carry in the eye of the law an honour along with them; because they imply a superiority of parts and abilities, being supposed to be always filled with those that are most able to execute them. And, on the other hand, all honours in their original had duties or offices annexed to them: an earl, comer, was the conservator or governor of a county; and a knight, miles, was bound to attend the king in his wars. For the same reason therefore that honours are in the disposal of the king, offices ought to be so likewise; and as the king may create new titles, so may he create new offices; but with this restriction, that he cannot create new offices with new fees annexed to them, nor annex new fees to old offices; for this would be a tax upon the subject, which cannot be imposed but by act of parliament. Wherefore, in 13 Hen. IV. a new office being created by the king's letters patent for measuring cloths, with a new fee for the same, the letters patent were, on account of the new fee, revoked and declared void in parliament.
Upon the same or a like reason, the king has also the prerogative of conferring privileges upon private persons. Such as granting place or precedence to any of his subjects, as shall seem good to his royal wisdom: or such as converting aliens, or persons born out of the king's dominions, into denizens; whereby some very considerable privileges of natural-born subjects are conferred upon them. Such also is the prerogative of erecting corporations; whereby a number of private persons are united and knit together, and enjoy many liberties, powers, and immunities, in their political capacity, which they were utterly incapable of in their natural.
MAIDS of Honour, are young ladies in the queen's household, whose office is to attend the queen when she goes abroad, &c. In England they are fix in number, and their salary 300l. per annum each.
HONOUR is particularly applied in our customs to the more noble kind of seignories or lordships, whereof other inferior lordships or manors hold or depend. As a manor consists of several tenements, services, customs, &c. So an honour contains divers manors, knights-fees, &c. It was also formerly called beneficium or royal fee, being always held of the king in copite.
HONOUR-Point, in Heraldry, is that next above the centre of the escutcheon, dividing the upper part into two equal portions.