Some Account of the Family of Armine, and Especially of Sir Ferdinand and of Sir Ratcliffe.
THE family of Armine entered England with William the Norman. Ralph d’Armyn was standard-bearer of the Conqueror1, and shared prodigally2 in the plunder3, as appears by Doomsday Book. At the time of the general survey the family of Ermyn, or Armyn, possessed4 numerous manors5 in Nottinghamshire, and several in the shire of Lincoln. William D’Armyn, lord of the honour of Armyn, was one of the subscribing6 Barons7 to the Great Charter. His predecessor9 died in the Holy Land before Ascalon. A succession of stout10 barons and valiant11 knights12 maintained the high fortunes of the family; and in the course of the various struggles with France they obtained possession of several fair castles in Guienne and Gascony. In the Wars of the Roses the Armyns sided with the house of Lancaster. Ferdinand Armyn, who shared the exile of Henry the Seventh, was knighted on Bosworth Field, and soon after created Earl of Tewkesbury. Faithful to the Church, the second Lord Tewkesbury became involved in one of those numerous risings that harassed13 the last years of Henry the Eighth. The rebellion was unsuccessful, Lord Tewkesbury was beheaded, his blood attainted, and his numerous estates forfeited14 to the Crown. A younger branch of the family, who had adopted Protestantism, married the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, and attracted, by his talents in negotiation15, the notice of Queen Elizabeth. He was sent on a secret mission to the Low Countries, where, having greatly distinguished16 himself, he obtained on his return the restoration of the family estate of Armine, in Nottinghamshire, to which he retired17 after an eminently18 prosperous career, and amused the latter years of his life in the construction of a family mansion19, built in that national style of architecture since described by the name of his royal mistress, at once magnificent and convenient. His son, Sir Walsingham Armine, figured in the first batch20 of baronets under James the First.
During the memorable21 struggle between the Crown and the Commons, in the reign22 of the unhappy Charles, the Armine family became distinguished Cavaliers. The second Sir Walsingham raised a troop of horse, and gained great credit by charging at the head of his regiment23 and defeating Sir Arthur Haselrigg’s Cuirassiers. It was the first time that that impenetrable band had been taught to fly; but the conqueror was covered with wounds. The same Sir Walsingham also successfully defended Armine House against the Commons, and commanded the cavalry24 at the battle of Newbury, where two of his brothers were slain25. For these various services and sufferings Sir Walsingham was advanced to the dignity of a baron8 of the realm, by the title of Lord Armine, of Armine, in the county of Nottingham. He died without issue, but the baronetcy devolved on his youngest brother, Sir Ferdinando.
The Armine family, who had relapsed into popery, followed the fortunes of the second James, and the head of the house died at St. Germain. His son, however, had been prudent26 enough to remain in England and support the new dynasty, by which means he contrived27 to secure his title and estates. Roman Catholics, however, the Armines always remained, and this circumstance accounts for this once-distinguished family no longer figuring in the history of their country. So far, therefore, as the house of Armine was concerned, time flew during the next century with immemorable wing. The family led a secluded28 life on their estate, intermarrying only with the great Catholic families, and duly begetting29 baronets.
At length arose, in the person of the last Sir Ferdinand Armine, one of those extraordinary and rarely gifted beings who require only an opportunity to influence the fortunes of their nation, and to figure as a C?sar or an Alcibiades. Beautiful, brilliant, and ambitious, the young and restless Armine quitted, in his eighteenth year, the house of his fathers, and his stepdame of a country, and entered the Imperial service. His blood and creed30 gained him a flattering reception; his skill and valour soon made him distinguished. The world rang with stories of his romantic bravery, his gallantries, his eccentric manners, and his political intrigues31, for he nearly contrived to be elected King of Poland. Whether it were disgust at being foiled in this high object by the influence of Austria, or whether, as was much whispered at the time, he had dared to urge his insolent32 and unsuccessful suit on a still more delicate subject to the Empress Queen herself, certain it is that Sir Ferdinand suddenly quitted the Imperial service, and appeared at Constantinople in person. The man whom a point of honour prevented from becoming a Protestant in his native country had no scruples33 about his profession of faith at Stamboul: certain it is that the English baronet soon rose high in the favour of the Sultan, assumed the Turkish dress, conformed to the Turkish customs, and finally, led against Austria a division of the Turkish army. Having gratified his pique34 by defeating the Imperial forces in a sanguinary engagement, and obtaining a favourable35 peace for the Porte, Sir Ferdinand Armine doffed36 his turban, and suddenly reappeared in his native country. After the sketch37 we have given of the last ten years of his life, it is unnecessary to observe that Sir Ferdinand Armine immediately became what is called fashionable; and, as he was now in Protestant England, the empire of fashion was the only one in which the young Catholic could distinguish himself. Let us then charitably set down to the score of his political disabilities the fantastic dissipation and the frantic39 prodigality40 in which the liveliness of his imagination and the energy of his soul exhausted41 themselves. After three startling years he married the Lady Barbara Ratcliffe, whose previous divorce from her husband, the Earl of Faulconville, Sir Ferdinand had occasioned. He was, however, separated from his lady during the first year of their more hallowed union, and, retiring to Rome, Sir Ferdinand became apparently42 devout43. At the end of a year he offered to transfer the whole of his property to the Church, provided the Pope would allow him an annuity44 and make him a cardinal45. His Holiness not deeming it fit to consent to the proposition, Sir Ferdinand quitted his capital in a huff, and, returning to England, laid claim to the peerages of Tewkesbury and Armine. Although assured of failing in these claims, and himself perhaps as certain of ill success as his lawyers, Sir Ferdinand nevertheless expended46 upwards47 of 60,000L. in their promotion48, and was amply repaid for the expenditure49 in the gratification of his vanity by keeping his name before the public. He was never content except when he was astonishing mankind; and while he was apparently exerting all his efforts to become a King of Poland, a Roman cardinal, or an English peer, the crown, the coronet, and the scarlet50 hat were in truth ever secondary points with him, compared to the sensation throughout Europe which the effort was contrived and calculated to ensure.
On his second return to his native country Sir Ferdinand had not reentered society. For such a man, society, with all its superficial excitement, and all the shadowy variety with which it attempts to cloud the essential monotony of its nature, was intolerably dull and commonplace. Sir Ferdinand, on the contrary, shut himself up in Armine, having previously51 announced to the world that he was going to write his memoirs52. This history, the construction of a castle, and the prosecution53 of his claims before the House of Lords, apparently occupied his time to his satisfaction, for he remained quiet for several years, until, on the breaking out of the French Revolution, he hastened to Paris, became a member of the Jacobin Club, and of the National Convention. The name of Citizen Armine appears among the regicides. Perhaps in this vote he avenged54 the loss of the crown of Poland, and the still more mortifying55 repulse56 he may have received from the mother of Marie Antoinette. After the execution of the royal victims, however, it was discovered that Citizen Armine had made them an offer to save their lives and raise an insurrection in La Vendue, provided he was made Lieutenant-general of the kingdom. At his trial, which, from the nature of the accusation57 and the character of the accused, occasioned to his gratification a great sensation, he made no effort to defend himself, but seemed to glory in the chivalric58 crime. He was hurried to the guillotine, and met his fate with the greatest composure, assuring the public with a mysterious air, that had he lived four-and-twenty hours longer everything would have been arranged, and the troubles which he foresaw impending59 for Europe prevented. So successfully had Armine played his part, that his mysterious and doubtful career occasioned a controversy60, from which only the appearance of Napoleon distracted universal attention, and which, indeed, only wholly ceased within these few years. What were his intentions? Was he or was he not a sincere Jacobin? If he made the offer to the royal family, why did he vote for their death? Was he resolved, at all events, to be at the head of one of the parties? A middle course would not suit such a man; and so on. Interminable were the queries61 and their solutions, the pamphlets and the memoirs, which the conduct of this vain man occasioned, and which must assuredly have appeased62 his manes. Recently it has been discovered that the charge brought against Armine was perfectly63 false and purely64 malicious65. Its victim, however, could not resist the dazzling celebrity66 of the imaginary crime, and he preferred the reputation of closing his career by conduct which at once perplexed67 and astonished mankind, to a vindication68 which would have deprived his name of some brilliant accessories, and spared him to a life of which he was perhaps wearied.
By the unhappy victim of his vanity and passion Sir Ferdinand Armine left one child, a son, whom he had never seen, now Sir Ratcliffe. Brought up in sadness and in seclusion69, education had faithfully developed the characteristics of a reserved and melancholy70 mind. Pride of lineage and sentiments of religion, which even in early youth darkened into bigotry71, were not incompatible72 with strong affections, a stern sense of duty, and a spirit of chivalric honour. Limited in capacity, he was, however, firm in purpose. Trembling at the name of his father, and devoted73 to the unhappy parent whose presence he had scarcely ever quitted, a word of reproach had never escaped his lips against the chieftain of his blood, and one, too, whose career, how little soever his child could sympathise with it, still maintained, in men’s mouths and minds, the name and memory of the house of Armine. At the death of his father Sir Ratcliffe had just attained74 his majority, and he succeeded to immense estates encumbered75 with mortgages, and to considerable debts, which his feelings of honour would have compelled him to discharge, had they indeed been enforced by no other claim. The estates of the family, on their restoration, had not been entailed76; but, until Sir Ferdinand no head of the house had abused the confidence of his ancestors, and the vast possessions of the house of Armine had descended77 unimpaired; and unimpaired, so far as he was concerned, Sir Ratcliffe determined78 they should remain. Although, by the sale of the estates, not only the encumbrances79 and liabilities might have been discharged, but himself left in possession of a moderate independence, Sir Ratcliffe at once resolved to part with nothing. Fresh sums were raised for the payment of the debts, and the mortgages now consumed nearly the whole rental80 of the lands on which they were secured. Sir Ratcliffe obtained for himself only an annuity of three hundred per annum, which he presented to his mother, in addition to the small portion which she had received on her first marriage; and for himself, visiting Armine Place for the first time, he roamed for a few days with sad complacency about that magnificent demesne81, and then, taking down from the walls of the magnificent hall the sabre with which his father had defeated the Imperial host, he embarked82 for Cadiz, and shortly after his arrival obtained a commission in the Spanish service.
Although the hereditary83 valour of the Armines had descended to their forlorn representative, it is not probable that, under any circumstances, Sir Ratcliffe would have risen to any eminence84 in the country of his temporary adoption85. His was not one of those minds born to command and to create; and his temper was too proud to serve and to solicit86. His residence in Spain, however, was not altogether without satisfaction. It was during this sojourn87 that he gained the little knowledge of life and human nature he possessed; and the creed and solemn manners of the land harmonised with his faith and habits. Among these strangers, too, the proud young Englishman felt not so keenly the degradation88 of his house; and sometimes, though his was not the fatal gift of imagination, sometimes he indulged in day dreams of its rise. Unpractised in business, and not gifted with that intuitive quickness which supplies experience and often baffles it, Ratcliffe Armine, who had not quitted the domestic hearth89 even for the purposes of education, was yet fortunate enough to possess a devoted friend: and this was Glastonbury, his tutor, and confessor to his mother. It was to him that Sir Ratcliffe intrusted the management of his affairs, with a confidence which was deserved; for Glastonbury sympathised with all his feelings, and was so wrapped up in the glory of the family, that he had no greater ambition in life than to become their historiographer, and had been for years employed in amassing90 materials for a great work dedicated91 to their celebrity.
When Ratcliffe Armine had been absent about three years his mother died. Her death was unexpected. She had not fulfilled two-thirds of the allotted92 period of the Psalmist, and in spite of many sorrows she was still beautiful. Glastonbury, who communicated to him the intelligence in a letter, in which he vainly attempted to suppress his own overwhelming affliction, counselled his immediate38 return to England, if but for a season; and the unhappy Ratcliffe followed his advice. By the death of his mother, Sir Ratcliffe Armine became possessed, for the first time, of a small but still an independent income; and having paid a visit, soon after his return to his native country, to a Catholic nobleman to whom his acquaintance had been of some use when travelling in Spain, he became enamored of one of his daughters, and his passion being returned, and not disapproved93 by the father, he was soon after married to Constance, the eldest94 daughter of Lord Grandison.
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1
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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prodigally
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| adv.浪费地，丰饶地 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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manors
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| n.庄园（manor的复数形式） | |
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subscribing
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| v.捐助( subscribe的现在分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
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barons
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| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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batch
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| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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begetting
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| v.为…之生父( beget的现在分词 )；产生，引起 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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prodigality
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| n.浪费，挥霍 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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memoirs
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| n.回忆录；回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数) | |
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prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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chivalric
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| 有武士气概的，有武士风范的 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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celebrity
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| n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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bigotry
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| n.偏见，偏执，持偏见的行为[态度]等 | |
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incompatible
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| adj.不相容的，不协调的，不相配的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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77
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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78
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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79
encumbrances
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| n.负担( encumbrance的名词复数 )；累赘；妨碍；阻碍 | |
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80
rental
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| n.租赁，出租，出租业 | |
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81
demesne
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| n.领域，私有土地 | |
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82
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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83
hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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84
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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85
adoption
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| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
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86
solicit
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| vi.勾引；乞求；vt.请求，乞求；招揽(生意) | |
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87
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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88
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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89
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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90
amassing
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| v.积累，积聚( amass的现在分词 ) | |
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91
dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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92
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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disapproved
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| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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