ESCOYEUX, a town of France, in the depart ment of Lower Charente, 71 m. NE. of Saintes. * ESCRITOIR. n. f. [French. A box with all the implements neceflary for writing. Pronounced feritore.

(.) ESCUAGE. n.. [from efeu, French, a fhield.] Efeuage, that is, fervice of the thield, is either uncertain or certain. Efeuage uncertain is likewife twofold: firft, where the tenant by his tenure is bound to follow his ford, going in perfon to the king's wars fo many days. The days of fuch fervice feem to have been rated by the quantity of the land fo holden: as, if it extend to a whole knight's fee, then the tenant was bound thus to follow his lord 40 days. A knight's fee was fo much land as, in thofe days, was accounted a fufficient living for a knight; and that was 680 acres as fome think, or 800 as others, or 15. per annum. Sir Thomas Smith faith, that cenfus equeftris is 40 l. revenue in free lands. If the land extend but to half a knight's fee, then the tenant is bound to follow his lord but 20 days. The other kind of this efcuage uncertain is called Caftleward, where the tenant is bound to defend a caftle. Elcnage certain is where the tenant is fet at a certain fum of money to be paid in lieu of fuch uncertain fervices. Cowel.

(2.) ESCUAGE. See FEODAL SYSTEM, and

(2.) ESCULENT. z.. Something fit for food. -This cutting off the leaves in plants, where the root is the efculent, as radish and parfnips, it will make the root the greater, and fo it will do to the heads of onions; and where the fruit is the e/culent, by ftrengthening the root, it will make the fruit alfo the greater. Bacon.

ESCURE, a town of France, in the department of Tarn, 14 miles E. of Alby.

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(1.) ESCURIAL, a royal refidence of Spain, 15 miles NW. of Madrid. It is the largest and moft fuperb fructure in the kingdom, and one of the finest in Europe. The word is Arabic, meatting a place full of rocks." It is built in a dry barren fpot, furrounded with rugged mountains, infomuch that every thing which grows there is owing to art. This place was chofen, it is faid, for the fake of the ftone wherewith the fabric is built, which is got from a mountain juft by, and is very durable; and the design of erect ing it was to commemorate a victory which Philip II. obtained over the French, (but by the affiftauce of the English forces) at St Quintin, on St Laurence's day, in the year 1557. The Spanith defcription of this ftructure forms a fizeable 4to volume. Its founder expended upon it fix millions of ducats. The apartments are decorated with an astonishing variety of paintings, fculpture, tapestry, ornaments of gold and filver, marble, jafper, gems, and other curious tones, furpafling all imagination. This building, befides its palace, contains a church, large and richly ornamented;

a mausoleum; cloifters; a convent; a college; and a library, containing about 30,000 volumes; befides large apartments for all kinds of artifts and mechanics, noble walks, with extenfive parks and gardens, beautified with fountains and coftly ornaments. The fathers that live in the convent are 200, and they have an annual revenue of 12,000. It was begun by Philip in 1562, five years after the battle; and completed in 22 years. it confits of feveral courts and quadrangles, which altogether are difpofed in the shape of a gridiron, the inftrument of the martyrdom of St Laurence; the apartment where the king refides forms the handle. The building is a long square of 640 by 580, and the height up to the roof is all round 60 feet, except on the garden fide, where the ground is more taken away. At each_angle is a fquare tower 200 feet high. The number of windows in the well front is 200; in the eaft front 366. The orders are Doric and Ionic. There are 3 doors in the principal front. Over the grand entrance are the arms of Spain, carved in ftone; and a little higher in a niche, a ftatue of St Laurence in a deacon's habit, with a gilt gridiron in his right hand, and a book in his left. Directly over the door is a baffo relievo of two enormous gridirons in ftone. This vaft ftructure, however, with its narrow high towers, fmall windows, and fteep floping roof, exhibits a very uncouth ftyle of architecture; at the fame time that the domes, and the immenfe extent of its fronts, render it a wonderfully grand object from every point of view. The church, is in the centre, is large, awful, and richly ornamented. The cupola is bold and light. The high altar is compofed of rich marbles, agates, and jafpers of great rarity, the produce of this kingdom. Two magnificent catafaiquas fill up the fide arcades of this fanctuary: on one the emperor Charles V. his wife, daugh. ter, and two fifters, are reprefented in bronze, larger than life, kneeling: oppofite are the effigies of Philip II. and of his three wives, of the fame materials, and in the fame devout attitude. Underneath is the burial place of the royal family, called the Pantheon: 25 steps lead down to this vault, over the door of which is a Latin infcription, denoting, that "this place, facred to the remains of the Catholic kings," was intended by Charles the emperor, refolved upon by Philip II. begun by Philip III. and completed by Philip IV. The mausoleum is circular 36 feet diameter, incrufted with fine marbles in an elegant tafte. The bodies of the kings and queens lie in tombs of marble, in niches, one above the other. The plan of these fepulchres is grand, and executed with a princely magnificence; but as a modera traveller obferves, in a ftyle rather too gay, too light, and too delicately fitted up for the idea we are apt to form of a chapel deftined for the re'ception of the dead. The collection of pictures difperfed about various parts of the church, facrifty, and convent, has been considered as equal if not fuperior, to any gallery in Europe except that of Dresden. Formed out of the fpoils of Italy, and the wafted cabinet of that unfortunate dilettante Charles I. of Britain, it contains fore of the most capital works of the greatest painters

that

that have flourished fince the revival of the art. In the facrifty is an altar called La fanta Forma: this is a kind of tabernacle of gems, marbles, woods, and other precious materials, inlaid in gilt bronze; in which, rather than in the excellence of the workmanship or tafte of the defign, confifts the merit of this rock of riches. Before it hangs a curtain, on which Coello has reprefented Charlés II. and all his court in proceffion, coming to place this Forma. This is eftecrned one of the most curious collections of portraits in the world; for all the perfons are drawn with the greatest strength of colour and truth of expreffion, and are faid to be perfect refemblances not only of the monarch and grandees, but even of the monks, fervants, and guards. The ftatues, bufts, and medallions of the Efcurial, are neither very numerous, nor remarkable for their excellence: but the library contains a moft precious collection of M. SS. many fine drawings, and other curiosities. Notwithstanding the coldness of the expofure, the late king, for the fake of hunting, used to pafs here several months of the year.

(1) ESCURIAL, a town near the palace, (No 1.) built by Philip III. for the accommodation of his attendants.

ESCUROLLES, a town of France, in the department of the Allier, 4 miles NE. of Gannat.

ESCUTCHEON, or SCUTCHEON. See EsCUTCHEON. Moft nations of the remotest antiquity were wont to have their fhields diftinguithed by certain marks painted on them; which were tokens of honour, none being permitted to have them till they have performed fome honourable action. The efcutcheon, at prefent, is fquare only rounded off at the bottom.

ESDEN, a town of France, in the department of the Lower Meufe, and late bishopric of Liege, 3 miles S. of Stockem.

ESDRAS, or EZRA, a Jewish priest, and doc tor of the law. Artaxerxes Longimanus fent him with rich presents for the ufe and ornament of the temple at Jerufalem, rebuilt under Zerubbabel; he also ordered the neighbouring governors to provide him with what conduced to the pomp of the Jewish religion, and to exempt the priefts from paying taxes. Ezra is fuppofed to have been the collector of the Canon of Scripture; and that, by divine inspiration, he added fome things which happened after the deaths of the authors. It is fuppofed he wrote the Chronicles, befides thofe books which bear his name; the two laft of which are exploded as apocryphal, even by the church of Rome.

ESENS, a town of Germany, in E. Friesland, 24 miles NNE. of Emden. Lon. 7. 14. E. Lat, 53.47. N.

ESFARAIN, a town of Perfia, 90 miles E. of Aftrabad, the birth place of feveral Perfian authors. Lon 51. 23 E. Lat. 36. 48. N.

ESGUERIA, or a town of Portugal, in Beira, ESGUEY A, containing 1600 inhabitants, 8 miles S. Aveiro.

towers of which were built by cardinal Wolfev; near Lord Tyrconnel's elegant villa of Claremont, built by the late Lord Clive.

ESi, a town of Italy, in the department of Me taoro, and late marquifate of Ancona: 11 miles SSW. of Ancona.

ESIONGABER, ASIONGABER, or EZIONGEBER, an ancient town of Arabia Petræa, on the bay of Elath, a part of the Arabian Gulf; th dock or ftation for the fhips of Solomon and Je hofaphat. It was afterwards called BERENICE. (1.) ESK, a river of England, in Cumberland, which runs into the Irish fea, near Ravenglais. (2, 3) ESK, BLACK, and WHITE, two rivers of Scotland, in Efkdale, Dumfries-fhire, which unite at the foot of Efkdalemuir, under the com mon name of Esk; and after forming part of the boundary between Scotland and England, fall into the Solway Frith, 20 miles below, at Langholm. (4.) ESK, LOUGH, a lake of Ireland, in Donegal. (5, 6.) ESK, NORTH, and SOUTH, two rivers of Mid Lothian, which unite below Dalkeith, and fall into the Frith of Forth, at Muffelburgh.

(7.) ESK, NORTH, a confiderable river of Angus-fhire, formed by the junction of two small rivers called the East and West Waters. It feparates the counties of Angus and Mearns, and falls into the German Ocean, two miles NE. of Montrofe. It has 3 remarkable bridges over it: the ft confifting of one arch, cailed the Gannachir Bridge about 10 miles NW. of Montrose, built by James Black. (See BLACK, N° 5. and GANNACHIE:) the 2d of three arches, about 4 miles N. of Montrofe, called the Old North Water Bridge; built above 200 years ago, by John Erskine, Efq. of Dun; and the 3d of feven arches, near the mouth of the river; called the New North Water Bridge, built in 1775, by a subscription of 65001. quantities of falmon are taken in thisriver and fent to London.

Vait

(8.) ESK, SOUTH, a confiderable river of Angus fhire, which, after traverfing the whole breadth of the county in many beautiful meanders, pafles by Brechin, glides through the capacious bafin and harbour of Montrofe, and falls into the German Ocean, a mile W. of that town. elegant new bridge, or rather two bridges were erected over the mouth of this river in 1792-3, from Forthill to the ile of Inch Broyock, and from that to Craig. See MONTROSE.

An

ESKARMEKRUN, a town of Perfia, in the province of Chufiftan, 90 miles S. of Sufa.

ESKDALE, the most eaftern divifion of Dumfries-thire, fo named from the rive Esk, (N° 2.) running through it. It was formerly a lordfhip or barony in the family of Maxwell; but attainted on account of the attachment of that family to the houfe of Stewart.

ESKDALEMUIR, a parish of Scotland, in Dumfries-thire, 114 miles long from N. to S. and 8 broad, where broadeft, containing 45,250 acres. The foil is deep, but in general not fertile, owing to its high fituation, and much of it being moffy, which renders the air damp; though this has been of late greatly ameliorated by draining. There are not above 200 acres in tillage, moft of the ground being applied to the pafturage of ficep, for which its mountainous furface is beft adapted K

Mr

their own country, fuch as the lotus, the palm-tree, the vine, the rush, &c." The inhabitants of Efne having revolted against the perfecution of Dioclefan, that emperor deftroyed this town and put them to the fword. Thus confecrated by religion, it has long been a celebrated place of pilgrimage among the Copts, who repair to it from the most diftant provinces.

Mr Brown, in the Stat. Acc. mentions an annual fair formerly held in this parish, at the junction of the Black and White Efks, at which a fingular cuftom had long prevailed among the unmarried perfons of both fexes, called Hand-fafting, or hand in fift. Each chofe a companion with whom they agreed to live till that time next year. If then pleafed with each other, they were confirmed by a priest, who attended on purpose, and were married for life: If not, they were at liberty to feparate, and make a new choice; and the fruit of their temporary connection was attached to the difaffected party. There are marks of encampments on almost every hill in the parish; fome of them rectangular, and others of an oval or circular form. The population, in 1801, was 537. ESKI-BABA, a town of European Turkey, in Romania, 30 miles SE. of Adrianople.

ESKI-HISAR, a town of Afiatic Turkey, in Natolia, 16 miles W. of Mogla, anciently called STRATONICEA.

ESKI-HISSAR, a town of Afiatic Turkey, in Natolia, anciently called LAODICEA, and now almoft in ruins, 8 milès N. of Degnizlu.

ESKIMAUX. See ESQUIMAUX. ESKI-SADRA, a town of European Turkey, in Romania, 48 miles E. of Filippopoli.

ESKI-SHEHR, a town of Afiatic Turkey, in Natolia, on the Sakaria, 116 miles SE. of Conftantinople. Lon. 48.44. E of Ferro. Lat. 39. 48. N. ESLA, a river of Spain, which runs into the Duero, between Zamora and Miranda.

ESLINGEN, a large imperial town of Germany, in the duchy of Wirtemburg, on an ifland in the Neckar, 8 miles SE. of Stutgard, and 34 NW. of Ulm. Lon. 9. 20. E. Lat. 48. 47. N.

ESNE, or ASNA, a confiderable fea-port town of Upper Egypt. To the difcription of this place which will be found under ASNA, it feems neceffary to add the following, from the Travels of Denon. "Efne is the ancient Latopolis. Some remains are still visible of its port or quay on the bank of the Nile, which has been often repaired; but, notwithstanding all that has been done for it, ftill remains in a very miferable fituation. This town alfo contains the portico of a temple, which appears to me to be the most perfect monument of ancient architecture. It is fituated near the bazar in the great fquare, and would make an incomparable ornament to this fpot, if the inhabitants had any idea of its merit; but instead of this they have deformed it by the moft miferable ruined hovels, and have devoted it to the vileft purposes. The partico is very well preferved, and poffefies a great richness of fculpture: it is compofed of eighteen columns with broad capitals; thefe columns are noble and elegant, though they now appear in the moft difadvantageous light: the rubbifh fhould be cleared to find if any part of the cella remains. The hieroglyphics with which it is covered within and without, are executed with great care; they contain, among other fubjects, a Zodiac, and large figures of men with crocodiles heads: the capitals, though all different, have a very fine effect; and as an additional proof that the Egyptians borrowed nothing from other people we may remark, that they have taken all the ornaments, of which thefe capitals are compofed, from the productions of

ESO, an ifland of Maritime Auftria, on the coaft of Dalmatia, between the ifles of Grofia and Ug. liano. There are two villages of the fame name on it.

ESOP. See Æsop.

ESOX, in ichthyology, a genus of fishes belonging to the order of abdominales. The body is elongated; the head is plainifh above; the upper jaw is plain, and fhorter than the under one, which is dotted; and the branchioftege membrane has from 7 to 12 rays.

1. ESOX BARRACUDA of Catesby is found in great numbers about the feas of the Bahamas and as far as Jamaica. Its body and head very much refemble the European pikes: the eyes are large: the mouth is very wide: the under jaw longer than the upper: there are 4 very large and fharp teeth in the front of the upper jaw; in that of the lower, a fingle great and sharp tooth; there are two dorfal fins: the tail is large and forked: colour a deep brown, whitish on the belly. It grows to the length of 10 feet. It fwims exceedingly swift; is of dreadful voracity; and will attack and devour men when they are bathing. The flesh has a difagreeable smell and taste, and is even poisonous; caufing great fickness, vomiting, intolerable pains in the head, and loss of hair and nails: yet the hungry Bahamans formerly were under the neceffity, at times, of feeding on it.

2. Esox BELONE, the GAR, or SEA NEEDLE, fometimes grows to 3 feet or more. The jaws are very long, flender, and sharp-pointed; the under jaw extends much farther than the upper; and the edges of both are armed with numbers of fhort and flender teeth: the tongue is fmail: the eyes are large; the irides filvery; and the noftrils wide and round. The body is flender, the belly quite flat, bounded on both fides by a rough line. The tail is much forked. The colours are extremely beautiful when the fish is in the water: the back is a fine green, beneath which appears a rich changeable blue and purple: the fides and belly are of a fine filvery hue. This fith is found in many places, and comes in fhoals on our coafts in the beginning of fummer. It precedes the mackerel, and refembles it in tafte; but the light green which ftains the back bone gives many people a disgust to it.

3. Esox LUCIUS, the PIKE, has a flat head: the upper jaw is broad, and fhorter than the low. er: the under jaw turns up a little at the end, and is marked with minute punctures. The teeth are very sharp, disposed not only in the front of the upper jaw, but in both fides of the lower; in the roof of the mouth, and often in the tongue. The flit of the mouth is very wide; the eyes fmall. The pike is common in most lakes of Europe; but the largest are those taken in Lapland, which, according to Scheffer, are fometimes &

feet