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re! utes that in the year 1497, a pike was taken | 
near Ilailburn, in Suabia, with a brazen ring 
affixed to it, on which were these words in 
Greek characters “ I am the lish which 
was iirst of ah put into this lake by the 
hands of the governor of the universe 
Frederic the Second, the fifth of October 
1230 ;” so that, adds Mr. Pennant, the former 
must have been an infant to this Methusalem 
of a tish. 
The pike spawns in March and April, ac- 
cording to the warmth or coldness of the sea- 
son; depositing its ova among the weeds, 
Nc. near the water’s edge : the young are 
said to be of very quick growth : indeed 
Bloch considers it as the quickest grower of 
all the European fishes whose progress he, has 
had an opportunity of observing. The first 
year, according to this author, it arrives at the 
length of from six to ten inches ; the second 
to twelve or fourteen ; and the third to eigh- 
teen or twenty. The stomach of the pike 
is strong and muscular, and of very consider- 
able length : it is also furnished with several 
large and red pleats : in the intestinal canal 
have been observed several kinds of worms 
and particularly taenia;, of which no fewer than 
a hundred have been seen in a single lish. 
2. Esox sphyraena, or sea-pike. T his spe- 
cies in its general habit or appearance is 
considerably allied to the common pike, but 
is of a silvery blueish colour, dusky on the 
back, and slightly tinged with yellow on the 
head and about the gills : the first dorsal fin 
is situated on the middle ot the back, and is 
furnished with only four rays, which are all 
strong or spiny : the second, which is placed 
opposite the anal fin, consists of about ten 
rays, of which the iirst only is spiny : both 
these dorsal fins, together with the tail, which 
is deeply forked, are of a dusky tinge; the 
pectoral, ventral, and anal, are ot a pale red, 
the eyes are moderately large : the lower 
jaw longer than the upper; the scales middle- 
sized, and the lateral line nearly straight. r l his 
lish is an inhabitant of the Mediterranean and 
Atlantic seas, growing to the length ol about 
two feet. It is said to be in considerable es- 
teem for the table, the flesh resembling that of 
the cod-fish. 
3. Esox barracuda, or barracuda pike, has the 
habit of the common pike, but is of a longer 
form, and more slender or taper in proportion 
towards the tail : size very great, some having 
been seen of ten feet in length ; but the more 
common size is from six to eight feet. This 
is said to be an extremely strong, fierce, and 
dangerous fish, swimming with great rapidity, 
and preying on most others: it is even said 
sometimes to attack and destroy bathers, in 
the same manner as the shark. It is found in 
great plenty in the tropical seas, and is fre- 
quent about the West Indian islands. It is 
in no estimation as a food, the llesh being 
rank ; and even sometimes, according to 
common report, highly noxious, occasioning 
all the symptoms of the most fatal poisons ; yet, 
in spite of these bad qualities, we are assured 
that the hungry Bahamians frequently make 
their repast “ on its unwholesome carcase.” 
4. Esox vulpes, or the fox pike. Its ge- 
neral length is about sixteen inches : habit 
somewhat similar to that of a common pike, 
but remarkably slender or taper towards the 
tail, which is very deeply and widely forked ; 
mouth of moderate width : jaws equal, and 
with a single row of sharp weth in each: 
e s a 
dorsal fin situated in the middle of the back: 
scales ratherlarge, thin, and rounded: co- 
lour of the whole fish brown, paler or lighter 
beneath : native of Carolina and the West 
Indian islands. 
5. Esox malabaricus, or Malabar pike, is 
in length about twelve inches ; habit distantly 
allied to that of the common pike, but with 
the tail rounded, and the dorsal fin placed on 
the middle of the back : colour yellowish, 
dusky on the back ; lower jaw longer than 
the upper ; eyes rather large ; scales large, 
and very distinct ; the lateral line bending a 
little downwards at its origin from the gill- 
covers, and then running straight to the tail ; 
ail the fins, together with the tail, of a very 
pale transparent brown, barred by several 
rows of deep-brown spots. Native ot Ma- 
labar, inhabiting rivers and rivulets, and 
in considerable esteem for the table. 
(5. Esox bellone, gar lish, or sea-needle, is 
well known by its protracted snout, and the 
bones, which are green when boiled. 
ESPALIERS, in gardening, are rows of 
trees planted about a whole garden or plan- 
tation, or in hedges, so as to inclose quarters 
or-separate parts of a garden; and are trained 
up regularly to a lattice of wood-work in a 
close hedge, for the defen e of tender plants 
against the injuries of wind and weather. 
ESPLANADE, in fortification, the sloping 
of the parapet of the covered way towards 
the campaign. It is the same with glacis, 
and is more properly the empty space be- 
twixt a citadel and the houses of a town, com- 
monly called a place of arms. See EoRTr- 
FICATJON. 
ESPLEES, in law, the general products 
which lands yield, or the prolit or commodity 
that is to be taken or made of a thing; as of a 
common, the taking of grass by the mouths 
of the beasts that common there ; of an ad- 
vowson, taking of tythes by the parson; of 
wood, the selling of wood ; of an orchard, 
selling the fruit growing there ; of a mill, the 
taking of toll, &c. 
These and suet -like issues arc termed es- 
plees. In a writ of right of land, advowson,&c. 
the demandant must allege in his count, that 
he or his ancestors took the esplees of the 
thing demanded, otherwise the pleading is 
not good. 
ESPOUSALS, inlaw, signifies a contract 
or promise made between a man and a wo- 
man, to marry each other ; and in cases 
where marriage may be consummated, es- 
pousals go before. Marriage is termed an 
espousal de pra’senti. 
ESQUIRE, armiger, was antiently the 
person that attended a knight in time of war, 
and carried his shield. 
This title has not, for a long time, had 
anv relation to the office of the person, as 
to carry arms, &c. Those to whom the title 
of esquire is now of right due, are all noble- 
men’s younger sons, and the eldest sons of 
such younger sons ; the eldest sons ol knights, 
and their eldest sons ; the officers ot the 
king’s courts, and of his household ; counsel- 
lors at law, justices of the peace, &c. when in 
the commission ; but a sheriff of acountypvho 
is a superior officer, retains the title of es- 
quire during life, in consequence of the trust 
once reposed in him : the heads of some an- 
tient families are said to be esquires by pre- 
scription; and by custom, or by way of com- 
pliment, this title is given to every gentleman 
633 
who lives on his private fortune, and to rich 
merchants: it is even assumed by almost 
every tradesman who can drive his gig, or 
who takes upon him to live in two houses, 
though he should be unable to pay the ex- 
pences of one. 
Esquires of the king, are such as have 
that title by creation, wherein there is some 
formality used, as the putting about their 
necks a collar of SS, and bestowing on them 
a pair of silver spurs, &c. 
There are four esquires of the body to at- 
tend the king's person. 
If an esquire be arraigned of high treason, 
he ought to be tried by a jury each whereof 
have 40s. of freehold, and 100/. in goods ; and 
a knight has no other privilege. r l he heir ap- 
parent of an esquire is privileged to keep 
greyhounds, setting-dogs, or nets to take par- 
tridges and pheasants, -though he cannot di- 
spend 10/. of estate of inheritance, or the va- 
lue of 30/. of estate for life. 
ESSENCE, in philosophy, that which con- 
stitutes the particular nature of each genus or 
kind, and distinguishes it from all others ; 
being nothing but that abstract idea to which 
this name is affixed, so that every thing con- 
tained in it is essential to that particular kind. 
ESSENDO QUIETUM DE TOLONIO, ill 
law, a writ whicn lies for citizens, burgesses, 
&c. who by charter or prescription ought to 
be free from toll, in case the same is exacted 
of them. 
ESSENES, or essenians, in jewish anti- 
quity, one of the three sects among that 
people, who exceeded the Pharisees in their 
most rigorous observances. They allowed a 
future state, but denied a resurrection from 
the dead . '1 ’heir way of life was very singular : 
they did not marry, but adopted the children 
of others, whom they bred up in the institu- 
tions of their sect : they despised riches, and 
had all things in common ; and never chan- 
ged their cloaths till they were entirely worn, 
out. When initiated, they were strictly 
bound not to communicate the mysteries of 
their sect to others; and if any of their mem- 
bers were found guilty of enormous crimes, 
they were expelled. 
ESSOIN, in law, an excuse for a person 
summoned to appear and answer to an action, 
on account of sickness or other just cause of 
his absence. 
It is a kind of imparlance or craving of 
longer time, and obtains in real, personal, and 
mixed actions. 
There are divers essoins : as de ultra mare, 
when the defendant is beyond sea, whereby 
he is allowed forty days ; in an expedition to 
the Holy Land, a year and a day; infirmity, 
called common essoin, when he is sick in bed ; 
and lastly, in the king’s service. 
Essoin-day, is regularly the first day of 
every term, though the fourth day after is 
also allowed by way of indulgence. 
Essoin de malo villje, is where the 
defendant appears in court, but before plead- 
ing, falls sick in a certain village : this is also 
allowed, if found true. 
ESTATE, in law, signifies such inheritance, 
freehold, term for years, tenantcy by statute- 
merchant, staple, elegit, or the like, as any man, 
has in lands and tenements. Estates are real, 
of lands, tenements, &c. or personal, of goods 
or chattels; otherwise distinguished into free- 
holds that descend to the heir, and chattels 
which go to the executors. Co. Lit. 313. 
