deal of uncertainty hangs about its history and derivation, it seems pretty clear that a certain amount of odium has always been attached to the word. Between two of its primary significations, however,—(1) a kitchen knave or scullion, and (2) a guard of attendants, black in person, dress, or character, generally in reference to the devil's body-guard—and the modern usage, there is a somewhat marked line to be drawn. The earliest mention is as follows:—
1532. MS. Churchwarden's Accompts. St. Margaret's, Westminster (Receipts for burials). Item Receyvid for the lycens of iiij. torchis of the blake garde vjd.
What this guard was is not definitely known. Some have suggested that it was a body of soldiers; others that it was a band of torch bearers at funerals; while some incline to the belief that it was comprised of street link-boys.
Better supported by evidence are the senses first mentioned, in which blackguard signifies (1) a scullion, and (2) a member of the devil's body-guard. But here too, Murray points out that it would be difficult to assign priority. First, however, let the quotations be given in sets:—
Sense 1 = a scullion.
1535. Sir W. Fitzwilliams, 17 Aug., in Cal. State Papers. Two of the ring-leaders had been some time of the black guard of the king's kitchen. [m.]
1579. Fulke, Refut. Kastel, 779. They ought not, nor yet any of the scullerie or blacke garde. [m.]
Sense 2 = Devil's body-guard; also other attendants.
1583. Fulke, Defence, x., 386. Pelagius, Celestins, and other like heretics of the devil's body-guard, [m.]
1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, wks. [1884-5] III., 214. The Great Lord of Limbo did therefore commaund all his Blacke guard that stood about him, to bestirre them. [m.]
Comparing these one with the other, we are clearly face to face in one set of quotations with a popular superstition—a belief of an age when witchcraft was prevalent, and when hobgoblins and the like were assigned as black guards to his Satanic Majesty. Whether there was any connection in the popular mind between the King's scullions and the Devil's body-guard, cannot now be definitely stated. Still, it is probable; and this view is borne out by later references. It is curious to note the concluding lines of Hudibras' Address to Ralpho, which may perhaps explain the process by which the term of black guard may have come to be applied to the lowest class of domestics in the royal kitchens or other great establishments. Still, as stated, priority cannot be given to either; moreover, the use of black guard in either sense may have been a mere play on words, whether of 1 on 2, or 2 on 1 is equally uncertain. The quotation from Hudibras is as follows:
1678. Butler, Hudibras, pt. III., canto 1, line 1403.
I do believe thee, quoth the knight; Thus far I'm sure thou'rt in the right, And know what 'tis that troubles thee, Better than thou hast guess'd of me. Thou art some paltry, blackguard sprite, Condemn'd to drudg'ry in the night; Thou hast no work to do in th' house, Nor half-penny to drop in shoes; Without the raising of which sum You dare not be so troublesome; To pinch the slatterns black and blue, For leaving you their work to do. This is your business, good Pug Robin, And your diversion, dull dry bobbing.
