A person of this class was described by his countrymen as a gentleman who would be rich if justice were done, as a gentleman who had a fine estate if he could only get it.

[153] He seldom betook himself to any peaceful calling.

Trade, indeed, he thought a far more disgraceful resource than marauding.

Sometimes he turned freebooter.

Sometimes he contrived, in defiance of the law, to live by coshering, that is to say, by quartering himself on the old tenants of his family, who, wretched as was their own condition, could not refuse a portion of their pittance to one whom they still regarded as their rightful lord.