Child is frequently used by our old writers, as a Title. It is repeatedly given to Prince Arthur in the "Faerie Queen :" and the son of a king is in the same poem called "Child Tristram.". [B. 5. c. 11. st. 8. 13.-B. 6. c. 2. st. 36.-Ibid. c. 8. st. 15.] In an old ballad quoted in "Shakspeare's King Lear," the hero of Ariosto is called Child Roland. Mr. Theobald supposes this use of the word was received along with their romances from the Spaniards, with whom Infante signifies a "Prince." A more eminent critic tells us, that "in the old times of chivalry, the noble youth, who were candidates for knighthood, during the time of their probation were called Infans, Varlets, Damoysels, Bacheliers. The most noble of the youth were particularly called Infans." [Vid. Warb. Shakesp.] A late commentator on Spenser bserves, that the Saxon word cnihz knight, signifies ilso

" a Child." [See Upton's Gloss. to the F. Q.] The Editor's folio MS. whence the following piece is taken (with some corrections), affords several other ballads, wherein the word Child occurs as a title: but in none of these it signifies "Prince." See the song intitled Gill Morrice, in this volume.

It ought to be observed, that the word Child or Chield is still used in North Britain to denominate a Man, commonly with some contemptuous character affixed to him, but sometimes to denote Man in general,

CHILDE Waters in his stable stoode

And stroakt his milke white steede :
To him a fayre yonge ladye came
As ever ware womans weede.

Sayes, Christ you save, good Childe Waters; 5
Sayes, Christ you save, and see :

My girdle of gold that was too longe,
Is now too short for mee.