or parson, subs. (old: now recognised).—A sham cleric; a blackguard or vagabond parson; a COUPLE BEGGAR. [As Johnson notes, the use of HEDGE in a detrimental sense is common. As HEDGE-begot; HEDGE-born; HEDGE-brat; HEDGE-found; HEDGE-DOCKED (q.v.); HEDGE-tavern (= a low alehouse); HEDGE-SQUARE (q.v.); HEDGE-reared; HEDGE-mustard; HEDGE-writer (= a Grub-street author); HEDGE-BUILDING, etc. Shakespeare uses the phrase ‘HEDGE-born’ as the very opposite of ‘gentle blooded’ (1 Henry VI., iv. 1).] Specifically, HEDGE-PRIESTS = (in Ireland) a cleric admitted to orders directly from a HEDGE-SCHOOL. (q.v.) without having studied theology. [Before Maynooth, men were admitted to ordination ere they left for the continental colleges, so that they might receive the stipend for saying mass.]
1588. Marprelate’s Epistle, 30 (ARBER). Is it any maruaile that we haue so many swine dumbe dogs nonresidents with their iourneimen the HEDGE PRIESTS … in our ministry.
1594. SHAKESPEARE, Love’s Labour’s Lost, v. 2. The pedant, the braggart, the HEDGE-PRIEST, the fool, and the boy.
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes. Arlotto, the name of a merie priest, a lack-latine, or HEDGE-PRIEST.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HEDGE PRIEST. A sorry Hackney, Underling, Illiterate, Vagabond, see Patrico.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii. A HEDGE-PARSON, or buckle-beggar, as that order of priesthood has been irreverently termed.
