AL’KEN, an old shepherd, who instructs Robin Hood’s men how to find a witch, and how she is to be hunted.—­Ben Jonson, The Sad Shepherd (1637).

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, a comedy by Shakespeare (1598).  The hero and heroine are Bertram of Rousillon, and Hel’ena a physician’s daughter, who are married by the command of the king of France, but part because Bertram thought the lady not sufficiently well-born for him.  Ultimately, however, all ends well.—­(See HELENA.)

The story of this play is from Painter’s Gilletta of Narbon.

ALL THE TALENTS Administration, formed by lord Grenville, in 1806, on the death of William Pitt.  The members were lord Grenville, the earl Fitzwilliam, viscount Sidmouth, Charles James Fox, earl Spencer, William Windham, lord Erskine, sir Charles Grey, lord Minto, lord Auckland, lord Moira, Sheridan, Richard Fitzpatrick, and lord Ellenborough.  It was dissolved in 1807.

  On “all the talents” vent your venal spleen.

Byron, English Bards and Scotch Reviewers.

ALLAN, lord of Ravenswood, a decayed Scotch nobleman.—­Sir W. Scott, The Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Al’lan (Mrs.), colonel Mannering’s housekeeper at Woodburne.—­Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Al’lan [Breck Cameron], the sergeant sent to arrest Hamish Bean McTavish, by whom he is shot.  Sir W. Scott, The Highland Widow (time, George II.).

ALLAN-A-DALE, one of Robin Hood’s men, introduced by sir W. Scott in Ivanhoe. (See ALLIN-A-DALE.)

ALLAN QUARTERMAIN, hunter and traveller whose adventures are recorded in She, King Solomon’s Mines, and Allan Quartermain, by W. Rider Haggard (1886-1891).

ALLE’GRE (3 syl.), the faithful servant of Philip Chabot.  When Chabot was accused of treason, Allegre was put to the rack to make him confess something to his master’s damage, but the brave fellow was true as steel, and it was afterwards shown that the accusation had no foundation but jealousy.—­G.  Chapman and J. Shirley, The Tragedy of Philip Chabot.

ALLEN (Ralph), the friend of Pope, and benefactor of Fielding.

  Let humble Allen, with an awkward shame,
  Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.

Pope.

Allen (Long), a soldier in the “guards” of king Richard I.—­Sir W. Scott, The Talisman.

Allen (Major), an officer in the duke of Monmouth’s army.—­Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).