"Nor least amoung the quality"

[Anonymous]

"Came all the clergy from the land, gentry from far and near,
Nor least amoung the quality was ---. "

A person's name goes in the "---" part.

Does this mean that:
"All the clergy and gentry came from far and near.
--- was far out league." ?

Appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Casiopea]

"Came all the clergy from the land, gentry from far and near, Nor least amoung the quality was ---. "

A person's name goes in the "---" part.

Does this mean that:
"All the clergy and gentry came from far and near. --- was far out league." ?

Appreciate any suggestions.

No. "---" is in the same league, of the same stature. "---" also came either from far or near; "---" is regarded as highly as the gentry and the clergy.

 

[kk]

(Topic establisher)

So then does it mean:

"--- was not so much at the bottom of the quality."
He fit pretty well among the quality."?

To add, the "---" part is actually "County Engineer".
I am not so familiar with the occupation but
is a County Engineer a quality?

Many thanks.

 

[Casiopea]

(Topic establisher)

So then does it mean:

"--- was not so much at the bottom of the quality."
He fit pretty well among the quality."?

Nor least among the quality of (those) men was the County Engineer. :wink: The men in attendance are hold positions of quality; they are clergy, gentry, and city planners/builders/architects/engineers.

To add, the "---" part is actually "County Engineer".
I am not so familiar with the occupation but
is a County Engineer a quality?

The County Engineer is responsible for the maintenance and upgrade of the County's transportation system (i.e., roads, bridges, trains, etc.)