Chapter Charles Edward [Stuart] to Cheap Jack of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Charles Edward [Stuart] to Cheap Jack

Charles Edward [Stuart], called “The Chevalier Prince Charles Edward, the Young Pretender,” introduced by sir W. Scott in Redgauntlet (time, George III.), first as “father Buonaventura,” and afterwards as “Pretender to the British crown.” He is again introduced in Waverley (time, George II.).

Charles Emmanuel, son of Victor Amadeus king of Sardinia. In 1730 his father abdicated, but somewhat later wanted his son to restore the crown again. This the son refused to do; and when Victor plotted against him, D’Ormea was sent to arrest the old man, and he died. Charles was brave, patient, single-minded, and truthful.—R. Browning: King Victor and King Charles, etc.

Charles’s Wain, the constellation called The Great Bear. A corruption of the Old English ceorles wæn (“the churl’s or farmer’s waggon”); sometimes still further corrupted into “king Charles’s wain.”

Heigh ho! An ’t be not four by the day, I’ll be hanged. Charles’ wain is over the new chimney.—Shakespeare: I Henry IV. act ii. sc. I (1597).

Could he not beg the loan of Charles’s wain?
   —Byron: Don Juan, iii. 99. (1820).

Charley (A), an imperial, or tuft of hair on the chin.

A tuft of hair on his chin, termed grandiloquently an “imperial,” but familiarly a “Charley.”—R. M. Jephson: The Girl He left behind Him, i. 5.

Charley, plu. Charleys, an old watchman or “night guardian,” before the introduction of the police force by sir Robert Peel, in 1829. So called from Charles I., who extended and improved the police system.

Charlot, a messenger from Liëge (Lee-aje) to Louis XI.—Sir W. Scott: Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Charlotte, the faithful sweetheart of young Wilmot, supposed to have perished at sea.—Lillo: Fatal Curiosity (1736).

Charlotte, the dumb girl, in love with Leander; but her father, sir Jasper, wants her to marry Mr. Dapper. In order to avoid this hateful alliance, Charlotte pretends to be dumb, and only answers, “Han, hi, han, hon.” The “mock doctor” employs Leander as his apothecary, and the young lady is soon cured by “pills matrimonial.” The jokes in act ii. 6 are verbally copied from the French.—Fielding: The Mock Doctor (1733).

In Molière’s Le Médecin Malgré Lui, Charlotte is called “Lucinde”.

Charlotte, daughter of sir John Lambert, in The Hypocrite, by Bickerstaff (1768); in love with Darnley. She is a giddy girl, fond of tormenting Darnley; but being promised in marriage to Dr. Cantwell, who is 59, and whom she utterly detests, she becomes somewhat sobered down, and promises Darnley to become his loving wife. Her constant exclamation is “Lud!” In Molière’s comedy of Tartuffe, Charlotte is called “Mariane,” and Darnley is “Valère.”

Charlotte, in Goethe’s novel. (See Lotte, p. 627.)

Charlotte, the pert maidservant of the countess Wintersen. Her father was “state coachman.” Charlotte is jealous of Mrs. Haller, and behaves rudely to her (see act ii. 3).—B. Thomson: The Stranger (1797).

Charlotte, servant to Sowerberry. A dishonest, rough servant-girl, who ill treats Oliver Twist, and robs her master.—Dickens: Oliver Twist (1837).

Charlotte, daughter of George IV. Her mother’s name was Caroline; her husband was prince Coburg; she was married at Carlton House; her town residence was Camelford House; her country residence was