Chapter Clout to Cock and Pie of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Clout to Cock and Pie

Clout (Colin), a shepherd loved by Marian “the parson’s maid,” but for whom Colin (who loved Cicely) felt no affection. (See Colin Clout.)

Young Colin Clout, a lad of peerless meed, Full well could dance, and deftly tune the reed; In every wood his carols sweet were known, At every wake his nimble feats were shown.
   —Gay: Pastoral, ii (1714).

Clout (Lobbin), a shepherd, in love with Blouzelinda. He challenged Cuddy to a contest of song in praise of their respective sweethearts, and Cloddipole was appointed umpire. Cloddipole was unable to award the prize, for each merited “an oaken staff for his pains.” “Have done, however, for the herds are weary of the songs, and so am I.”—Gay: Pastoral, i. (1714).

(An imitation of Virgil’s Bucolic iii.)

N.B.—“Colin Clout” is the name under which Spenser describes himself in The Shepherd’s Calendar. (See Colin Clout.)

Club-Bearer (The), Periphetês, the robber of Argolis, who murdered his victims with an iron club.—Greek Fable.

Clumsy (Sir Tunbelly), father of Miss Hoyden. A mean, ill-mannered squire and justice of the peace, living near Scarborough. Most cringing to the aristocracy, whom he toadies and courts. Sir Tunbelly promised to give his daughter in marriage to lord Foppington, but Tom Fashion, his lordship’s younger brother, pretends to be lord Foppington, gains admission to the family, and marries her. When the real lord Foppington arrived, he was treated as an impostor, but Tom confessed the ruse. His lordship treated the knight with such ineffable contempt, that sir Tunbelly’s temper was aroused, and Tom received into high favour.—Sheridan: A Trip to Scarborough (1777).

(This character appears in Vanbrugh’s Relapse, of which comedy the Trip to Scarborough is an abridgment and adaptation.)

Clumsy, Belgrade’s dog. (See Dog.)

Cluppins (Mrs.), in The Pickwick Papers by Dickens. She is the leading witness for the plaintiff (Mrs. Bardell) in the suit of “Bardell v. Pickwick.”

Cluricaune , an Irish elf of evil disposition, especially noted for his knowledge of hid treasure. He generally assumes the appearance of a wrinkled old man.

Clutha, the Clyde.

I came in my bounding ship to Balclutha’s walls of towers. The winds had roared behind my sails, and Clutha’s stream received my dark-bosomed ship.—Ossian: Carthon.

Clutterbuck (Captain), the hypothetical editor of some of sir Walter Scott’s novels, as The Monastery and The Fortunes of Nigel. Captain Clutterbuck is a retired officer, who employs himself in antiquarian researches and literary idleness. The Abbot is dedicated by the “author of Waverley” to “captain Clutterbuck,” late of his majesty’s—infantry regiment.

Clym of the Clough (“Clement of the Cliff”), a noted outlaw, associated with Adam Bell and William of Cloudesley, in Englewood Forest, near Carlisle. When William was taken prisoner at Carlisle, and was about to be hanged, Adam and Clym shot the magistrates, and rescued their companion. The mayor with his posse went out against them, but they shot the mayor, as they had done the sheriff, and fought their way out of the town. They than hastened to London to beg pardon of the king, which was granted them at the queen’s intercession. The king, wishing to see a specimen of their shooting, was so delighted at their skill that he made William a “gentleman of fe,” and the other two “yemen of his chambre.”—Percy: Reliques (“Adam Bell,” etc.), I. ii. 1.