Chapter Croquemitaine to Crown of the East of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Croquemitaine to Crown of the East

Croquemitaine [Croak.mit.tain], the bogie raised by fear. Somewhere near Saragossa was a terrible castle called Fear Fortress, which appeared quite impregnable; but as the bold approached it, the difficulties of access gradually gave way, and even the fortress itself vanished into thin air.

Croquemitaine is a romance in three parts: the first part is a tournament between the knights of Marsillus, a Moorish king, and the paladins of Charlemagne; the second part is the siege of Saragossa by Charlemagne; and the third part is the allegory of Fear Fortress. Mitaine is the godchild of Charlemagne, who goes in search of Fear Fortress.

Croquis (Alfred), Daniel Maclise, R.A. This pseudonym was attached to a series of character-portraits in Frazer’s Magazine between the years 1830 and 1838. Maclise was born 1811, and died 1870.

Crosbie (William), provost of Dumfries, a friend of Mr. Fairford the lawyer.

Mrs. Crosbie, wife of the provost, and a cousin of Redgauntlet.—Sir W. Scott: Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Crosbite , a barrister.—Sir W. Scott: Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Cross. (1) A favourite legend used to be that the Cross was made of three different trees, and that these trees sprang from three seeds taken from the “Tree of Life” and planted in Adam’s mouth at death. They were given to Adam’s son Seth by the angel who guarded paradise, and the angel told Seth that when these seeds became trees, Adam would be free from the power of death.

(This is rather an allegory than a legend. For other Christian traditions, see Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, p. 250.)

(2) Another tradition is that the Cross was made of four different woods, because Jesus was crucified for all the four quarters of the world.

Ligna crucis palma, cedrus, cupressus, oliva.

(This also is more allegorical than historic.)

(3) It is said by some that it was made of aspen wood, which has never since ceased trembling.

Ah! tremble, tremble, aspen tree,
We need not ask thee why thou shakest,
For if, as holy legend saith,
On thee the Saviour bled to death,
No wonder, aspen, that thou quakest!
And, till in judgment all assemble,
Thy leaves accursed shall shake and tremble.
   —E. C. B.

(4) Another tradition is that the Cross was made of mistletoe wood, which before then grew an independent tree, and was then accursed into a parasite. On the top of its berry are five specks to perpetuate the memorial of the five wounds of Jesus.

(See Elder Tree for other legends.)

Cross-legged Host (Dining with our), going without dinner. Lawyers at one time gave interviews to their clients in the Round Church, famous for its effigies of knights lying cross-legged.

Or walk the Round [Church] with knights o’the posts, About the cross-legged knights, their hosts.
   —S. Butler: Hudibras, iii. 3 (1678).

Cross Purposes, a farce by O’Brien. (See Bevil, p. 118.)

Cross Questions and Crooked Answers. An Irish recruit about to be inspected by Frederick the Great, was told he would be asked these questions: (1) How old are you? (2) How long have you been in the