Chapter Custance to Czar of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Custance to Czar

Custance, daughter of the emperor of Rome, affianced to the sultan of Syria, who abjured his faith and consented to be baptized in order to marry her. His mother hated this apostasy, and at the wedding breakfast slew all the apostates except the bride. Her she embarked in a ship, which was set adrift, and in due time reached the British shores. Here Custance was rescued by the lord-constable of Northumberland, who took her home, and placed her under the care of his wife Hermegild. Custance converted both the constable and his wife. A young knight wished to marry her, but she declined his suit; whereupon he murdered Hermegild, and then laid the bloody knife beside Custance, to make her suspected of the crime. King Alla examined the case, and soon discovered the real facts; whereupon the knight was executed, and the king married Custance. The queen-mother highly disapproved of the match; and, during the absence of her son in Scotland, embarked Custance and her infant boy in a ship, which was turned adrift. After floating about for five years, it was taken in tow by a Roman fleet on its return from Syria, and Custance with her son Maurice became the guests of a Roman senator. It so happeued that Alla at this same time was at Rome on a pilgrimage, and encountered his wife, who returned with him to Northumberland, and lived in peace and happiness the rest of her life.—Chaucer: Canterbury Tales (“The Man of Law’s Tale,” 1388).

Custance, a gay rich widow, whom Ralph Roister Doister wishes to marry but he is wholly baffled in his scheme.—N. Udall: Ralph Roister Doister (first English comedy, 1534).

Cute (Alderman), a “practical philosopher,” resolved to put down everything. In his opinion “everything must be put down.” Starvation must be put down, and so must suicide, sick mothers, babies, and poverty.—Dickens: The Chimes (1844).

Said to be meant for sir Peter Laurie.

Cuthal, same as Uthal, one of the Orkneys.

Cuthbert (St.), a Scotch monk of the sixth century.

St. Cuthbert’s Beads, joints of the articulated stems of encrinites, used for rosaries. So called from the legend that St. Cuthbert sits at night on the rock in Holy Island, forging these “beads.” The opposite rock serves him for anvil.

On a rock of Lindisfarn
St. Cuthbert sits, and toils to frame
The sea-born beads that bear his name.
   —Sir W. Scott: Marmion (1808).

St. Cuthbert’s Stane, a granite rock in Cumberland.

St. Cuthbert’s Well, a spring of water close by St. Cuthbert’s Stane.

Cuthbert Bede, the Rev. Edw. Bradley, author of Verdant Green (1857). (Born 1827, died 1889.)

Cuthona, daughter of Rumar, was betrothed to Conlath, youngest son of Morni, of Mora. Not long before the espousals were to be celebrated, Toscar came from Ireland, and was hospitably entertained by Morni. On the fourth day, he saw Cuthona out hunting, and carried her off by force. Being pursued by Conlath, a fight ensued, in which both the young men fell; and Cuthona, after languishing for three days, died also.—Ossian: Conlath and Cuthona.

Cuthullin, son of Semo, commander of the Irish army, and regent during the minority of Cormac. His wife was Bragela, daughter of Sorglan. In the poem called Fingal, Cuthullin was defeated by Swaran king of Lochlin [Scandinavia], and being ashamed to meet Fingal, retired from the field gloomy and sad. Fingal, having utterly defeated Swaran, invited Cuthullin to the banquet