CLAIMANT (The). William Knollys, in in The Great Banbury Case, claimed the baronetcy, but was non-suited.  This suit lasted 150 years (1660-1811).

Douglas v.  Hamilton, in The Great Douglas Case, was settled in favor of the claimant, who was at once raised to the peerage under the name and title of Baron Douglas of Douglas Castle, but was not restored to the title of duke (1767-1769).

Tom Provis, a schoolmaster of ill repute, who had married a servant of Sir Hugh Smithes of Ashton Hall, near Bristol, claimed the baronetcy and estates, but was non-suited and condemned to imprisonment for twenty-one years (1853).

Arthur Orton, who claimed to be Sir Roger Tichborne (drowned at sea).  He was non-suited and sentenced to fourteen years’ imprisonment for perjury (1871-1872).

CLAIRE TWINING, daughter of a refined man, the scion of an old English family and a vulgar woman who marries him to escape from poverty.  After his death, the daughter begins her career of rising in the social scale, using a wealthy school-fellow as the first step, a well-born husband as the last.  The emptiness and vanity of what she gained are well set forth in An Ambitious Woman, by Edgar Fawcett. (1883).

CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE (The). Fanny Sterling, the younger daughter of Mr. Sterling, a rich city merchant, is clandestinely married to Mr. Lovewell, an apprentice in the house, of good family; and Sir John Melvil is engaged to Miss Sterling, the elder sister.  Lord Ogleby is a guest in the merchant’s house.  Sir John prefers Fanny to her elder sister, and, not knowing of her marriage, proposes to her, but is rejected.  Fanny appeals to Lord Ogleby, who, being a vain old fop, fancies she is in love with him, and tells Sterling he means to make her a countess.  Matters being thus involved, Lovewell goes to consult with Fanny about declaring their marriage, and the sister, convinced that Sir John is shut up in her sister’s room, rouses the house with a cry of “Thieves!” Fanny and Lovewell now make their appearance.  All parties are scandalized.  But Fanny declares they have been married four months, and Lord Ogleby takes their part.  So all ends well.—­G.  Colman and D. Garrick (1766).

This comedy is a rechauffe of The False Concord, by Rev. James Townley, many of the characters and much of the dialogue being preserved.

CLA’RA, in Otway’s comedy called The Cheats of Scapin, an English version of Les Fourberies de Scapin, by Moliere, represents the French character called “Hyacinthe.”  Her father is called by Otway “Gripe,” and by Moliere “Geronte” (2 syl.); her brother is “Leander,” in French “Leandre;” and her sweetheart “Octavian” son of “Thrifty,” in French “Octave” son of “Argante.”  The sum of money wrung from Gripe is L200, but that squeezed out of Geronte is 1,500 livres.

CLARA [D’ALMANZA], daughter of Don Guzman of Seville, beloved by Don Ferdinand, but destined by her mother for a cloister.  She loves Ferdinand, but repulses him from shyness and modesty, quits home and takes refuge in St. Catherine’s Convent.  Ferdinand discovers her retreat, and after a few necessary blunders they are married.—­Sheridan, The Duenna (1773).