CROTHAR, “Lord of Atha,” in Connaught (then called Alnec’ma).  He was the first and most powerful chief of the Fir-bolg ("bowmen”) or Belgae from Britain who colonized the southern parts of Ireland.  Crothar carried off Conla’ma, daughter of Cathmin, a chief of the Cael or Caledonians, who had colonized the northern parts of Ireland and held their court in Ulster.  As Conlama was betrothed to Turloch, a Cael, he made an irruption into Connaught, slew Cormul, but was himself slain by Crothar, Cormul’s brother.  The feud now became general, “Blood poured on blood, and Erin’s clouds were hung with ghosts.”  The Cael being reduced to the last extremity, Trathel (the grandfather of Fingal) sent Conar (son of Trenmor) to their relief.  Conar, on his arrival in Ulster, was chosen king, and the Fir-bolg being subdued, he called himself “the King of Ireland.”—­Ossian, Temora, ii.

Crothar, vassal king of Croma (in Ireland), held under Artho, over-lord of all Ireland.  Crothar, being blind with age, was attacked by Rothmar, chief of Tromlo, who resolved to annex Croma to his own dominion.  Crotha sent to Fingal for aid, and Fingal sent his son Ossian with an army; but before he could arrive Fovar-Gormo, a son of Crothar, attacked the invader, but was defeated and slain.  When Ossian reached Ulster, he attacked the victorious Rothmar and both routed the army and slew the chief.—­Ossian, Croma.

CROTO’NA’S SAGE, Pythagoras, so called because his first and chief school of philosophy was established at Crotna (fl.  B.C. 540.)

CROWDE’RO, one of the rabble leaders encountered by Hudibras at a bear-baiting.  The academy figure of this character was Jackson or Jephson, a milliner in the New Exchange, Strand, London.  He lost a leg in the service of the roundheads, and was reduced to the necessity of earning a living by playing on the crowd or crouth from ale-house to ale-house.—­S.  Butler, Hudibras, i. 2 (1664).

(The crouth was a long box-shaped instrument, with six or more strings, supported by a bridge.  It was played with a bow.  The last noted performer on this instrument was John Morgan, a Welshman, who died 1720).

CROWE (Captain), the attendant of Sir Launcelot Greaves (1 syl.), in his peregrinations to reform society.  Sir Launcelot is a modern Don Quixote, and Captain Crowe is his Sancho Panza.

CROWFIELD (Christopher), a pseudonym of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe (1814-).

CROWN.  Godfrey, when made the overlord of Jerusalem, or “Baron of the Holy Sepulchre,” refused to wear a crown of gold where his Saviour had only worn a crown of thorns.

Canute, after the rebuke he gave to his flatterers, refused to wear thenceforth any symbol of royalty at all.

  Canute (truth worthy to be known)
  From that time forth did for his brows disown
  The ostentatious symbol of a crown,
  Esteeming earthly royalty
  Presumptuous and vain.