orite minister of
Charles, "the Bold," Duke of Burgundy, is introduced by Sir W. Scott,
in _Quentin Durward_ (time, Edward IV.).

COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL (_Emir al Mumenin_), a title assumed by Omar
I., and retained by his successors in the caliphate (581, 634-644).

COMMINGES (_2 syl_.) (_Count de_), the hero of a novel so-called by
Mde. de Tencin (1681-1749).

COMMITTEE (_The_), a comedy by the Hon. Sir R. Howard. Mr. Day, a
Cromwellite, is the head of a Committee of Sequestration, and is a
dishonest, canting rascal, under the thumb of his wife. He gets into
his hands the deeds of two heiresses, Anne and Arbella. The former
he calls Ruth, and passes her off as his own daughter; the latter he
wants to marry to his booby son Able. Ruth falls in love with Colonel
Careless, and Arbella with colonel Blunt. Ruth contrives to get into
her hands the deeds, which she delivers over to the two colonels, and
when Mr. Day arrives, quiets him by reminding him that she knows of
certain deeds which would prove his ruin if divulged (1670).

T. Knight reproduced this comedy as a farce under the title of _The
Honest Thieves_.

COMMON (_Dol_), an ally of Subtle the alchemist.--Ben Jonson, _The
Alchemist_ (1610).

COMMONER (_The Great_), Sir John Barnard, who in 1737 proposed to
reduce the interest of the national debt from 4 per cent. to 3 per
cent., any creditor being at liberty to receive his principal in full
if he preferred it. William Pitt, the statesman, is so called also
(1759-1806).

COMNE'NUS (_Alexius_), emperor of Greece, introduced by Sir. W. Scott
in _Count Robert of Paris_ (time, Rufus).

_Anna Comne'na_ the historian, daughter of Alexius Comnenus, emperor
of Greece.--Same novel.

COMPEYSON, a would-be gentleman and a forger. He duped Abel Magwitch
and ruined him, keeping him completely under his influence. He also
jilted Miss Havisham.--C. Dickens, _Great Expectations_ (1860).

COM'RADE (_2 syl_.), the horse given by a fairy to Fortunio.

He has many rare qualities ... first he eats
but once in eight days; and then he knows
what's past, present, and to come [and speaks
with the voice of a man].--Comtesse DAunoy,
_Fairy Tales_ ("Fortunio." 1682).

COMUS, the god of revelry. In Milton's "masque" so called, the "lady"
is lady Alice Egerton, the younger brother is Mr. Thomas Egerton, and
the elder brother is Lord Viscount Brackley (eldest son of John,
earl of Bridgewater, president of Wales). The l