Chapter Peelers to Pelican Island of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Peelers to Pelican Island

Peelers, the constabulary of Ireland, appointed under the Peace Preservation Act of 1814, proposed by sir Robert Peel. The name was subsequently given to the new police of England, who are also called “Bobbies” from sir Robert Peel.

Peelites , those who remained faithful to sir Robert Peel on the second reading of the Corn Law Bill. In 1846 about two-fifths of the Tory party revolted, and 248 of them voted against sir Robert on the second reading of the Corn Law Bill. Of these revolters 80, under the leadership of lord George Bentinck and Benjamin Disraeli, joined the Liberals, defeated the Irish Coercion Bill, and turned out the Government. Between 1847–1852 those who followed Peel were called Peelites; but in 1852, under the coalition Government the name disappeared.

Peep-o-Day Boys, Irish insurgents of 1784, who prowled about at daybreak, searching for arms.

Peeping Tom of Coventry. (See Godiva, p. 432.)

Peerage of the Saints. In the preamble of the statutes instituting the Order of St. Michael, founded by Louis XI. in 1469, the archangel is styled “my lord,” and created a knight. The apostles had been already ennobled and knighted. We read of “the earl Peter,” “count Paul,” “the baron Stephen,” and so on. Thus, in the introduction of a sermon upon St. Stephen’s Day, we have these lines—

Entendes toutes a chest sermon,
Et clair et lai tules environ;
Contes vous vueil Jela pation
De St. Estieul le baron.

The apostles were gentlemen of bloude, and many of them descended from that worthy conqueror Ju das Mackabeus, though, through the tract of time and persecution of wars, poverty oppressed the kindred, and they were constrayned to servile works. Christ was also a gentleman on the mother’s side, and might, if He had esteemed of the vayne glorye of this world, have borne coat armour.—The Blazon of Gentrie (quarto).

Peerce (I syl.), a generic name for a farmer or ploughman. Piers the plowman is the name assumed by Robert or William Langland, in a historico-satirical poem so called.

And yet, my priests, pray you to God for Peerce
And if you have a “pater noster” spare,
Then shal you pray for saylers.

Gascoigne: The Steele Glas (dièd 1577).

Peery (Paul), landlord of the Ship, Dover.

Mrs. Peery, Paul’s wife.—Colman: Ways and Means (1788).

Peerybingle (John), a carrier, “lumbering, slow, and honest; heavy, but light of spirit; rough upon the surface, but gentle at the core; dull without, but quick within; stolid, but so good. O mother Nature, give thy children the true poetry of heart that hid itself in this poor carrier’s breast, and we can bear to have them talking prose all their life long!”

Mrs. [Mary] Peerybingle, called by her husband “Dot.” She was a little chubby, cheery, young wife, very fond of her husband, and very proud of her baby; a good housewife, who delighted in making the house snug and cozy for John, when he came home after his day’s work. She called him “a dear old darling of a dunce,” or “her little goosie.” She sheltered Edward Plummer in her cottage for a time, and thereby placed herself under a cloud; but the marriage of Edward with May Fielding cleared up the mystery, and John loved his little Dot more fondly than ever.—Dickens: The Cricket on the Hearth (1845).

Peg, sister of John Bull; meant for the Presbyterian Church. Peter is the Catholic party. Martin [Luther] the Lutheran party, and John [Calvin] the Calvinistic party.