E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Peter Peebles.
Peter Peebles’ Lawsuit. In Sir Walter Scott’s novel of Redgauntlet. Peter is a litigious hard-hearted drunkard, poor as a churchmouse, and a liar to the backbone. His “ganging plea” is Hogarthian comic, as Carlyle says.
