E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Twelve.
Each English archer carries twelve Scotchmen under his girdle. This was a common saying at one time, because the English were unerring archers, and each archer carried in his belt twelve arrows (Sir Walter Scott: Tales of a Grandfather, vii.).
1
The Twelve. All the prelates of the Roman Catholic Church. Of course the Twelve Apostles.
2
“The Pope identifies himself with the ‘Master,’ and addresses those 700 prelates as the ‘Twelve.’”—The Times, December 11, 1869.
