Prince Rupert's Dog
During the English Civil War, the Royalist general Prince Rupert was in the habit of taking his large poodle dog named Boye into battle with him. Throughout the war the dog was greatly feared among the Parliamentarian forces and credited with supernatural powers. As noted by Morgan, the dog was apparently considered a kind of familiar. At the end of the war the dog was shot, allegedly with a silver bullet.
Read more about this topic: Familiar Spirit
Famous quotes containing the words prince and/or dog:
“They say princes learn no art truly, but the art of horsemanship. The reason is, the brave beast is no flatterer. He will throw a prince as soon as his groom.”
—Ben Jonson (c. 15721637)
“The little dog lay curled and did not rise
But slept the deeper as the ashes rose
And found the people incomplete,”
—Richard Wilbur (b. 1921)