Brewer's: Northern Wagoner

(The). Ursa Major, called “Charles's wain,” or wagon. The constellation contains seven large stars. “King Charles's Wain” is absurd. “Charles' Wain” is a blunder for the “Churls' or Peasants' Wain.”

By this the northern wagoner has set His sevenfold team behind the stedfast star [the pole-star]

Spenser: Faërie Queene, i.2.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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