Morton, a retainer of the earl of Northumberland.—Shakespeare, 2 Henry IV. (1508).
Morton (Henry), a leader in the covenanters’ army with Balfour. While abroad, he is Major-general Melville. Henry Morton marries Miss Edith Bellenden.
Old Ralph Morton of Milnwood, uncle of Henry Morton.
Colonel Silas Morton of Milnwood, father of Henry Morton.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).
Morton (The earl of), in the service of Mary queen of Scots, and a member of the privy council of Scotland.—Sir W. Scott, The Monastery and The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).
Morton (The Rev. Mr.) the Presbyterian pastor of Cairnvreckan village.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).
Mortsheugh (Johnie), the old sexton of Wolf’s Hope village.—Sir W. Scott, The Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).
Morvi´dus, son of Danius by his concubine, Tangustĕla. In his reign, there “came from the Irish coasts a most cruel monster, which devoured the people continually, but as soon as Morvidus heard thereof, he ventured to encounter it alone. When all his darts were spent, the monster rushed upon him, and swallowed him up like a small fish.”—Geoffrey of Monmouth, British History, iii. 15 (1142).
Mosby, an unmitigated villain. He seduced Alicia, the wife of Arden of Feversham. Thrice he tried to murder Arden, but was baffled, and then frightened Alicia into conniving at a most villainous scheme of murder. Pretending friendship, Mosby hired two ruffians to murder Arden while he was playing a game of draughts. The villains, who were concealed in an adjacent room, were to rush on their victim when Mosby said, “Now I take you.” The whole gang was apprehended and executed.—Arden of Feversham (1592), altered by George Lillo (1739).
Mosca, the knavish confederate of Vol´pone (2 syl.), the rich Venetian “fox.”—Ben Jonson, Volpone or The Fox (1605).