[177] Polyolbion, song xxvi.
[178] Ben Jonson's Works, 1756, vol. vi. p. 93.
[179] Marian, or as it is more frequently written Marion, is not formed, as some French writers have supposed, from Mary and Ann, but more probably from Mariamne the wife of Herod, whose name seems borrowed from that of Miriam מרים the prophetess, the sister of Aaron. Miriam is said to come from a Syrian word signifying mistress, or from מרר marar, bitterness. The name of Mary, evidently contracted from Miriam or Mariamne, does not occur till the time of the daughter of Joachim and Anne, the mother of Christ, at which period we find other Maries in the New Testament. It is remarkable that Maria, from Marius, should not occur among the Roman names of women, in like manner as we have Julia, Cornelia, Fulvia, Proba, Valeria, &c., from Julius, Cornelius, Fulvius, Probus, and Valerius. The facetious and eccentric Edmund Gayton, in the dedication to his Festivous notes on Don Quixote, speaks of Mayd Myriam. He perhaps imagined that the morris dance had been suggested by the prophetess and her dancing women with their timbrels.
[180] Steevens's Shaksp. viii. 530.
[181] Waldron's History of the Isle of Man, 12mo, p. 95, where he has described the mock battle between the queens.
[182] Strype's Eccl. memorials, iii. 376.
[183] The honestie of this age, 1615, 4to, p. 35.
[184] What these ladies exactly were is not easy to comprehend. Whitepot in old cookery was a kind of custard, made in a crust or dish with cream, eggs, pulse of apples, sugar, spices, and sippets of white or manchet bread. It is possible therefore that Maid Marian, being occasionally personated by a kitchen malkin or cook wench, obtained the title of a white-pot queen.
[185] Golden books of the leaden Goddes, 1577, 4to, fo. 30.
[186] Greene's Quip for an upstart courtier, sig. D. 3.