Measure, "Measure is treasure" (M[12],b), proverbial. "Men wryte of oold how mesour is tresour."—Lydgate, Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 208 (c. 1430).
Medwall (Henry). Mr. T. Seccombe, writing in the Dictionary of National Biography, says he "flourished in 1486"; but beyond the fact that he was chaplain to John Morton (who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1486, and died in 1500), little is known of this early writer of interludes. The only work of his extant is Nature (see pp. 43-133). Bale mentions another interlude not now extant, but ascribed to Medwall, "Of the Finding of Truth, carried away by Ignorance and Hypocrisy." This was diversified by the introduction of a fool, an innovation which commended it to Henry VIII. when it was produced before him at Richmond, Christmas 1516. Apart from this feature the piece was misliked, and the King "departyd before the end to hys chambre."
Meek, "Except that man himself do meek" (WH[279],b), abase, humble.
Mell, "not suffer to mell" (R[213],a)—"with such-high matters to mell" (R[235],b),—"will not mell" (R[250],b), meddle.
Member, "I scannot member his name" (R[212],d),—"to member in my heart" (R[234],d), remember: in original membre.
Memento, "Memento, homo," etc. (M[15],b): see Job xxxiv. 15.
Menge, "I shall menge his corn" (M[24],a), mix, or? scatter.
"The busy bee, her honey now she mings."
—Surrey, Songs and Sonnets (1557), Description of Spring.
Merchant, "prattling merchant" (passim), fellow, chap: frequently in depreciation.