Spelman assures us, in endeavouring to rescue the word from the contempt into which it had fallen, that it was applied by our very early ancestors, even to the noble virgins who were selected to sing the praises of heroes; they were called scald-moers, q.d. singing mauthers!
"En quantum in spretâ jam voce antiquæ gloria."
"Ray spells the word mothther.
"P. I am a mother that do want a service.
"Qu. O thou'rt a Norfolk woman (cry thee mercy),
Where maids are mothers, and mothers are maids."—R. Brome's Engl. Moor, iii. 1.
It is written also modder.
"What! will Phillis then consume her youth as an ankresse,
Scorning daintie Venus? Will Phillis be a modder,
And not care to be call'd by the deare-sweete name of a mother?"—A. Fraunce's Ivy Church, A. 4. b.