Chapter Mardonius to Margiana of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Margaret Finch, queen of the gipsies. She was born at Sutton, in Kent (1631), and finally settled in Norway. From a constant habit of sitting on the ground, with her chin on her knees, she was unable to stand, and when dead was buried in a square box (1740); aged 109 years).

Margaret Gibson, afterwards called Patten, a famous Scotch cook, who was employed in the palace of James I. She was born in the reign of queen Elizabeth, and died June 26, 1739, either 136 or 141 years of age.

Margaret Lamburn, one of the servants of Mary queen of Scots, who undertook to avenge the death of her royal mistress. To this end, she dressed in man’s clothes and carried two pistols—one to shoot queen Elizabeth and the other herself. She had reached the garden where the queen was walking, when she accidentally dropped one of the pistols, was seized, carried before the queen, and frantically told her tale. When the queen asked how she expected to be treated, Margaret replied, “A judge would condemn me to death, but it would be more royal to grant me pardon.” The queen did so, and we hear no more of this fanatic.

Margaret Simon, daughter of Martin Simon the miller of Grenoble; a brave, beautiful, and noble girl.—Stirling: The Gold-Mine or Miller of Grenoble (1854).

Margaret Street, Portman Square, London. So called from Margaret, only child of Edward second earl of Oxford and Mortimer. (See Bentinck, p. III.)

Margaret of Anjou, widow of king Henry VI. of England. She presents herself, disguised as a mendicant, in Strasburg Cathedral, to Philipson (i.e. the earl of Oxford).—Sir W. Scott: Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Margaret’s Ghost, a ballad by David Mallet (1724). William courted the fair Margaret, but jilted her; he promised love, but broke his promise; said her face was fair, her lips sweet, and her eyes bright, but left the face to pale, the eyes to weep, and the maid to languish and die. Her ghost appeared to him at night to rebuke his heartlessness; and next morning, William left his bed raving mad, hied him to Margaret’s grave, thrice called her by name, “and never word spake more.”

We shall have ballads made of it within two months, setting forth how a young squire became a serving- man of low degree, and it will be stuck up with Margaret’s Ghost against the walls of every cottage in the country.—Bickerstaff: Love in a Village (1763).

Margaretta, a maiden attached to Robin. Her father wanted her to marry “a stupid old man, because he was rich;” so she ran away from home and lived as a ballad-singer. Robin emigrated for three years, and made his fortune. He was wrecked on the coast of Cornwall on his return, and met Margaretta at the house of Farmer Crop his brother-in-law, when the acquaintance was renewed. (See No Song, etc.)—Hoare: No Song no Supper (1754–1834).

Margaritta (Donna), a Spanish heiress, “fair, young, and wealthy,” who resolves to marry that she may the more freely indulge her wantonness. She selects Leon for her husband, because she thinks him a milksop, whom she can twist round her thumb at pleasure; but no sooner is Leon married than he shows himself the master. By ruling with great firmness and affection, he wins the esteem of every one, and the wanton coquette becomes a modest, devoted, and obedient wife.—Fletcher: Rule a Wife and Have a Wife (1640).

Margery (Dame), the old nurse of lady Eveline Berenger “the betrothed.”—Sir W. Scott: The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Margherita. (See Margaret (4th entry) on opposite page.)