Chapter Mascarille to Matthew Merrygreek of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Matilda, daughter of Rokeby, and niece of Mortham. Matilda was beloved by Wilfred, son of Oswald; but she herself loved Redmond, her father’s page, who turned out to be Mortham’s son.—Sir W. Scott: Rokeby (1812).

Matsys (Quintin), a blacksmith of Antwerp, son of one of the greatest of ironworkers. He fell in love with Liza the daughter of Johann Mandyn, the artist. The father declared that none but an artist should have her to wife; so Matsys relinquished his trade, and devoted himself to painting. After a while, he went into the studio of Mandyn to see his picture of the fallen angels; and on the outstretched leg of one of the figures he painted a bee. This was so life-like that, when the old man returned, he proceeded to frighten if off with his handkerchief. When he discovered the deception, and found out it was done by Matsys, he was so delighted that he at once gave Liza to him for wife.

Matthew (The Gospel of St.). One of the four Gospels, written by Matthew a collector of tolls paid for goods and passengers coming to Capernaum by the sea of Galilee. Probably written for Jews, as it is very careful to show how the life of Christ corresponded to the predictions of the Jewish prophets.

Eusebius says, “Matthew then wrote the Divine Oracles in the Hebrew dialect.”—Ecclesiastical History, iii. 39.

Matthew Merrygreek, the servant of Ralph Roister Doister. He is a flesh-and-blood representative of “vice” in the old morality-plays.—Nicholas Udall: Ralph Roister Doister (the first English comedy, 1634).