[Sca-cooks] sops

[Jeff Gedney]

Shakespeare also refers to magpies as "maggot-pies".

MacBeth, act III scene 4
Macb:  It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood: 
Stones have been known to move and trees to speak; 
Augurs and understood relations have 
By magot pies and choughs and rooks brought forth 
The secret'st man of blood. What is the night? 

According to some analysts I've read, including references at Folger, the term was a pretty common slang usage.

I think that the dance "maggot" is really referring to the 
sprightly tune as being similar to the piping of magpies. 


Capt Elias
Dragonship Haven, East
(Stratford, CT, USA)
Apprentice in the House of Silverwing