_The Carpenter's Maggot_ (Vol. ii., p. 104.).--The ancient tune known as
the _Carpenter's Maggot_, and until lately played at the annual dinner
of the Livery of the Carpenters' Company, may be found at p. 258. of the
first volume of a rare work entitled _The Dancing Master_, sm. obl.
1721. The same volume contains a choice assemblage of "Maggots", i.e.
Barker's Maggot, Cary's Maggot, Draper's Maggot, Hill's Maggot,
Huntington's Maggot, M. Coppinger's Maggot, &c.
The word Maggot, from the French _Magot_, means a whim, or a fancy. The
bird "magpie", originally "maggoty-pie," was so called on account of its
whimsical drollery. "A maggoty-pated fellow" is often used to imply a
_whimsical_ man.
I do not trace the word, as applied to a tune, earlier than the end of
the seventeenth century. Before that time, tunes of a similar
description were termed _Fancies_.
If your correspondent F.T.P. wishes to have a copy of the tune from my
volume, he is quite welcome. I append my London address to this Reply,
in order that he may favour me with a communication.