Note 1809 — PLEASANT HISTORY OF the two angry women of Abington. (continued 2)

The origin of this corrupted oath is unknown; Dy., H., and E. N.E.D. queries dignesse = Goddes dignity. But the poet seems to be thinking of 'dine' = 'dinner'; hence Lord's meal, Lord's Supper. Cf. "God's board" for communion-table (Bk. Com. Prayer, 1549), and "God's bread" for the wafer, G.G.N., p. 219. That Coomes adopts this popular etymology is confirmed by the collocation of 'God's dines' with 'wafer-cake' (for the Eucharist) in Sc. xi. l. 206 of this play.