Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a mild oath.

c.1350		William of Palerne 4840: ‘Marie, sire’, sede þe messageres ‘Še mowe vs wel trowe, þe milde mayde meliors in palerne now dwelles.’ [OED].
1533		J. Heywood Pardoner and Friar Aiv: Mary what standest thou there all day clatterrynge.
1552		G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 12: Marry, the dice-players stuck well by it.
1567		L. Wager Life and Repentance of Marie Magdalene A4: Mary, syr, yet I conuey my matters cleane.
1576		U. Fulwell Art of Flattery 8th dialogue 41: Mary Sir this was a very saucy and presumpteous foole.
1577		Misogonus in Farmer (1906) III i: By th’ marrikins! will you not leave your cackling.
1582		Long Meg of Westminster 18: He asked who struck him? Marry, quoth Meg, I did.
1594		Lyly Mother Bombie I i: I marie, now you tickle me.
1601		Jonson Cynthia’s Revels II i: Marry, I will come to her.
1614		Jonson Bartholomew Fair IV iv: Marry, shit o’ your hood! [Ibid.] I v: Marry gip, goody she-Justice, Mistress French-hood! Turd i’ your teeth.
c.1635		W. Cartwright Ordinary II v: Marry! a very comendable fault.
1635		Long Meg of Westminster 3: Marry quoth shee (being a very merry and pleasant woman).
1641		R. Brome Jovial Crew IV i: Nay, marry I dare not.
1663		Dryden Wild Gallant IV i: Who, I with child! marry, heaven forbid!
1676		‘A Newgate ex-prisoner’ A Warning for House-Keepers 6: Mary faugh you son of a w....
1680		T. Betterton Match in Newgate I ii: Marry! I scorn that slaverie.
1695		Congreve Love for Love II i: Marry, Heaven defend – I at midnight practices!
1709		N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 76: Marry hang you, replies the Jockey.
1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy III 156: Mark how Sir Whacham fools; / Ay marry, there’s a Wit.
1738		Swift Polite Conversation 28: Ay, marry, this is not only, but also.
1749		Fielding Tom Jones (1959) 159: ‘Who is the man?’ — ‘Marry! [...] you may find him out yourself, if you please.’.
1751		W. Kenrick Falstaff’s Wedding (1766) I v: Why, marry, – hang him.
1766		O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield (1883) 79: Marry, hang the idiot!
c.1815		J.K. Paulding Bucktails (1847) I ii: What care I for news, marry?
1822		W. Scott Peveril of the Peak I 132: Marry, for drink, he shall have plenty of cold water.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1883		Lichfield Mercury 14 Dec. 6/3: Is he going to join those lispers now? Marry, go to! Ods bodkins! I’fackins and the rest — he cannot.
1908		‘O. Henry’ ‘From Each According to his Ability’ Voice of the City (1915) 225: ‘Oh, Mary Ann!’ said they.
1915		Washington Herald (DC) 28 Nov. 27/1: ‘My Mary Ann! Captain drinkin’ cocoa! Glory be!’.
1922		M.E. Smith Adventures of a Boomer Op. 72: Oh mary!, there was the prize gink of them all.

2. in answering a question, implying surprise that it should be asked, ‘why, to be sure!’.

1567		R. Edwards Damon and Pithias (1571) Fii: Wine, mary, that is welcome to Colliers.
1602		J. Cooke How A Man May Choose A Good Wife From A Bad Act III: I am, I marrie am I, that I am.
1621		Fletcher Island Princess III i: Yes marry is she sir.
1633		S. Marmion Fine Companion III v: Yes marry did I.
1688		T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia IV i: I am but a servant; how could I help it, marry?
1796		G. Colman Yngr Iron Chest I iii: mor.: They kill’d his dog? wint.: Aye, marry, sir.
1878		J.H. Nicholson ‘Bunkum in Parvo’ Opal Fever 107: ‘I say have yez got / E’er a sup of cold tea in your jolly old pot?’ ‘Marry, that we have.’.