1869 Drinking Cups and their Customs (Mixellany)

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CUPS AND THEIR CUSTOMS.

of Malmseys and thus carry out the idea of drowning Ms cares In wine, as well as Ms body, matters "but little, we think 3 to our readers. We may however mention that although great suspicion has been thrown on the truth of the story, the only two contemporary writers who mention his death, labyan and Oomines, appear to have had no doubt that the Duke of Clarence was actually drowned in a butt of Malmsey. In the records kept of the expenses of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her captivity at Tutbury,we find aweekly allowance of Malmsey granted to her for a bath. In a somewhat scarce French book, written in the 15th century, entitled € l a Legende de Mattre Pierre Fai- feri/ we find the following verse relating to the death of the Duke of Clarence:— i( l have seen the Duke of Olarenee (So Ms wayward fate had wilFd), By Ms special order, drown'd In a cask with. Malmsey fill'd. That that death should strike Ms fancy, This the reason, I snppose; A wine called u Clary JJ> was also drank at this period. It appears to have been an infusion of the herb of that name in spirit, and is spoken of by physicians of the time as an excellent cordial for the stomach, and highly efficacious in the cure of hysterical affections. This may in some measure account for the statement in the Household Ordinances for the well keeping of the Princess Cecil, afterwards mother to that right lusty lie might tMwk that hearty drinking Would appease Ms dying throes."