1869 Drinking Cups and their Customs (Mixellany)

CUPS AND THEIR CUSTOMS, 21 and handsome King, Edward IV. j we there find it laid down u that for the maintenance of honest mirth she shall take, an hour before bedtime, a cup of Clary wine/ 1 " Red wine n is also spoken of in the reign of Henry VIII. j but it is uncertain to what class of wine it belonged, or whence it came: if palatable, how- ever, its cheapness would recommend i t| for at the marriage of Gervys Clinton and Mary Neville, three hogsheads of it, for the wedding-feast, were bought for five guineas. Gaseony and G-uienne wines were sold in the reign of Henry VIII. at eighteenpenee a gallon, and Malmsey, Boinaney, and sack at twelvepenee a pint. In the reign of Edward IV. few places were allowed more than two taverns, and London was limited to forty. None but those who could spend 100 marks a year, or the son of a Duke, Marquis, Earl, or Baron, were allowed to keep more than ten gallons of mine at one time j and only the High Sheriffs, Magistrates of Cities, and the inhabitants of fortified towns might keep vessels of wine for their own use. In the same reign, however, we learn that the Archbishop of York consumed 100 tons on Ms enthronement, and as much as four pipes a month were consumed in some of our noblemen's houses. We must not, however, pass over the 15th century without proclaiming it as the dawn of the u Cup-epoch/' if we may be allowed the term, as gleaned from the rolls of some of the ancient colleges of our Universities. In the computus of Magstoke Priory, A.D. 1447, is an entry in Latin, the translation of which seems to be this:— t€ Paid for raisin wine, with comfits