1869 Drinking Cups and their Customs (Mixellany)

ABB THEIE CUSTOMS.

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t{ In the name of tlte Trinite Fill the Imp and irinke to me.* 1

Mr. Milner, in 'Archeologia/ vol. xi. p. 411, describes a maple-wood tankard, belonging to Lord Arundel, as of Saxon workmanship coeval withEdgar, A,D.800,who also passed a law, on the suggestion of St.Dunstan, to prevent excessive drinking, by ordering cups to be marked into spaces bj pegs, that the quantity taken might be limited, A considerable number of these ancient maple-wood tankards also exist in the Museum at the Castle of Bosen- burg. They were formerly made by the Norwegian pea- sants during the long winter nights; and their style of ornament cannot be older than the 16th century. Contemporaneous with maier-bowls were others called Piggins, Naggins, WMskins, Kannes, Pottles, Jakkes, Pronnet-cups and Beakers. Silver bowls were next introduced; and about the latter end of Elizabeth's reign these were superseded, as wine grew dearer and men were temperate, by glasses The earliest glasses used at banquets were Venetian and no mention is made of glasses at state banquets before the time of Elizabeth* In the latter half of the last century, beer was usu- ally carried from the cellar to the table in large tan- kards made of leather, called Blackjacks, some of which are still to be found, as also smaller ones more refined in their workmanship, and having either an entire lining of silver, or a rim of silver to drink from, on which it was customary to inscribe the name of the owner, together with his trade or occupation. " Tygs n were