1863 Cups and their customs

CUPS AND THEIR CUSTOMS.

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^^ From famed Barbadoes, on the western main, Fetch sugar, ounces four ; fetch sack from Spain, A pint ; and from the Eastern coast, Nutmeg, the glory of our northern toast O'er flaming coals let them together heat, Till the all-conquering sack dissolve the sweet j O'er such another fire put eggs just ten, New-born from tread of cock and rump of hen Stir them with steady hand, and conscience pricking. To see the untimely end of ten fine chicken j From shining shelf take down the brazen skillet, A quart of milk from gentle cow will fill it When boil'd and cold, put milk and sack to eggs, Unite them firmly like the triple leagues And on the fire let them together dwell. Till miss sing twice — ^you must not kiss and tell Each lad and lass take up a silver spoon, And fall on fiercely like a starved dragoon." About this time, one Lord Holies, who probably represented the total abstainers of the age, invented a drink termed Hydromel, made of honey, spring-water, and ginger; and a cup of this taken at night, said he, ^^will cure thee of all troubles,^^ — thus acknowledging the stomachic virtues of cups, though some warping of his senses would not let him believe, to a curable ex- tent, in more potent draughts : being in charity with him, we hope his was a saving faith, — but we have our doubts of it, he died so young. Another recipe of the same nature was, " The Ale of health and strength,^^ by the Duchess of St. Albans, which appears to have been a decoction of all the aromatic herbs in the garden (whether agreeable or otherwise), boiled up in small beer; and, thinking this account of its composition is