1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

210

d'espaigne, & une autre de malvolsie, en beuvant & en mengeant vous diront plus de cent fois drind

& vous

c'est a dire je m'en vols boyre a toy,

ioUy

leur responderes en leur langage

iplaigiu, qui est a

dire, je vous plege. Si vous les remarcies vous leurs dires en leurs langages, god ianque artelay, c'est a dire, je vous remercie de bon coeur. Eulx estans yvres, vous jureront le sang et le mort que vous beures tout ce que vous tenes dedans vostre tace, & vous diront ainsi, bigod sol drind iou agoud oin'' It is much to be feared that the worthy Frenchman, if his description is to be at all reUed on, mixed with rather a fast lot. Ale was looked upon as a kindly creature, and our ancestors of the seventeenth century had several ballads in praise of the " little Barleycorn " and the indictment, as well as the " Bloody Murther," of Sir John Barleycorn. From this latter the peasant poet, Burns, plagiarised right royally. There was also a very curious Chap book published in the early part of the eighteenth century, entitled, A person of Noble Birth and Extraction, and well known by Rich and Poor throughout the Kingdom of Great Britain : Being accused of several Misde- meanours, by him committed against His Majesty's Liege People ; by killing some, wounding others, and bringing Thousands to Beggary, and ruins many a poor Family. ** The whole Trial and Indictment of Sir JOHN BARLEY-CORN— A^^