1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

II

THE FLOWING BOWL

GooH quarters in Provence—Intemperance of holy men—A tippling bishop—Alexander the Great—" Lovely Thais sits beside thee"—A big flare-up—Awful end ofAlec—Cambyses always shot straight—Darius the strong-of-head—Philip drunk and Philip solxr—Dionysius gets blind—Tiberius loved the bowl—So did Flavins Vobiscus, the diplomatist— Bluft'King Hal—The Merry Monarch and the Lord Mayor —Dear Old Pepys—A Mansion House wine-list—Minimum allowance of sack—A slump in brandy—A church-tavern Dean Aldrich—The Romans at supper—"The tippling philosophers" Pages ii-21

CHAPTER III DRINKS ANCIENT AND MODERN

The Whitaker of the period—France without wine—Babylonian boozers—Beer discovered by the Egyptians—A glass of bitter for Cleopatra—Brainless Persians—German sots—Turning the tables—Intemperance in the North—Chinese intoxicants —Nature of Sack—Mead and morat—Vinous mcthegli'n- Favourite tipple of the Ancient Britons—Braggonet—Birch wine—"The inwariable" of Falstaff—A recipe by Sir Walter Raleigh—Saragossa winc—Usquebaugh—Clary- Apricock wine ... • • • . 22.35

CHAPTER IV

SOME OLD RECIPES Indift'erence of the Chineses—A nasty potion—A nastier—White Bastard—Helping it to be eager—Improving Malmsey- Death of the Duke of Clarence—Mum is not the word English champagne—Life without Ebulum a blank—Cock ale—How to dispose of surplus poultry—Painful fate of a pauper—pau-ure—Duties of the old English housewife