Syder.

SYder (whose Anagram is Desyr) desires and deserves the first place, as being the most ancient: it is made of Apples, and is of that antiquity, that it is thought by some to have beene in­vented and made by Eve, and afterwards practised by Cain, who by the making of it in the time of his vagrancy, got a very com­petent estate. Certainely it was a most frequent and usuall drinke amongst the Trojans, and was with the remainder of that Nation, first brought into this Iland: It is called Syder a Sydera, (as the Dictionary tels me) of the Starres, whose influence in those Hea­thenish times was much invoked in the composure of that most excellent liquor, whereof my native Country of the County of Glocestershire most plentifully flowes; It doth much refrigerate and qualifie the inward heat of man, it is also very purgative, and cleanseth the small guts of all viscous humours, and is much me­liorated by the addition of Sugar, in which way being taken the poorest cottage in Wales that affords it, outvies the Sollyard, and the men of that Countrey may without blushing (their ordi­nary vertue) paralell it with the glory of the Rhine.

Perry.

PErry is more Aromaticke, being made of Peares, from whence it seemes to have its Appellation: there is much disagreement amongst ancient and moderne Writers about the antiquity, origi­nall, and derivation of the name of it; Gorbonus the Lacedemonian sales, it was first made in Syria by one Pericles. Trappoza (a most learned Theban) ascribes it to one Periander: Nimpsbagg will have it from Persepolis a City in Persia: but some Brittains will, that de­sire to vindicate the Antiquity of times, of one Parry, a Nephew to Cadwallader the great, the last King of the Brittains, who was most [...]ious in the composure of liquids of this nature.

[Page]Others would seeme to derive it from Perrue in America, who in regard of the luxuriant soyle, and salubrious ayre abounded wonderfully with Peares; alleadging that Mangotapon one of the seven that hid themselves in a cave, called Particumbo, at that great deluge of the world, was at his comming forth (for he liv'd to come forth) the first compounder of this drinke, which in ho­nour of his Country he then called Perrue.

Amongst all these various opinions of forraigne Authors, com­mon experience tels us, that Worcestershire is our Brittish Maggazin, or plentifull store-house for Perry; nor will I seeke further to dispute the poynt, the drinke being usuall and equall with what hath beene said before of Syder. It is very availeable in quen­ching of thirst, good against obstructions of the liver and spleene, and most effectuall against contagious diseases, by the opinion of the Brittish Doctours, to whose treatises I referre the learned for larger instructions.

Metheglin and Mead.

MEtheglin, and Meade in regard of the coherence of their conditions, I may very well handle them together, with­out any disparagement to either; how ever there bee some pre­portion in their severall compositions, yet the maine Ingredient being Honey stands allowable to both. The common appellation of the first by the name of Mathew Glinn, (although it seeme a Nick't name to the world) is generally received by the History of Monmoth, to be the Authours name of this Mellifluous mix­ture: for this Mathew dwelling in a Valley (for so the word Glinn imports Englished from the Welsh) being master of a very great stocke of Bees, and wanting vent for the issue of their la­bours, in an abundant yeare betooke himselfe wholy to his study, and being most ingenious in things of this nature, in a short time he profited so well, as out of his maternall or mother-wit, of him­selfe he perfected this rare composure. This name being now in­geminated by the quotidian calls of his well disposed Countrey­men, renders it vendible in the most municipall Townes of those parts, at the rates of six pence the quart, which is the most predo­minant price of any of our homebred liquors.

Concerning the vertues of it, it is to be held in most extraordi­nary [Page] regard, for it is purgative in respect of the Mell (or Honey) and of singular efficacy against Tremor Cordis; indeed the over­much taking of it is to a melancholicke man in the nature of an Opiate, and therefore to be refused (if not taken with caution) by men of that constitution.

Mead or Meath.

FOr Meade or Meath (as some will have it) there are diverse un­warrantable Authors that would wrest the originall and deri­vation of the name from Medusa, the inchantresse, some there are that the crewell Media was the inventor of it: but Padesh shellum Shagh, a learned Gimnosophist (whose opinion I most leaue unto) in his ninth booke of Hidromancy, faith, that it was a drinke in use and potable by the Medes and Persians in the first erection of that Monarchy (from whence most significantly it hath the name) and that a Brittish Lord, a favourite of a Soldan there, first brought it to these parts, the Receipt being freely bestowed upon him, for his especiall service; in the beliefe of all which, I must crave pardon, that I am not guilty, but I rather thinke it as an abstract from the former, however it hath some severall vertues, but in regard of the cheapnesse it is now growne contemptible, being altogether ecclipsed by the vertue of Metheglin.

Braggot.

THe next to be handled is Braggot, a drinke in my opinion, not much beholding to antiquity, although some extant wri­tings of the Barley avouch the receipt for the making of it to be sent over from the Emperour of the East, to Liolin the great Prince of Wales. This drinke is of a most hot nature, as being compos'd of Spices, and if it once scale the sconce, and enter with­in the circumclusion of the Perricranion, it doth much accelerate nature, by whose forcible attraction and operation, the drinker (by way of distribution) is easily enabled to afford blowes to his brother; it is hot in the third degree, in which respect it is held medicinable, against all cold diseases of the Stomacke.

Pomperkin.

THe sixt sort of Brittish drinkes is Pomperkin, a drinke whose originall was from Pomeranea (a Province in Germany) as some writers relate. Some derive it from the Pomponii (a Noble [Page] Roman family) however Authors differ about it, it is not much materiall; most certaine it is that it is made of Apples, as the name of it imports; being nothing but the Apples bruised and beaten to mash, with water put to them, which is a drinke of so weake a condition that it is no where acceptable but amongst the Rusticks and Plebeyans, being a heartlesse liquor much of the nature of Swillons in Scotland, or small Beere in England, such as is said to be made of the washings of the Brewers legges and aprors; and I doe most yeeld to their opinions that the first Authour of Pomper­kin was Perkin Warbecke in the raigne of Henry the seventh, who in his private retirements and Iurking holes, had occasion to pra­ctise the thrifty making of this infusion. It is of an Hidropicall and Aquarian operation, the vigour of it doth seldome evaporate upward or ascend to the braine, and being it is likewise of a coroa­ding condition, yet the Brittish bodies being well antidoted with their compounded Creame, Whig, Whey, and Butter-milke; in their constitutions it becomes matter of nutriment.

Ale.

HAving gone thus farre, it remaines that I speak something of what hath been, and now is used by the English, as well since the Conquest, as in time of the Brittains, Saxons, and Danes, (for the former recited drinks, are to this day confin'd to the Principa­lity) so as we enjoy them onely by a statute called the courtesie of Wales. And to perfect my discourse in this I shall onely induce them into two heads, viz. the unparaleld liquor called Ale, with his Abstract Beere; whose antiquity amongst a sort of Northerne pated fellowes is if not altogether contemptible, of very little e­steeme; this humour moved the scurrilous pen of a shamelesse writer in the raigne of King Henry the third, detractingly to in­veigh against this unequal'd liquor. Thus

Of all Authours that I have ever yet read, this is the onely one that hath attempted to brand the glorious splendor of that Ale-beloved decection; but observe this fellow, by the perpetuall use [Page] of water (which was his accustomed drinke) he fell into such convulsion and lethargick diseases, that he remained in opinion a dead man; however the knowing Physicians of that time, by the frequent and inward application of Ale, not onely recovered him to his pristine estate of health, but also enabled him in body and braine for the future, that he became famous in his writings, which for the most part were afterwards spent with most Aleoquent and Alaborate commendation of that Admired and most superexcellent Imbrewage.

Some there are that affirme that Ale was first invened by Alex­ander the Great, and that in his conquests this liquor did infuse much vigour and valour into his souldiers. Others say that famous Physician of Piemont (named Don Alexis) was the founder of it. But it is knowne that it was of that singular vse in the time of the Saxons that none were allowed to brew it but such whose places and qualities were most eminent: insomuch that we finde that one of them had the credit to give the name of a Saxon Prince, who in honour of that rare quality, he called Alla. Some Aleadge that it being our drinke when our Land was called Albion, that it had the name of the Countrey: Twiscus in his Euphorbium will have it from Albania, or Epirus, VVolfgang Plashendorph of Gusten­burg, saies that Alecto (one of the three furies) gave the receipt of it to Albumazer a Magician, and he (having Aliance with Aladine the Soldan at Aleppo) first brewed it there, whereto may be Aleu­ded, the story how Alphonsus of Scicily, sent it from thence to the battell of Alcazor. My Authour is of Anaxagoras opinion, that Ale is to be held in high price for the nutritive substance that it is indued withall, and how precious a nurse it is in generall to Man­kinde.

It is true that the overmuch taking of it doth so much exhile­rate the spirits, that a man is not improperly said to be in the Ale­titude (observe the word I pray you, and all the words before or after) for you shal finde their first syllable to be Ale, and some wri­ters are of opinion that the Turkish Alcaron was invented by Ma­homet out of such furious raptures as Ale inspir'd him withall; some affirme Bacchus (Alias Liber Pater) was the first Brewer of it, a­mong the Indians, who being a stranger to them they named [Page] it Ale, as brought to them by an Alien; in a word, Somnus alt [...] signifies dead sleepe: Quies alta, Great rest; Altus and Alta noble and excellent: It is (for the most part) extracted out of the spirit of a Graine called Barley, which was of that estimation amongst the ancient Galles that their Prophets (whom they called Bardi) used it in their most important prophesies and ceremonies: This Graine, after it had beene watred and dryed, was at first ground in a Mill in the Island of Malta, from whence it is supposed to gaine the name of Malt; but I take it more proper from the word Matteolus, which signifies a Hammer or Maule, for Hanniball (the great Carthaginian Captaine) in his sixteene yeeres warres against the Romanes, was called the Maule of Italie, for it is con­jectured that he victoriously Mauld them by reason that his Army was daily refreshed with the spiritefull Elixar of Mault.

It holds very significant to compare a man in the Aletitude to be in a planetarie height; for in a Planet, the Altitude is his motion in which he is carried from the lowest place of Heaven or from the Center of the Earth, into the most highest place, or unto the top of his Circle, and then it is said to be in Apogaeo, that is the most Transcendent point of all, so the Sublunarie of a stupified Spirit, being elevated by the efficacious vigour of this uncontroleable vertue, renders him most capeable for high actions.

I should be voluminous, if I should insist upon all pertinent and impertinent passages in the behalfe of Ale, as also of the re­tentive fame that Yorke, Chester, Hull, Nottingham, Darby, Graves­end, with a Toaste, and other Countries still enjoy, by making this untainted liquor in the primitive way, and how VVindsor doth more glory in that Composition than all the rest of her spe­culative pleasures, which is dayly strengthened by the Agitive endeavours of the most pregnant spirits there, whose superlative issue affords us a quotidian expectation, and questionlesse cannot but succeed with generall applause in regard of the undertakers; Also there is a Towne neere Margate in Kent, (in the Isle of Thanett) called Northdowne, which Towne hath ingrost much Fame, Wealth, and Reputation from the prevalent potencie of their Atractive Ale.

I will onely now speake somewhat of its vertues, and in the [Page] weakenesse of my expressions shall crave pardon, of those many and learned Doctors of our Time, whose daily and gustave Ap­probation addes to the glorious Splendour of that unequall'd Element.

Concerning the fructifying or fruitfulnesse of Ale, it is almost incredible, for twice every yeere there is a Faire at a small Towne called Kimbollon, or Kimolton in North-hamptonshire, (as I take it) in which towne there are but 38. houses, which at the Faire time are encreased to 39. Alehouses, for an old woman and her daughter doe on those dayes divide there one house into two, such is the operation and encreasing power of our English Ale.

First then, it is a singular remedy against all melancholick dis­eases, Tremor cordis, and Maladies of the spleene, it is purgative and of great operation against Iliaca passio, and all gripings of the small guts, it cures the stone in the Bladder, Reines or Kidneyes, and provokes Vrin wonderfully, it mollifies Tumors and swel­lings in the body, and is very predominant in opening the obstru­ctions of the Liver. It is most effectuall for clearing of the sight, being applied outwardly, it asswageth the unsufferable paine of the Gowt called Artichicha Podagra, or Gonogra, the Yeast or Barme being laid hot to the part pained, in which way it is ease­full to all Impostumes or the paine in the Hippe called Sciatica passio; Indeed the immoderate taking of it (as of the best things) is not commended, for in some it causes swimming in the head and Vertigo, (but I speake still of moderation) in which respect it is not onely availeable for the causes aforesaid, but for all defluxions and Epidemicall diseases whatsoever, and being Butter'd (as our Gallenists well observe) it is good against all Contagious disea­ses, Feavers, Agues, Rhumes, Coughes and Catarres with Hernia Aquosa & vertosa.

I might proceed to nominate the Townes of the Kingdome that have their happinesse to enjoy their names from Ale, Ales­foord, in Hampshire, and Alesbury (or Aylesbury) in Buckingham­shire, Where the making of Aleberries so excellent against Hec­ticks was first invented. As also of many Sirnames of great worth in this Kingdome, as these of Ale-iff, Ale-worth, Good-ale, Penny-Ale, and in Scotland, the generous and antient name of Lamsd-Ale, [Page] but not to insist further, in this straine, I make no question, but the Capacious apprehension of a free understanding will spare me that labour.

I will therefore shut up all with that admirable conclusion in­sisted upon in our time by a discreet Gentleman in a solemn As­sembly, who, by a politick observation, very aptly compares Ale and Cakes with Wine and Wafers, neither doth he hold it sit that it should stand in Competition with the meanest Wines, but with that most excellent Composition which the Prince of Physitians Hippocrates had so ingenuously compounded for the preservation of mankinde, and which (to this day) speakes the Author by the name of Hippocras, so that you see of Antiquity, Ale was famous amongst the Troians, Brittaines, Romans, Saxons, Danes, Nor­mans, English men, VVelch, besides in Scotland, from the highest and Noblest Palace to the poorest or meanest Cottage, Ale is uni­versall, and for Vertue it stands allowable with the best receipts of the most Antientest Physitians; and for its singular force in ex­pulsion of poison is equall, if not exceeding that rate Antidote so seriously invented by the Pontique King, which from him (till this time) carries his name of Mitbridate. And lastly, not onely ap­proved by a National Assembly, but more exemplarily remon­strated by the frequent use of the most knowing Physitians, who for the wonderfull force that it hath against all the diseases of the Lungs, Justly allow the name of a Pulmonist to every Alebrewer.

The further I seeke to goe the more unable I finde my selfe to expresse the wonders (for so I may very well call them) operated by Ale, for that I shall abruptly conclude, in consideration of mine owne insufficiency, with the fagge-end of an old mans old will, who gave a good summe of mony to a Red-fac'd Ale-drinker, who plaid upon a Pipe and Tabor, which was this:

[Page] Ale is rightly called Nappy, for it will set a nap upon a mans threed bare eyes when he is sleepy. It is called Merry-goe-downe, for it slides downe merrily; It is fragrant to the sent; It is most pleasing to the taste; The flowring and mantling of it (like Che­quer worke) with the Vendant smiling of it, is delightfull to the sight, it is Touching or Feeling to the Braine and Heart; and (to please the senses all) it provokes men to singing and mirth, which is contenting to the Hearing. The speedy taking of it doth com­fort a heavy and troubled minde; it will make a weeping widow laugh and forget sorrow for her deceased husband; It is truly ter­med the spirit of the Buttry (for it puts spirit into all it enters,) It makes the footmans Head and heeles so light, that he seemes to flie as he runnes; It is the warmest lineing of a naked mans Coat, (that's a Bull) It satiates and asswageth hunger and cold; with a Toaste it is the poore mans comfort, the Shepheard, Mower, Plowman, Labourer and Blacksmiths most esteemed purchase; It is the Tinkers treasure, the Pedlers Jewell, the Beggers Joy, and the Prisoners loving Nurse; it will whet the wit so sharp, that it will make a Catter talke of matters beyond his reach; It will set a Bashfull suiter a woing; It heates the chill blood of the Aged; It will cause a man to speake past his owne or any others mans capa­city, or understanding; It sets an edge upon Logick and Rheto­rick; It is a friend to the Muses; It inspires the poore Poet, that cannot compasse the price of Canarie or Gasenigne; It mounts the Musician bove Eela; It makes the Balladmaker Rime beyond Reason, It is a Repairer of a decaied Colour in the face; It puts Eloquence into the Oratour; It will make the Philosopher talke profoundly, the Scholler learnedly, and the Lawyer Acute and feelingly, Ale at Whitsontide, or a Whitson Church Ale, is a Re­pairer of decayed Countrey Churches; It is a great friend to Truth, for they that drinke of it (to the purpose) will reveale all they know, be it never so secret to be kept; It is an Embleme of Justice, for it allowes and yeelds measure; It will put courage into a Coward, and make him swagger and fight; It is a seale to many a good Bargaine. The Physitian will commend it; the Lawyer will defend it, It neither hurts, or kils, any but those that abuse it unmeasurably and beyond bearing; It doth good to as [Page] many as take it rightly; It is as good as a paire of Spectacles to cleare the eyesight of an old parish Clarke; and in Conclusion, it is such a nourisher of Mankinde, that if my mouth were as bigge as Bishopsgate, my Pen as long as a Maypole, and my Inke a flowing spring, or a standing fishpond, yet I could not with Mouth, Pen, or Inke, speake or write the true worth and worthinesse of Ale.

Beere.

NOw, to write of Beere, I shall not need to wet my pen much with the naming of it, It being a drinke which Antiquitie was an Aleien, or a meere stranger to, and as it hath scarcely any name, so hath it no habitation, for the places or houses where it is sold doth still retaine the name of An Alehouse; but if it were a Beere-house, (or so called) yet it must have an Inferiour stile of hous-roome than An Alehouse; for An is the name of many a good woman, and the name An cannot be properly given to a Beere-Brewer, or Beere-house; for to say An Beere Brewer or An Beere house is ridiculous; but An Ale-Brewer or An Alehouse is good significant English; or to say An Beere brewer or An Beerehouse or (by your favour An Taverne) is but botching language in great Brittaine; but to say A Alebrewer or A Alehouse, is more im­proper than to bid a childe A A in his Chaire, when there is nei­ther Chaire or stoole.

This comparison needs a Sir Reverence to Vsher it, but being Beere is but an Upstart and a foreigner or Alien, in respect of Ale, it may serve in stead of a better; Nor would it differ from Ale in any thing, but onely that an Aspiring Amaritudinous Hop comes crawling lamely in, and makes a Bitter difference betweene them but if the Hop be so cripled that he cannot be gotten to make the oddes, the place may poorely bee supply'd with chop'd Broome (new gathered) whereby Beere hath never attained the sober Ti­tle of Ale, for it is proper to say A Stand of Ale, and a Hogges Head of Beere, which in common sense is but a swinish Phrase or Appellation.

Indeede Beere, by a Mixture of Wine, it enjoyes approbation amongst some few (that hardly understand wherefore) but then it is no longer Beere, but hath lost both Name and Nature, and is called Balderdash, (an Utopian denomination) and so like a petty [Page] Brooke running into a great stream looses it selfe in his owne cur­rent, the legges being wash'd with the weaker or smaller sort of it, is contemptuously called, Rotgut; and is thought by some to be very medicinable to cure the Scurvie. The stronger Beere is divided into two parts (viz.) wild and stale; the first may ease a man of a drought, but the later is like water cast into a Smiths forge, and breeds more heartburning, and as rust eates into Iron, so overstale Beere gnawes auletholes in the entrales, or else my skill failes, an what I have written of it is to be held as a jest.

I have now performed my promise, yet cannot so cease, being much desirous to speak something of a forraigne Element, which in some sort seemes to obscure the glory of all the forenamed drinks; and is knowne to us by the name of Sack, which appellation was archieved by derivation from Donzago, a Spaniard of the Province of Andalowsia, who was the first discoverer of this Castilian El­lixar.

But herein (as before) I shall but loose my selfe the subject be­ing most excellently handled, tasted, and well rellished both in verse and prose, especially in that late Illustration of Aristippus, in which respect onely it is held fit that Cambridge should precede Oxford.

Sack.

SAck is no hippocrite, for any man that knowes what an Ana­gram is, will confesse that it is conta1ined within the litterall letters and limmits of its owne name, which is (to say) a Cask. Sack then containes it selfe, (except it be drawne out) within its inclo­sed bounds, like Diogenes, in his Tun; yet Sack (overmuch drawne and excessively abused) hath drawne the abusers of it into many abuses and dammages, for Tangrephilax[?], a learned Lybian Geogra­pher of our time, affirmes that it sumes into the head, though it well pleases the palate, yet neverthelesse that it helpes the naturall weaknesse of a cold stomacke more than any other wine whatsoe­ver. The old ancient Poets onely write of Helicon, Tempe, Aga­nippe, the Pegasean fountaine, the Thespian spring. The Muses well and abundance of other unknowne rich invisible blessings; But our age approves that Sack is the best lineing or living for a good Poet; and that it enables our moderne writers, to versifie most [Page] ingeniously, without much cud gelling their headpieces (a thing very much used in the pumpers for wit) whereby they get some portion of credit, a great proportion of windy applause, but for money, &c. For mine owne part, I do not, nor will drinke any of it, which is the reason that my verses want vigour, but if I could but endure to wash my midrisle in Sack, as the most grave Musehunters Hexametrians, Pentametrians, Dactylians and Spondeians doe; I should then reach with my Invention above the Altitude of the 39. sphere, and dive 50. fathom below the profundity of the de­pest Barrathrum: The troth is, I have no reason to love Sack, for it made me twice a Rat in Woodstreet Counter-trap: besides where other wines have scarce strength to make me drunke (as I may take them) Sack hath the power to make me mad, which made me leave it.

Yet for the vertues that are in mine enemy, I must and will give due commendations; therefore I will give a touch at some things which is praise worthy in this Iberian, Castilian, Canarian, Sherri­an, Mallaganian, Robalonian, Robdanian, Peterseamian.

Is any man opprest with crudities in his stomacke, so that it takes away all appetituall desire, insomuch that the sight of meat is a second sicknesse to him? let that man drinke Sack, the cure fol­lowes beyond beliefe: Is any man Ingurgitated, so that he is in the condition of a strong surfeit? let that man drinke Sack too; the remedy is sudden indeed to a poynt of wonder or admiration. Is any man so much out of the favour of Elous, that he is short-win­ded, or that his voice or speech failes him, let him drinke Sack, (as it may be taken) it shall make him capable to vent words and speake beyond measure: Doth any man (for the clearing of his sto­macke) desire a vomit? let him take a quantity of Sack, and by the operation of the same it shall be effected; So that we may justly say that Sack is a second nature to man, and that the Physicians well knew, when they confinde it to the Apothecaies shops (which was not till neere the end of King Henry the eights Raigne, about the yeare 1543, and in King Edward the sixts first and second yeare 1548.) till which time none but the Apothecaries had the honour to fell Sack, and that was onely for medicine, and for sicke folkes: but though now it be more dispersed into Great mens houses and [Page] Vintners cellars, yet it hath obtained no absolute freedome to this day, for in the mansions or dwellings of many that keepe the fai­rest houses, the Mannagement and tuition of Sack is to some lewd (ill natur'd, or nurtur'd) yeoman of the Winecellar, whereby it is too often adulterated, and also brought to such an astringencie, brought to such points of mortification, that it is impossible it should ever be worthy to gaine the approbation of a Wine-vinegar man, and it were heartily to be wish'd that this enormious abuse were punished by the vertue of a Dog-whip.

A word or two for example, and I shall conclude: Lucius Piso that great Generall that conquered Thrace, was wonderfully gi­ven to the drinking of Sack, insomuch that he was oftentimes car­ried from the Senate house; and it was so farre from being an im­peachment to his honour, that neverthelesse Augustus Caesar committed to him the charge, care, and trust of the most secret af­faires of State, and never had any cause to be discontented with him: the like we read of Tiberius and Cassus; and as faithfully was the plot and purpose to kill Caesar, (in the Senate) committed unto Cimber (who dranke nothing but Sack,) as unto Cassius who dranke nothing but Water; and certaine I am that the Persians, after their drinking of Sack, were wont to consult of their chiefest and most serious state-businesses: and Cyrus, (that so farre and fa­mous a renowned King) among his other high praises and com­mendations, meaning to preferre himselfe before his brother Ar­taxerxes, and get the start of him, alleageth the cause of his being victorious over him to bee chiefly because he could drinke more Sack than he.

I commend not intemperance in all these allegations, the Rea­der may please to Remember my former test for moderation, and Sack, being so taken, will be to the moderate taker a comfort a­gainst cares and crosses, and so with Iuvenals words in his foure­teenth satire I shut up all;