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impress upon the subordinate priests that the obligations of the clerical office required them to exercise forbearance with respect to social enjoyments." That this statement is in the main accurate was shown in our last chapter, and it is confirmed by a reference to the canons and injunctions of the Church. For example: "Canon 30.-A priest should not drink in taverns like laymen."2 Again, "But we do not comprise in this prohibition strangers who are travelling, and those who come together in fairs or markets, although they meet in taverns." And, "They (priests) are forbidden to enter taverns for drinking, unless they are on a journey, or to take part in drinking assemblies," &c.1

As to the statement that various ranks of society met in the tavern for social converse, those who hold that to be the case might have added that the extension of national liberty was in part due to the opportunities which were afforded for discussion in such places of resort. Nay, although we have said that their continued existence can no longer be justified on the old grounds in our time, yet it is impossible to overlook the fact that there are even now exceptional instances where the "public-house" is the only place which affords sufficient accommodation for meetings of any considerable magnitude. That was, no doubt, much more generally the case in the Middle Ages, when there were no assembly-rooms, no public halls, no schoolhouses, nor any other buildings of a like char

acter.

1 Jeaffreson's Book about the Clergy, vol. i. p. 91.

2 Canons of Elfric, A.D. 970; Discipline of Drink, p. 150.

Decree of Giles of Bridport, Bishop of Salisbury, A.D. 1256, against "Scot-ales," loc. cit., p. 176.

4 Synod of Kilkenny, A.D. 1614, loc. cit., p. 180.

DRUNKEN REVELS OF THE STUARTS.

149

It is a matter of history that at the period of the Reformation the court of England was one of the most dissolute in Europe, and in the reign of Henry VIII. it was held in bad repute even amongst the Germans, drunken as they confess themselves to have been. A quaint story is told, upon what appears to be good authority, how Henry himself managed to make an envoy of the German court, who belonged to one of the orders of temperance, violate his pledge, and how he then assured him that if his master would only visit England, he would not lack boon-companions.1 Nor was the intoxication confined to men only. It is said that in the time of James I. the revels instituted by the Queen were frequently disgraced by the drunkenness of the court ladies; and one of the guests at an entertainment given by the Earl of Salisbury in honour of the visit of King Christian of Denmark wrote a letter from which the following is an extract:

"Those whom I never could get to taste good liquor now follow the fashion and wallow in beastly delights. The ladies abandon sobriety, and are seen to roll about in intoxication. After dinner, the representation of Solomon his temple, and the coming of the Queen of Sheba was made, or, as I may better say, was meant to have been made. ... The lady who did play the queen's part did carry most precious gifts to both their majesties, but forgetting the steppes arising to the canopy, overset her caskets in his Danish Majesty's lap, and fell at his feet, though I rather think it was on his face. Much was the hurry and confusion, cloths and napkins were at hand to make all clean. His Majesty then got up, and would dance with the Queen of Sheba, but he fell down and humbled himself before her, and was carried to his inner chamber, and laid on a bed of state, which was not a little defiled with the presents of the queen...

1 Nationalneigung zum Trunke, p. 97.

The entertainment and show went forward, and most of the presenters went backward or fell down, wine did so occupy their upper chambers. Now did appear in rich dress Hope, Faith, and Charity. Hope did assay to speak, but wine did render her endeavours so feeble that she withdrew. Faith was then alone. For I am certain she was not joyned with good works, and left the court in a staggering condition. Charity came to the King's feet, and seemed to cover the multitude of sins her sisters had committed; in some sort she made obeysance and brought gifts.... She then returned to Hope and Faith, who were.

"

But we must conclude in more refined phraseology than that used by the writer . . . who were in the hall engaged in operations inconsistent with the healthy and sober condition in which ladies should be at a royal entertainment.1

We will, however, not dwell upon the drinking habits of the middle and lower classes prior to the Commonwealth. What change there was in their condition was due to the action of the Puritans, who, both before and during the civil war, presented a marked contrast to the Cavaliers or Royalists. The character and conduct of the two parties may be studied in the writings of historians of the time, as well as in those of modern authors, and notably in the pages of Macaulay and Walter Scott.2 The Puritans were grave in their demeanour, sober in their habits, modest and plain in their speech and attire. By these characteristics they desired to be known. The Cavaliers swore, drank, affected an air of gallantry towards the female sex, with whom their relations were of the loosest, and in every

1 Nugæ Antiquæ, i. 348-350; in Lingard's History of England, vol. ix. p. 109 n., 2d ed., 1825.

2 Macaulay's History of England, vol. i. chap. i., Longmans, 1873; Scott's Peveril of the Peak; Brooke's Manners and Customs of the English, Blackwood, &c.

PURITAN DRINKING reforms.

151

thing they sought to avoid what they called the prudery and hypocrisy of the Roundheads. When the latter obtained the ascendancy, they set about executing the most drastic reforms throughout the land. Maypoles were cut down in various parts of the country, and all the amusements of the period, such as theatrical performances, entertainments on the village green and at fairs, bowls, horseracing, and bearbaiting, were either absolutely forbidden or strongly denounced and discountenanced. But what gave greater dissatisfaction than any other of their proceedings was the suppression of Christmas festivities; and when, in 1644, the Long Parliament gave orders that the 25th December should. be observed as a day of prayer and fasting, that act was considered such an infringement of the public liberties, that it was almost universally resisted, and in many places collisions took place between the populace and the local authorities.

These extreme measures of repression on the part of the Puritans led to the result which might be anticipated. They gave courage to those who were anxious. for the return of royalty, and reconciled many to its reinstatement who would otherwise have struggled for the maintenance of republican institutions; and when Charles II. was once more safely enthroned, there followed a reaction in morals which has left to that period the unenviable notoriety of being the most corrupt and dissolute in the whole history of our country. Debauchery and drunkenness prevailed in almost every rank of society, but chiefly amongst the higher and middle classes. The King set the example, and history abounds with tales of the debauchery of the court. We are told that when William, Prince of Orange, came

over to visit his intended, "one night at a supper given by the Duke of Buckingham, the King made him (the Prince) drink very hard. The heavy Dutchman was naturally averse to it, but being once entered, was the most frolicsome of the company; and now the mind took him to break the windows of the chambers of the maids of honour, and he had got into their apartments had they not been timely rescued. His mistress" (the princess, afterwards Queen Mary), "I suppose," adds the narrator, " did not like him the worse for such a notable indication of his vigour." 1 Another wellknown story is related of the same monarch. On one occasion, when he was dining with the Lord Mayor, Sir Robert Viner, and the guests as well as his lordship had imbibed more than was consistent with propriety in the presence of their sovereign, the latter intimated to his suite his intention to withdraw; and he had succeeded in making his escape from the banqueting hall, when he was hastily pursued by the Lord Mayor, who caught hold of his robe, exclaiming, " Sir, you shall stay and take t'other bottle." The airy monarch looked kindly at him over his shoulder, and with a smile and graceful air repeated this line of the old song, "He that is drunk is as great as a king," and with this compliment to his host, he immediately returned and "took t'other bottle."

These Lord Mayors' banquets are deserving of a passing notice. One of them, given in 1663, is described by Pepys. It was served at one o'clock, and a bill of fare was placed with every salt cellar, whilst at the end of each table was a list of "persons proper"

1 John Evelyn, one of the first Fellows of the Royal Society, A.D. 1620-56, quoted in Doran's "Table Traits," p. 458. Bentley.

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