The war of four thousand years : being a connected history of the various efforts made to suppress the vice of intemperance in all ages of the world : from the foundation of the class of Nazarites, by Moses, to the institution of the order of the Sons of Temperance, inclusive : with a full account of the origin, progress, and present prospects of the latter institution / by P.S. White and H.R. Pleasants.

  • White, Philip S., 1807-1868.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The war of four thousand years : being a connected history of the various efforts made to suppress the vice of intemperance in all ages of the world : from the foundation of the class of Nazarites, by Moses, to the institution of the order of the Sons of Temperance, inclusive : with a full account of the origin, progress, and present prospects of the latter institution / by P.S. White and H.R. Pleasants. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    nected with drinking, that certain strong drinks were named after them, as Whitsun ale, Christmas ale, &c. A writer in the reign of Elizabeth, who lived too shortly after the Reformation to witness all its good effects, makes the following remarks upon the excesses committed during the feasts. In certain towns, where drunken Bacchus bears swaie, against Christmas and Easter, Whitsunday, or other times, the church wardens, for so they call them of every parish, with the consent of the whole parish, pro- vide half a score, or twentie quarters of mault, whereof some they buy of the church stocke, and some is given to them of the parishioners themselves, every one conferring somewhat according to his abil- ity; which mault being made into very strong ale or beer, is set to sale, either in the church, or in some other place assigned to that purpose. Then, when this nippitatum, this huff cuppe, as they call it; this nectar of life, is set abroach, well is he that can get soonest to it, and spend most at it, for he is counted the godliest man of all the rest, and the most in God's favour, because it is spent upon his church forsooth ! If all be true which they say, they bestow that money which is got thereby, for the repair of their churches and chapels; they buy books for the service, cupps for the celebration of sacrament, surplesses for Sir John, and such other necessaries. During the last century, in England, drinking and swearing parsons, were as common as fox-hunting and cock-fighting squires. The pen of Fielding has immortalized both. At the same time, in France, the manners of the clergy were any thing but edify- o2