The foreste or Collection of histories no lesse profitable, then pleasant and necessarie, dooen out of Frenche into Englishe, by Thomas Fortescue.

Who first did sette or plante the Vine, who also did first to drike water in wine, to whom also, and how the Romaines firste af all forbadde the vse of wine, with some other thinges concernyng this purpose. Chap. 10.

OF all kinde of fruictes, whiche the yearth produceth (these I vn∣derstande where of wee make ly∣cors) none is so profitable in mine aduice as is the Vine, so that he be moderatlie, and with discretion v∣sed. For whiche cause onely Ana∣crases saide, that the Vine geueth or presenteth vnto vs thrée grapes: the first of pleasure: the seconde of dronkennesse: the thirde of teares, mour∣nyng and sorrowe, in suche sorte, that who so passeth the first grape, to wete a litle wine, moderatly, and seldome, in takyng it receaueth greate shame and domage. Our prophane authors, that neuer were acquainted with, or euer hearde of the scriptures, deuise, and imagen sundry inuentors of wine. Diodorus Siculus, in his fourthe boke attributeth as well the inuention of wine, as also that he first founde to plante or sette the Vine, to Denis the soonne of Iupiter, called otherwise Bacchus, and pater li∣ber, so termed for the liberty and force of wine. For whi∣che cause thei dedicated to him a Temple vnder the Ca∣pitoll in Rome, where were celebrated these feastes, which thei commonly called Dionisians, or Bacchanalia, verie lassiuious, and full of impudicitie. And that this in∣uention was truelie attributed to this Denis, Virgil wel assureth it vs, in his firste entree, into his seconde boke of Georgikes: although Marcianus Capellus affirme that he only skilled the Gréekes to make wine. Others write that it was Icarus father of Erigonus whiche first found the meane to make wine in Athens, where after warde beyng drounke▪ was slaine of the people. In Italie they saie that Saturne there first had wine, whiche he brought from out the Isle of Candia. Plutarche writeth that Ar∣••us an Etruscian, enrichte Fraunce with the firste Vine that euer was there. But the trueth is that the first in∣uentor of wine, was Noe, as also the first that euer was

droncke, whiche witnes (besides that whiche is redde in the ninth of Genesis) Lactantius Firmianus and Iosephus * 1.1 whiche Noe immediatly after he issued out of the Arke, planted the Vine with his owne proper handes, and drinking after, of the fructe therof, was also first drunke: in whiche that his disease sleapyng, he so discouered hym self, that, that there betided hym, which is writtē of him in Genesis. After this men léeking of this kinde of licour, drancke it at first pure, and with out water: for as recor∣deth Plinie one named Stasius, was the first that did wa∣ter * 1.2 into wine to qualifie it. By meane whereof greate good hath followed, with the preseruation of health through out the whole worlde, for that wine so tempe∣red hath his most excellent effectes. Plato by Macrobius, in his seconde booke recordeth, that wine taken mode∣ratly fortifieth the vnderstandyng, it augmenteth the puissance, force, and strength, it yeldeth the harte ioious, it taketh from man all sorroufull, and pensiue imagina∣tions. Plinie saieth that the honest, and resonable vse of * 1.3 wine delaied, increaseth the force, blo••dde, and couler in mans face, the vaines saieth he, are strēghtned by wine, the sight sharpened, the stomake comforted, the appetite thence groweth, Vrine also prouoked, it hastneth sléepe, and disturneth Vomites, it purgeth melancolie, and re∣ioiseth the harte, & in fine profiteth in many other vses. Asclepiades the Phisician hath written a whole booke, of the only vertue of wine. Sainct Paule writyng to Timo∣thie counseleth hym to drinke a little wine, the better to strengthen, and comforte his stomake. The Phisicions vse wine in many their medicines, for that wine wil re∣storeth health, increaseth bloodde, it offendeth not anie melancoly humours, it dissipateth and drieth ••eame, it moisteneth and fitteth choller to be purged. Plato intro∣ducing Socrates, commendeth wine saiyng, euen as rain moderate geueth increase of all hearbaege, tempe steous inundations vtterly destroiyng it: so wine with 〈…〉〈…〉

ration reioiseth man, and coumforteth his spirites, but coutrariwise, in abundaunce, scorcheth, and consumeth hym. Among all other sweete, and pleasing odours, the smel also of wine is of the Philosophers commended, for that it addeth force (as is saide) to the vitall spirites, it is very subtill, and soone penetrateth: but what so euer is spoken or saide any where of wine, that still is mente of wine moderatly taken, and delaied. The auncient Ro∣maines forbad the vse of wine, to women as well, as al∣so to children, as hath Valerius, writyng the customes, * 1.4 & lawes of the Romaines. So that as Plime saieth, that in those daies, when Romulus raigned in Rome, a certen Citisen slewe his wife, for that she had dronke wine and although the murtherer were immediatly apprehended and taken, yet the Prince with out sute would pardon that offence. Thei estemed it a fault so greate and igno∣minious, to sée a woman bouse, or drinke wine, that as Fabian reporteth, a certaine maide hauyng stolen, the kaies of a wine Seller, preuely to haue dronke or ta∣sted there, of wine, was by famine done to die, euen by her owne parentes, for that faulte. For this cause men vsed to kisse women on the mouth, to féele, or perceiue, if they had drinke of wine. It is recorded, that N. Domi∣cian, beyng ordained, some tymes, a iudge in Rome, de∣priued a woman there of her Dourie, for that she hadde dronke more wine, then was for her health either ne∣cessarie, or conuenable. Salomon in his Prouerbes prohibeteth wine, to kinges as well, as also to there counsell, for that in dronkennesse saieth he nothyng is kepte socrette, or concealed: the pore mans cause also is then not considered of, or harde iudgmente at the leaste proceadeth then against hym. We reade not with stan∣dyng, that it was permitted to the kynges of Egypte, to drinke wine, but that moderatly, and by appointed mea∣sures. A•…•… R••mulus inuited to a feast, would hard∣ly see, or taste an•• wine, for 〈…〉〈…〉eth he must•…•…

I determen of a greate, and weightie matter. Auicenna saieth, that who so geueth wine to a child to drinke, hea∣peth one flamyng fier on an other. Aristotle inhibiteth * 1.5 wine to be geuen Infantes, as also to all Nurses, that geue sucke of their bodies. Plato, by his lawes, in hys bo∣kes de republica, though he séeme in the firste to aucthorise the drinkyng of wine, yet in the seconde saieth, manne must drinke little wine, wel drouned in water, and that also in no wise before he bee eightine yeres olde, in the presence continually of olde menne vntill he be fortie, to the intente that if he exceede, he receaue punishment for his excesse of theim. But after that age he permitteth, that the quantitie be of some parte augmented, to mitti∣gate, or asswage the coldnes, and melancoly, of those ye∣res. How be it, his minde is, that a certaine measure bee prescribed theim: farther he excludeth all seruauntes of what age so euer, iudges also, and magistrates, and such as haue offices, or charge in the weale publike. To stu∣dentes also he geueth in counsell, that they sauer not of wine, and as concernyng bondmen, the same order was also, obserued of theim in Rome. Auicenna accoumpteth Plato his lawes, as good rules in Phisicke, with whom also accordeth Galene, in this matter. Alexander Aphro∣diseus in his problemes affirmeth, that those, that neuer drincke, other licour then water, haue as wel their sight, as all other their senses, more sharpe, and fine, then thei that drinke continually wine. But howe to water, and ordre our wine, there are sundry rules, and opinions: He¦siodus commaundeth, that to one cuppe of wine, ye adde thrée of water: Atheneus saieth, that the auncient Gree∣kes, did fiue partes of water, to be mixt commonly with twoo of wine, and some tymes) whiche more was) thrée partes of water with one of wine, which accordeth with the rule of Hesiodus. And this maie here be noted, that the Grekes neuer did to be poured water into their wine but wine continually, in small quantitie, in to their wa∣ter,

by meane where of Theophrastus assureth vs, that these twoo licours are more perfectly medled. And this did our elders, not onely well droune, and water their wine, but dranke there of also in very small quantitie. Eubolus the Greke Poete, bringeth in Bacchus, speaking to the Elders or Sages of that age, I will geue you to drinke of wine, but thre times at your refection, the first for health, the seconde for the good smell there of, the third to inforce sleape, how oftē so euer you more drinke, it al sauoureth of disorder, and dronkennes. Apuleus Pa∣niasis, the same that wrote of the diuersitie of meates, is with the other, of one, and the same iudgement, saiynge that ye may once drinke incontinently after grace, the seconde cuppe moueth, or quickeneth in vs Venus, the thirde is cause of shame, and dishonor. Iulius Caesar verie sildome, woulde taste, or drincke of wine, which thinge Suetonius reporteth, by the testimony of Cato, the same I meane that was ennimie vnto Caesar. The excellente Demosthenes also, or fewe times, or neuer dranke of a∣ny wine. Apollo Tianeus of whom so many thinges are so famously written, as hee neuer did eate any kinde of fleashe, so also did hee neuer drinke any droppe of wine. And among all Christians in these daies temperancie in drinkyng is highly commended. Saincte Iames the lesse, neuer dranke in his life ether wine or Ale, nether would he eate of any kinde of fleashe, imitating there in Sainct Ihon the Baptiste. The semblable finde we of Fulgentius the Bishoppe, of Emerys also the soonne of Steuen, kinge of Polonia. Iosephus in his antiquities highly extolleth * 1.6 that vertuous modesty of the Esseiens (whiche were one of the three sectes, that were among the Iewes, the Pha∣rasies, and Saduces the other two) whiche as he saieth ne∣uer dranke wine. In a certen Epistle Saincte Hierome sharpely reproueth Preestes, bousinge, or pleasinge any thing at all in wine, addyng that Sainct Paule, aduiseth theim to the contrarie, and farther saieth, that in the old

lawe, these that had charge, or office in the Churche, ne∣uer dranke either wine, or other kinde of licour, that coulde, or might force theim any waie to lightnes. Good potte men in these daies, and gallant tasters, approue their wines by these fower qualities, he must be delecta∣ble in mouth, to please the taste, he must smell well and farre of, to content their riche Noses, he muste bee well coloured, pure, and neate to please the eye, and in fine it must haue his commendation of the soile, to wéete, that it came from a hoate, and high countrie: and of this good wine they quickly can make vinegar, but of the commo∣dities or discōmodities herof, I presently leaue to speake more in this place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lac. li. 2. insti, diuinarum. Iosep. li. 1. an••.
• * 1.2

  Plinie lib. 7. cap. 5▪ 6.
• * 1.3

  Plinie leb. 2••▪ cap. 1.
• * 1.4

  ••al. lib. 2. Plinie. lib. 14.
• * 1.5

  Arist. li. 7. pol.
• * 1.6

  Iosephus lib. 8. ant.