and from the statements and illustrations in old manuscripts it would appear that "the merry monks" were prominent in gastronomical circles. And extant records also state that the abbots of some of the monasteries found it necessary to make regulations restraining the monks, and to these regulations the monks objected. Consequently the monks of St. Swithin at Winchester made a formal complaint to Henry II. against their abbot for taking away three of the thirteen dishes they used to have at dinner. The monks of Canterbury were still more luxurious, for they had at least seventeen dishes every day besides a dessert; and these dishes were dressed with spices and sauces which excited the appetite as well as pleased the taste. And of course the festive season of Christmas was an occasion of special indulgence. Sometimes serious excesses were followed by severe discipline, administered after the manner shown in the ancient illustration which is reproduced here. [Illustration: MONK UNDERGOING DISCIPLINE.] But these excesses were by no means confined to the monks. The Norman barons and gentry adopted many of the manners of the English among whom they lived, and especially was this the case in regard to the drinking customs of Christmastide. Instead of commending the Normans of his time for their sobriety, as he might have done their ancestors, Peter of Blois, who was chaplain to Henry II., says: "When you behold our barons and knights going upon a military expedition you see their baggage horses loaded, not with iron but wine, not with lances but cheeses, not with swords but bottles, not with spears but spits. You would imagine they were going to prepare a great feast rather than to make war. There are even too many who boast of their excessive drunkenness and gluttony, and labour to acquire fame by swallowing great quantities of meat and drink." The earliest existing carol known to antiquaries is in the Anglo-Norman language, and contains references to the drinking customs of the period:-- "To English ale, and Gascon wine, And French, doth Christmas much incline-- And Anjou's too; He makes his neighbour freely drink, So that in sleep his head doth sink Often by day. May joys flow from God above To all those who Christmas love. Lords, by Christmas and the host Of this mansion hear my toast-- Drink it well-- Each must drain his cup of wine, And I the first will toss off mine: Thus I advise, Here then I bid you all _Wassail_, Cursed be he who will not say Drinkhail."[17] [Illustration: WASSAILING AT CHRISTMASTIDE.] Proceeding with our historical narrative we come now to [Illustration] THE ROMANTIC REIGN OF RICHARD THE FIRST,