suspicion has been thrown on the truth of the story, the only two contemporary writers who mention his death, Fabyan and Comines, appear to have had no doubt that the Duke of Clarence was actually drowned in a butt of Malmsey. In the records kept of the expenses of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her captivity at Tutbury, we find a weekly allowance of Malmsey granted to her for a bath. In a somewhat scarce French book, written in the 15th century, entitled 'La Légende de Maître Pierre Faiferi,' we find the following verse relating to the death of the Duke of Clarence:-- "I have seen the Duke of Clarence (So his wayward fate had will'd), By his special order, drown'd In a cask with Malmsey fill'd. That that death should strike his fancy, This the reason, I suppose; He might think that hearty drinking Would appease his dying throes." A wine called "Clary" was also drank at this period. It appears to have been an infusion of the herb of that name in spirit, and is spoken of by physicians of the time as an excellent cordial for the stomach, and highly efficacious in the cure of hysterical affections. This may in some measure account for the statement in the Household Ordinances for the well keeping of the Princess Cecil, afterwards mother to that right lusty and handsome King, Edward IV.; we there find it laid down "that for the maintenance of honest mirth she shall take, an hour before bedtime, a cup of Clary wine." "Red wine" is also spoken of in the reign of Henry VIII.; but it is uncertain to what class of wine it belonged, or whence it came: if palatable, however, its cheapness would recommend it; for at the marriage of Gervys Clinton and Mary Neville, three hogsheads of it, for the wedding-feast, were bought for five guineas. Gascony and Guienne wines were sold in the reign of Henry VIII. at eighteenpence a gallon, and Malmsey, Romaney, and sack at twelvepence a pint. In the reign of Edward IV. few places were allowed more than two taverns, and London was limited to forty. None but those who could spend 100 marks a year, or the son of a Duke, Marquis, Earl, or Baron, were allowed to keep more than ten gallons of wine at one time; and only the High Sheriffs, Magistrates of Cities, and the inhabitants of fortified towns might keep vessels of wine for their own use. In the same reign, however, we learn that the Archbishop of York consumed 100 tons on his enthronement, and as much as four pipes a month were consumed in some of our noblemen's houses. We must not, however, pass over the 15th century without proclaiming it as the dawn of the "Cup-epoch," if we may be allowed the term, as gleaned from the rolls of some of the ancient colleges of our Universities. In the _computus_ of Magstoke Priory, A.D. 1447, is an entry in Latin, the translation of which seems to be this:--"Paid for raisin wine, with comfits and spices, when Sir S. Montford's fool was here and exhibited his merriments