See also the _Nugæ Antiquæ_, vol. ii. p. 133, for the scene of drunkenness introduced into the court of James I. by the King of Denmark in 1606. Roger Ascham, in one of his letters, mentions being present at an entertainment where the Emperor of Germany seemed in drinking to rival the King of Denmark: ‘The emperor,’ says he, ‘drank the best that ever I saw; he had his head in the glass five times as long as any of us, and never drank less than a good quart at once of Rhenish wine.’ IV. That Shakespeare regarded English drunkenness as influenced by our intercourse with the Low Countries. Thus, _Merry Wives of Windsor_, act ii. scene 2, Mistress Page calls Falstaff a _Flemish drunkard_. The Variorum Edition of 1803 has the following note:-- It is not without reason that this term of reproach is here used. Sir John Smythe, in _Certain Discourses, &c._, 4to. 1590, says that ‘the habit of drinking to excess was introduced into England from the low countries by some of our such men of warre within these very few years, whereof it is come to passe, that now-a-dayes there are very fewe feastes where our said men of warre are present, but that they do invite and procure all the companie, of what calling soever they be, to carowsing and quaffing; and, because they will not be denied their challenges, they, with many new conges, ceremonies, and reverences, drinke to the health of counsellors, and unto the health of their greatest friends both at home and abroad, in which exercise they never cease till they be deade drunke, or, as the _Flemings_ say, _doot drunken_.’ He adds, ‘And this aforesaid detestable vice hath, within these six or seven yeares, taken wonderful roote amongst our English nation, that in times past was wont to be of all other nations of christendome one of the soberest.’ V. That whatever the Danes were, the English were worse. In _Othello_ we have a terrible reputation. Thus:-- Act ii. scene 3. The double-dyed Iago has tempted honest foolish Cassio to drink with him, in spite of Cassio’s very honest confession, ‘I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment.’ But Cassio is weak. On Iago’s urgent pressing, he says, ‘I’ll do it; but it dislikes me.’ He had just before remarked, ‘I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified too, and behold what innovation it makes here [_striking his forehead_]: I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more.’ They passed to the revel. Iago, who is seasoned, calls out:-- Some wine, ho! And let me the canakin clink, clink; And let me the canakin clink: A soldier’s a man; A life’s but a span; Why, then, let a soldier drink. Some wine, boys. [_Wine brought in._