But whatever amount of evidence be forthcoming that vineyards existed in the time of the Saxons, though there is no doubt that they were in the main attached to the monasteries, still it is certain that wine was not a common drink among them; but when introduced into their feasts it usually led to intemperance. It may also be added that Bede mentions _warm wine_ as a drink. But their most common beverage was _mead_. The extent to which this drink prevailed amongst them is curiously indicated by the nature of the _fine_ that was imposed upon the members of their friendly societies whose conduct was called in question. It appears that for seven out of thirteen descriptions of offence, the members were fined a quantity of honey, varying in measure with the nature of the offence, _e.g._-- Any member calling another names was fined a _quart of honey_. For using abusive language to a non-member, _one quart of honey_. A knight for waylaying a man, a _sextarius of honey_. For setting a trap for any person’s injury, _a sextarius of honey_. Any member neglecting when deputed to fetch a fellow-member who might have fallen sick, or died at a distance from home, forfeited a _sextarius of honey_. And so forth. No doubt this honey was turned into mead, and drunk on the gala days of the society. Of _ale_ three kinds are mentioned at this time: viz. clear ale, mild ale, and Welsh ale. Accordingly we find the Abbot of Medeshamstede letting certain land to Wulfrid upon this condition, that Wulfrid should each year deliver into the minster, among other items, two tuns full of pure ale and ten measures of Welsh ale, an agreement at which, adds the Saxon Chronicle, the king, archbishop, and several bishops were present. _Welsh ale_ is mentioned at a much earlier date in the laws of Ine. It was stated in a former section that _cider_ became known to the Britons at an early date. The Anglo-Saxons knew it under the name of _Æppelwin_. Its origin is not fully substantiated. Africa has been suggested as its birthplace, probably because the fathers SS. Augustine and Tertullian mention it. St. Jerome, too, speaks of an intoxicating drink made of the juice of apples. Lastly, the Saxons drank _piment_, but not generally. This was a mixture of acid wine, honey, sugar, and spices. We find it mentioned in the romance of _Arthour and Merlin_, in the lines-- There was piment and claré, To heighe lordlinges and to meyne. Piment and wine were both at this time imports. Thus in a volume of Saxon dialogues (_Tib. A._ iii.), one of the characters, a merchant, describes himself and his occupation. To the question ‘What do you bring us?’ he replies, ‘Skins, silks, costly gems, and gold; various garments, pigment, wine, &c.’