Such was the love of strong ale in the sixteenth century that a term was actually invented to describe madness produced by excessive ale-drinking. A writer in the year 1598 affords us an instance of the word in question, when he says that “to arrest a man that hath no likeness to a horse is flat lunasie or _alecie_.” Harrison, whom we have frequently had occasion to quote, in speaking of the heavy ale-drinking of his days, though the ale was then “more thick and fulsome” than the beer, says, “Certes I know some ale-knights so much addicted thereunto, that they will not cease from morow until even to visit the same, clensing house after house, till they either fall quite under the boord, or else, not daring to stirre from their stooles, sit still pinking with their narrow eies as halfe sleeping, till the fume of their adversarie be digested that he may go to it afresh.” [Illustration: The Ale-Wives’ Invitation to Married Men and Bachelors: Shewing How a good fellow is ſlighted when he is brought to Poverty. Therefore take my Counſel and Ale-wives don’t truſt. For when you have waſted and ſpent all you have Then out of doors ſhe will you headlong thruſt, Calling you raſcal and ſhirking Knave, But ſo long as you have money, come early or late You ſhall have her command, or elſe her maid Kate. To a new tune, or _Digbys Farewell._ A Ballad ſuppoſed to be ſung by a young man who, having ſpent his money in Ale-houſes, offers ſome advice on the ſubject. “And thus all young men, you plainly may ſee This ſong it will learn you good huſbands to be.” _Collec. Eng. Ballads._ ] Herrick has left us an epigram upon a person of the class described by Harrison:— Spunge makes his boast that he’s the onely man, Can hold of beere and ale an ocean; Is this his glory? then his triumph’s poore; I know the Tunne of Hidleberge holds more. Profuseness in drinking was accompanied with enormous gluttony in eating. At one of the feasts of the Court of King James I.— They served up venison, salmon, and wild boars, By hundreds, and by dozens, and by scores. {285} Hogsheads of honey, kilderkins of mustard, Muttons and fatted beeves, and bacon swine; Herons, and bitterns, peacocks, swan, and bustard. Teal, mallard, pigeons, widgeon, and in fine, Plum puddings, pancakes, apple pie and custard. And therewithal they drank good Gascon wine, With mead, and _Ale_, and cider of our own.