These were beer and ale (Welsh ale is mentioned at a very early period), which varied very much in price, several gallons being at one time obtainable for a penny, whilst later on they were much dearer.[238] Mead or hydromel was a fermented drink produced from honey and flavoured with herbs and spices. Wines also were coming into use. They were produced either from grapes grown in England, those being very poor in quality, or were imported from France, Italy, Spain, and Greece; and amongst them we find mention made of claret, muscadelle, malmsey, &c. The wine called “piment” in a feast referred to in the present chapter was a sour thin wine, sweetened and flavoured with sugar, honey, and spices. CHAPTER X. ENGLAND FROM THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY DOWN TO THE TIME OF THE REFORMATION. In order not to weary the reader with reiterated accounts of the drinking customs of our ancestors, which varied little in their character during three or four centuries subsequent to the period of which we treated in our last chapter, we propose to pass somewhat rapidly over the ground until we come to the Reformation, and we will first refer to the well-known merrymakings, gatherings of the people in various parts of England, at which, amidst a lavish consumption of liquor, all the important local business, both lay and clerical, was transacted. Those meetings were known by the generic name of “ales,” from the drink which was there provided, and they were called either after the season at which they were held, as “Whitsun-ale,” “Easter-ale,” or after the object for which they were convened, as “church-ales,” where the money was paid for the support of the Church; “bid-ales” or “help-ales,” when charitable contributions were required for some one in need; “bride-ales,” literally wedding festivals, where the bride turned an honest penny by selling ale at an exorbitant price; and numerous others of a like description. At first those meetings were encouraged by the clergy, as is proved by the fact that at one period they were actually held in the churches themselves in certain places,[239] and also by the agreements to which the clergy were parties for the benefit of the Church. Here is an example of such agreements:—