Northern Nations, Goths, and Vandals, who by their Numbers and Strength overcame most Parts of the World, ended not their Victories 'till by coming over the Alps they tasted and drank the Wines, whence they stop'd their Conquests, became Effeminate, and not fruitful.
Madera Wine is the next most general Drink mixt with Water; 'tis very strong, and a sort of Xeres or Sherry; 'tis of two sorts, the White usually the strongest, tho' thought not to keep so long, and therefore not us'd so much, or the Red Wine made of the White, with some tinto or deep Red Wine put into it, which may preserve it. The Wines from the Westward Isles are thought unwholesome, both because of the Grapes and mixture of Lime, Jesso, or Plaister, in making. The longer or shorter time that Wine made of Red Grapes stays fermenting with the Husk, the more or less it is ting'd, and the longer or shorter time it will keep, and the more or less it is Austere or Stiptick. The Virgine Wine, which has but a very small time stood on the Husks, soon is ready for drinking and fine, and soon spoils; that which has a greater Tincture keeps longer, as being impregnated with some parts of the Husk, as hop'd Beer keeps longer than Ale; and that sort of Oil which has stood longer with the Rind and Stone of the Olives, keeps much longer than that call'd Virgin Oil which has not been salted. Madera Wines have this particular to them, different from French Wines, and all others coming hither, that it keeps better in a hot Place, and expos'd to the Sun, than in a cool Cellar; whereas the other Wines brought hither must be kept cool, and will for all that remain but a small time without being prickt and turning sower.
Syder, Beer and Ale, do not keep well here, they huff, and fly in this strange Climate, and few Casks are opened with any of these Liquors bottled, where they are not broken at least one third of them; but Mum keeps very well.
The small Beer coming hither is usually said to be brew'd with Barbados Aloes instead of Hops, the one being cheaper than the other.
The common Drink of London, that is Beer and Ale, alone or mixt, is very much coveted here, the Beer is often sowerish, and the Ale is generally too sweat and heavy, the one too old, and the other not well wrought (hence, as I have heard, few belonging to a Brewhouse will taste any Ale) whence it should seem to drink these Liquors should be very unhealthy. And yet more to drink small Beer, which is the second or third running off of the Malt, whence it must come that a great many Feculencies remain in the Blood. Notwithstanding all this, 'tis certain our Fore-fathers, who drunk these Liquors for common drink, lived to as great an Age with as much Health as we.
There
