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CUPS ANB THBIB CUSTOMS.
mythological gods of tlie Edda, and consisted of spiced
ale drank on Mothering Sunday, a kind of metheglin
derived from Bragawd (Welsh). It is still drank in
IjaneasMre. All these were very similar in composition,
and their precise recipes are scarcely worth recording.
Many noted houses of entertainment hoth in town and
country, were distinguished by their particular brewage
of these compounds. But we can only find a single
instance of a house becoming famous in this century
for claret-cups, in many respects the most desirable of
any drink: that one hostelry was the
r
Heaven/ in
Fleet Street, so often quoted by the ephemeral writers
of the age.
Modern English customs connected with drinking
may be said to be conspicuous from their absence;
for, save in the Grace-cups, and Loving-cups of civic
entertainments and other state occasions, we do not
remember any customs worth alluding to. Certain of
our cathedral establishments and colleges retain practices
of ancient date relating to the passing round of the
grace-cup j of such is the Durham Prebend's cup, which
is drank at certain feasts given by the resident Prebend
to the corporation and inhabitants of the city, and for
which, under an old charter, he is allowed a liberal sum
of money annually. This composition is still brewed
from the original recipe, and served in the original
ancient silver cups, which are at least a foot high, and
hold between two and three quarts. The cups are
carried into the room by a chorister-boy, attired in a
black gown, preceded by a verger, also wearing a black