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THE MIXICOLOGIST.
8l
Story in connection with this wine which makes it
familiar to every schoolboy, and that is the part it
played in the death of the Duke of Clarence. AVhether
that nobleman did choose a butt of Malmsey,and thus
carry out the idea of drowning his cares in wine,as well
as his body, matters but little, we think,to our readers.
We may,however,mention thatalthough greatsuspicion
has been thrown on the truth of the story, the only two
contemporary writers who mention his death, Fabyan
and Comines, appear to have had no doubt that the
Duke of Clarence was actually drowued in a butt of
Malmsey. In the records kept of the expenses of Mary,
Queen of Scots, during her captivity at Tutbury, we
find a weekly allowance of Malmsey granted to her for
a bath. In a somewhat scarce French book, written in
the 15th century,entitled 'La Legende de Maitre Pierre
Faiferi,' we find the following verse relating to the
death of the Duke of Clareuce:—
"I have seen tlie Diike of Clarence
{.So his w.ayward fate had will'd).
By his special order, drown'd
In a c.isk with Malmsey lill'd.
That that death should strike his fancy,
This the reason,I suppose:
He might think that hearty drinking
Would appease his dying throes."
A wine called ''Clary"was also drunk at this period.
It appears to have been an infusion of the herb of that
name in spirit, and is spoken of by physicians of the
time as an excellent cordial for the stomach,and highly
efficacious in the cure of hysterical affections.
Lawlor.