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THE FLOWING BOWL
found that it had turned into a species of gun—
it exploded its contents, when touched." Thus
Nature, which is ever kind, turned the martyrdom
and misery of Bloody Mary's reign to good—
it brought about bottled beer. The Dean un
bosomed himself of his great discovery to his
clerical friends, and the clergy let it out gradually
to the laity.
Gervase Markham, the aforementioned con
temporary of Shakespeare, gives the following
directions to "the English Housewife" of 1631,
for
Brewing of Bottle-Ale.
Touching the brewing of Bottle-ale, it differeth
nothing at all from the brewing of strong Ale, onely
it must be drawne in a larger proportion, as at least
twenty gallons of halfe a quarter; and when it
comes to be changed, you shall blinke it (as was
before shewed) more by much than was the strong
Ale, for it must bee pretty and sharpe, which giveth
the life and quicknesse to the Ale : and when you
tunne it, you shall put it into round bottles with
narrow mouthes, and then stopping them close with
corke, set them in a cold sellar up to the w^ast in
sand, and be sure that the corkes be fast tied in
with strong packe-thrid, for feare of rising out, or
taking vent, which is the utter spoyle of the Ale.
Now for the small drinke arising from this
Bottle-ale, or any other beere or ale whatsoever, if
you keep it after it is blinckt and boyled in a close
vessell, and then put it to barme every morning as
you have occasion to use it, the drinke will drinke
a great deale the fresher, and be much more lively
in taste.