Church-history of the government of bishops and their councils abbreviated including the chief part…

§ 118. Yet I wonder that the Chap. 122 of this Council intimateth so strange a proportion of Meat and Drink to be the daily Commons of the Canonical Monks,¹ I had thought they had lived in greater Abstinence. The proportion of Alms or Commons allowed them was, [Every day four pound of Bread,] (enough for me for near 4 weeks;) and five pounds of Wine, (more than I drunk, I think, in 20 years, in Wine;) or else where Wine was scarce, they had three pounds of Wine, and three of Beer; or in great scarcity, one pound of Wine, and five of Beer. I think our ordinary Ministers drink not so much Wine in a year, as these did in a day; I mean such as live in the Country, and were of my Acquaintance. I wonder how any Ploughman's Belly can hold four pound of Bread one day, and live, without a present Vomit or Purge. I have tried long Cornario's and Lessius's di•t (12 or 14 ounces of Panada, and as much Beer only in a day, without tasting any other Meat,) and found no incommodity as to Health or Pleasure; but should I eat four pound of Bread in two days, I do not think I should ever eat more without a Vomit. And how can any Man drink five pound of any ordinary Wine, and not be drunk, or dead? yea, or three Pints either. What ⟨p. 248⟩Man's Belly will hold six pounds of Wine and Water every day, unless it pass as Tunbridge Waters, without present Suffocation, or a Dropsy. I would hope that I understand not this Chapter in the Council, but that these Canons had some Beggars that were to partake with them, but that I find no encouragement for my charity in the Text or History: But verily if it were as it is written, I wonder how these abstemious Monks did escape death by their Gluttony and Drunkenness one week or day without Physic; notwithstanding that the Council giveth you notice, cap. 122. lin. ult. that a pound hath but 12 ounces.

§ 118. Yet I wonder that the Chap. 122 of this Council intimateth so strange a proportion of Meat and Drink to be the daily Commons of the Canonical Monks,¹ I had thought they had lived in greater Abstinence. The proportion of Alms or Commons allowed them was, [Every day four pound of Bread,] (enough for me for near 4 weeks;) and five pounds of Wine, (more than I drunk, I think, in 20 years, in Wine;) or else where Wine was scarce, they had three pounds of Wine, and three of Beer; or in great scarcity, one pound of Wine, and five of Beer. I think our ordinary Ministers drink not so much Wine in a year, as these did in a day; I mean such as live in the Countrey, and were of my Acquaintance. I wonder how any Plowman's Belly can hold four pound of Bread one day, and live, without a present Vomit or Purge. I have tryed long Cornario's and Lessius's dit (12 or 14 ounces of Panada, and as much Beer only in a day, without tasting any other Meat,) and found no incommodity as to Health or Pleasure; but should I eat four pound of Bread in two days, I do not think I should ever eat more without a Vomit. And how can any Man drink five pound of any ordinary Wine, and not be drunk, or dead? yea, or three Pints either. What