184 OUR ROCK-GARDEN 



the Establishment of good Order and Reformation 

 of sundry Errors and Abuses in his Household," one 

 stipulation is that the brewer is not to put any hops 

 or brimstone into the ale supplied, and we find that in 

 the reign of James the First their use was thought to 

 be so deleterious that their employment was for- 

 bidden by an Act of Parliament. Bulleyn (1562), 

 on the other hand, declares that " this Beere is very 

 good for flegmatike men," and Gerard (1597) pro- 

 tests that "the manifold vertues of hops do manifestly 

 argue the wholesomeness of Beere, for the hoppes 

 rather make it a physical! drinke to keepe the body 

 in health than an ordinary drinke for the quenching 

 of thirst." 



The use of hops in England for brewing seems to 

 date from about 1 500, but there is no doubt that for 

 culinary or medical reasons the plant was in esteem 

 centuries before. In mediaeval days one way of 

 raising money for ecclesiastical purposes was the 

 church house of the parish. This, at fair and festival 

 time, was often let to merchants, showmen and others, 

 and the ale brewed and sold there also brought 

 in a considerable revenue. In the churchwardens' 

 accounts we find such items as " Received for the 

 hye cross ale xxxs iijd. Hoppes for last brewing, 

 iiijd. Made with our ale at Wytt Sonday xls." 

 These items date 1512, 1513, and 1514. Another 

 item is : " Received of the Egypcions for the 

 church house xxd." These visitors were a band 



