198 



year 1342, according to Stow, the price of 

 Gascon wines in London was fourpence, and 

 that of Rhenish, sixpence per gallon; and, in 

 1389, the price of foreign wine was only 

 twenty shillings per ton, for the best sort, and 

 thirteen shillings and fourpence for the second 

 quality, which was about three halfpence per 

 dozen. 



It is stated by several authors, that foreign 

 wines were sold by apothecaries only, as a 

 cordial, in the year 1300. I am of opinion, 

 that it was Portugal wine only which the apo- 

 thecaries sold, and not foreign wine in gene- 

 ral, for about that time we find that the mer- 

 chants of Gascoin were settled in London in 

 great numbers; and that, in the year 1317, an 

 order was made to this effect, " That mer- 

 chants, who are not of the freedom of the 

 city, are not to sell, by retail, wines or other 

 wares, within the city or suburbs. Witness 

 the King, at York, the eighth day of June/' 



The suppression of all the monasteries in 

 England must also have contributed much 

 towards the loss of our vineyards; and the 

 present high duties on wine could not have 

 been anticipated by our forefathers, when they 

 neglected their vines. 



The first duty on wines was one penny per 

 ton, which was in the year 1272, when wine 



