488 
On TV me. 
Marsala. A strong full bodied wine ; heady ; devoid of fla- 
vour. It is from the Madeira grape planted in Sicily, which has 
degenerated. While at Madeira the Rhine grape is so improved 
as to produce the Cercial. Malmsey in small proportion with 
Marsala and north side Madeira makes a good wine. 
Sherry. The sack of Shakespeare’s time, was, a mountain 
wine brought into the town in skins, sacs z whence the name 
mountain,” commonly used in England for Malaga. Sack 
Was either the sac wine of Xeres, or of Malaga ; the former 
was the Sherris-sack, the latter the Malaga-sack. 2nd. part of 
Hen. 4, act 4th. Sir John Faistaff says, 
“ A good Sherris-sack hath a two-fold operation in it ; it ascends 
me into the brain, dries me there all the dull, foolish and crudy 
vapours which environ it ; makes it apprehensive, quick, forget- 
ive, full of nimble, fiery and delectable shapes, which being de- 
livered over to the voice, the tongue which is the birth, becomes 
excellent wit. The second property of your excellent Sherris, is, 
the warming of the blood, which before, cold and settled, left the 
liver white and pale, which is the badge of pusillanimity and 
cowardice ; but the Sherris warms it, and makes it course from the 
inwards to the parts extreme ; it illuminateth the face, which as a 
beacon gives warning to all the rest of this little kingdom, man, to 
arm ; and then the vital commoners, and inland petty spirits, muster 
one and all to their captain the heart, who great and pufftup with 
this retinue, doth any deed of courage ; and this valour comes of 
Sherris. So that skill in the weapon is nothing without Sack ; 
for that sets it a- work ; and learning a mere hoard of gold kept by 
a devil, till Sack commences it, and sets it in act and use. Here- 
of comes it that prince Henry is valiant ; for the cold blood he 
did naturally inherit of his father, hath like lean, steril, and bare 
land, manured and husbanded and tilled with excellent endeavour 
of drinking good, and good store of fertile Sherris, that he is be- 
come very hot and valiant. If I had a thousand sons, the first 
human principle I would teach them, should be to forswear their 
potations and to addict themselves to Sack.” 
Hence it appears that Sack, is the genuine name ; and that 
Sherris Sack, Sherry or Xeres (Yery) is one (and the best) kind 
of Sack. Doubtless it is so : the Padre Ximenes (Yemanes) and the 
Paehioretti Sherry, often to be found in the London market, are 
fully equal to Malmsey Madeira : but no one can tell what good 
Sherry is, from the wine so called) usually imported in this coun- 
