ck on very rich meats, high spiced, as
I have usually found Princes and Bishops to like their victuals (for the
Plainer sort soon Pall on their Palates), and after dinner there was a
Carousal, which lasted well nigh till bed-time. His Episcopal Highness's
Master of the Horse (though the title of Master of the Mules, on which
beasts the company mostly rode, would have better served him) got
somewhat too Merry on Rhenish about Dusk, and was carried out to the
stable, where the Palefreneers littered him down with straw, as though
he had been a Horse or a Mule himself; and then a little fat Canon, who
was the Buffoon or Jack Pudding of the party, sang songs over his drink
which were not in the least like unto Hymns or Canticles, but rather of
a most Mundane, not to say Loose, order of Chant. His Highness (who wore
the Biggest Emerald ring on his right Forefinger, over his glove, that
ever I saw) took a great fancy to my Master, and at Parting pledged him
in choice Rhenish in the handsomest fashion, using for that purpose a
Silver Bell holding at least a Pint and a half English. Out of this Bell
he takes the clapper, and holding it mouth upwards, drains it to the
health of my Master, then fixes the clapper in again, Topsy-turvies his
goblet, and rings a peal on the bell to show that he is a right Skinker.
My Master does the same, as in Duty Bound, and mighty Flustered he got
before the ringing-time came; and then the little Fat Canon that sang
the songs essayed to do the same, but was in such a Quandary of Liquor,
that he spills a pint over Mr. Secretary's lace bands, and the two would
have fallen to Fisticuffs but for his Episcopal Highness (who laughed
till his Sides Shook again) commanding that they should be separated by
the Lacqueys. This was the most jovial Bishop that I did meet with; and
I have heard that he was a good kind of man enough to the Poor, and not
a harsh Sovereign to his subjects, especially to the Female Part who
were fortunate enough to be pretty; but young as I was, and given to
Pleasures, I could not help lifting up my Hands in shocked Amazement to
see this Roystering kind of life held by a Christian Prelate. And it is
certain that many of the High Dutch Church Dignitaries were at this time
addicted to a most riotous mode of living. 'Twas thought no scandal in a
Bishop to Drink, or to Dice, or to gallivant after Damosels: but woe be
to him if he Dared to Dance, for the Shaking of a Leg (that had a
casso