Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1911-04-20
DRINKS IN HISTORY
IMPORTANT PARTS PLAYED BY
0OBLETS OF LIQUOR.
Or Philip sidney and the Dying Sol
disr=TragIo Part Of Cup Of Vino
In Murder of Edward the
Martyr.

The proposal of the Dutch to erect
at Zutphen q statue to Sir Philip Sid
ney recalls to a London writer the
world-famed episode of the dying SOL
der, with which his death Is insep
arably connected. 1t occurred when
that Paladin, on September %, 1885
received his death wound before the
walls of Zutphen. Parched with
thirst, he called for drink. Ae he
was putting the bottle to his mouth
his eyes fell upon desperately
wounded soldier, who, as he was being
carried past, threw him longing CLAN
ces, which Sir Philip perceived, took
the bottle from his lips before he
drank, and delivered to the poor man
with these words: Thy necessity IL
yet greater than mine"
In the murder Of Edward the Mar.
tyr, in 97s, cup Of wine played o
tragic part. Wearied with his hunt
ing the young monarch was persuaded
to seek refreshment at Corfe castle,
In Dorsetshire, the abode of his step
mother. the widowed Queen Elfrida,
Upon his entrance she greeted him
with a kiss, and then. as he resisted
her invitation to dismount. brought
from the castle a goblet of wine. Even
az the king raised his goble. one Of
her retainers drew his dagger and
with fatal effect. plunged II into his
neck.
During the naval engagement at San
Juan the Jesus which was under the
command OF Sir John Hawkins, was
attacked by almost overwhelming
odds. Both by word and deed did the
admiral encourage his men, and once
when their spirits seemed to flag, ne
babe his page fetch him cup OF beer.
This WAS brought to him In silver
goblet, out Of which he drank to his
crew. willing the gunners stand by
their ordinance like men" Scarce had
he finished the draught and held the
cup aside when II was struck by ball
from one of the Spaniards' ships and
earEied away.
Every June the quaint old town OF
Rothenburg celebrates by costume
festival. which goes by the name OF
'Meister. Drank" the mighty feat OF q
former town councillor who. in 1854
saved the town from destruction. In
that year Rothenburg fell before the
arms of the savage Tilly, who at the
head OF his forces entered the van
ouished town, where at the town hall
he gave orders for the execution OF
the civic magistrates. Before, how
ever. the doomed men were led forth
10 the scaffold, the Burgomaster's
daughter presented herself. bearing an
immense fiagon Of wine. out of which
the conQueror drank and passed II
round to his ofYicers.
All ouenched their thirst. and yeN
the fiagon was only but half empty
Seeing this the fair Hebe remarked
that one OF the councillors present
was able to empty the stoup at a
drauEht. III such be the case" cried
Tilly turning to the condemned mag
| istrates, II will pardon you all for the
drinkers sake. Fill the fiagon to the
brim."
This was done, and then one Of the
city.s magistrates. stepping forward
seized the vessel, raised II to his lips
and neither drew breath nor set II
down until he had Quaffed It's contents
to the last drop. Then only did he
reverse the nagon In proof that the
feat had been accomplished. Tilly
kent his word, and every year. In com
memoration OF their deliverance, do
the citizens of Rothenburg enact over
again this famous event in their towns
history.