Note 404 — PART II.

Dom Chatelain, in his MS. notes on the History of Reims, relates that Henri Quatre, being one day at Sully’s, asked the Minister for some breakfast, and after drinking a glass or two of wine, exclaimed, ‘Ventre Saint Gris, this is a grand wine; it beats mine of Ay and all others. I should like to know where it comes from.’ ‘’Tis my friend Taissy,’ answered Sully, ‘who sends it to me.’ ‘Then I must be introduced to him,’ said the King; which was accordingly done. The wines of Taissy had a high reputation as late as the eighteenth century. They were classed by St. Evremond and Brossette, the commentator of Boileau, amongst the best vintages of the Champagne, and their reputation was maintained by the care bestowed by the Abbé Godinot on the vineyards which he owned here.