Note E154 — 34.

"Some Authors affirme that there have been Vine-yards in England in former times, though they be all destroyed long since. Divers places retaine the name of Vine yards still, at Bromwell Abby in Norfolke and at Elie in Cambridgshiere which afforded Wine; what else is the meaning of these old Rimes?

'Quatuor sunt Elie, Lanterna, Capella Marias Et molendinum, nec non dans Vinea vinum.'

Englished thus:

'Foure things of Elie Towne much spoken are, The Leaden Lanthorn, Maries Chappell rare, The mighty Mil-hill in the Minstre field, And fruitful Vine-yards which sweet wine doe yeeld.'

And doubtlesse men might plant Vines with good successe, to make good wine even with us. There are many kinds of Vines, but I know none so good, and fit for our climate as the Parsley Vine or Canada Grape, we see by experience yearly it beares abundance of fruit unto perfection. And whosoever would plant Vines in England I think he cannot meet with a better kind than the Parsley Vine both for bearing and goodnesse. The Fox grape is a faire large Fruit and a very great bearer although not of so much esteem as divers others. The Frantiniack Grape is of great accompt with many, and is a speciall fruit where it comes to perfect ripenesse, which it hardly does, except the Vine be set upon the South-wall where it may have much sun. The Red and White Muskadine Grape are speciall fruits and beare very well, and come to perfect ripenesse if the Vine grow upon the South-wall or upon the Easte-wall which is best next. There is the Curran Grape, Cluster Grape, and many other kinds of good grapes, and the fruits are better or worse according to the place they grow in: If they have much sun, and be well ordered, the fruit will be better and sooner ripe."—Austen's Treatise of Fruit Trees, 1657.