Note 143 — THE UPKEEP OF THE CHURCH
Reading edition
About 1634 George Methwen, curate of Bamburgh, was summoned before the Court of High Commission for drunkenness and other misdemeanors, in the evidence this appears: "At Easter gone twelve monethes at Easter last, examinate (the witness) did receive the Holie Communion, and Methwen, when he did distribute the wine, did holde the same in his owne hand and would not deliver it into examinate's handes for to drinke, as he thinketh he ought to have done; for examinate in regard to his holdinge on it in that manner, could scarcelie taste of the wine. Methwen did serve some others at that time in the like manner, whoe tooke offence thereat."—History of Northumberland.
It is possible, of course, that not all the wine was drunk, but passed to an official as a perquisite. See Cox's Parish Registers of England, p. 227.