Sops and Ale

At Eastbourne the senior bachelor was elected steward of Sops and Ale and kept a set of wooden bowls, trenchers, knives and cups for it. Whenever a lady or a respectable farmer’s or tradesman’s wife had a child, he asked leave to hold sops and ale and announced it at the church door. Three tables were laid: the best, with wine sops on china, for fathers of twins; the second for fathers of one child; and a bare wooden table for the childless and old bachelors. The company broke up at eight o’clock.