The Stationers’ wine at Lambeth

When the Lord Mayor went by water to Westminster, the Stationers’ Company barge, usually first in the procession, called at Lambeth Palace and was given sixteen bottles of the archbishop’s best wine. The story was that it began under Archbishop Tenison, when a relation of his was master of the company and called in state; the archbishop allowed a pint for each of the thirty-two aboard, with bread, cheese and ale for the watermen. In return the company presented the archbishop with a copy of each of the almanacs it had the sole right to publish.