SHAKSPEARE CORRESPONDENCE.
Shakspeare Readings, No. X.—"Sheer" versus "Warwick-sheer."—At page 143. of Notes and Emendations, Mr. Collier indulges in the following reverie:—
"Malone did not know what to make of 'sheer ale,' but supposed that it meant sheering or reaping ale, for so reaping is called in Warwickshire. What does it mean? It is spelt sheere in the old copies; and that word begins one line, Warwick having undoubtedly dropped out at the end of the preceding line.... It was formerly not at all unusual to spell 'shire' sheere; and Sly's 'sheer ale' thus turns out to have been Warwickshire ale, which Shakspeare celebrated, and of which he had doubtless often partaken at Mrs. Hacket's. We almost wonder that, in his local particularity, he did not mention the sign of her house," &c.
The meaning of sheer ale was strong ale—that which we now call "entire"—ale unmixed, unreduced, unmitigated—the antithesis of that "small ale," for a pot of which poor Sly begged so hard, sinking his demand at last to "a pot o' the smallest ale." If Christopher lived in our own times, he might, on common occasions, indulge in small; but for great treats he would have Barclay's entire: and, instead of bullying Dame Hacket about "sealed quarts," he would perhaps, in these educated days, be writing to The Times under the signature of "A Thirsty Soul." Sly evidently was rather proud of underlying a score of fourteenpence for sheer ale.
Let us hear in what sense old Phil. Holland, in Precepts of Health, uses the word:
"And verily water (not that onely wherewith wine is mingled, but also which is drunke betweene whiles, apart by itselfe) causeth the wine tempered therewith to doe the lesse harme: in regard whereof, a student ought to use himselfe to drinke twice or thrice every day a draught of sheere water," &c.
Here "sheere water" is put in apposition to that with which "wine is mingled;" the meaning of sheer, therefore, is integer: and sheer milk would be milk before it goes to the pump.
But perhaps it will be objected that sheer, applied to water, as in this place, may mean clear, bright, free from foulness. Well, then, here is another example from Fletcher's Double Marriage, where Castruccio is being tantalised after the fashion of the Governor of Barataria:
"Cast. (tastes.) Why, what is this? Why, Doctor!
Doctor. Wine and water, sir. 'Tis sovereign for your heat: you must endure it.
Villio. Most excellent to cool your night-piece, sir!
Doctor. You're of a high and choleric complexion, and must have allays.
Cast. Shall I have no SHEER WINE then?"