"In such esteem was it held, that one of the old Welsh laws ran
thus:--'There are three things in court which must be communicated
to the king before they are made known to any other person:--1st
Every sentence of the Judge. 2nd. Every new song. 3rd. Every cask of
Mead.' Queen Bess was so fond of it, that she had some made for her
own especial drinking every year; and Butler, who draws a distinction
between Mead and Metheglin, making Hydromel the generic term, gives
a receipt for the latter and better drink, the same used by 'our
renowned Queen Elizabeth of happy memory.'"