The Spanish monk and writer Francisc (Francesc) Eiximenis (1340-1409) entered the Franciscan Minor Order in Barcelona around 1350. A year before his death, he became Bishop of Elna in present-day Roussillon (France). He is counted among those authors who were most widely read, copied, published and translated. Thus he had great influence in the literary as well as the political sphere. On the cover of his book "Regiment de la cosa pública", published in 1499, he is depicted holding the book in his hand. His best-known work is the encyclopaedia "Lo Crestià" (The Christian) on the Christian life, a page of which can be seen at the bottom right. Of the 13 volumes planned, however, only four were completed. In the third book, "Terc", he deals in great detail with drunkenness and lays down strict standards for "decent wine drinking" in terms of quantities and table manners. Everybody should have his own cup in his hand, he says, arguing against the custom of going round a hump for hygienic reasons.
The author is aware of the positive health-promoting properties of wine when consumed in moderation, but he advises moderation in a strongly moralising manner and believes that drunkenness leads to all imaginable vices. As a measure, he sets three cups at lunch and three at dinner, never more than four. Drinking between meals is not allowed under any circumstances. Only his Catalan compatriots keep to this sensible measure, all other peoples except the Italians drink far too much. Eiximenis recommends strong, sweet white wines (especially Malvasia) from the Mediterranean from the islands of Crete and Mallorca, which were then shipped via the Greek port of Monemvasia. He clearly prefers Italian wines to French ones, naming one "Tribia" (possibly Trebbiano). He strongly advises mixing strong wine with water, citing the Spanish Priorato from Tarragona (Catalonia) as an example.
Cover: By Francesc Eiximenis, Public domain, Link
Lo Crestià: By Unknown, Public Domain, Link
