Some more information that may support the theory that monks were fond of
wine and beer may be found in the statutes of the Cistercian general
chapter (ed. Canivez). Many of these legislate against drinking wine or
beer on the granges, and thus seem especially directed at the conversi.
James Donnelly related outbreaks of violence in Cistercian houses to not
only changing Cistercian economic practices, but also to their collective
penchant for alcohol (in 'The Decline of the Medieval Cistercian
Laybrotherhood'). I'm not sure how convincing this is, but
over-indulgence was certainly something that the General Chapter thought
was worth monitoring...
Megan Cassidy
Department of History
University of Melbourne
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