or Upsee-English, Upsee-Freese, subs. phr. (old).—Conjecturally a kind of heady beer qualified by the name of the brew. Hence UPSEE-FREESY, etc. = drunk: see SCREWED; TO DRINK UPSEE-DUTCH (ENGLISH, etc.) = to drink deeply, or in true toper fashion according to the custom of the country named. Also UPSEES.
1600. ROWLANDS, The Letting of Humours Blood in the Head Vaine, &c., Satyre 6.
| Tom is no more like thee, then Chalk’s like Cheese | |
| To pledge a health, or to drinke UP-SE FREEZE. |
1606. T. DEKKER, The Seven Deadly Sinnes of London [ARBER], 12. Were drunke, according to all the learned rules of drunkenness, as UPSY-FREEZE, crambo, parmizant, &c. Ibid. (1608), The Belman of London, 26. Teach me—how to take the German’s UPSY-FREEZE, the Danish rowsa, etc.
1610. JONSON, The Alchemist, iv. 4.
| I do not like the dulness of your eye; | |
| It hath a heavy cast, ’tis UPSEE DUTCH. |
[?]. The Shrift [ELLIS, Specimens of the Early English Poets, iii. 147].
| For UPSEFREESE he drank from four to nine, | |
| So as each sense was steeped well in wine. |
1616. R. C., The Times’ Whistle [E.E.T.S.], 60, l. 1814.
| If he with his companions, George & Rafe, | |
| Doe meet together to drink VPSEFREESE | |
| Till they have made themselves as wise as geese. |
1622. MASSINGER, The Virgin Martyr, ii. 1. Spun. Bacchus, the god of brew’d wine and sugar, grand patron of rob-pots, UPSY-FREESY tipplers, and super-naculum takers.
1622. FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush, iv. 4.
| Prig. … The bowl. | |
| Hig. Which must be UPSEY-ENGLISH, | |
| Strong, lusty London beer. | |
| Ibid., iii. 1. | |
| So; sit down, lads, | |
| And drink me UPSEY-DUTCH: frolic, and fear not. |
1630. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes, ‘A Drunkard.’
| This valiant pot-leach, that vpon his knees | |
| Has drunke a thousand pottles VP SE FREESE. |
1635. HEYWOOD, Philocothonista, 45. One that drinks UPSE-FREEZE.
1809. SCOTT, Lady of the Lake, vi. 5.
| Yet whoop, Barnaby! off with the liquor, | |
| Drink UPSEES out, and a fig for the vicar. |
