to bed them down in the stable, five men in their cups

 

"Oh, they rode over to Twelve Oaks hours ago--to sample the punch
and see if it was strong enough, I dare say, as if they wouldn't
have from now till tomorrow morning to do it!  I'm going to ask
John Wilkes to keep them overnight, even if he has to bed them
down in the stable.  Five men in their cups are just too much for
me.  Up to three, I do very well but--"

in your cupsBritish English old-fashioned drunk, or when drunk By the time Anthony arrived, Richard was already deep in his cups.