It was said of Queen Anne "...whom three realms [sc. England, Scotland, and Ireland] obey, / Did sometimes counsel take--and sometimes tea." And in truth, "tea" was normally pronounced "tay" until the mid or late 19th century.

It was said of Queen Anne "...whom three realms [sc. England, Scotland, and Ireland] obey, / Did sometimes counsel take--and sometimes tea." And in truth, "tea" was normally pronounced "tay" until the mid or late 19th century. Nowadays we pronounce it "tee". "Divine" and "join" used to rhyme too, as we know from one of Handel's anthems: "... in songs divine, / With cherubim and seraphim harmonious join".