The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Knight OpenedDigby, Kenelm
History
The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Knight Opened
Digby, Kenelm
Cooking -- Early works to 1800; Digby, Kenelm, Sir, 1603-1665; Liquors; Wine and wine making -- Early works to 1800
Master Webbe, who maketh the Kings Meathe, ordereth it thus. Take as much
of Hyde-park water as will make a Hogshead of Meathe: Boil in it about two
Ounces of the best Hopp's for about half an hour. By that time, the water
will have drawn out the strength of the Hopp's. Then skim them clean off,
and all the froth, or whatever riseth of the water. Then dissolve in it
warm, about one part of Honey to six of water: Lave and beat it, till all
the Honey be perfectly dissolved; Then boil it, beginning gently, till all
the scum be risen, and scummed away. It must boil in all about two hours.
Half an hour, before you end your boiling, put into it some Rosemary-tops,
Thyme, Sweet-marjorame, one Sprig of Minth, in all about half a handful,
and as much Sweet-bryar-leaves as all these; in all, about a handful of
herbs, and two Ounces of sliced Ginger, and one Ounce of bruised Cinamon.
He did use to put in a few Cloves and Mace; But the King did not care for
them. Let all these boil about half an hour, then scum them clean away; and
presently let the Liquor run through a strainer-cloth into a Kiver of wood,
to cool and settle. When you see it is very clear and settled, lade out the
Liquor into another Kiver, carefully, not to raise the settlings from the
bottom. As soon as you see any dregs begin to rise, stay your hand, and let
it remain unstirred, till all be settled down. Then lade out the Liquor
again, as before; and if need be, change it again into another Kiver: all
which is done to the end no dregs may go along with the Liquor in tunning
it into the vessel. When it is cold and perfect clear, tun it into a Cask,
that hath been used for Sack, and stop it up close, having an eye to give
it a little vent, if it should work. If it cast out any foul Liquor in
working, fill it up always presently with some of the same liquor, that you
have kept in bottles for that end. When it hath wrought, and is well
settled (which may be in about two months or ten weeks) draw it into
Glass-bottles, as long as it comes clear; and it will be ready to drink in
a Month or two: but will keep much longer, if you have occasion: and no
dregs will be in the bottom of the bottle.
He since told me, that to this Proportion of Honey and water, to make a
Hogshead of Meathe, you should boil half a pound of Hopps in the water,
and two good handfuls of Herbs; and six Ounces of Spice of all sorts: All
which will be mellowed and rotted away quite, (as well as the lushiousness
of the Honey) in the space of a year or two. For this is to be kept so long
before it be drunk.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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