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
Take Rosemary, Thyme, Sweet-bryar, Penyroyal, Bayes, of each one handful;
steep them 24 hours in a bowl of fair cold water covered close; next day
boil them very well in another water, till the colour be very high; then
take another water, and boil the same herbs in it, till it look green; and
so boil them in several waters, till they do but just change the colour of
the water. The first waters are thrown away. The last water must stand 24
hours with the herbs in it. The Liquor being strained from them, you must
put in as much fine honey till it will bear an Egge; you must work and
labour the honey with the Liquor a whole day, till the honey be consumed;
then let it stand a night a clearing. In the morning put your Liquor a
boiling for a quarter of an hour, with the whites and shells of six Eggs.
So strain it through a bag, and let it stand a day a cooling; so Tun it up,
and put into the vessel in a Linnen bag, Cloves, Mace, Cinamon and Nutmegs
bruised altogether. If you will have it to drink presently, take the whites
of two or three Eggs, of barm a spoonful, and as much of Wheaten-flower.
Then let it work before you stop it, afterwards stop it well with Clay and
Salt. A quart of Honey to a Gallon of liquor, and so proportionably for
these Herbs.
SIR WILLIAM PASTON'S MEATHE
Take ten Gallons of Spring-water, and put therein ten Pints of the best
honey. Let this boil half an hour, and scum it very well; then put in one
handful of Rosemary, and as much of Bay-leaves; with a little Limon-peel.
Boil this half an hour longer, then take it off the fire, and put it into a
clean Tub; and when it is cool, work it up with yest, as you do Beer. When
it is wrought, put it into your vessel, and stop it very close. Within
three days you may Bottle it, and in ten days after it will be fit to
drink.
ANOTHER PLEASANT MEATHE OF SIR WILLIAM PASTON'S
To a Gallon of water put a quart of honey, about ten sprigs of
Sweet-Majoram; half so many tops of Bays. Boil these very well together,
and when it is cold, bottle it up. It will be ten days before it be ready
to drink.
ANOTHER WAY OF MAKING MEATH
Boil Sweet Bryar, Sweet Marjoram, Cloves and Mace in Spring-water, till the
water taste of them. To four Gallons of water put one Gallon of honey, and
boil it a little to skim and clarifie it. When you are ready to take it
from the fire, put in a little Limon-peel, and pour it into a Woodden
vessel, and let it stand till it is almost cold. Then put in some Ale-yest,
and stir it altogether. So let it stand till next day. Then put a few
stoned Raisins of the Sun into every bottle, and pour the Meath upon them.
Stop the bottles close, and in a week the Meath will be ready to drink.
SIR BAYNAM THROCKMORTON'S MEATHE.
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