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 ten Gallons of water; and to every Gallon of water a quart of honey, a
handful and a half of Rosemary, one Ounce of Mace, one Ounce and a half of
Nutmegs, as much Cinamon, half an Ounce of Cloves, a quarter of a pound of
Ginger scraped and cut in pieces. Put all these into the water, and let it
boil half an hour, then take it off the fire, and let it stand, till you
may see your shadow in it. Then put in the honey, and set it upon the fire
again. Then take the shells and whites of a dozen of Eggs, and beat them
both very well together: and when it is ready to boil up, put in your Eggs,
and stir it; then skim it clean, and take it off the fire, and put it into
vessels to cool, as you do wort. When it is cold, set it together with some
barm, as you do Beer. When it is put together leave the settlings behind in
the bottom; as soon as it is white over, Tun it up in a vessel, and when it
hath done working, stop it up as you do Beer. When it is three weeks old,
it will be fit to bottle or drink.
ANOTHER WHITE MEATH
Take three Pound of White-honey, or the best Hampshire-honey, and dissolve
it in a Gallon of water, and then boil it; and when it beginneth first to
boil, put into it half a quarter of an Ounce of Ginger a little bruised;
and a very little Cloves and Mace bruised, and a small quantity of
Agrimony. Let all this boil together a full hour, and keep it constantly
skimmed, as long as any Scum will rise upon it. Then strain it forth into
some clean Kiver or other vessel, and let stand a cooling; and when it is
cold, let it stand, till it be all creamed over with a blackish cream, and
that it make a kind of hissing noise; then put it up into your vessel, and
in two or three months time it will be fit to drink.
Look how much you intend to make, the same quantities must be allowed to
every Gallon of water.
TO MAKE METHEGLIN
Take fair water, and the best honey; beat them well together, but not in a
woodden vessel, for wood drinketh up the honey, put it together in a
Kettle, and try it with a New-laid-egg, which will swim at top, if it be
very strong; but if it bob up and sink again, it will be too weak. Boil it
an hour, and put into it a bundle of herbs, what sort you like best; and a
little bag of Spice, Nutmegs, Ginger, Cloves, Mace and Cinamon; and skim it
well all the while it boileth: when it hath boiled an hour, take it off,
and put it into earthen Pans, and so let it stand till next day. Then pour
off all the clear into a good vessel, that hath had Sack in it, or
White-wine. Hang the bag of Spice in it, and so let it stand very close
stopp'd and well filled for a month, or longer. Then if you desire to drink
it quickly, you may bottle it up. If it be strong of the honey, you may
keep it a year or two. If weak, drink it in two or three months. One quart
of honey, will make one Gallon of water very strong. A sprig or two of
Rose-mary, Thyme and Sweet-marjoram, are the Herbs that should go into it.
TO MAKE SMALL METHEGLIN
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