OF The nature of waters.

Therefore first I would haue her furnish her selfe of very good Stils, for the distulation of all kinds of Wa∣ters, which stils would either be of Tinne, or sweete Earth, and in them she shall distill all sorts of waters meete for the health of her Houshold, as sage water, which is good for all Rhumes and Collickes; Radish water, which is good for the stone, Angelica water good for infection, Celadine water for sore eyes, Vine water for itchings, Rose water, and Eye-bright water for dim sights, Rosemary water for Fistulo•s, Treacle water for mouth cankers, water of cloues for paine in the stomacke, Saxifrage water for grauell and hard v∣rine, Allum water for old Vlcers, and a world of others, any of which will last a full yeare at the least: Then she shall know that the best waters for the smoothing of the skinne, and keeping the face delicate and amiable, are those which are distilled from Beane-flowers, from Strawberries, from Vine leaues, from Goates-milke, from Asses milke, from the whites of Egges, from the flowers of Lillies, from Dragons, from calues feete, from bran, or from yelkes of Egges, any of which will last a yeare or better.

Additions, to distillations. To distill wa•er of the colour of of the hearbe o• flower you desire.

First distill your water in a stillatory, then put it in a glasse of great strength, and fill it with those flowers a∣gaine (whose colour you desire) as full as you can, and stop it, and set it in the stillatory againe, and let it distill, and you shall haue the colour you distill.

To make Aq••∣vitae. ☜

Take of Rosemary flowers two handfuls, of Maria¦rome, Wi•ter-sauory, Rosemary, Rew, vnset time, Ger∣mander, Rybworte, Harts tongue, Mouscare, White wormewood, Buglosse, red sage, Liuer•worte, Hoare-hound, Page  142 fine Lauender, Issop-cropps, Penny royall, Red fennell, of each of these one handfull: of Elycompane rootes, cleane pared and sliced, two handfuls: Then take all these aforesayd and shred them, but not wash them, then ta•e foure gallons and more of strong Ale, and one gallon of sacke-lees, and put all these aforesayd hearbes shred into it, and then put into it one pound of Licoras bruised, halfe a pound of Anyseeds cleane sif∣ted and bruised, and of Mace and Nutmegs bruised of each one ounce: then put altogether into your stilling-pot close couered with Rye paste, and make a soft fire vnder your pot, and as the head of the Limbecke hea∣teth, draw out your hot water and put in cold, keeping the head of your Limbecke still with cold water, but see your fire be not too rash at the first, but let your water come at leasure; and take heed vnto your stilling that your water change not white: for it is not so strong as the first draught is; and when the water is distilled, take a gallon glasse with a wide mouth, and put therein a pottle of the best water and cleerest, and put into it a pottle of Rosa-solis, halfe a pound of Dates bruised, and one ounce of graines, halfe a pound of Sugar, halfe an ounce of seed-pearle beaten, three leaues of fine gold, stirre all these together well, then stop your glasse and set it in the sunne the space of one or two moneths, and then clarifie it and vse it at your discretion: for a spoon∣fu•l or two at a time is sufficient, and the vertues are in∣finite.

〈…〉

•ill a pot with red wine cleare and strong, and put therein the powders of Camomile, Gi•i-flowers, Gin∣ger, Pellitory, Nutmeg, Ga•lengall, Spicknard, Que∣••bits, graines of pure long pepper, blacke Pepper, Page  143 Commin, Fennell seede, Smalledge, Parsley, Sage, R•w, Mint, Calamint and Horshow, of each of them a like quantity, and beware they differ not the weight of a dr•mme vnder or aboue: then put all the pouders aboue sayd into the wine, and after put them into the distilling pot, and distill it with a soft fire, and looke that it be well luted about with Rye paste, so that no fume or breath goe foorth, and looke, that the fire be temperate: also receiue the water out of the Lym∣becke into a glasse vyall. This water is called the wa∣ter of Life, and it may be likened to Balme, for it hath all the vertues and properties which Balme hath: this water is cleere and lighter then Rose water, for it will fleet aboue all liquors, for if oyle be put aboue this wa∣ter, it sinketh to the bottome. This water keepeth flesh and fish both raw and sodden in his owne kind and state, it is good against aches in the bones, the poxe, and such like, neither can any thing kept in this water rot or putrifie, it doth draw out the sweetenesse, sauour, and vertues of all manner of spices, rootes and hearbes that are wet or layd therein, it giues sweetnesse to all manner of water that is mixt with it, it is good for all manner of cold sicknesses, and namely for the palsie or trembling ioynts, and stretching of the sinewes; it is good against the cold goute, and it maketh an old man seeme young, vsing to drinke it fasting, and lastly it fretteth away dead flesh in wounds, and killeth the canker.

To make aqu• comp•.

Take Rosemary, Time, Issop, Sage, Fennell, Nip, rootes of Elicompane, of each an handfull, of Marierum and Peny-royall of each halfe a handfull, eight slips of red Mint, halfe a pound of Licoras, halfe a pound of Aniseeds, and two gallons of the best Ale that can bee brewed, wash all these hearbes cleane, and put into Page  144 the Ale, Licoras, Aniseeds, and herbes into a cleane brasse pot, and set your limbecke thereon, and paste it round about that no ayre come out, then distill the wa∣ter with a gentle fire, and keepe the limbecke coole a∣boue, not suffering it to runne too fast; and take heede when your water changeth colour, to put another glasse vnder, and keepe the first water, for it is most precious, and the latter water keepe by it selfe, and put it into your next pot, and that shall make it much better.

☞ A very princi∣pall aq•• com∣•.

Take of balme, of Rosemary Flowers tops and all, of dried red Rose leaues, of penny-royall, of each of these a handfull, one roote of Ely compane the whitest that can be got, three quarters of a pound of Licoras, two ounces of Cinamon, two drams of great Mace, two drams of Gallendgall, three drams of Coliander seeds three drammes of Carraway seeds, two or three Nut∣megges cut in foure quarters, an ounce of Aniseeds, a handfull of Borage; you must chuse a faire Sunny day, to gather the hearbs in; you must not wash them, but cut them in sunder, and not too small; then lay all your hearbs in soule all night and a day, with the spices gros∣ly beaten or bruised, and then distill it in order afore∣said, this was made for a learned Phisitians owne drink∣ing.

To make the emperiall wa∣ter.

Take a gallond of Gascoine-wine, Ginger, Gallend∣gall, Nutmegs, Grains, Cloues, Aniseeds, Fennell seeds, Ca•away seeds, of each one dramme, then take Sage, Mints, Red roses, Time, Pellitory, Rosemary, Wild-time Camomile, and Lauender▪ of each a handfull, then bray the spices small, and the hearbs also, and put all to∣gether into the wine, and let it stand so twelue houres, stirring it diuers times, then distill it with a limbecke, and keepe the first water, for it is best: of a gallond of Page  145 wine you must not take aboue a quart of water; this wa∣ter comforteth the vitall spirits, and helpeth inward diseases that commeth of cold, as the palsey, the con∣traction of sinewes, also it killeth wormes, and com∣forts the stomacke; it cureth the cold dropsie, helpes the stone, the stinking breath, & maketh one seeme yong.

To make Cina∣mon water.

Take a pottell of the best Sack, and halfe a pint of Rose water, a quarter and halfe of a pound of good Cinamon well bruised, but not small beaten; distill all these toge∣ther in a glasse-still, but you must carefully looke to it, that it boyle not ouer hastily, and attend it with cold wet cloathes to coole the top of the still if the water should offer to boyle too hastily. This water is ve∣ry soueraigne for the stomacke, the head, and all the inward parts; it helps digestion, and comforteth the vi∣tall spirits.

Sixe most pre∣tious waters, wh•ch Hepocra∣tes made, and sent to a Queene some∣times liuing in England.

1 Take Fennell, Rew, Veruine, Endiue, Betony, Ger∣mander, Red rose, Capillus Veneris, of each an ounce; stampe them and keepe them in white wine a day and a night; and distill water of them, which water will di∣uide in three parts, the first water you shall put in a glasse by it selfe, for it is more pretious then gold, the second as siluer, and the third as Balme, and keepe these three parts in glasses: this water you shall giue the rich for gold, to meaner for siluer, to poore men for Balme: this water keepeth the sight in clearenesse, and purgeth all grosse humors.

2 Take Salgemma a pound, and lappe it in a greene docke leafe, and lay it in the fire till it be will rosted, and waxe white, and put it in a glasse against the ayre a night, and on the morrow it shall bee turned to a white water like vnto Christall: keepe this water well in a glasse, and put a drop into the eie, and it shall clense Page  146 and sharpe the sight: it is good for any euill at the heart, for the morphew, and the canker in the mouth, and for diuers other euills in the body.

3 Take the roots of Fennell, Parseley, Endiue, Beto∣ny• of each an ounce, and first wash them well in luke∣warme water, and bray them well with white wine a day and a night, and then distill them into water: this water is more worthy then Balme; it preserueth the sight much, and clenseth it of all filth, it restrayneth teares, and comforteth the head, and auoideth the wa∣ter that commeth through the payne in the head.

4 Take the seed of Parsley, Achannes, Veruine, Ca∣rawaies, and Cen•••ry, of each ten drams; beate all these together, and put it in warme water a day and a night, and put it in a vessell to distill: this water is a pre∣tious water for all sore eies, and very good for the health of man or womans body.

5 Take limmell of gold, siluer, lattin, copper, iron, steele, and lead; and take lethurgy of gold and siluer, take Calamint and Columbine, and steepe all together, the first day in the vrine of a man-child, that is between a day & a night, the second day in white wine, the third day in the iuice of fenell, the fourth day in the whites of egs, the fift day in the womans milke that nourisheth a man-child, the sixt day in red wine, the seuenth day in the whites of egges, and vpon the eight day bind all these together, and distill the water of them, and keepe this water in a vessell of gold or siluer: the vertues of this water are these, first it expelleth all rhumes, and doth away all manner of sicknesse from the eyes, and weares away the pearle, pin and webbe; it draweth a∣gaine into his owne kinde the eye-lidds that haue beene blea•ed, it easeth the ache of the head, and if a man Page  147 drinke it, maketh him looke young euen in old age, be∣sides a world of other most excellent vertues.

6 Take the Gold-smiths stone, and put it into the fire, till it be red-hot, and quench it in a pint of white wine, and doe so nine times, and after grind it, and beate it small, and cleanse it as cleane as you may, and after set it in the Sunne with the water of Fennell distilled, and Veruine, Roses, Celladine and Rew, and a little Aqua∣uite, and when you haue sprinkled it in the water nine times, put it then in a vessell of glasse, and yet vpon a re∣uersion of the water distill it, till it passe ouer the touch foure or fiue inches; and when you will vse it then stirre it all together, and then take vp a drop with a feather, and put it on your naile, & if it abide, it is fine and good: then put it in the eye that runneth, or annoint the head with it if it ake, and the temples, and beleeue it, that of all waters this is the most pretious, and helpeth the sight, or any paine in the head.

The water of Cheruyle is good for a sore mouth.

The vertues of seuerall waters.

The water of Callamint is good for the stomacke.

The water of Planten is good for the fluxe, and the hot dropsie.

Water of Fennell is good to make a fat body small, and also for the eyes.

Water of Viol•ts is good for a man that is sore with∣in his body and for the raynes and for the liuer.

Water of Endiue is good for the dropsy, and for the iaundise, and the stomacke.

Water of Borage is good for the stomacke, and for the Iliaca passio, and many other sicknesses in the body.

Water of both Sages is good for the palsey.

Water of Bettony, is good for old age and all inward sicknesses.

Page  148Water of Radish drunke twice a day, at each time an ounce, or an ounce and a halfe, doth multiply and prouoke lust, and also prouoketh the tearmes in wo∣men.

Rosemary water (the face washed therein both mor∣ning and night▪) causeth a faire and cleere countenance: also the head washed therewith, and let dry of it selfe, preserueth the falling of the haire, and causeth more to grow; also two onunces of the same drunke, driueth venome out of the body in the same sort as Methri∣date doth; the same twice or thrice drunke at each time halfe an ounce, rectifieth the mother, and it causeth women to bee fruitfull: when one maketh a Bath of this decoction, it is called the Bath of life; the same drunke comforteth the heart, the brayne, and the whole body, and cleanseth away the spots of the face; it maketh a man looke young, and causeth wo∣men to conceiue quickely, and hath all the vertues of Balme.

Water of Rew drunke in a morning foure or fiue daies together, at each time an ounce, purifieth the flow∣ers in women: the same water drunke in the morning fasting, is good against the gryping of the bowels, and drunke at morning and at night, at each time an ounce, it prouoketh the tearmes in women.

The water of Sorrell drunke is good for all burning and pestilent feuers, and all other hot sicknesses: being mixt with beere, ale or wine, it slacketh the thirst: it is also good for the yellow Iaundise, being taken sixe or eight dayes together: it also expelleth from the liuer if it be drunke, and a cloth wet in the same and a little wrong out, and so applied to the right side ouer against the liuer, and when it is dry then wet another, and Page  149 apply it; and thus doe three or foure times together.

Lastly the water of Angelica is good for the head, for inward infection, either of the plague or pestilence, it is very soueraigne for sore breasts; also the same wa∣ter being drunke of twelue or thirteene daies together, is good to vnlade the stomack of grosse humours and su∣perfluities, and it strengthneth and comforteth all the vniuersall parts of the body: and lastly, it is a most soue∣raigne medicine for the gout, by bathing the diseased members much therein.

Now to conclude and knit vp this chapter, it is meere that our hous-wife know that from the eight of the Ka∣lends of the moneth of Aprill vnto the eight of the Ka∣lends of Iuly, all manner of hearbes and leaues are in that time most in strength and of the greatest vertue to be vsed and put in all manner of medicines, also from the eight of the Kalends of Iuly, vnto the eight of the Kalends of October the stalks, stems and hard bran∣ches of euery hearbe and plant is most in strength to be vsed in medicines; and from the eight of the Ka∣lends of October, vnto the eight of the Kalends of A∣prill, all manner of roots of hearbs and plants are the most of strength and vertue to be vsed in all manner of medicines.

☜ An excellent water for per∣fume.

To make an excellent sweet water for perfume, you shall take of Basill, Mints, Marierum, Corne-slagge∣rootes, Is•op, Sauory, Sage, Balme, Lauender & Rosema∣ry, of each one handfull, of Cloues, Cinamon and Nut∣megs of each halfe an ounce, then three or foure Pome∣citrons cut into slices, infuse all these into Damaske-rose water the space of three dayes, and then distill it with a gentle fire of Char-coale, then when you haue put it into a very cleane glasse, take of fat Muske, Ciuet, Page  150 and Ambergreece of each the quantity of a scruple, and put into a ragge of fi•e Lawne, and then hang it within the water: This being either burnt vpon a hot pan, or else boyled in perfuming pans with Cloues, Bay-leaues and Lemmon-pils, will make the most delicatest per∣fume that may be without any offence, and will last the longest of all other sweet perfumes, as hath been found by experience.

To perfume Gloues.

To perfume gloues excellently, take the oyle of sweet Almonds, oyle of Nutmegs, oyle of Beniamin, of each a dramme, of Ambergreece one graine, fat Muske two graines: mixe them all together and grind them vpon a painters stone, and then annoint the gloues ther•wi•h: yet before you annoint them let them be dampishly moistned with Damaske Rose-water.

To perfume a Ierkin.

To perfume a Ierkin well, take the oyle of Beniamin a penny-worth, oyle of Spike, and oyle of Oliues halfe penny-worths of each, and take two spunges and warme one of them against the fire and rub your Ierkin there∣with, and when the oyle is dried, take the other spunge and dip it in the oyle and rub your Ierkin therewith till it be dry, then lay on the perfume before prescribed for gloues.

☞ To mak• wash∣ing Balls.

To make very good washing bals, take Storax of both kindes, Beniamin, Calamus Aromaticus, Lab∣danum of each a like; and bray them to pouder with Cloues and Arras; then beate them all with a sufficient quantity of Sope till it bee stiffe, then with your hand you shall worke it like paste, and make round balls thereof.

To make a m•ske Ball.

To make Muske balls, take Nutmegs, Mace, Cloues, Saffron and Cinamon, of each the waight of two-pence, & beate it to fine pouder, of Masticke the waight Page  151 of two pence halfe penny, of Storax the waight of six-pence; of Labdanum the waight of t•nne-pence; of Ambergreece the waight of six-pence; and of Muske foure•graines, dissolue and worke all these in hard sweete sope till it come to a stiffe paste, and then make balls thereof.

☜ A perfume to burne.

To make a good perfume to burne, take Beniamin one ounce, Storaxe, Calamint two ounces, of Mastick, white Ambergreece, of each one ounce, Ireos, Cala∣mus Aromaticus, Cypresse-wood, of each halfe an ounce, of Camphire one scruple, Labdanum one ounce: beate all these to pouder, then take of Sallow Charcole sixe ounces, of liquid Storax two ounces, beate them all with Aquauita, and then shall you role them into long round rolles.

To make Po∣manders.

To make Pomanders, take to penny-worth of Lab∣danum two penny-worth of Storax liquid, one penny-worth of Calamus Aromaticus, as much Balme, halfe a quarter a pound of fine waxe, of Cloues and Ma•e two penny-worth, of liquid Aloes three penny-worth, of Nutmegs eight peny-worth, and of Muske foure grains; beate all these exceedingly together till they come to a perfect substance, then mould it in any fashion you please and dry it.

To make Vine∣gar.

To make excellent strong Vinegar, you shall brew the strongest Ale that may be, and hauing tunned it in a very strong vessell, you shall set it either in your gar∣den or some other safe place abroad, where it may haue the whole Summers day Sun to shine vpon it, and there let it lie till it be extreame sowre, then into a Hogshead of this Vinegar put the leaues of foure or fiue hundred Damaske Roses, and after they haue layen for the space of a moneth therein, house the Vi∣negar Page  152 and draw it as you neede it.

To make dry vinegar.

To make drie Vinegar which you may carry in your pocket, you shall take the blades of greene corne either Wheat or Rie, and beate it in a morter with the strong∣est Vinegar you can get till it come to a paste; then role it into little balls, and dry it in the Sunne till it be very hard, then when you haue any occasion to vse it, cut a little peece thereof and dissolue it in wine, and it will make a strong Vinegar.

To make ver∣iuyce.

To make Ve•iuyce, you shall gather your Crabbs as soone as the kernels turne blacke, and hauing layd them a wh•le in a heape to sweate together, take them and picke them from stalkes, blackes and rottennesse: then in long troughs with beetles for the purpose, crush and breake them all to mash: then make a bagge of course haire cloth as square as the presse, and fill it with the crusht Crabs, then put it into the presse, and presse it while any moysture will drop forth, hauing a cleane vessell vnderneath to receiue the liquor: this done, 〈◊〉 it vp into sweet Hogsheads, and to euery Hogshead put halfe a dozen handfuls of Damaske Rose leaues, and then bung it vp, and spend it as you shall haue occa∣sion.

Many other pretty secrets there are belonging vnto curious Hous-wiues, but none more necessary then these already rehearsed, except such as shall hereafter follow in their proper places.

☞ Additions to conceited secrets. To make sweet powder for baggs.

Take of Arras sixe ounces, of Damaske Rose-leaues as much, of Marierom and sweete Basill, of each an ounce, of Cloues two ounces, yellow Saunders two ounces, of Citron pills seuen drammes, of Lignum-aloes one ounce, of Beniamin one ounce, of Storaxe one ounce, of Muske one dram: bruise all these, and put Page  153 them into a bagge of silke or linnen, but silke is the best.

To make 〈◊〉 bags.

Take of Arras foure ounces, of Gallaminis one ounce, of Ciris halfe an ounce, of Rose leaues dried two hand∣fuls, of dryed Marierum one handfull, of Spike one handfull, Cloues one ounce, of Beniamin and Storax of each two ounces, of white Saunders and yellow of each one ounce: beate all these into a grosse pouder, then put to it Muske a dramme, of Ciuet halfe a dramme, and of Ambergreece halfe a dramme; then put them into a Taffata bagge and vse it.

How to make sweet water. ☜

Take of bay-leaues one handfull, of Red Roses two handfuls, of Damaske Roses three handfull, of La∣uender foure handfuls, of basill one handfull, Mario∣rum two handfuls, of Camomile one handfull, the young tops of sweete briar two handfuls, of Mande∣lion-tansey two handfuls, of Orange pils sixe or seuen ounces, of Cloues and Mace a groats-worth put all these together in a pottle of new Ale in cornes for the space of three daies, shaking it euery day three or foure times, then distill it the fourth day in a still with a continuall soft fire, and after it is distilled, put into it a graine or two of muske.

☜ A very rare and plesan• Da∣mask water.

Take a quart of malmsey Lees, or a quart of malm∣sey simply, one handfull of margerome, of Basill as much, of Lauender foure handfuls, bay-leaues one good handfull, Damaske rose-Leaues foure handfuls, and as many of red, the pils of sixe Orenges, or for want of them one handful of the tender Leaues of walnut-trees, of Beniamine halfe an ounce, of Callamus Aramaticus as much, of Camphire foure drammes, of Cloues one ounce, of Baldamum halfe an ounce; then take a pottle of running water, and put in all these spices bruised into your water and malmsey together in a Page  154 close stopped pot, with a good handfull or Rosemary, and let them stand for the space of sixe dayes: then di∣still it with a soft fire: then set it in the Sunne sixteene dayes with foure graines of Muske bruised. This quan∣tity will make three quarts of water, Probatum est.

T• m•ke the 〈…〉.

Take and brew very strong Ale, then take halfe a do∣zen gallons of the first running, and set it abroade to coole, and when it is cold, put yest vnto it, and head it very strongly: then put it vp in a ferkin, and distill it in the Sunne: then take foure or fiue handfull of Beanes, an• p•tch them in a pan till they burst: then put them in as hot as you can into the Ferkin, and stop it with a little clay about the bung-hole: then take a handfull of cleane Rye Leauen and put in the Ferkin; then take a quantity of Barberies, and bruise and straine them into the Ferkin, and a good handfull of Salt, and let them lie and worke in the Sunne from May till August: then ha∣uing the full strength, take Rose leaues and clip the white ends off, and let them dry in the Sunne; then take Elder-flowers and picke them, and dry them in the Sunne, and when they are dry, put them in bagges, and keepe them a•l the Winter: then take a pottle-pot, and dr•w forth a pottle out of the Ferkin into the bottle, and put a handfull of the red Rose-leaues, and another of the Elder-flowers, and put into the bottle, and hang i• i• the Sunne, where you may occupie the same, and when it is empty, take out all the leaues, and fill it againe as you did before.

〈◊〉 perfume Gloues.

Take Angelica water and Rose-water, and put into them the powder of Cloues, Amber-greece, Muske and Lignum Aloes, Beniamine and Callamus Aramatte∣cus: boyle these till halfe be consumed: then straine it, and put your Gloues therein; then hang them in the Page  155 sunne to dry, and turne them often: and thus three times wet them, and dry them againe: Or otherwise, take Rose-water and wet your Gloues therein, then h•ng them vp till they be almost dry; then take halfe an ounce of Beniamine, and grind it with the oyle of Almonds, and rub it on the Gloues till it be almost dried in: then take twenty graines of Amber-greece, and twenty graines of Muske, and grind them together with oyle of Almonds, and so rub it on the Gloues, and then hang them vp to dry, or let them dry in your bosome, and so after vse them at your pleasure.