Part 5
The _Oenomel_, which is a swéete wine made with Honny, _Aegineta_ teacheth the same, not only for the preseruation of helth, but also to expel the torment of sicknesses, through this most wholesome drinke, as that whiche giueth, not onely strength of body and courage, but the long race of yeares. Also it expelleth an olde griefe of the Reines, being often drunke with Parcely séedes. But the beste _Oenomell_ is that which is made of olde and tarte wine, and the beste purified hony, for the same doth lesse swell. The same also harmeth drunke after meales, but before taken, doeth procure an appetite. _Dioscorides_ teacheth that maner of making the _Oenomell_ in this order: first he willeth to take one gallon and a quarte of Wine, and mixing it with halfe a gallon, and a pinte of the beste hony, to prepare the same orderly. But some prepare or make the drinke spéedilier to vse after this manner, as the hony they boyle with Wine, and after poure foorth the same into other vesselles.
¶ Of the singular water of Hony gotten by order of distillation. Cap.xxxj.
The Hony of Bées méete to distillation, ought especially to be white of coloure, which before the distilling muste bee mixed with pure and white and well washed sande, but not drie in any case, after that, putte the same either into a common Rose Limbecke of Tinne, setting a hearie siue close vppon it, that it may touch the Hony in the distilling, or else into a body of Glasse, sette into a potte of fine sifted ashes or sande, making at the firste a softe fire vnder it, vntill the first water bée come, whiche is white, and after the yelow water appeareth, then put vnder another receiuer, setting aside the white, and so long distill vntill the redde beginneth to shewe: at the appearaunce of whiche, put vnder another receiuer, letting that remaine vntill no more will come. Which red water being the last, serueth for sundrie vses, as to die womens haire yellow, by often wetting the haire with a Spunge, and drying the same in the hote Sunne. Also it causeth fayre and long haire, and stayeth the sheading of haire: besides (this thirde water) doeth clense the foule corruption and matter being in filthye woundes, and olde vlcers, if they be washed twice a daye with the same, causing also newe flesh to grow in those places, if you dayly washe them with the sayd water, or otherwise dip linnen clouts in it, laying them aptly on the sores. The selfe-same healeth places grieuously burned, without appearaunce of anye scarre afterwarde, by often applying lynnen cloutes dropped in it. And the seconde water being of a golden coloure dipped into the eyes, doeth not onely helpe swollen and bleared eyes, but the pinne and webbe in them, by the dayly and often dropping of the same into the eyes. But as touching the white and firste water, there is no worthy matter mentioned in thys place by any of the old Practisers.
¶ Another manner of distilling the Honie, more at large taught. Cap.xxxij.
Take a pinte, or as much as you wil, of the pure rosed hony, which put it into a bodie of glasse close couered & luted about, setting the same after into hote horse dung with a square stone on the head, & couering it ouer with the horse dung for 14. dayes, after which time, take the body forth, setting it into a fornace of fine sifted ashes, well a finger bredth or more aboue the hony, presupposing on your part, that little péeces of flint stones be put into the hony, & then distilled with a soft fire into a receiuer well luted at the mouth, for doubt of the ayre breathing forth. When the same beginneth to distil, then draw forth part of the fire (vnlesse you can otherwise gouerne your fire by the help of the fornace) whiche comming forthe white, let so long distill, vntill there appeare yealow droppes like to gold. Vpon the sight of this, set vnder another receyuer, kéeping diligently this firste water by it selfe, and increasing the fire, let that long distil, vntill certain white smoakes appeare, running into the receiuer: that spéedily take away, putting to another receiuer, which let so long distill, vntil no more will droppe forth, and this laste, is of a rubie colour in rednesse, so that if a woman often wetteth the heares of hyr head with this thirde water, setting then in the hote Sunne, both to drie and wette them againe, wearing in the meane whiles a large strawne hatte with an open crowne, to spreade the heares vpon, for the spéedier drying of them, whiche so ordering, doeth not onely cause the heares to grow long and very fayre, but dyeth them in time so yealowe as gold. Also to diuerse other vses, doth this red water serue, as afore is taught in the other Chapter. The white water (which commeth firste) by washing the face orderlye with it, doeth cause it to become cleare and fayre, and keepeth the skinne from loking olde, for a long time, as the same hath ben experienced often by the worthy dames of _Rome_, _Naples_, and _Venice_. And the yealow lyke golde being the second water, doth especially serue to this vse, that if any person happeneth to be infected with the plague or Pestilence, then to take two ounces of this yealow water, of _Aloes_ Epaticke, of redde Myrre, and of the east saffron, of each ten graines, and a leafe of the best gold, all which grinde into fine pouder, mixing the same with this water: after that giue it vnto the sicke to drinke, whiche no doubt wil both helpe this & many other diseases.
¶ The manner of distilling a water of Hony named the Quintessence. Cap.xxxiij.
To make this singular and precious water, you must take two poundes of the purest white honie, being both cleare and pleasaunt in taste, whiche put into a body of glasse, being so bigge, that foure of the fiue partes of it maye remayne emptie, the same lute stronglye aboute, letting the heade after on it, and a receyuer aptelye to the nose of the Still.
When you haue thus done, then make a gentle fyre at the firste vnder it, but after increase the fire or heate more and more, vntill certaine white smoakes appeare in the head of the glasse bodye, which do you workemanlye coole and turne into water, by the wettyng of lynnen clothes in colde water, and layed on the heade and nose, towarde the receiuer, for that turneth into a water so red as bloud: and being all come, putte it into another glasse, stopping the mouth close, whiche let stande so long, vntil the water become verye cleare, and in coloure to the Rubie.
Now being on this wise, distill the same againe in _Balneo Mariæ_, and so often repeate this, vntill you haue distilled it sixe or seauen times ouer, that the coloure be chaunged, and in the ende, to the coloure of golde. Whiche then is moste pleasaunt of sauoure, and so swéete, that nothing maye be compared like to it, in flagrantnesse of smell. The Quintessence doeth dissolue golde, prepareth it apte to be drunke, and any Iewell put into the water, it doth also dissolue the same. Also this is named the Blessed Water, in that giuing to any two or thrée drams to drinke, being at the point of death, doth so sodainely recouer the person againe, as doeth the Quintessence of wine. And washing any grieuous wounde or stripe with the water, doeth in shorte time heale the same. Also this pretious water doth maruellously help the cough, the Rheume, the disease of the Splen, and many other diseases, whiche woulde scarcely be beléeued. The water also ministred daily vnto a person sicke of the Palsey, for the space of .xlvj. daies, he was by the mightie helpe of God, & this miraculous water, throughly healed of the disease. Also this Quintessence doth helpe the falling sicknesse, and preserueth the bodye from putrifying, so that by al those we maye learne, that thys is rather a diuine water from Heauen (and sente from God) to serue vnto all ages.
¶ The manner of drawing and making Waxe of the Honny combes. Cap.xxxiiij.
The Honny being drawen from the combes, although some Bées hang on them deade, yet putte all togither into a fayre panne or cauldron, into whiche poure so muche water or more, as the quantitie of the combes be. This set ouer a softe fire, vntill the same what it be, is throughly heated and molten in the panne, and in the melting continually sturre the same aboute, with a bigge splatter or some staffe, leaste the Waxe cleaue to the panne sides, throughe the flame or heate of fire, and appeare burned: after poure the whole substaunce into a course hairen bagge, pressing it forth into a troughe or other like vessell, made for the only purpose, on which poure twoo or thrée kettles full of hote water, that no dregs hang after on the Waxe, and by that means shall you haue the Waxe both pure and cleane. But if you wil haue it caste into faire round cakes, and to be cleaner and purer, then melte the Waxe againe, and being molten, poure it into a cleane vessell, which washed likewise with warme water (as aboue was taught) set after in the Sunne, by which meanes, the cake will continue verye long faire of couloure.
¶ What Waxe is beste allowed and commended. Cap.xxxv.
Waxe being the foode of lighte, and seruing vnto innumerable vses of men, of all the kindes, the same is beste allowed and commended, whiche is bothe newe made, meanelye redde of coloure, somewhat fattie, smelling swéete, hauyng some sauoure in it of the Honny, and cleare. Of the Waxe also in sundrie Counties, that in the countrie of _Pontus_ is well commended, and the same in the Isle of _Creta_: nexte to these is the Waxe in the Isle of _Corsica_, which is made of the Boxe trée, and supposed to haue some good effectes in it for Medicine.
¶ Of the great commoditie and benefite of Waxe in Medicines. Cap.xxxvj.
Waxe hath a meane among heating things, both in the cooling, drying, and moistning, as writeth _Galen_ in the seauenth booke of Simples, and .22. Chapiter, whiche properly helpeth the roughnesse of the breaste, when it is ioyned or mixed with the oyle of Violets, for that bothe mollifyeth or softneth the sinewes, ripeneth and resolueth vlcers. The quantitie of a pease in waxe swallowed downe of Nurses, or such women as giue sucke, both dissolue the milke courded in the pappes. And tenne little péeces of pure newe waxe, vnto the biggenesse of a hempséede, drunke downe at one time, doeth cause the milke not to courde in the womans stomacke and breastes. If the priuie place or thereabout, of either man or woman, happeneth to swell, then by applying an ointment made of white waxe, it shortly assuageth and healeth the same. If anye also happeneth to be diseased with the bloudy flixe, by stuffing a yong Pigeon with newe waxe, after rosting the same, and eating the fleshe thereof, doeth in shorte time after staye the same. Also, if a Quince made hollowe and filled with pure newe waxe, be after rosted vnder hote embers, vntill the same be tender, and eaten fasting without drinking after it, doth in like sorte staye and helpe the perillous flixe, and scouring of bloude. The waxe besides serueth to all maner of plaisters, ointments, suppositories, and such like.
¶ Of that whych is a stay of the combes, and made for a defence of Bees from colde. Cap.xxxvij.
The same made of Bées at the entrie of the mouth of hiues, oughte to be yelowe of coloure, and swéete smelling, like to _Storax_, and drawne into a length, like to _Mastike_. Yet that is rather chosen, bycause in heating and drawing it is principallest. For of itselfe, this draweth forth thornes or splents of wood run déepe into the flesh by applying it plaisterwise on the grief, it helpeth an olde coughe by making a smoake thereof, and holding the mouth ouer it, and applyed in the forme of an ointment on ringwormes, doeth spéedily heale them. Nowe this matter (as aboue was taught) is the stay of the hony combes, by whiche Bées stoppe and kéepe forth al manner of colde and other annoyances which might endamage them, the same also being of so strong a sauor, that some vse it in the stéede of _Galbanum_. _M. Varro_ nameth it a refuge of Bées, withoute their cottages, bicause Bées make the same at the entry of the hiue.
¶ Howe to make Waxe white. Cap.xxxviij.
Waxe is made white in this manner, firste that kinde of waxe (fit for this purpose) ought to be whiter and purer, and broken into little péeces, putte after into a newe earthen panne, pouring vppon it sufficient salt or sea water, and a lyttle Nitre brused, which séeth altogither. When the same bath boiled twice or thrice vp, remoue the panne from the fire: the waxe being throughly colde, take forth of the panne, and scraping off the filth, if any suche hang on, putte againe into newe salte water, séething it againe. And when the waxe hathe so often boyled (as aboue was taughte) then take off the panne from the fire, and taking the bottome of a newe earthen panne, melt it with colde water, whiche dippe by little and little into the waxe, drowning it a little, and that the water be aboue the waxe, whereby the waxe maye become verye thinne, and be the sooner cooled it selfe. And taking by and by oute the moulde or bottome, drawe firste the rounde cake off, and wetting againe the bottome in colde water, dip it into the waxe, and the same so long doe, vntill you haue drawne off all that waxe into cakes of like sorte, whiche after stitche throughe with thréede, hanging the cakes on a rope one from another, and that in the daye time often wetting them in the Sunne, but in the nighte time, in the Moone light: and so long doe this, vntill the waxe be white. And if anye desireth to haue waxe whiter than this, then let him do the like, as abouesaide, but boyle the waxe oftner. Some in stéede of the salte seawater, take strong Brine water, in whiche they boyle the waxe in the same manner twice or thrice, as aboue was taughte. And _Paulus Euerdus_ in his booke of Confections, teacheth the making of waxe white two manner of wayes.
¶ Howe you may make redde Waxe. Cap.xxxix.
That you maye colour and make Waxe redde, take to one pounde of waxe, thrée ounces of verye cleare Turpentine, if it be in sommer, but if it be in winter, then take foure ounces. Now these disolue and melt togither ouer a soft fire, and taking it from the fire, let it coole a little, after which put in your Vermillian finely ground on a Marble stone, and of swéete Salet Oyle, of eache one ounce, mixing these well, stirre al togither, diligently. But some in stéede of Vermilion, doe take the reede leade, which is little commended, except there be thrée times so muche of the redde leade, as of the Vermilion putte in. And in the like sorte may you make the gréene Waxe, if instéede of the Vermillian, you take so much of the gréene Coporas finely ground, as you did of the Vermilian.
¶ Howe to drawe a profitable Oyle out of Waxe, for sundrie vses. Cap.xl.
The Oile of Waxe, is myraculous and diuine in workyng, bycause it serueth in a manner vnto all griefes. _Reymond Lully_ greatly commendeth this Oyle, approuing it rather as a celestiall and diuine remedie, and that this in woundes, doeth worke moste miraculously, which for his maruellous commoditie, not so well to be allowed of the common Chirurgions, bycause this pretious Oyle healeth a wounde, be the same neuer so wide and bigge, being before wide stitched vppe, in the space of tenne or twelue dayes at the moste. But those whiche are small, this Oyle healeth in thrée dayes, by annoynting onely on the cuttes or woundes, and laying after linnen cloutes, wette in the saide Oyle, vpon the woundes. For inward diseases the saide Oyle worketh myraculouslye (if that you minister or gyue a dramme at a time in white Wine to drinke) and stayeth also the sheading of haire, either on the head or beard, by annointing the places with this Oyle. Besides these, it is miraculous in the procuring of vrine, being mightily stopped, and helpeth also stitches and paine in the loynes, by drinking the like quantitie of the Oyle aboue taughte in white wine.
Now the making and drawing of this oyle, is on this wise: firste take a body of glasse, named a Retort, which stronglye lute aboute with clay and flocks, diligently tempered togither with salte water: after the body is thus fenced and thoroughe drie, putte in a pounde or more of pure newe waxe, so that the saide waxe filleth not aboue halfe youre body, and to euerye pounde of Waxe, poure in foure ounces, of the pouder of redde bricke, finely brused, whiche after set into an earthen potte, filling it rounde aboute with fine sifted ashes or sande. After this, set the potte with the bodye in it, on a fornace, making a softe fire at the firste vnder it, and after encreasing a little more your fire, distil them so long, vntill all youre Oyle be come, whiche after a while wyll congeale in the receiuer: but it maketh no greate matter, although the oyle so doe, for it is neuerthelesse in his perfection. Bycause that if you shoulde distill it so often ouer, vntil it will congeale or stiffen no more in the receiuer, then shall you make it ouer hotte, and so quicke in the mouth, that it is not possible by anye meanes to drinke it downe. But being once distilled, you maye either giue it in Wine to drinke, or annoint with the Oyle on any place of the bodye where you will, whiche will always doe good, and hurte in no manner.
And in consideration of these aboue taught, you maye evidently learne and perceiue, that this myraculous Oyle oughte to be hadde in greate veneration of the common sorte.
¶ Another waye of drawing the Oyle of Waxe moste noble, and doth maruelously help the cold Goute, the Sciaticke, the swelling of the legs, and al other griefes proceeding of a colde cause. Cap.xlj.
Take of pure newe waxe so muche as you please, which put into a panne ouer the fire to melte, and being molten, haue by you in a readinesse another panne well glased, and cleane within, filled with verie good and perfecte wine, into whiche poure youre molten waxe, letting it soake and drinke in well, and washe often in the saide wine. After this take the waxe forth, melting it againe ouer the fire, and molten, washe the same againe in the beste wine, so that euerie time melting the waxe, poure it into freshe new wine, washing and soaking it in the same diligently, after wringing it very wet with the hands. And vsed on this wise, both melt and washe againe in the abouesaide manner, and this also do for eighte times togither. Then set the same forth, being a cleare season and ayre, all the nighte throughe, after which put the waxe into a Retorte with a little of _Mumia_, and oyle of _Ypericon_ or Saint Iohns wort, and a little olde Oyle: and although without these it maye doe good, yet mixed with these it worketh farre better, than vsed alone.
Nowe to retourne to the former matter this crooked bodye or Retorte set in fine sifted ashes, and a gentle fire made vnder it, vntill all the oyle do runne forth, and in this comming forth of the oile, shall appeare all the foure Elements, as Ayre, Water, Earth and Fyre, whiche will orderly appeare in the receiuer, right maruellous to sée. And the Oyle being thus fullye drawne, worketh miraculouslye in all diseases which procéed of a colde cause, like as we haue aboue taught.
¶ The conclusion to the Reader.
Thus (gentle Reader) I haue (I truste) fullye satisfied thy desire in as manye things as are needefull to be knowen. And I committe this my little Booke to thy gentle iudgement: if thou mayste receiue any profite or commoditie thereby, I shal be gladde of it, and if not, yet fauourably let it passe from thee to others, whose knowledge and experience is lesse than thine herein, that they may gather suche things as to them are strange, though to thee wel known before. And thus brieflye I committe thee to God.
(∵)
¶ Certaine Husbandly Coniectures of Dearth and Plentie for euer.
The first Chapter.
And first consider and marke, that howe the weather is a daye before the day presente, and the daye after the Sunnes entraunce into the signe Aries, and suche like shall the weather be (for the moste parte) in these thrée moneths, as in September, October, and Nouember.
And looke howe the weather shal be at the Sunnes entrance into the signe of Leo, as at the day of the entrance the daye before, and the daye after, and such commonlye shall be in the moneths of December, Ianuarie, and Februarie, for if the winde shall then blowe oute of the North, or Easte, and those daies drie, then shall followe a verye colde season in those thrée moneths: but if the winde blowe out of the South or Weast, and that it raineth in those thrée dayes, then yse to followe in those thrée moneths. And if the weather in these thrée daies shal be neither wholy drie, nor wholy moiste, then shall folowe an vnstedfaste Winter.
And like as the weather shall be at the Sunnes entraunce into the signe Libra, as at the daye of the entraunce, the daye before, and the daye after, suche for the more parte shall be the Spring, as in the moneth of Marche, Aprill, and May.
And looke howe the weather shal be at the Sunnes entrance into the signe Aquarius, at the daye of the entraunce, the daye before, and the daye after, (suche for the more parte) shall the weather be in the moneths of Iune, Iuly, and August.
And manye auntient men affyrme, that like as the weather shall be whiles the Sunne is running by the signe Libra, and vnto the .20. degrée of Scorpio, which time is from the daye named (the Exaltation of the crosse) vnto the day of al Saints, such for the more parte shall the yeare following be, as in diuiding that foresaide time into twelue moneths, and that foure daies doe aunswere to eche moneth, of the whiche foure dayes, that eache one of the foure, doeth declare the condition of the quarter following, and beginning also to recken November as the first moneth of the yeare.
And the generall signes of the dearth and plentie after the minds of the auncient husband men be these, as the ouermuch coldenesse drying, the ouermuch moysture softning, the ouermuche heate greatly burning, and the ouermuch drinesse putrifying and working into dust.
For when any of these qualities shall excéede in the proper time, but especially in that time, which to the corne and fruites do not agrée, then shall dearth and scarcitie both of fruites and corne ensue.
As for example, when the moneth of March shal be ouer moyst and wet, which rather ought to be drie, and that the moneth of April shal be drie, which then ought to be moyst, doth after pronounce the penurie of the fruites of the earth.
And if that part also of sommer shal be weat, in which the corne doth then fall vnto ripenesse, that rather ought to be drie, doth after signifie the scarcitie both of corne and other fruites of the earth.
And the like may be saide of the other constitutions, which when the Elementall qualities shal be in such a condition as do best agrée, then doe they promise both fruitfulnesse and plentifulnesse.
And if in the Spring be signes of colde and drought, and that in the ende of the spring neare the full moone be frostes, then shall follow very small yéelde of the fruites of the earth, and little wine that yere following.
And if the spring be drie, then fewe shall the fruites of the trées be, yet good, and the scarcitie of corne shal be that yeare.
And if the Spring shall be colde, the fruites of the Earthe shall be late ripe.