1. To make Aqua Mirabilis a very delicate way.

Take three Pints of Sack, three Pints of White Wine, one quart of the Spirit of Wine, one quart of the juice of Celandine leaves, of Melilot-flowers, Cardamum-seeds, Cubebs, Galingale, Nutmegs, Cloves, Mace, Ginger, two Drams of each; bruise them, and mix them with the Wine and Spirits, let it stand all night in the Still, not an Alembeck, but a common Still, close stopped with Rye Paste; the next morning make a slow fire in the Still, and all the while it is stilling, keep a wet Cloth about the neck of the Still, and put so much white Sugar Candy as you think fit into the Glass where it drops.

2. The Plague-Water which was most esteemed of in the late great Visitation.

Take three Pints of Muskadine, boil therein one handful of Sage, and one handful of Rue until a Pint be wasted, then strain it out, and set it over the Fire again.

Put thereto a little of Long Pepper, half an Ounce of Ginger, and a quarter of an Ounce of Nutmegs, all beaten together, boil them together a little while close covered, then put to it one of Mithridate, two Venice Treacle, one quarter of a Pint of hot Angelica Water.

Take one Spoonful at a time, morning and evening always warm, if you be already diseased; if not, once a day is sufficient all the Plague time.

It is most excellent Medicine, and never failed, if taken before the heart be utterly mortified with the Disease, it is also good for the Small Pox, Measles, or Surfets.

3. A very Sovereign Water.

Take one Gallon of good Claret Wine, then take Ginger, Galingale, Cinnamon, Nutmegs, Grains, Cloves, Anniseeds, Fennel-seeds, Caraway-seeds, of each one dram; then take Sage, Mint, Red-Rose leaves, Thyme, Pellitory of the Wall, Rosemary, Wild Thyme, Camomile, Lavender, of each one handful, bruise the Spices small and beat the Herbs, and put them into the Wine, and so let stand twelve hours close covered, stirring it divers times, then still it in an Alembeck, and keep the best Water by it self, and so keep every Water by it self; the first you may use for aged People, the other for younger.

This most excellent Water was from Dr. Chambers, which he kept secret till he had done many Cures therewith; it comforted the Vital Spirits; it helped the inward Diseases that come of Cold; the shaking of the Palsy; it helped the Conception of Women that are barren; it killed the Worms within the Body, helped the Stone within the Bladder; it cured the Cold, Cough, and Tooth-ach, and comforted the Stomach; it cured the Dropsie, and cleansed the Reins; it helped speedily the stinking Breath; whosoever used this Water, it preserved them in good health, and made seem young very long; for it comforted Nature very much; with this water Dr. Chambers preserved his own life till extreme Age would suffer him neither to go nor stand one whit, and he continued five years after all Physicians judged he could not live; and he confessed that when he was sick at any time, he never used any other Remedy but this Water, and wished his Friends when he lay upon his Death-Bed to make use of it for the preservation of their Health.

4. To Make Spirit of Mints.

Take three Pints of the best white Wine, three handfuls of right Spear mint picked clean from the stalks, let it steep in the wine one night covered, in the morning, put it into a Copper Alembeck, and draw it with a pretty quick fire; and when you have drawn it all, take all your Water and add as much Wine as before, and put to the Water, and the same quantity of Mint as before; let it steep two or three hours, then put all into your Still, and draw it with a soft fire, put into your Receiver a quantity of Loaf Sugar, and you will find it very excellent; you may distil it in an ordinary Still if you please; but then it will not be so strong nor effectual.

Thus you may do with any other Herbs whatsoever.

5. To make the Cordial Orange-Water.

Take one dozen and a half of the highest colored and thick Oranges, slice them thin, and put them into two Pints of Malago Sack, and one Pint of the best Brandy, of Cinnamon, Nutmegs, Ginger, Cloves, and Mace, of each one quarter of an Ounce bruised, of Spear-mint and Balm one handful of each, put them into an ordinary Still all night, pasted up with Rye Paste; the next day draw them with a slow fire, and keep a wet Cloth upon the Neck of the Still; put in some Loaf Sugar into the Glass where it dropped.

6. To make Spirit of Oranges or of Lemons.

Take of the thickest rin'd Oranges or Lemons, and chip off the Rinds very thin, put these Chips into a Glass-bottle, and put in as many as the Glass will hold, then put in as much Malago Sack as the Glass will hold besides; stop the bottle close that no Air get in, and when you use it, take about half a spoonful in a Glass of Sack; it is very good for the Wind in the Stomach.

7. To make Lemon Water.

Take twelve of the fairest Lemons, slice them, and put them into two Pints of white Wine, and put to them of Cinnamon and Galingale, of each, one quarter of an Ounce, of Red Rose Leaves, Burrage and Bugloss Flowers, of each one handful, of yellow Sanders one Dram, steep all these together 12 hours, then distil them gently in a Glass Still, put into the Glass where it dropped, three Ounces of Sugar, and one Grain of Amber-Greece.

8. A Water for fainting of the Heart.

Take of Bugloss water and Red Rose Water, of each one Pint, of Red Cow's milk half a Pint, Anni-seed and Cinnamon of each half an Ounce bruised, Maiden hair two handfuls, Harts-tongue one handful, bruise them, and mix all these together, and distil them in an ordinary Still, drink of it Morning and Evening with a little Sugar.

Tags: Recipes and Cooking