_ 284 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
These things thus premised, I come to 
the matter. 
The first the College presents you with, 
is 
Spiritus et Aqua Absinthis minus 
Composita. 
Or, Spirit and water of Wormwood, the 
lesser composition. 
College.| Take of the leaves of dryed 
Wormwood two pounds, Annis seeds, half 
a pound: steep them in six gallons of small 
wine twenty four hours, then distill them 
in an Alembick, adding to every pound of 
the distilled water two ounces of the best 
Sugar. 
Let the two first pound you draw out be 
called Spirit of Wormwood, those which 
follow, Wormwood water the lesser com- 
position. 
Culpeper.| I like this distinction of the 
College very well, because what is first 
stilled out, is far stronger then the rest, 
and therefore very flitting to be kept by 
itself: you may take which you please, 
according as the temperature of your body, 
either to heat or cold, and the season of the 
year requires. 
It hath the same virtues Wormwood 
hath, only fitter to be used by such whose 
bodies are chilled by age, and whose natural 
heat abates. You may search the herbs for 
the virtues, it heats the stomach, and helps 
digestion. 
The College.| After the same manner 
(only omitting the Annis seeds) is distilled 
spirit and water of Angelica, both Herb 
and Root; Bawm, Mints, Sage, &c. the 
Flowers of Rosemary, Clary, Clove-gilli- 
flowers, &c. the seeds of Caraway, &c. 
Juniper-berries, Orange Pills, Lemons, Cit- 
rons, &c. Cinnamon, Nutmegs, &c. 
Spiritus et Aqua Absynthii magis 
composita. 
2 Or ee and water of Wormwood, the 
he College] Srbaeas of common and 
Roman Wormwood, of each a pound; Sage, 
Mints, Bawm, of each two handfuls; the 
Roots of Galanga, Ginger, Calamus 
Aromaticus, Elecampane, of each three 
drachms; Liquorice an ounce, Raisins of 
the Sun stoned, three ounces, Annis seeds, 
and sweet Fennel seeds, of each three 
drachms; Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmegs, of 
each two drachms; Cardamoms, Cubebs, 
of each one drachm: let the things be cut 
that are to be cut, and the things that are 
bruised that are to be bruised, all of them 
infused in twenty four pints of Spanish 
Wine, for twenty four hours, then distilled 
in an Alembick, adding two ounces of white 
sugar to every pint of distilled water. 
Let the first pint be called Spirit of 
Wormwood the greater composition. 
Culpeper.] The opinion of Authors is, 
That it heats the stomach, and strengthens 
it and the lungs, expels wind, and helps 
digestion in ancient people. 
Spiritus et Aqua Angelica Magis composita. 
Or Spirits and water of Angelica, the 
greater composition. 
The College.] Take of the leaves of 
Angelica eight ounces, of Carduus Bene- 
dictus six ounces, of Bawm and Sage, of 
each four ounces, Angelica seeds six 
ounces; sweet Fennel seeds nine ounces: 
Let the herbs, being dryed, and the seeds 
be grosly bruised, to which add of the 
species called Aromaticum Rosarum, and 
of the species called Diamoschu Dulce, of 
each an ounce and a half, infuse them two 
days in thirty two pints of Spanish Wine, 
then distil them with a gentle fire, and with 
every pound mix two ounces of sugar dis- 
solved in Rose-water. 
Let the three first pounds be called by the 
name of Spirit the rest by the name of water. 
Culpeper.| The chief end of composing 
this medicine, was to strengthen the heart 
and resist infection, and therefore is very 
wholesome in pestilential times, and for 
| such as walk in stinking air. 
