CHAP, xvn S Y L V A 153 



decocted with honey and wine, Dr. Needham affirms 

 he has often cur'd the scorbut with. This wine, 

 exquisitely made, is so strong, that the common sort 

 of stone-bottles cannot preserve the spirits, so subtile 

 they are and volatile ; and yet it is gentle, and very 

 harmless in operation within the body, and exceedingly 

 sharpens the appetite, being drunk ante pastum : I 

 will present you a receipt, as it was sent me by a fair 

 lady, and have often, and still use it.J 



9. To every gallon of birch-water put a quart of 

 honey, well stirr'd together ; then boil it almost an 

 hour with a few cloves, and a little limon-peel, keeping 

 it well scumm'd : When it is sufficiently boil'd, and 

 become cold, add to it three or four spoonfuls of 

 good ale to make it work (which it will do like new 

 ale) and when the yest begins to settle, bottle it up as 

 you do other winy liquors. It will in a competent 

 time become a most brisk and spiritous drink, which 

 (besides the former virtues) is a very powerful opener, 

 and doing wonders for cure of the phthysick : This 

 wine may (if you please) be made as successfully with 

 sugar, instead of honey i Ib. to each gallon of water ; 

 or you may dulcifie it with raisins, and compose a 

 raisin-wine of it. I know not whether the quantity 

 of the sweet ingredients might not be somewhat 

 reduc'd, and the operation improv'd : But I give it as 

 receiv'd. The author of the Vinetum Brit, boils it 

 but to a quarter or half an hour, then setting it a 

 cooling, adds a very little yest to ferment and purge 

 it ; and so barrels it with a small proportion of cinamon 

 and mace bruis'd, about half an ounce of both to ten 

 gallons, close stopp'd, and to be bottled a month after. 

 Care must be taken to set the bottles in a very cool 

 place, to preserve them from flying ; and the wine is 



