5 66 The Orchard. 



Alfo diftilled of it felfe, is called Spirit of wine, which ferueth to diffolue, 

 and to draw out the tinfture of diuers things, and for many other purpofes. 



The iuice or veriuice that is made of greene hard grapes, before they be 

 ripe, is vfed of the Apothecaries to be made into a Syrupe, that is very good 

 to coole and refresh a faint ftomacke. 



And being made of the riper grapes is the beft veriuice, farre exceeding 

 that which is made of crabs, to be kept all the yeare, to be put both into 

 meates and medicines. 



The grapes of the beft forts of Vines are prefled into wine by fome in 

 thefe dayes with vs, and much more as I verily beleeue in times part, as by 

 the name of Vineyard giuen to many places in this Kingdome, efpecially 

 where Abbies and Monafteries ftood, may bee conieclured : but the wine 

 of late made hath beene but fmall, and not durable, like that which com- 

 meth from beyond Sea, whether our vnkindly yeares, or the want of skill, 

 or a conuenient place for a Vineyard be the caufe, I cannot well tell you. 



Grapes of all forts are familiarly eaten when they are ripe, of the ficke 

 fometimes as well as the found. 



The dryed grapes which we call great Rayfins, and the Currans which 

 we call fmall Rayfins, are much vfed both for meates, broths, and fawces, 

 in diuers manners, as this Countrey in generall aboue any other, wherein 

 many thoufands of Frailes full, Pipes, Hogs-heads, and Buts full are fpent 

 yearly, that it breedeth a wonder in them of thofe parts where they growe 

 and prouide them, how we could fpend fo many. 



The Rayfins of the Sunne are the beft dryed grapes, next vnto the Da- 

 mafco, and are very wholfome to eate fafting, both to nourifh, and to helpe 

 to loofen the belly. 



The dryed Lees of wine called Argoll or Tartar, is put to the vfe of the 

 Goldfmith, Dyer, and Apothecary, who doe all vfe it in feuerall manners, 

 euery one in his art. 



Of it the Apothecaries make Cremor T'artari, a fine medicine to bee vfed, 

 as the Phyfitian can beft appoint, and doth helpe to purge humours by the 

 ftoole. 



Thereof likewife they make a kinde of water or oyle, fit to bee vfed, to 

 take away freckles, fpots, or any fuch deformities of the face or skinne, and 

 to make it fmooth. It caufeth likewife haire to growe more aboundantly in 

 thofe places where it naturally mould growe. 



The liquor of the Vine that runneth forth when it is cut, is commended 

 to be good againft the ftone wherefoeuer it be ; but that liquor that is taken 

 from the end of the branches when they are burnt, is moft effecluall to take 

 away fpots and markes, ring-wormes and tetters in any place. 



CHAP. VII. 

 Ficus. The Figge tree. 



THe Figge trees that are nourfed vp in our country are of three forts, whereof 

 two are high ; the one bearing againft a wall goodly fweete and delicate Figs, 

 called Figs of Algarua, and is blewifh when it is ripe : the other tall kinde is 

 nothing fo good, neither doth beare ripe Figges fo kindly and well, and peraduenture 

 may be the white ordinary kinde that commeth from Spaine. The third is a dwarfe 

 kinde of Figge tree, not growing much higher then to a mans body or fhoulders, bea- 

 ring excellent good Figges and blew, but not fo large as the firft kinde. 



The Figge trees of all thefe three kindes are in leaues and growing one like vnto an- 

 other, fauing for their height, colour, and fweetneffe of the fruit, hauing many armes 

 or branches, hollow or pithy in the middle, bearing very large leaues, and fomewhat 

 thicke, diuided fometimes into three, but vfually into fiue feclions, of a darke greene 

 cclour on the vpperfide, and whitifh vnderneath, yeelding a milkie iuyce when it is 



broken, 



