¶ 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.