riseth above the water, to the bigness of a groat in sight, it is strong
enough of the honey. The Egge will quickly be hard, and so will not rise;
Therefore you must put in another, if the first do not rise to your sight;
you must put in more water and honey proportionable to the first, because
of wasting away in the boiling. It must boil near an hour. You may, if you
please, boil in it, a little bundle of Rosemary, Sweet-marjoram, and Thyme;
and when it tasteth to your liking, take it forth again. Many do put
Sweet-bryar berries in it, which is held very good. When your Meath is
boiled enough take it off the fire, and put it into a Kiver; when it is
blood-warm, put in some Ale-barm, to make it work, and cover it close with
a blancket in the working. The next morning tun it up, and if you please
put in a bag with a little Ginger and a little Nutmeg bruised; and when it
hath done working, stop it up close for a Moneth, and then Bottle it.


SIR THOMAS GOWER'S METHEGLIN FOR HEALTH

First boil the water and scum it; Then to 12 Gallons put 6 handfuls of
Sweet-bryar-leaves, of Sweet-marjoram, Rosemary, Thyme, of each one a
handful: Flowers of Marigold, Borrage, Bugloss, Sage, each two handfuls.
Boil all together very gently, till a third waste. To eight Gallons of this
put two Gallons of pure honey, and boil them till the Liquor bear an Egge,
the breadth of threepence or a Groat, together with such spices as you like
(bruised, but not beaten) an ounce of all is sufficient.

You must observe carefully. 1. Before you set the Liquor to boil, to cause
a lusty Servant (his Arms well washed) to mix the honey and water together,
labouring it with his hands at least an hour without intermission. 2. That
when it begins to boil fast, you take away part of the fire, so as it may
boil slowly, and the scum and dross go all to one side, the other remaining