Cloves beaten into most subtile
powder. (Sometimes he leaves out the Cloves) which will give it a most
pleasant flavor; and they (as the Ginger did) sink down to the bottome and
never trouble the Liquor. If they be put in long before (much more if they
be boiled) they loose all their taste and Spirits entirely. This will last
very well half a year drawing. But if you stay broaching it a year, and
then draw it into bottles, it will keep admirable good three or four years,
growing to be much better, then when broached at six months end. It will be
purer, if you first boil the water by it self, then let it settle 24 hours;
and pour the clear from the earthy sediment, which will be great, and
dissolve your honey in that. You may Aromatise it with Ambergreece or Musk,
or both (if you like them) by dissolving a very few Pastils in a Runlet of
this Liquor, when you draw it into little vessels, (as He useth to do after
five or six moneths) or with a few drops of the Extract of them. This
Metheglin is a great Balsom and strengthener of the _Viscera_; is excellent
in colds and coughs and consumptions. For which last they use to burn it
(like wine) or rather onely heat it. Then dissolve the yolk of an Egge or
two in a Pint of it, and some fresh Butter, and drink it warm in the
morning fasting. As it comes from the Barrel or Bottle, it is used to be
drunk a large draught (without any alteration or admixtion, with a toste
early in the morning (eating the toste) when they intend to dine late.
Consider of making Metheglin thus with purified rain water (of the
_AEquinoxe_) or Dew.

The handfuls of Herbs, are natural large handfuls (as much as you can take
up in your hand) not Apothecaries handfuls, which are much less. If a
pottle of Barm do not make it work enough to your mind, you may put in a
little more. Discretion and Experience must regulate that.

You may make small Meathe the same way, putting but half the proportion of
honey or less. But then after three weeks or a months barrelling, you must
bottle it.

AN EXCELLENT WAY TO MAKE METHEGLIN, CALLED THE LIQUOR OF LIFE, WITH THESE
FOLLOWING INGREDIENTS

Take Bugloss, Borage, Hyssop, Organ, Sweet-marjoram, Rosemary,
French-cowslip, Coltsfoot, Thyme, Burnet, Self-heal, Sanicle a little,
Betony, Blew-buttons, Harts-tongue, Meadssweet, Liverwort, Coriander two
ounces, Bistort, Saint John's wort, Liquorish, Two ounces of Carraways, Two
ounces of Yellow-saunders, Balm, Bugle, Half