Another Plague-water

PERIOD: England, 17th century | SOURCE: The Closet Of the Eminently Learned Sir Kenelme Digby Kt. Opened, 1677 | CLASS: Authentic

DESCRIPTION: A cordial made with white wine & herbs

Another Plague-water.

Take Rue, Agrimony, Wormwood, Celandine, Sage, Balm, Mugwort, Dragons, Pimpernel, Marigold, Fetherfew, Burnet, Sorrel, and Elecampane-roots scraped and sliced small, Scabious, Wood-betony, brown May-weed, Mints, Avence, Tormentil, Carduus Benedictus, and Rosemary as much as any thing else, and Angelica if you will. You must have like weight of all them, except Rosemary aforesaid, which you must have twice as much of as of any of the rest; then mingle them all together and shred them very small; then steep them in the best White-wine you can get three days and three nights, stirring them once or twice a day, putting no more Wine then will cover the herbs well; then still it in a common still, and take not too much of the first water, and but a little of the second, according as you feel the strength, else it will be sour. There must be but half to much Elecampane as of the rest.