The Description.
The trunke or body of the Vine is great and thicke, very hard, covered with many barks, which are full of cliffes or chinks; from which grow forth branches as it were armes, many wayes spreading; out of which come forth jointed shoots or springs; and from the bosom of those joints, leaves and clasping tendrels, and likewise bunches or clusters full of grapes: the leaves be broad, something round, five cornered, and somewhat indented about the edges: amongst which come forth many clasping tendrels, that take hold of such props or staies as stand next unto it. The grapes differ both in colour and greatnesse, and also in many other things, which to distinguish severally were impossible, considering the infinite sorts or kinds, and also those which are transplanted from one region or clymat to another, do likewise alter both from the forme and taste they had before: wherefore it shall be sufficient to set forth the figure of the manured grape, and speak somwhat of the rest.
There be some Vines that bring forth grapes of a whitish or reddish yellow colour; others of a deep red, both in the outward skin, juice, and pulpe within.
There be others whose grapes are of a blew colour, or something red, yet is the juice like those of the former. These grapes doe yeeld forth a white wine before they are put into the presse, and a reddish or paller wine when they are trodden with the husks, & so left to macerate or ferment, with which if they remain too long, they yeeld forth a wine of a higher colour.
There be others which make a black and obscure red wine, whereof some bring bigger clusters, and consist of greater grapes, others of lesser; some grow more clustered or closer together, others looser; some have but one stone, others more; some make a more austere or harsh wine, others a more sweet: of some the old wine is best, of divers the first yeres wine is most excellent: some bring forth fruit foure square, of which kindes we have great plenty.
The Time.
Columella saith Vines must be pruned before the young branches spring forth. Palladius writeth, in Februarie: if they be pruned later they lose their nourishment with weeping.
Of Grapes.
GRapes have the preheminence among the Autumne fruits, and nourish more than they all, but yet not so much as figges; and they have in them little ill juice, especially when they bee thorow ripe.
Grapes may be kept the whole yeare, being ordered after the same manner that Joachimus Camerarius reporteth. You shall take, saith hee, the meale of mustard seed, and strew in the bottome of any earthen pot well leaded; whereupon you shall lay the fairest bunches of the ripest grapes, the which you shall cover with more of the foresaid meale, and lay upon it another sort of Grapes, so doing untill the pot be full: then shall you fill up the pot to the brimme with a kind of sweet wine called Must. The pot being very close covered shall be set into some cellar or other cold place: the grapes you may take forth at your pleasure, washing them with faire water from the pouder.
Of Wine.
TO speake of wine the juice of Grapes, which being newly pressed forth is called Mustum or new wine; after the dregs and drosse are setled, and it appeareth pure and cleer, it is called in English, Wine, and that not unproperly. For certain other juices, as of Apples, Pomegranats, Peares, Medlars, Services, or such otherwise made (for examples sake) of Barley and Graine, be not at all simply called wine, but with the name of the thing added whereof they do consist. Hereupon is the wine which is pressed forth of the Pomegranate berries named Rhoites, or wine of Pomegranats; out of Quinces, Cydonites, or wine of Quinces: out of Peares, Apyites or Perry; and that which is compounded of Barley is called Zythum, or Barley wine: in English, Ale or Beere.
And other certain wines have borrowed syrnames of the plants that have bin infused or steeped in them; and yet all wines of the Vine, as Wormwood wine, Myrtle wine, and Hyssop wine, which are all called artificiall wines.
That is properly and simply called wine which is pressed out of the grapes of the wine, and is without any manner of mixture.
The kindes of Wines are not of one nature, nor of one facultie or power, but of many, differing one from another; for there is one difference thereof in taste, another in colour, the third is referred to the consistence or substance of the Wine; the fourth consisteth in the vertue and strength thereof. Galen addeth that which is found in the smell, which belongs to the vertue and strength of the Wine.
It is good for such as are in a consumption, by reason of some disease, and that have need to have their bodies nourished and refreshed (alwaies provided they have no fever,) as Galen saith in his seventh booke of the Method of curing. It restoreth strength most of all other things, and that speedily: It maketh a man merry and joyfull: It putteth away feare, care, troubles of minde, and sorrow: and bringeth sleepe gently.
And these things proceed of the moderate use of wine: for immoderate drinking of wine doth altogether bring the contrarie. They that are drunke are distraughted in minde, become foolish, and oppressed with a drowsie sleepinesse, and be afterward taken with the Apoplexy, the gout, or altogether with other most grievous diseases.
And seeing that every excesse is to be shunned, it is expedient most of all to shun this, by which not only the body, but also the minde receiveth hurt.
Wherefore we thinke, that wine is not fit for men that be already of full age, unlesse it be moderately taken, because it carrieth them headlong into fury and lust, and troubleth and dulleth the reasonable part of the minde.
Of the liquor which is distilled out of Wine, commonly called, Aqua vitae.
THere is drawne out of Wine a liquor, which in Latine is commonly called Aqua vitae, or water of life, and also Aqua ardens, or burning water, which as distilled waters are drawne out of herbes and other things, is after the same manner distilled out of strong wine, that is to say, by certaine instruments made for this purpose, which are commonly called Limbeckes.
This kinde of liquor is in colour and substance like unto waters distilled out of herbes, and also resembleth cleere simple water in colour, but in faculty it farre differeth.
It beareth the syrname of life, because that it serveth to preserve and prolong the life of man.
It is called Ardens, burning, for that it is easily turned into a burning flame: for seeing it is not any other thing than the thinnest and strongest part of the wine, it being put to the flame of fire, is quickly burned.
This water distilled out of wine is good for all those that are made cold either by a long disease, or through age, as for old and impotent men: for it cherisheth and increaseth naturall heate; upholdeth strength, repaireth and augmenteth the same: it prolongeth life, quickeneth all the senses, and doth not only preserve the memory, but also recovereth it when it is lost: it sharpeneth the sight.
It is fit for those that are taken with the Catalepsie (which is a disease in the braine proceeding of drinesse and cold) and are subject to dead sleepes, if there be no fever joyned; it serveth for the weakenesse, trembling, and beating of the heart; it strengtheneth and heateth a feeble stomacke; it consumeth winde both in the stomacke, sides, and bowels; it maketh good concoction of meate, and is a singular remedy against cold poysons.
It hath such force and power, in strengthening of the heart, and stirreth up the instruments of the senses, that it is most effectuall, not onely inwardly taken to the quantity of a little spoonefull, but also outwardly applied: that is to say, set to the nosthrils, or laid upon the temples of the head, and to the wrests of the armes; and also to foment and bath sundry hurts and griefes.
Being held in the mouth it helpeth the toothache: it is also good against cold cramps and convulsions, being chafed and rubbed therewith.
If I should take in hand to write of every mixture, of each infusion, of the sundry colours, and every other circumstance that the vulgar people doe give unto this water, and their divers use, I should spend much time but to small purpose.
The briefe summe of that hath beene said of the Vine.
ALmighty God for the comfort of mankinde ordained Wine; but decreed withall, That it should be moderately taken, for so it is wholsome and comfortable: but when measure is turned into excesse, it becommeth unwholesome, and a poyson most venomous. Besides, how little credence is to be given to drunkards it is evident; for though they be mighty men, yet it maketh them monsters, and worse than brute beasts. Finally in a word to conclude; this excessive drinking of Wine dishonoreth Noblemen, beggereth the poore, and more have beene destroied by surfeiting therewith, than by the sword.