228. To make Musk Sugar.
Bruise six grains of Musk and tie them in a piece of Tiffany, lay it in the bottom of a Gallipot, and then fill it with sugar, and tie it up close, when you have spent that sugar, put in some more, it will be well perfumed.
229. An excellent way to make Syrup of Roses, or of any other Flower.
Fill a Silver Bason three quarters full of Spring water, then fill it up with Rose-Leaves or any other, and cover it, and set it upon a pot of seething water one hour, then strain it, and put in more; and do in like manner, and so do seven times, then take to every Pint one Pound of Sugar, and make a Syrup therewith.
230. To dry Rose Leaves.
Pick your Roses, and dry them upon the Leads of a house in a Sun-shine day, and turn them as you do Hay, and when they are through dry, keep them in broadmouth’d Glasses close stopped.
231. To Candy Flowers.
Boil some Rosewater and Sugar together, then put in your Flowers being very dry and boil them a little, then strew in some fine Sugar over them, and turn them, and boil them a little more, then take them from the fire, and strew some more Sugar over them, then take them out and lay them to dry, and open them, and strew Sugar over them; they will dry in a few hours in a hot day.
232. The making of Sugar-Plate and casting of it into Moulds.
Take one Pound of double refin’d Sugar beaten and searced, and three Ounces of pure white Starch beaten and searced, then have some Gum-Dragon steeped in Rosewater, and put some of it with the Sugar and Starch and a little of Ambergreece into a Mortar, and beat them till they come to a perfect Paste, you must also put in a little White of an Egg with the Gum, then mould it with searced Sugar, then dust your Moulds with Sugar, then roul out your Paste and lay it into the Mould, pressing it down into every hollow part with your fingers, and when it hath taken impression, knock the Mould on the edge against a Table and it will come out, or you may help it with the point of your knife; if you find you have put in too much Gum, then add more Sugar, if too much Sugar, then more Gum, work it up as fast as you can, when they come out of the Moulds trim them handsomely; if you would make saucers, dishes, or bowls, you must rowl it out thin and put your Paste into a saucer, dish, or bowl for a Mould, and let them stand therein till they be very dry, then gild them on the edges with the white of and Egg laid round about the edge with a pencil, and press the Gold down with some Cotton, and when it is dry brush off the superfluous loose Gold with the foot of an Hare, and if you would have your Paste exceeding smooth, as for Cards or the like, then roul your Paste upon a slicked paper with a very smooth Rouling-pin; if you would colour any of it, you must take the searced powder of any Herbs or Flowers, first dryed, and put to it when you beat it in a Mortar with the Gum.