Ypocras

Good soñ, to make ypocras, hit were gret lernynge,

and for to take þe spice þerto aftur þe proporcionynge,

Gynger, Synamome / Graynis, Sugur / Turnesole, þat is good colourynge;

For commyñ peple / Gynger, Canelle / longe pepur / hony aftur claryfiynge.

look ye haue of pewtur basons ooñ, two, & thre,

For to kepe in youre powdurs / also þe licour þerin to renne wheñ þat nede be;

to iij. basouns ye must haue iij bagges renners / so clepe ham we,

& hange þem̅ oñ a perche, & looke þat Sure they be.

Se þat youre gynger be welle y-pared / or hit to powder ye bete,

and þat hit be hard / with-owt worme / bytynge, & good hete;

For good gynger colombyne / is best to drynke and ete;

Gynger valadyne & maydelyñ ar not so holsom in mete.

looke þat your stikkes of synamome be thyñ, bretille, & fayre in colewre,

and in youre mowthe, Fresche, hoot, & swete / þat is best & sure,

For canelle is not so good in þis crafte & cure.

Synamome is hoot & dry in his worchynge while he wille dure.

Graynes of paradise, hoote & moyst þey be:

Sugre of .iij. cute / white / hoot & moyst in his

propurte;

Sugre Candy is best of alle, as y telle the,

and red wyne is whote & drye to tast, fele, & see,

Graynes / gynger, longe pepur, & sugre / hoot & moyst in worchynge;

Synamome / Canelle / red wyne / hoot & drye in þeire doynge;

Turnesole is good & holsom for red wyne colowrynge:

alle þese ingredyentes, þey ar for ypocras makynge.

Good soñ, youre powdurs so made, vche by þam self in bleddur laid,

hange sure youre perche & bagges þat þey from yow not brayd,

& þat no bagge touche oþer / do as y haue yow saide;

þe furst bag a galoun / alle oþer of a potelle, vchoñ by oþer teied.

[Fol. 173.]

Furst put in a basoun a galoun ij. or iij. wyne so red;

þeñ put in youre powdurs, yf ye wille be sped,

and aftyr in-to þe rennere so lett hym be fed,

þañ in-to þe second bagge so wold it be ledde.

loke þou take a pece in þyne hand euermore amonge,

and assay it in þy mouthe if hit be any thynge stronge,

and if þow fele it welle boþe with mouthe & tonge,

þañ put it in þe iij. vesselle / & tary not to longe.

And þañ ȝiff þou feele it be not made parfete,

þat it cast to moche gynger, with synamome alay þat hete;

and if hit haue synamome to moche, with gynger of iij. cute;

þañ if to moche sigure þer be / by discressioun ye may wete.

Thus, son, shaltow make parfite ypocras, as y the say;

but with þy mowthe to prove hit, / be þow tastynge alle-way;

let hit renne in iiij. or vj bagges; gete þem, if þow may,

of bultelle clothe, if þy bagges be þe fynere with-owteñ nay.

Good soñ loke þy bagges be hoopid at þe mothe a-bove,

þe surere mayst þow put in þy wyne vn-to þy behoue,

þe furst bag of a galoun / alle oþer of a potelle to prove;

hange þy bagges sure by þe hoopis; do so for my loue;

And vndur euery bagge, good soñ, a basoun clere & bryght;

and now is þe ypocras made / for to plese many a wight.

þe draff of þe spicery / is good for Sewes in kychyn diȝt;

and ȝiff þow cast hit awey, þow dost þy mastir no riȝt.

Now, good son, þyne ypocras is made parfite & welle;

y wold þan ye put it in staunche & a clene vesselle,

and þe mouthe þer-off y-stopped euer more wisely & felle,

and serue hit forth with wafurs boþe in chambur & Celle.

THE BOTERY.