[§58]
Forto make blak sope. Forto make blake sope. ȝe schul vndrestonde Þat Þer beÞ dyuerse makynges Þerof. Ne for Þanne trewely Y holde noon gode ne perfiȝt but Þis manere of makyng. Take pruse aissches Þat be neÞer to newe maad nor to oolde and put hem in a tubbe as Þu woist, Þat is forto wyte .iij. partes full of Þy tubbe, and Þanne fille hit with coolde watre of Þe condiȝt or temse watre whanne hit is atte a grounde ebbe; and whanne hit is ronne out take and poure hit aȝen Þervpon, and Þanne after Þat take and poure hit on Þe nexte tubbe biside, and fille Þe first tubbe aȝen with clene watre and late hit renne Þurwe twey tymes as byfore is seyde; and whanne Þe first watre is runne Þurwe Þe secunde tubbe twey tymes, put hit on Þe Þridde tubbe, and Þus and in Þis manere reherce Þis manere of wurchyng vntil Þe liȝe of haue his kynde, whiche ȝe schul knowe by Þis tokene. Take and put a lytul gobet Þe mountaunce of a smal walsche note in Þy liȝe of Þat Þu woist, Þat is forto seye blak sope, and ȝif hit flote abouen and be whittest withouten in Aue Maria while, Þanne hit is gode, and ȝif hit go doun take hit out with a skemour of tre, and reherce Þe same wurchyng byfore seyde on Þe .iiij. tubbe vntil ȝe se Þat hit makyÞ Þat preef, whiche preef wole fallen to be in two dayes and a half; Þanne whanne hit makyÞ Þat preef take hit out of Þe tubbe and put hit into sum oÞer vessel Þat be wel closid til on Þe morwe, and Þanne is ȝour lyȝe redy made. And on Þe morwe ȝif Þu wilt wurchen at onys oon galoun of [oyle], take Þe Þre quartes and put in Þe vessel Þat ȝe wole seÞe hit ynne, and Þanne put thereto .x. quarters of ȝoure lyȝe, and Þanne put vndre fire and seÞe hem, and whanne [it] boyleÞ Þanne most ȝe were hit vp and doun with a gode grete ladul so Þat hit go nouht ouere ȝour vessel in Þe fire. And in Þe first boylyng ȝif ȝe wole coloure hit, Þat is to seye to make hit blak, take and caste in Þerto the mountenance of a walisschnote of Þe lyȝes of rede wyne of France, and Þanne late hit stonde and boyle wel togidres vntil hit be ynow, whiche Þat wole be do in twey houres and a half; and in Þe tyme of boylying ȝif ȝe see Þat hit wole go ouere, take half a pynte of ȝoure quarte oyle Þat lefte of the galoun at Þe first time, and caste hit esily al aboute Þeron, and Þanne styre hit wel Þat hit go not to Þe bothome of Þe vessel. And so late hit seÞen and boyle togidres by Þe space of halfe an houre, and Þanne take a rounce [hokede] stikke Þat be clene and put Þerynne, and redely drawe hit out aȝen and sette hit vpon an ende til hit be coolde, and ȝif hit gele on Þe stikke Þanne put more oyle of Þe quarte Þerto, a lytul quantite, and ȝif hit wexe longe and rope Þanne late hit stone and seÞe longer by half and houre; and Þanne make clene Þy stikke and put hit in in aȝen and drawe hit redely out, and Þanne schal hit be Þykkere on Þe stikke whanne hit is coold Þanne hit was byfore; Þanne assay on Þe stikke ȝif hit gele, and ȝif hit do put more oyle Þerto of ȝour quarte, and do as is byfore seyd. And ȝif hit be longer late hit seÞe til hit come to anoÞer assay on Þe stikke, and Þanne ȝif ȝe see, whanne hit is coolde, Þat hit wexe Þikke on Þe stikke and noÞer gelle ne be Þynne but fayre stondyng, late hem stonden and boyle vntil ȝe fynde hem so sadde on Þe stikke as Þe kynde and Þe manere of blak sope is. For riȝt as hit doÞ on [Þe] stikke whanne hit is coold, riȝt so schal hit do in the barel whanne it is coolde; and whanne hit is atte full maad as by Þen assay, make no taryyng, but anoon take and put hit in a clene vessel and late hit stonde til hit be coolde. And ȝif hit so be Þat ȝe haue nouȝt ne may haue noon suche vyne lyȝes Þanne for nede in stede Þerof ȝe may take smale stikkes of grene ook withoute Þe barke and leye hem in ȝour lye by al a nyȝt, and Þat schal colour ȝoure lyȝe wel ynowl and loke ȝif ȝe wurchen with Þe lyes of vyne Þat ȝe schal putte in Þe boylyng among ȝour sope so [Þat Þey] be sumdel moisted and nouȝt al ful drie ne hard, but in Þe meene as hit is best. And also whanne ȝe byen eny wode askys for ȝoure lyȝe, look Þat ȝe chese fayre grey aissches, and Þat Þer be noon stones ne roche but as litul as ȝe may Þeramong, Þat is to seye amonge ȝour aissches from Þe roche, and offe Þe aissches Þat passen Þurwe Þe sefe ȝe moste make ȝour lyȝe, and al Þe oÞere dele Þat dwelleÞ in Þe sefe take and selle them awey vnto dyeres craft for Þey beÞ nouȝt for ȝour wurchyng vnto ȝour blake sope. And at Þe begynnynge of ȝoure werk whanne ȝe wilt make ȝoure lyȝe, take and sette vpon twey gi[s]tes as many barell as ȝe haue, Þat is forto seye tubbis made of bere barell or ells or rede wyne vessell, in whiche tubbes in eueryche tubbe by hit silfe loke Þat Þere [be] made, a litul from Þe chyme, an awgere hole, ad Þanne euene ouere Þat hole Þat Þer be leyd a wips ymade of wete straw or ells ote straw, and leye on Þre places of Þat wips some stoon forto holde adoun Þe wips Þat hit go nouht awey; and Þanne fille vp Þat tubbe .iij. parties Þeroffe with aissches, and Þanne after Þat take and fille vp Þat tubbe with fayre coolde watre al abouen Þilke aissches, and Þus dresse as many tubbes as ȝe haue, be hit .iij. or .iiij. or .v., bote at Þe leste ȝe moste haue .iij. tubbes stondyng but ȝe mowe moo. And vndre eueryche tubbe with ȝoure aissches loke Þat Þer stonde anoÞer tubbe al redy forto receyue ȝoure lyȝe Þat comeÞ doun from ȝoure ayssches, and as meche as ȝoure neÞer tubbe is of mesure riȝt so meche watre ȝe may wel poure on ȝour aissches; and whanne ȝe schul make ȝoure tubbes for ȝoure lyȝe, take Þou a gode large bere barel and do make a tubbe of .ij. partes Þeroffe, and of Þe Þridde party Þerof do make ȝow anoÞer tubbe forto receyue ynne ȝour lyȝe; and now haue ȝe ryȝt makyng of blak sope euen at la manere of poyntes, riȝt as men make in Flaundres, in Portyngale, and Spayne in Ciuyle Þe graunt or in eny oÞere place where Þat hit is ymaad &c. Per Edmund, sopemaker.
[§58]
For to make black soap. For to make black soap. You should understand that there are divers makings thereof. Not for then truely you hold none so good ne perfect as this manner of making. Take pruse [?] ashes that be neither to newly made nor to old and put then in a tub as you would, that is to know 3 parts full of your tub, and then fill it with cold water of the conduit or strained water when it is at a ground eb, and when it is run out take and pour it again therupon, and then after that take and pour it on the next tub besides, and fill the first tub again with clean water and let it run through two times as is said before; and when the first water is run through the second tub two times, put it in the third tub, and thus and in this way repeat this manner of wurchyng [leaching] until the lye is of the right kind, which you should know by this token. Take and put a little tidbit [a piece of flesh, or bone? a lump of sugar? - is this the precursor of the egg float test?!] the amount of a small walnut in the lye of that you wilst, that is to say for black soap, and if it floats above and be whitest without [on the outside] in an Ave Maria amount of time, then it is good, and if it go down take it out with a skemour [sliver, split branch?] of tree, and repeat the same leaching as said before in the 4th tub until you see that it makes it float, which floating would be in two days and a half; then when it makes it float take it out of the tub and put it into some other vessel that be wel closed till the next morning, and then your lye is ready made. And in the moring if you would leach at once one galon of oil, take the three quarts [or this one galon] and put in the vessel that you will cook it in, and then put thereto 10 quarters of your lye, and then put over the fire and heat it, and when it boils then you must stir it up and down with a good great laddle so that it not go over [out of] your vessel into the fire. And in the first boiling if you want to color it, that is to say make it black, take and cast in there the amount of a walnut of the lye [lees, which is acidic and contains tartar] of red wine of France, and then let it stand and boil well together until it is enough, which that whole be done in two hours and a half, and in the time of boiling if you see that it would go over, take half a pint of your quart oil that was left of the galon at the first time, and cast [mix] it easily all throughout, and then stir it well [so] that it does not go to the bottom of the vessel. And so let it cook and boil together by the space of half an hour, and then take a round stick that be clean and put [it] therein, and quickly draw it out again and set it upon its end until it is cold, and if it slides on [down] the stick then put more oil of the quart thereto, a little quantity, and if it waxes long and ropy [is thickened] then let it stand and cook by another half an hour; and then make clean your stick and put it in again and draw it quickly out, and then it shall be thicker on the stick when it is cold [again] than it was before; then assay [test] on the stick if it slides, and if it does put more oil into it from your quart, and do as is said before. And if it be longer let it cook until it comes to another assay [test] on the stick, and then if you see, when it is cold, that it waxes thick on the stick and neither slides nor be thin but fair standing, let it stand and boil until you find it so droopy [like vaseline] on the stick as you can and is the way of black soap. For right as it does on the stick when it is cold, right so shall it do in the barrel when it is cold; and when it is fully made as by your assay [test], make no changes, but immediately take and put it in a clean vessel and let it stand until it be cold. And if it so be that you have nought nor may have none such fine lyes then for need in stead thereof you may take small sticks of green oak without the bark and lay them in your lye all night, and that shall color your lye well enough and look if it leaches with the lyes of fine that you shall put in the boiling among your soap so tat they be somewhat moistened and nought al full dry nor hard, but in the manner as it is best. And also when you have anyone ask for your lye, look that you choose fair grey ashes, and that there be no stones nor charcoal but as little as you may there amongst, that is to say among your ashes from the charcoal, and off the ashes that pass through the sieve you must make your lye, and all the other parts that dwell [stay] in the sieve take and sell them off to the dyers craft for they be nought [not useful] for your leaching [to use] for your black soap. And at the beginning of your work when you will make your lye, take and set upon two gistes [platform?] as many barrels as you have, that is to say tubs made of beer barrels or else of red wine vessels, in which tubs in avereage tub by itself looks that there be made, a little from the chyme [bottom edge?], an auger hole, and then that evenly over that hole there be laid a layer of wheat straw or else oat straw, and lay on these places of those wips [straw layer] some stones to hold down the wips that it does not go away; and then fill up the tub with 3 parts thereof with ashes, and then after that take and fill up the tub with fair cold water all above the ashes, and thus dress as many tubs as you have, be it 3 or 4 or 5, but at the least you must have 3 tubs standing but you could use more. And under every tub with your ashes look that there stand another tub all ready to receive your lye that comes down from your ashes, and as much as your bottom tub is of measure, right so much water you may well pour on your ashes [do not add more water than the volume of the receiving tub]; and when you shall make your tubs for your lye, you take a good large beer barrel and do make a tub of the 2 parts thereof [two-thirds], and to the third [one-third] part thereof do make another tub for to receive in your lye; and now you have the right making of black soap even at all manner of points [directions]b, right as one makes [it] in Flaunders, in Portugal, and Spain in Ciuyle the great or in any other place where that it is made &c. By Edmund, soapmaker.
[§59]
Whijt sope of blak sope. Forto make and forto turne blak sope into whijt. WheÞer Þat ȝe wole of Þis blake sope byfore maad or eny oÞere blak sope in toun. Take ȝow .iiij. li. of blak nessche sope and put hyt in a litul smal treen bolle, and Þanne put Þerto half an pound, Þat is to witen .viij. vnces, of smal comyn salt, and Þanne take a treen sklyce and medle wel Þe twey maters togidres Þerwidth vntil hit turne Þurw Þat medlyng al togidres into a whijt colour liche to wite sope; and Þanne take and sette a litul cawdroun ouere Þe fire or ells a panne, in whiche panne take and put half a pynte of watre or Þere abowtes, and Þanne abouen Þat quantite of watre put ȝoure sope byfore medled in ȝour bolle, and Þanne late hit stonde a while so ouere Þe fire Þe mountaunce of a furlong weye or so, and steryng Þerynne with Þy sklice so Þat hit be wel ymedled togidres alle Þe maters, Þat is to seye Þe sope and Þe salt with Þat quantite of watre. And Þanne whanne hit is so, take hit adoun of Þe fire and voyde hit out of Þe panne into Þe same bolle with al Þat mater in saaf place, and late hit stonde so stille til on Þe nexte day aftre; and Þanne ȝe schul fynde al ȝour sope liggyng abouen in ȝoure bolle, and Þe sal resolued liggyng vndre ȝoure sope in Þe manere of salt bryne, whiche sope ȝe schul gadre Þanne clene from Þe bryne and breke hit and put hit aȝen to the fire in Þe same panne Þat hit was ynne byfore with a litul quantite of watre, and steryng hem togidres with ȝoure sklice so Þat Þey be wel ymedled. And whanne hit haÞ stonde so togidres a furlonge wey or so ouere Þe fire, take doun ȝour sope from Þe fire and poure al togidres on a clene canevas cloÞ liggyng vpon fayre ground of erÞe. And wite wel forsoÞe Þat Þe salt watre schal drynkyn into Þe grounde and al Þe sope schal fayre liggen on a broode cake abouen ȝoure canevas, whiche sope, whanne ȝe see Þat Þe watre is clene ronne from, ȝe schal take and gadre clene vp from Þe canevas and put hit in moldes whiche ben ordeyned for Þe same Þynges, and Þan late hit drie so vp in fayre cakes and harde as Þe manere is.
[§59]
White soap of black soap. For to make and for to turn black soap into white. Whether that you would [use] of this black soap before made, or any other black soap in town. Take 4 pounds of blackish soap and put it in a small little wooden bowl, and then put thereto half a pound, that is to whit 8 ounces, of small common salt [table salt], and then take a wood wisk and mix the two matters well together therewith until it turns through that mixing together into a white color like white soap; and then take and set a little cauldron over the fire or else a pan, in which pan take and put half a pint of water of there about, and then above [in] that quantity of water put your soap before mixed in your bowl, and then let it stand a while over the fire the amount of two and a half minutes or so, and stir therein with your wisk so that all the matters be well mixed together, that is to say the soap and the salt with that quantity of water. And when it is so, take it down of the fire and empty it out of the pan into the same bowl with all that matter in a safe place, and let it stand so still until the next day after; and then you should find all your soap lying above in your bowl, and there shall dissolved lying under your soap in the manner of salt bryne, which soap you shall gather clean from the brine and breke hit and put it again to the fire in the same pan that it was in before with a little quantity of water, and stir it together with your wisk so that they be well mixed. And when it has stood so together a minute and a half or so over the fire, take down your soap from the fire and pour al together on a clean canvas cloth lying on fair ground of earth [clean dirt]. And it well shall be that the salt water shall drink [drain] into the ground and all the soap shall fair lay on [as] a broad cake above [on top of] your canvas, which soap, when you see that the wate is clean run from, you shall take and gather clean up from the canvas and put it in molds which [have] been ordained [used] for the same things, and then let it dry into fair cakes and harden as the way.
[§60]
AnoÞer maner. Also in Þis manere hit may be do. But hit is nouht so good ne so clene as is Þe first doynge byfore seyde and writen. Take 30w .iiij. partes more or lesse wheÞer ȝe wole of blak sope and put hit in a clene cornedissche, and Þanne put .j. part of sal Peytow, Þat is to seye of grete salt, sumdel dryed aforne and Þanne grounden to poudre, and after Þat take ȝow a croken knyfe and medle boÞe Þylke maters wel togithres Þerwith in the same cornedissche as ȝe weten vntil ȝe se Þat al Þe mater turne into fayre whijt sope. And whanne ȝe se Þat al Þe mater is fayre turnyd into whijt sope and liche to oÞere whijt sope, take and gadre hit clene togidres with ȝoure crokid knyfe and put hit in cofyns maad for Þe same Þyng, and late hit stone forto drie vntil hit be al ful dried and harded vp sumdel stif in Þe same cofyns; and ȝif ȝe wole sette a marke vpon ȝoure sope Þanne Þu moste marke Þat anoon as hit sumwhat mor Þan half drie, and Þanne take hit out from Þe cofyns with a Þreed or with a smal wyre as Þe manere is. And Þanne sette alle ȝoure cakes of sope as many as ȝe haue on fayre smoÞe boordes forto drie vnto Þe tyme Þat Þey bien al ful dried vp and also hard ynowȝ. And euery oÞere day or so take and turne all ȝoure cakes vpsodoun for Þat alle ȝoure cakes mowe wel be dried Þurweout; and in Þe dryyng Þerof ȝif hit swete out ony mater of salt as hit wole comynly do and drien vp aȝen Þeron, take and wipe hit awey with a clowte, and so doÞ alwey as hit comeÞ out, and after Þat take and anoynte all ȝour cakes al abouten withouten with oÞer [white] sope and rubbe hit wel in to ȝoure cakes and al abrood so Þat ȝour cakes be oueral alyche whijt and Þanne drie hit vp.
[§60]
Another manner. Also it may be done in this manner. But it is never so good nor so clean as is the first doings [process] before said and written. Take 4 parts or more or less which you want of black soap and put it in a clean cornedish [dish made from horn?] and then put 1 part of sal Peytow [a salt], that is to say of Greek [or great] salt, somewhat dried beforehand and then ground to powder, and after that take a curved knife and mix both matters wel together with this in the same cornedish as you know [used before] until you see that all the matter turns into fair white soap. And when you see that all the matter is fair turned into white soap and looks like other white soap, take and gather it cleanly together with your crooked knife and put it in molds made for the same thing, and let it stand to dry until it be all fully dried and hardened up somewhat stiff in the same molds; and if you would set a mark upon your soap then you must mark that as soon as it is somewhat more than half dry, and then take it out of the molds with a thread or with a small wire as the way. And then set all your cakes of soap as many as you have on fair smooth boards to dry unto the time that they be all fully dried and dried throughout; and in the drying thereof if it sweat out any matter of salt as it will commonly do and dry up again thereon [excess lye], take and wipe it away with a cloth, and so do always as it comes out, and after that take and annoint all your cakes all about withouten [on the outside] with other white soap and rub it well onto your cakes and all about so that your cakes be overall alike white and then dry it up.
[§61]
ȝit whijt sope in anoÞer manere. Forto make whijt sope in anoÞere manere. First atte bybynnyng take Þe halfe a large pekk and sumwhat more of clene sifted ayssches of ook and put hem in an erÞerne pot of an .iij. or .iiij. galouns of mesure, and Þerto put a tweye galouns of hoot scaldyng watre, and Þanne stere hem wel togidres with a staf, and Þanne keuere Þy pot and late hit stonde til on Þe morwe, Þat is to wyte by a day naturel or more, and Þanne late Þy liȝe renne vpon tweyne vnces large or more of vnqweynt lyme, or ells, whanne Þu hast put in Þy pot Þat half pekke of sifted aissches, tak and leye Þer abouen tweye large vnces or more of Þy lyme vnqueynt, and Þanne abouen alle Þat take and poure twey galouns of hote seÞyng watre, and Þanne medle hem alle wel togidres with Þy staf, and late hit stonde by a day naturel or more. And Þanne late Þy liȝe renne, and Þanne of Þat lyȝe take Þe .iij. quartes and put hit in a brasyn panne of an .iij. potell and make hit to seÞe, and Þanne whanne hit so doÞ, anoon take and putte Þerto half a pounde of fayre clene talwe of a scheep Þat be clene molten byfore. Þanne take Þe a gode grete staf or ells a po[t]styk and stere wel Þy maters togidres Þerwith. And whan Þy talwe is clene molten in Þy liȝe, take and put Þerto half an vnce of fayre whijt salt and stere hem wel togidres; Þanne take Þe a quarter of an vnce of fayre whete flour and menge hit with a litul porcioun of Þe colde lyȝe, and Þanne drawe hit Þurw a lynnen cloÞ into a dissche in Þe manere of a starche; and Þanne put Þilke starche to Þyn oÞere maters in Þyn brasyn panne, and Þanne stire hem wel alle togidres with Þy potstik, and ȝif hit arise take and where hit with a ladul, and Eueremore be stiryng Þereamonge vntil Þy matere become so Þikke Þat Þu myȝt se Þe grounde of Þy vessel in Þe steryng, and also Þat hit stonde so stille as Þu puttist hit with Þy potstyk withouten rennynge aȝen togidres, Þat is Þe verray signe what hit is ynowh. And Þanne after Þis ȝif hit so happe in Þyn wurchyng Þat Þy liȝe go by hymsilf, and Þy talwe by hitsilf, take and put anoÞer quart of Þy liȝe Þerto, and seÞe hit aȝen til hit come at Þe same Þiknesse as hit was byfore. And Þanne ‘at’ Þe secunde seÞyng ȝif hit so happe to go by hitsilfe aȝen, take and put anoÞer quart of Þy liȝe Þerto, and seÞe hit aȝen Þe Þridde tyme, and ȝif hit so happe Þe Þridde tyme Þat eche of hem renne by hitsilf aȝen, take and put Þerto Þe Þridde quart of lyȝe and seÞe hit aȝen vntil hit be of Þe same Þyknesse Þat hit owte forto be. And Þus and in Þus manere reherce Þis manere of wurchyng byfore seyde vntil Þu seest Þat Þy maters holden hem al wel togidres in Þy panne without eny differnyng or partynge oon from anoÞere. For wyte wel, til Þe fatnesse of Þe talwe be clene ouerecomen, Þy materials wole neuer holde hem togidres ariȝt, and Þanne Þerfore as longe as Þu seest Þat Þy materials differnen asondre, adde Þerto more liȝe and seÞe hit aȝen til hit be Þykke ynow, whiche Þu myȝt knowe by Þat token byfore seyde and writen. Whanne hit is at Þat state byfore seyde take hit doun from Þe fire and put hit in a molde Þat be moisted byforn with watre, and sette hit on an euene borde, and so late hit drie vp in Þe same molde vpon a fayre cake of sope as Þe manere is, and Þanne hit is ydo. And wite wel eueremore after Þese proporciouns bifore seyde and writen, ȝe may make Þerof as grete porciouns as ȝe wole, so Þat ȝe take in ȝour wurchyng more large vessels and grettere quantites of ȝour materials.
[§61]
Get white soap in another way. For to make white soap in another way. First at the beginning take the half a large peck and somewhat more of clean sifted ashes of oak and put them in an earthen pot of 3 or 4 gallons of measure, and thereto put twelve gallons of hot scalding water, and then stir it well together with a staff, and then cover the pot and let it stand until the morning, that is to know by a natural day [24 hours] or more, and then let the lye run upon twelve ounces big or more of unquenched lime [unslaked lime, calcium oxide], or else, when you have put in your pot that half peck of sifted ashes, take and lay there about two large ounces or more of your unquenched lime, and then above all that take and pour two gallons of hot seething water, and then mix it all well together with your staff, and let it stand by a natural day [24 hours] or more. And then let the lye run, and then of that lye take 3 quarts and put it in a braising pan of 3 potels [measurement] and make it to seethe [simmer], and then when it so does, immediately take and put thereto half a pound of fair clean tallow of sheep that be clean melted before. Then take yourself a good great staff or else a potstick and stir well your matters together therewith. And when the tallow is cleanly melted in the lye, take and put thereto half an ounce of fair white salt and stir it well together; then take a quarter of an ounce of fair wheat flour and mix it with a little portion of the cold lye, and then draw it through a linen cloth into a dish in the manner of starch; and then put this starch to your other matters in your braising pan, and then stir them well all together with your potstick, and if it rises take and wear it [down, mix well] with a ladle, and ever more be stirring amongst until the matter become so thick that you must see the ground of the vessel in the stirring, and also that it stands so still as you put it with the potstick without running together again, that is the very sign that it is enough. And then after this if it so happens in your [cooking] that the lye go by himself [separates], and the tallow by himself [separates], take and put another quart of your lye thereto, and simmer it again until it comes at the same thickness as it was before. And then at the second simmering if it so happens to go by himself again [separates], take and put another quart of your lye thereto, and simmer it again the third time, and if it so happens the thirds time that each of them run by themselves again [separates], take and put thereto the third part of lye and simmer it again until it is of the same thickness that it should be. And thus and in this way practice this way of [soap making] before described until you see that your matters hold them al well together in your pan without any differentiating or parting one from another. For know well, until the fatness of the tallow is clean overcome, your materials will never hold themselves together correctly, and then therefore as long as you see that your materials separate, add thereto more lye and simmer it again until it be thick enough, which you must know by that token before said and written. When it is at that state before said take it down from the fire and put it in a mold that is moistened beforehand with water, and set it on a level board, and so let it dry in the same mold into a fair cake of soap as is the way, and then it is enough. And know well forever after these proportions before said and written, you make make thereof as great portions as you wish, so that you take [use] in your [soap making] more large vessels and greater quantities of your materials.
From
The Trinity Encyclopedist
T Cambridge, Trinity College, MS 0.9.30 [#0370]
A publication from EEBO Early English Books Online (p.59-62)
[§C1] Blak sope schal be maad of capital and of oyle
togidre. ‘Capital’ is a lye: yt is maad of the axes of been halm {eÞer of wod
ashen} and vnsleckid lym, but Þe axis schule be double to Þe lyme, and it schal
be maad in the maner of lie, but after Þat it haÞ Þe strengÞe of Þe Þrift of Þe
firste axen Þat Þou heldist it on: Þu schalt hilde it on newe axen til [it] be
wel maad. It mot be cleer as lye, and so strong and Þicke Þat it wole bere an
ey Þat it synke not to Þe ground. And Þanne put Þe clere lye in a vessel wel
closid to Þe morwe… [Thereafter as T §58, to f.196v]
[§C1] Black soap shall be made of capital and of oil
together. ‘Capital’ is a lye: it is made of the ashes of [bean stalks?] {or of
wood ashes} and unslaked lime, but the ashes should be double to the lime, and
it shall be made in the manner of lye, but after that it has the strength of
the leach of the first ashes that thou hold it on: you shall hold it on new
ashes until it is well made. It must be clear as lye, and so strong and thick
that it will bear an egg that it sink not to the ground. And then put the clear
lye in a vessel well closed to the [next] morning… [Thereafter as T §58, to
f.196v]
From S7 London,
British Library, MS Sloane 73 [#1700]
[Remainders of Text C, the majority ed. with The Trinity
Encyclopedist, p. 3.]
A publication from EEBO Early English Books Online (p.204-205)
All translations © by Susan Verberg, 2017
