14-15th century soap recipes from The Crafte of Lymming and the Maner of Steyning, O.S. 347, part 3.

The Crafte of Lymming and the Maner of Steyning. O.S. 347.

Middle English Recipes for Painters, Stainers, Scribes and Illuminators. Edited by Mark Clarke. The Early English Text Society, published by the Oxford University Press, 2016.

© Translations by Susan Verberg, 2017

S7 London, British Library, MS Sloane 73 [#1700]

Part III. Individual Manuscripts; BL Sloane 73 (p. 204, 205, 206)

[Remainders of Text C, the majority edited with The Trinity Encyclopedist, p. 3.; blogged previously]

[§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.196^v]

[§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 you hold [pour] 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 Trinity §58, to f.196^v]

[§C2] {White Sope} Forto maken and forto turne blak sope into whit [=T §59]

[§C2] {White soap} To make and turn black soap into white [=Trinity §59]

[§C11] {Blak Sope} Here is anoÞer ressert of blac sope. Tak one buschel of wood ayhsis, and .j. bu[sh]el of lym vnquent, and .ij. buschelis of comun aschis, and medle hem wel togidere; Þanne tak .iij. or .iiij. or .v. or .vj. tubbes maad of half barelis ‘or’ of half tunnys, after Þat Þi werk is more or lesse, and set euery vessel by oÞer, and make a hool in euery vessel botme, and leye in euery vessel a quantite of straw; Þanne departe Þi forseide aysthis and put into euery vessel ylyche myche, Þanne tak water and put into euery vessel so Þat Þe aisches be wete Þorwh, and se Þat a litil of Þe water come Þorwhout, and serue so euery vessel, Þanne tak what water Þu wilt and put to Þi firste vessel what quantite Þu wilt after that Þu hast of ayschis, and let renne Þorwhout, and so Þorwhe Þe secunde, and so Þorwhe alle into Þe tyme Þat Þou leye a wollen cloÞ in Þi lye and it dissolue Þerynne, and Þat is Þe assay; Þanne tak a vessel wiÞ a deep botme, a panne or a furneys as Þe nediÞ, more or lesse after Þat Þi werk is, and put yn .iiij. galous of lye and a galoun of oyle de olyue, and raÞir Cyuyle Þan ony oÞer, and raÞur Þe groundis of tunys Þan clere oyle, and seÞ hem wiÞ strong fyer, and stere it wel among, and so contynue it to it wexe Þikke and blak, and Þis is Þe assay: tak a sklice and tak vp awey, and leye it vpon a cold ston, and whanne it is Þikke and blak ynowh, sette it fro Þe fyer, and put it in a barell or yn anoÞer vessel swich as Þu wilt.

[§C11] {Black Soap} Here is another recipe for black soap. Take one bushel of wood ashes and 1 bushel of unquenched lime, and 2 bushels of common ashes, and mix them well together, then take 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 tubs made of half barrels or of half tuns, after that the work is more or less [occasional], and set every vessel by the other [could also mean on top of each other], and make a hole in every bottom, and lay in every vessel a quantity of straw; then take the previously mentioned ashes and put into every vessel [the same], then take water and put into each vessel what quantity you want as that you have of ashes, and let it run throughout, and so through the second, and so through all until the time you lay a woolen cloth in the lye and it dissolves therein, and that is the assay; Then take a vessel with a deep bottom, a pan or a furnace as is needed, more or less after that your work is, and put in 4 gallons of lye and one gallon of oil of olive, and [???], and [?] the grounds of [?] then clear oil [???], and cook [simmer] it with strong fire, and stir it well together, and so continue this until it becomes thick and black, and this is the assay [test]: take a slice, take it up away, and lay it on a cold stone, and when it is thick and black enough [it does not slide down and pool], set it off the fire, and put it in a barrel or in another vessel as such as you want.

[§C12] {Whit sope} Tak twey bushell of wood ayschis, and a buschel of lyme, and Þre buschelis of comun ayschis so Þat be no ayschis of ook Þerynne, and brenn Þi comun aysches twyes, and make a leye in Þe same wyse as Y reherside bifore, and put it in a vessel wiÞ a flat botme, and in .ij. galouns of Þat lye put .iiij. li. of talowhe, what talowhe euer it be, and euer as it seÞiÞ put Þerto more of lye, into Þe tyme Þat o galoun be put yn [.vi. tymes], and loke it be wel ysterid among, and tak vp Þerof alwey to it be swich as Þu wilt haue, and contynue Þe fire wel and Þu schalt not faile.

[§C12] {White soap} Take two bushels of wood ashes, and a bushel of lime, and three bushels of common ashes so that there be no ashes of oak therein, and burn [I think he meant slake] the common ashes twice, and make a lye in the same manner as [is said on the reverse] before, and put it in a vessel with a flat bottom, and in 2 gallons of this lye put in 4 liters of tallow, what ever [kind of] tallow it might be, and ever as it cooks [simmer] put thereto more of the lye, until the time a gallon is put into it (6 times), and look it be well stirred around, and take up thereof [when it gets thick?] as you would have, and continue the fire well and you shall not fail.

D Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.v.76 [#0379]

Part III, Smaller Collections (p. 222)

[§25] To make Spaynes sope wirke it Þus. Take a li. of gode blake sope, and a quarteron of whete flour pūred, and a quarteron of small salte, and temper Þam all togeder with cleyn water, and crusse Þam well togeder with Þi handes, and Þan put it in a forme made for it, and late it drye vp on a kake, and when it es nowther full drie no ful wett set Þeron Þi marke, and late it dru vp Þan at all Þe fulle agauyne Þe wynde and noght agayne sonne.

[§25] To make Spanish soap work it thus. Take a liter of good black soap, and a quarter of wheat flour sieved, and a quarter of small salt, and temper them all together with clean water, and crush them well together with your hands, and then put it in a form made for it, and let it dry up into a cake, and when it is not yet fully dry nor fully wet set thereupon your mark, and let it dry up then expose fully to the wind and not in the sun.

London, British Library, MS Sloane 963 [#1845]

Part III, Smaller Collections (p. 244)

[§BI] Forto make Frensche sope. Take vnqueynt lym and make powder therof, and bene assches, and medele all these togedyr, sumdel more of the bene assches than of the lym, and putte alle thses togedyr in oylle that ys old, and lete hit boylle togeder tyl that hit be thykke. And Þanne put hit in cofyns and hit ys thanne jmaad.

[§BI] For to make French soap. Take unquenched lime and make it into a powder, and bean ashes, and mix all these together, somewhat more of the bean ashes than of the lime, and put all these together in oil which is old, and let it boil together until it is thick. Then put it in molds and it is then made.

[§B2] Forto make whyt sope. Take bene assches, and nyȝ as moche of vnquent lym, and make thereof fyn lye; and of that lye take a galoun and to that galoun take o pynte of water that lym ys slekked in, and putte hyt togedyr, and put therto .iiij. li. of fyn puryd schepys talowgh, and late hit boylle tyl hit be ryȝt thykke, and thanne cofyn hyt, and Þanne hit ys maad.

[§B2] For to make white soap. Take bean ashes, and not as much of unquenched lime, and make thereof a fine lye; and of that lye take a gallon and to that gallon take a pint of water that the lime was slaked in, and put this together, and put thereto 4 liters of fine pure [or putrid] sheep tallow, and let it boil until it is right thick, and then mold it, and then it is made.

Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 750 [#2330]

Part III, Smaller Collections (p. 250)

[§A1] Forto mak whyte sope. Tak stondyng water, and askys of bene straw, and temper hem in a vessel, and set hem over the fyre and let hym bole wel togedre; a Þan put to hem a procion of vnsleccyd lyme, and bole hem wel togedre to Þat le wyl bere a ney, Þan tak doune thy panne and clens clene that lee Þrough a clothe; an put of that lee 3 potels in a panne, and do Þarto a povnd of clene moltyn talow, and bole hem wel togedre til it wex sumdel thyk. And Þan put Þerto a quarton of smal salte, and bole it til it wex wele thyke. Set it Þan downe and let it kele, and whan it is colde tak a sclyse and aforou Þroughoute thy mater in the panne, and poure out Þi blak water clene, than set it aȝeyn ouer the fyre and let it bole, and put Þerto a quartoun of bene askys temprid with colde lee as afore, and bole al togedre til it be thyk, and annone put it Þen fast into formes made like cofyns, and let it stond and kele to it be hard.

[§A1] For to make white soap. Take standing water, and ashes of bean straw, and temper it in a vessel, and set it over the fire and let it boil well together; and then put to it a portion of unslaked lime, and boil it wel together to that [it will bear an egg?], then take down your pan and clense clean the lye through a cloth; and put of that lye 3 potels [half a gallon] in a pan, and do thereto a quart of small salt [broken in small pieces], and boil it until it becomes well thick. Set it then down and let it cool, and when it is cold take a whisk and mix throughout the matter in the pan, and pour out the black water cleanly, then set it again over the fire and let it boil, and put thereto a quart of bean ashes tempered with cold lye as before, and boil it all together until it is thick, and at once put it then fast into formes made like coffins [molds] and let it stand and cool until it is hard.

[§A2] Forto mak whyte sope. Tak .iij. partes of lyme, and ‘two of’ askys of asche tree, and styr hem well, and powre oute the water, and sethe hem well togedre, and than streyne ‘Þi le’ thorow a clothe, and set it apon the feer and sethe we[ll] to the tyme will strik of a feder fro the pen; than tak .j. pownd of talow to euery galon of lee, and let it sethe well to it wexe thyk, and Þan put in salt .iij. or .iiij. hanful, and let it seythe a qwyle, and tak it doune.

[§A2] For to make white soap. Take 3 parts of lime, and two of ashes of the ash tree, and stir it well, and pour out the water, and cook [simmer] it well together, and then strain the lye through a cloth, and set it upon the fire and cook well until the time it will strike off the feather from the pen [dissolve the feather; makes it crumbly]; then take 1 pound of tallow to every gallon of lye, and let it cook [simmer] well until it becomes thick, and then put in salt 3 or 4 handfuls, and let it cook [simmer] a while, and take it down.

14-15th century soap recipes from The Crafte of Lymming and the Maner of Steyning, O.S. 347, part 2.

[§28 i-viii] Forto make whit sope. [i] Take onqueynt lyme and lye made of bene asken and make hit togeders inne Þe maner of past, and to .vij. galons of Þe lye putte .ij. of swet. [ii] Also inne anoÞer maner. Take .j. li. of poudir of qwent lyme and a li. of blak sope and medele Þem togeder with a sklise, and Þanne make hit up in a for[m]e on a kake and late hit dryen up. [iii] Also inne another maner. Take .j. li. of moltyn talowe and .j. li. blak sope and medel hem togedir with a sklise, and Þanne make hit on a cake. [iv] Also inne another maner. Take Þe .j. li. of faire floure and .j. li. of nesshe sope, and medele Þem togedir with faire clene water, and Þane make hit up inne a cake inne a forme of tre made for Þe nonys. [v] Also another maner. Take .j. li. o whit wode axen, and .j. li. of blak sope, and medele Þem togedir with faire water and make on a cake. [vi] Forto make white Spaynesshe sope. Take .j. li. of gode blak sope, and .iij. quartrouns of a li. of faire whete floure, and a quartroun of a li. of smal salte, and tempre Þem well alle togeders with clene watre inna a corne-disshe with Þi hond, Þanne put hit inne forme made for Þe nonys and late hit drye up on a kake, and qwanne hit is not ful drye / [vertical] ne ful wete, take and sette Þerupon Þi marke, and late hit Þanne drye up at Þe ful ageyn Þe wynde and nouȝt ageyn Þe sonne. [vii] Also anoÞere maner. Take Þe .j. li. of faire whete floure, and .j. li. of blak sope, and a quartroun of smal whit salt, and medele Þem alle togedirs with Þi hand with faire clene water in a vessel; Þanne whanne hit is wel medled put hit inne a forme made for Þe nonys of .iiij. bredis and drye hit up [viii] Also anoÞer maner. Take Þe .j. li. of faire bene floure, and di li. of nesshe sope, and .j. quartroun of salt comoun, and medel hem togedir with clene watre and so ÞerwiÞ as Þou doost with Þi oÞeris.

[§28 i-viii] For to make white soap.

[i] Take unquenched lime and lye made of bean [or good] ashes and make it together in the manner of the past, and to 7 gallons of the lye put 2 of the suet.

[ii] Also in another manner. Take 1 pound of powder of quenched lime and a pound of black soap and mix them together with a whisk, and then make it up in a form of a cake and let it dry up.

[iii] Also in another manner. Take 1 pound of molten tallow and 1 pound of black soap and mix them together with s whisk, and them make it in a cake.

[v] Also in another manner. Take yourself 1 pound of good flour and 1 pound of [nesshe] soap, and mix them together with good clean water, and then make it up in a cake in a form of wood made for the [nonys].

[v] Also another manner. Take 1 pound of white wood ashes, and 1 pound of black soap, and mix them together with fair water and make as a cake.

[vi] For to make Spanish soap. Take 1 pound of good black soap, and 3 quarters of a pound of fair wheat flour, and a quarter of a pound of small salt, and temper them well all together with clean water in a [corn-dish] with your hand, then put it in a form made for the [nonys] and let it dry up as a cake, and when it is not fully dry, nor fully wet, take and set thereupon your mark, and let it then dry up at the full aging the wind, and not aging the sun [let it dry fully in the wind, and not in the sun].

[vii] Also another manner. Take the 1 pound of fair wheat flour, and 1 pound of black soap, and a quarter of small white salt, and mix them all together with your hand with fair clean water in a vessel; then when it is well mixed put it in a form made for the [nonys] of 4 breath and dry it up.

[viii] Also another manner. Take the 1 pound of fair bean [or good] flour, and the pound of [nessche] soap, and1 quarter of common salt, and mix them together with clean water and so therewith as you do with the others.

From Part III Tr Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.45 [#0375]

A publication from EEBO Early English Books Online (p.131-132)

14-15th century soap recipes from The Crafte of Lymming and the Maner of Steyning, O.S. 347, part 1.

[§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.196^v]

[§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.196^v]

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

the Notandissimi Secreti de L'Arte Profvmatoria

The NOTANDISSIMI SECRETI DE L’ARTE PROFVMATORIA (1555) - A fare Ogli, acque, paste, balle, moscardini, uccelletti paternostri, e tutte l’arte in iera come si ricerca, si ne le citta di Napoli del Reame, come in Roma, e quivi in Venetia nuova mente posti in luce. (To make oils, water, pomander, soap balls, musk comfits, little birds, prayerbeads, all the art of previous research, in the city of the Kingdom of Naples, as in Rome, and there in Venetia new minds has brought to light.) lists 30 soap recipes in medieval Italian, including how to make lye and soap from scratch, and how to make white soap. As this manuscript is in medieval Italian the information given is not generally accessible, and as it looks like it lists information not found elsewhere, including on how to make white soap, I started the time consuming process of translation.

As a preview of things to come, here are a couple of tentative translations, including the original Italian text for those of you who read medieval Italian.

Translations © 2016, by Susan Verberg


A fare balle di sapone odorifere, & eccellenti.
HABBIATE oncie una di sapone damascino bianco, & tiratelo bene sopra la piolla oucro piagna,  poi habbiate il mortale,  pistatelo be fottile, et poi habbiate una ampollina con un poco di acqua rosa, con un poco di canella tagliata minuta, che habbia buono odore, & mescolate con ditta pasta dia sapone,  farete sopra la centre calda sentir uno poco di caldo,  & poi habbiate lo mortaletto,  pistate ben sottile uno grano di muschio, & uno grano di ambracane,  uno grano di zibetto, et fate che sia bene trito, togli ditta acqua rosa, copartila bene con ditti odori, dipoi metteti la mistura in una ampolla, & poi pigliati il ditto sapone, che e nel mortale et aggiongeteli quella sopraditta mistura a poco a poco madandola bene, & questo faretti tante uolte, che ditta mistura di sapone chia la sera lauareteui quando andareti al letto, & lasciares ti star cosi tutta la notte, continuando andara uia presto in cinque ouer sei uolte.

To make soap balls scented, & excellent.
Have one once of white Damascus soap, shave well with a carpenter’s plane or similar, until it is gone, then use a mortar, stamp until small, then use a vial with a little rose water, with a little cinnamon cut small, that has a good smell, & mix with the aforementioned soap paste, you will heat above the central fire until it feels a little hot. Then use the little mortar and grind small one grain of musk, & one grain of ambergris, one grain of civet, and grind it well, remove the remains with rosewater, and mingle well with these aforementioned scents, afterwards put the mixture in a vial. And then take the mentioned soap, which is in the mortar and add unto this soap the mentioned mixture gradually well, and highlight with this gum-like soap mixture when washing to go to bed, & leave the remnants undisturbed all night, and continue this without delay for five or else six times.


A far ballotte di sapon gentile odorifere quanto sia possibile.
HABBIATE sapon bianco lire doi, & biacca oncie doi, hirios oncia una, muschio grani quattro, prima pestare ti I sapone nel mortale ben sottile, & po toglieti acqua rosa & incorporate insieme, e faretine ballotte, & sarano pfette.

To make gentle soap tablets scented as much as possible.
Have two pounds white soap, & white lead two ounces, hirios [orris root, see previous comment] one ounce, musk four grains, before you pound the soap very thin in a mortar, & then take rosewater & combine into small balls, & and it will be perfect.

Comment: Hirios is made from iris, but there is question as to which one. It can translate to orris root or Rhizoma Iridis which is derived from I. Germanica, I. pallida and I. Florentina, or it can translate to ireos or Raphanitis which is a variety of the plant Iris illyrica, or sword lily. The word is not included in the 1611 Queen Anne's New World Dictionary.


A far indurire il sapone bianco, & lustro, duro, & farlo fortissimo.
PIGLIATE de la lume di feccia come il sapone e bollito cinque hore, e gettatlili del sale asciutto ne la caldaia, poi fareti bollir la liscia debile per ogni lira una di sale, e metteti oncia una di lume di feccia ne la ditta liscia debile, et faretila cosi bollire un quarto d’hora, & dipoi scolate ditta liscia da la lume, & poneteli il sale, et lasciatela, ben discare, et poi gittati sopra il sapone come insegna la ricotta, & uederete questa durezza, & lustrezza che dara ditta lume di feccia al ditto sapone bianco.

To harden white soap, & bright-shining, lasting, and made very strong.
Take alum faecis (burnt cream of tartar) as well as soap and boil for five hours; throw dry salt in the boiler, then boil with weak lye for every one pound of salt, and put one ounce of alum faecis in the aforementioned weak lye, and boil well for a quarter of an hour, and afterwards drain the lye with the alum, add the salt, leave it, grind well, and then throw over the soap in the manner of making ricotta, see it is hard, and the luster the mentioned alum faecis gives to the mentioned white soap.

Comment: In spot cleaning soaps lume di feccia (also known as lume de fezza) clearly translates to alum faecis or burnt cream of tartar, as it has an active rol in the cleaning process. In cosmetic soaps it could also conceivably translate to facial alum, but be aware that the literal translation of feccia is the lees of wine accoring to the 1611 Queen Anna's New World Dictionary.


A dare il muschio al sapone.
PIGLIATE de l’anteditto sapone lire doi, & mettetilo in uno catino di terra uetriato, et netto, et con acqua rosa ben fina, e fattelo be tenero, forte mescolando con uno legno, & lasciatelo al sole la state, mescolando forte, et fpesso, & fe’l diuentara duro gittate;I sopra de l’acqua rosa, & cosi per diece giorni ò piu, & quanto piu il tenereti al sole sar à megliore. Dipoi tolleti muschio fino, & soluetilo, come si dirà al sue luo go caratti sei, zibetto in poluere caratti Quattro, canella ben sottile un quarto, et mezzo, mescolate ogni cosa ben insiemenel catino con il sapone, poi disubito mettetilo ne li suoi albarelli di uetro potreti anchora metter incompagnia un quarto di poluere di rose damaschine che’l fara piu soaue, & come sara no li uasi di ueto pieni farai gocciare delle gioccie del muschio soluto ditto di sopra, & cosi farà fatto perfetto, in altro modo anchora si puo fare.

To give musk to soap.
Take the aforementioned soap two pounds, & place it in a earthen bowl covered with glass, well polished [waterproofed], with very fine rosewater, until it is softened, stir well with a piece of wood, and leave it be in the sun, stirring well, and often, until it becomes hard; for rosewater soap, & so for ten days or more, the more it it is kept in the sun, the better. Then for fine musk toilet soap, & that may be dissolved, as mentioned here six caratti, civet powder four caratti, cinnamon well thinned a quarter and a half, stir everything together well in the basin with soap, and then quickly put all in the glass jar, also you could combine a quarter of powder of damaschine roses to make it even more sweet, if the glass vessel is not full with the drip drops of the musk solution as spoken above, to do it perfect, in another way it also can be done.


A darli altri odori al sapon sopra ditto.
PIGLIATE del sapone in pane che fia stato mescolato con l’acqua rosa, & co effo mescolate oglio di belzoi, di storax, & di naranze, & di quella forte che ui piacerà, & mescolati ben al sole, & farà fatto. Potrai anchora darli odore con alter pluere odorifere, come sandali, citrine, magalepi, canella, garofil, hirios, cipri, & alter cosec he uogliono, & far à se condo la proprietà, & forza fua, & ancho secundo il gusto de la persona che gli piace che d’uno odore, a chi d’un’altro, ma il meglio è fiori de naranzi, ouer di cedro freschi, che siano lira una : & pestarli nel mortale con il sapone, che sia stato al sole & mescolato con acqua rosa lire doi, & pstate benisieme, & mettetilo poi nel suo pittarello di uetro uetriato, & sera al Proposito molto bene di diuersi colori ne potreti fare come ue deroti qui drieto leggendo.
 
To give other scent to soap as previously mentioned.
Take a soap loaf that is mixed with rose water, & mingle with oil of benzoin, storax, and of naranze [naranzi; sweet orange, Citrus aurantium], with the strength that you do like, and let it mingle well in the sun, & it will do that. Also you can give it fragrance with other diverse scents like sandali citrini [yellow saunders wood], magalepi [Prumus mahaleb], cinnamon, garofil [gilliflower, see previous comment], hirios [orris root, see previous comment], cipri [galingale or Cyperus longus], & change the things he wants, according to the quality, & strength desired, & that also matches the taste of the person whom likes that kind of scent to those of another; but the best is flowers de naranzi, or fresh cedar, which is a penny: and crush them in a mortar with the soap, leave it in the sun & mixed with two pennies of rosewater, & pound well together, & then put it in its small earthen pot with a glass covering [lid] & it shall be spoken of very well, I could do in different colors as there are directions [instructions] here after reading [later in text].

Comment: Garofil or garofali translates to both gilliflower and cloves in the 1611 Queen Anne's New World Dictionary. In other languages gilliflower is used interexchangeably between gillyflower and cloves, to make it even more confusing. Gillyflower is the carnation Dianthus caryphyllus, cloves are the dried seeds of the clove shrub and they are not related. In my experience, if plant matter is indicated carnations are most likely (mostly seen in brewing) and if a powder is requested it is probably the spice cloves. It is up to you to make the final decision!


Sapone da mettere nelli bossoli, ouero in albarelli.
PIGLIATE liscia di sapone, cioè della secunda acqua, & uno secchio ouero boccale della prima, cafora soldi doi, et soldi doi di storax liquido, & mettetili nella ditta liscia: dipoi mettetilo al fuoco in uno paruolo ouero in una stagnatella co una lira ouer due di grasso di manzo, tagliato in pezzetti minuti, & scolatilo, & poi mescolati fino che’l ui piace, & s’elui paresse troppo liquido mettetili una scutella di sapone granato: dipoi leuatilo dal fuoco sempre mescolando fino che sia rifredito, delquale potreti empire li uasi uostri ouero albarelli, o bossoli, & questo fa le carni luster, molesine, nette, & biache, & tanto belle quanto si puo piu dire, se con quello ui uoleti lauare.
 
Soap to put in the ointment box, or else in jars.
Take lye of soap, that is to say of the second water, & one pitcher or rather else a drinking pot, campfor one soldi, and one soldi of liquid storax, & mix in the mentioned lye, then heat a kettle or else baking pan with  one pound or else two of beef fat, cut into tiny pieces, & strain, & and then mix up as it pleases you, & if the liquid is too weak [either strength of lye or density of mixture] mix in one scoop of grainy soap: then when it rises take from the heat stirring constantly for a long time until it comes together, when it is time you can to fill your vessel or else jar, or ointment box, & this makes the skin luster, smoothened, unspotted, & white, & so much more beautiful than you can say, if with that you will wash.


Saponetti da barbiero a la Fiorentina.
PIGLIATE sapone Gaetano piolato come sapete, e di poi seccatelo al sole, in modo che lo possiate tamisare ben sottile, & habbiate garofali, hirios, oldano come ui pare, e di queste cose fatene poluere sottilissima, & per ogni lire otto di sapone sopraditto ponete oncie dieci, otto di, questa mistur a di fpecie, di modo che ogni lire tre di fpecie farete lire quindeci di sapone, & con acqua rosa, & un poco di muschio, et pesta te, & incorporate ogni cosa ditta, & habbia e la uostra forma, e fatene balle o saponetti, & è cosa gentile, & stgnorile.

Soap balls of the barbers of Florence.
Take gaetan soap as you know, let it dry in the sun, so that it can be sieved into small pieces, & have garofali [cloves, see previous comment], hirios [orris root, see previous comment], oldano [francinsence] as you think, for these things divide the small powder, & per eight pounds of soap mentioned add ten ounces, or eight, of this spice mixture, so that every three pounds of spice is part of fifteen pounds of soap, & with rosewater, & a little musk, and pound well, & incorporate everything as told, & have your forms, to make soap balls, & generally gentle, & princely.


A far sapone duro con fuoco.
PIGLIATE le sopraditte robbe, & ponetele a bollire in una caldaia al fuoco, e quando che la bollira gettatili dentro de la farina de amito a poco a poco, & incorporate bene, & lasciate bollir per tre hore, & dipoi leuatela dal fuoco, & mescolate bene per una hora, & dapoi gettatelo ne l’acqua, & habbiate un poco di calcina Bianca, & lasciatela cosi stare per quattro giorni, & uenira duro.

To make hard soap with fire.
Take the aforementioned goods, & put them to boil in a vessel over heat, and when it boils gradually add stoneground flour of starch [wheat], & incorporate well, & let it boil for three hours, & when it rises take it off the fire, & mix well for an hour, & afterwards add some water, & have a little white lime, & let it be so for four days, & becomes hard.


Sapone muschiato.
PIGLIATE muschio quanto uoi pare, & pestatelo sottilmente, & metteteli uno poco d’acqua rosa, & incorporate insieme, & scaldatelo in uno gotto ouer pignatta quato a oui pare che la pignatta sia uetriata, & cosi calda com’ella sara gittatela sopra’l sapone, che sia i poluere, come dice di sopra, et come hauerete fatto queste compositioni me scolatelo sottosopra, & uoltatelo bene, & dapoi lo ponerete in un uaso, & di sopra poneteli muschio puro, & mescolate con uno stillo, & astroppate bene con carta quanto piu far à suecchio tanto piu far à megliore.

Musk soap.
Take musk as much as you think, & grind small, & add a little rosewater, & mix together, & heat in a pot or earthen meat pot if it has a glass cover, & as hot as it will and add the mentioned soap, which is powdered, as stated above, and as this mixture has come back down, & turns well, then place it in a vessel, & add put in pure musk, & mix with an sharp stick, & [cover] well with paper as much as a pail so much more the better.


Altro sapon con zibetto.
PIGLIATE sapone tritato come è ditto sopra al sapon muschiato, che’l stia al sole con acqua rosa, et metteti de trio zibetto, & mescolate bene, & se uorreti potrete mettere la ditta poluere a dissoluere muschi, & metter nel sapone, & obturate il uaso ut supra.
 
Another soap with civet.
Take chopped soap like the previously mentioned musk soap, let it stand in the sun with rosewater, put in a trio of civet, & mix well, & as needed you can mix the previously mentioned powder in dissolved musk, & put into the soap, & [cover] the vessel up.


Sapone con il belzoi.
PIGLIATE sapone che sia state al sole, & purgato con un poco di oglio di belzoi, & mescolate, et cosi potrete fa re di oglio di storax ouero oldano, ouero ogn’altro odore che vi piacerà, & farete le vostre balle o saponetti.

Soap with benzoin.
Take soap that has been in the sun, and purged with a little oil of benzoin, & mix, you can also use oil of storax or oldano [frankincence], or another kind of scent you like, & and make your balls or wash-balls.


Sapone con rose.
PIGLIATE sapone trito, che sia sbroffato con l’acqua rosa, & che’l sia stato al sole, & purgato tanto che non senta piu da l’odore del sapone, & dapoi habbiate rose fresche, & che siano pestate bene, et mescolate insieme, et fatene ballotte con ditto sapeon, & rose, e saluatelo in un uaso di ue tro, & questo è il uostro sapone rosato, et cosi potrete fare di ogn’altro odore, questa regola serue a tutti gli ingeniosi, & efperti intelletti che si uoleno dilettare di quest’arte.
 
Soap with roses.
Take soap crumbled very small, which is sprinkled with rosewater, that was in the sun, & purged so that is does not smell anymore of soap, & then take fresh roses, and crush them well, and stir together, and make round bullets with said soap, & rose, and save in a vase of glass, & this is your pink soap, and so you can do with other scents, this rule serves all naturally, & intellectual experts willingly delight of this art.


Sapone ad un’altro modo buono, & bello.
PIGLIATE sapeon gaettano, & sia piolato come narea l’altra ricotta lire sei, sapone negro lira meza, & farete come dice di sopra, & far à auantaggiato.
 
Soap in another good way, & beautiful.
Take Gaetan soap, & be it shaved like narea [?] or instead cooked six pounds, black soap half a pound, & do as I say above, & stay far ahead of peers.


Item altro sapone. - Ingredients other than soap.
Pigliate sapone gaettano piolato fecco, e poluerigiato fate che’l sia a peso           lire.4
Take shaved Gaetan soap left overs, and powders which shall weigh 4 pounds.
Hirios                       onc.6                        Orris root                6 ounce
Oldano                     onc.2                        Frankincence           2 ounce
Storax calamita        onc.1                        Storax calamita       1 ounce
Storax liquida           onc.meza                 Liquid storax           half ounce
Rose rosse                onc.1                        Red Rose                1 ounce
Poluere de cipri        onc.3                        Galingale powder   3 ounce
Muschio                  grani.6                      Musk                       6 grains
Et con acqua rosata faretti come è di sopra.
And with rosewater as is highlighted above.


Item un’altro modo. -Ingredients in another way.
Pigliate sapone Gettano piolato, & in poluere lire.8
Take Gettano soap shaved, & in powder 8 pounds.
Oldano                   onc.4                        Frankincence          4 ounce
Garofali                 onc.6                        Gilliflower              6 ounce
Hirios                    onc.2                        Orris root                2 ounce
Storax liquida        onc.2                        Liquid storax          2 ounce
Muschio                drag.meza                 Musk                      half a dragme
Et fate poluere, & imbeue tilo con l’acqua rosata, et pestatelo nel mortale di piombo caldo, & la mazza calda, & fatte balle ouer saponetti al modo uostro utsupra.
Make powder, & moisten with rosewater, and grind in a mortar of hot lead, & a hot iron pestle, & make balles or wash-balls, out of your way.


Sapone fino.
PIGLIATE sapon damaschino radato, & acqua rosa Muschiata, hirios biancho la terza parte & storax liquido, & coponenti & fareti il uostro saponetto come sapete, o con stampe, & come a uoi parera, e lasciatelo indurire a l’hombra.
 
Fine soap.
Take damaschino soap radato, & musky rose water, white hirios [orris root, see previous comment] a third part, & liquid storax, & put it all together, & decorate your wash-balls as you prefer, or with stamps, & as per your opinion, and let it harden in the shade.

Miscellaneous Middle Dutch Soap recipes.

All three recipes are attributed to medieval Dutch manuscripts, unfortunately none of them are specifically dated. They are likely of a similar time frame as T Bouck va Wondre and Dat Batement van Recepten, which are both from the 16th century.


From the Jonghe Lanfranc:
Hier beghint den Jon Lanfranc, ende hy beghint erst an dat hooft. 
Folio 16va: Ofte nemt dese salue: Nemt zwinen smout ende puluer uan spanschen groen ende seepe: dit minget alte samen ende doeter toe ene lettel leuende calc, dit minget ouer een jn eenen mortier ende dat legt der op. Dese salue vorseit doet alle fistelen, mormale ende alle teerende onghemaken. 

Here begins the Jonghe [young] Lanfranc, and he begins first at the head:
Folio 16va: Or take this salve: Take hogs smout [?] and powder of spanish green and soap: mix this all together and add one spoon living chalk, mix this together in a mortar, and put this on. This salve helps against fistula's, normal and all lingering discomforts.

part of the Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie (editors), Cd-rom Middelnederlands. Sdu Uitgevers/Standaard Uitgeverij, Den Haag/Antwerpen 1998.
For the digital text: http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_lan013rmul01_01/colofon.php
© 2012 dbnl 


Recepten uit [Recipes from] Hs. 8o MS. Med. 3 (Kassel) (no 1-196)
12. Item noch ieghen tselue. Neemt nitrum, dats .i. maniere van zoute, ende asyl ende (fol. 3r) seepe ende olie ende siedet te gadere tote et dicke wert. Ende daermet salft die iocte biden viere. 

12. Item another of the same. Take nitrum [natron, native soda], that's a type of salt, and asyl [?], and (fol.3r) soap and oil and simmer to cook until it becomes thick. And therewith anoints the iocte biden viere [joints that hurt?].


 Recepten uit [Recipes from] Hs. Sloane 345 (Londen) (no 494-1217)
 628. Thoe maken spaense seepe. Recipe weedasche ende leuende calck ende water ende maket daer loghe af. Ende dodet yn enen potte ende byneden eyn cleyne gaat heuet ende stoppet deen pot dichte thoe, ende latet .ij. daghe staen, dan lucket dat gat vanden pot op, ende wat daer eerst wt lopet dat hetet capitellum, dat salmen yn loghen doen opt fuer. (fol. 45v) Ende daer thoe salmen olij ghieten, ende sydent hent dicke wort. Oeck soe wert swart wander syedinghe ende kokinge. Mer vildi wytte sepe maken, doet woer dy olij wytte ongel gemact van capitello, dat hetet sapo gallicus et factum est.

628. To make spanish soap. Recipe weed ash [white ash] and living chalk [naturally found chalk] and water and make lye therewith. And put it in a pot and below it a small one, and stop the pot up, and let it stand .ij. days, then open up the hole of the pot, and what comes out first is called capitellum, that together in the lye goes over the fire (fol. 45v) And therein oil should be poured, and simmered until it becomes thick. This is how it becomes black from the simmering and the cooking. But if you want to make white soap, add to your oil liquid only made of capitello, that is called sapo gallicus et factum est.


Willy L. Braekman (ed.), Medische en technische Middelnederlandse recepten. Een tweede bijdrage tot de geschiedenis van de vakliteratuur in de Nederlanden. Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie voor Taal- en Letterkunde, Gent 1975. (Medical and Technical Middle Dutch recipes. A second addition to the history of trade literature in the Netherlands. Royal Flemish Academy for Language and Literature).
For the digital text: http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_med002medi01_01/colofon.php
© 2004 dbnl / Willy L. Braekman

T bouck va wondre - newly translated Dutch soap recipes

Soap recipes from the Dutch Book of Secrets Dat batement van recepten (That House of Recipes); part of T bouk va wondre (The book of wonders) which was printed in 1513. I include both the original Middle Dutch, and my version of the modern English translation.

© Translations by Susan Verberg, 2016.

32. Om seepe te maken, die, suyuere ende wt doe alderhande smetten, hoe dat si oock zijn.

Neemt steenaluyn, bernes een pont ende maket in poeder, wortelen van vlammen oft waterlelien van Florence, ghepulueriseert een half pont, een versch ey, twee pont ende een half spaensche seepe, stampt die voor(screu)en poederen met dat ey ende die seepe, ende maectere ballekens af. Ende dunct v dat een ey niet genoech en is, nemter also vele als ghi wilt, oft als ghi sien sult behoeflijc te zijn,

om dat voorgenoemde te maken.

Ende als ghi die smette wt doen wilt, neemt schoon water, ende baeyt oft wascht die voorscreuen smette van beyde siden van dat laken, ende dan wrijuet met dat voorscreuen balleken, ende laken op laken; dat ghedaen, wascht die vuylicheyt wt met versch water, dat laken wringende om dat vet wt te doen gaen, dan wascht dat laken noch wederom met versch water, ende het sal schoon blijuen.

32. To make soap, that, purifies all sorts of stains, whatever they might be.

Take rock alum, lees [or alum feces which is burned wine lees, or tartar] one pound and make this in a powder, rhizomes of flames or waterlilies of Florence (orris root), pulverized a half pound, a fresh egg, two pounds and a half of spanish soap, stomp the previously mentioned powders with the egg and the soap, and make little balls thereof. And if you think an egg was not enough, take as many as you like, or as you think is enough, to make the previously mentioned.

And if you want to do something to the stain, take clean water, and soak and wash the mentioned stain of both sides of the sheet, and rub with the mentioned ball, and sheet on sheet; that done, wash the dirtiness out with fresh water, and wring the sheet to get rid of the fat, and wash the sheet again with fresh water, and it will stay clean.

35. Om een smette te doen op scharlaken oft gheuerwet fluweel, sulcks dat die verwe niet en verandere noch bedoruen worde.

Neemt van dat cruyt dat die cruyniers ghemeynlijck heeten soponaria, oft volderscruyt, maecter sap af, hetwelcke ghi op die smette doen sult, ende daer een vre op laten, is 't dat in den somer is, ende is 't inden winter, den tijt van vier vren. Dan neemt laew water ende wascht dat laken bouen die smette, is 't dat v dunct datse niet suyuer wt en gaet, doeter noch van dat voerscreuen sap op.

Ende is 't dat scharlaken in geen greyn geverwet en is, doeter half swarte seepe op, ende half van dat sap van dat voorscreuen cruyt, ende plecket op die smette, dan wasschet met werm water, ende die smette sal vergaen, het is gheprobeert ende gheexperimenteert.

35. To do a stain on a scarlate or [gheuerwet] velvet, such that the dye does not change nor corrupts.

Take the herb that the grocer calls saponaria, or volderscruyt [volderskruid, vollerskruid, fullers herb: Saponaria officinalis], make sap of it, which you shall put on the stain, and keep it on an hour, if it is summer, and if it is winter, the time of four hours.Then take luke warm water and wash the sheet atop the stain, if you think that it does not clean, do more of the mentioned sap on top.

And if the scarlet is not dyed in grain, do half black soap on it, and half of the sap of the mentioned herb, and stick it on the stain, then wash with warm water, and the stain should go, it is tried and experimented.

50. Om schoon haye te maken.

Neemt hout van vaele oft eyloof, ende neemter die wterste schorsse af, sonder meer, ende maket tot asschen. Daerna neemt wy(n)gaertwater ontrent een mengele oft cuperken, maect daer looge af, dan wascht dat hooft seer wel daermede ende drooget in de sonne.

Ende als 't half drooge is, neemt witte seepe gewreuen ende wat ontlaten met de voors. looge, ontrent een half schotel vol, ende laet die seepe dunne zijn als honich. Dan maect v hant in die selue seepe nat, ende wrijfter v hayr mede, latet droogen, dan smeerter v hayr wederomme mede tot drie of vier reysen toe, v droogende als bouen, doet dat tweemael ter weeke, ende ghi sult seer schoon hayr hebben.

50. To make clean hair.

Take wood of vaele [?] or ivy, and take off the outer bark, without a doubt, and make it into ash. Then take vineyard water [?] about a mengele [?] or kuipje, make lye with that, then wash the head with it very well and dry in the sun.

And when it is halfway dry, take white soap lathered up with the mentioned lye, about a half dish full, and let the soap be thin like honey. Then make your hand wet in that soap, and rub it into the hair, let it dry, then rub the hair again to three to four more times, drying in between as above, do that twice a week, and you will have clean hair again.

70. Om welriekende seepe te maken teghen die crauwagie.

Neemt wel stercke looge, in de welcke ghi een weynich souts doen sult, ende latet wel t' samen resolueren.; dan neemt een weynich rooswaters, en 't sap van limoenen, ende also vele van die voors. gesouten looghe. Doet daerinne witte seepe gebroken ende wel cleyn gesneden, ende een weynich groffelsnaghelpoeder; dit suldi laten stil staen tot dat worde gelijc deech, het welcke ghi met eenen stoc omrueren sult in een diepe schotel, dan settet in die sonne tot dat die voors. seepe hert wordt, so dat ghi (daer) lichtelijken ballekens af maken moecht, van alsulcke groote als ghi wilt.

Nae dat ghijse gemaect sult hebben, laetse drooghen, ende daermede suldi alle morgen die handen wasschen, ende en hebt daerna geen sorghe meer van crauwagie, want ghi zijt seker datter niet in dit voors, en is dat v letten mach.

70. To make well scented soap against scabies.

Take strong lye, in which you will do a little bit of salt, and let it well dissolve together; then take a little rosewater, and the juice of lemons, and also much of the mentioned salted lye. Add into this white soap broken and cut up small, and a little gillyflower powder; let this stand until it becomes like dough, which you stir with a stick in a deep dish, then put it in the sun until the mentioned soap becomes hard, so that you can lightly make balls, of the size you like.

After you made them, let them dry, and use them every morning to wash the hands, and you will have no more worry of the scabies, because when you do this before, you won’t bother it.

74. Om een salue te maken, de welcke die weechluysen doot die in een coetse zijn.

Neemt quicsiluer, ende doeget in een schotel met een weynich swarte seepe, ende met den vinger sult ghijt so langhe roeren ende dooden, tot dat het quicksiluer heel met die voors. seepe geincorporeert si, daerna doeter al so veel ander seepen in als ghi wilt, daerna smeert die coetse met die seepe, ende ghi zijt seker dat die weechluysen steruen sullen, ende sult daer mede haer eyeren versmooren, datse

nemmermeer wedercomen en sullen.

74. To make a salve, which kills the wall lice [bedbugs] which are in a bed.

Take mercury, and do this in a dish with a little black soap, and with the finger mix it until the mercury is completely incorporated into mentioned soap, after that add as many other soaps as you like, then wipe the bed with this soap, and you do this to be sure all the wall lice will die, and smother her eggs, so they will never come weder again.

77. Om die luysen ende die neten te doden.

Neemt swarte seepe, een vnce ende een halue, aloen gestooten, een half dragme,

leuende solfer ooc ghestooten, eenen scrupulus, mengelt alle dese dingen t' samen,

brengtse in een maniere van een salue, met dat welcke smeert die plaetse daer die

luysen zijn, ende si sullen al met die neten steruen, het is wel geproeft.

77. To kill the lice and the nits.

Take black soap, one ounce and a half, broken [rock] alum, a half dragme, living sulfur [naturally found sulfur] also broken, carefully mix all these things together, and bring it into the manner of a salve, with which is wiped the place where the lice are, and you’ll kill all the nits, it is well proved.

132. Om seepe rosaet te maken om in bussen te doene.

Neempt seepe menichmael in rooswater gheweect, daerna neemt knoppen van roosen van Prouencen wel cleyne gesneden. Ende alle dage set die voors. gesneden roosen met die seepe in de sonneschijn, ende dat sult ghi vier dagen doen.

Daerna, als ghi die in bussen doen wilt oft in cleyn vaetkens, neemt een vnce ende een half poeder van groffelsnagelen, ende dat vierendeel yrias van Florencen, wel gestooten ende gewreuen met een weynich beniuyn. Dan sult ghi dit al met die seepe mengelen; weet dat tot elck pont seepen ghi moet2. hebben een pont ende een half roosen, ende als ghijse met die selue seepe doet, so willense versch ghesneden zijn, ende bywijlen daer rooswater in doen, ende dat mengelende, ende gheduerichlijck roerende.

132. To make soap roseat for containers.

Take soap soaked in rosewater many times, then take rose buds of the Provence [in France] cut very small. And every day put the mentioned cut up roses with the soap in the sun, and you should do that for four days.

Then, if you want to put it in containers or in clean small vats, take one ounce and a half powder of gillyflowers, and a fourth part of iris of Florence [orris root], well bruised and rubbed with a little benzoin. Then you should mix all this with the soap; know that to each pound of soap you have a pound and a half of roses, and the manner it is done with this soap, they have to be freshly cut, and add rosewater occasionally, and mix and stir steadily.

133. Om seepe girofflat te maken.

Neemt een pont seepen, set die te weeken in rooswater drie dagen in de sonne; ende als ghi v seepe maken wilt, neemt een vnce ende een half groffelsnagelen wel gestooten, ende die helft van die selue nagelen sult ghi in v seepe doen, ende dat seer wel mengelende. Met dander helft doet dat hierna volcht.

Neemt een cleyn potken met rooswater, ende doeghet ouer 't vier sieden, ende alst beginnen sal te sieden, doeter die reste van dat groffelsnagelpoeder inne, ende neemt den pot van dat vier, ende decten seer wel tot dat die bobbelen ghecesseert zijn, ende dattet water law geworden si, dan roeret met een houtken, ende also roerende, mengelet met v seepe. 
Ende is 't dat ghijer een luttel beniuyn toe doen wilt, ghi moeget doen, ooc sult ghi v seepe in een busse doen, ende si sal goede ruecke aennemen.

133. To make gillyflower soap.

Take a pound of soap, put it to soak in rosewater three days in the sun, and if you want to make soap, take an ounce and a half gillyflowers well crushed, and half of these same nagelen [nails] should you put into the soap, and mix very well. With the other half you do as follows.

Take a clean pot with rosewater, and cook it over the fire, and when it starts to boil, add the rest of the gillyflower powder, and take the pot off the fire, and cover it well until the bubbles seized, and that the water is luke warm, then stir with wood, and also stir, mixing with the soap.

And if you would like add a little benzoin, which you should do, also you should put the soap in a container, and it shall take on a good scent.

139. Seepe voor barbiers met weynich costs.

Neemt bloeme van spaensche seepe, oft seepe damasquin, also veel als ghijs behoeft ende als ghi wilt, ende snijdet in cleyn stucxkens, ende legtse in rooswater te weeken. Dan neemt yrias van Florencen ghepoedert, ende nagelen wel ghestooten, ende incorporeret al wel te samen, ende maecter ballekens af, van alsulcke grootte als ghi wilt, dan hebt ghi goede seepe om dat hooft ende den baert mede te wasschen.

139. Soap for barbers for little cost.

Take powder of Spanish soap, or damask soap, so much as you like and want, and cut it in small pieces, and let it soak in rosewater. Then take iris of Florence [orris sroot] powdered, and nagelen well crushed, and incorporate well, and make thereof small balls, of the size you like, then you have good soap to wash the head and the beard.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Recipes taken from Dat batement van recepten. Een secreetboek uit de zestiende eeuw. Anderwerf gecorrigeerd ende verbetert. Gheprint T Antwerpen op die Lombaerde veste teghen over den ijshont bij mij Hans de Laet van Stabroeck 1546.

That House of Recipes. A Book of Secrets of the 16th century. Otherwise corrected and improved. Printed in Antwerp at the Lombardse Veste opposite the icedog by me Hans de Laet van Stabroeck, 1546. (ed. Willy L. Braekman). Omirel UFSAL, Brussel 1990. This book is available at the Provincial Library in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands and was donated from the Bibliotheca Frisiae of J.H Halbersma (part of T bouck va wondre).

Zie voor verantwoording: http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_bat002wlbr01_01/colofon.htm

T bouck van wondre, 1513 by H.G.Th. Frencken, Drukkerij H. Timmermans, Roermond 1934.

Zie voor verantwoording: http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/fren007tbou01_01/colofon.htm