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¶ Tac a vessel of eorthe, other of treo, of a galun, other more other lasse, cheos thu. Et seththe bore holes acros i the iiij sides, that is to siggen, the verste iiij holes, an v unchun, other more other lasse, from the grount, to the mesure of thi vessel that is. Et seththe an iij unchun other more, herre, other iiij holes acros, ant so herre ant herre, vorte thu come to the ovemoste ende, whether the vessel beo more other lasse. Et seththe tac led ant melt hit. Et yef hit nis nout fin ant clene inoh, cast hit into clene water. Ant bote hit beo fin ant clene thenne, eft sone melt it ant cast hit into watur. Et so pure hit vorte hit beo fin ant clene inoh. Et seththe melt it ageyn, ant cast hit into an empti bacyn, other into whet vessel thu wolt of bras, that hit vleote abrod vorte beo thunne. Et yef hit nis nout thunne inoh, tac an homur ant bet hit as thunne as thu myht. Et seththen tac stikken ant pute acros i the iiij holes, in everuch degre herre ant herre. Et uppon everuch stikke honge of that thunne led, as thicke as thu myht, from gre to gre, so that no degre touche other. Et seththen tac vinegre ant held into the vessel inoh so that the nethermoste led ne touche nout the vinegre. Et seththe tac a ston, other a bord, that wol kevere the vessel, ant clos hit above wel ant faste. Et seththe tac fin cley ant good, ant dute al the vessel, that non eyr ne go out, bothen the holes ant eken above ryht wel. Et thenne tac thi vessel ant sete hit into horsse dunge depe, bi the space of ix niht, other more. Ant thenne tac up thi vessel, ant unclos it above. Ant yef thu findest eni      led uppon the stikkes undefiyet, hit is in defaute of to lutel vinegre. Ant yef thi led is defiyet al ant findest vinegre i the grounde, thenne hit is wel. Thenne held out softeliche that vinegre, ant tac up thi blankplum, ant do therwith whet thu wolt. Ant thah thu finde eni led as Ic sayde er undefiyet, kep hit that another time that thu wolle make more.

¶ Take a vessel of clay, or of wood, a gallon in size, more or less, as you choose. And then bore holes across in the four sides, that is to say, the first four holes, about five inches, more or less, from the ground, according to the size of your vessel. And then about three inches or more, higher, another four holes across, and so higher and higher, until you come to the furthermost end, whether the vessel is large or small. And then take lead and melt it. And if it is not pure and clean enough, cast it into clean water. And unless it is then pure and clean, melt it soon again and cast it into water. And so purify it until it is fine and clean enough. And then melt it again, and cast it into an empty basin, or into whatever vessel of brass you want, so that it will flow over a broad surface and become thin. And if it is not thin enough, take a hammer and beat it as thin as you can. And then take sticks and put them across in the four holes, in each part higher and higher. And on every stick hang some of that thin lead, as thickly as you can, from rung to rung, so that no part touches another. And then take vinegar and pour enough into the vessel so that the bottom- most lead does not touch the vinegar. And then take a stone, or a board, that will cover the vessel, and close it well and tightly on top. And then take pure and good clay, and seal tight the vessel, so that no air may escape at all, neither from the holes nor from above. And then take your vessel and set it deeply in horse dung, for a period of nine nights, or more. And then pick up your vessel, and uncover it from above. And if you find any lead upon the sticks undissolved, it is because of too little vinegar. And if your lead is entirely dissolved and you find vinegar on the ground, then it is good. Then gently pour out that vinegar, and take up your white lead, and do with it as you wish. And if you find any lead as I explained before undissolved, keep it until another time when you wish to make more. |