☞To make Lutum sapientiae verye parfytie.

Page  [unnumbered] TAke of the beste white potters earth that you can get, for in one place there is better than in another, that is to saye, of that whiche can best endure the fyre, as suche as they make pottes of in Padua, and likewise in Germany: for it is of such per∣fection, that the pottes whiche be made of it, and wher∣in they dresse their meate, may also serue to found me∣talles in. Take then of the beste, and specially if it must serue for a thinge that hath neede to be longe vppon a great fyre, otherwise, take suche as you can get. There is founde of it, that is of a graye colour, as the common sorte is, and also there is white, that men vse in some place of Vicence, whiche is like loaues of Gipsum, or plai∣ster, and is called of the Italians Florette de Chio. We here in Englande vppon the vse thereof, maye geue it what name we wyll. Potters vse of it in Venise, for to white the dishes, and other thinges, before they vernish or pollish them. There is also founde of it that is redde, as in Apulia, where there is greate quantitie, and that they call Boale, and is the very same that some Apoti∣caries do sell for Boale Armenick, and the Venitians vse of it, for to paynt redde the forefrontes of their hou∣ses, with lime, bricke, and Vermillion, coueringe it af∣terwarde with Oyle of line. This redde earth is the fattest, and the clammiest of all the rest, and therefore it cleaueth soonest by the fyre, if it be not tempered with some other substaunce. And because that all the sayed earthes be to fatte, the one more than the other, there∣fore men put to them some leane substaunce. Nowe, if you take of that of ashe colour, whiche is most commen, and the lest fatty, you may compose and make it in this maner. Take of the saied earth foure partes, of cloth-makers floxe or shearing, one part, ashes that haue ser∣ued in a buck, or other, half a part, drie horse donge, or the donge of an Asse, one part. If you will make it par∣fiter, put to it a fewe stamped brickes, and sparkes of yron: let all these thinges be well stamped, and sifted, that is to saye: the earth, the ashes, the horse donge, the Page  114 brickes, and the sparkes of yron: than mingle all toge∣ther, and make it into earth, and make a bedde thereof, vpon the whiche you shall caste by little and little, the floxe, as equally as you can. This doen, powre to it wa∣ter, styringe it well fyrste with a sticke, and than with a pallet broade at the ende. And whan all is well incor∣porated together, as you woulde haue it, laye it vppon some great borde, and beat it wel, and that a good space with some great staffe, or other instrument ofyron, min¦glinge and stearinge it well, for the lenger you beate it, the better it is. By this meane you shall haue a verye good claye for to lute or clay, and ioyne violles, flagons of glasse to still with, and bottels of gourdes for stilling and other great thinges, as furnesses and suche like, as we will declare afterwarde. But he that will make it with more ease, let him put the earth only, the flox, and the horse donge, with a fewe ashes. Some put no horse donge to it, and some no floxe, according to the purpose that they make it for. For to stop and close vp the mou∣thes of stillinge glasses, or violles, to thintent they take no vent on the fyre, the sayed clay wil be very good: ne∣uerthelesse men put to it two partes of quicke lime, and the whites of Egges, and then it wyl be surer to let no∣thinge vent out but the glasse it self. All kinde of clay or earth would be kept moist, and redy dressed for him that will occupy it continually, but it muste not be kepte to watery nor yet lefte to drye, for than it woulde serue for nothinge, seinge that after it is once hardened, a man can not dresse it anye more to do any good withal. And whan you put water to it, it is mollified by little and little aboue, and is as it were a sauce, but within remayneth harde, and if you put to much water to it, you marre it vtterlye. Therefore, whan you see that it beginneth to waxe drye, feede it a newe little and little with water, styringe it tyll it be well, and so shall you make it perfecte.