Symonne de la Croix

                    BRAZILWOOD INK                                 Part 1               Lady Symonne de la Croix                       (Corina Graham)                                27.4.20 Ok here I go again. Trying to make Brazilwood Ink this time.  I am using a medieval recipe from The book of secrets (A 1596 translation of a Dutch edition, which may have been translated from a 1531 German translation) Its been interesting trying to research what modern weight/measurements to use. There isnt a medieval to modern conversion chart that I could find 😉 I had no idea what a 'pennyworth' even was. I was confused with whether it was an actual meas...

                 MEDIEVAL WEIGHTS                 Anglo-Saxon Measures                Lady Symonne de la Croix                      (Corina Graham)                              24.4.20                    In the middle ages a PENNYWEIGHT was literally and monetarily 1/20 of an ounce & 1/240 of a pound of sterling silver.  The pound unit in use in England, at that time, was the TOWER POUN...

                      WALNUT INK                  Symonne de la Croix                     (Corina Graham)                            12.4.20 2 cups black dried walnut husks 2lts demineralised water Copperas/vitriol Gum arabic  Simmer the walnut husks with the demineralised water until you achieve the depth of colour you would like. Stirring intermittently.  I used a slow cooker on high for 6hrs as I wanted a richer colour.  {I don't think it made a lot of difference after 3hrs.} FIlter the husks out of the ink water ...