119 - Lake of Kermes another Easier Way
In this method, invented by me in Pisa, the shearings are not necessary, nor the elixir, the lye, or the dying of the wool, or many of the things done in the above description [chapters
116-117]. That way does work, but is quite laborious. This way is easier and it produces exactly the same results. Proceed in the following way:
Take the very best grappa, and into a flask of it put 1 lb of well-pulverized, fully fragmented roche alum. Then pour in 1 oz of pulverized kermes, sifted in all and for all as above [chapter 117]. Add all this material to a glass flask with a wide neck.
Agitate the vessel well, so that the grappa colours wonderfully.
Leave it alone for 4 days, and then empty this material in a clean glazed basin. Take 4 oz of roche alum, dissolve it in common water, and pour it over the basin of grappa tinted with kermes. Pour this into a stocking suspended over a basin, as was done for the other lake with the wool shearings. The grappa will strain through the stocking uncolored, leaving the dye in the stocking, and if it passes somewhat coloured pour it through another time so that will pass clear.
Take the lake out of the stocking, with a clean wooden scoop, and put it on pieces of linen to dry, stretched over tiles like the other lake, in all and for all, so that you will have a lake of kermes, most noble, with little hard work and in much greater amounts, all demonstrated by
me in Pisa.