Saturday Morning Beard Fact

John Partridge, an apothecary, published a book called The Widdowes Treasures in 1595. It includes a recipe “To make the haire of the bearde grow’ (alongside a recipe for quince marmalade).

Take cane rootes, Briony roots, Bertes, Radish, flower of Luce, Onions, of each a like the quantity of foure ounces, five fatte figs brused and stamped very small, maiden haire, sothernwood, dill, of each a hanfull soethe all these in good Wine, the wring out the liquor and straine it through a strainer, then put to it fresh butter never salted, pure Honie two onces, Oyle of Almondes sweete and sower, Oyle of Selania on once, Orimell squillick, halfe an once, the pounder of meale, nigella, fenegreek well sifted and throughlie boulted in a Boulter, one handfull of Grasse Labeanum on once, set there upon the fire and stirre them well till it be thicke. This Linament being applyed to the Chin and Cheedes, will become haire: the body first purged from al filth inwardly, proved by experience.

Moustaches, Whiskers & Beards by Lucinda Hawksley, National Portrait Gallery

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