BOOK

?+°

THE

SIXTEENTH

O F

Natural Masick

Wherein are handled secret and undiscovered Notes.

The Proem*.

i Mzk* {wa f orts secret marks, which they vulgarly callSyfers ; one of visible marks,and is worthy of a treatise by it self: another of secret marks, whereof I have attemptedto fay something in this present Volume, and what are the consequents thereof , for -theu s e e s great Men, and Princes, that take care for things absent , and write to some man thatknows the invention. 1 jhaUset down plainly some examples: but these things and the con-sequences of them must be faithfully concealed , left by growing common amongst ordinarypeople, they be difrefpecled. This is that / shall publish.

Chap. I.

How a writingdip'd in divers Liquor {maj be restd, ^ . ' ,

Here are many, and almost infinite ways to write things of necethat the Characters shall not be seen, unless you dip themwaters, or put them neer the fire, er rub them with dust, or sithem over. I shall begin with them that ate read by dipping tinto waters. Therefore

Here are many, and almost infinite ways to write things of necessity,that the Characters shall not be seen, unless you dip them intowaters, or put them neer the fire, er rub them with dust, or smeerthem over. I shall begin with them that ate read by dipping theminto waters. Therefore

If you desire that letters mt seen may be read, and such as are seen may be hid,

Let Vitriol soak in boyling water: when it is dissolved, strain it so long till the watergrow clear ; with that liquor write upon paper : when they are dry,thev.*rcnot seen.

nd what you will wPK in the spaces

Moreover,grinde burnt straw with Vinegar

between the former lines, describe at large. Tfien boyl sowre Galls in white Wine,wet 2 ipunge in the liquor: and when you have need, wipe it upon the paper gently,and wet the letters so long until the native black colour disappear , but the formercolour, that was nor seen,may be made apparent. Now I will shew in what liquorspaper must be soaked to make letters to be seen. As I said,Dissolve Vitriol in wa-ter : then powder Galls finely, and soak them in water ; let them stay there twentyfo^r hotirs : filtre them through* IjoeAloth, or something else, that may make thewater clear, and make letters upon the paper that you desire to have concealed; sendit to your Friend absent : whenyou wot^d have them appear, dip them in the firstliquor, and the letters will presently be slen.

That dipping a linen rag in water , the letters may appear.

Dissolve Alom in water, and with it make letters upon white linen, sheets, napkins,

and the like ; for when they are dry,they will presently vanilh, Wheri you will havethem visible,soak them in water, and the linen will seem to be darkned :• but onlywhere the Aiom hath written, it will not : for the letters will gtow so clear, thatyou may read them: for where Alom, Vitriol, and all astringents are dissolved, thoseparts will admit water last. So

White letters are made with waters .

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