r

Of invisible Writing.

H7

Chap. VII.

What secret Messengers may be used.

T He Antients used the same craft for Messengers 5 for they used men that shouldbe disguised by their habits, and iome living,creatures besides. For

To counterfeit the shape of a Bog,

It was the crafty counsel of Jos (pus , that the Messengers should be clad with skins,and (o they past the enemies guards, and were not regarded ; for if they were seen,they were in the likeness of Dogs; and this was done until the enemy found out thetrick, and compassed the Rampart round about. And mans curiosity was not satis-fiedhere, till they found means for ways to pass, where the Sentinels and Scoutsmight not discover them; wherefore they left the land, and sent by water: But thatthe writing might not be spoiled in the water, as Frontinm faith, The Souldiers thatpast over the River Saltella, had leaden plates writ upon , fastned to their arms.Bat LhchIIhs, as the fame Front inns reports, that he might declare to the Cyziceni,that were besieged by Jbfitkridatcs, that he was coming to relieve them, all narrowpassages being stopt by the enemies guards, that were joyued to the continent by asmall bridge, he sought a way by sea. For a private Souldier appointed for it, sittingon two bladders blown, wherein the Letters were put in two covers. and so likesome sea-Monster, he swam seven miles at sea, and told of the coming of the Gene-ral. So they often used

Arrows for ^Messengers :

Rut that seemed not sufficient, for they feared mens cunning, lest some chance orfraud might intercept the messenger, and the secret should be discovered, or theyshould be racked to make them confess. Sometimes therefore they sought a way inthe Air,and used Arrows for messengers, that none might intercept them. Herodo-tus faith, That JrtabaTcus and Tmoxer.tu did this, when one would declare any thingto the other; for the paper was folded about the foot of the Arrow, and the featherswere put upon it, and it was so shot into the place appointed. To this appertainsthe example of (fleonymm King of the Lacedemonians.He besieging the cityTrœzene,commanded many of his best Archers to shoot Arrows into several places; and hewrit upon them: I come to relieve your City • and by this means he set ladders, andhis Army scaled the walls and went in, and plundered the place, and destroyed ic.But when (fafar heard that Cicero besieged by the French, could hold out no longer ,he sent a Souldier by night, who should shoot a Letter, fastned to an Arrow, over theWall: when he had done this, the watch found the Arrow and the Letter, andbrought ir to Cicero. In it were these words written: ^k/<ir bids Cicero be conh-denr,and to expect relief. So C £ f ar came suddenly, and staying the enemies,relievedhim. We can do it safer, and better now adays with Guns: if the matter to be sentbe contained in few words, we may shoot them forth with Muskets; namely, byfolding up the paper, and putting it into a case of lead, where they cast bullets,pouring upon it melted lead, but not burning hot; the paper wrapt up in the lead,we shoot away with the Powder to the place. But because the Letters are but small,we may shoot many of them in a day. The way to melt the Ball is, by putting it toa gentle fire,or into quick-silver,and it will soon naelr, and the paper not be touched.I shall shew now

How to make "Pigeonsyour Messengers.

We may for Messengers. as Pigeons, Swallows, Quails, and others: For

these Birds carried to other places, when need is, if you bind Letters to these necksor feet, they will return with. them: and when any thing was suddenly to be rela-ted, the Antients sometimes used these Messengers. Hircitu being Consul, a? Fronti-nnt testifies,sent forth Pigeons from the neerest place he could from the wall-s, whichhad been long shut qp in the dark, and half famished, to ‘Becirnm Smw,wIio was

A a a a be-