Book XVI, chapters 1–7: Secret and undiscovered notes

THE SIXTEENTH BOOK OF Natural Magick: Wherein are handled secret and undiscovered Notes.

THE PROEME.

I Make two sorts of secret marks, which they vulgarly call Syfers, one of visible marks, and is worthy of a treatise by it self: another of secret marks, whereof […] tempted to say something in this present Volume, […] what are the consequ[…] thereof, for the use of great Men, and Princes, that […] than […] man that knows the invention. I shall set down plainly some examples: […] consequences of them must […] faithfully concealed, lest by growing […] amongst ordinary people, they be disrespecte[…]. This is that I shall publish.

CHAP. I.

How […] in diver[…] be re[…].

THere are many, an[…] almost infinit […] write things of necessity, that the Charact[…] shall not […]ou dip them into waters, or put them neer the […] them over. […] are read by dipping them into waters. Therefore

If you desire that letters not […] are […] may be hi[…],

Let Vitriol soak in boyling water, when […] strain it […] till the water grow clear; with that liquor write […] are dry, they […] not […]. Moreover, grind[…] burnt straw […]; […]egar and […] will, write […] the spaces between the fo[…]er li[…]s, describ[…] large. Then […] Galls in white Wine, wet a spunge in the liquor; […] when you have need […], and we[…] the letters so long until the native black […] disappear, but the former colour, that was not seen, may […] I will […] in what liquors paper must be soaked to make letters […] be see […] said, Dissolve Vitriol […] then powder Galls finely, and soak them in[…]ter; let them stay there twenty four hours: filtre them through […] cloth […], that may make the water clear, and make letters upon […] to have concealed; send it to your Friend absent: when you would have […] appear, dip them in the first liquor, and the letters […]ill presen[…]y be seen.

That di[…]ng […] line[…] water […] may appear.

Dissolve Alom in water, and […] linen, […], napkins, and the like; for when they are dry they will […]. When you will have them visible, […] linen […] to be darkned: but only where the Alom […] that you may read them: […] are dissolved, those parts will admit water […]

White […]

Litharge is first powdered and cast into an earthen pot that hath water and vinegar mix'd; boyl it, and strain it, and keep it: then write letters with Citron Lemons juce: these are added to them when they begin to dry. If you dip them in the liquor kept, they will appear clearly and very white. If womens brests or hands be wet in it, and you sprinkle the said water upon them, they will grow white as Milk. Use it. If at any time you want […] if you please,

A stone dipped in vinegar will shew the letters.

Make letters with Goats far upon a stone; when they are dry; they will not be seen. If the stone be dip[…] into […] they presently come forth, and seem above the stone. But if you would have […] writ with water only, appear black, that you may the better be provided […] more speedily for a voyage; beat Galls and Vitriol finely, and strew this […] on your paper: rub it with a cloth, and polish it well, that so it may stick fast to the […], and be like it. Powder J[…]niper-gum, which Scriveners call Vernish, and […] to the rest: when you would use it, write with water o[…]pittle, and they will be black letters. There are many such Arts, too tedious to relate.

CHAP. II.

[…] in the fire.

[…] letters are not made visible […] by fire, or not, unless […] light interpose or may be read when they are burnt.

To make letters visible by fire.

So we may bring […] between the verses, and in the close setting together, or larger […]ables. Let […] contain so[…]e void space, that the letters may not […]; and if this […]ed, it […] be read. If you write with the juice of Citrons, Oranges, Onyons, or almost […] things, if you make it […] presently discovered: […] they are undigested juic[…] detected by the […] of the fire, and […] they […] forth […] would […]f they were […] a […] that […] to the fire, they are concocted: and will give the […] colour they would in due time g[…]ve upon the tree; when they were […]. Juice of […], added to Cala[…]us, will make a green; to […] will shew divers colours by the fire. By these means, […] love-Letters escape from those that have […] of Salt called Ammoniac; this powder[…] and mingled with […] will […] letters; and can hardly be distinguished from the paper […] hold them to […] will shew black. Also,

Letters th[…] cannot be read unless the paper be burnt.

For the mixture will be white, […]; but when it is burnt, the paper will be black and […] will be […]rpest vinegar and the white of an Eg[…] in these […] Quick-[…] stir it well; and with that mixture make Letters […] and the letters […] unburnt; or make letters […] or any and or Salt or Lime; these, bring they cannot be see[…] when the […] is burnt and made black, they will appear white. If you will, you may

Write letters […] of fire.

Do it th[…], Mingle […] with G[…]m Traganth, soaked, and of this mixture […], that […] the […] letters […]: for that […] of […] matter opposed against outward […] it, that the […]ays cannot come to out […]ight; and […] a shadow.

CHAP. III.

How Letters rub d with dust may be seen.

NOw I will use another artifice, that Letters rubbed with dust may be read, that were before invisible, which I read was used by the Ancients: wherefore do thus:

That Letters rubbed with mill-dust may be read.

That as in paper, so on some unseen parts of the Body, Letters written may lie hid, and be opened when need is; write secretly on your Back or Arms o[…] other Limbs, with Vinegar or Urine, and dry it that nothing may appear: now, to have it read, rub it over with foot or burnt paper; for so the Letters will shineforth. Or,

Otherwise,

If you make Letters with Fat, Tallow or any other fatty with Gum, or Milk of a Fig-tree, and strew them with the dust of […] or […], they will appear. It may be by this craft, as […] the Greek saith, […] used the inprinted inscription in a Beast for a sacrifice. He, […] Soldiers, to make them fight valiantly with their Enemies, […] number; supposing it would be no little advantage to put them […] before hand of the assurance of the victory, invented a trivial business; but otherwise profitable, with the Priest that was to […] the sacrifice, […] Before the day they were to fight, he prepares for the victory[…] for […] to offer sacrifice, pray'd unto the gods, and […] the Sacrifice in […] King used powdered Gum, […] from the right to the left side, he dre[…] words: Reg[…] Victoria, The Victory is the King's: and when the Entrails were drawn forth, he thrust his hand into the hottest and most spun[…] and […] the inscription. But the […], changing the outer parts, and doing his […] the part where this inscription was contained, Reg[…] Victoria. […] sooner published, but the Soldiers generally […], to sh[…]w how ready they were to fight; so […] with certain […] of the Victory, and depending on this promise from […], they fight to […]agiously, and subdued the French. But to the matter […] the […] will do the same, if it be written on white paper, and afterwards […] be […] with cole dust strewed upon it, and made clea[…] presently appear black. Pliny saith, the Milk of T[…]hynal[…] will do the like, to make the Letters, and dust strewed on them to […] them: […] had rather speak with Adulterers, then by Letters. […] confirms this, […] Amandi, how they may safely write to their Sweet-hearts.

[…] Milk, it's […] but […]
The writing with cole-dust […] full-right
[…] as if […],
[…]

Also there is an Art that one would not imagine, to write upon Chrystal: for, being all transparent, no […] will dream of it, and the letters may lie hid within. Do it thus:

That letter[…] of fine dus[…],

Dissolve Gum […] may be cl[…]er; and when it is well dissolved, it […] or […] a Cup or Glass; for when the […]. No man will imagine the fraud, if a Cup besent to one in […] Glass […]: when he would see the letters, rub […] straw […] paper upon it, […] will presently be seen. Here is another secret,

That letters on the paper may be read, not by fire, nor water, or any other thing, but in the dust only.

This is a secret worth knowing: dissolve Goats suet with a little Turpentine: rub the paper with this liquor, and keep it: when you would send some news to your friend, lay on the paper […] with the […]at upon a letter you would send to your friend; write upon that with an iron point, and the suet will make the characters on the letter: send this away; and if it be intercepted, no water will make the words visible, or any other Art, but only strewing dust upon it. Also you may make

That upon black paper, white letters may appear.

The reason is this: mingle the white and yelk of an Egg together, that it may be liquid as ink: with this liquer, writeth the paper what words you please, and dry them: when the paper is dry, shake a black colour over it, and dry it again, and send it, but that the letters may be visible, scrape the superficies of the paper with a broad iron for so it will be, that the ink being scraped off, where the letters were, they will appear white.

CHAP. IV.

How you may write in an Egg.

[…] by the P[…]pal Inquisition, and no […], I will shew you how Letters may be writ on the upper shell […] of an Egg also: for example,

That letters may be written the Egg-she[…],

Wrap the Egg in wax and with an iron point make letters on it, as far as to the shell; but break it not: for […] shell with you iron, or point, or knife, it may be detected. So a[…]our Egg one […]ight in strong […] depart, which separates gold from […] in the morning take away the wax; and take off the Egg-shell[…] cover, and hold the shell between your eye and the light, and the letters will be seen very clear quite through the […]. The same is done with the juice of Lemons: for it softeneth the […] not, and you shall […] your desire. Will you

[…] the white,

yellow, and better when the Egg is boyl'd. […] Egg hard and rowl it in wax, and engrave the letters on the wax with an iron […] that the marks may lie open: put this Egg into liquor with A[…]om and Galls […] then put it into sharp Vinegar, and they will […] and taking off the […] you shall see them in the white of the Egg. […] and alom with vinegar, till they be as thick […]: with this […] what you will […] in Egg; and when the writing is dried in the Sun, put it […]: dry it […] it, and […] off the shell, and you shall read the writin[…] put it into vinegar, and […] nothing of it. Perhaps, he means by pickle, […]. The cause is this: the Egg-shell is porous, and hath large holes, which is […]; for being set up the fire it will sweat, and water will come forth; and looking at it against […] will […] clear; so then, […] being subtile, pe[…]rates by the p[…]res, and […] the shell […] and when it is mingled with the Alom & Galls, it […] them appear on the white; and when it is put into […] to be hard as it was. But observe, it must not […] long in vinegar; for that will eat off all the shell, and will leave the Egg bare, having nothing […] to cover it: and if you put that into cold water, the shell will not come again. If […] will know

How letters writ with water, maybe seen in an Egg,

Dissolve […] in the […] and writ […] dry it, and nothing will be seen. If you will read […] dissolve Galls […] steep the Egg therein: or, […] with Lime-water […] Egg, and […] Brasil is infused; and so the letters will seem to be […] upon the shell, and steep it in water […] vitriol: […] is dry, […], and nothing will be seen: when you afterwards steep it in the […] wine, white letters will appear in a black shell. I will shew,

How letters may become visible upon an Egg by the fire.

Write on the Egg with juice of Lemmons, or Onyons, or Fig-milk[…] when you put this to the fire, the Letters will appear yellow: and that must be done on a raw Egg: for if you boyl it, the letters will be seen.

That letters may be seen on the Egg shell by dust.

Make letters on the shell with vinegar, suet, fig-tree milk, or of Tithymal, or with gums: when you would have them seen, rub them with cole-dust, or burnt straw, or paper, and they will seem black. There is a way

How to put a letter into an Egg.

Make your letter that you send, narrow and long, searce broader then your middle-finger: write your minde in short characters, and with the edge of a knife, make a cut in the Egg, and break the inward skin, and put in your letter at one end by degrees: for it will easily take it in, were it ten hands breadth: then stop the cut, with lime and gum mingled, that it may not be seen, and with Ceruss and […]; for then it is impossible to discern it. But if you will have this done more neatly, put the egge in sharp vinegar three or four hours: and when you finde it soft, […] the shell with the edge of your knife, put in your roll of paper, then soak it in […] and the shell will grow as hard as it was.

CHAP. V.

How you may write in divers places, and […]

I Have shewed you di[…]s ways of writing invisible; now I come to those ways that will teach you to write letters on divers things, which though they be visible, and intercepted, yet the Reader will be deceived by their secret device. First,

How to write […]

Let us see how they did this in elder times […], That when the Lacedemon[…] writ to their […], that their […] being intercepted by the enemies might not be read, invented this kinde of writing; yet it is referred to Archimedes to be the […] of it. Tw[…] sticks must be […], and polished with the Turners in […]; they must be equal for […] and thickness. One of these was given to the […] when he […] and the […] was kept at home […] Senate: […] a page […] about the stick, as large as […] the matter […] might make a round volume, and the sides of it were […], that they were like a collar that exactly fitted the wood, and no […] that thus was rolled about the stick, they writ letters […] collar thus written on, being long and narrow, […] and […] the General; for they thought, if it was […]scepted by the […] when they […] bits of letters, and […] of words, […] at divided, they […] discern the thing: and they were not deceived […] fell among […] the enemy, did not imagine any thing was […] let them […] as with a thing done as all adventures, and insignificant: but he to whom it was writ, applied this band, and rolled it about, as it was […] upon and […] words lay joyn'd as they should be, and so be knew the message. The Greeks call this khird of writing, [Greek]. Plutarch saith, […] was brought to Lysander by Hellespont. But I inven[…] make two small sticks alike great and round: one we give to our friend that […] far from us, and hold the other by us: let us make them stick so […] together, that they may joyn, and seem to be as on[…] and the wood not […] the […] should be, and write long-ways on the stick what you please; the […] more lines will they receive. If you first steep […] is dissolved, the Ink will not spread; but the letter[…] will […]ake your Threed that is about the […]ick, and […] to keep […] secret, […] the edges of napkins or […] your […] for the curious watch shall discern nothing […] our friend winding the Threed about the […] to make the points […] the tops and agree well, shall easily read them. I will shew.

How to write on Parchment, that the Letters may not be seen.

When you have writ on Parchment, put it to the light of a candle, or to the fire, and it will all crumple and run together, and be nothing like what it was; if a man look on it, he will hardly suspect any fraud. If he desires to read what is in it, let him lay it on moyst places, or sprinkle it gently with water, and it will be dilated again, and all the wrinkles will be gone, and it will appear as it did at frst, that you may read the Letters upon it, without any hindrance. Now I will shew the way

How in the Sections of Books the Characters shall be hid.

When the Book is well bound, and cut, and coloured black; if we open it, and turn back the leaves, that they may be turned in, we may write at the corners of the leaves what we will: but when the Book is set back again, and the leaves put into their own places, nothing is seen or can be imagined to be writ in them; but he that would read those Letters, must set the Book that way as it was, and the Letters will be read. So may we write on fly-traps, that are made with wrinkles, and then draw them forth. If need be, we may do

The same with Cards to play with.

You may excellent well write on Cards, if you put them in some order, that one may follow the other; and some shall be upright, others turned downwards. When you have set them right together, you may write all things where they divide: mingle the Cards together again, and turn them, and nothing will be seen but some disorderly marks, if any man look curiously upon them. But he that would read them, must set them in order, and they will joyn and be read exactly. Also, we may write in white Pigeons, and other white Birds, feathers of their wings, turning them upwards; for when they return to their own places, they will shew nothing. But if they be brought to their former posture, you will read the Letters; and this is no small benefit for those that shall use them for messengers. There is a way

To hide Letters upon wood.

Any one may make Letters upon wood, and not be suspected; for they shall not be seen, but when we please. Let the wood be fleshy and soft, of Poplar, or Tile-tree, or such like: and with those iron Markers Printers use, when they make stamps upon Brass, commonly called Ponzones, make Letters in the wood, half a finger thick: then hew the wood with a Carpenters hatchet, as deep as the Letters go; when all is made plain, and equal, send the stick to your friend, or board, to him that knows the matter; he putting the wood into the water, the wood will swell out, that was beaten in with the marks, and the Letters will come forth. That we may do in wooden vessels, polished by the turner, if when they are turned, we mark the Letters on them; and then turn them again: when this is done, send it to your friend, and let him soke it in water, &c.

CHAP. VI.

In what places Letters may be inclosed.

I Shall speak in what places Letters may be inclosed, and not be suspected; and I shall speak last of Carriers. I shall bring such examples as I have read in Antient Histories, and what good a man may learn by them. First,

How to hide Letters in wood.

Theophrastus's opinion was, that if we cut the green bark of a Tree, and make it hollow within, as much as will contain the Letters, and then bind it about, in a short time it will grow together again, with the Letters shut up within it. Thus he saith, That by including some religious precepts in wood, people may be allured; for they will admire at it. But I mention this out of Theophrastus, rather for a similitude, then for to do the thing I would have, for that would require a long time. But this may be done well in dry wood, as in Fir: thus; the chinks fastning together with common white glew. Also the Antients used

To conceal Letters in Junkets.

I will relate the cunning of the Wife of Polycretes; for she, whilst in the Milesian camps they solemnized a Solemn Feast of their Country; when they were all fast asleep, and drunk, took this opportunity to tell her brothers of it, and did thus. She desired Diognetus, General of the Erythrei, that she might send some Junkets to her brothers: and when she had leave, she put a leaden scrole into a cake, and she bad the bearer tell her brothers from her, that no man should eat of it but themselves. When they heard this, they opened the cake, and found the Letter, and performed the contents of it. They came upon the enemy by night, that was dead drunk at the Feast, and conquered him. Also the Antients were wont

To shut up Letters in living creatures.

Herodotus saith, That Harpagus sent Letters to Cyrus, put into the belly of a Hare whose entrails were taken out, by one that counterfeited a shepherd hunting. So

Letters may be hid in Garments.

The secret places of clothes are best, to avoid suspicion; as in your bosom, or under the soles of your feet. Ovid in his Arte Amandi, writes to this purpose:

Letters may be concealed in your brest,
Wrapt in a clowt, which way is held the best;
Or else you may under your feet provide
A place full closely Letters for to hide.

To hide Letters in your belt.

Those of Campania were wont, when they would discover any thing to the Carthaginians, and the Romans besieged them round; they sent a man that seemed to run from them, with a Letter concealed in his girdle; and he taking occasion to escape, brought it to the Carthaginians. Others carried Letters in their scabbards, and sent them away by messengers, and were not found out. But we use now adays

To hide letters in the Bowels of living creatures.

For we wrap them in some meat, and give them to a Dog, or some other creature to swallow; that when he is killed, the letters may be found in his belly: and there is nothing neglected to make this way certain. The like was done by Harpagus. He, as Herodotus saith, being to discover to Cyrus some secrets, when the ways were stopt, that he could do it by no other means, he delivered the letters to a faithful servant, who went like a Hunter, that had catcht a Hare; and in her belly were the letters put, when the guts were taken forth, and so they were brought to Persis. We use also

To shut up letters in stones.

Flints are beaten very fine in brazen Mortars, and sifted; then are they melted in a brass Cauldron, by putting two ounces of Colophonia to one pound of the powder of the stone; and mingling them, put your letters into leaden plates, and hide them in the middle of the composition, and put the lump into a linnen bag, and tye it fast, that it may be round; then sink it into cold water, and it will grow hard, and appear like a flint.

CHAP. VII.

What secret Messengers may be used.

THe Antients used the same craft for Messengers; for they used men that should be disguised by their habits, and some living creatures besides. For

To counterfeit the shape of a Dog,

It was the crafty counsel of Josippus, that the Messengers should be clad with skins, and so 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 the trick, and compassed the Rampart round about. And mans curiosity was not satisfied here, till they found means for ways to pass, where the Sentinels and Scouts might not discover them; wherefore they left the land, and sent by water: But that the writing might not be spoiled in the water, as Frontinus saith, The Souldiers that past over the River Saltella, had leaden plates writ upon, fastned to their arms. But Lucullus, as the same Frontinus reports, that he might declare to the Cyziceni, that were besieged by Mithridates, that he was coming to relieve them, all narrow passages being stopt by the enemies guards, that were joyned to the continent by a small bridge, he sought a way by sea. For a private Souldier appointed for it, sitting on two bladders blown, wherein the Letters were put in two covers; and so like some sea-Monster, he swam seven miles at sea, and told of the coming of the General. So they often used

Arrows for Messengers:

But that seemed not sufficient, for they feared mens cunning, lest some chance or fraud might intercept the messenger, and the secret should be discovered, or they should be racked to make them confess. Sometimes therefore they sought a way in the Air, and used Arrows for messengers, that none might intercept them. Herodotus saith, That Artabazus and Timoxenus did this, when one would declare any thing to the other; for the paper was folded about the foot of the Arrow, and the feathers were put upon it, and it was so shot into the place appointed. To this appertains the example of Cleonymus King of the Lacedemonians. He besieging the city Troezene, commanded many of his best Archers to shoot Arrows into several places; and he writ upon them: I come to relieve your City; and by this means he set ladders, and his Army scaled the walls and went in, and plundered the place, and destroyed it. But when Caesar 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 the well: when he had done this, the watch found the Arrow and the Letter, and brought it to Cicero. In it were these words written: Caesar bids Cicero be confident, and to expect relief. So Caesar came suddenly, and slaying the enemies, relieved him. We can do it safer, and better now adays with Guns: if the matter to be sent be contained in few words, we may shoot them forth with Muskets; namely, by folding 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 to a gentle fire, or into quick-silver, and it will soon melt, and the paper not be touched. I shall shew now

How to make Pigeons your Messengers.

We may use Birds for Messengers: as Pigeons, Swallows, Quails, and others: For these Birds carried to other places, when need is, if you bind Letters to their necks or feet, they will return with them: and when any thing was suddenly to be related, the Antients sometimes used these Messengers. Hircius being Consul, as Frontinus testifies, sent forth Pigeons from the neerest place he could from the walls, which had been long shut up in the dark, and half fa[…]ished, to Decimus Brutus, who was besieged at Mutina by Anthony. They being glad of light, and defiring meat, flew and sat upon the highest parts of the houses; Brutus catcht them, and so was confirmed how things were: wherefore, always laying meat in those places, he call'd them back again. Hence Pliny. Nor Ramparts, nor Scouts, nor Nets pitch'd before Rivers, did profit Anthony; for the Messenger went through the Air. By the same way, in the very same day, from Olympia to Aegina, was the victory of Taurosthen[…]s declared to his Father; though others say it was to reseen: others say, That Taurosthenes, when he went forth, took a Pigeon from her yong ones, yet weak and not able to fly, and as soon as he had conquered, he sent her back again, purple-coloured; and she making great hast to her yong ones, flew that very day from Pisa to Aegina. Aelian writes this. Some have sought to do this by Swallows, taken out of their nests from their yong, and sent back again. Some also attest, that beyond set Eastward, there are Pigeons that when the way is stopt, will fly through the midst of the enemies, and carry Letters under their wings, a very long way. It may be Juvenal meant this, when he said,

As if from divers parts a letter were
Brought with a doufful wing quite through the Air.

Also in old Monuments and Histories it is declared, that there was a King of Egypt, whose name was Marrhes, who bred up a tame Rook, and this he made use of for a winged messenger, so oft as he had need: for, as if she had reason, she would carry the Letter where she was directed; for she was so crafty, as to be instructed whit […]ee to fly, and where to stay, or rest at any time. Mans wit hath invented these shifts to avoid danger; but by the same craft is he wounded sometimes, as it were with his own weapons. When the Christians with an Army besieged Ptolemais, when Saladine had appointed a Pigeon to be sent thus with Letters to the besieged, to wish them to be constant, and expect his coming suddenly; the Christians catch'd her, and tied a contrary letter to her, and sent her away: whence it fell out, that they despairing of relief, yielded themselves: so there can be no certain security in humane affairs, but there may be fraud in all things. Themistius saith, That amongst Animals, Pigeons have the best memory, as having a clear and refined mind. Wherefore, though all other Animals make hast to their yong ones, when they are taken from them, yet none of them carried far, can come back, because their memory fails. I have seen the tryal with Pigeons. When my servant came from my Farm, he brought home some yong Pigeons taken from their dams, and he wrapt them up in a cloak as we went; and when we came home at night, they were shut up in the house; but when the morning came, they flew out of the windows; and discovering the country afar off, they took upon the wing, and flew all home again. Wherefore in Genesis, Noah sent forth a Pigeon, which returned; but the Raven returned not. For the Raven wants memory. I remember in Plutarchs works, what is worth relating that I read there, That by the Pigeon sent forth of the Ark, in Deucalio[…]s flood, was shewed, that the waters were sunk down, and the storms past. Animals that have newly brought forth yong ones, will do the same.