ACcording to my undertaking I shall Illustrate this Art in its Originals by easie Ex­amples (of which I lately thought my self as ignorant as any that are to learn) and from thence shew how the Authors Contrivements from time to time still rendred the same more in­tricate and recluse to the Inquisitor, till Art (in the Conclusion) shut Art (in the disquisition) out a doors.

First write down the Alphabet thus a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s t u w x y z

Now suppose I were to send the Watch-word (or any other secret) to a Confederate, viz. God with us. To change the Letters of those words into contrary Characters not to be under­stood (in case of interception) but by the Confederate; I agree with him up­on a Clavis or Key, so called because those Letters are to be thereby first ey­pher'd, lockt, or infolded to distract the sense; and then to be decypher'd, un­folded or unlockt and made legible to the Confederate only, viz.

Let the Clavis or Key be 2 3 4 5—which must be placed over the secret to be cypher'd, lockt, or infolded thus 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2 2 34 5234 52 God with us

God with us and continued, if the clause were longer, so long as there is a Letter to be lockt, as will hereafter be more perspicuous.

Then I begin and say the second Let­ter from G (forwards towards the right hand) is I the third from O is R the fourth from D is H the fifth from W is B the second from I is L and so pro­ceeding in that order, those words will be comprehended in these Letters irhblxmau

Then the Confederate to unlock those Letters must place the Key over them 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2 thus viz. irhblxmau and say the se­cond Letter from I (backwards toward the left hand) is G the third from R is O the 4 ^th. from H is D &c. by which means the intended sense is easily understood, which without the Key cannot be legi­ble to any but the Confederate; and so by different Keys, and one of the fol­lowing Cyphers a correspondence may be maintained with all manner of per­sons [Page 5] or every man may infold his own secrets thereby at pleasure.

Another Easie and familiar way thus:

Set down the Alphabet twice, first in a direct order then indirectly or in verse, viz.

a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s t u w x y z z y x w u t s r q p o n m l k i h g f e d c b a

And to lock the former words ( God with us) take each Letter opposite to the Letters to be lockt, viz. for G an S for O an L for d a W &c. and the Letters in the words to be lockt will be com­prehended in these Letters slwdqfreg then to unlock them for s take G for L an O for W a D and the words will be soon returned to their first predicament. But the Author not much applauding this method as conceiving it not suffici­ently secure against an artificial scruti­tiny, I shall quit that and touch upon his next which is more safe and concise.

In his second Edition between the first and second Cyphers, pag. 54. he lays down an easie method for unlock­ing the lines affixed to those Cyphers (and some of those that follow [...] and I must confess my self much delighted in those Contrivements, but because they [Page 6] are (by his directions there) obvious to the meanest capacities, I only hint that method and proceed to his next which is more ready and pleasant, and shall de­monstrate the same by his sixth Cypher, pag. 61. and afterwards more concisely by an excellent Cypher of his now in my custody. But before I shew the or­der of the work, I must frame that sixth Cypher a new, for I conceive he hath purposely disordered the Letters in their ranks to perplex the inquisitor.

Admit the words to be lockt the same as in the former Examples, viz. God with us, and the Key to be 975 836412 and the work will stand thus 975 836412

God with us then (by the left hand square) say the 9th. from g (in the first line towards the right hand) is Q the 7th. from O is w the 5th. from D is I and so proceed, and those words will be represented in these Letters, viz. q wiemamwu, where note that the words which consist of 9 Letters are represen­ted by 7 for w represents o and u and m represents I and H and q and i and e and a and u represents g and d and t and S which is very difficult if at all possible to be discovered if intercepted. To un­lock those Letters the work must stand

975836412

thus, viz. q wiemamw u then look q in the outermost line in the square on the right hand and the 9th. Letter from that towards the left hand (in the same square) is g the 7th. from W is O the 5th. from i is d and after that order those Letters will be b [...]ought to their fi [...]st predicament.

This Cypher and the Example from [Page 10] thence cannot but be highly delightful to the Learner, but that which I for­merly mentioned to be in my Custody, and which I shall next insert will, by the Example illustrating the same, appear a very rare Curiosity.

Under this Cypher I found the Ex­ample set down, but no Directions thereon, nor could I possibly find out the contrivement till I met with the Authors Directions in the second Edi­tion of the following Tracts, as I for­merly hinted.

918 273645191 82736 4519182 Dii laboribus omnia vendunt nkr nheuwoceet xoumg z konwww

The method is the same as in the last, viz. beginning at the utmost line to­wards the left hand, I say the 9th. from D (towards the right hand in a direct line) is N the first from I is K the 8th. from I is R which produceth the letters above specified, then to unlock them begin at the utmost line on the right hand and say the 9th. from N (towards the left hand in a direct line) is D the first from K is I the 8th. from R is I, and by that method the letters will be re­stored to their first sense; and I con­ceive he holds this Cypher sufficiently safe for infolding any secret, and proves that 50l. worth of Paper will not con­tain the variations in a Clavis of 8 pla­ces.

You may now find the Clavis to the 6 Cypher (the inward sense being Ho­nos alit Artes) to be 77873655295394 which is lockt and unlockt by the last method, by which the Key to the in­ward sense in the 7th. Cypher may be most easily found out, and the words lockt and unlockt likewise.

The 9th. Cypher I find to be a va­riety of another nature, and the words to be infolded by a literal Clavis (a Key of Letters) viz. thus performed deadeade ade homicida est the words are to be lockt are homicida est, and the Clavis is de a, look H in one of the lines opposite to the Capitals C D and the next letter under it is t, then look O in one of the lines opposite to the [...] E f, and the next letter under it is D, do so in the rest and the words to be lockt will be represented by the letters tdzunnyrgi, to unlock which set the Clavis over them, and look t in one of the lines opposite to the Capitals C D and the next letter under I is H, then look D in the lines opposite to the Ca­pitals E f and the next letter under D is O and so in the rest.

Amongst those Papers so falling into my hands as aforesaid, are several Ta­bles and Squares in order to distinct compliances by a Diurnal, a Bill of pet­ty Expences, Letters of common dis­course and the like, too crabbed for my capacity; also two papers, the one con­taining a discourse of the power of Numbers, and the other of Secret Wri­ting by Waters and Juices, both which are inserted as followeth.

The word CAROLUS may be made differently out of these Letters 3583 1808 times and no more

Here are 7 different letters each 12 times repeated, the rule to know the varieties is this:

Set down the Number 12 seven times, and multiply those 7 twelves continually, the product gives the varie­ties required.

This Distick is variable 114400072|7777607680000 wayes, the words rape & neque standing alwayes as they are. But if they change places (as they may once) then the former number of varieties will be doubled thus 228800|1455555215360000. Those written in all varieties according to 6 Verses or 3 Disticks in the depth of an inch, each Verse 3 inches long, would fill a roll of Paper of 3 inches breadth 62444484|876533760000 feet long, whose weight would make 99857918246056 of our ordinary Cart loads. The length of that roll will compass

The Body of the Earth▪

492769766939

times a­bout.

The Sphere of the first stars according to the greatest allow­ance of it 8212

times a­bout.

Upon the sphere of the fixed stars that roll would make Meridians and Pa [...]al­le [...]s [Page 16] to every degree and ⅓ of minutes besides Circles of Longitude and Lati­tude upon the same sphere, to every de­gree and 1/10; of minutes, with Almican­thars and Azimuths above the Horison to every ⅓ of a degree and circles of po­sition to every ½ degree both above and below the Horison.

The superficial quantity of it would cover all over the face of the Ea [...]th 3055 times the just sphere of the [...] when she is in her Perig [...]m.

If the former roll were rolled up close together, the Semidiameter of the flat made by it would exceed the Semi­diameter of the Earth by 10826 miles.

The same paper would be worth 7592043421779142 allowing 50 sheets for 6d. id est 8¼ sheets for a peny.

The Ink that should write the varie­ties would load 27159778763 Carts and would fill a pool of 1 74 /100 foot depth as broad as the whole Mediteranean Sea, or a pool as broad as all England, whose depth is 42 65 / 100 feet, which Ink (according to the ordinary price of 3d. per pint) would be worth 5741577230 5623 l. or the former quantity of Ink [Page 17] would make up a River of two miles breadth and 47⅖ feet depth, whose length would compass the whole Globe of the Earth,

And if for these two words ( Rape & Neque) were placed 4 short Monosyl­lables, then the former varieties would yet be made 12 times so many, namely, 26976017466662584320000 which would be the greatest number of varie­ties that could possibly be in one Distic.

The rest of the Discourse is in short­hand and Algebraical Characters, which I cannot make out.

DIssolve Vitriol in boiling water, and when it is clear write there­with, dry the same gently at the fire (or let it dry at leisure, which it will soon do) and the writing will be invisible; when you would re­turn it boil Galls in white wine; dip a feather in the liquor and wipe it over the writing, and it will suddenly burst [...] d 43. page of the fol­l [...]g [...]. out like lightning from a cloud.

Dissolve Allom in water and write u [...]on white linen or sarcenet, the wri­ting will immediately vanish and not so much as a hair stroke appear. To re­turn the w [...]iting dip it in water, the li­nen will be darkned and the Letters be legible (and invi [...]ble again when the linen's day) or hold it to the fire and it will produce the same effect, but then [Page 19] the letters will vanish no more.

Write upon a stone with the fat of a Goat dissolved, the letters when dry will be illegible; dip the stone in di­stilled Vinegar and the writing will be apparent.

Pulverize Galls and Virriol and the gum of Juniper, strew it on your paper and rub it hard thereon with a cloth, then polish it with a Boa [...]s tooth or hast of a knife, write your secret upon that paper with fair water or spittle, and the letters by degrees will appear black and legible, the sooner if you wear the paper at your brest between your shirt and doublet.

Write with the juice of Citrons, Orenges, Lemons, Onions, or any o­ther sharp juices, hold your writing to the fire and their acrimony will be presently discovered, and will shew forth those Colours that they would upon the tree when they are ripe. If you write with the juice of sowr Grapes the writing will appear black, juice of Cherries added to Calamus will produce a green, to Sow-bread a red, &c.

Pulverize Sal Ammoniack and dis­solve it in water, when the water is [Page 20] clear write therewith and the writing will be soon invisible, hold it to the fire and it will immediately grow black and legible.

Take distilled Vinegar, the white of an Egg, and Quicksilver, stir them well together, write what you would have concealed, and to return it scorch the paper upon a hot fire-shovel till it look blackish, and the writing will appear white and legible.

Soak Gum Traganth in water and therewith mingle white Lead, spread it all over your paper, write thereon with a point of Iron or Silver, and you cannot discern whats written but by holding the paper between your eye and the light of a candle.

Write upon the hidden parts of the body, viz. Back, Arms, or other Limbs with Urine or distilled Vinegar, and you may return the writing by gently rub­ing the places with the ashes of burnt straw or paper.

Tithymals. If you make letters with Fat, Tallow, or any fatty substance, or with Gum or Milk of a Fig-tree, the dust of cole or burnt paper will return the writing. Pliny saith the Milk of Tithymals will [Page 21] do the like, Ovid confirms this, admo­nishing Maids in his Arte Ama [...]di, how they may safely write to their sweet­hearts.

Dissolve Gum Arabick, or Gun Tra­ganth in water, let the water be clear and you may write upon crystal or glass, and the ashes of burnt straw or pa­per will return the writing.

Rub your paper with a liquor made of Goats Suet and Turpentine dissolved, when you write lay upon that another paper smeared with fat, write thereon with an Iron or Silver point, and the [Page 22] impression thereof will be upon the first paper invisible till you strew dust there­on.

Stir the white and yolk of an Egg to­gether that it may be liquid as Ink, write your secret therewith, then dry the pa­per and write over those Letters (with s [...]aw-dust or Lamp black ground with Vineger) any common discourse; and when you would return the first wri­ting scrape off the second, and the first will appear white.

With any of the former waters you may write upon an Egg, a smooth board, or Ivory, as upon paper; and you may convey a Letter in an Egg thus. Put the Egg in sharp Vinegar three or four hours, when you find it soft open the shell with the edge of your knife, then roll up your Letter in a small roll and put it in, afterwards soak the Egg in cold water and the shell will grow hard as formerly. If you find that part of the shell you open subject to discovery, mix a little lime and gum and you may stop it neatly.