Rarities: OR The incompared 〈◊〉 in SECRET WRITING, Both 〈◊〉 Waters as Ciphers, explained and made familiar to the meanest Capacity. By which Ministers of State may manage the Intrigues of Court and grand Concerns of Princes, the Ladies communicate their Amours, and every ordinary person (only capable of legible Writing) may order his private affairs with all imaginable safety and secrecy. Published to promote the Public, to delight the Ingenious, and encourage the Industrious, By G. B. Gent. LONDON: Printed by J. G. for Nath.▪ Brook, at the Angel in Cornhill. 1665. To the READER. I Think it fit to acquaint thee that several Ciphers and other Papers of Secret Writing which were many years since plundered from the Author of the following Tracts, came shortly after to my hands, and have lain long by me to little purpose; for notwithstanding his Publication of the following Discourse thereof, my great pains to make some progress therein came to nothing until he in his second Edition gave the Learner Directions how to proceed: Since th●n I have made out his methods, and thereby understand his ingenious Contrivements of the Alphabets, and how he thereby Ciphers and Deciphers secret Concernments; and in the first place I lead thee by the hand from familiar Examples, and the beginnings of that Art (as I find them in his Papers) to the sublime curiosities thereof, which in my opinion will be to thee a service very acceptable; and being I have no ends beyond the kindness I own to common capacities, and the public, I hope to meet with a general pardon both from the great Masters of that rare Art, and from all others, and the rather, because I conceive it cannot be prejudicial to matters of State for every ordinary person to be able to conceal his own Concerns in a Character only legible to himself, and that no man in a condition where the managery of the Pen is requisite, but may have occasion to lay by something secretly to prevent intrusion into his private affairs. I mean well to all, and so consequently have the less to account for: but however I am concluded, I shall shortly (if I live) be Thy more useful Friend G. B. ACcording to my undertaking I shall Illustrate this Art in its Originals by easy Examples (of which I lately thought myself as ignorant as any that are to learn) and from thence show how the Author's Contrivements from time to time still rendered the same more intricate and recluse to the Inquisitor, till Art (in the Conclusion) shut Art (in the disquisition) out a doors. First writ 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 Watchword (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 eyphered, locked, or enfolded to distract the sense; and then to be deciphered, unfolded or unlocked 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 cyphered, locked, or enfolded 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 locked, 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 4th. from H is D etc. 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 Ciphers a correspondence may be maintained with all manner of persons or every man may enfold his own secrets thereby at pleasure. Another Easy 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 locked, viz. for G an S for O an L for d a W etc. and the Letters in the words to be locked 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 Ciphers, pag. 54. he lays down an easy method for unlocking the lines affixed to those Ciphers (and some of those that follows and I must confess myself much delighted in those Contrivements, but because they 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 cipher, pag. 61. and afterwards more concisely by an excellent cipher of his now in my custody. But before I show the order of the work, I must frame that sixth cipher a new, for I conceive he hath purposely disordered the Letters in their ranks to perplex the inquisitor. z a b c d e f g h i a b c d e f g h i k b c d e f g h i k l c d e f g h i k l m d e f g h i k l m n e f g h i k l m n o f g h i k l m n o p g h i k l m n o p q h i k l m n o p q r i k l m n o p q r s k l m n o p q r s t l m n o p q r s t u m n o p q r s t u w n o p q r s t u w x o p q r s t u w x y p q r s t u w x y z q r s t u w x y z a r s t u w x y z a b s t u w x y z a b c t u w x y z a b c d u w x y z a b c d e w x y z a b c d e f x y z a b c d e f g y z a b c d e f g h z a b c d e f ● ● ● p q r s t u w x y z q r s t u w x y z a r s t u w x y z a b s t u w x y z a b c t u w x y z a b c d u w x y z a b c d e w x y z a b c d e f x y z a b c d e f g y z a b c d e f g h z a b c d e f g h i a b c d e f g h i k b c d e f g h i k l c d e f g h i k l m d e f g h i k l m n e f g h i k l m n o f g h i k l m n o p g h i k l m n o p q h i k l m n o p q r i k l m n o p q r s k l m n o p q r s t l m n o p q r s t u m n o p q r s t u w n o p q r s t u w x o p q ● s t u w x y p q r s ● u w x y z Admit the words to be locked 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 cipher and the Example from 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a b c d e f g h i k b c d e f g h i k l c d e f g h i k l m d e f g h i k l m n e f g h i k l m n o f g h i k l m n o p g h i k l m n o p q h i k l m n o p q r i k l m n o p q r s k l m n o p q r s t l m n o p q r s t u m n o p q r s t u w n o p q r s t u w x o p q r s t u w x y p q r s t u w x y z q r s t u w x y z a r s t u w x y z a b s t u w x y z a b c t u w x y z a b c d u w x y z a b c d e w x y z a b c d e f x y z a b c d e f g y z a b c d e f g h z a b c d e f g h i a b c d e f g h i k 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Under this cipher I found the Example set down, but no Directions thereon, nor could I possibly find out the contrivement till I met with the Author's 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 cipher 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 cipher (the inward sense being Honos alit Artes) to be 77873655295394 which is locked and unlocked by the last method, by which the Key to the inward sense in the 7th. cipher may be most easily found out, and the words locked and unlocked likewise. The 9th. cipher I find to be a variety of another nature, and the words to be enfolded by a literal Clavis (a Key of Letters) viz. thus performed deadeade ade homicida est the words are to be locked are homicida est, and the Clavis is the 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 locked 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 Expenses, 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 cccccccccccc aaaaaaaaaaaa rrrrrrrrrrrr oooooooooooo llllllllllll uwuwuwuu ssssssssssss 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. Quod sat sit (sors) damn, sed ne post tu rap● de me; Sin te sic mens fert, vae m●! nec fas neque jus vis. This Distich is variable 1144000727777607680000 ways, the words rape & neque standing always as they are. But if they change places (as they may once) than the former number of varieties will be doubled thus 2288001455555215360000. Those written in all varieties according to 6 Verses or 3 Distiches in the depth of an inch, each Verse 3 inches long, would fill a roll of Paper of 3 inches breadth 62444484876533760000 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 Meridian's and Parallels 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 Horizon to every ⅓ of a degree and circles of position to every ½ degree both above and below the Horizon. The superficial quantity of it would cover all over the face of the Earth 3055 times the just sphere of the ● when she is in her Perigeum. 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 penny. 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 Mediterranean 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 would make up a River of two mile's 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, than 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. Invisible Writing by Waters, etc. 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 following 〈◊〉. out like lightning from a cloud. Dissolve Allom in water and write u●on white linen or sarsenet, the writing will immediately vanish and not so much as a hair struck appear. To return the w●iting dip it in water, the linen will be darkened and the Letters be legible (and inviable again when the linen's day) or hold it to the fire and it will produce the same effect, but then the letters will vanish no more. Writ 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 haste of a knife, writ 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 breast between your shirt and doublet. Writ with the juice of Citrons, Oranges, Lemons, Onions, or any other sharp juices, hold your writing to the fire and their acrimony will be presently discovered, and will show forth those Colours that they would upon the tree when they are ripe. If you writ with the juice of sour Grapes the writing will appear black, juice of Cherries added to Calamus will produce a green, to Showbread a red, etc. Pulverize Sal Ammoniack and dissolve it in water, when the water is 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, writ what you would have concealed, and to return it scorch the paper upon a hot fireshovel 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, writ thereon with a point of Iron or Silver, and you cannot discern what's written but by holding the paper between your eye and the light of a candle. Writ 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 rubbing the places with the ashes of straw or paper. Tithymals. If you make letters with Fat, Tallow, or any fatty substance, or with Gum or Milk of a Figtree, the dust of coal or paper will return the writing. Pliny saith the Milk of Tithymals will do the like, Ovid confirms this, admonishing Maids in his Art Ama●di, how they may safely write to their sweetheart's. Tuta quoque est, fallitque oculos ● lacte recenti Littera, carbonis polline tange, leges: Fallit & humiduli quae fiet acumine lini, Et feret occultas pura tabella notas. Writ with new Milk its safe, unseen, but read The writing with coaldust laid on full right: Moist slax will write as if that none had been, And Letters on your paper pass the sight. Dissolve Gum Arabic, or Gun Traganth in water, let the water be clear and you may write upon crystal or glass, and the ashes of straw or paper will return the writing. Rub your paper with a liquor made of Goat's Suet and Turpentine dissolved, when you writ lay upon that another paper smeared with fat, writ thereon with an Iron or Silver point, and the 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, writ your secret therewith, then dry the paper and write over those Letters (with s●●aw-dust or Lamp black ground with Vinegar) 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. Books worth buying, sold by Nath. Brook at the Angel in Cornhill. 1. THe complete Clerk, or Conveyancers light, containing the best forms of all sorts of precedents for conveyances and assu●a●ces, and other instruments now in use. qu●rt. 2. An historical discourse briefly setting forth the nature of Procurations, and somewhat also of Synodals and Pentecostals quart. 3. Observations, Censures and Confutations of notorious errors in Mr. Hobbes his Leviathan and other his books. To which are annexed occasional animadversions on some writings of the Soc●●ians and such Heretics, of the same opinions: by W. Lu●y, B●shop of S. David's quart. 4. The British Physician, or the nature and virtues of English plants, exactly describing such plants as g●ow naturally in our land, with their several names, natures, places, etc. and also of all such foreign herbs, roots and plants as are brought hither. oct. 3●. pri●●. 5. Fax nova linguae Latinae, a n●w ●or●h to the La●ine tongue, very useful for Gentlemen, Lawyers and young Clerks, with the approbation of many learned scholars on the work▪ 6. The method of Chemical Philosophy and Physic, being a brief intro●uction to the one, and a true discovery of the other, namely, o● Diseases, their qualities, causes, symptoms, and certain cur●●. The like never before extant in English. oct▪ la●g●. 7. The Divine Services and Anthems usually su●g in His Majesty's Chapel, and in all Cathed all and Collegiate Churches in England and I●ela●d, the second Edition, with large additions: collected by J. C. 8. The Complete Midwife's practice enlarged, in th● most weighty and high concernmen●s of the b●th of man, containing a perfect directory or rules for Midwives and Nurses. oct. 9 The Woman's counsellor, or the Feminine Physician, modestly treating of such ●●cult accidents and secret diseases as are incident to that sex. oct. 10. Prae-nuncius Sydereus, an Astrological Treatise of the effects of the great Conjunction of the two superior Planets Saturn and Jupiter, Octob. 10. 63. and other Configurations concomitant: wherein the fate of Europe for these next twenty years is from the most rational grounds of art more than probably conjectured, and the success of the present design of the Tu●k against Christendom occasionally hinted at, by R●●b. Edlin. quart. 11. Florus Hungaricus, or the history of Hungaria and Transylvania, deduced from the original of that Nation, and their settling in Europe in the year of our Lord, 461. to this dangerous and suspectful period of that Kingdom by the present Turkish invasion, 1664. oct. 12 Wits Interpreter, the English Parnassus, or a sure Guide to those admirable accomplishments that complete our English Gentry in the most acceptable qualifications of discourse or writing: by J. C. oct. large. 13. The accomplished Cook, the m●stery of the art of Cookery revealed in a more easy and perfect method than hath been published in any language. oct. large. 13. Moor's Arithmetic, the second Edition, much refined, containing the whole art of Arithmetic, ●s well in Numbers as Species. oct. 15. The Reformed Presbyterian, by Rich. Littler. oct. large. FINIS.