To make black Writing vanish and appear again.

TAke one pound of burnt Tartar, which dissolve in common Water, and filtrate it, and when you would make use of it strike it over the Writing, and it will suddenly vanish.

To recall and make the Letters appear again.

Take an ounce of white Vitriol, dissolve it in a pound of Water, which filtrate, then strike the Paper over with it, and presently the Letters will appear as before.

An Ingenious way to Write so as it shall or shall not appear, or the double Letter.

Take a quarter of a pint of distill'd Vine∣gar, which put into a Vial, wherein must be half an ounce of Gold Litharge in fine Powder, stirring it from time to time, four or five times an hour, then let it stand twelve, fifteen, or twenty four hours, then pour off what's clear into another Vial by Inclination, and throw off the dregs, stopping the bottle close, and keep it against you would write white, or the double Letter, with the Ink that follows.

The second Ink.

Take Cork, as much as you please, burn it well, and when it flames no longer, put it into a Dish, with a little Aquae Vitae over it, and cover your dish close with another, then pound it well, and make it up into a Paste, which keep to use thus;

Take some of this Cork, burnt and pound∣ed, and dissolve it in water, and with fine Cot∣ton, till your Ink runs, and will write.

To make a Water that will make this second vanish, and the first appear.

Take Rose-water, and Sorrel water, of each half a pint, which put into a Vial, and add to it two ounces of unslack'd Lime, and one of Orpine, both well beaten and mixed, stir∣ring all from time to time as the first, take off the clear by Inclination, after it has stood fifteen or twenty hours, throw off the Lees, and when you would make the second Ink vanish, and the first appear, put one or two drops upon the Line, and with a little Cotton make it run upon the place where your wri∣ting is, and it will appear.

Ink that may be rubbed out when you will.

Take Flax well burnt, and put out in Aqua Vitae, then ground upon a Stone to Paste, which put into a new earthen Pot, covering it well lest it turn to Ashes, dissolve it with Gum-Water and write, any Water will wash away that Writing.

Ink that will vanish within six dayes.

Take some Coals made of Willow well ground and dissolved in common Water, and write.

Ink for Parchment that will last till you rub it out.

Take Cannon-Powder, dissolve it in fair Water, and write upon Parchment; when you would put it out, take a Hancherchief and rub it.

Indian Ink.

Take dry Beans, all black, burn them to Coal, then beat them to Powder, dissolve it in March Dew, in which Gum Arabic has been dissolved before, make it up into a Paste, which make in what fashion you will, and let it dry in the shade.

Portable, or dry Ink to carry about.

Take of the black of Rosin one part, Coal made of Walnut, Peach, or Apricock-tree, one part, Vitriol and Galls equal parts, Gum Ara∣bic four parts, all in Powder, or in a Cake, if you will.

An Excellent Ink for writing.

Take half a pound of Log-wood, cut into small slices, boil it in a quart of Wine, or Vinegar, till half be consumed, then take out the Wood, and put into the Pot four oun∣ces of good Glass pounded, and put all into a strong Bottle, which expose to the Sun for three or four days, stirring of it three or four times a day, then add to it two ounces of good Roman Vitriol, or green Copperas, and let it Page  169steep two days, then two ounces of Gum-Ara∣bick pounded, next day strain it into another Vessel to keep, the dregs that remain may serve again with the same Liquor, and you need only add half a pint of Logwood-water; to make it shine you must put to it a hand∣ful of Pomegranate shels, which put into the bottle with the Galls; being in want of Ink, you may boyl it a quarter of an hour, but it is never so good, but thick and muddy.

A very useful way to write upon greasie Paper, or Parchment, and make the Ink run.

Take an Oxes gall, which prick, and put into a Pot with a handful of Salt and a little Vinegar, then stir it all very well, and thus you may keep it a year without spoiling; when you write, and meet with any Paper, or Parchment, that in some place is greasy, take one drop of that Gall, which mix with the Ink in the Ink-horn, and you will write with ease.

Rain, or Nut-water, is excellent, and the Ink made of it is very good.

White-wine is best for shining Ink.

To write Silver and Gold Letters.

Take one ounce of Touchstone, two oun∣ces of Sal Armoniack, half an ounce of Gum Arabic, beat all to Powder and mix it; then when you would write dissolve your dregs in Water, or milk of Figs, when your letters are Page  170dry, rub them with the metal you would have them be of.

An Ink that may be wiped out in forty days.

Take Aqua-fortis, in which boyl as many Galls, Roman Vitriol, and Sal Armoniac, as the Water can dissolve, at last add Gum Ara∣bic, then write, it is very black till wiped out.

Ink upon Glass.

Take scales of Iron and Stone, well ground upon a Copper Plate, equal quantities of each, then dissolve them in Gum Water, and write with a glass Pen.

Several sorts of Colours.

Take Tutty, which incorporate with the juice of Celandine upon a Marble stone, and write with it.

To make a resemblance of Wines of several Colours.

Shave Brasil-wood, which steep in common Water, so that it remain like a Paste, and let it dry in a Glass till it soaks up the Water.

Take what you can carry between two Fin∣gers of these shavings, which put into a Glass of Water, and it will suddenly become red, like Claret.

Pour the said red Water into another glass wash'd in good Vinegar, it will turn yellow, put out the greatest part, and retain but about Page  171the depth of three fingers, putting fresh Water to it, it will be of the colour of small pale Wine, to which put a little Vinegar, it will look like a Muscadine, inclin'd to yellow, add Water, it will be like White-wine, to this last put two drops of writing Ink, blow your Water, and it will become of a good pale Greediline.

Incombustible Oyl.

Oyl of Olives, unslacked Lime, and Salt distilled together, make incombustible Oyl.

To make Arsenick run like Oyl.

Take white Soap, which distill, and there will come out an Oyl, in which boyl your Arsenick till the said Oyl be consumed, and it will melt like Wax.

To slack Lime so that it shall be good for several Ʋses.

Put it into a Pot and fill it with Water, when it begins to boyl it makes a small Skin on the top, which must be taken off with a Knife, so doing till it rises no more, and then it will be fit for use,

To make a Light for a Lamp that shall not smoak (by distilling) with an excellent Week.

Distill a pound or more of common Oyl, which use in your Lamp, the Light of it is very steady and even, the Week may be of Talk, or stone Allum, like other Weeks, Page  172(which is done by steeping them well in Wa∣ter, and they will spin out) observe you must make a great many little holes in the Week with an Awl or great Needle, to make the Oyl rise.

Aqua Vitae.

Put into an Earthen Limbec well tinned, a quart of the strongest Vinegar, with a hand∣ful of Allay, and as much Salt, and distill it.

A Candle that cannot be put out.

Fill a Cane with natural live Sulphur, and wrap it about with Lints, then cover it with Wax, and light it.

To hinder Oyl from smoaking.

Distill some Juice of Onion, and put it at the bottom of the Lamp, the Oyl upon it, which hinders it from making Soot.

To make Oyl of Eggs white.

Put among the Oyl of twelve Eggs, ex∣tracted after the common way, one spoonful of Oyl of Tartar, mixing them well together, set them out to the Sun, there remains at bot∣tom a thick settlement, the Oyl that remains at top must be gently poured off into another Vial, leaving it in the Sun, it becomes as white as a Curd.