Hugh Platt on Inke...

35 How to write both blew and redde letters at once, with one selfe-same Inke and pen, and upon the same paper.

Put the quantitie of Hasell nut of Lytmas blewe to three spoonfuls of conduit water, wherin some Gumme Arabicke is dissolved, and when it hath setled the space of one hower, if you write therewith you shall have perfect blewe letters, and if you dip a pencill in the juice of Lymmons, that is drained from his residence, and do wet some part of the paper therwith, and after let your paper drie againe, and then write upon the place where the iuice of the Lymmon was laid, with your former blew inke, the letters will suddenlie become red, and in all the rest of the paper the letters will be blew. And so you may also make partie letters and other fansies, if you wet your paper accordinglie. Sapius probatum. [p.38]

36 To keepe Inke from freezing and moulding.

Put a few drops of Aqua vita therein, and then it wil not freeze in the hardest Winter than can happen, and in Sommer time if you put salt therein it will not waxe moldie as I have been crediblie informed. [p.38]

39 A Gall water very necessarie to mingle with your Inke, as it groweth thick in your standish or inkhorne.

Slice or beat some of the best Galles, and put them in a glass of faire water, and when the have given some reasonable tincture to the water, you may mix the same with your inke as it thickneth: this is a more kindlie waie, then to use either faire water, beere or vineger instead thereof.But when the water beginnieth to be over olde and out of date, you must then throw away the same and make fresh. [p.43]

40 How to remove olde letters, that be almost worn out of sight.

This is performed by rubbing them over carefully with the gall water aforesaid being wel prepared, for that will strike afresh hew again into the old and outworne Coppres. These two secrets I learned verie lately of a skilful & well conceipted gentleman, who hath made some practises thereof himselfe, and the first I can warrant by mine owne triall. [p.43]

42 How to paint or limne with the colours that are taken from hearbs or flowers.

Some drie the leaves of hearbes or flowers, which carrie any deep colour in them, and if there be severall colours upon one leafe, they devide them, and keep each colour by itself, grinding the same upon a Marble, and after keepe it in close glasses or leaded pots, sufficiently defended from the aire. If you grind the leaves of a white rose with a little Allome, it will give a yellow colour, and so will the purple part of the leave of the flower deluce, ground with a little lime, yeeld a good and perfect greene. Some expresse the iuice of herbs or flowers, and then evaporat either in balneo or in the sun so much as wil ascent, spreding y' self [velt?] thinly upo' the bottoms & sides of small dishes, & after, then set y' same in the sun to dry, & then grind with gumme water as they have cause to use it. Some  infuse the moist, and some the drie leafe, with faire water, and so soone as the beautiful hew of the leaves begin the vade, they dreine away the water, and make an addition of fresh leaves ther'unto, and so change their leaves often, that they may purchase to the inselves nothing else but the livelie and brigth tincture of everie hearbe or flower. Those two colours of the Rose, & Flower-deluse I learned of master Bateman sometime the parson of Newington a most excellent lymner.

45 To make bad paper to beare ynke in some reasonable manner.

Rub your paper wel over with the fine powder or dust of Rosen and Sandtach mingled in equall parts before you write therwith. Note that you must tie the powder hard in a rag of Laune or thin Cambrick, and therewith rub the paper throughly well, This is a necessarie secret for students, whereby they may note in the mergentes of their bookes if the paper should happen to sinke, which is an especiall fault in many of our late yeere bookes of the Law.


The Jewell House of Art and Nature, conteining diverse rare and profitable Inventions, together with sundry new experimentes in the Art of Husbandry, Distillation, and Moulding. By Hugh Platte. London: Peter Short, 1597.