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for words； but chiefly for ornamenting capital
letters。
A large room was in most monasteries set apart for
such labors and here the general transcribers pursued
their avocations； in addition； small rooms or cells；
known also as scriptoria； occupied by such monks as
were considered； from their piety and learning； to be
entitled to the indulgence； and used by them for their
private devotions； as well as for the purpose of transcribing
works for the use of the church or library。
The scriptoria were frequently enriched by donations
and bequests from those who knew the value of the
works carried on in them； and large estates were often
devoted to their support。
〃Meanwhile along the cloister's painted side；
The monkseach bending low upon his book
With head on hand reclinedtheir studies plied；
Forbid to parley； or in front to look；
Lengthways their regulated seats they took：
The strutting prior gazed with pompous mien；
And wakeful tongue； prepared with prompt rebuke；
If monk asleep in sheltering hood was seen；
He wary often peeped beneath that russet screen。
〃Hard by； against the window's adverse light；
Where desks were wont in length of row to stand；
The gowned artificers inclined to write；
The pen of silver glistened in the hand
Some of their fingers rhyming Latin scanned；
Some textile gold from halls unwinding drew；
And on strained velvet stately portraits planned；
Here arms； there faces shown in embryo view；
At last to glittering life the total figures grew。〃
FOSBROOKE。
The public scribes of those days were employed
mostly by secular individuals； although subject to be
called upon at any moment by the fathers of the
church。 They worked in their homes except when
any valuable work was to be copied； then in that of
their employer； who boarded and lodged them during
the time of their engagement。
To differentiate the character of the class of pigments
or materials then employed in making colored
inks； from those of the more ancient times is difficult；
because we not only find many of like character but of
larger variety。 These were used more for purposes of
illuminating and embellishing than for regular writing。
Even when printing had been invented spaces were
frequently left； both in the block books and in the
earliest movable type； for the illumination by hand；
of initial letters so as to deceive purchasers into the
belief that the printed type which was patterned
closely after the forms of letters employed in MSS。
writings was the real thing。 The learned soon discovered
such frauds and thereafter these practices
were abandoned。
CHAPTER X。
RENAISSANCE INK。
INK OF GRAY COLOR BELONGING TO THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY
AND ITS CAUSESINFLUENCE OF THE FATHERS OF
THE CHURCH RESPECTING INK DURING THE DARK
AGESTHE REFORMATION AND HOW IT AFFECTED MEDIAEVAL
MSS。REMARKS OF BALE ABOUT THEIR DESTRUCTION
QUAINT INK RECEIPT OF 1602SELECTION
FROM THE TWELFTH NIGHT RELATING TO PEN AND
INKGENERAL CONDITIONS WHICH OBTAINED UNTIL
1626THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AWARDS AN INK
CONTRACT IN THAT YEAROTHER GOVERNMENTS ADOPT
THE FRENCH FORMULAINKS OF THE SEVENTEENTH
CENTURY ALMOST PERFECT IN THEIR COLOR PHENOMENA
NO ADDED COLOR EMPLOYED IN THEIR MANUFACTURE。
THE gray color of most of the inks found on documents
written in the sixteenth century is a noteworthy
fact。 Whence its cause is a matter for considerable
speculation。 The majority of these inks
unquestionably belong to the 〃gall〃 class and if prepared
after the formulas utilized in preceding centuries
should indicate like color phenomena。 As
these same peculiarities exist on both paper； vellum
and parchment； it cannot be attributed to their use。
Investigations in many instances of the writings indicate
the exercise of a more rapid pen movement
and a consequent employment of inks of greater
fluidity than those of an earlier history。 Such fluidity
could only be obtained by a reduction of the quantity
of gummy vehicles together with an increase of ink
acidity。 The acids which had theretofore been more
or less introduced into inks； except oxalic acid； could
not effect such results。 Consequently； as the monuments
of this gray ink phenomena are to be found
belonging to all the portions of the Christian world；
with a uniformity that is certainly remarkable； it becomes
a fair deduction to assume that the making of
inks bad passed into the hands of regular manufacturers
who adulterated them with 〃added〃 color。
We can well believe that the influences which the
fathers of the Church exerted during the thousand
years known as the 〃Dark Ages；〃 in respect to ink
and kindred subjects； must have been very great。
That they endeavored to perpetuate for the benefit of
succeeding generations in book and other forms； this
kind of information； which they distributed throughout
the world we know to be true。 Most of these
sources of ink information； however； gradually disappeared
as constituting a series of sad events in the unhappy
war which followed their preparation。
The Reformation began in Germany in the first
quarter of the sixteenth century； and with it the
eighty years of continual religious warfare which
followed。 During this period the priceless MSS。 books
of information； historical； literary and otherwise； contained
in the monastic libraries outside of Italy were
burnt。
We are told：
〃In England cupidity and intolerance destroyed
recklessly。 Thus； after the dissolution of monastic
establishments； persons were appointed to search
out all missals； books of legends； and such 'superstitious
books' and to destroy or sell them for
waste paper； reserving only their bindings； when；
as was frequently the case； they were ornamented
with massive gold and silver； curiously chased； and
often further enriched with precious stones； and so
industriously had these men done their work； destroying
all books in which they considered popish
tendencies to be shown by illumination； the use of
red letters； or of the Cross； or even by theto them
mysterious diagrams of mathematical problems
that when； some years later； Leland was appointed
to examine the monastic libraries； with a view to
the preservation of what was valuable in them； he
found that those who had preceded him had left
little to reward his search。〃
Bale； himself an advocate for the dissolution of
monasteries； says：
〃Never had we bene offended for the losse of
our lybraryes beyng so many in nombre and in so
desolute places for the moste parte； yf the chief
monuments and moste notable workes of our excellent
wryters had bene reserved； yf there had bene
in every shyre of Englande but one solemyne lybrary
for the preservacyon of those noble workes； and
preferrments of good learnyuges in our posteryte it
had bene yet somewhat。 But to destroye all without
consyderacyon is and wyll be unto Englande for
ever a most horryble infamy amonge the grave
senyours of other natyons。 A grete nombre of
them wych purchased of those superstycyose mansyons
reserved of those lybrarye bokes； some to
serve theyr jaks； some to scoure theyr candelstyckes；
and some to rubb theyr bootes 。 some they solde to
the grossers and sope sellers； and some they sent
over see to the bokebynders； not in small nombre；
but at tymes whole shippesful。 I knowa merchant
man； whyche shall at thys tyme be namelesse； that
boughte the content…； of two noble lybraryes for xl
shyllyngs pryce； a shame it is to be spoken。 Thys
stuffe hathe he occupyed in the stide of greve paper
for the space of more than these ten years； and yet
hathe store ynough for as many years to come。 A
prodyguous example is thys； and to be abhorred of
all men who love theyr n atyon as they shoulde do。〃
Passing to later epochs； A。 D。 1602； the following
quaint receipt proves interesting as showing that the
〃gall〃 inks were well known at that time：
〃To make common Ink； of Wine take a quart；
Two ounces of Gumme； let that be a part；
Five ounces of Galls； of Cop'res take three；
Long standing doth make it the better to be；
If Wine ye do want； raine water is best；
And then as much stuffe as above at the least；
If the Ink be too thick； put Vinegar in；
For water doth make the colour more dimme。〃
Shakespeare in his Twelfth Night III； 2； has also
referred to them in the following amusing strain：
〃Go write it in a martial hand； be curst and brief；
it is no matter how witty； so it be eloquent； and
full of invention； taunt him with the license of
ink； if thou thou'st him thrice； it shall nor be
amiss； and as many lies as will lie on a sheet of
paper； although the sheet were