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Picolimini relates that the equivalent of eighty
golden crowns was demanded for a small part of the
works of Plutarch。
If we are to believe any of the accounts； the environment
of the art of handwriting and handwriting
materials at the beginning of the fifth century had
contracted within a small compass； due principally to
the general ignorance of the times。
As practiced it was pretty much under the control
of the different religious denominations and the information
obtainable about inks from these sources
is but fragmentary。 What has come down to us of
this particular era is mostly found on the old written
Hebrew relics； showing that they at least had made
no innovations in respect to the use of their ritualistic
deyo。
The invention of the quill pen in the sixth century
permitted a degree of latitude in writing never before
known； the inks were made thinner and necessarily
were less durable in character。 Greater attention was
given to the study and practice of medicine and
alchemy which were limited to the walls of the
cloister and secret places。 The monk physicians endeavored
by oral instructions and later by written
ones to communicate their ink…making methods not
only of the black and colored； but of secret or sympathetic
inks； to their younger brethren； that they might
thus be perpetuated。 All the traditional and practical
knowledge they possessed was condensed into manuscript
forms； additions from other hands which included
numerous chemical receipts for dyeing caused
them to multiply； so that as occasion required from
time to time； they were bound up together booklike
and then circulated among favored secular individuals；
under the name of 〃Secreta。〃
The more remote of such treatises which have come
down to us seem to indicate the trend of the researches
respecting what must have been in those times
unsatisfactory inks。 Scattered through them appear a
variety of formulas which specify pyrites （a combination
of sulphur and metal）； metals； stones and other
minerals； soot； （blue） vitriol； calxes （lime or chalk）；
dye…woods； berries； plants； and animal colors； some of
which if made into ink could only have been used
with disastrous results； when permanency is considered。
The black ink formulas of the eighth century are
but few； and show marked improvement in respect to
the constituents they call for； indicating that many
of those of earlier times had been tried and found
wanting。 One in particular is worthy of notice as it
names （blue） vitriol； yeast； the lees （dregs） of wine
and the rind of the pomegranate apple； which if
commingled together would give results not altogether
unlike the characteristic phenomena of 〃gall〃 ink。
Confirmation of the employment of such an ink on a
document of the reign of Charlemigne in the beginning
of the ninth century on yellow…brown Esparto
（a Spanish rush） paper； is still preserved。 Specimens
of 〃pomegranate〃 ink； to which lampblack and
other pigments had been added of varying degrees of
blackness； on MSS。； but lessening in number as late as
the fourteenth century； are still extant in the British
Museum and other public libraries。
CHAPTER VI。
INK OF THE WEST。
REMARKS OF ARCH…DEACON CARLISLEWHEN READING
AND WRITING CEASED TO BE MYSTERIESORIGIN
OF THE WORDS CLERK AND SIGNSCARCITY OF MANUSCRIPTS
FOUNDING OF IRISH SCHOOLS OF LEARNING
IN THE SEVENTH CENTURYMONKS NOT PERMITTED
TO USE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT IN PREPARING
MSS。OBSERVATIONS OF MADAN ABOUT THE HISTORY
OF WRITING DURING THE DARK AGESINK…
WRITTEN MSS。 TREASURES。
THE ancient history of the art of writing in more
northern sections of the Western world； William
Nicolson； Arch…Deacon of Carlisle； author of 〃The
English Historical Library；〃 London； 1696； tells very
quaintly：
〃The Danes register'd their more considerable
transactions upon Rocks； or on parts of them；
hewen into various Shapes and Figures。 On these
they engrav'd such Inscriptions as were proper for
their Heathen Alters； Triumphal Arches； Sepulchral
Monuments and Genealogical Histories of
their Ancestors。 Their writings of less concern
（as Letters； Almanacks； &c。） were engraven upon
Wood： And because Beech was most plentiful in
Demnark； （tho Firr and Oak be so in Norway and
Sweden） and most commonly employ'd in these
Services； form the word Bog （which in their Language
is the Name of that sort of Wood） they and
all other Northern Nations have the Name of Book。
The poorer sort used Bark； and the Horns of Rain…
Deer and Elks were often finely polish'd and shaped
into Books of several Leaves。 Many of these old
Calendars are likewise upon Bones of Beasts and
Fishes： But the Inscriptions on Tapestry； Bells；
Parchment and Paper； are of later use。
〃Some other Monuments may be known to be of
a Danish Extraction； tho they carry nothing of a
Runic Inscription。 Few of their Temples were
cover'd； and the largest observ'd by Wormius （at
Kialernes in Island） was 120 foot in length； and 60
in breadth。
〃The next Monument of Age is their Edda
Islandorum； the meaning of which Appellation they
that publish the Book hardly pretend to understand。
As far as I can give the Reader any satisfaction；
he is to。 know that Island was first inhabited （in
the year 874） by a Colony of Norwegians； who
brought hither the Traditions of their Forefathers；
in certain metrical Composures； which （as is usual
with Men transplanted into a Foreign Land） were
here more zealously and carefully preserv'd and
kept in memory than by the Men of Norway themselves。
About 240 years after this （A。 D。 1114）
their History began to be written by one Saemund；
surnam'd Frode or the wise； who （in nine years'
travel through Italy； Germany and England） had
amass'd together a mighty Collection of Historical
Treatises。 With these he return'd full fraught into
Island； where he also drew up an account of
the affairs of his own Country。 Many of his
Works are now said to be lost： But there is still an
Edda； consisting of several Odes （whence I suspect
its Name is derived） written by many several hands；
and at different times； which bears his Name。
The Book is a Collection of Mythological Fables；
relating to the ancient State and Behaviour of the
Great Woden and his followers； in terms poetical
and adapted to the Service of those that were employ'd
in the composure of their old Rhymes and Sonnets。
〃There is likewise extant a couple of Norwegian
Histories of good Authentic Credit； which explains
a great many particulars relating to the Exploits of
the Danish Kings in Great Britain； which our own
Historians have either wholly omitted or very
darkly recorded。 The former of these was written
soon after the year 1130； by one Theodoric a Monk；
who acknowledges his whole Fabrick to be built
upon Tradition； and that the old Northern History
is no where now to be had save only ab I