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century and the creation of alleged stable governments；
who may perhaps have realized the necessity
for an ink of enduring good commercial and record
qualities； so…called 〃gall〃 inks were chosen as best
possessing them； and were made and employed with
varying results even more than the ancient 〃Indian〃
inks。
Mediaeval practices in relation to ink and other
writing materials as well as the monastic libraries of
which England； France； Germany and Italy possessed
many during the thirteenth； fourteenth； and more
particularly the fifteenth centuries； were governed by
established rules。
The libraries of such institutions were placed by the
abbot under the sole charge of the 〃armarian；〃 an
officer who was made responsible for the preservation
of the volumes under his care； be was expected frequently
to examine them； lest damp or insects should
injure them； he was to cover them with wooden
covers to preserve them and carefully to mend and
restore any damage which time or accident might
cause； he was to make a note of any book borrowed
from the library； with the name of the borrower；
but this last rule applied only to the less valuable
portion of it； as the 〃great and precious books〃
could only be lent by the permission of the abbot
himself。 It was also the duty of the armarian
to have all the books in his charge marked with their
correct titles； and to keep a perfect list of the whole。
Some of these catalogues are still in existence and are
curious and interesting in their exemplification of the
kinds of ink employed and as indicative of the state
of literature in the Middle Ages； besides presenting
the names of many authors whose works have never
reached us。 It was also the duty of the armarian；
under the orders of his superior； to provide the transcribers
of manuscripts with the writings which they
were to copy； as well as all the materials necessary
for their labors； to make bargains as to payment； and
to superintend the work during their progress。
These transcribers； Mr。 Maitland in his 〃Dark
Ages〃 tells us； were monks and their clerks； some of
whom were so skilled that they could perform all the
different branches。 They were exhorted by the rules
of their order to learn writing； and to persevere in
the work of copying manuscripts as being one most
acceptable to God； those who could not write were
recommended to bind books。 This was in line with
the behest of the famous monk Alciun who lived in
the eighth century and who entreated all to employ
themselves in copying books； saying：
〃It is a most meritorious work； more useful to
the health than working in the fields； which profits
only a man's body； while the labour of a copyist
profits his soul。〃
When black ink was used in liturgical writings； the
title page and heads of chapters were written in
red ink； whence comes the term rubric。 Green；
purple； blue and yellow inks were sometimes used
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 movemen