M E R C V R Y
The secret and swift
Messenger.
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by Iohn Wilkins
1641

C H A P . I .
The dependance of this knowledge in na-
    ture. The Authors that have treated
    of it. Its relation to the art of Gram-
    mer.

C H A P . I I .
The conditions requisite to Secrecy,
The use of it in the Matter of speech,
either

{

Fables of the Heathen.

Parables of Scripture.

C H A P . I I I .
Concerning the secrecie of speech which
consists in the words, Either

By inventing new ones,
as in

{

Canting.
Conjuring.

Or by a changing
of the knowne
language, whither

{

Inversion.
Transmutation.
Diminution.
Augmentation.

C H A P . I V .
Concerning the secret conveyances of any
written message in use amongst the
Antients,

Either by {

Land.
Water.
the open Ayre.

C H A P . 5 .
Of that secrecy which consists in the ma-
terials of writing, whether the Paper
or Inke.

C H A P . V I .
Secret writing with the common letters,
by changing of their places.

C H A P . V I I .
Concerning secret writing with equall let-
    ters, by changing their Powers. The
    use of this amongst the Jewes and
    Romanes. The Key-character.

C H A P . V I I I .
Of secret writing by more letters then
are requisite to the intended mea-
ning.

C H A P . I X .
Of concealing any written sence under
    barbarous words, and such as shall not
    seeme to be of any signification. How
    all the letters may be expressed by any
    five, three, or two of them. Of writing
    with a double Alphabet. How from
    these two last wayes together, there
    may be contrived the best kind of se-
    cret writings.

C H A P . I 0 .
Of writing any secret sense, by fewer let-
    ters then are required to the words of it.
    The use of this amongst the Jews and
    Romans.

C H A P . I I .
Of writing by invented Characters.

The distinction of these in-
to such as signifie either

{

letters.
words.
notions.

The generall rules of unfolding and obscu-
    ring any letter-characters. How to ex-
    presse any sense, either by points, or lines,
    or figures.

C H A P . I 2 .
Of characters that expresse words. The
    first invention of these. Of those that
    signifie things and notions, as Hierogly
    phics, Emblemes.

C H A P . I 3 .
Concerning an universall Character, that
may be legible to all nations and langua-
ges. The benefit, and possibility of this.

C H A P . I 4 .
Concerning the third way of secret discour-
sing, by signes and gestures, which may
signifie either

ex { conguo.
placito.

C H A P . I 5 .
Concerning the swiftnesse of informati-
    ons, either by qualities, as the impressi-
    on of imagination, and the sensitive spe-
    cies; or by spirituall substances, as
    Angels.

C H A P . I 6 .
Concerning the swiftnesse of conveyance by
    bodies, whether inanimate, as Arrows,
    Bullets, or animate, as Men, Beasts,
    Birds.

C H A P . I 7 .
Of secret and swift informations by
the species of sound.

C H A P . I 8 .
Concerning a language, that may consist only
of Tunes and Musicall Notes, without
any articulate sound.

C H A P . I 9 .
Of those common relations, that concern se-
    cret and swift informations by the species
    of sight, which are either Fabulous, or
    Magicall.

C H A P . 2 0 .
Of informations by significatory fires and
    smokes. Their antiquity. The ture man-
    ner of using them to this purpose. That
    these were meant in Nuntius inani-matus.