The Whole ART of LEGERDEMAIN; OR, HOCUS POCUS IN PERFECTION, &c.
Legerdemain is an operation whereby one may seem to work wonderful,
impossible, and incredible things, by agility, nimbleness, and slight
of hand. The parts of this ingenious art, are principally four.
First, In conveyance of balls.
Secondly, In conveyance of money.
Thirdly, In cards,
Fourthly, In confederacy.
_A Description of the Operation._
1. He must be one of a bold and undaunted resolution, so as to set a
good face upon the matter.
2. He must have strange terms, and emphatical words, to grace and adorn
his actions; and the more to amaze and astonish the beholders.
3. And lastly, He must use such gestures of body, as may take off the
spectators eyes from a strict and diligent beholding his manner of
performance.
_How to pass the Balls through the Cups._
You must place yourself at the farther end of the table, and then you
must provide yourself three cups, made of tin, and then you must have
your black sticks of magic to shew your wonders withal; then you must
provide four small cork balls to play with; but do not let more than
three of them be seen upon the table.
Note. Always conceal one ball in the right hand, between your middle
finger and ring finger: and be sure make yourself perfect to hold it
there, for, by this means, all the tricks of the cups are done.
Then say as followeth.
_Gentlemen, three cups—’tis true_
_They are but tin, the reason why,_
_Silver is something dear._
_I’ll turn them in gold, if I live, &c._
_No equivocation at all:_
_But if your eyes are not as quick as my hands_
_I shall deceive you all._
_View them within,_
_View them all round about,_
_Where there is nothing in,_
_There’s nothing can come out._
Then take your four balls privately between your fingers, and so sling
one of them upon the table, and say thus,
_The first trick that e’er learn’d to do,_
_Was, out of one ball to make it into two:_
_Ah! since it cannot better be,_
_One of these two, I’ll divide them into three,_
_Which is call’d the first trick of dexterity._
So then you have three balls on the table to play with, and one left
between the fingers of your right hand.
_The Operation of the Cups is thus._
[Illustration]
Lay your three balls on the table, then say, Gentlemen, you see here
are three balls, and here are three cups, that is, a cup for each ball,
and a ball for each cup. Then, taking that ball that you had in your
right hand, (which you are always to keep private) and clapping it
under the first cup, then taking up one of the three balls, with your
right hand, seeming to put it into your left hand, but retain it still
in your right, shutting your left hand in due time, then say, _Presto,
be gone_.
[Illustration]
Then taking the second cup up, say, Gentlemen, you see there is nothing
under my cup; so clap the ball that you have in your right hand under
it, and then take the second ball up with your right hand, and seem to
put it into your left, but retain it in your right hand, shutting your
left in due time, as before, saying, _Verda, be gone_.
[Illustration]
Then take the third cup, saying, Gentlemen, you see there is nothing
under my last cup; then clapping the ball you have in your right hand
under it, then take the third ball up with your right hand, and seeming
to put it into your left hand, but retain it in your right; shutting
your left hand in due time, as before, saying, _Presto, make haste_; so
you have your three balls come under your three cups, as thus: and so
lay your three cups down on the table.
[Illustration]
Then with your right hand take up the first cup, and there clap that
ball under, that you have in your right hand; then saying, Gentlemen,
this being the first ball, I will put it into my pocket; but that you
must still keep in your hand to play withal.
[Illustration]
So take up the second cup with your right hand, and clap that ball you
have concealed under it, and then take up the second ball with your
right hand, and say, this likewise, I take and put into my pocket.
[Illustration]
Likewise, take up the third cup, and clapping the cup down again,
convey that ball you have in your right hand under the cup, then taking
the third ball, say, Gentlemen, this being the last ball, I take and
put this into my pocket. Afterwards say to the company, Gentlemen, by
a little of my fine powder of experience, I will command these balls
under the cups again. As thus,
[Illustration]
So lay them all along upon the table to the admiration of all the
beholders.
Then take up the first cup, and clap the ball you have in your right
hand under it, then taking the first ball up with your right hand, seem
to put the same into your left hand, but retain it still in your right,
then say, _Vade, quick be gone when I bid you, and run under the cup_.
[Illustration]
Then taking that cup up again, and flinging that you have in your
right hand under it, you must take up the second ball, and seem to
put it into your left hand, but retain it in your right hand, saying,
Gentlemen, see how the ball runs on the table.
So seemingly fling it away, and it will appear as thus.
[Illustration]
So taking the same cup again, then clapping the ball under again, as
before, then taking the third ball in your right hand, and seem to put
it under your left, but still retain it in your right, then with your
left hand seem to fling it in the cup, and it will appear thus; all the
three balls to be under one cup.
[Illustration]
And if you can perform these actions with the cups, you may change the
balls into apples pears, or plumbs, or to living birds, to what your
fancy leads you to. I would have given you more examples, but I think
these are sufficient for the ingenious, so that, by these means, you
may perform all manner of actions with the cups.
Note. The artificial cups cannot well be described by words, but you
may have them of me, for they are accounted the greatest secrets in
this art: therefore, I advise you to keep them as such, for this was
never known to the world before.
_How to shew the wonderful_ Magic Lanthorn.
This is the magic lanthorn that has made so much wonder in the world,
and that which Friar Bacon used to shew all his magical wonders withal.
This lanthorn is called magic, with respect to the formidable
apparitions that by virtue of light it shews upon the white wall of a
dark room. The body of it is generally made of tin, and of a shape of
the lamp; towards the back part, is a concave looking glass of metal,
which may either be spherical or parabolical, and which, by a grove
made in the bottom of the lanthorn, may either be advanced nearer or
put farther back from the lamp, in which is oil or spirit of wine, and
the match ought to be a little thick, that when it is lighted, it may
cast a good light that may easily reflect from the glass to the fore
part of the lanthorn, where there is an aperture with the perspective
in it, composed of two glasses that make the rays converge and magnify
the object.
When you mean to make use of this admirable machine, light the lamp,
the light of which will be much augmented by the looking glass at a
reasonable distance. Between the fore-part of the lanthorn, and the
perspective glass, you have a trough, made on purpose, in which you are
to run a long, flat thin frame with different figures, painted with
transparent colours upon glass; then all these little figures passing
successively before the perspective glass, thro’ which passes the light
of the lamp, will be painted, and represented with the same colours
upon the wall of a darkroom, in a gigantic and monstrous manner.
By this Lanthorn you may shew what man, or woman, or birds, or beasts,
and all sorts of fish that are in the sea: so if any gentleman has a
desire to furnish themselves with one of these lanthorns, I have the
best that can be made.
_The figure is as follows._
[Illustration]
_To seem to swallow a long pudding made of tin._
This pudding must be made of tin, consisting of twelve or thirteen
little hoops made as in the figure following, so as they may almost
seem to fall one through another, having little holes made at the
biggest end thereof, that it may not hurt your mouth, hold this pudding
(for so it is called) privately in your left hand, with the hole end
uppermost, and with your right hand take a ball out of your pocket,
and say, ‘If here is ever a maid, that has lost her maidenhead or an
old woman that is out of conceit with herself, because her neighbours
deem her not so young as she would be, let them come to me, for this
ball is a present remedy:’ then seem to put the ball into your left
hand, but let it slip into your lap, and clap your pudding into your
mouth, which will be thought to be the ball that you shewed them; then
decline your head, and open your mouth, and the pudding will slip
down at its full length, which with your right hand you may strike it
into your mouth again, doing this three or four times, then you may
discharge it into your hand, and clap it into your pocket without any
suspicion, by making three or four wry faces after it, as tho’ it stuck
in your throat, and if you practise smiting easily upon your throat
with your fist on each side, the pudding will seem to chink; as if it
were flying there; then say, ‘Thus they eat puddings in High Germany,
they fling it down their throats before their teeth can take possession
of it.’
[Illustration]
_To seem to eat knives and forks._
Desire any one of the spectators to lend you a knife, which when you
get hold of, so that you may cover the whole with both hands, the
end of the haft excepted, and setting the point to your eye, saying,
“Some body strike it with your fist,” but nobody will, because it is so
dangerous a thing; then setting your hand on the side of the table and
looking about you, ask, “What will nobody strike it in?” in which time
let the knife slip into your lap, then make as if you chop it hastily
into your mouth, or to hold it with one hand, and to strike it in with
the other nimbly, making three or four wry faces, saying, “Some drink,
some drink,” or else, “Now let somebody put his finger into my mouth,
and pull it out again,” some will cry, “You will bite me,” say, “I
will assure you I will not:” then when he hath put his finger in, he
will pull it out and cry, There is nothing; this is time sufficient to
convey the knife into your pocket; then say, Why, you have your finger
again: so, by this means, you may swallow knives and forks.
_To put a lock upon a man’s mouth._
You must have a lock made for this purpose, according to the figure;
one side of its bow must be immovable, as that marked with A, the other
side is noted with B, and must be pinned to the body of the lock, as
appears at E, I say it must be pinned that it may play to and fro with
ease; this side of the bow must have a leg as at C, and then turn it
into the lock; this leg must have two notches filled in the inner
side, which must be so ordered, that one may lock or hold the two sides
of the bow as close together as may be, and the other notch to hold the
said part of the bow a proportionable distance asunder, that, being
locked upon the cheek, it may neither pinch too hard, nor yet hold it
so slight that it may be drawn off; let there be a key fixed to it, to
unlock it, as you see at D, and lastly, let the bow have divers notches
filled in it, so that the place of the partition, when the lock is shut
home, will the least of all be suspected in the use of the lock; you
must get one to hold a tester edge long between his teeth, then take
another tester, and with your left hand proffer to set it edge-ways
between a second man’s teeth, pretending that your intent is to turn
both into which of their mouths they shall desire, by virtue of your
words: which he shall no sooner consent to do, but you, by holding your
lock privately in your right hand, with your fore-finger may flip it
over his cheek, and lock it by pressing your fore-finger a little down,
after some store of words, and the lock, having hung on a while, seem
to pull the key out of his nose.
You may have those locks neatly made, at my house, near the
watch-house, on little Tower-hill, Postern-row, a bookseller’s shop.
[Illustration]
_How to shew the magic bell and bushel._
This feat may well be called magical, for really it is very amazing, if
it be well handled. This device was never known to the public before.
This bushel must be turned neatly like unto the egg-boxes, so that they
cannot find out where it opens, and you must have a false lid to clap
on and off; upon that false lid glue some bird-feed, and then you must
have a true lid made to clap neatly upon the false one, now you must
have your artificial bell to shew with your bushel.
You may make your bell with wood or brass, your bell must be made to
unscrew at the top, that it may hold as much seed as your bushel will
when it is filled, and you must have the handle of your bell made with
a spring, so as to let the seed fall down at your word of command.
The manner how to use them is as followeth: Note, you must be sure to
fill the top of your bell with seed before you begin to shew; then
saying, Gentlemen, you see I have nothing in my bell (which they
cannot, if you hold it by the handle) nor have I any thing in my
bushel, therefore I will fill my bushel with seed, and, in filling it,
clap on the false lid, and no man can tell the contrary.
Then ask any body in the company to hold that seed in their hands and
you will command it all under the magical bell; so clap the true lid
on, and then ring your bell, and the seed will be gone out of your
bushel into your bell, to the admiration of all the beholders.
If you cannot rightly conceive this by words, you may have them of the
newest fashions, ready made, at my house.
[Illustration]
_How to put a ring through one’s cheek._
You must have two rings made of silver, or brass, or what you please,
of one bigness, colour, and likeness, saving that one must have a
notch through, and the other must be whole, without a notch; shew the
whole ring, and conceal that which hath the notch, and say, Now I will
put this ring through my check, and privately slip the notch over one
side of your mouth; then take a small stick which you must have in
readiness, and slip the whole ring upon it, holding your hand over it
about the middle of the stick; then bid somebody hold fast the stick at
both ends; and say, see this ring in my cheek, it turns round; then,
while you perceive them fasten their eyes upon that ring, on a sudden
whip it out, and smite upon the stick therewith, instantly concealing
it, and whirling the other ring, you hold your hand over round about
the stick, and it will be thought that you have brought that ring upon
the stick which was upon your cheek.
[Illustration]
_How to shew the Hen and Egg-bag, and out of an empty bag to bring out
above an hundred eggs, and afterwards to bring out a living hen._
[Illustration]
You must go and buy two or three yards of calico, or printed linen,
and make a double bag, and on the mouth of the bag, on that side next
to you, you must make four or five little purses, in which you must
put two or three eggs in a purse; and do so till you have filled that
side next to you; and have a hole made at one end of your bag, that
no more than two or three eggs come out at once; then you must have
another bag, like unto that exactly, that one must not be known from
the other; and then put a living hen into that bag, and hang it on a
hook on that side you stand. The manner of performing it is thus: take
the egg-bag, and put both your hands in it, and turn it inside out, and
say, Gentlemen, you see there is nothing in my bag; and, in turning it
again, you must slip some of the eggs out of the purses, as many as you
think fit, and then turn your bag again and shew the company that it is
empty; and, in turning it again, you command more eggs to come out, and
when all is come out but one, you must take that egg and shew it to the
company; and then drop your egg-bag, and take up your hen-bag, and so
shake your hen, pidgeon, or any other fowl. This is a noble fancy, if
well handled.
_How to cut the blowing book._
Take a book seven inches long, and about five inches broad, and let
there be forty-nine leaves, that is, seven times seven, contained
therein, so as you may cut upon the edges of each leaf six notches,
each notch in depth of a quarter of an inch, with a gouge made for that
purpose, and let them be one inch distant; paint every thirteenth and
fourteenth page, which is the end of every sixth leaf and beginning of
every seventh, with like colours, or pictures; cut off with a pair of
sheers, every notch of the first leaf, leaving only one inch of paper,
which will remain half a quarter of an inch above that leaf; leave
another like inch in the second part of the second leaf, clipping
away an inch of paper in the highest place above it, and all notches
below the same, and orderly to the third and fourth, and so as there
shall rest upon each leaf only one nick of paper above the rest, one
high uncut, an inch of paper must answer to the first directly, so as
when you have cut the first seven leaves in such a manner as I have
described, you are to begin the self same order at the eighth leaf,
descending the same manner to the cutting the other seven leaves to
twenty-one, until you are past through every leaf all the thickness of
your book, &c.
This feat is sooner learn’d by demonstrative means, than taught by
words of instruction; so, if any person wants to be furnished with
these blowing books, they may have them at my shop on Little-towerhill,
aforesaid.
_To shew the trick with the Funnel._
[Illustration]
You must get a double funnel, that is, two funnels soddered one within
the other, so that you may, at the little end, pour in a quantity of
wine or water; this funnel you may have ready filled before-hand, with
whatsoever liquor you please, and call for some of the same kind, then
draw your funnel, and setting your middle finger into the bottom of it,
bid some body, or else do it yourself, pour it full, and drink it up
before them, and turn the broad end of the funnel downwards, saying,
“Gentlemen, all is gone;” and in a trice turn yourself about, and in
turning pronounce some terms of art, withdraw your finger from the
narrow end, and let the liquor cut between the funnels, and it will be
thought to be that which you drank out of the funnel, and so you may
persuade them it is the same.
_How to make three little children dance in a glass upon a table._
[Illustration]
Take little figures of glass that are made hollow, of an inch and
a half high, representing little boys, which may be had at the
glass-blowers; these little images have a small hole in one of their
legs, and are lighter than water; immerge them into the water contained
in the glass A. B. this glass is about a foot or 15 inches high,
and covered with a bladder which is tied fast over the top; a small
quantity of air is to be left between the bladder and surface of the
water; so, when you command them to walk down, press your hand hard
upon the top, and they will immediately come down, and so you may make
them dance in the middle of the glass, at your pleasure; and when you
would have them to go up to the top, take your hand away, and they will
walk up.
I hope this is sufficient for your understanding; if not, you may have
the glass and figures of me.
_Bonus Genius: or Hiccius Doctius._
[Illustration]
You must have the figure of a man made of wood, about the bigness of
your little finger, the head whereof must be made to take off and put
on at pleasure, by means of a wire that is in the neck: also, you must
have a cloth cap with a little bag within to convey the head into;
the bag must be neatly made that it may not easily be perceived: shew
your man to the company, ‘Gentlemen, this I call my Bonus Genius;’
then shew the cap, saying, ‘This is his coat:’ say moreover, ‘Look now
as stedfast as you can, nevertheless I will cozen you, for therefore
am I come;’ then hold your cap above your face, and take your man in
your right-hand, and put his head through the hole of the cap, saying,
‘Now he is ready to go on any message I have to send him, to Spain,
or to Italy, or whether I will, but he must have somewhat to bear his
charges,’ with that, pull out your right-hand from under the cap, and
therewith, the body, but privately putting your right-hand into your
pocket, as if you felt for money, where you may hide the body, and
take out your hand and say, ‘There is three crowns for you, now be
gone,’ then turn the head, and say, ‘But he will look about him before
he goes;’ then say, setting your fore-finger upon his crown, ‘Just
as I thrust my finger down so he shall vanish;’ and therewith by the
assistance of your left-hand that is under the cap, convey his head
into the little bag within the cap, then turn your cap about, and say,
‘See here he is gone;’ then take up your cap and hold it up again,
throwing the head out of the little bag and say, ‘Hic mecus Genius,’
and in the mean time thrust the head through the hole of the cap, and
holding the head by the wire, turn it about presently, and put the head
into your pocket.
Note. _Any person that is desirous to learn any part of this art, they
may be taught by me._
H. Dean.
_Of conveyance of Money._
The conveyance of money is not much inferior to the balls, but much
easier to do; the principal place to hold a piece of money is the palm
of your hand, the best piece to keep is a tester, but with exercise all
will be alike; except the money be very small, and then it is to be
between the fingers, almost at the finger’s ends, whereas the ball is
to be kept below, near to the palm; the money must not be of too large
a circumference.
_To convey money out of one of your hands into the other by_
Legerdemain.
First, you must hold open your right-hand, and lay therein a tester
or some big piece of money, then lay thereupon the top of your long
left finger, and use words; and, upon a sudden, flip your right-hand
from your finger wherewith you hold down the tester still therein, and
suddenly, I say, drawing your right-hand through your left, you will
seem to have left the tester there, especially when you shut, in due
time, your left hand, which, that it may more plainly appear to be
truly done, you may take a knife and seem to knock against it, so as it
may make a great sound; this is pretty, if it is cunningly done, for
both the ear and the eye are deceived by this device.
_To convert money into counters, and counters into money._
Another way to deceive the lookers on is, to do as before with a
tester, and keeping a counter in the palm of your left-hand secretly,
to put the tester secretly thereinto, which being retained still in the
right-hand, when the left-hand is opened, the tester will seem to be
turned into a counter.
_To put one tester into one hand, another into the other hand, and with
words to bring them together._
He that hath once attained to the faculty of retaining one piece of
money in his right-hand, may shew a hundred pleasant conceits by that
means, and may reserve two or three as well as one; and so then you
may seem to put one piece into your left-hand, and retaining it still
in your right-hand, you may together therewith, take up another like
piece, and so, with words, seem to bring both pieces together. Variety
of tricks may be shown in juggling with money.
_To put one tester into a stranger’s hand, and another into your own,
and to convey both into the stranger’s hand with words._
Also, you may take two testers, evenly set together, and put the same
instead of one tester into a stranger’s hand, and then making as though
you did put one tester in your left-hand with words, you shall make it
seem that you convey the tester in your hand into the stranger’s hand;
for when you open your said left-hand, there shall be nothing seen, and
he opening his hand, shall find two testers, which he thought was but
one. By this device, I say a hundred conceits may be shewed.
_How to shew the same, or the like feat otherwise._
To keep a tester betwixt your fingers, serveth, especially for this and
such like purposes; hold out your hand, and cause one to lay a tester
upon the palm thereof; then shake the same up almost to your finger’s
end, and putting your thumb upon it, you shall easily, with a little
practice, convey the edge betwixt the middle and fore-finger, whilst
you proffer to put it into the other hand; provided always that the
edge appears not through the fingers on the backside; which being done,
take up another tester, which you may cause another stander-by to lay
down, and put them both together, either closely, instead of one into
a stranger’s hand, or keep them still in your own hand, and after some
words spoken, open your hands, and there being nothing in one hand,
and both pieces in the other, the beholders will wonder how they came
together.
_To throw a piece of money away, and to find it again where you left
it._
You may with the middle or ring-finger of the right-hand, convey a
tester into the palm with the same hand, and seem to cast it away,
keeping it still, which, with confederacy, will seem strange: to wit,
when you find it again, where another have bestowed the like piece, but
these things without exercise cannot be done; therefore I will proceed
to shew how things may be brought to pass with less difficulty, and yet
as strange as the rest; being unknown, are marvellously commended, but
being known, are derided and nothing at all regarded.
_How to make a groat or tester to leap out of a pot, or run along upon
a table._
You shall see a juggler take a tester and throw it into a pot, or lay
it in the midst of a table, and with enchanting words cause the same to
leap out of the pot, or run towards him, or from him along the table,
which will seem miraculous until you know how it is done; which is
thus, take a long black hair of a woman’s head fastened to the rim of
a tester, by the means of a little hole driven through the same with a
Spanish needle, in like sort you may use a knife, or any small thing,
but if you would have it go from you, you must have a confederate,
by which means all juggling is graced and amended; this feat is the
stranger if it be done by night, and a candle placed between the
spectators and the juggler; for by that means their eyes are hindered
from discerning the conceit.
_To make a groat or a tester to sink through a table, and to vanish out
of a handkerchief strangely._
A juggler also will sometimes borrow a tester and mark it before you,
and seem to put the same into the midst of a handkerchief, and wind
it so as you may the better see and feel it; then will he take the
handkerchief and bid you feel whether the tester be there or not, and
he will also require you to put the same under a candlestick, or some
such like thing; then he will send for a bason of water, and holding
the same under the table right against the candlestick, he will use
certain words of enchantment, and in short you will hear the tester
fall into a bason; this done, let one take off the candlestick, and the
juggler take the handkerchief by a tossel and shake it, but the money
is gone, which seemeth as strange a feat as any whatsoever, but being
known, the miracle is turned to a bauble, for it is nothing else but
to sew a tester into a corner of a handkerchief, finely covered with a
piece of linen a little bigger than your tester, which corner you must
convey instead of the tester delivered to you into the middle of your
handkerchief, leaving the other in your hand or lap, which afterwards
you seem to pull through the table, letting it fall into the bason.
_A notable trick to transform a counter to a groat._
Take a groat, or some lesser piece of money, and grind it very thin at
one side, and take two counters and grind them, the one at one side;
glew the smooth side of the groat to the smooth side of the counter,
joining them so close together as may be, especially at the edges,
which may be so filled as they shall seem to be but one piece, to wit,
one side a counter and the other side a groat, then take a little
green wax for that is softest, and therefore best, and lay it so upon
the smooth side of the counter as if it do not much discolour the
groat, and so will that counter, with the groat, cleave together as
though they were glued, and being filled even with the groat and the
other counter, it will seem so perfect, like an entire counter, that
though a stranger handle it he cannot betray it; then, having a little
touched your fore-finger and the thumb of your right-hand with soft
wax, take therewith this counterfeit counter, and lay it openly upon
the palm of your left-hand, in such sort as if you were to lay down
the counter, wringing the same hard, so as you may leave the glewed
counter, with the groat, apparently in the palm of your left-hand, and
the smooth side of the waxed counter will stick fast upon your thumb,
by reason of the wax wherewith it is smeared, and so you may hide it
at your pleasure always; that you lay the waxed side downward, and
the glewed side upward, then close your hand, and in, or after the
closing thereof, turn the piece, and so instead of a counter, which
they suppose to be in your hand, you shall seem to have a groat, to the
astonishment of the beholders, if it be well handled. The juggler must
not have any of his tricks wanting.
_An elegant feat to make a two-penny piece be plain in the palm of your
hand, and be passed from thence where you list._
Put a little red wax, not too much, upon the nail of your longest
finger, then let a stranger put a two-penny piece into the palm of your
hand, and shut your fist suddenly, and convey the two penny piece upon
the wax, which with use you may so accomplish as no man shall perceive
it; then, and in the mean time, use words of course, and suddenly open
your hand, hold the tips of your fingers rather lower than higher than
the palm of your hand, and the beholders will wonder where it is gone;
then shut your hand suddenly again, and lay a wager whether it be their
or not, and you may either leave it there, or take it away at pleasure;
this, if it be well handled, hath more admiration than any other feat
of the hand. Note. This may be best done by putting the wax upon the
two-penny piece, but then you must put it into your hand yourself.
_To convey a tester out of one’s hand that holds it fast._
Stick a little wax upon your thumb, and take a stander-by, by the
fingers, shewing him the tester, and telling him you will put the same
into his hand, then wring it down hard with your waxed thumb, and using
many words, look him in the face, and as soon as you perceive him to
look in your face, or on your hand, suddenly take away your thumb and
close his hand, and it will seem to him that the tester remaineth; even
as if you wring a tester upon one’s forehead, it will seem to strike
when it is taken away, especially if it be wet; then cause him to hold
his hand still, and with speed put into another man’s hand, or into
your own, two testers instead of one, and use words of course, whereby
you shall make the beholders believe, when they open their hands, that,
by enchantment, you have brought both together.
_To convey a shilling, being in one hand, into another, holding your
hands abroad._
It is necessary to mingle some merry pranks among your grave miracles,
as in this case of money, to take a shilling in each hand, and holding
your arms abroad, lay a wager that you will put them both into one hand
without bringing them any nearer together; the wager being laid, hold
your arms abroad alike a rod, and turning about with your body, lay
the shilling out of one of your hands upon the table, and turning to
the other hand; and so you shall win your wager: a knack more merry
than marvelous.
_To transform any small thing into any other form by folding paper._
Take a sheet of paper, and fold or double the same, so as one side be
a little longer than the other, then put a counter between the two
sides of the leaves of the paper, up to the middle of the top of the
fold, hold the same so as it be not perceived, and lay a groat on the
outside thereof, right against the counter, and fold it down to the
end of the longer side, and when you have unfolded it again, the groat
will be where the counter was; so that some will suppose that you have
transformed the money into a counter; and with this many tricks may be
done.
_Another experiment of the like nature._
Take two papers three inches square a-piece, divided into two folds,
into three equal parts, at either side, so as each folded paper remains
one inch square; then glue the back side of the two together, as they
are folded, and not as they are opened, and so shall both papers seem
to be but one, and which side soever you open, it shall appear to
be the same, if you have handsomely the bottom, as you may well do
with your middle finger, so as if you have a groat in one hand, and a
counter in the other, you having shewed but one, may, by turning the
paper, seem to change it; this may be the best performed by putting it
under a candlestick or a hat, and with words seem to do the feat. This
is no inferior trick.
_Of cards, with good caution how to avoid cozenage therein, especially
rules to convey and handle the cards, and the manner and order how to
accomplish all difficulties and strange things wrought with cards._
I having now bestowed some waste money among you, I will set you to
cards, by which kind of witchcraft a great number of people have
juggled away, not only their money, but also their lands, their health,
their time, and their honesty. I dare not as I could, shew the lude
juggling that cheats practice, least it minister some offence to the
well disposed; to the simple, hurt and losses, and to the wicked,
occasion of evil doing; but I could wish all gamesters to beware, not
only of cards, but also of what dice they play withal; but especially
with whom, and where they exercise gaming, and to let dice pass as a
thing whereby a man must be inevitably cozened: one that is skilful in
making bum cards, may undo hundreds of wealthy men that are given to
gaming; for if he hath a confederate present, either of the players
or standers-by, the mischief cannot be avoided; if you play among
strangers, beware of him that seems simple or drunken, for under their
habit the most specious cozeners are presented, and while you think
by their simplicity and imperfections to beguile them, and thereby
perchance are pursuaded by their confederates, which you take to be
your friends, you will be then most of all deceived; beware also of
the betters and lookers-on, and particularly, of them that bet on your
side, whilst they look on your game without suspicion, they discover
it by signs to your adversaries, with whom they bet, and yet are their
confederates.
But in shewing feats and juggling with cards, the principal point
consisteth in the shuffling them nimbly, and always keeping one card
either at the bottom or in some known place of the stock, four or five
cards from it; hereby you shall seem to work wonders, for it will be
easy for you to see one card, which, though you be perceived to do,
it will not be suspected, if you shuffle them well afterwards: and
this note I must give you, that in reserving the bottom card, you must
always whilst you shuffle, keep him a little before or behind all the
cards lying underneath him, bestowing him, I say, either a little
beyond his fellows before, right over the fore finger or else behind
the rest, so as the little finger of the left hand may meet with it,
which is the easier, the readier, and better way: in the beginning of
your shuffleing, shuffle as thick as you can, and in the end throw upon
the stock the nether card, with so many more at the least as you would
have preserved for any purpose, a little before or a little behind the
rest, provided always that your fore-finger (if the pack lay behind)
creep up to meet with the bottom card, and when you feel it, you may
then hold it until you have shuffled over the cards again, still
leaving your kept card below: being perfect herein, you may do almost
what you list with cards by this means, what pack soever you use,
though it consisteth of eight, twelve, or twenty cards, you may keep
them still together unserved next to the card, and yet shuffle them
often to satisfy the curious beholders. As for example, and for brevity
sake, to shew divers feats under one.
_How to deliver out four aces, and to convert them into four knaves._
Make a pack of these eight cards, to wit, four knaves and four aces,
and although the eight cards must be immediately together, yet must
each knave and ace be evenly set together, and the same eight cards
must lie also in the lowest place of the bunch, then shuffle them so
always at the second shuffling, or, at leastwise, at the end of your
shuffling the said pack, one ace may lay undermost, or so as you may
know where he goeth and lieth always: I say, let your aforesaid pack,
with three or four cards more, lie unseparable together; immediately
upon, and with that ace; then using some speck, or other device, and
putting your hands with the cards to the edge of the table, to hide
the action, let out privately a piece of the second card, which is
one of the knaves, holding forth the stock in both your hands, and
shewing to the standers-by the nether card, which is the ace, or kept
card, covering also the head or piece of the knave, which is the next
card, and with your fore-finger draw out the same knave, laying it
down on the table; then shuffle them again, keep your pack whole, and
so have your two aces lying together in the bottom; and to reform that
disordered card, and also to grace and countenance that action, take of
the uppermost card of the bunch, and thrust it into the midst of the
cards, and then take away the nethermost card, which is one of your
said aces, and bestow him likewise; then may you, being as before,
shewing another ace, and instead thereof lay down another knave and so
forth, until, instead of your aces, you have laid down four knaves,
the beholders all this while thinking that there lies four aces on the
table, are greatly amused, and will marvel at the transformation: you
must be well advised in shuffling of the bunch lest you overshoot
yourself.
_How to tell one what card he seeth at the bottoms when the card is
shuffled in the stock._
When you have seen a card privately, or as though you marked it not,
lay the same undermost, and shuffle the cards as before you are taught,
till your card be again at the bottom; then shew the same to the
beholders, bidding them to remember it; then shuffle the cards, or let
any other shuffle them, for you know the card already, and therefore
may at any time tell them what card they saw, which nevertheless must
be done with caution, or shew of difficulty.
_Another way to do the same, having yourself never seen the cards._
If you can see no card, or be suspected to have seen that which you
mean to shew, then let a stander-by shuffle, and afterwards take you
the cards into your hands, and having shewed them, and not seen the
bottom card, shuffle again, and keep the same cards, as before you are
taught; and either make shift then to see it when their suspicion is
past, which may be done by letting some cards fall or else lay down all
the cards in heaps, remembering where you laid the bottom card; then
espy how many cards lie in some one heap, and lap the slap where your
bottom card is, upon that heap, and all the other heaps upon the same,
and so if there were five cards in the heap, whereon you laid your
card, then the same must be the sixth card, which now you must throw
out or look upon without suspicion, and tell them the card they saw.
_To tell without confederacy, what card he thinketh on._
Lay three cards at a little distance, and bid a stander-by be true and
not waver, but think on one of the three, and by his eye you shall
assuredly perceive which he thinketh: and you shall do the like if you
cast down a whole pack of cards with the faces upwards, whereof there
will be few or none plainly perceived, and they also court cards: but
as you cast them down suddenly, so must you take them up presently,
marking both his eyes, and the card whereon he looketh.
_How to make a card jump out of the pack, and run on the table._
This is a wonderful fancy if it be well handled: as thus,
Take a pack of cards, and let any one draw any card that they fancy
best, and afterward take and put it into the pack, but so as you know
where to find it at pleasure; for by this time, I suppose you know how
to shuffle the cards, and where to find any card when it is put into
the pack; then take a piece of wax, and put it under the thumb nail of
your hand, and then fasten a hair to your thumb, and the other end of
the hair to the card, then spread the pack of cards open on the table,
then say, “If you are a pure virgin the card will jump out of the
pack,” then by your words or charms seem to make it jump on the table.
_How to tell what card any man thinketh on, and how to convey the same
into a kernel of a nut or cherry stone, and the same again into one’s
pocket; and how to make him draw the same, or any card you please, and
all under one device._
Take a nut, or a cherry stone; and burn a hole through the side of the
top of the shell, and also through the kernel if you will, with a hot
bodkin, or bore it with an awl, and with a needle pull out the kernel,
so as the same may be as wide as the hole of the shell: then write the
name of the card in a piece of fine paper, and roll it up hard, then
put it into the nut or cherry stone, and stop the hole up with wax, and
rub the same over with a little dust, and it will not be perceived;
then let some stander-by draw a card, saying, ‘It is no matter what
card you draw;’ and if your hands so serve you to use the card well,
you shall proffer him, and he shall receive the same card that you have
rolled up in the nut; then take another nut and fill it up with ink,
and then stop the hole up with wax, and then give that nut which is
filled with ink, to somebody to crack, and when he finds the ink come
out of his mouth, it will cause great laughter. By this feat on the
cards, great wonders might be done.
_How to let twenty gentlemen draw twenty cards, and to make one card
every man’s card._
Take a pack of cards, let any gentleman draw a card, and let him put it
in the pack again, but be sure that you know where to find it again at
pleasure; then shuffle the cards as before taught, and then let another
gentleman draw a card, but be sure that you let him draw no other but
the same card as the other did draw, and so do till ten or twelve or
as many cards as you think fit; when you have so done, let another
gentleman draw another card, but not the same, and put that card into
the pack where you have kept the other card, and shuffle them till you
have brought both the cards together; then shewing the last card to the
company, the other will shew the trick: By this means many other feats
may be done.
_How to change a pack of cards into all manner of pictures._
[Illustration]
You must take a pack of cards and paint upon the back-side of one half
of the pack what manner of figures that please your fancy best, as men,
women, birds, flowers, &c. Then paint the other half, of the cards,
viz. on that side where the spots are on, after the same manner you did
the other half, so between them both, you will have a compleat pack of
all pictures; and when you will perform this trick, you must shew the
cards but half-way. This is one of the best tricks on the cards; and
you may have them ready made at my house.
_How to knit a knot upon a handkerchief, and to undo the same with
words._
Make one plain loose knot with the two corner ends of a handkerchief,
with seeming to draw the same very hard, hold fast the body of the
said handkerchief, near to the knot, with your right hand, pulling the
contrary end with your left hand, which is the corner of that which you
hold; then close up handsomely the knot, which will be somewhat loose,
and pull the handkerchief so with your right hand as the left hand end
may be near to the knot, then will it seem to be a true and firm knot;
and to make it appear more assuredly to be so, let a stranger pull at
the end which you have in your left hand, while you hold fast the other
in your right hand, and then holding the knot with your fore-finger and
thumb, and the lower part of your handkerchief with your other finger,
as you hold a bridle, when you would with one hand slip up the knot
and lengthen the reins; this done, turn, your handkerchief over the
knot with the left hand, in doing whereof you must suddenly slip out
the end or corner, putting up the knot of your handkerchief with your
fore-finger and thumb, as you would put up the aforesaid knot of your
bridle: then deliver the same covered and wrapt within the midst of the
handkerchief to one to hold fast, and after pronouncing of some words
of art, take the handkerchief and shake it, and it will be loose.
_How to take three button moulds off two strings._
[Illustration]
Take two little whipcords of two feet long a-piece, double them equally
so as there may appear four ends; then take three button moulds, the
hole of one of them must be bigger than the rest, and put one button
mould upon the eye or bout of the one cord and another on the other
cord, then take the button mould with the greatest hole, and let both
the bouts be hidden therein; which may be the better done if you put
the eye or bout of the one into the eye or bout of the other; then pull
the middle button upon the same, being doubled over his fellow, so
will the heads seem to be put over the two cords, you may loose them
as you list, and make it seem manifest to the beholders, which may
not see how they are done, but that the buttons are put upon the two
cords without any fraud; then must you seem to add a more effectual
binding of those buttons to the strings, and make one half of a knot
with one of the ends of each side, which is for no other purpose, but
that when the buttons be taken away, the cords may be seen in the case,
which the beholders supposes them to be in before; for then you have
made your half knots, which in any wise you may not double to make a
perfect knot, you must deliver into the hands of some stander-by these
two cords, namely, two cords evenly set to one hand, and two in the
other, and then with a wager begin to pull off the buttons, which if
you handle nimbley, and in the end cause him to pull his two ends,
the two cords will shew to be placed plainly, and the buttons to have
come thro’ the cords; but those things are so hard, and long to be
described, that I will leave them, whereas I could shew greater variety.