READER,

I have promised you to write something of confederacy, that when you

see or hear some fancy done, you shall be no stranger to it, but know

how to do it as well as any juggler in England, for by confederacy

mighty wonders are wrought, which seem incredible and impossible. Some

will ask for what reason I do write these things and set them forth in

such a manner, for they say, we know them already; my answer is, if

you do, every one does not; therefore slight not simple things, for you

that seem to be so cunning and so wary may be imposed on and deceived:

what would an ingenious person give, or how far would he go to learn

secrets? I myself would have gone twenty miles to have learnt the worst

fancy in this book; I would have you take it in good part, and so I

proceed to the chapter.

_To cure the tooth-ach._

This must be done by confederacy, I won many a pint of wine by it; you

must pretend you are grievously troubled with the tooth-ach, making wry

faces and pretending a great deal of pain; then says your confederate,

I will undertake to cure you in a quarter of an hour, it is a plain

but a very safe and easy way, he then takes a thimble full of salt,

puts it into a piece of paper, then says he, Hold this to your cheek on

that side the pain lies, and it will be gone. You shaking your head at

him, asking him, if he can find none to make sport with but you that

are not disposed; he then proffers you to try his receipt, which, with

seeming unwillingness take and hold it to your cheek a small time, then

he will ask you if you find ease, you spitting much, say, Yes, truly I

find it much abated; then he will say, to perfect it, lay down your

paper upon the table, step into the yard and wash your mouth with a

spoonful of cold water: Now (says he to the company, in your absence)

You may see what conceit does, I will take out the salt, and put in

the like quantity of ashes in the paper; laying it twisted as before

in its place, then he coming in, takes up the paper again, and puts it

into his mouth as before, the company will be laughing and fleering as

tho’ you are ignorant, then privately convey the ashes away with the

paper and another paper of salt like the former, as you must have in

readiness as before, hold to your cheek, your confederate asking you,

Well, what think you now? Why, indeed one would not have thought to

have had so soon an alteration in a little; then will one or another

say in company, Why, do you think you have salt in your mouth? Yes, I

saw it taken out of the box; he will lay you a wager presently, that it

is not salt, when by opening the paper, his folly is discovered, with

no small sport to the company.

_To know if it be a head, or woman, and the party to stand in another

room._

This likewise is done by confederacy, he that lays it down, says, What

is it? and that is a sign it is a head; for he says, What is it now,

and that is a sign it is a woman: cross and pile in silver is done the

same way. By confederacy divers strange things are done; as to make

a man, by muttering some words, to pull off his cloaths, and so dance

naked; thus you may throw a piece of money into a pond, and bid a boy

go to such a secret place where you have hid it, and he will bring it,

and make them believe it is the same that you threw into the pond, and

no other.

So let a confederate take a shilling and put it under a candlestick on

a table at a good distance from you, then you must say, Gentlemen, you

see this shilling, then take your hand and knock it under the table,

and convey it into your pocket: then say, The shilling is gone, but

look under such a candlestick and you will find it.

Fortunatus’ _wishing post, or how to make any person dance naked_.

This feat is more for pastime than any thing else.

You must go and get you a post of about five or six inches long, and

you must then get it turned hollow throughout, so that you may have a

screw made just fit, and then put a needle at each end of the screw,

and have two holes so contrived in the post that you may fasten two

strings in the screw, so as when you pull one end of the string, the

needle will run into your finger, and when you pull hold of the other

end of the string, the needle will run into your thumb, which will

cause great laughter to the campany. If these words are not sufficient

for you to make one by, you may have them at my house ready made.

_To seem to cut a hole in a cloak, scarf, or handkerchief, and with

words to make it whole again._

To do this you must have a piece of the same ready in your hand, the

sample of that you intend to cut; then amongst other tricks by you,

clap your hand upon the place you intend to cut, then drawing hollow by

the false piece, cause it to be cut off, and gripping your hand, shew

the hole from whence the piece came away, which is in your hand, which

is done by pretending to feel in your pocket for a needle and thread to

sew it up again: but drawing your hand out from your pocket, saying, I

have no needle, but I have a charm will do as well; so muttering some

words, bid them blow upon it, and pulling your hand from the place,

does not a little satisfy the curiosity of the persons which thought

they had been damnified.

_The Egg Box is looked upon to be as good a trick and as cunning a

slight, as any that is done, but because it cannot be expressed in

words, I have put these figures underneath to explain it._

[Illustration]

A, signifies the egg box, made in the fashion of two bee-hives put

one upon another; B, the upper shell; C, the inner shell, covered

over artificially with the skin of an egg; P the lower part of the

shell-box; putting B, which is the outward shell, upon C, and both upon

P, as it stands, makes the box perfect. To do this trick, call for an

egg, then bid all standers-by look on it, and see that it is a real

egg, setting the box on the table, upon the foot C, take off the upper

part, B, C, with your fore-finger and thumb, then placing the egg in

the box, say, You see it fairly in, and uncovering it again, likewise

say, You shall see me fairly take it out, putting it into your pocket

in their sight; open your box again and say, There is nothing, close

your hand about the middle of your box, and taking B, by the bottom,

say, There is the egg again, which appears to the spectators to be;

so clapping that in again, and take the lid of C, in your finger and

thumb, say, There it is gone again.

This feat is not for a bungler to shew.

_To make a room seem to be all on fire, mighty dreadful to behold._

Take sal armoniack half an ounce, camphire one ounce, aqua vitæ two

ounces, put them into an earthen pot, in the fashion of a chamber-pot,

but something narrow upon the top, then set fire to it, and the room

will seem to them that are in to be all on fire; nay, themselves will

slap their hair and clothes thinking they are all on fire, when there

is no body hurt, unless it be with fright. Have a care of shewing it to

women with child in the room, for yourself would be frighted if you did

not know the trick.

_How to eat fire, and to blow it up in your mouth with a pair of

bellows._

[Illustration]

Anoint your tongue with liquid-storax, and you may put a pair of tongs

into your mouth red hot, without hurting yourself, and lick them till

they are cold, by the help of this anointment, and by preparing your

mouth thus, you may take wood coal out of the fire, and eat them as

you would bread, dip them into brimstone-powder, and the fire will

seem more strange, but the sulphur puts out the coal, and shutting

your mouth close puts out the sulphur, and so they champ the coals and

swallow them, which they may do without offending the body; but if

they were bound to eat nothing else, it would be a very sickly trade;

and if you put a piece of lighted charcoal into your mouths you may

suffer a pair of bellows to be a blowing in your mouth continually, and

receive no hurt, but your mouth must be quickly cleaned, otherwise

it will cause a salivation; it is a very dangerous thing to be done,

and although those that practise it, use all the means they can to

prevent danger, yet I never saw any one of these fire eaters that had a

good complexion, the reason I could give, but it is known to the sons

of art: some put bole-armoniack into this receipt: a cold thing, and

spoils the whole composition, and so leaves out hamitatis and liquid

storax; but let them beware how they use it.

_How to walk on a hot iron bar, without danger of scalding or burning._

Take half an ounce of camphire, dissolve it in two ounces of aqua vitæ,

add to it one ounce of quick-silver, one ounce of liquid storax, which

is the droppings of myrrh, and hinders the camphire from firing, take

also two ounces of hamitatis, a red stone to be had at the druggists,

and when you buy it, beat it to powder in their great mortar, for it is

so very hard, that it cannot be done in a small one; put this to the

afore-mentioned composition, and when you intend to walk on the bar,

you must anoint your feet well therewith, and you may walk over without

danger: by this you may wash your hands in boiling lead.

_How to make a knife leap out of a pot._

[Illustration]

When you are in company, and intend to make mirth, have a pot full of

water standing on a table, then take a piece of whale-bone about three

inches long, let it be pretty stiff, it will spring the better; take

also a new stiff card, and fold it down the middle long-ways, cut a

hole through both folds at each end, half an inch or more from the

ends, put one end of the whale-bone in at one end of the card, bend it

like a bow, then put the other end of the whale-bone into the other

end of the card, set this into the pot, with two inches or more deep

in water, then place the handle of your knife upon the uppermost part

of the whale-bone, with the point upwards: use some words of art, as

Presto vet, or Omporte.

Note, I have invented a new instrument to perform this fancy, which is

to be admired by all ingenious persons.

_The melting-box._

[Illustration]

This melting box is another artificial slight, which is shewn as above,

made in the fashion of a screw, that so the lips may hang without

discovery; as thus, F is the out-part of the box; G the first in-part.

H the second in-part; I a round case made of plush or leather, with

a button on the top, and wide enough to slip on and off, half in the

bottom of the box, F put a small quantity of quick-silver killed, which

may be done with the shavings of pewter, or fasting spittle; in the

second part, which is H, let there be six single pence, put these in

the first or out-most part, then put G to H, and the box is perfect.

When you go to shew this trick, desire any in the company to lend you

a sixpence, and you will return it safe again; but requesting withal,

that none will meddle with any thing they see, unless you desire them,

lest they prejudice you and themselves; then take the cup off the box,

and bid any one see it and feel it, that there may be no mistrust, so

likewise take the box entire, holding your fore-finger on the bottom,

and your thumb on the upper part, turning it upside down, say, You see

here is nothing; then putting in the sixpence, put the cup over the

box again; as the box stands covered upon the table, put your hand

under the table, using some canting words, then take off the cup with

your fore-finger and thumb, so as you pinch the innermost box with it,

and set it gently on the table; then put the killed quicksilver out

of lower part into your hand, turning the box with the bottom upward

and stirring it about with your finger, ‘Here you see it melted, now I

will put it in again and turn it into six single pence;’ suddenly take

the cap as you took it off, returning it again, bid them blow on it;

then take off the cap as you did before, only pinching the uppermost

lid in it, and setting it upon the table, hold the box at the top and

bottom with your fore-finger and thumb, then put the six single pence,

after they are viewed and seem to be so, in again, and return the cap

as before, saying, Blow on it if you would have it in the same form

you gave it me, then taking the cup by the button, holding the box as

before, put out the six-pence and return the box into your pocket. This

is a very good slight, if well performed, which is done by often use.

_How to light a candle by a glass of cold water, or other liquor,

without the help of fire._

You must take a little piece of phosphorus, about the bigness of a

pin’s head, and with a piece of tallow, stick it on the edge of the

drinking-glass, and then take the candle lighted and blow it out;

and apply it to the glass, it will immediately light. This is the

preparation that Cromwell used to fire off his cannon withal, very

amazing to behold; you may write with it on a paper, some horrible

words or other, and it will appear frightful to the beholders: also,

you may take a piece as big as a pin’s head, and rub it on a piece of

paper, and it will be soon all on a flame.

_A trick upon the globe-box._

[Illustration]

This is a trick not inferior to the best that is shewn with boxes; it

is a box made of four pieces, and a ball so big as is imagined to be

contained therein: the ball serves in the same nature, as the egg does

in the egg box, only to deceive the hand and eye of the spectators.

This ball, made of wood or ivory, is thrown out of the box upon the

table, for everyone to see that it is substantial, then putting the

ball into the box, and letting the standers-by blow on the box, taking

off the upper shell with your fore-finger and thumb, there appears

another, and of another colour, as red, blue, yellow, or any variety of

colours upon each ball that is so imagined to be, which indeed is no

more than the shell of wood ingeniously turned and fitted for the box,

as you may see in the figures above.

L, the out-shell of the globe taken off the figures; M, N, an inner

shell; O, the cover of the same; P, the other inner shell; Q, the cover

of the same; R, the third shell; S, that which covers it. These globes

may be made with more or less varieties, according to the desire of the

practitioner.

_To tell the names of all cards in the pack, before you see them._

Take a pack of cards, and after you have shuffled them, or let another

shuffle them, lay them down upon the table before you, with their backs

uppermost, then say, ‘Now I will tell you the names of all the rest of

the cards in the pack, except one, before I see them;’ having said so

draw off the uppermost cards, and say, ‘This is my Hocus Pocus. This

is he by whose assistance I shall discover all the rest of the cards

in the pack; I care not what he is, for I can make any of them serve

for the same purpose.’ Then put him to your mouth, as tho’ you charmed

him, and repeat some cramp words; and taking off the next card from the

pack, say, Here is the —— naming your Hocus Pocus, and having seen him,

lay him down.

_How to hold four kings in the hand, and by words to seem to transform

them into four aces, and afterwards to make them all blank cards._

You shall see a juggler take four kings in his hand, and apparently

shew you them, then after some words and charms, he will throw them

down upon the table, taking one of the kings away, and adding but one

other card, then taking them up again, and blowing upon them, will

shew you them transformed into blank cards, white on both sides, then

throwing them down as before, with their faces downwards, will take

them up again, and blowing upon them, will shew you four aces. This

trick, in my mind, is not inferior to any of the rest, and being not

known, will seem very strange to the beholders, and yet after you know

it, you cannot but say the trick is pretty. Now to do this feat, you

must have cards made for the purpose, half cards we may call them;

that is one half kings and the other half aces, so laying the aces one

over the other, nothing but kings will be seen, and then turning the

kings downwards, the four aces will be seen; but you must have two

whole cards, one a king, to cover one of the aces, or else it will be

perceived; and the other an ace, to lay over the kings, when you mean

to shew the aces; then, when you would make them all blank, lay the

cards a little lower and hide the aces, and they will appear all white.

The like you may make of four knaves, putting upon them the four fives;

and so of the other cards.

_To tell or name all the cards in the pack, and yet never see them._

To do this, you must first privately drop a drop of water or beer about

the bigness of a two-pence upon the table before you, were you sit,

then rest your elbows upon the table so as the cuffs of your sleeves

may meet, and your hands stick up to the brims of your hat; in this

posture your arms will hide the drop of water from the company; then

let any one take the cards and shuffle them, and put them into your

hands; also let them set a candle before you, for this trick is best

done by candle light, then holding the cards in your left hand, above

the brim of your hat, up close to your head, so as the light of the

candle may shine upon the cards, and holding your head down; so in the

drop of water, like a looking-glass, you shall see the shadow of all

the cards before you; draw then the fingers of your right-hand along

upon the cards, as though you felt the spots, name the cards, and then

lay him down. Thus you may lay down all the cards in the pack, one by

one, naming them before you lay them down, which will seem very strange

to the beholders, who will think that you have felt them out.

_To shew one what card he taketh notice of._

Let any man take a card out of the pack, and note him: then take part

of the pack in your hand, and lay the rest down upon the table; bidding

him lay his noted card upon them; then turning your back towards the

company, make as though you were looking over the cards in your hand,

and put any card at the fore-side; and whilst you are doing this

privately, wait the cards being laid out in heaps, to find what the

bottom cards are. Bid any one take four cards of the same number, viz.

4 aces, 4 duces, 4 trays, 4 fours, or any other number not exceeding

10, (for he must not take court cards) and lay them out; then take the

remaining cards (if any such there be) and divide their number by 4,

and the quotient shall be the number of spots of the 4 card: if 12

cards remain, then on each bottom card ware trays, and if there be no

remaining cards, then the four bottom cards are four aces.

_To tell the number of spots on the bottom cards, laid down on several

heaps._

Bid any one take the whole pack of cards in his hand, and having

shuffled them, let him take off the upper card, and having taken notice

of it, let him lay it down upon the table with his face downwards, and

upon it let him lay so many cards, as will make up the number of the

spots on the noted card, 12 e. g. If the card which the person first

took notice of, were a king, queen, or knave, or a single ten, bid him

lay down that card with his face downwards, calling him ten, upon that

card let him lay another, calling him eleven, and upon another, calling

him twelve; then bid him take off the next uppermost card, saying, what

is it? Suppose it were a 9, and laying it down on another part of the

table, calling him 9, upon him lay another card, calling him 10, and

upon him another, calling him 11, and upon him another, calling him 12;

then let him look on the next uppermost card, and so let him proceed to

lay them up in heaps, in all respects as before, till he has laid out

the whole pack; but if there be any odd cards at the last, I mean, if

there is not enough, to make up the last noted card 12, bid him give

them to you; then to tell him the numbers of all the spots contained in

all the bottom cards of the heaps, do thus, from the number for heaps

subtracted 4, and multiply the remainder by 12, and to the product add

the numbers of those remaining cards, which he gave you, if any remain,

but if there were but four heaps, then those remaining cards alone,

shew the number of spots sought.

Note, That you ought not to see the bottom cards of the heaps, nor

should you see them laid out, or know the number of cards in each heap,

it suffices if you know the number of heaps, and the number of the

remaining cards, if any such there be; and therefore you may as well

perform this feat standing in another room as if you were present, you

must have a whole pack.

_To make any two cards come together, which any body shall name._

When any one has named what two cards he would have brought together,

take the cards and say, Let us see whether they are here or not, and if

they are, I will put them as far asunder as I can; then having found

the two cards proposed, dispose them in the pack, and cause them to

come together.

This trick would seem much more strange, when you have brought the

proposed cards together, by laying them in heaps, you lay the heap

wherein the proposed cards are at the bottom of the pack, and then

shuffle the cards, cut them asunder somewhere in the middle, so the

proposed cards will be found together in the middle of the pack, which

will seem very strange to beholders.

_How to make a cat draw a fellow through a pond of water._

To perform this, you must place the fellow on one side of the pond,

and the cat on the other, then take a strong rope and tie about the

fellow’s middle, and the other end of the rope tie to the cat, and then

have the rope to reach farther behind some tree, and there let two

lusty fellows have hold of the rope, and when the wager is laid, then

whip the cat, whilst the two fellows behind the tree pull as hard as

they can.

_How to burn a thread, and to make it whole again with the ashes._

It is not one of the worst tricks to burn a thread handsomely and make

it whole again, the manner whereof is this: take two threads or small

laces, of one foot length a piece, roll up one of them round, which

will be then about the bigness of a pea, put the same between your

left fore-finger and your thumb, then take the other thread, and hold

it forth at length betwixt your fore-finger and thumb of each hand,

holding all your fingers daintily, as young gentlewomen are taught

to hold up a morsel of meat; then let one cut asunder the same thread

in the middle; when that is done, put the tops of your two thumbs

together, and so shall you, with less suspicion, receive the piece

of thread which you hold in your right-hand, into your left, without

opening of your left finger and thumb; then holding those two pieces

as you did before it was cut, let these two be also cut asunder in the

midst, and they conveyed again as before, until they be very short, and

then roll all those ends together, and keep that ball of thread before

the other in the left hand, and with a knife thrust the same into a

candle, where you may hold it until the said ball of thread be burnt

to ashes; then pull back the knife with your right-hand, and leave the

ashes with the other ball betwixt your fore-finger and thumb of your

left hand together, take pains to rub the ashes till your thread be

renewed, and draw out that thread at length which you had, all this

while, betwixt your fore-finger and thumb. This is not inferior to any

juggler’s trick, if it be well handled, for if you are so perfect in

Legerdemain, as to bestow the same ball of thread and to change it from

place to place, betwixt your other fingers, as may be easily done, then

it will seem very strange.

_To cut a lace asunder in the middle, and to make it whole again._

By a device not much unlike the former, you may seem to cut asunder any

lace that hangs about one’s neck, or any point, girdle or garter, and

with a sham conjuration to make it whole, and close it together again:

for the accomplishment whereof, provide if you can, a piece of the lace

which you mean to cut, or at least a pattern like the same, one inch

and a half long, and keeping it double privately in your left-hand,

betwixt some of your fingers, near to the tips thereof, take the other

lace which you mean to cut still hanging about one’s neck, and draw

down your said left-hand to the bout thereof, and putting your own

piece a little before the other, the end or rather middle whereof, you

must hide betwixt your fore-finger and thumb, make the eye, or bout

which will be seen of your own pattern; let a stander-by cut the same

asunder, and it will be surely thought that the other lace is cut;

which with words and fretting, you shall seem to renew, and make whole

again. This if it be well handled, will seem miraculous.

_How to pull innumerable ribbons out of your mouth, of what colour you

please._

As for pulling ribbons out of your mouth, it is somewhat a stale jest,

whereby jugglers get money from maids by selling laces by the yard,

putting into their mouth one round bottom, as fast as they pull out

another, and at the exact end of every yard they tie a knot so as the

same rests upon their teeth, they then cut off the same, and so the

beholders are double and treble deceived, seeing as much lace as will

fill a hat, and the same of what colour you list; to be drawn so by

even yards out of your mouth, and yet the juggler to talk as though

there were nothing in his mouth.

_To draw a cord through your nose, mouth, or head, so sensible, as it

is wonderful to see._

[Illustration]

There is another juggling knack which they call the bridle, being

made of two elder sticks, through the hollowness thereof is placed a

cord, the same being put on the nose like a pair of tongs or pincers,

the cord which goeth round about the same being drawn to and fro, the

beholders will think the cord goes through your nose, very dangerously;

the knots at the end of the cord, which do stay the same from being

drawn out of the stick, may not be put at the very top, for that must

be stopped up, but half an inch beneath each end, and so, (I say) when

it is pulled, it will seem to pass through the nose, and then you may

take a knife and seem to cut the cord asunder, and pull the bridle from

your nose.

_To thrust a bodkin into your forehead without hurt._

[Illustration]

Take a bodkin so made as the haft being hollow, the blade thereof may

slip thereinto as soon as you hold the point upward, seem to thrust it

into your forehead, and so with a little spunge in your hand, you may

bring out blood or wine, making the beholders think the blood or wine

(whereof you may say you have drunk very much) runneth out of your

forehead; then after shewing some countenance of pain and grief, pull

away your hand suddenly, holding the point downward, and it will fall

so out, as it will seem never to have been thrust into the haft, but

immediately thrust that bodkin into your lap or pocket, and pull out

another plain bodkin like the same, saying that conceit.

_How to thrust a bodkin through your tongue._

[Illustration]

Make a bodkin, or a nail, which is all one; the blade thereof being

sundered in the middle, so as the one part be not near to the other,

by almost three quarters of an inch, each part being kept asunder with

one small bout or crooked piece of iron, of the fashion described

before, then thrust your tongue betwixt the aforesaid space, to wit,

into the bout left in the bodkin blade, thrusting the said bout behind

your teeth, and biting the same, it shall seem to stick so fast in, and

through your tongue, that one can hardly pull it out. Also you must

have another bodkin or nail, just like unto the false one, to serve to

shew to the company.

_How to cut your arm off, a pitiful sight, without hurt or danger._

[Illustration]

You must provide yourself with two knives, a true one, and a false one,

and let them be so alike, that no one can tell one from the other, so

when you go to shew this feat to the company, put the true knife into

your pocket, and then take out the false one and clap it on your wrist

undiscovered, and with a spunge make the knife bloody, and it will seem

so much the more strange.

_How to kill any fowl, but especially a pullet, and with words to give

it life again._

Take a hen or chicken, and thrust a nail, or a sharp pointed knife,

through the midst of the head thereof, the edge towards the bill, so as

it may seem impossible for her to escape death, then use some words,

and pulling out the knife, lay oats before her, and she will eat and

live, being nothing at all grieved or hurt with the wound, because the

brain lieth so far behind in the head, as it is not touched, though you

thrust your knife between the comb and it; and after you have done

this, you may convert your speech and actions to the grievous wounding,

and present recovery of your own self.

_To thrust a piece of lead into your eye, and to drive it about with a

stick between the skin and flesh and forehead, until it be brought to

the other eye, and there thrust out._

Put a piece of lead into one of the nether lids of your eye, as big as

a tag of a point, but not so long, which you may do without danger,

and with a little juggling stick, one end thereof being hollow, seem

to thrust the like piece of lead under the other eye-lid, but convey

the same, indeed, into the hollowness of the stick, the stopple or peg

thereof may be privately kept in your hand until this feat be done,

then seem to drive the said piece of lead, with the hollow end of the

slick from the same eye, and so with the end of the said stick being

brought along upon your forehead to the other eye, you may thrust out

the piece of lead, and then shove it out of the eye; and some put it

into both, but the first is the best; this is easily done, howbeit,

being cleanly handled, it will deceive the sight of the beholders.

_To make the constable catch the knave._

Take a pack of cards, and look out the four knaves, lay one of them

privately on the top of the pack, and lay the other three down on

the table, saying, here you see are three knaves got together, about

no good you may be sure; then lay down a king beside them, saying,

But here comes the constable and catches them together; Oh, (says he)

have I caught you together? well, the next time I catch you together,

I will punish you severely for all your rogueries. Oh, but (say they)

you shall not catch us together again in haste for they conclude to

run three several ways: Well, I will go here, (says one) so take one

of the knaves and put him at the top of the pack: And I will go here,

(says another) so put him at the bottom, Then I will go here, (says the

other) so put him in the middle: nay, (says the constable) if you run,

I will make sure of one, so I will follow the first, then take the king

and put him at the top, and let any one cut the cards asunder two or

three times, then deal, cut the cards one by one, and you shall find

three knaves together, and the constable with them.

Note, This feat would be best done with a pack of cards that has two

knaves of that sort, of which you put one in the middle.

_To seem to change a card into a king or queen picture._

To do this, you must have the picture in your sleeve, and by a swift

slight return the card, and fetch out the picture with a back bending.

The manner of doing this is better learnt by frequent trials than can

be taught by many words; but if you would do this feat, and yet hold

your hand straight, and unmoved, then you must peel off the spots or

figures of a card, as thin as you can, and just stick it on the picture

with something that will make it stick a little, then having shewed

the spots or figure of the card, you may draw it off, and roll it up

with your thumb, into a very narrow compass, holding it undiscovered

between the inside of the thumb and the ball of your fore-finger, and

so produce the picture, to the admiration of the beholders.

_To seem to turn a card into a live bird._

Take a card in your hand, and shew it fairly to the company, bidding

them seriously observe it, then having a live bird in your sleeve, turn

your hand on a sudden, drawing the card into your sleeve dexterously

with your thumb and little finger, and giving a hard shake, the bird

will come out or your sleeve into your hand, which you may produce, and

then let fly, as you think convenient, and it will cause wonder in the

spectators.

_Three or four cards being laid down, to tell any one which of those

cards he touched._

This feat is done by confederacy, in this manner; take and lay down,

with their faces upwards, 3 cards, which may be an ace, a four, and

a five, then go out of the room, but let your confederate stay and

see which card was touched, then when any one has touched a card, let

them call you into the room again, and if he touch the ace, let your

confederate say, I will lay a penny that you cannot tell which card he

touched; and if he touched the four, let him say, I will lay a groat,

and if he touched the five, let him say, I will lay you a crown you

cannot tell which card he touched; so by your confederate’s discourse,

you will know which card he touched, nevertheless, you must pretend to

find him out by smelling to them, as though the touch of his finger had

left a scent on the card.

_To tell one what card he took notice of._

Take any number of cards, as 10, 12, and then holding them with their

backs toward you, open four or five of the uppermost, and as you hold

them out to their view, let any one note a card, and tell you, whether

it be the first, second, or third from the top, but you must privately

know the whole number of those cards you took; then shut up your cards

in your hands, and take the rest of the pack and place upon them; then

knock their ends and sides upon the table; so it will seem impossible

to find the noted card, yet it may easily be done thus: subtract the

number of the cards you held in your hand from 52, the whole number of

the cards in the pack, and to the remainder add the number of the noted

card; so the same shall be the number of the noted card from the top:

therefore take off the cards one by one, smelling to them, till you

come to the noted card.

_How to let a gentleman hold ten pieces of money in his hand, and to

command them unto what number he can think on._

You must fling your money on a table, and desire any body to tell ten

pieces out on the table, when they have done they will say, there is

ten. Note, you must have in readiness, privately concealed in your

right-hand, five pieces, then you must tell the company that you always

tell your money after every person, so telling down the money with your

left-hand, and taking it up with your right, convey the five pieces to

the ten, then ask if any body is desirous to hold them, and there will

be enough to hold them, and be sure to hold them fast; that done, bid

them to call for what number they please to think on between 10 and

15, and so let them call for what number they will, you know they have

it in their hand, and when they open their hand, they are struck to

admiration. But be sure not to forget your terms of art to amaze the

beholders.

_To thrust a dagger into your guts, very strangely, and to recover

immediately._

Another miracle may be shewed, touching counterfeit executions, namely,

that with a dagger you shall seem to kill yourself, or at the least

make an irrevokable wound in your belly, as in truth not long since

a juggler caused himself to be killed at a tavern in Cheapside, from

thence he went presently into St. Paul’s church-yard, and there died;

which misfortune fell upon him thro’ his own folly, as being drunk, and

forgetting his breast-plate, which he should have had for his defence.

The device is this, you must prepare a pasteboard to be made according

to the fashion of your belly and breast, the same must be by a painter,

well coloured cunningly, not only like to your flesh, but with paps,

navel, hair, &c. so as the same being handsomely trussed unto you, may

shew to be your natural belly; then next to your true belly you may

put a linen cloth, and thereupon a double plate, which the juggler

that killed himself forgot; over and upon the which, you may place the

false belly; provided always, that betwixt the plate and the false

belly, you place a gut of blood, which blood must be of a calf, or of

a sheep, but in no wise of an ox, or cow, for that will be too thick,

then thrust, or cause to be thrust into your breast a dagger, so far as

it may pierce thro’ you, which being pulled out a good distance from

you, especially if you strain your body to swell, and thrust therewith

against the plate. You must ever remember to use words, countenance,

and posture, such a grace as may give a grace to the action, and move

admiration to the beholders. Prize this as a valuable secret.

_How to cut a man’s head off, and to put the head into a platter, a

yard from his body._

[Illustration]

This is a noble action if it be well handled by a skilful hand. To

shew this feat of execution, you must cause a board, a cloth, and a

platter to be purposely made, and in each of them to be made holes fit

for a body’s neck, the board must be made of two planks, the longer and

broader the better, there must be left within half a yard of the end of

each plank half a hole, so as both the planks being thrust together,

there may remain two holes like to the holes in a pair of stocks, there

must be made likewise a hole in the cloth, a platter also must be set

directly over or upon one of them, having a hole in the middle thereof,

of the like quantity, and also a piece cut off the same, so big as his

neck, through which his head may be conveyed into the middle of the

platter, and then sitting, or kneeling under the board, let the head

only remain upon the board, in the frame; then to make the sight more

dreadful, put a little brimstone into a chaffing-dish of coals, setting

it before the head of the boy, who must gasp two or three times so as

the smoke may enter his nostrils and mouth, which is not unwholesome,

and the head presently will appear stark dead; if the boy set his

countenance accordingly, and if a little blood be sprinkled on his

face, the sight will be the stranger. This is commonly practised with a

boy instructed for that purpose, who being familiar and conversant with

company, may be known as well by his face, as by his apparel; in the

other end of the table, where the like hole is made, another boy of the

bigness of the known boy must be placed; having on his usual apparel,

he must lean or lie upon the board; and must put his head under the

board through the said hole, so as his body shall seem to lie on the

one end of the board, and his head shall lie in a platter in the other

end. There are other things which might be performed in this action,

the more to astonish the beholders, which, because they require long

descriptions, I omit; as, to put about his neck a little dough kneaded

with bullocks blood, which, being cold will appear like dead flesh, and

being pricked with a sharp round hollow quill, will bleed, and seem

very strange, and many rules are to be observed herein; as to have the

tablecloth so long and so wide as it may almost reach the ground. Note,

suffer not the company to stay too long in the place.

_To seem to turn water into wine._

Take four beer glasses, rub one in the inside with a piece of allum,

let the second have a drop of vinegar in it, the third empty, and then

take a mouthful of clean water, and a clean rag, with ground brasil

tied close in it, the bulk may be no bigger than a small nut, which

must lie betwixt your hind teeth, and your cheek, then take of the

water out of the glass into your mouth, and return it into the glass

that hath the drop of vinegar in it, which will cause it to have the

perfect colour of sack; then turn it into your mouth again, and chew

your rag of brasil, and squirt the liquor into the glass, and it will

have the perfect colour and smell of claret; returning the brasil into

its former place, take the liquor into your mouth again, and presently

squirt it into the glass you rubbed with allum, and it will have the

perfect colour of mulberry wine.

[Illustration]

_To make sport with an egg._

If you are drinking in company, or otherwise, that you are disposed to

make sport; have ready a penny-worth of quick-silver, in a quill sealed

at both ends with good hard wax, then cause an egg to be roasted or

boiled, and take off a small bit of the shell of the narrow end, then

thrust in your quill of quick-silver, and lay the egg on the ground;

you shall have sport enough, for it will never leave tumbling about as

long as there is any heat in it.

So likewise if you put quick-silver in a sheep’s bladder and blow it

up, and when you have a mind to have sport, then go to the fire and

warm the bladder, and fling it on the ground, and it will jump and skip

about for a long time, and make all the company laugh, and think the

bladder is bewitched.

_To fetch a shilling out of a handkerchief._

To do this, you must have a ring of wire, such a one as you generally

hang your keys upon, but less, or a curtain ring will do, so as it is

no bigger than a shilling, then take a handkerchief, and put therein

a shilling, twisting the handkerchief round, the form of the shilling

will appear, then say, That you may be certain it is here, I will shew

it you once more, that you may be sure it is in here, and taking out

the shilling, convey the round wire into the handkerchief, which being

twisted, will seem to be the shilling; the better to deceive, you may

wrap the edge of the wire with your stick, then open the wire, draw

it out, and produce the shilling which you have in the palm of your

right-hand, saying, gentlemen, look you here is the shilling, you held

the handkerchief very fast; in the mean time ask, who gave me this

shilling? he who you had it of will soon answer, I, then thank him for

it, saying, it is more than I have had given me this two days.

_To cause the beer you drink, to be wrung out of the handle of a knife._

To do this, you must have a small piece of spunge with drink put in

it privately, then unseen, place this behind your right-ear, but

let not the spunge be too big or too full of liquor, least you be

discovered; then taking a knife, stick it with the handle upwards

in a table or stool, but observe when you go about these sports, to

place your company before you, then bid them look, saying, ‘There you

see is nothing of wet, either upon the handle, or upon the table’;

so stretching your empty hand towards your ear, darting the point,

saying, ‘Now some body cross my arm,’ and speaking some powerful words,

as Jubio Bisco, then have you a fair opportunity to take this spunge

into your hand, from behind your ear, and stretching forth your hand,

squeeze it gently, and, after a little, harder, which makes it run the

faster, to the amazement of the company, saying, thus could I do till I

had drown’d you all; sprinkle a little in their faces, which will cause

them to shut their eyes, whilst you convey away your spunge.

_How to make it freeze by the fire-side._

This feat can be done or performed only in winter, and at such times

as snow may be had, and he that will shew it, must have in readiness,

a handful of salt: the time serving, and the party being provided, let

him call for a joint-stool, a quart pot, a handfull of snow, a little

water, and a short staff; first let him pour a little water upon the

stool, and upon it let him set the quart-pot, and put the snow into the

pot, the salt also, but privately, then let him hold the pot fast with

his left hand, and therewith churn the snow and salt in the pot, as if

one would churn for butter, and in half a quarter of an hour the pot

will freeze so hard to the stool, that you can scarcely with both hands

pull it off from the stool.

_To cut glass, a famous invention._

You must have a piece of well dried match-cord, light it that it may

have a good coal, then take a beer-bowl glass, and hold the match to

the edge of the glass, have your finger ready wet, and when the glass

as very hot, clap your finger to the hot place, and it will suddenly

crack about a quarter of an inch downward, then keep the coal of the

match the like distance from the end of the crack, and as it follows,

so move your hand and cut it screw-fashion, otherwise it will not hold

together, till you have it through the bottom, or like waves; when you

have done it, and that is cold, as that it will be, take it by the

foot, and turn it downwards, it will stretch so, that you may put your

finger betwixt each cutting, then turn it up again, you may drink a

glass of beer in it, and not spill a drop.

[Illustration]

_How to make two bells come into one hand, having put into each hand

one._

This feat must be performed with three bells, you must put one in your

left sleeve, then put one bell into one hand, and another into the

other hand; they must be little maurice bells; withdraw your hand, and

privately convey the bell in your left hand into your right hand, then

stretch both your hands abroad, and bid two men hold your hands fast,

but first shake your hand and say, Do you hear them? the bell that is

in your sleeve will not be known by the rattling, but that it is in

your hands, then say, he now that is the greatest whore-master of you

both shall have none at all; open your hands and shew them, and it will

be thought you deal by magic art.

_How to make a sheet of paper called Trouble-wit._

This is called Trouble-Wit, or Puzzle-Wit, which you please to call

it, and indeed it is a very fine invention, by folding a sheet of

paper as that, by art, you may change it into many several forms or

fashions, take a sheet of marble Paper, fold it down the middle of the

sheet long ways, when you have so done, turn down the edge of each fold

outwards, the breadth of a single penny; then measure it as it is so

folded into three equal parts with compasses, which makes six divisions

in the sheet, let each third part be turned outward, and the other in

course will fall right; then pinch it a quarter of an inch deep, in the

manner as you pinch paper lanthorns, that is, in plaits like a ruff,

so that when the paper lies pinched in its form, it is in the fashion

represented by the figure A; when closed together like the figure

B; unclose it again, and shuffle it with each hand, it resembles the

shuffling of a pack of cards: close it, and take each corner inward

with your fore-finger and thumb, it resembles a rose for a lady’s

shoe, as is seen in the figure C, stretch it forth into the same form,

and it resembles the cover for an Italian couch, as is shewed by the

letter D; let go your fore-finger, at the lower end, and it resembles a

wicket to a gate, or a portal to a nobleman’s door, as is shewed by the

letter E; close it again, and pinch it at the bottom, spreading it on

the top, and it is the fashion of a screen. For as it is shewed by the

letter F. Pinch it half way, and open the top, and it is in the fashion

of a shoe-maker’s cutting knife, which is shewn by the letter G;

holding of it in that form, and with the thumb of your left-hand, turn

out the next fold, and it is in form of a curry-comb, as it is shewed

by the letter H. So that those who are resolved to learn to comb, do

this feat, innocent, and diverting enough, both in city and country.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

And I would have shewn more of the cuts, but that here is enough

for the ingenious, since they have the manner of folding the paper,

which is a great help to do it: the next fashion is a buttrice, such

as farriers use to pair their horses heels withal; in the fashion of

a lawyer’s desk; in the fashion of a bridge made of wood to carry a

troop of horse over a river: in the fashion of a dark lanthorn: in the

fashion of a bough-pot; in the fashion of a lanthorn with a rose at

each end: in the fashion of a minced-pye, without any meat in it; in

the fashion of a cardinal’s cap; in the fashion of a coster-monger’s

cap; in the fashion of a sugar dish; and many more knacks to be played

with it.

_To make sport in company._

When you are in company, and shewing your tricks, and that you have

done as many as you can, or think to do at this time, then say, to

conclude, I will shew you the best and cleverest trick that ever I did

shew in all my life; not only shew you, but learn it you, that you may

do it yourself another time. The trick is this: how to set a glass of

brandy on the other side of the table, and to make it come jumping and

never touch it.

First, fill a glass of brandy, and put it on the farther end of the

table, and have in readiness the crown of your hat blacked, then say

to the company, gentlemen, whatever you see or hear, I desire you to

say nothing; for this is done by the black art; now I desire every one

of you to change hats one with another, and do as I do, and say as I

say; now you must all turn the crowns of your hats towards your faces,

and so speak as I do, saying, John of Basket; John of Basket! then rub

your face, and he that hath your blacked hat, will laugh because the

glass doth not move, and the others will laugh at his black face; and

so you will make sport enough, then you must speak two or three bold

words to the glass; as thus: glass of brandy, glass of brandy, come to

me, if you will not, I will fetch you, and so take it up with your hand

and drink it, then seem to fling the glass up against the cieling, and

break it, and it will seem very strange. I have done this often.

_How to command seven half-pence through a table._

This feat is one of the greatest that the jugglers have done, and is

inferior to none. To do this, you must go to some tinman, or any body

that knows how to make your holes room enough for a die to go in and

out, and then let them clap a good half-penny upon them all, and so

make them fast, and nobody can tell them from real ones; then you must

get a cap to cover your half-pence, a cap and a die for the company to

fling to amuse them; when you are thus provided with half-pence, a cap,

and a die, the manner of performance is thus: desire any body in the

company to lend you seven half-pence, telling them that you will soon

return them their own again; then say, gentlemen, this is made just

fit for your money; then clapping your cap on, desire somebody in the

company to fling that die to see what they can fling, and in so doing,

take off the cap and convey your false money into the cap, so that the

company may not see you put it in, then with your cap cover the die, so

with your right-hand take up the true money, and put it into the left

under the table, saying, Vada, begone, I command the die to be gone,

and the money to come in the place; so take up the cap, and the die is

gone, and the money is come, covering the money again with the cap, so

taking the true money in your right-hand, and knocking under the table,

making a jingling as though the money was coming through the table,

then flinging then on the table, say, there is the money, and with your

right-hand take off the cap, saying, and there is the die; so convey

the false money into your lap, and there is the cap likewise. This is

an ingenious feat if well handled, here make the figure of a die, and

the fashion of seven half-pence, and a cap to cover them.

_How to turn a box of bird-seed into a living bird._

You must have a box made on purpose, with a false lid; for to describe

it to you in words, is pretty hard, but you may have them ready made

at my house. This box must be turned nearly 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, and on that lid glew some bird seed; so before

you shew the box, to the company, put a bird in the box, and then the

false lid, then shew the box to the company, and it will seem to be

full of seed, then say to the company, ‘gentlemen you see my box is

full of seed;’ which nobody can tell to the contrary, then put your

true lid on, saying, Gentlemen, I will command all the seed out of my

box, and command a living bird to appear; so taking off the covers the

bird will appear. You may be furnished with all manner of instruments,

cups, Dutch puddings, egg-boxes, globe-boxes, melting-boxes,

sixpenny-boxes, bird-boxes, and bells and bushels.

_How to command a sixpence out of a box._

You must go and get a box turned of box-wood or any other wood which

you fancy; you must have it turned with two lids, one must be a false

one, and there put a counter, so that it may rattle; and you must

have a small pegg, or button, to your box, to hinder the counter from

jingling, and at the bottom of the box, which you have neatly turned,

there you must have a half notch made in your box, just fit for a

sixpence to come out. So to perform this feat, you must desire any body

to lend you a sixpence, and to mark it with what they please, then let

them put it into the box themselves, afterwards then put the cover on,

then by shaking the box, the sixpence will come into your hand; then

you may dispose of it as you know how when you are shewing your feats.

This feat is not inferior to any that is shewn with boxes.

Note, This box you may have of me ready made in the new fashion.

_How to call for any card in the pack._

Take the cards and shuffle them, or let any body else shuffle them,

or lay down the whole pack on the table before you, with their faces

downwards, then drawing off the upper card say, Here I call for the

card of good luck; and when you have seen what that card is, which you

must do as privately as you can, and be sure not to let the company see

him, then say, Here I call for ——, naming your card of good luck, and

so take the next uppermost card, and then having seen him, say, Here

I call for the ——, naming the card you took up last, and so take off

the next uppermost card, and thus still calling for the card you last

took up, you may call for as many as you please; or, if you will, you

may thus go round the pack, and, in the mean time, cause one to write

down the names of the cards, in the same order as you call for them,

which they may do in brief, thus by writing a figure for the number of

the spots, as 1 for the ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and so to ten; and then kn.

for the knave, q. for queen, and kg. for king, adding a letter for

the suits viz. c. for clubs, s. for spades, h. for hearts, and d. for

diamonds, e. g. is three or four cards; suppose the three first cards,

called for, were, the ace of clubs, the tray of spades, and the five

of diamonds, they be set down thus, 1 C——3 S—5 D, and so of any other:

having thus gone round, with as many as you please, take them from the

table, saying, Look now in your paper, see which card I call for first,

which second, and which third, &c. and whilst he is looking, do you

flip the card of good luck under the bottom of the pack, then holding

the cards with their faces upwards, take them off one by one, and they

will come in the same order as you called them, only the last card will

not be set down in the paper, and it must be pretended he was the card

of good luck.

_Another way to call for a card._

After having privately seen the uppermost card, lay the cards down in

three or four heaps, but not above, then begin at the heap farthest off

from you, that has the known card on the top, and say, Here I call for

the ——, naming the known card; then go to the next heap, saying, Here I

call for the ——, naming the card you took up last; proceed in the same

manner, viz. still naming the card you last took up, till you come to

the last heap, so the card you call for first, will come last; but here

note, you must keep the cards close that they may not be seen till you

have done calling, and then you must lay them down, one by one, in the

same order as you called them.

_To tell one what card any one thinketh on._

Take 21 cards, and begin to lay them down, three in a row, with their

faces upwards, then begin again at the left-hand, and lay one card upon

the first, and soon the right hand, and then begin at the left-hand

again and so go on to the right, do this till you have laid out the 21

cards in three heaps, but as you are laying them out, bid any one think

on a card, and when you have laid them all out, ask him in which heap

his card is in, then lay the card in the middle betwixt the other two;

then lay them all out again into three heaps, as before, and as you lay

them out, bid him take notice where his noted card goes; when you have

laid them all out, ask him in what heap it is now? put that heap in

the middle as before, and lay out the cards a third time, bidding him

take notice where his noted card goes, and put that heap in the middle

as before; then taking the cards with their backs towards you, take

off the uppermost card, smelling to him, reckon him 1, then take off

another, and smelling him, reckon him 2, this do till you come to the

eleventh card, for that will always be the noted card, after the third

time of laying them out, though you should lay in this manner ever so

often; you must never lay out the cards less than three times, but as

often above as you please. This trick may be done by any odd number of

cards that may be divided by three.

_Another way to tell one what card is noted._

When one has noted a card, take it and put it at the bottom of the

pack, then shuffle the cards till it come again to the bottom; then

see what is the bottom card, for it is the noted card, which you may

do without being taken notice of; thus, when you have shuffled the

cards, turn them with their faces towards you, and nock their ends

upon the table, as though you would knock them level; and whilst you

are so doing, take notice of the bottom card, which you may do without

suspicion, especially having shuffled them before; then when you know

the card shuffle them again, and give them to any of the company, and

let them shuffle them, for you know the card already, and may easily

find it at any time.

_How to make a card jump out of an egg._

[Illustration]

To do this wonderful feat, you must have two sticks made, both of one

bigness, and both of a likeness, so that no person can know one from

the other; one of the sticks must be made so artificially as to conceal

a card in the middle, as thus: you must have one of your sticks turned

hollow quite through, and then an artificial spring to throw the card

in the egg, at your pleasure; the operation is thus: take and peel any

card in the pack, which you please, and so roll it up, and then put

it into your false stick, and there let it be till you have occasion

to make use of it; then take a pack of cards, and let any body draw a

card, but be sure let it be the same sort of card that you have in the

stick already; then let them put it in the pack again, and when you are

shuffling them, let that card fall into your lap, which the party drew,

so calling for some eggs, desire that party that drew the card, or any

person else in the company, to choose any one of these eggs, and when

they have chosen one, ask them if there be any thing in it, and they

will answer no; then take the egg in your left-hand, and your false

stick in your right, and so break the egg with your stick, and then

let the spring go, and the card will appear in the egg, very amazing to

the beholders; then conceal that stick and produce the true one upon

the table.

_How to make the fountain of command._

You may contrive this fountain of what figure you will.

Take a vessel A. B. which has two bottoms, this is close on all sides

like a drum; through the middle of it run a long pipe, C. D. sodered

to the lower bottom at F, with its two ends open, C. D. the first of

which C. must not quite touch the uppermost bottom, but leave passage

for the water; when one has a mind to fill the vessel A. B. which is

done by turning up the vessel A. B. with its pipe C. D. so that the

hole D. will then be the uppermost, and pouring in the water at D. this

done, stop up the pipe C. D. with another, and a very little smaller

pipe E. D. that can just enter it, and is fixed in the bottom of a case

or cistern that is a little longer than one of the two bottoms of the

vessel A. B. the two pipes C. D. ought to have at an equal height, two

appertures or holes I. I. and the smallest D. E. ought to be movable

within the greater, C. D. that so you may turn the smaller with its

case G. H. when you will, fill the two holes I. I. meet farther the

vessel A. B. ought to have several little holes in its lower bottom, as

K. L. for giving egress to the water, and the case or receptacle G. H.

ought likewise to have smaller vent, M. N. for the water to run out.

Now the vessel A. B. being filled with water as we directed but now,

and the pipe C. D. being stopt by the pipe D. E. which is supposed so

thin, that it could just fill it without any necessity of the extremity

E. it reaching to the end C. provided the other two ends D. D. do but

fit: is it done, I say, turning the vessel again to its first position,

in which it will stand as in the figure, the case G. H. being its base,

and being turned together with its pipe E. till the two vents I. I.

meet and make but one orafice, for then the water contained in the

vessel A. B. will run out at the vents K. L. as long as the air can

pass through the apperture I. to supply the room of the water that runs

A. B. into the case G. H. but when the water in the receptacle G. H.

rises above the vent I. which will infallibly happen, since more water

runs at the vents K. L. than at M. N. the former being supposed to be

larger than the latter, the air not finding access at I. the water in

the vessel A. B. will give over running through the vents K. L. but

the water in the receptacle G. H. will continue to run at the vents M.

N. so that this water will grow lower by degrees, till the vent I. is

uncovered again, and then the air having access at I. will renew the

flux of the water thro’ K. L. which in a small time will raise the

water in the case G. H. so as to recover the vent I. again, upon which

the stream A. B. will stop, and so on alternately, till there is no

water in the vessel A. B.

This is called the fountain of command, because it runs at a word, when

the water is near the renewal of its flux, thro’ the vents K. L. which

is easily known; for when the vent I. begins to get clear of water in

G. A. the air struggling for access at the vent makes a little noise,

and so gives notice that the fountain is about to run. This is a merry

device.

_To seem to kill a horse, and to cure him again._

Take the seed of henbane, and give it the horse in his provender, and

it will cast him into such a deep sleep, that he will seem dead; and if

you will recover him again, rub his nostrils with vinegar, and he will

be revived again.

_A very strange trick, whereby you may seem to cut a piece of tape into

four parts, and make it whole again with words._

[Illustration]

Take a piece of narrow white tape, about two or three yards long, first

present it to view to any that may desire it; then tie both the ends

of it together, and take one side of it in one hand, and the other in

the other hand, so that the knot may be about the midst of one side,

and using some circumstantial words to beguile your spectators, turn

one hand about towards yourself, and the other from you, so shall you

twist the tape once; then clap the ends together, and then if you slip

your fore-finger and thumb of each hand between the tape, almost as one

would hold a skane of thread to be wound, this will make one fold or

twist, as appears where A signifieth the twist or fold; B the knot;

then in like manner make a second fold, about the line D. C. as you

may see by the second figure, where B. signifieth the knot, C. the

first fold, A. the second fold: hold then the fore finger and thumb

of your left hand upon the second twist and upon the knot also, and

the fore-finger and thumb of your right hand upon the first fold C.

and desire some one of your spectators to cut all asunder with a sharp

knife, at the cross line E. D. when it is cut, hold still your left

hand, and let all your ends fall, that you hold in your right hand, for

there will be a shew of eight ends, four above and four below, and so

the strings will be thought to be cut into four parts, as may be seen

by the third figure; then gather up the ends that you let fall into

your left hand, and deliver two of the ends, (seeming to take them at

random) unto two several persons, binding them to hold them fast, still

keeping your left hand fingers upon the twists or folds; then with your

right and left hands seem to tumble all the ends together that you had

in your left-hand, twist out the slips or pieces, which are three, as

you may see at A. and B. in the third figure, twist them all I say,

into a little ball, and conceal it between some of your fingers of your

left hand, and crumble thereon another confused heap, and after some

words said, with your right-hand deliver this confused heap unto any

one of the company, biding him hold it fast, Hulla, Passa, then bid

them look on it, who while they are greedily looking after the event,

you with ease convey the ball or roll of ends into your pocket; so it

will be thought that you have made it whole by virtue of your words. An

excellent trick if it be gracefully handled; and a trick that cost me

trouble to find.

_A device to multiply one face, and make it seem to be a hundred or a

thousand._

[Illustration]

This feat must be performed by a looking-glass made on purpose, the

figure whereof I have fully described, with the manner of making it,

which is this; first make a hoop, or phillet of wood, horn, or such

like, about the width of a half crown piece in the circumference; the

thickness of this hoop, or phillet, let it be about a quarter of an

inch; in the middle of this hoop fasten a bottom of wood or brass,

and bore in a decent order, divers small holes, about the bigness of

small pease, then open the one side of this bottom, set in a piece of

crystal-glass, and fasten it in the hoop close to the bottom, then take

a quantity of quick-silver, and put so much into the hoop as will cover

the bottom; then let into the hoop another piece of chrystal-glass

fitted thereto and cement the sides, that the quick-silver may not

run out, and it is done; the figure whereof I have before set. A.

presenteth the one side that giveth the form of one face to the

beholders? B the other side that multiplieth the beholder’s face so oft

as there are holes in the middle bottom. The use whereof I shall not

insist upon, since he that is versed in the former feats will better

conceive of himself to use it, than my words can either direct or

assist him.

_To make the fulminating thundering powder._

Take three parts of salt-petre, two parts of salt of tarter, and one

part of sulpher, pounded and mixed together, heat in a spoon sixty

grains of this composition, and it will fly away with a fearful noise,

like thunder, as loud as a cannon, breaking through the spoon and every

thing underneath it, for it exerts itself downwards, contrary to the

nature of gun-powder.

* * * * *

I have here set down, KIND READER, not only all usual feats, that

either myself have seen or heard of, but divers others also, which I am

sure were never in print, nor as yet performed by any I could ever hear

of except myself, and all to give thee thy full content; and note this

from me, if you rightly understand this, there is not a trick that any

juggler in the world can shew thee, but thou shalt be able to conceive

after what manner it is performed.