so as there may appeare foure ends. Then take three great beadstones,
the hole of the one of them being bigger than the rest; and put one
beadstone upon the eye or bought of the one cord, and another on the
other cord: then take the stone with the greatest hole, and let both the
bowts be hidden therein: which may be the better done, if you put the
eye of the one into the eye of the other. Then pull the middle bead upon
the same, being doubled over his fellow, and so will the beads seeme to
be put over the two cords without partition, for holding fast in each
hand the two ends of the two cords, you may tosse them as you lift, and
make it seeme manifest to the beholders, which may not see how you have
done it, that the beadstones are put upon the cord without fraud: Then
must you seeme to adde more effectuall binding of those beadstones to
the string, and make one halfe of a knot with one of the ends of each
side, which is for no other purpose, but that when the Bead stones be
taken away, the cords may be seene in the case which the beholders
suppose them to be in before. For when you have made your halfe knot
(which in any wise you may not double to make a perfect knot) you must
deliver into the hands of some stander by, those two cords, namely, two
ends evenly set in one hand, and two in the other, and then with a wager
and tearmes of Art, begin to pull off your Bead-stones, which if you
handle nimbly, and in the end cause him to pull his two ends, the two
cords will shew to be placed plainly, and the Bead-stones to have come
thorow the cords.
_To burne a threed, and to make it whole againe with the ashes thereof._
TAke two Threeds or small Laces, of one foot in length a piece: rowle up
one of them round, which will be then of the quantity of a pease, bestow
the same betweene your left fore-finger and your thumb. Then take the
other threed and hold it forth at length, betwixt the fore-finger and
thumb of each hand, holding all your fingers daintily, as yong
Gentlewomen are taught to take up a morsel of meat. Then let one cut
asunder the same threed in the middle; when that is done, put the tops
of your two thumbs together, and so shall you with lesse suspition
receive the piece of threed which you hold in your right hand unto your
left, without opening your left finger and thumb, then holding these two
pieces as you did the same before it was cut, let these two be cut also
asunder in the midst, and they conveyed as before, untill they be cut
verie short, and then rowle all those ends together, and keep that ball
of short threeds before the other in your left hand, & with a knife
thrust out the same into a candle, where you may hold it untill the said
ball of short threeds be burnt to ashes. Then pull backe the knife with
your right hand, and leave the ashes with the other ball betwixt the
fore finger and thumbe of your left hand, and with the two thumbs and
two fore-fingers together, seeming to take paines to rub the ashes,
untill your threed be renued, and draw out that threed at length, which
you kept all this while betwixt your fore-finger and thumbe. If you have
Legerdemain to bestow the same ball of threed, and to change it from
place to place betwixt your two fingers (as may be easily done) then
will it seeme very strange.
_To cut a Lace asunder in the midst, and to make it whole againe._
PRovide a piece of the Lace which you meane to cut, or at the least a
patterne like the same, one inch and a halfe long, and keeping it double
privily in your left hand, betwixt some of your fingers neare to the
tops thereof take the other Lace which you meane to cut, which you may
hang about ones necke, & draw downe your said left hand to the bought
thereof: and putting your owne piece a little before the other (the end
or rather the middle whereof, you must hide betwixt your fore-finger and
thumb) making the eye or bought which shall be seene of your patterne,
let some stander by cut the same asunder, and it will be surely thought
that the other Lace is cut; which with words and rubbing and chafing it,
you shall seeme to renew and make whole againe. This, if it be wel
handled, will seeme miraculous.
_How to seeme suddenly to melt a piece of Coyne with words._
YOu must have a boxe made of brasse or Crooked Lane plate, a double
boxe, and not above five quarters of an inch deepe: in the midst must be
the bottome, and both ends must have covers to come over them. This boxe
might be so neatly made, that each lid might have a small bolt
artificially contrived (which though I could make my selfe neither by
words nor figures I can describe) whereby the lids of the boxe might be
lockt fast on, that none but master Iugler himselfe knows readily to
open. In one end of this boxe have alwayes in readinesse a resemblance
of moulten silver which you may easily make by mixing an equall
quantitie of linfoyl and quicksilver together, which you shall thus do:
First put your linfoyl in a crucible or Goldsmiths melting pot, melt it,
and then take it from the fire, and put in your quicksilver, and stirre
both well together, and it is done. Now the one end of your box being
readie furnished herewith, borrow a piece of coine of some one in the
companie, willing him to give it some private marke whereby he may know
it againe to be his owne, then put it into the other end of the box, in
the bottome whereof you may have a little waxe to keepe it from ratling.
Thus you may seeme by vertue of words to melt his monie, and afterwards
to give it againe to the partie whole as you received it from him.
_A device whereby you may draw sundrie liquors out of one seeming
vessell, all which shall be put in at one hole, and all drawne out of
another._
YOu must cause a vessell of an indifferent bignesse to be made in forme
of a Tunne, having two partitions, so there will be three severall
parts: A B signifieth the first, C D the second, and E F the third, upon
the top of this Tunne must bee fast nailed a piece of wood turned round
as G H, in the center whereof must be erected a stile, whose top must be
made into a screw, in this wood must also be made three holes towards
the circumpherence, each hole having a pipe inserted into it, which may
extend themselues one of either into each vessell, as you may see by the
figure. I K signifieth the first pipe which reacheth into the first part
A B, L M, the second pipe that extendeth it selfe into the second part
noted C D. N O the third pipe that extendeth it selfe into the third
part E F, each part also must have his vent, else you can neither fill
nor emptie it, these are marked with the letters P Q R, upon the top of
the aforesaid wood must be fastned a piece of liquored leather having
three holes in it answerable unto the holes of the wood, then upon the
wood must be scrued another snout whereby to fill each vessell with a
severall liquor, V the snouts S T a brasse plate whereunto the snout is
sodered, W the scrue that scrueth this snout upon the stile in the
turned wood G H.
[Illustration]
Lastly, each vessell must have its pipe whereout you may draw the
conteined liquor which you may see in the figure, and then must there be
scrued over them another plate with a taper vessell, so by turning it
about from one hole to another you may deliver each liquor apart
whether of them you please.
_A very strange tricke whereby you may seeme to cut a piece of Tape into
foure parts, and make it whole againe with words._
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 circumstantiall words to beguile your spectators, turn one
hand about towards your selfe, 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 thumbe of every hand betweene the tape almost as
one would hold a skeine of threed to be wound, this will make one fold
or twist as may appeare in the first figure, where A signifieth the
twist or fold. B the knot, then in like manner make a second fold about
the line DC, as you may see by the second figure, where B signifieth the
knot, C the first fold, A the second fold. Hold then your fore-finger
and thumbe of your left hand upon the second twist, and upon the knot
also, and the fore-finger and thumbe of your right hand upon the first
fold C, and desire some one of your spectators to cut all asunder with a
sharpe knife at the crosse line ED. When it is cut, hold still your left
hand, and let all the ends fall you hold in your right hand, for there
will be a shew of eight ends, foure aboue and foure below, and so the
string will be thought to be cut into foure parts, as may be seene 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
randome) unto two severall persons, bidding them to hold them fast,
still, keeping your left hand fingers upon the twists or folds:
[Illustration]
then with your right and left hand seeme to tumble and whaf all the ends
together that you had in your left hand, twist out all 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 conceale it betweene some
of your fingers of your left hand, and crumble thereof on another
confused heape: and after some words said, with your right hand deliver
this confused heape unto one of the company, bidding him to hold it
fast, saying, _Hulla passa quicke couragious fiat coniunctio_: Then bid
them looke on it, who while they are greedily looking after the event,
you may with ease convey the ball or roll of ends into your pocket, so
will it be thought you have made it whole by vertue of your words. An
excellent tricke if it be gracefully handled and a tricke that cost mee
more trouble to finde than all the rest; this I have gone purposely to
obserue, but returned as wise as I went.
_A device how to multiply one face, and make it seeme to be an hundred
or a thousand._
THis feate must be performed by a looking-glasse made for the nonce, the
figure whereof I have fully described, with the manner of making it,
which is thus: First make an hoope or phillet of wood, horn, or such
like, about the widenesse of an halfe-crowne piece, in the
circumference; the thicknesse of this hoope or phillet let be about a
quarter of an inch. In the middle of this hoope fasten a bottome of wood
or brasse, and bore in a decent order divers small holes about the
bignesse of small pease, or phitches, then upon the one side of this
bottome let in a piece of Christall glasse, and fasten it in the hoope
close to the bottome; then take a quantitie of quicksilver, and prepare
it after this manner: Take, I say, a quantitie as an ounce or two of
quicksilver, and put to it a little salt, and stirre them well together,
then put to them some whitewine vineger, and wash or stirre all together
with a woodden slice, then powre away the vineger, and wash away the
salt with faire water made warme, then powre away the water, and put the
quicksilver into a piece of white leather, and binde it up hard, and so
twist or straine it out into an earthen panne and it will be very bright
and pure, then put so much of this prepared quicksilver into the philet
or foresaid hoope as will cover the bottome; then let into the hoope
another piece of christal glasse fitted thereto, and sement the sides,
that the quicksilver may not runne out, and it is done. The figure
whereof I have here under set; A representeth the one side that giveth
the forme of one face to the beholders B the other side that multiplieth
the beholders face, so oft as there are holes in the middle bottome, the
use hereof I shall not insist upon, since he that is verst in the former
feats will better conceive of himselfe to use it, then my words can
either direct or assist him.
[Illustration]
_Of divers pretty iugling knacks._
THere are many feats able to beguile the simple, as to deliver meale,
pepper, ginger, or any powder out of your mouth after the eating of
bread, which is done by retaining any of these things stuffed in a
little paper or bladder, conveyed into your mouth, and grinding the same
with your teeth. _Item_, a rush thorow a piece of a trencher, having
three holes, and at the one side the rush appearing out in the second,
at the other side in the third hole, by reason of an hollow place made
betwixt them both, so as the slight consisteth in the turning of the
piece of trencher.
_Feats by conveyance of money:_
THe best place to dispose of a piece of money, is in the palme of the
hand, and the best piece for conveyance is a tester, but with practice
all will be alike.
_A notable tricke to transforme a Counter into a Groat._
TAke a Groat, or some lesse peece of money, and grinde it very thinne at
the one side, and take two Counters and grind them, the one on the one
side, the other on the other side; glew the smooth side of the Groat to
the smooth side of one of the Counters, ioyning them so close together
as may be, specially at the edges, which may be so filed, as they shall
seeme to be but one piece; to wit, one side a counter, the other side a
groat. Then take a little greene waxe, and lay it upon the smooth side
of the one counter, as it do not much discolour the groat; and so will
that counter with the groat cleave together, as though they were
glewed, and being filed even with the groat and the other counter, it
will seem so like a perfect entire counter, that though a stranger
handle it, he shall not bewray it; then having a little touched your
forefinger and the thumb of your right hand with soft wax, take
therewith this counterfeit counter, and lay it downe openly upon the
palme of your left hand, in such sort as an Auditor layeth downe his
counters, wringing the same hard, so as you may leave the glewed counter
with the groat apparantly in the palme of your left hand, and the smooth
side of the waxed counter will sticke fast upon your thumb, by reason of
the waxe wherewith it is smeared, and so may you hide it at your
pleasure, provided alwayes 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 bee in your hand) you shall seeme to have a groat, to the admiration
of the beholders, if it be well handled.
_An excellent feat to make a twopeny piece lye plaine in your hand, and
to be passed from thence when you lift._
PVt a little red waxe (but not too thinne) upon the naile of your
longest finger, and let a stranger put a twopeny piece into the palme of
your hand, and shut your fist suddenly, and convey the twopeny piece
upon the wax, which with use you may so accomplish, as no man shall
perceive it. Then say, _Ailif, casil, zaze, hit, mel_, and suddenly open
your hand, holding the tips of your fingers rather lower than higher
than the palme of your hand, and the beholders will wonder where it is
become. Then shut your hand suddenly againe, and lay a wager whether it
be there or no; and you may either leave it there, or take it away with
you at your pleasure.
_How to transforme any one small thing into another forme by folding of
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 betweene the two leaves
of the paper up to the middle of the top of the fold, holding the same
so as it be not perceived, and lay a groat on the outside thereof, right
against the Counter, and fold it downe to the end of the longer side:
and when you unfold it againe, the groat will be where the Counter was,
and the counter where the groat was; so as some will suppose that you
have changed the money into a counter, and with this many feats may be
done.
_How 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 some words of Art, & upon the sudden, slip your right
hand from your finger, wherewith you held downe the Tester, and bending
your hand a very little, you shall retain the Tester still therein, and
suddenly drawing your right hand thorow your left, you shall seeme to
have left the Tester there, specially when you shut in due time your
left hand. Which that it may more plainly appeare to be truly done, you
may take a knife, and seeme to knocke against it, so as it shall make a
great sound: but instead of knocking the piece in the left hand (where
none is) you shall hold the point of the knife fast with the left hand,
and knocke against the tester held in the other hand, and it wil be
thought to hit against the money in the left hand. Then after some words
of Art pronounced, open your hand, and when nothing is seene, it will be
wondered at how the Tester was removed.
_How to make a six pence seeme to fall thorow a Table._
YOu must have an Handkercher about you, having a Counter neatly sewed in
one of the corners of it: take it out of your pocket, and desire some
bodie to lend you a tester, and seeme to wrap it up in the midst of the
Handkercher, but retaine it in your hand, and in stead of so doing, wrap
the corner in the middest that hath the counter sewed in it, and then
bid them feele if it be not there, which they will imagine to bee no
other than the tester that they lent you. Then bid them lay it under a
hat upon the Table, and call for a Basin of water, hold it under the
Table, and knocke, saying, _Vade_, come quicke, and then let the
sixpence fall out of your hand into the water. Then take up the hat, and
take the handkercher and shake it, saying, that's gone, then shew them
the money in the Basin of water.
_How to seeme to blow sixpence out of another mans hand._
TAke a sixpence, blow on it, and clap it presently into one of your
spectators hands, bidding them to hold it fast: Then aske of him if he
be sure he have it, then to be certaine, he will open his hand and
look. Then say to him nay, but if you let my breath go off, I cannot do
it. Then take it out of his hand againe, and blow on it, and staring him
in the face, clap a piece of horne in his hand, and retaine the
sixpence, shutting his hand your selfe. Bid him hold his hand downe, and
slip the tester betweene one of his cuffes. Then take the stone that you
shew feats with, and hold it unto his hand, saying, _By vertue hereof, I
will and command the money to vanish you hold in your hand, vade_, now
see: when they have looked, then will they thinke that it is changed by
the vertue of your stone. Then take the horne againe, and seeme to cast
it from you, retaining it, and say, _vade_, and anon, say you have your
money againe: He then will begin to marvell, and say, I have not, say
then to him again, you have, and I am sure you have it: Is't not in your
hands? if it be not there, turne downe one of your sleeves, for it is in
one I am sure, where when he findeth it, he will not a little wonder.
_How to deliver to one man one sixpence, and to another another
sixpence, and to make both the testers come into one mans hand._
[Sidenote: Your finger must be rubd with waxe, so you may delude him
without any suspition.
The hard pressing of the money in the hand, will seeme that the money is
in the hand when it is not, for a moment therefore be quick.]
DEliver into one mans hand two testers even set instead of one, shutting
his hand immediatly: then take another tester, and have in readinesse a
piece of horne cut even with it. Clap the said tester into his right
hand with the horne under it, staying the tops of your two middlemost
fingers stiffe upon the tester; so bending his hand a little downward,
draw your fingers toward you, and they will slip the tester out of his
hand, and shut his hand presently, who feeling the piece of horne, will
imagine it is the tester: then say, he that kissed a pretty wench last
in a corner, shal have both Testers in his hand, & the other shall have
none. This may also be performed without a peece of horne, wringing one
tester in the palme of the hand, and taking it away with your thumbe
being waxed; for the hard wringing the money in the hand will make the
partie beleeve he hath it, when he hath it not.
_Conveyance of Cards and Dice._
THere are a multitude of delightful feats which may be performed by an
orderly placing, facing, shuffling, and cutting of cards usually played
withall. Also a number of other strange feats may bee shewed by cards
and dice, such as may be purposely made. The cards may be made halfe of
one print and halfe of another; so by holding them divers wayes sundrie
things may be presented each contrary to other. For example, with foure
of the same Cards purposely made, and holding them accordingly, you
shall present eight severall things. Now for the Dice the cunning is in
forging them, and a readie retaining or throwing two among three, or one
with two: they must, I say, be forged bigger towards one side than the
other, so that the weight of one side may draw up the other. Other some
may be made flatter being furnished with such like. And having learned
to retaine them handsomely and readily, you may have the game at
command, and know before-hand what will be your cast, and so vie upon it
too. Moreover, for the Cards there are divers other tricks, of which
those that are cheaters make continuall practice, as nipping them,
turning up one corner, marking them with little spots, placing glasses
behinde those that are gamesters, and in rings for the purpose, dumbe
shoes of some standers by. But I will not stand on discovering these,
for in this our cousening age there are too many so expert herein, that
they maintaine themselves better than many an honest man with a lawfull
trade and calling. Onely take this by the way, Those that have money in
their purses, let them beware of Carding and Dicing, lest they wish they
had when it is too late. As for my owne part, Ile never play for that I
am sure of already: if any will play with mee upon other tearmes, I am
sure I shall loose nothing by the bargaine.
_Of Confederacie._
SOme there are that have said I writ not sufficiently of this part in
the former Edition; I rather thinke the cause was they thought they had
too litle for their money. Neverthelesse I will to give every one their
desired content, and deliver my minde more fully herein, and it may be
which I most desire they may learne to avoid the company of roaving
gamesters, cheaters, I meane that frequent the high-wayes, and
principall Townes and places of resort thereabouts; for they are of the
same manner though for a worser end. First therefore by this word
Confederacie is meant, a kinde of Combination, or making an agreement or
covenanting among sundrie persons for the accomplishment of one and the
selfe same businesse: understand me aright, All these being very well
knowne each to other (at least the designe as may appeare by their
agreement therabout) do so estrange themselues as if they had never
seene each other before. And to the end that they might performe their
designe, not giving any the least suspition to any of the beholders, I
will give you an instance or two whereby I shall give you sufficient
information for the more ready conceiving of every particular in this
nature when and wheresoever you see them performed.
_How to cast a peece of money away, and to finde it in another mans
mouth, pocket, or purse._
THe Iugler cals for some one piece of coine, as a tester or a shilling
of any one in the company, he willeth him to marke it with what marke he
will, then he taketh it and casteth it away, and commeth to his
confederate (who is furnished before-hand with the like piece of coine
marked with the very same marke) and bids him deliver the money out of
his pocket, purse, or if hee say the word, his mouth; for this is
concluded of before-hand. Now this confederate to make the matter seeme
more strange, wil begin to fume and fret, asking how he should come by
it, till having found the marke, he will confesse it be none of his,
wondering at his skill how he should send it hither: and all the rest be
taken with a reall admiration of his extraordinarie cunning.
_How by the sound of a Counter philliped to tell what side is uppermost,
whether crosse or pyle._
THe Iugler draws a Counter out of his pocket, and saith to the company,
See here is a Counter, take it who please, and let them phillip it up,
and I will by my cunning tell you whether crosse or pyle be uppermost by
the very sound for you shall hood-winke me. Now there are three, foure,
or more confederates in the place, who seeming strangers as well as the
rest will be very importunate to have the philliping it, and before one
of these shall have it, who by some signe of the fingers or countenance
(foreknowne to the Iugler) do give him information after he is demanded.
Of the same nature is that tricke formerly mentioned in the booke, and
called The decollation of _Iohn Baptist_.