Feates of Legerdemaine vsed with the Balls with one or more.

COncerning the Ball, the plaies and deuises thereof are infinite: insomuch as if you can vse them wel, you may shew an hundred feates, but whether you seeme to throw the Ball into the aire, or into your mouth, or into your left hand, or as you list, it must be kept stil in your right hand: if you practise first with the leaden bullet you shal the sooner, & better do it with balls of Corke: the first place at your first learning where you are to bestow a great bal is in the palme of your hand, with your ring fin­ger, but a smal ball is to be placed with your thumbe be­twixt your ring finger and middle finger: then are you to practise to doe it betwixt your other fingers, then betwixt the forefinger and the thumbe, with the fore finger and middle finger ioyntly, and therein is the greatest and the strangest conueying shewed. Lastly the same small ball is to be practised in the palme of your hand, and so by vse you shal not only séeme to put any ball from you, and yet retaine it in your hand, but you shall keepe fower or fiue as clenly and certaint as one, this being first learned, and sleight attained vnto, you shal worke wonderful feats, as for example.

Note for this feaf you must haue foure boxes made in the manner of extinguishers that are made to put out can­dles, but as big againe: but for want of them you may take smal cādlesticks, or saltseller couers, or som such like.

Lay three or foure balls before you, and as many boxes or smal candlesticks &c. then first seeme to put one ball [Page] into your left hrnd, and therewithall seeme to hold the same fast. Then take one of the boxes &c. or any other thing (hauing a hollow foote, and being great) and seeme to put the Ball which is thought to bee in your left hand vnderneath the same, and so vnder the other candlesticks, Boxes, &c. seeme to bestow the other balls, and all this while the beholders will suppose each ball to bee vn­der each box or candlesticks &c. this done vse some charme or forme of wordes (before set downe) hey Fortuna furie nunquam credo, passe passe: then take bp the candlestick with one hand and blow, saying thats gone you sée: and so likewise looke vnderneath each candlesticke with like grace and words (sor you must remember to carry a good grace and face on the matter) and the beholders will won­der where they are become: But if you in lifting vp the candlesticke with your right hand leaue all those three or foure balls vnder one of them (as by vse you may easily doe) hauing turned them all downe into your hand and holding them fast with your little, and ring finger) and take the box or candlesticke &c. with your other fingers and cast the balls vp into the hollownesse thereof (for so they wil not rowle so soone away) the standers by wil be much astonished, but it wil séeme wonderful strange, if also in shewing how there remaineth nothing vnder ano­ther of the said candlestickes taken vp with your left hand you leaue behind you a great ball, or any other thing, the miracle wil be the greater. For first, they wil thinke you haue pulled away all the Balles by miracle, then that you haue brought them againe by like meanes, and they neither thinke, or looke that any other thing re­maineth behinde vnder any of them, and therefore after many other feates done returne to your candlestickes, re­membring where you left the great ball, and in no wise touch the same, but hauing another great ball about you, séeme to bestow the same in manner and forme aforesaid [Page] vnder a candlestick which standeth farthest from that where the ball lyeth, and when you shall with words and [...]armes séeme to conuey the same ball from vnder the same boxe or candlesticke, &c. (and afterwardes bring it vnder the boxe &c. which you touched not) it wil (I say) séeme wonderfull strange.

To make a little Ball swel in your hand til it be very great.

TAke a very great ball in your hand, or three indifferent big balls, and shewing one or three little balls, séeme to put them into your said left hand, concealing (as you may wel do) the other balls which were there before: Then vse charmes and wordes and make them seeme to swell, and open your hand &c. This play is to be varied an hundred waies, for as you find them all vnder the boxe or candlestick, so may you go to a stander by and take off his hatte or cappe and shew the balls to be there, by conueying them thereinto as you turne the bottome vpward, These thinges to them that know them are coun­ted ridiculous, but to those that are ignorant they are maruelous.

To consume or rather conuey one or many Balls into nothing.

IF you take a ball or more, and seeme to put it into your other hand, and whilst you vse charming wordes, you conuey them out of your right hand into your lapp, it wil séeme strange, for when you open your left hand, immedi­ately the sharpest lookers on wil say, it is in your other hand, which also then you may open, and when they sée nothing there they are greatly ouertaken.

Another pretty feat with balls.

TAke fower Balls, one of the which kéep betwéene your fore-finger and your middle, laying the other thrée vpon the table, then take vp one and put it into your left hand, and afterward take vp another, and conueying it and the other betweene your fingers into your left hand, taking vp the third & séeming to cast it frō you into the ayre or in­to your mouth, ot else where you please vsing some words or charmes as before: the standers by when you aske them how many you haue in your hand, will iudge there are noe more then two, which when you open your hand they shall sée how they are deluded. But I will leaue to speak of the bal any more; for héerein I might hold you all day, and yet shal I not be able to teach you the vse of it, nor scarsely to vnderstand what I meane or write concerning it, vnlesse you haue had some sight ther­of heeretofore by demonstration: and alwayes remember that the right hand be kept open and straight, onely kéepe the palme from view: and therefore I wil end with this miracle,

A feat, tending chiefely to laughter and mirth

LAy one ball vpon your shoulder and another on your arme, and the third on the table, which because it is round and wil not easily lye vpon the poynt of your knife, you must bid a stander by, lay it thereon, saying, that you meane to cast all those three balls into your mouth at once: and holding a knife as a penne in your hand, when hee is laying vpon the poynt of your knife, you may easily with the haft rap him on the fingers, for the other mattter wil be hard to doe.

And thus much of the Balls. To come to the second [Page] principall part of Legerdemaine, which is conueyance of mony, wherin by the way obserue that the mony must not be of too small nor to great a circumference, least either, it hinder the conueyance.

Of conueyance of money.

THe conueying of mony is not much inferiour to the Ball, but much easier to doe: The principall place to keepe a peece of mony in, is the palme of your hand: The best peece to keepe, is a testor, but with excercise all wil be alike, except the money be very small, and then it must be kept betweene the fingers, and almost at the fin­gers end, where as the ball is to be kept, and below neere to the palme.

To conuey money out of one hand into the other, by Legerdemaine

FIrst you must hold open your right hand and lay there­in a testor or counter, and then lay there vppon the top of your long left finger, and vse wordes &c. and vpon the sudden slip your right hand from your finger, wherewith you held downe the testor, and bending your hand a very little you shal retaine the testor therein, and sodainely (I say) drawing your right hand through your left, you shall seeme to haue left the testor there, especially when you shut in due time your left hand, which that it may more plainely appeare to be truely done, you may take a knife and seeme to knock against it, so as it shall make a great sound: but in stead of knocking the peece in the left hand (where none is) you shal hold the point of the knife fast with the left hand, and knock against the testor held in the other hand, and it wil bee thought to hit against the mony in the left hand: then vse words, and open the hand, [Page] and when nothing is séene it wil be wondred at how the testor was remooued.

To conuert or transubstantiate mony into Coun­ters, or Counters into money.

AN other way to deceiue the lookers on, is to doe as before with a testor, and kéeping a Counter in the palme of your left hand, secretly to séeme to put the testor thereinto, which being retained stil in the right hand, when the left hand is opened, the testor wil séeme to be transub­stantiated into a counter.

To put one Testor into one hand and another into another hand, and with words to bring them together.

HE that hath once attained to the facillity of retaining one peece of money in his right hand may shew an hundred pleasant conceits by that meanes, & may reserue two or thrée as well as one: and loe, then may you séeme to put one peece into your left hand, and retaining it stil in your right hand you may together therewith take vp a­nother like peece, and so with wordes séeme to bring both péeces together.

To put one Testor into a strangers hand, and ano­ther in your owne hand, and to conuay both into the strangers hand with words.

TAke two testors éeuenly set togeather, and put the same instead of one testor into a strangers hand: And then making as though you put one testor into your left hand, with words you shal make it séeme that you conuey the tstore in your hand into the strangers hand, for when you [Page] open your said left hand, there shal be nothing séene: and he opening his hand, shal finde two where he thought was but one. By this deuise I say an hundred conceits may be shewed.

To throw a peece of money away and to find it againe where you please.

YOu may with the the midle and ring-finger of the right hand, conuey a testor into the palme of the same hand, and séeming to cast it away, keepe it still, which with confederacy wil séeme strange: to wit, when you find it againe, where another hath bestowed the very like péece But these things without excercise cannot bee done, and therefore I wil procéede to shew things to bee brought to passe by mony, with lesse difficulty and yet as strange as the rest, which being vnknowne, are maruelously com­mended, but being knowne, are derided and nothing at all regarded.

To make a testor or a groat, leape out of a pot, or run along vppon a table with wordes.

YOu shall see a Iugler take a testor or groat & throw it into a pot, or lay it on the middle of the table, and with inchanting wordes cause the same to leap out of the pot, or run towards him or from him wardes along the table, which wil séeme miraculous, vntil that you know that it is done with a long black haire of a womans head, fastned to the brim of a groat by meanes of a little hole driuen through with a spanish needle: in like sort you may vse a knife or any other small thing. But if you would haue it to goe from you you must haue a confederate, by which meanes all Iugling is graced, and amended.

This Feate is the stranger if it bee done by night, a [Page] candle placed betweene the lookers on and the Iugler: for by that meanes the eye sight is hindred from discerning the conceit.

A very pretty trick to make a groate or a testor to sinck through a table and to vanish out of a handker­chiefe very strangely.

A Iugler sometimes wil borrow a groate or a testor, and marke it before you, and séeme to put the same into a handkerchiefe, and wind it so that you may the bet­ter see and féele it: then wil he take you the handkerchiefe and bid you feele whether the groat be there or no: And he wil also require you to put the same vnder a candlestick or some such thing: then wil he send for a bason, and holding the same vnder the boord right against the candlesticke wil vse certaine words of inchauntments, and in short space you shal heare the groat fall into a bason: this done one takes vp the candlesticke, and the Iugler taketh the handkerchiefe by the tassell, and shaketh it: but tho money is gone, which séemeth as strange as any feat whatsoeuer: but being knowne, the miracle is turned into a bable, for it is nothing but to sowe a counter into the corner of a handkerchiefe finely couered with a peece of linnen, little bigger then the counter, which corner you must conuey instéed of the groat deliuered vnto you in­to the middle of your handkerchiefe, leauing the other ei­ther in your hand or lappe, which afterwards you must séeme to pul through the board, letting it fal into the bason.

To conuey one shilling being in one hand in into an other, holding your armes abroad like to a roode.

EVermore it is necessary to mingle some merry toyes among your graue miracles as in this case of mony: [Page] Take a shilling in each hand, and holding your armes a­broad to lay a wager that you wil put them both into one hand without bringing them any whit neerer together: the wager being layd, hold your armes abroad like a rood and turning about with your body lay the shilling out of one of your hands vpon the table, and turning the other side, take it vp with the other hand, and so you shal winne your wager.

Of Cardes and Dice, with good cautions how to a­uoyde cosonage therein: speciall rules to conuey and han­dle the cardes, and the manner and order how to accomplish all difficult and strange iestings wrought with cardes.

HAuing bestowed some wast money among you I wil set you to Cardes and Dice. A cupple of honest friendes that draw both in a yoake together, which haue beene the ouerthrow of many a hundred in this realme, and these are not the slightest matters wherevppon Iug­lers doe worke, and shew their feates. By which kinde of Iugling a great number haue Iugled away not only their money but also their landes, their health, their time and their honesty: I dare not (as I could shew) the lewd Iugling that cheators practise, least it minister some offence, to the wel disposed, to the simple hurt and losse, and to the wicked occasion of euil doing. But by the way I wil a little speak of Dice, and the vse of them, as caue­ats rather to let you beware of their cosonings, then to giue you light to follow their doings: Non ad imitandum sed euitandum.

First you must know a Langret, which is a die that simple men haue seldome heard of, but often seene to their cost, and this is a wel-fauored die, and seemeth good and square, yet is it forged longer, vppon the Cater, and [Page] Trea then any other way: And therefore it is called a Langret. Such be also called bard Cater treas, because commonly the longer end wil of his owne sway drawe downewardes, and turne vp to the eye, Sice, Sincke, Deuce or Ace. The principal vse of them is at Nouum, for so long as a paire of Bard cater treas be walking on the bourd, so long can ye not cast fiue nor nine vnles it be by great chance, that the roughnes of the table, or some other stoppe force them to stay, and runne against their kind: for without Cater or trey you know that fiue or nine can ne­uer come.

But you wil say by this reason, he that hath the first dice is like alwayes to strip and rob all the table about. To helpe this, there must be for that purpose, an odde Die, called a flat Catertrea ready at hand, and no other num­ber, for graunting the trea and cater be alwaies vpon the one Die, then is there no chance vppon the other Die, but may serue to make fiue or nine, & cast forth, & loose all.

But now to show you what shifts they haue to bring the flat die in and out which is a iolly cunning property of Iugling, with them called foysting: the which is no­thing else but a slight to carry easily within the hand, as often as the foyster list: so that either hee or his partner shal cast the dice, the flat comes not abroad til hee hath made a great hand, and won as much as him listeth: other­wise the flat is euer one, vnles some few times vpon pur­pose he suffer the silly soules to cast in a hand or two, to giue them courage to continue the play and liue in hope of winning.

These things I know séeme very strange to the simple, and as yet cannot sinke into their braine, how a man may carry so many dice in one hand, and chop and change them so often, and neuer bee espied: so as before I tolde you, Iuglers conueyance séemeth to excéed the compasse of rea­son till you knowe the feat: but what is it that vse [Page] and labour ouercometh not. To foyst finely and readi­ly and with the same hand to tell mony to and fro, is a thing hardly learned, and asketh a bould spirit and long ex­perience, though it be one of the first the Cheater lear­neth.

What should I speake any more of false dice, of fullomes, high-men, low-men, gourds, and brisled dice, grauiers, demies, and contraries, all which haue their sundry vses: but it is not my meaning to stand on this subiect: I would rather vse my pen, and spend my time, to diswade and perswade all gamsters, to beware not not onely with what dice, but with what company and where they ex­ercise gaming: and be well assured Gentlemen that all the friendly entertainment you shall finde amongst them is for no other end, but to perswade you to play, and ther­by to breed your great losse, if not altogether your vn­doing.

Therefore vtterly forbeare to hazard any thing at dice, and liue in doubt and suspition of cheating, wheresoeuer you play (vnles you know your company very well) for the contagion of cheating is now growne so vniuersall, that they swarme in euery quarter: and therefore yée can­not bee in safety vnlesse you shunne the company of such altogether.

To leaue Dice and returne to Cardes, wherein is as much falsehood and cosoning as in Dice: I wil therefore disclose as much in one as in the other, for I would not giue a poynt to choose which of them is the better, or ra­ther the worse, for there is such a slight in shufling and sor­ting of the cardes, that play at what game you will, all is lost before hand, but if there bee a confederate either of the players or standers bye, the mischéefe cannot then bee auoyded.

Beware therefore, when you play among strangers, of him that seemes simple or drunken, for vnder their habit [Page] the most speciall Cosoners are presented, and while you thinke by their simplicity and imperfections to beguile them, (and thereof perchance are perswaded by their con­federates (your very friends as you thinke) you your selfe wil be most of all ouertaken.

Beware also of betters by and lookers on: and namely on them that bet on your side: for whilst they looke on your game without suspition, they discouer it by signes to your aduersaries, with whom they bet, and yet are they confe­derates, whereof me thinkes this one aboue the rest pro­céedeth from a fine inuention.

A tricke by confederacy at Cardes.

A Gamester after he had béene oftentimes bitten with Cheators, and after much losse, grew very suspitious in his play, so that he would not suffer any of the sitters by to be priuy to his game: for this the Cheators deuised a new shift that a woman should sit close by him: and by the swift and slowe drawing of her needle giue notice to the Cheator what was the Cosens game.

Other helpes there bee, as to set the Cosen vppon the bench, with a looking-glasse behind him on the wal, where­in the Cheator may alwaies sée what Cardes he hath in his hand, So that a few ensamples in stead of many that might be rehearsed, this one conclusion may be gathered, that whosoeuer is giuen to play, and once sitteth a­mongst them, it is great ods but that hee shal rise a loo­ser.

But many there be that liue so continently, that nothing can perswad them to put a penny in aduenture, and some againe are so vnskilful that lack of cunning forceth them to forbeare play: but yet hard it is for any man to fall into their company, but they will make him stoope at one game or other: and for this purpose their first drift and intent is to seeke, by all meanes possible to vnderstand his nature and wherevnto hee is most inclined: if they [Page] find that he taketh pleasure in the cōpany of women then séek they to strike him at the sacking law (as they term it) and take this for a rule, that all the Baudes in the coun­try be of the Cheators familiar acquaintance.

Therefore it is not very hard for them at all times to prouide for their amorous Cosin, alewd letcherous La­dy to kéepe him louing company, then fall they to banque­ting, and carousing and hunting of Tauernes, and much is the cost that this silly cosin shal be at in Iewels and ap­parrel, otherwise he shal not once get a graunt to haue a kisse at his mistris lippes: and euer in the middle of their conference, she layeth in this reason, for her sake to put in twenty or thirty Crownes in aduenture at Cardes or Dice: you know not (quoth shée) what may be a womans luck: if he refuse it, Lord how vnkindly shée takes the matter, and cannot be reconciled with lesse then a gowne or a kertle of silke.

But now if these Cheaters perceiue that hee estéemeth no bruised ware, but is enamored with virginity, they haue a fine cast within an houres warning, to make Ione Siluerpin as good a maid as though she had neuer come to the stewes: but to let these thinges passe for offending of chast eares, whose displeasure I would not incurre, for all the cheates these Gamesters get in a whole yeare, but to our purpose.

There are two sorts of vsing the Cardes, the one is in playing (with one or more) games, as Primeto, Trumpe, Saunte, Decoye &c.

The other vse of Cardes is to shew feates of Legerde­maine.

Concerning the first, if it be vsed for recreation, and not to the prophaning of Gods holy name, nor hurt of our bre­thren and neighbours, they are to be tollerated: but now (more is the pitty) they are not vsed in that fashion as they should be, but much hurt oft times ariseth thereof.

Primero now as it is in great vse, so is there much de­ceit in it, some play vppon the pricke, some pinch the cards priuily with their nayles, some turne vp the corners, some mark them with fine spots of Ink, some there be that tra­uell into Spaine and into Italy to learne fine tricks and quaint conueyances at cardes, and returne home and win much money with them heare in England, but yet at the last they are stil ouer-reached by some fine wittes that de­uise new sleights heere at home.

At Trumpe, Saunte, and such other like games, cutting at the nick is a great aduantage, so is cutting by Bum-card finely vnder or ouer: stealing the stock or the discarded Cardes.

At Decoye they drawe twenty handes, together and play all vpon assurance when to winne or loose, other helps there be, as I haue before set downe, with a looking glasse and confederacy: all which and such like, tend to cosening and hurt of our brother: but we wil proceed with the other vse of Cardes, which tendeth to mirth, and recreation of mind, and which in themselues simply is no hurt, vnlesse they are abused. In shewing feats and iugling with cardes the principall poynt consisteth in shufling them nimbly, and alwayes kéeping one certen carde either in the bot­tome, or in some knowne place of the stock, foure or fiue Cardes from it, héereby you may séeme to worke won­ders, for it wil be easie for you to see or espie one, which though you be perceiued to doe, it wil not be suspected, if you shufle them wel afterwardes, and this note I must giue you, That in reseruing the bottome Card, you must alwayes (whilst you shuffle) keepe him a little before, or a little behind all the cardes lying vnderneath him, be­stowing him (I say) either a little beyond his fellowes before right ouer the fore finger, or else behind the rest, so as the little finger of the left hand may meete with it, which is the easier and readier, and the better way: In [Page] the beginning of your shuffling shuffle as thick as you can, and in the end throw vpon the stock the nether carde (with soe many moe at the least as you would haue preser­ued for any purpose) a little before, or behind the rest; pro­uided alwayes that your fore-finger, if the pack be laide before, or the little finger if the pack lye behind, creepe vp to méet with the bottome carde, & not lye betwixt the cardes, and when you féele it, you may there hold it vntil you haue shuffled ouer the cardes againe, stil leauing your kept card below, being perfect héerein, you may do almost what you list with the cardes: By this meanes what pack soeuer you make, though it consist of eight, twelue, or twenty cardes you may kéepe them stil together vn [...]uered, next to the nether carde, and yet shuffle them often to satisfie the curious beholders, as for ensample and for breuities sake, to shew you diuers feates vnder one.

How to deliuer out foure Aces, and to conuert them into foure Knaues.

MAke a pack of eight Cardes, to wit foure knaues and foure Aces, and although all the eight Cardes must lie immediatly together, yet must each Knaue and Ace bée openly seauered, and the same eight cardes must lye also in the lowest place of the bunch, then shuffle them soe, as alwayes at the second shuffling, or at least wise at the end of your shuffling the said pack, and of the pack one ace may lye nethermost, or so as you may know where hee go­eth and lyeth, and alwaies I say let your foresaid pack, with thrée or foure cardes more, lie vnseperably together immediately vppon and with that ace, then vsing some speech or other deuise, and putting your hand with the cardes to the edge of the table, to hide the account, let out priuily a péece of the second card, which is one of the knaues holding forth the stock in both your handes, and [Page] shewing to the standers by the nether Card, (which is the ace or kept Card) couering also the head or péece of the knaue (which is your next Card) with your foure fingers: draw out the same knaue laying it downe on the table: thē shuffle againe, kéeping your pack whole, & so haue you two aces lying together in the bottome, & therfore to reforme that disordered Card, as also for a grace and countenance to that action, take off the vppermost Card of the bunch, & thrust it into the middest of the Cardes, and then take a­way the nethermost Card which is one of your aces, and bestow him likewise: then may you begin as before, shew­ing an other ace, and in stead thereof lay downe another knaue, and so forth, vntil in stead of your foure aces you haue laid downe foure knaues. The beholders all this while thinking that there lye foure aces on the table, are greatly abused and wil maruaile at the transformation.

How to tell one what Card hee seeth in the bottome, when the same Card is shuffled into the stocke.

VVHen you haue séene a Card priuily, or as though you marked it not, lay the same vndermost, and shuffle the Cardes as before you were taught, till your Card lye againe below in the bottome: then shew the same to the be holders, willing them to remember it, then shuffle the Cardes or let any shuffle them, for you know the Cardes already, and therefore may at any time tel them what Card they saw, which neuerthelesse would be done with great circumstance, and lesse shew of difficulty.

A strange and excellent trick to hold foure Kings in the hand, and by words to transforme them into foure Aces, and after to make them all blank Cards, one after another.

YOu shall sée a Iugler take foure Kinges and no more in his hand, and apparantly shew you them, then af­ter some wordes and charmes, he wil throw them downe before you vppon the table, taking one of the Kings away [Page] and adding but one other Card: then taking them vp a­gaine and blowing vpon them, wil shew you them trans­formed into blanck Cardes, white on both sides: after v­sing charmes againe, throwing them downe as before, (with the faces downeward) wil take them vp againe and shew you foure Aces, blowing stil vpon them, that it may bréed the more wonder, which trick in my mind is nothing inferiour to the rest: and being not knowne wil séeme won­derfull strange to the spectators, yet after you know it you cannot choose but say the trick is pretty. Now therefore to accomplish this feat you must haue Cardes made for the purpose, (halfe Cardes you may call them) that is the one halfe kings, the other part aces, so that laying the aces one ouer the other, nothing but the kings wil be seene, and then turning the Kinges downeward, the foure aces wil be seene, prouided you must haue two whole, one whole king to couer one of the aces, or els it wil be perceiued, and the other an ace to lay ouer the Kings, when you meane to shew the aces: then when you wil make them all blanke, lay the Cards a little lower, and hide the aces and they wil appeare all white. The like you may make of the foure knaues, putting vppon them the foure fiues, and so of the rest of the Cardes: But this cannot bee wel shewed you without demonstration.

Hitherto I haue intreated of the three principal kinds of Iugling, now it remaineth in order to speak of Iugling by confederacy, which is either priuate or publike.

Priuate confederacy is, when one (by a special plot laid by himselfe, without any compact made with others) per­swadeth the beholders, that he wil suddenly and in their presence, do some miraculous feate, which he hath alrea­dy accomplished priuately: as for ensample, hee wil shew you a Card or any other like thing, and wil say further vn­to you, behold and see what a mark it hath, and then bur­neth it, and neuertheles fetcheth another Carde, soe [Page] marked out of some bodies pocket, or out of some corner, where he himselfe before had placed it, to the wonder and astonishment of simple beholders, which conceaue not that kinde of illusion, but expect miracles and strange workes.

I haue read of a notable exploit done before a king by a Iugler, who painted on a wall the picture of a done, and séeing a pidgion sitting vppon the top of an house said to the King, loe now your grace shal sée what a Iugler can doe if he be his craftes master, & then pricked the picture with a knife, so hard & so often, & with soe effectual words as the pidgion fel downe from the top of the house starke dead, you may imagine how the matter was taken, what wondring was thereat, how he was prohibited to vse that feat any further, least hee should imploy it in any other kind of murder, This story is held yet of diuers as cano­nicall, but when you are taught the feat or slight, you wil thinke it a mockery and a simple illusion.

To vnfold you the mistery héereof, so it is that the poore pigeon was before in the hands of the Iugler, into whom he had thrust a dramme of Nux vomica, or some other such poyson, which to the nature of the Bird was so extreame a poyson, as after the receipt thereof it could not liue a­boue the space of halfe an houre, and being let loose after the medicine ministred, she alwayes resorteth to the top of the next house, which she wil the rather doe, if ther be a­ny pigeons already sitting there, and after a short space falleth downe, either starke dead, or greatly astonished: but in the meane time, the Iugler vseth wordes of art, part­ly to protract time, and partly to gaine credit, and admira­tion of the beholders.

As with Cardes you may shew feates by priuate confe­deracy, so of the other two, that is to wit, with the balls and the mony, as to marke a shilling or any other thing, and throw the same into a riuer or déepe pond, and hauing [Page] hid the shilling before, with like markes in some other se­cret place, bid some go presently and fetch it, making them beleeue that it is the very same you threw into the riuer, the beholders will maruaile much at it: and of such feats there may be many done, but more by publik confederacy, whereby one may tel another how much money hee hath in his purse, and an hundred like toyes.

Of publicke confederacy, and whereof it consisteth.

PVblike confederacy is, when there is before hand a compact made betwixt diuers persons: the one to bee principal, the other to be assistant in working of miracles or rather in cosoning and abusing the beholders, as when I tel you in the presence of a multitude, what you haue thought or done, or shall do or thinke, when you and I were therevppon agréed before: and if this bee cunningly and closely handled, it wil induce great admiration to the beholders, especially when they are before amased and a­bused, by some experiment of art Magick or Legerde­maine. I wil in briefe set downe some pretty conclusi­ons, and soe I will procéed with other feates in other kindes.

To tel you how to know whether you cast Crosse or Pile by the ringing.

LAy a wager with your Confederate (who must séeme simple or obstinate opposed against you) that standing behind a doore you wil (by the sounding or ringing of the money) tel him whether he cast crosse or pile, soe as when you are gone, and hee hath phillipped the mony before the witnesses who are to be cosoned, hee must say, What is it if it bee crosse, or What i'st if it be pile, or some such signe as you are agréed vppon, and soe you néede not faile to gesse rightly. By this meanes if you haue any in­uention, you may seeme to doe an hundred miracles, and to discouer a mans thought or words spoken a far off.

How to tel where a stolne horse is become.

BY meanes of confederacy Cuthbert conicatcher, and one Swart Rutter, two that haue taken degrees in Whittington Colledge, abused notably the countrey peo­ple: for Cuthbert would hide away his neighbours horses, kine, colts, &c. and send them to Swart Rutter, (whom he before had told where they were) promising to send the parties vnto him, whom he described and made knowne by diuers signes: so as this Swart would tel them at their first entrance vnto the doore wherefore they came, and would say that their horses, kine &c. were stolne, but the theefe should be forced to bring them back againe within one mile (south and by west &c.) of his house: euen as the plot was layd and the pack made before by Cuthbert and him. This Cuthbert is esteemed of some and thought to be a witch of others, he is accounted a coniurer, but com­monly called a wise man, and are able of themselues, to tell you where any thing that is stolne is, as to build Pauls steeple vp againe.

To make one dance naked.

IT hath beene reported of such fellowes, and such, that can do rare feates, as to make one dance naked. To the effecting of this, make a poore boy confederat with you, so as after charmes and wordes spoken by you, he vncloth himselfe and stand naked: seeming (whilst he vndresseth him) to shake, stampe, and cry, stil hastening to bee vncloa­thed, til he be stark naked: or if you can procure none to go so farre, let him onely begin to stamp and shake, &c. and to vncloth him, and then you may (for reuerence of the com­pany) seeme to release him.

To make a pot for any such thing standing fast on a cup­bord, to fall downe thence by vertue of words.

LEt your cupbord be so placed, as your confederate may hould a black Threed without in the courte, be­hinde [Page] some window of that roome, and at a certaine lowd word spoken by you, he may pull the same threed, being wound about the pot. And this was the feate of Eleazer the Iewe, which Iosephus reporteth to be such a miracle.

Now that wee haue spoken of the three principall actes of Legerdemaine and of confederacie, I will goe forward, and touch some fewe ordinary feates which are pretty, yet not altogether to be compared with the rest; I meane for conceipt and nimblenes of the hand, yet such as to the ig­norant, and those that know not the carriage, will seeme strange and wonderfull.

Of Boxes to alter one graine into another, or to con­sume the corne or graine to nothing.

THere be diuers iugling boxes with false bottomes, wherein many false feates are wrought. First they haue a boxe couered or rather footed alike at each end, the bottome of the one end being no deeper then as it may con­taine one lane of corne or pepper, glewed therevpon: Then vse they to put into the hollow end therof some other kinde of graine, ground or vnground: then do they couer it, and put it vnder a hat or candlesticke, and either in putting it therinto, or pulling it thence, they turne the boxe, and open the contrary end, wherein is shewed a contrary graine, or else they shew the glewed end first, (which end they sud­denly thrust into a bag of such graine as is glewed already therevpon) and secondly the empty boxe.

How to conuey (with words and charmes) the corne conteined in one Boxe, into another.

THere is another boxe fashioned like a bell, whereinto they put so much and such corne as the foresaid hol­lowe boxe can conteine: then they stop and couer the same with a peece of lether as broad as a tester, which be­ing thrust vp hard to the middle part or waste of the said bell, will sticke fast and beare vp the corne, and if the edge of the same lether be wet, it will hold the better: then take [Page] they the other boxe, dipped (as is aforesaid) in corne, and set downe the same vpon the Table, the empty end vp­ward, saying, that they wil conuey the graine therein, in­to the other boxe or bell, which beeing set downe some­what hard vpon the table, the leather and corne therein wil fall downe, so as the said bell being taken vp from the table, you shall see Corne lying thereon, & the stopple wil be hidden therewith, and couered: and when you vncouer the other boxe nothing shal remaine therein, but presently the corne must bee swept downe with one hand, into the other, or into your lappe or hat: many feates may be done with this boxe, as to put therein a toade, affirming the same to be so turned from corne, and then many beholders wil suppose the same to be the Iuglers diuel, whereby his feates and miracles are wrought.

How to pull Laces innumerable out of your mouth of what colour or length you list, and neuer any thing seene to be therein.

AS for pulling of laces forth of the mouth it is now somewhat stale, where by Iuglers get much money among maydes, selling lace by the yard, putting into their mouthes one round bottome as fast as they pull out ano­ther, and at the iust end of euery yard they tie a knott, soe as the same resteth vppon their téeth, then cut they off the same, and so the beholders are double and treble de­ceaued, éeing so much lace as will be contained in a hat, and the same of what colour you list to name, to be drawne by so euen yardes out of his mouth, and yet the Iugler to talke as though there were nothing at all in his mouth.

There are diuers Iugling tricks, which I am loth to describe for some reasons before alleaged, whereof some are common, some rarer, and some desperate: I wil therefore shew a few desperate and dangerous iugling [Page] knackes, wherein the simple are made to think that a silly Iugler with words can hurt and help, kill and reuiue any creature at his pleasure: and first to kill any kind of pullen and make them reuiue.

To kill a Hen, Chicken, or Capon, and giue it life againe.

TAke a hen &c. and thrust an aule, or a fine sharp poin­ted knife through the midst of the head thereof, the edge towards the bill,The naturall cause why a Hen thrust through the head with a Bodkin doth live notwith­standing. so as it may séeme impossible for her to escape death, Then vse wordes or incantations, and pul­ling out the knife, lay otes before her, and she wil eate and liue, being nothing at all greeued or hurt with the wound, because the braine lyeth soe far behind in the head as it is not touched though you thrust your knife betwéene the combe and it: And after you haue done this you may con­uert your spéech and actions, to the gréeuous wounding & recouering of your owne selfe.

To eat a knife, and to fetch it forth of another place.

TAke a knife, and conuey the same betwéene your two hands, so as no parte be séene thereof, but a little of the poynt, which you must so bite at the first as noyse may be made therewith: then séeme to put a great part thereof into your mouth, and letting your hand slippe downe, there wil appeare to haue bin more in your mouth, then is possible to be contained therein: then send for drinke, or vse some other delay vntil you haue let the said knife slippe into your lappe, holding both your fists close together as before, and then rais them so from the edge of the table where you sit (for from thence the knife may most priuily slip downe into your lappe) and in stead of biting the knife knab a little vppon your naile, and then séeme to thrust the knife into your mouth, opening the hand next vnto it, and thrust vp the other, so as it may appeare to the stan­ders [Page] by, that you haue deliuered your hands thereof, and thrust it into your mouth: then cal for drinke, after coun­tenance made of pricking, and daunger &c. lastly put your hand into your lap, and taking that knife into your hand you may seeme to bring it out from behind you, or from whence you list: but if you haue another like knife, and a confederate, you may do twenty notable wonders hereby: as to send a stranger by into some garden, or Orchard, de­scribing to him some tree or hearb vnder which it sticketh or else some strangers sheath or pocket &c.

To thrust a bodkin through your head without any hurt.

TAke a bodkin so made, as the haft being hollow, the blade there of may slip thereinto: as soone as you hold the poynt vpward, and set the same to your forehead: and séeme to thrust it into your head: and so (with a little spunge in your hand) you may wring out blood or wine, making the beholders think the blood or wine (whereof you may say you haue drunke very much) runneth out of your forehead: Then after countenance of paine & greefe, pul away your hand suddenly, holding the poynt downe­ward, and it wil fall so out, as it wil seeme neuer to haue bin thrusted into the hafte: But immediately thrust that bodkin into your lappe or pocket, and pul out another plaine bodkin like the same, sauing in that conceit.

To cut halfe your nose in sunder and to heale it againe presently without any salue.

This is easi­ly done, how­beit beeing nimbly done it will deceiue the fight of the beholders.TAe a knife hauing a round hollow gappe in the mid­dle, and lay it vpon your nose, and so shal you seeme to haue cut your nose in sunder: prouided alwayes that in all these, you haue another like knife withou a gap to be shewed vppon pulling out of the same, and wordes [Page] of inchantments to speake: Blood also to Bewray the wound, and nimble conueyance.

To put a Ring through your cheeke.

THere is a pretty knack, which séemeth dangerous to the chéeke: for the accomplishment whereof, you must haue two rings of like coulour and quantity, the one filed asunder, so as you may thrust it vpon your cheeke: the o­ther must be whole and conueyed vppon a sticke, holding your hand therevppon in the middle of the sticke, deliue­ring each end of the same sticke to be holden fast by a stan­der by, then pulling the ring out of your cheeke, cleanely strike it against some part of the sticke, keeping it stil in your hand, then pull your other hand from the sticke, and pulling it away, whirle about the ring and so it wil be thought that you haue put thereon the ring that was in your chéeke.

Many other pretty feates of this nature might be heere set downe, as to cut off ones head and to lay it in a platter, which Iuglers call the decollation of S. Iohn the Baptist, also to thrust a dagger or bodkin through your guttes, ve­ry strangely, and to recouer immediately, after another way then with the bodkin before rehearsed: also to draw a cord through your nose, mouth or hand so sencibly, as is wonderfull to see, all which with many more I here for­beare for breuities sake. There is a very pretty trick to make wine or beere to come out of your brow or eare with a funnell after you haue drunke the same, the which I am loth to discouer, as not willing to haue all the poore Iug­lers trickes made knowne at once: there is a way to make fire to come out of your mouth by burning of towe, all which, for reasons before aleadged, I wil heere omit to discouer, But wil hie me to another sort of Iuglers, or rather cosoners, calling themselues by the name of Al­chimists, professing themselues learned men, and to haue the Philosophers stone: these professors of the misty or [Page] smoakie science, studie and cast about how to ouer-reach and cosin the simple, and such as are giuen to couetousnes or greedy desire after gaine, with such they insinuate them­selues by little and little, professing a shew of honesty and plainenes, vntil they are acquainted with their desires, and found the length of their foote: telling them that they can do wonders, make siluer of copper, and golde of siluer. Such a one a while a goe was in Battersey, who comming poore to towne, made some of the towne beléeue he had the philosophers stone: wherevppon one of the rest beleeuing him, desired to bée better acquainted with him: insomuch that he requested him to take a poore bedde at his house, and offered him great kindnesse, hoping in time to get some skil of him towards the attai­ning of the Philosophers stone: vppon a day as this Smith (for so imagine him to be) and beggerly Artist were together, desired him of all loues to impart to him some of his learning, assuring him, if it lay in his power to doe him a pleasure he would not faile, protesting that both his purse and himselfe were both at his command: Herevpon to be short, my Gentleman at the first was somwhat scru­pulous, yet at the earnest request of his new friend did at last condiscend, charging him to be secret in what he should disclose vnto him. The Smith swore to bee silent: then my cosoning copesmate instructs him as follow­eth.

In the month of Iuly, search for the séede of Fearne, which must bee first and principall matter of working this, and effecting this hidden secret, and quoth he if you had but an ounce of this fearneseed, thou shalt be made for euer, for it is very hard to find: heerevppon he gets vp the next morning (for it was about the same time of the yeare which hee prescribed him to search for this inestimable seed) and lookes very diligently about the heath, where store of fearne growes: but hauing spent most part [Page] of the day in searching and looking, his backe ready to cracke with stooping, and his throate furd with dust, for want of small béere, so that the poore Smith was ready to faint for want of foode: by chance one of the towne came by, and séeing him search so diligently vp and downe, and could not guesse for what, asked him what he sought for so busily? O quoth the Smith, for a thing that if I could find, I should be made for euer: why quoth the fellow what I prethée ist? O no quoth the Smith I may not tell you: not tell me quoth the fellow, why what ist? I prethee tell me: at last, at the earnest entreaty of the fellow, the Smith told he looked for fearne séede: with that the fellow laughed a good, and asked him who willed him to looke for that? that did M. Etseb quoth the Smith, and if I can but finde one ounce of it, it would bee of much worth: worth quoth the fellow, he that set thée to look for that was a foole and thou art an Asse, for there was neuer any fearne seed as yet son: therefore get thee home to thy forge, for hee makes but a foole of thée: at this the Smith was blancke, and got him home to his anuil: but how the Smith and the Alcumister, agréed vpon the reckoning for his cosening him, I meane not héere to deliuer: but this I bring in by the way, to shew that their art is nothing but deceipt, and themselues coso­ners, which by two pretty tales I will declare vnto you.

How an Alcumister cousoned a Priest.

CHaucer in one of his Canterbury tales, rehearseth this iest of a cousoning Alcumist: espying on a day a couetous priest, whose purse hee knew to bee well lined: assaulted him with flatterie and kinde speech, two princi­pall points belonging to this art: at length hee borrowed money of this priest, which is the third part of this art, without the which the professors can doe no good, nor en­dure in good estate: then he at his day repayed the mony, which is the most difficult point in this art, and a rare [Page] experiment: finally to rquite the priests curtesie, he promi­sed vnto him such instructions, as therby within short time he should become infinitely rich, and all through this art of multiplication: and this is the most common point in this science, for herein they must be skilfull before they bee fa­mous or attaine to any credit: the Priest disliked not his proffer, especially because it tended to his profit, and em­braced his curtesie: then the foole-taker bad him send forth­with for three ounces of quicke-siluer, which he said he would transubstantiate (by his art) into perfect siluer: the Priest thought nothing of deceit, but with great ioy ac­complished his request.

And now forsooth goeth this iolly Alcumist about his bu­sines, and worke of multiplication, and causeth the Priest to make a fire of coles, in the bottome whereof he placeth a croslet, and pretending onely to help the Priest to lay the coles handsomely, he foysteth into the middle ward or lane of coles, a béechen cole, within which was conueyed an ingot of perfect siluer, which when the cole was consu­med slipt downe into the croslet, that was I say directly vnder it. The Priest perceiued not the fraud, but receiued the ingot of siluer, and was not a little ioyfull to see such certain successe procéed from his own handy worke, wher­in could be no fraud (as he surely conceiued) and therefore very diligently gaue the knaue forty pounds, for the receit of this experiment, who for that summe of money, taught him a lesson in Alcumistry, but he neuer returned to heare repetitions, or to see how he profited.

A merry tale how a cousoning Alcumist deceiued a country Gentleman.

A Gentleman in Kent of good worth, not long sithence was ouertaken by a cousoning knaue, who professed Alcumistry, Iugling, Witch-craft, and coniuration, and by meanes of his companions and confederates, found [Page] the simplicitie & abilitie of the said Gentleman, and learnt his estate and humors to bee conuenient for his purpose, and at last came a wooing to his daughter, to whom he made loue cunningly in words, though his purpose ten­ded to another end: and among other illusions and tales, concerning his owne commendations, for wealth, paren­tage, inheritance, alliance, learning and cunning, he bo­sted of the knowledge and experience in Alcumistry, ma­king the simple Gentlema a beleeue that he could multi­ply, and of one Angell make two or three, which seemed strange to the Gentleman: insomuch as he became wil­ling enough to see that conclusion: whereby the Alcumi­ster had more hope and comfort to attaine his desire, then if his daughter had yeelded to haue married him: to be short, he in the presence of the said Gentleman, did in­clude within a little ball of virgins waxe a couple of An­gels, and after certaine ceremonies and coniuring words, hee seemed to deliuer the same vnto him, but in truth, through Legerdemaine, he conueied into the Gentle­mans hand, another ball of the same scantling, wherein were inclosed many more Angels then were in the ball which hee thought he had receiued. Now (forsooth) the Alcumister bad him lay vp the same ball of waxe, and al­so vse certaine ceremonies, (which I thought good heere to omit) and after certaine daies, houres, and minutes, they returned together according to the appointment, and found great gaines by multiplication of the angels, inso­much that he being a plaine man, was hereby perswa­ded that he should not onely haue a rare and notable good sonne in law, but a companion that might help to adde vn­to his wealth much treasure, and to his estate great for­tune and felicitie: and to increase this opinion in him, as also to win his further fauour, but especially to bring his cunning Alcumistry, or rather his leud purpose to passe, he told him that it were folly to multiply a pound of gold, [Page] when as easily they might multiply a million, and there­fore counselled him to produce all the mony he had, or could borrow of his neighbours, and friends, and did put him out of doubt, that he would multiply the same, and redeuble it excéedingly, euen as he saw by experience how he dealt with the small summe before his face: this Gent. in hope of gaines and preferment, consented to his swéet motion, and brought out and laid before his feet, not the one halfe of his goods, but all that he had, or could make or borrow any ma­ner of way: then this Iuggling Alchimister hauing obtai­ned his purpose, foulded the same in a bail in quantity far bigger then the other. And conuaying the same vnto his bo­some or pocket, deliuered another Ball (as before) in the like quantitie, to be reserued, and safely kept in his chest, whereof (because the matter was of importance) either of them must haue a key, and a seuerall locke, that no inter­ruption might be made to the ceremonie, or abuse by ei­ther of them in defrauding each other. Now forsooth the circumstances, and ceremonies being ended, and the Alchi­misters purpose thereby performed, he told the Gent. that vntill a certaine day and houre limited to returne, either of them might imploy themselues about their busines, and necessarie affaires, the Gent. to his businesse, and hee to the Citie of London. And in the meane time the golde should multiply. But the Alchimister (belike hauing other matters of more importance) came not iust at the hower appointed nor yet at the day, nor within the yeere, so as al­though it were somewhat against the Gent. conscience to violate his promise or breake the league, yet partly by the longing he had to see, and partly the desire hee had to enioy the fruit of the excellent experiment, hauing for his owne security (and the others satisfaction) some testimony at the opening thereof, to witnes his sincere dealing, he brake vp the coffer, and loe, he soone espied the Ball of waxe which he himselfe had laid vp there with his owne hands, so as [Page] hee thought, if the hardest should fall, he should finde his principall, and why not as good increase now, as of the o­ther before? But alas, when the waxe was broken and the mettall discouered, the gold was much abased and became perfect lead.

Hitherto haue I spoken somewhat of the knauerie of Alcumistry, now I will conclude with a pretty dialogue that Petrarke a man of great wisedome and learning, and of no lesse experience, hath written: who as in his time, saw the fraudulent fetches of this compassing craft, so hath there been no age, since the same hath been broached, but that some wise men haue smelt out the euill meaning of these shifting marchants, and bewrayed them to the world.

Francis Petrarke, (I say) treating of the same matter, in forme of a dialogue, introduceth a disciple of his, who fancied the foresaid profession and practise, speaking on this manner.

Discip. I hope for a prosperous successe in Alcumistry.

Pet. It is a wonder from whence that hope should spring, sith the fruit thereof did neuer yet fall to thy lot: nor yet at any time chance to another, as the report commonly goeth, that many rich men, by this vanity and madnes, haue been brought to beggery, whilst they haue wearied themselues therewith, weakned their bodies, and wasted their wealth, in trying of conclusions: to make gold in­gender gold.

Discip. I hope for gold according to the workemans promise.

Pet. He that promised the gold, will runne away with thy gold, and thou neuer the wiser.

Discip. He promiseth me great good.

Petr. He will first serue his owne turne, and releeue his priuate pouerty, for Alcumisters are a beggerly kind of people, who though they confesse themselues bare, and [Page] needy: yet will they make other rich, and wealthy, as though others pouertie did molest, and greeue them more then their owne, so farre the words of Petrarke.

Albert in his booke of mineralls, reporteth that Auicen treating of Alcumistry: saith, Let the dealers of Alcumi­stry vnderstand, that the very nature of things, can not be changed: but rather made by Arte, to resemble the same in shew, and likenes: so that they are not tho very thing indéede but séeme to be in appearance: As Castles and Towers doe seeme to be built in the ayre, whereas the re­presentations there are shewed, are nothing else, but the resemblance of certaine obiects belowe, caused in some bright, and cleere cloud, when the aire is voide of thicknes, and grosenes, a sufficient proofe hereof may be the looking glasse: and we sée (saith hee) the yellow orrenge coulour laid vpon red, seemeth to be gold.

Thus much for the fond, and vaine arte of Alcumistry, I will now draw to an ende, leauing to speake of the in­numerable charmes of coniurours, bad Phisitions, lewd Surgeons, melancholy Witches, and cosoners, especi­ally for such as bad Phisitions and Surgeons, know not how to cure: as against the falling euill, the biting of mad dogs, the stinging of a Scorpion, the tooth-ach, for a wo­man in trauell, for the kings euill: to get a thorne out of a­ny member, or a bone out of ones throate: for sore eies, to open locks, against spirits: for the botts in a horse, for sow­er wines, and diuers others.

There are also diuers bookes imprinted, as it should ap­peare by the authoritie of the Church of Rome, wherin are contained many medicinall prayers, not onely against all diseases of horses, but also for euery impediment, and fault in a horse, in so much as if a shooe fall in the middest of his iourney; there is a prayer to warrant your horses hoofe so as it shall not breake, how far soeuer he be from the Smithes forge: but these of all the rest are the fondest [Page] toyes, that euer were deuised, therefore we will passe them ouer, and yet how many in these daies are addicted to the beléefe of these charmes it is incredible, I will giue you a taste of two or three, because you shall see the foolery of the rest.

And now to conclude, let vs backe againe with one pretty knack, which is held to be marueilous and wonder­full. And that is to make a horse tell you how much mo­ney you haue in your purse: and I reade of a pretty storie of an asse at Memphis in Egypt, that could doe rare feates, among other Iuggling knackes, there and then vsed: there was one that tooke paines with an asse, that hee had taught him all these qualities following, and for game hee caused a stage to bee made, and an assembly of people to meete, which being done in the manner of a play, he came in with his asse, and said: The Sultan hath great neede of asses, to helpe to carrie stones, and other stuffe towards his great building which hee hath in hand: the asse immediately fell down to the ground, and by all signes shewed himselfe to bee sicke, and at length to giue vp the ghost, so as the Iuggler begged of the assembly money towards his asse, and hauing gotten all that hee could, he said, now my masters you shall sée mine asse is yet aliue, and doth but counterfet, because hee would haue some [Page] money to buy him prouender, knowing that I was poore and in some néed of reliefe: herevpon he would needs lay a wager that his asse was aliue, who to euery mans seeing was starke dead: and when one had laid money with him therevpon, he commanded the asse to arise, but he lay still as though he were dead: then did he beat him with a cud­gell, but that would not serue the turne, vntill he had ad­dressed his spéech to the Asse, saying as before in open au­dience, the Sultane hath commanded that all the people shall ride out to morrow, and see the triumph, and that the faire Ladies will ride vpon the fairest Asses, and will giue notable prouender to them, and euery Asse shall drinke of the swéet water of Nylus: And then, loe the Asse did pre­sently start vp, and aduance himselfe exceedingly. Loe quoth his master, now I haue wonne: but in troth the Maior hath borrowed my Asse for the vse of the old il-fa­uoured witch his wife: and therevpon immediatly he hung downe his eares and halted downe right, as though he had beene starke lame: then said his Master, I perceiue you loue yong pretty wenches: at which the asse looked vp as it were with a ioifull chéere; and then his master bade him choose out one that should ride vpon him, and he ran to a very hansome woman, and touched her with his head.

Such a one is at this day to be seene in London, his master will say, sirra, héere be diuers Gentlemen, that haue lost diuers things, and they heare say that thou canst tell them tidings of them where they are: if thou canst, prethée shew thy cunning and tell them: then hurles hee downe a handkercher or a gloue that he had taken from the parties before, and bids him giue it the right owner, which the horse presently doth: and many other pretty feates this horse doth, and some of those trickes as the Asse before mentioned did, which not one among a thou­sand perceiues how they are done, nor how he is brought to learne the same: and note that all the feates that this [Page] horse doth, is altogether in numbering: as for ensample, his maister will aske him how many people there are in the roome? the horse will pawe with his foot so many times as there are people: and marke the eye of the horse is al­waies vpon his master, and as his master moues, so goes he or stands still, as he is brought to it at the first: as for ensample, his master will throw out three dice, and will bid his horse tell how many you or he haue throwne, then the horse pawes with his foote whiles the master stands stone still: then when his master sées he hath pawed so ma­ny as the first dice shewes it selfe, then he lifts vp his shol­ders and stirres a little: then hee bids him tell what is on the second die, and then of the third die, which the horse will doe accordingly, still pawing with his foote vntill his master sées he hath pawed inough, and then stirres: which the horse marking, will stay and leaue pawing. And note, that the horse will pawe an hundred times together, vntill he sees his master stirre: and note also that nothing can be done, but his master must first know, and then his master knowing, the horse is ruled by him by signes. This if you marke at any time you shall plainely perceiue.