Part 1

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HOCVS POCVS IVNIOR.

_The Anatomie of_ LEGERDEMAIN.

_OR_,

The Art of Iugling set forth in his proper colours, fully, plainly, and exactly, so that an ignorant person may thereby learn the full perfection of the same, after a little practise.

Vnto each Tricke is added the figure, where it is needfull for instruction.

_The second Edition, with many additions._

Prestat nihili quam nihil facere.

_LONDON_,

Printed by _T. H._ for _R. M._ 1635.

To the Reader.

_COurteous Reader, doe you not wonder? if you doe not, well you may, to see so slight a Pamphlet so quickly spent; but lightly come, and lightly goe; it's a Iuglers terme, and it well befits the subiect. Would you know whence it first came? why, from =Bartholomew= Fayre: would you know whither it's bent? for the Fayre againe; it's a stragler, a wanderer, and as I said, as it lightly comes, so it lightly goes; for it meanes to see not onely =Bartholomew= Fayre, but all the Fayres in the Kingdome also, and therefore in the front, =Hiccius Doccius= is the Post-master, and what he wants there, I'le give him here, a word or two of command, a terme of art, not so much substantiall as circumstantiall, =Celeriter, vade=, over hedges and ditches, thorow thicke and thin, to come to your Fayres. Rome for a Iugler: all in post, yet with a desire to give you full satisfaction. If you like it, then buy it and reade it, if otherwise, leave it for them that list._

Farewell.

_The Art of_ LEGERDEMAINE Discovered.

_The originall of =Legerdemaine=, and how it came first into this Kingdome._

IT came first into the Kingdome by certain AEgyptians, that were transported hither, who growing to numerous multitudes, dispersed themselues thorow most parts of the Kingdome: who being most expert in this art, and in Palmestrie, cousened the people in all parts wheresoeuer they came. Now diuers vagrant English joyning with them in time learnt both their language and cousening delusions, whereby at length they were discovered, and thereupon the next ensuing Parliament, there was a statute enacted: that whosoeuer should transport an Egyptian, should have a Fine imposed upon him; Moreouer, that whosoever should assume unto themselves the names of AEgyptians, it should be imputed unto them as fellonie, in so high a degree, that they might not haue their Booke granted unto them, which statute was put in execution, and since that time our Kingdome hath beene well disburdened of those AEgyptian Iuglers.

_The Definition of the Art of =Legerdemain=, with its principall parts._

_LEgerdemaine_ is an operation, whereby one may seeme to worke wonderfull, impossible, and incredible things by agility, nimblenesse, and slightnesse of hand. The parts of this Art are principally two. The first is in the conveyance of Balls, Cards, Dice, Money, &c. The second is in Confederacie.

_The end of the Art of =Legerdemaine=._

THe end of this Art is either good or bad, accordingly as it is used: Good, and lawfull when it is used at Festivals, and merry meetings to procure mirth: especially if it be done without desire of estimation above what we are. Bad, and altogether unlawfull when it is used on purpose, to cozen, deceive, or for vaine glory to esteemed above what is meet and honest.

_The Definition, or description of the Operator._

FIrst, hee must be one of an impudent and audacious spirit, so that hee may set a good face upon the matter.

Secondly, he must have a nimble and cleanly conveance.

Thirdly, he must have strange termes, and emphaticall words, to grace and adorne his actions, and the more to astonish the beholders.

Fourthly, and lastly, such gesture of body as may leade away the spectators eyes from a strict and diligent beholding his manner of conveyance.

_Of the Play of the Balls._

THe Operator thus qualified must have his Implements of purpose to play withall: and first he must have three Cups, made of brasse, or Crooked lane plate:

These Cups must be all of one sise, and the bottome of each of them must bee set a little within the cup; marke the following figure, for thereby they are truely represented, both in forme and bignesse: it is noted with the letter B. Also he must have foure Bals, made of Corke about the bignesse of small Nutmegs. First, he must practise to hold these Cork balls, two or three of them at once in one hand. The best place, and the readiest to hold one ball is betweene the ball of the thumbe, and the palme of the hand; but if you hold more than one at one time, betweene your fingers towards the bottoms. The place to hold a great ball is betweene your two middle fingers. Remember in your play alwaies to keep the palme of your hand downeward: After you have once learned to hold these balls handsomely, you may worke divers strange, and delightfull feats.

[Sidenote: Some I have seene sit with their Codpiece open, others play standing with a budget hanging before them, but all comes to one end.

Some feats may with more grace be performed stading then sitting. The manner of holding the cups will conceale the ball that you retein in your hand.]

But whether you seeme to cast your ball in the ayre, or into your mouth, or into your other hand, yet still retaine it in the same hand, still remembring to keepe the palme of your hand downeward, and out of sight. Now to begin:

He that is to play must sit on the farther side of a Table, which must be covered with a carpet: partly to keepe the balls from rolling away, and partly to keepe them from ratling: likewise hee must set his hat in his lap, or sit in such manner as that hee may receive any thing into his lap, and let him cause all his spectators to sit downe: Then let him draw his foure balls, and lay three of them upon the table, (and retain the fourth in his right hand) and say, Gentlemen, here are three bals you see, 1. _Meredin_, 2. _Benedic_, and 3. _Presto Iohn_, then let him draw his cups and hold them all three in his right hand also, saying, Here are also three Cups, saying, See there's nothing in them, neither have they any false bottoms:

Then say, See I will set them all on a row, and clap them all on a row, & in clapping them downe, convey the ball that you reteined under the middlemost cup, saying as you set them downe, Nothing there, there, nor there. Then shew your hands, and say, Gentlemen, you see here is nothing in my hands, and say, Now to begin, and take up with your right hand one of the three bals that you layed downe, and say this is the first, and with that seeme to put it into your left hand, and presently shut your left hand, and being shut, clap it unto your eare, saying, This is for the purging of the braine, _Presto_ bee gone, then move both the utmost cups (noted with A, and B.) with both your hands, saying, And there is nothing there nor there, and in the clapping them downe, conveigh the ball in your right hand under the Cup noted B.

Then with your right hand take up the second ball, and seeme to put it into the left hand (but reteine it) shutting your left hand in due time: then clap your left hand unto your mouth, seeme to suppe the ball out of your hand, and make a face as if you swallowed it, then say, _Presto_, and that's gone you see, and with your right hand move the cup noted A, saying, And there is nothing, and in clapping it downe convey the ball you reteined, under it, so have you conveyed into each cup a ball.

Then with your right hand take up the third Ball, and seeme to put it into your left hand, shutting it in due time, and then reach it out from you saying, _vade_, _couragious_, and open your hand, and blow a blast, looking up as if you saw it flying away, and say _passa couragious_, and that's gone: then take up the cups one after another, and say, neverthelesse Gentlemen, there is one, there is two, and there is all three againe: Then cover them and say, see you Gentlemen, I will cover them all againe. Then say now for the first, then with your right hand take up the first cup, & with your left hand take up the ball that is under it, saying, see, I take him out, and in setting downe the cup againe, convey the ball in your right hand under it, then with your right hand take the ball out of your left hand, seeme to put it into your pocket (but retaine it) saying, _vade_, that's gone into my pocket you see, then take up with your right hand the second cup, and with your left hand take the ball from under it, and say, see, I take this out fairely also, and in setting downe the cup, convey the ball that you retained under it, and then with your right hand take the ball out of your left, and seeme to put it into your pocket, (but retaine it) saying, _Iubeo_, and that's gone into my pocket: then with your right hand take up the third and last cup, and with your left hand take the ball from under it, and say, here I take my last out, and in setting downe the cup, convey the ball that is in your right hand under it, and then with your right hand take the ball out of your left hand, and seeme to put it into your pocket (but retaine it) and say _vade_, 'tis gone into my pocket;

then take up your cups orderly, saying, Gentlemen, here is one you see, here is two, and here is all three again; and in setting downe the last cup noted _A_ convey the ball that you retained in your hand under it.

Then take up one of the three bals with your right hand, and seeme to put it under the cup _B_, but retaine it, and then say by the powder of experience, _Iubeo_, come away when I bid you under this cup _A_, then take up _B_, and say, see you sirs, hee scornes to tarry under this cup, but is crept under here: then take the cup _A_. and they will wonder how it came thither. Then say Gentlemen, and you see here is but one, and in setting it downe, convey that in your right hand under it, then with your right hand take up the second Ball, and seeme to put it into your left hand, shutting your left hand in due time:

then hold your said left hand from off you, and pronounce these words with a _Revoca stivoca_ (open your hand tossing it up) that's gone, then take up the cup A, and say, see here they are got both together; Then say here are but two, and in setting it down, convey the ball you retained in your right hand under it.

Then with your right hand take up the third ball, and seeme to put it into your left hand, and shutting it in due time, saying, this is my last Ball, _vade passa couragious_, (open your hand then, tossing it up, and staring after it) and that's gone you see, then take up the cup A, and say, here they are all three againe.

Set your cups then all on a row againe, and under one of them, as D, conveigh your fourth ball which you retained in your hand, and lay the other three balls by.

Then with your right hand take up the first ball, and seeme to put it into your left hand, shutting your said left hand in due time, then as if you were at dice, cast your left hand at the cup D, and blow after it, saying, _vade pas_, and 'tis gone, then take up the cup noted A, and clap it upon the cup D, and in clapping it on, convey the ball you retained in your right hand upon the top of the cup D.

Then take up the second ball with your right hand, and seeme to put it into your left, shutting it in due time, and as you did before: now in like manner seeme to make the same to vanish with a word of command, then take up the cup C, and clap it upon the cup A, and in clapping it on, convey the ball you retained in your right hand, upon the top of the cup noted A,

So then you have conveyed under each cup a ball, then take up the third ball, seeming to vanish it as the two former, but retaine it, then shew them under each cup one, which will be very strange.

Then take one cup in your right hand, and clap it upon another, saying, see Gentlemen I will set you one cup upon another, and in clapping it on, convey the ball you retained in your right hand upon the top of the lowermost cup: marke the figure following.

Then take up one ball, and seeme to cast it in the ayre, and staring after it, say, _vade_, that's gone, then with your right hand take up the uppermost cup, say, see here he is crept betweene my cups, and in clapping it downe againe, convey the ball that you retained under it.

Then with your right hand take up the second ball, and seeme to put it into your left hand, shutting it in due time: then open your left hand, tossing it, say, _vade_, and that's gone, then with your right hand take up the uppermost cup, and say, doe you see Gentlemen, they are snug'd like a yong man and a Maid in bed together, and in setting it down, convey the ball that you retain.

Then with your right hand take up the third ball, and seeme to put it in your left hand, but retain it, shutting your left hand in due time: then hold it from you, and then open your hand, tossing it up, and gaping after it, say, _Mountifilede_, mount, thats gone, and then take up the cup and say, here are all three againe. Then cover them againe, and say single is nothing, then clap the third cup upon them, saying, but double is somewhat.

Then may you seeme to pull all the three corks out of the top of the upper cup, causing them to vanish one after another, as I have sufficiently taught you before, which may be performed by that one ball that you reteine in your right hand.

And lastly, take the uppermost cup, and set it down first by it selfe, then with both hands nimbly hosting the two other cups, shuffle them one upon another, and the bals will not fall out, and so it will be thought that you have pulled the three bals out of the bottomes of the two uppermost cups. I could teach you to vary these feats a hundred wayes, but I leave that to those that intend to follow the trade.

_How to make a great Ball seeme to come through a Table into a Cup._

SEt one of your cups upon a Table, and take a good big stoole-ball out of your pocket, and say, clapping your hand with the ball in it under the Table, My masters would you not think it a pretty trick that I should make this ball come thorow the table into the cup:

Then some one or other will take up the cup to see if it be so; then holding the ball betweene your two middle fingers of your right hand, stare him in the face, and say nay but you must not move my cup out of its place, while I have said my words of command: with that set your cup in its former place, and in setting it downe nimbly, convey the ball under it, and say, _Hei Fortuna nunquam credo, vade couragious_: Now see (say) if it be there or not, which when they see they will imagine was conjured into it by vertue of your words.

_Other very pretty tricks with Bals._

REtaine one small ball in your hand, and lay three other small bals upon the table: then with your right hand take up one of the three bals, and put into your left hand, saying, There is one, then take up the second, and put that into your left hand also, and therewith likewise put the ball you retained in your right hand, saying, And there is two (yet you know there is three already) and shut your hand in due time: then take up the third ball in your right hand, and clap your right hand unto the upper part of your left arme, retaining the ball firmely pronounce these words: _Iubeo celeriter_, come all into my hand when I bid you. Then withdraw your right hand (holding the palm thereof downward) saying, That's gone Gentlemen: then open your left hand, and say, Here are all three together, and lay them downe on the Table.

_Another._

TAke up one of the bals in your right hand, & put it into your left, holding it firmely between your forefinger and thumbe of your said left hand. Then with your forefinger and thumbe of your right hand (but be nimble) seeme to pull one ball out of another, which you may doe by slipping the ball that you retained in your right hand betweene the forefinger and thumb of the said hand, saying, Thus by activity have I learn'd to do, out of one little ball for to make two: and all of a bignesse, then lay all foure balls upon the table.

_Another._

VVIth your right hand take up one of the balls, and seeme to put it into the left, but retain it, shutting your left hand in due time, and say, There is one: then hold your hand from you. Then with your right hand take up another, saying, Here I take another. Then pronounce these words, _Mercus mercurius_ by the powder of experience, _Iubeo_; then open your left hand, saying, That's gone, and then open your right hand and shew them both together.

_How to make a stone seeme to vanish out of your hand._

YOu must have a stone of a reasonable bignesse, such as you may well hide in your hand, sitting in such manner as I have formerly said, that you may receive any thing into your lappe, take this stone out of your pocket, saying, You see, Gentlemen, here is a stone, a miraculous stone: Will you have it vanish, _vade_, or go away invisible; which being said, withdraw your hand to the side of the table letting the stone slip down into your lap, in which time stare about you, saying, chuse you whether. Then reach out your hand and say: _Fortuna variabilis, lapis inestimabilis Iubeo, vade, vade, couragius_. Open your hand then tossing it up, and blow a blast, and look up, saying, Do you see it is gone. Your looking up will make them to looke up, in which time you may take the stone againe in the other hand, and slip it into your pocket.

_Another._

TAke your stone againe out of your pocket, saying, here it is once againe, and I will give it unto any of you to hold, and reach your hand out unto them, and opening your hand, say Loe here it is. Then when any one is about to take it, withdraw your hand to the side of the table, and make your conveyance as before, in which time say, But you must promise mee to take it quickly:

[Sidenote: By agility and nimblenesse of hand you may make a piece of a Hares skin to stir and run about you as a live creature, and at last to vanish away, which will bee imagined to be some Familiar that you deale withall.]

Then will hee say, I will, then reach your hand being shut, out unto him againe, and while hee striveth, thinking to take it quickly, hold fast and say, _Vade couragious, celeriter vade_: in which time you may take up the stone in the other hand, and hold it from you. Then open your hand and say, loe, If you can hold a pretty Lasse no faster, when you have her, I will not give a pin for your skill.

_How to make a Card vanish, and finde it againe in a Nut._

TAke what card you will, pill the printed paper from off it, and roll it hard up, and make a hole in a nut, and take out the kernell, and then thrust in the card, afterwards stop the hole of the Nut neatly with waxe, this Nut you must have in readinesse about you, and when you are in your play, call for such a card as you inclosed in your Nut, or else haue one in a readinesse, and say, You see Gentlemen, here is such a card: then wet it, and pill off the printed side, roll it up, and the usuall manner conuey it away: Then take your Nut out of your pocket, and giue it unto one, and say, Cracke that Nut, and tell mee if you can finde the card there, which being found, will bee thought very strange.

Then haue another such like Nut, but filled with Inke, and stopped after the same manner that your other Nut was, and giue that unto another, and bid him cracke it, and see what he can finde in that, and so soone as he hath cracked it, all the inke will run about his mouth, which will move more mirth and laughter than the former.

_How to seeme to eate a Knife._

DEsire any one of your spectators to accommodate you with a Knife, which when you haue gotten, hold it in such manner as that you may cover the whole knife with both your hands, the end of the haft excepted, and set the point of it unto your eye, and say, some body strike it in with his fist, but no body will, because it is so dangerous a thing: then set your hands upon the edge of the Table, and looking about you, say, why what will no body strike it in, in which time let the knife slip downe into your lap. Then nimbly make as if you chopt it hastily into your mouth, or to hold it in one hand, and strike it in with the other (but nimbly) then make two or three sowre faces, saying, some drinke, some drinke: or else you may say, now some one put his finger in my mouth, and pull it out againe; some will say haply you will bite me, say, no I will assure you. Then when he hath put his finger into your mouth, he will pull it out, & say, here is nothing, (this time is sufficient to conuey the Knife out of your lap into your pocket) say againe, why, you have your finger out againe, did you thinke to pull the knife out? if that should be in my mouth, it would kill mee. The knife is here in my pocket, and with that take it out, and deliver it againe.

_How to rap a Wag on the knuckles._

TAke a ball and lay it on the Table, and holding a knife in one hand by the blade, desire some body to take the Ball that is upon the Table, & lay it upon the haft of the knife, pretending that you will blow it thence invisibly, and when he is laying it on, take him a good rap on the knuckles.

_How to seeme to swallow a long pudding made of Tinne._

THis Pudding must be made of Tin, it consisteth of twelve little hoops made Tape-wise, so that they may almost fall one thorow another, and have a piece of Canvas tyed over the biggest end thereof, to the end it may not hurt your teeth by hastily clapping it into your mouth. The figure whereof followeth, and is marked with the letters A A.

hold this Pudding (for so it is called) privately in your left hand with the Canvas end uppermost, and with your right hand take a Ball out of your pocket, and say, _If there be any Mayd that hath lost her maiden-head or old woman that's halfe out of conceit with her selfe, because her neighbours deeme her not so yong as she would willingly seeme to be, let her come unto mee, for this ball is present remedy_; then seeme to put the Ball into your left hand, but let it flip into your lap, and clap your pudding into your mouth, which will bee thought to be the Ball you shewed them: Then incline your head, and open your mouth, and the pudding will slip downe at its full length, which with your right hand you may strike up into your mouth again: do thus three or foure times one after another, and the last time you may discharge your mouth of it into your hand, and clap it into your lap without any suspition, so that you make two or three sowre faces after it, as if it stucke in your throat, and if you practise to smite easily with your fist on each side of your throat, the Pudding will seeme to chinke as if it were lying in your throat. Then say thus, they swallow puddings in high Dutch land, they slip downe their throats before their teeth can take possession of them.

_How to seeme to cut ones nose halfe off._

FOr the effecting of this feate, you must have a knife for the nonce, made with a gap in the midst of the blade, as it is demonstrated in the following figure noted with the letter A.

[Sidenote: Note that in such feats as this, it were necessarie to have a piece of spunge with some sheepes bloud in it to be retained privately.]