Leger De Main Implements.

2 THE Art of Leger De Main, or Iugling, other∣wise called Hocus Pocus. Was a thing first by certaine Egyptians brought into this Kingdom, that were transported hither; Who dispersed themselves through most parts thereof, and being most Dexterous and expart in this Art, and Palmestrie, cousened the people in all places wheresoever they came. To whom diverse Va∣grant English joyned in Society and in tyme learnt their Language and Cousening delusions, whereby they were at length discovered, and a Law enacted against such Idle Rogues and Vagabonds.

It is an Operation by which one may seem to work wounders, Impossible and Incredible things, and all by the agility and nimbleness and slight of the Hand. The Parts of this Art are principally two, The one in con∣veyance of Balls, Cards, Dice, Money &c. The other in Confedracie; yet neither can be well done without the help of Instruments leading thereunto.

For the Operator must have his Implements made of purpose to play withall, as B•a•s on •in Cups, a long round S•ck about a foot, small Balls of Cork▪ and great ones of Leather, Cards, Dice wooden Boxes, Knives, & Bodkins, Piles of Counters, Rings, Locks, Fulling dish &c. Of which I shall give you an example of some, for the rest I referr you to Hosus Pocus Iunior, Printed by him in the yeare 1634.

XXXVI. Within this Square is three Instruments used by I•glers, a Science much practized amongst a pack of wandering Rogues and Knaves, who delight in nothing more then to Cosen and Cheat money out of the purses of harmless and simple people, who think that what they do is by the helpe of the Devill, or through Conjurati∣on and Witchcraft; when there is no such thing, only a Deceptio visus, deceiving the eyes, by the quick and cun∣ing motion of the hand.

The first is a Iuggling Bodkin, by the helpe of this Instrument they will seem to thrust a Bodkin throwe their Arm, as if it were really so; whereas there is no∣thing of hurt, for the haft is on one side the Arm, and the point on the other, which are held close to the Arm by the arched peece coming from them, which is hid under the Jugglers sleeve.

A. 3 such in pale, points to the sinister S. by Iuggler.

The Second is a Iuggling Knife, by which they do seem to run a Knife through the Arm, or Legg, but it is don with the like fallacy as aforesaid in the Bodkin.

The Third is an other sort of Cheating Knife, by which they seem to strik or cut a deep slash in the Arm, or to cut off halfe the Nose, whereas the semicircle in the blade of the Knife being set on the Arm, or Nose, shews it to be but a deceipt of sight, through a want in the knife blad.

B. 3 such in pale to the sinister pointed, A. hafts O. born by the name of Procade.

XXXVII This is a Iuggling Cup, or Box, with which by the dexterity of the hands, Balls are convey∣ed under, and from under them, at pleasure: also from place to place invisibly, which causeth much admiration and wonder. These cups are made of Brass or Tyn, the Bottom whereof must be set a little within the Cup, and made taper from the open to the said bottom, which in the figure is turned upside down, for so they are ge∣nerally played withall in shewing their activity.

S. 3 such A. in chief an hic veribus stick O. born by the name of Sucoh.

The Iuggling Pudding, is a thing made of Tin, consisting of diverse little Hoops made taperwise, so as they may almost fall one through an other, having a ring at the wide end thereof, that it may be the better Page  448 hold in the teeth. This being conveyed into the mouth. upon the holding down the head, will fall out to a great length to admiration; which with the palme of the hand may several times be struck up into the mouth againe. see the shape of it cha. 16 numb. 72. in the base point.

The Iuggling pile of Counters and Cover, are diverse Brass Counters glued together, somany as will make a pile, each having a square hole cut therein as to containe a Die, then a whole Counter is glued on the top, then they have a Box made of thin Latin or a round Cover of cloth to put easily ov•r them. Then they will cast a Die on the table, and cover it with the box or cloth cover having the pile of Count•rs therein, which will fall on the Die and cover it, take of the cover there appeares the Counters, cover them aga••e, and take it off againe pressing the sides of it, and it wi•• keep the pile from fall∣ing out, so there will be nothin• to be seen but the Die. Which to them as know not th• falacy, it will cause ad∣miration. see the figure in the sinister base of numb. 36.

The Iuggling Ring, made to hang in a bodys nose, or through the mouth and cheek, is made with a noch, or cut through in one place of it, which being clapt into the mouth will stick to one side of the Cheek, as if it were put through it. Now to do this nimbly, there must be (as in other such like tricks) two rings, one whole to shew, the other cut to do the trick withall. see the figure numb 36.

After the same manner a Iuggling Pad Lock is hung upon ones mouth; the one halfe of the Bow is made immovable, the other half movable, and made in such a manner that by the meanes of a spring within the Lock part, that movable p••t will open wider, or be closer as the spring is pressed: this is a trick must be done also with two locks one to shew the people, the other to work by. See the form of it cha. 16 numb. 72.

B. such a like A. is born by Fallock.

G. 3 such A. is born by Locker or Looker.

The trick called the Nuntius Invisibilis, or Bonus Ge∣nius, which is to convey a figure of a man cut in wood invisibly away, and none can imagin how: the figure is to be about the bigness of ones little finger, the head is to be taken off and put on by a wyer. Also they have a cloth Cap with a little hole in the Crown of it, which has a little bag within it, to convey the head into, which is to be neatly made that it be not perceived when the Cap is turned. Now here lyeth the Art, first in shewing the fi¦gure, then in puting the same under the Cap and shew∣ing the head only through the hole, then to convey the body away and the head into the bag, which being done and the Cap turned inside out, all is gon: which upon the right turning of the Cap, with a whistle or call, the head is taken out of the bag, and appeares through the Crown hole againe, to admiration. See c 16 n 57 62.

G. the like out of a Cap betw: 2 pillars A. is born by Bilerhiet of Germanie.

Such an Head out of a Cap G. is Egilsperg's Crest.

the like the Cap S. is the crest of Van Mergetheim.

the Cap G. is the crest of Van Buren. also of Tevffel.

By the same Fallacy three Cards shewed to one, shall by turning them, be three contrary Cards, or be changed into Flowers, Birds, Beasts Men or Womens faces &c. all which is done by makeing the three Cards from corner to corner longways, one half like a Card with 5 6 or 7 Hearts or Spades; and the other half with what devises best pleaseth. As it is further shewed cha▪ 16 num 64 how they are held to be seen. And numb 65 how deceitfully made, that being turned upside down and opened are an other thing, to admiration of the ignorant.

And to drink any liquor out of a Tunnell in sight of others, and yet after to make it seem to com out of an eye, eare, or mouth, and run through the Tunnell on the ground. Which is performed by a Tunnell made of Tyn with a double side, as the figure in ca 16 n 73. The inward part filled up to the brim, fills the false bot∣tom, so the hole in the top of the brim being stoped with the finger end, it will not run out. So that the inner part may be drunk off, and the Tunnell shewed to be empty though the double part remaine stil full; which may be let forth upon any fancy as aforesaid.

These and some scores more of Iuggling feats there are which be able to beguile not only the Simple but the wise, insomuch that I have heard some discreet persons (upon seeing off their tricks) affirm that such things were impossible to be don, except it were by Conjuration or some other unlawfull assistances: when as in truth it is nothing but by the nimbleness of the hand, and the deceipt of the things they use. I could produce their fallacies in variety of other tricks, done by foulding of Papers, tying of Knots, that will loose of themselves; or cuting of a Rubin in two, and peecing it againe; make a six pence goe through a Table, or to melt it in ones hand; to swallow a Knife, or thrust a Bodkin into ones Forehead; to breath out fire and smoak, to vomit or to pull many round Copper Plates out of ones mouth; to draw severall colours of Rubin out of ones mouth by yards; to cause Balls put in each hand come into one; to make two or three Eggs go up and down a Staffe; put a Ring or Beadstone on a staffe or cord and strik them off, others holding the ends of the staffe or cord; &c. which as they pertaine nothing to our purpose, I pass them over: wishing such as desire further knowledg here in, to finde out such Authors as treat thereof.

3 AMONGST The Sundry Works of the a∣foresaid Artizans, We shall now have occasion to speak of such as are fixed and permanent, as Build∣ings; either Prophane, for ordinary use of dwelling: as Halls, Houses, Manors, &c. or Sacred, as Tem∣ples, Churches, &c. for Gods service: and some o∣thers which are moveable, as Tents, Tabernacles, &c. Examples of all which we will now produce in this and in the Succeeding Chapter.