Page 217
CHAP. XIII.
Of private confederacy, and of Brandons Pigeon.
PRivate confederacie I mean, when one (by a speciall plot laid by him∣self, without any compact made with others) perswadeth the beholders, that he will suddenly and in their presence doe some miraculous feat, which he hath already accomplished privily. As for example, he will shew you a card, or any other like thing: and will say further unto you; Be∣hold and see what a mark it hath, and then burneth it; and neverthelesse ••etcheth another like card so marked out of some bodies pocket, or out of some corner where he himself before had placed it; to the wonder and a∣stonishment of simple beholders, which conceive not that kind of illusion, but expect miracles and strange works.
What wondering and admiration was there at Brandon the juggler,* 1.1 who painted on the wall the picture of a dove, and seeing a pigeon sitting on the top of a house, said to the King; Lo now your grace shall see what a juggler can do, if he be his crafts master; and then pricked the picture with a knife so hard and so often, and with so effectua•• words, as the pigeon fel down from the top of the house stark dead. I need not write any further circumstance to shew how the matter was taken, what wondering was there∣at, how he was prohibited to use that feat any further, lest he should imploy it in any other kind of murther, as though he, whose picture soever he had pricked,* 1.2 must needs have died, and so the life of all men in the hands of a juggler: as is now supposed to be in the hands & wils of witches. This story is, untill the day of the writing hereof, in fresh remembrance, and of the most part beleeved as canonicall, as are all the fables of witches: but when you are taught the feat or sleight (the secrecy and sorcery of the matter being bewraied, and discovered) you will think it a mockery, and simple illusion.* 1.3 To interpret unto you the revelation of this mysterie; so it is, that the poor pigeon was before in the hands of the juggler, into whom he had thrust a dramme of Nux vomica, or some other such poison, which to the nature of the bird was so extream a venome, as after the re∣ceipt thereof it could not live above the space of half an hour, and being let lose after the medicine ministred▪ she alwaies resorted to the top of the next house: which she will the rather do, if there be any pigeons already sitting there, and (as it is already said) after a short space falleth downe, ei∣ther stark dead, or greatly astonied. But in the mean time the juggler used words of art, partly to protract the time, and partly to gain credit and admiration of the beholders. If this or the like feat should be done by an old woman, every body would cry out for fire and faggot to burn the witch.