Scot's Discovery of vvitchcraft proving the common opinions of witches contracting with divels, spirits, or familiars ... to be but imaginary, erronious conceptions and novelties : wherein also, the lewde unchristian all written and published in anno 1584, by Reginald Scot, Esquire.

CHAP. XXX.

Iuggling knacks by confederacie, and how to know whether one ca•• crosse or pile by the ringing.

LAy a wager with your confederate (who must seem simple, or obsti∣nately opposed against you) that standing behind a door, you will (by the found or ringing of the mony) tell him whether he cast crosse or pile; so as when you are gone, and he hath fillipped the monie before the wit∣nesses who are to be cousened, he must say; What is it, if it be crosse; or What ist, if it be pile: or some other such sign, as you are agreed upon, and so you need not fail to guesse rightly. By this means (if you have any inven∣tion) you may seem to doe a hundreth miracles, and to discover the secrets of a mans thoughts, or words spoken a far off.

To make a shoal of goslings draw a timber log.

TO make a shoal of goslings, or (as they say) a gaggle of Geese to seem to draw a timber log, is done by that very means that is used, when a cat doth draw a fool through a pond or river: but handled some what fur∣ther off from the beholders.

To make a pot or any such thing standing fast on the cupboard, to fall down thence by vertue of words.

LEt a cupboard be so placed, as your confederate may hold a black thred without in the court, behind some window of that room; and at a certain loud word spoken by you, he may pull the same thred, being wound about the pot, &c. And this was the feat of Eleazer, which Iosephus reporteth to be such a miracle.

To make one dance naked.

Make a poor boy confederate with you, so as after charms, &c. spoken by you, he uncloth himself, and stand naked, seeming (whilest hee undres∣seth

him) to shake, stamp, and crie, still hastening to be unclothed; till he be stark naked; or if you can procure none to goe so far, let him only be∣gin to stamp and shake, &c. and to uncloth him, and then you may (for the reverence of the companie) seem to release him.

To transform or alter the colour of ones cap or hat.

TAke a confederates hat, and use certain words over it, and deliver it to him again, and let him seem to be wroth, and cast it back to you a∣gain, affirming that his was a good new black hat, but this is an old blew hat, &c. and then you may seem to counter charm it, and redeliver it, to his satisfaction.

How to tell where a stollen horse is become.

BY means of confederacie, Steven Tailor, and one Pope abused divers countrie people. For Stephen Tailor would hide away his neighbours horses, &c. and send them to Pope, (whom he before had told where they were) promising to send the parties unto him, whom he described and made known by divers signs: so as this Pope would tell them at their first entrance unto the door. Wherefore they came, & would say that their horses were stollen, but the theef should be forced to bring back the horses, &c. and leave them within one mile south and by west, &c. of his house, even as the plot was laid, and the pack made before by Stephen and him. This Pope is said of some to be a witch, of others he is accounted a conjurer; but commonly called a wise man, which is all one with soothsaier or witch.

Notes

• What is it? What ist? signes of con∣federacy.
• Eleazers feat of confedera∣cy.
• As, Drech myroch, and senaroth betu baroch assma∣aroth, rounsee, farounsee, hey passe passe, &c. or such like strange words.
• Pope and Tailor confe∣derates.