The discovery of witchcraft proving that the compacts and contracts of witches with devils and all infernal spirits or familiars are but erroneous novelties and imaginary conceptions : also discovering, how far their power extendeth in killing, tormenting, consuming, or curing the bodies of men, women, children, or animals by charms, philtres, periapts, pentacles, curses, and conjurations : wherein likewise the unchristian practices and inhumane dealings of searchers and witch-tryers upon aged, melancholly, and superstitious people, in extorting confessions by terrors and tortures, and in devising false marks and symptoms, are notably detected ... : in sixteen books / by Reginald Scot ... ; whereunto is added an excellent Discourse of the nature and substance of devils and spirits, in two books : the first by the aforesaid author, the second now added in this third edition ... conducing to the compleating of the whole work, with nine chapters at the beginning of the fifteenth [sic] book of The discovery.

CHAP. XXV.

An excellent feat, to make a Two-peny piece lie plain in the Palm of your Hand, and to be passed from thence when you list.

PUt a little red Wax (not too thin) upon the nail of your longest finger, then let a stranger put a Tow-peny piece into the palm of your hand, and shut your fist suddenly, and convey the Two-peny piece upon the Wax, which with use you may so accomplish, as no man shal perceive it. Then and in the mean time use * 1.1 words of course, and suddenly open your hand, holding the tips of your fingers rather lower than higher than the palm of your hand, and the beholders will wonder where it is become. Then shut your hand suddenly a∣gain, and lay a wager whether it be there or no; and you may either leave it there, or take it away with you at your pleasure. This (if it be well handled) hath more admiration than any other feat of the hand. Memorandum this may be best handled, by putting the Wax upon the Two-peny piece, but then must you lay it in your hand your self.

To convey a Testor out of ones Hand that holdeth it fast.

STick a little Wax upon your thumb, and take a stander by by the finger, shewing him the Testor, and telling him you will put the same into his hand: then wring it down hard with you waxed thumb, and using many words, look him in the face, and as soon as you perceive him to look in your face, or from your hand, suddenly take away your thumb, and close his hand, and so will it seem to him that the Testor remaineth, even as if you wring a Testor upon ones fore-head, it will seem to stick, when it is taken away, especially if it be wet. Then cause him to hold his hand still, and with speed put it into another mans hand (or into your own) two Testors instead of one, and use words of course, whereby you shall make not only the beholders, but the holders believe, when they open their hands, that by Inchantment you have brought both together.

To throw a piece of Money into a deep Pond, and to fetch it again from whence you list.

* 1.2THere be a marvellous number of feats to be done with Money; but if you will work by private confederacy, as to mark a shilling, or any other thing, and throw the same into a River or deep Pond, and having hid a shilling before with like marks in some other secret place; bid some go presently and fetch it, making them believe that it is the very same which you threw into the River: the beholders will marvail much at it. And of such feats there may be done a marvellous number; but many more by publick confederacy, whereby one may tell another how much Money he hath in his Purse, and a hundreth like toyes; and all with Money.

To convey one Shilling being in one hand into another, holding your hands abroad like a Rood.

* 1.3EVermore it is necessary to mingle some merry toyes among your grave mi∣racles, as in this case of Money, to take a Shilling in each hand, and hold∣ing your arms abroad, to lay a wager that you would put them both into one hand, without b••inging them any whit neerer together. The wager being made, hold your arms abroad like a Hood, and turning about with your body, lay the Shilling out of one of your hands upon the Table, and turning to the otherside take it up with the other hand: and so you shall win your wages.

How to Rap a Wag on the Knuckles.

DEliver one piece of Money with the left hand to one,* 1.4 and to a second per∣son another, and offer him that you would rap on the fingers the third; for he (though he be ungratious and subtle) seeing the other receive Money, will not lightly refuse it, and when he offereth to take it, you may rap him on the fingers with a Knife, or somewhat else held in the right hand, saying that you knew by your familiar, that he meant to have kept it from you.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A••, Ailis, ea∣syl, zaze, hit mel meltat: Sa∣turnus, Jupi∣ter, Mars, Sol, Venus, Mercu∣ry, Luna, or such like.
• * 1.2

  In these knacks of confederacy Feats had the name, whilest he lived.
• * 1.3

  A knack more merry than marvellous.
• * 1.4

  Another to the same purpose read in pag. 228.