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.

How to deliver out four Aces, and to convert them into four Knaves.

MAke a Pack of these eight Cards; to wit, four Knaves and four Aces: and although, all the eight Cards must lye immediately together, yet must each Knave and Ace be evenly severed, and the same eight Cards must lye also in the lowest place of the bunch. Then shuffle them so, as alwayes at the second shuf∣fling, or at leastwise at the end of your shuffling the said pack, and of the pack one Ace may lie neathermost, or so as you may know where he goeth and lyeth: and alwayes (I say) let your foresaid pack with three or four Card more lye un∣separable together immediately upon and with that Ace. Then using some speech or other device, and putting your hands with the Cards to the edge of the Table to hide the action, let out privily a piece of the second Card which is one of the Knaves, holding forth the stock in both your hands, and shewing to the standers by the neather Card (which is the Ace or kept Card) covering also the head or piece of the Knave (which is the next Card) with your four fingers, draw out the same Knave, laying it down on the Table: then shuffle again, keeping your pack whole, and so have you two Aces lying together in the bottom. And therefore, to reform that disordered Card, as also for a grace and countenance to that acti∣on, take of the uppermost Card of the bunch, and thrust it into the midst of the Cards; and then take away the neathermost Card, which is one of your said Aces, and bestow him likewise. Then may you begin as before, shewing another Ace, and instead thereof lay down another Knave: and so forth, until instead of four Aces you have laid down four Knaves. The beholders all this while think∣ing that there lye four Aces on the Table, are greatly abused, and will marvel at the transformation.

Notes

• You must be well advised in the shuffling of the bunch, lest you over∣shoot your self.