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. XXIX.

Of Fast or Loose; how to knit a hard Knot upon a Handkercher, and to undo the same with words.

THe Aegyptians juggling Witchcraft or Sortilegie standeth much in Fast or Loose, whereof though I have written somewhat generally already, yet having such opportunity, I will here shew some of their particular feats; not treating of their common tricks which is so tedious, nor of their fortune-telling which is so impious; and yet both of them meer cosenage. * 1.1 Make one plain loose knot, with the two corner ends of a Handkercher, and seeming to draw the same very hard, hold fast the body of the said Handkercher (neer to the knot) with your hand, pulling the contrary end with the left hand, which is the corner of that which you hold. Then close up handsomely the knot, which will be yet somewhat loose, and pull the Handkercher so with your right hand, as the left hand end may be neer to the knot: then will it seem a true and a firm knot. And to make it appear more assuredly to be so indeed, lest a stranger pull at the end which you hold in your left hand, whilest you hold fast the other in your right hand: and then holding the knot with your fore-finger and thumb, and the neather part of your Handkercher with your other fingers, as you hold a bridle; when you would with one hand slip up the knot and lengthen your reins. This done, turn your Handkercher over the knot with the left hand, in doing whereof you must suddenly slip out the end or corner, putting up the knot of your Handkercher with your fore-finger and thumb, as you would put up the fore∣said knot of your bridle. Then deliver the same (covered and wrapt in the midst of your Handkercher) to one, to hold fast, and so after some words used, and wa∣gers layed, take the Handkercher, and shake it, and it will be loose.

A notable Feat of Fast and Loose; namely, to pull three Bead stones from off a Cord, while you hold fast the ends thereef, without removing of your hand.

* 1.2TAke two little Whipcords of two-foot long a plece, double them equally so as there my appear four ends. Then take three great Bead-stones, the hole of one of them being bigger than the rest; and put one Bead-stone upon the eye or bowt of the one Cord, and another on the other Cord. Then take the Stone with the greatest hole, and let both the bowts be hidden therein: which may be the better done, if you put the eye of the one into the eye or bowt of the other. Then pull the middle Bead upon the same,* 1.3 being doubled over his fellow, and so will the Beads seem to be put over the two Cords without partition: For holding fast in each hand the two ends of the two Cords, you may toss them as you list, and make it seem manifest to the beholders, which may not see how you have done it, that the Bead-stones are put upon the two Cords without any fraud. Then must you seem to add more effectual binding of those Bead-stones to the string, and make one half of a knot with one of the ends of each side; which is for no other pur∣pose, but that when the Bead-stones be taken away, the Cords may be seen in the case which the beholders suppose them to be in before: For when you have made your half knot (which in any wise you may not double to make a perfect

knot) you must deliver into the hands of some standers by those two Cords; namely, two ends evenly set in one hand, and two in the other, and then with a wager, &c. begin to pull off your Bead-stones, &c. which if you handle nimbly, and in the end cause him to pull his two ends, the two Cords will shew to be placed plainly, and the Bead-stones to have come through the Cords. But these things are so hard and long to be described, that I will leave them, whereas I could shew great variety.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fast and loose with a Hand∣kercher.
• * 1.2

  Fast or loose with Whip∣cords and Beads.
• * 1.3

  This convey∣ance must be closely done; Ergo it must be no bunglers work.