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. XXX.

Juggling Knacks by confederacy, and how to know whether one cast Cross or Pile by the ringing.

LAy a wager with your confederate (who must seem simple, or obstinately opposed against you) that standing behind a door, you will (by the sound or ringing of the money) tell him whether he cast Cross or pile: so as when you are gone, and he hath filliped the Money before the witnesses who are to be cosened, he must say, What is it if be Cross; or What if, if it be Pile: or some other such sign, as as you are agreed upon, and so you need not fail to guess rightly. By this means (if you have any invention) you may seem to do 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 somewhat further off from the beholders.

To make a Pot or any such thing standing fast on the Cupboard, to fall down thencs 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 Josephus 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 he undres∣seth him) to shake, stamp, and cry, stil hastening to be uncloathed, till he be stark naked; or if you can procure none to go so far, let him only begin to stamp and shake, &c. and to uncloath him, and then you may (for the reverence of the company) 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 again, af∣firming 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 re-deliver it, to his satisfaction.

How to tell where a stollen Horse is become.

BY means of confederacy, Steven Tailor, and one Pope abused divers coun∣trey people. For Stephen Tailor would hide away his neighbours Horses, &c. and send them to Pope (whom he before had told where they were) promi∣sing 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. Where∣fore they came, and would say that their Horses were stollen, but the thief 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 Soothsayer or Witch.

Notes

• What is it? What ist? Signs of confe∣deracy.
• Eleazer's feat of confederacy.
• As, Droch myroch, and senaroth betu baroch, assina∣aroth, rounsee, farounsey, hey pass, pass, &c. or such like strange words.
• Pope and Tailor confederates.