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. XXXI.

Boxes to alter one Grain into another, or to consume the Grain or Corn to nothing.

THere be divers Juggling Boxes with false bottoms, wherein many false feats are wrought. First they have a Box covered or rather footed alike at each end, the bottom of the one end being no deeper than as it may contain one lane of Corn or Pepper glewed thereupon.* 1.1 Then use they to put into the hollow end thereof some other kind of grain, ground or unground; then do they cover it, and put it under a Hat or Candlestick: and either in putting it thereinto, or pulling it thence, they turn the Box, and open the contrary end, wherein is shewed a contrary grain: or else they shew the glewed end first (which end they suddenly thrust into a Boll or Bag or such grain as is glewed al∣ready thereupon) and secondly the empty Box.

How to convey (with words or Charme) the Corn contained in one Box into another.

THere is another Box fashioned like a Bell, whereinto they do put so much, and such Corn or Spice as the aforesaid hollow Box can contain. Then they stop or cover the same with a piece of Leather, as broad as a Testor, which being thrust up hard towards the middle part or waste of the said Bell will stick fast, and bear up the Corn. And if the edge of the leather be wet, it will hold the better. Then take they the other Box dipped (as is aforesaid) in Corn, and set down the same upon the Table, the empty end upward, saying that they will convey the grain therein into the other Box or Bell: which being set down some∣what hard upon the Table,* 1.2 the Leather and the Corn therein will fall down, so as the said Bell being taken up from the Table, you shall see the Corn lying thereon, and the stopple will be hidden therewith, and covered; and when you uncover the other Box, nothing shall remain therein. But presently the Corn must be swept down with one hand into the other, or into your lap or hat. Many feats may be done with this Box, as to put therein a Toad, affirming the same to have been so turned from Corn, &c. and then many beholders will suppose the same to be the Jugglers Devil, whereby his feats and miracles are wrought. But in truth, there is more cunning Witchcraft used in transferring of Corn after this sort, than is in the transferring of one mans Corn in the Grass into another mans field: which the law of the twelve Tables doth so forcibly condemn; for the one is a cosening sleight, the other is a false lie.

Of another Box to convert Wheat into Flower with words, &c.

THere is another Box usual among Jugglers, with a bottom in the middle thereof, made for the like purposes. One other also like a Tun, where∣in is shewed great variety of stuffe, as well of liquors as Spices, and all by means of another little Tun within the same, wherein and whereon Liquor and Spices are shewed. But this would ask too long a time of description.

Of divert petty Juggling Knacks.

THere are many other beggerly feats able to beguile the simple,* 1.3 as to make an Oat stir by spitting thereon, as though it came to pass by words. Item to de∣liver Meal, Pepper, Ginger, or any Powder out of the mouth after the eating of Bread, &c. which is done by retaining any of those things stuffed in a little Paper or Bladder conveyed into your mouth, and grinding the same with your Teeth. Item, a rish through a piece of a Trencher, having three holes, and at the one side the Rish appearing out in the second, at the other side in the third hole, by reason of a hollow place made betwixt them both, so as the sleight consisteth in turning the piece of Trencher.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Note the man∣ner of this con∣veyance.
• * 1.2

  You must take heed that when the Corn com∣eth out, it cover and hide the leather, &c.
• * 1.3

  These are such sleights that even a bungler may do them; and yet pretty, &c.