To blow a Sixpence out of another Man’s Hand.
Blow on a sixpence, and immediately clap it into one of the spectator’s hands, telling him to hold it fast; then ask him if he is sure he has it. He, to be certain, will open his hand and look. Then say to him, “Nay, but if you let my breath go off, I cannot do it.” Then take it out of his hand again, blow on it, and, staring him in the face, clap a piece of horn in his hand, and retain the sixpence, shutting his hand yourself. Bid him hold his hand down, and slip the sixpence into one of his cuffs; then say, “I command the money you hold in your hand to vanish; Vade, now see.” When they have looked, they will think it is changed by virtue of your stone. Then take the horn again, and say, “Vade;” and then say, “You have your money again.” He then will begin to marvel, and say, “I have not.” Then say to him again, “You have; and I am sure you have got it: is it not in your hand? If it be not there, turn down one of your sleeves, for it is in one, I am sure;” where he, finding it, will not a little wonder.
To make a Ring shift from one Hand to another, and to make it go on whatever Finger is required, while Somebody holds both Arms.
Desire some person in company to lend you a gold ring, recommending him at the same time to make a mark on it, that he may know it again. Have a gold ring of your own, which you are to fasten by a small piece of catgut string to a watch-barrel, which must be sewn to the left sleeve of your coat. Take in your right hand the ring that will be given you: then, taking with dexterity, near the entrance of your sleeve, the other ring fastened to the watch-barrel, draw it to the fingers’ ends of your left hand, taking care nobody perceives it. During this operation, hide between the fingers of your right hand the ring that has been lent to you, and fasten it dexterously on a little hook, sewed on purpose on your waistcoat, near your hips, and hid by your coat.
You will, after that, show your ring, which you hold in your left hand; then ask the company on which finger of the other hand they wish it to pass. During this interval, and as soon as the answer has been given, put the before-mentioned finger on the little hook, in order to slip on it the ring; at that moment let go the other ring, by opening your fingers. The spring which is in the watch-barrel, not being confined longer, will contract and make the ring slip under the sleeve without any body perceiving it, not even those who hold your arms: as, their only attention being to prevent your hands from communicating, they will let you make the necessary motions. These must be very quick, and always accompanied by stamping of the foot.
After this operation, show the assembly that the ring is come on the other hand; make them remark that it is the same that had been lent to you, or that the mark is right. Much dexterity must be made use of to succeed in this entertaining trick, that the deception may not be suspected.
To Transfer a Counter into a Silver Groat.
Take a groat, or a smaller piece of money, and grind it very thin on one side; then take two counters, and grind them, the one on one side, and the other on the other side; glue the smooth side of the groat to the smooth side of the counter, joining them as close together as possible, especially at the edges, which may be so filed that they shall seem to be but one piece; to wit, one side a counter and the other side a groat. Then take a little green wax, for that is softest, and therefore best, and lay it on the smooth side of the counter, as it does not much discolour the groat; and so will that counter, with the groat, cleave together as though they were glued, and, being filed even with the groat and the other counter, it will seem so perfectly like an entire counter, that, though a stranger handle it, he cannot betray it; then, having a little touched your fore-finger, and the thumb of your right hand, with soft wax, take therewith this counterfeit counter, and lay it openly upon the palm of your left hand, wringing the same hard, so as you may leave the glued counter with the groat apparently in the palm of your left hand, and the smooth side of the waxed counter will stick fast upon your thumb, by reason of the wax wherewith it is smeared: and so you may hide it at your pleasure (always be sure to lay the waxed side downward, and the glued side upward); then close your hand, and, in or after closing thereof, turn the piece, and so, instead of a counter, which they suppose to be in your hand, you shall seem to have a groat, to the astonishment of the beholders, if it be well handled. The juggler must not leave any of his tricks wanting for hard and break-jaw words.
To make a Silver Twopence be plain in the Palm of your Hand, and be passed from thence wherever you like.
Put a little red wax, not too much, upon the nail of your longest finger; then let a stranger put a two-penny piece into the palm of your hand, and shut your fist suddenly, and convey the two-penny piece upon the wax, which, with use, you may so accomplish, as no man shall perceive it; then, and in the meantime, use words of course, and suddenly open your hand; hold the tips of your fingers rather lower than the palm of your hand, and the beholders will wonder where it is gone; then shut your hand suddenly again, and lay a wager whether it be there or no, and you may either leave it there or take it away at pleasure. This, if it be well handled, hath more admiration than any other feat of the hand.—Note: This may be best done by putting the wax upon the two-penny piece, but then you must put it into your hand yourself.