Now ask any one of the company to hold it in their hands whilst you command all the seed to appear under the magic bell. Then clap the true lid on, and ring the bell; accordingly, the seed will be gone out of the bushel into the bell, to the great wonder of the bystanders.
Out of an Empty Bag to bring upwards of an Hundred Eggs; and, afterwards, a living Fowl.
First, buy two or three yards of printed calico, or linen, and make a double bag, at the mouth of which, on that side next you, make four or five little purses, in each of which put two or three eggs, and do so till you have filled that side next to you. Have a hole made at one end of the bag, that no more than two or three eggs may come out at once. Then have another bag like unto that exactly, that one must not be known from the other; put a hen into that bag, and hang it on a hook on the side you stand. The manner of performing it is thus: take the egg-bag and put both your hands in it; then turn it inside out, and say, “Ladies and gentlemen, you see here is nothing in my bag;” and in turning it again you must slip some of the eggs out of the purses, as many as you think fit: then turn your bag again, and show the company that it is empty, and in turning it command more eggs to come out. When all are come out but one, you are to take that egg and show it to the company, and then drop down the egg-bag and take up the hen-bag. Now, shake out the hen, pigeon, or other fowl. This, altogether, is a noble trick, if well executed.
Bonus Genius; or, Hiccius Doctius.
You must have the figure of a man made of wood, about the bigness of your little finger, the head whereof must be made to take off and put on at pleasure, by means of a wire that is in the neck; also, you must have a cloth cap, with a little bag within, to convey the head into; the bag must be neatly made, that it may not easily be perceived; show your man to the company, and say, “Ladies and gentlemen, this I call my Bonus Genius;” then show the cap, saying, “This is his coat;” say moreover, “look now as steadfastly as you can, nevertheless I will cozen you, for therefore am I come;” then hold your cap above your face, and take your man in your right hand, and put his head through the hole of the cap, saying, “Now he is ready to go on any message I have to send him,—to Spain or Italy, or where I will, but he must have somewhat to bear his charges;” with that, pull out your right hand from under your cap, and therewith the body, but, privately putting your right hand into your pocket, as if you felt for money, where you may have the body, and take out your hand and say, “There are three crowns for you, now begone;” then turn the head, and say, “But he will look about him before he goes;” then say (setting your fore-fingers upon his crown), “Just as I thrust my fore-finger down, so he shall vanish;” and therewith, by the assistance of your left hand that is under the cap, convey his head into the little bag within the cap; then turn your cap about, and say, “See here, he is gone;” then take your cap and hold it up again, drawing the head out of the little bag, and say, “Hic mecut genius;” and in the meantime thrust the head through the hole of the cap, and, holding the head by the wire, turn it about presently, and put the head into your pocket.
To make a Knife leap out of a Pot.
Have a pot full of water standing on a table; then take a piece of whalebone, about three inches long,—let it be pretty stiff, that it may spring the better: take also a new stiff card, and fold it down the middle, longways; cut a hole through both folds at each end, half an inch, or more, from the ends; put one end of the whalebone in at one end of the card, bend it like a bow, and then put the other end of the whalebone into the other end of the card; set this in the pot, two inches deep in the water; then place the handle of the knife upon the uppermost part of the whalebone, with the point upwards, and use some words of art, as Presto, begone! when it springs out.
To turn a Box of Bird-seed into a living Bird.
You must have a box made on purpose, with a false lid. It must be turned neatly, like the egg-boxes, so that it cannot be perceived where it opens. You must likewise have a false lid to clap on and to take off. On that lid glue some bird-seed. Before you show the box to the company, put a bird into it; put on the false lid, and then show the box to the bystanders. It will seem to be full of seeds. Now put on the true lid, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, I command all the seeds out of my box, and order a living bird to appear;” which it will do when the cover is taken off.