Take two pieces of thread of one foot in length each: roll one of them round like a small pea, which put between your left fore-finger and thumb. Now, hold the other out at length, between the fore-finger and thumb of each hand, holding all your fore-fingers daintily; then let one cut the same asunder in the middle; when that is done, put the tops of your two thumbs together, and so shall you with less suspicion receive the thread which you hold in your right hand into your left, without opening your left finger and thumb. Then holding these two pieces as you did before it was cut, let these two be cut also asunder in the middle, and they conveyed again as before, until they be very short; then roll all these ends together, and keep that ball of thread before the other in the left hand, and, with a knife, thrust the same into a candle, where you may hold it until the said ball of thread be burnt to ashes; then pull back the knife with your right hand, and leave the ashes, with the other ball betwixt your fore-finger and thumb of your left hand, and, with the two thumbs and two fore-fingers together, take pains to rub the ashes till your thread be renewed, and draw out that thread at length, which you lay all this while betwixt your fore-finger and thumb. This is not inferior to any juggler’s trick, if it be well handled; for if you are so perfect in legerdemain as to bestow the same ball of thread, and to change it from place to place, betwixt your other fingers, as may be easily done, then it will seem very strange.
To pull many Yards of Ribbon out of the Mouth.
Jugglers get money from maids, by selling laces by the yard, putting into their mouths one round bottom, as fast as they pull out another, and, at the exact end of every yard, they tie a knot, so as the same rests upon their teeth; then they cut off the same, and so the beholders are doubly and trebly deceived, seeing as much lace as will fill a hat, and the same of what colour they like, to be drawn out of the mouth; and yet the juggler talks as though there was nothing in his mouth.
To cut a Piece of Tape into four Parts, and make it Whole again with Words.
Take a piece of narrow white tape, about two or three yards long. First present it to view to any that may desire it; then tie both the ends of it together, and take one side of it into one hand, so that the knot may be about the middle of one side, and, using some circumstantial words to beguile the spectators, turn one hand about toward yourself, and the other from you; so shall you twist the tape once, then clap the ends together, and then, if you slip your finger and thumb of each hand between the tape, almost as one would hold a skein of thread to be wound, this will make one fold or twist, as thus appears, where A signifieth the twist or fold—B the knot. Then
in like manner make a second fold, about the line D C, as you may see by the second figure, where B signifieth the knot, C the first fold, and A the second fold; then hold the fore-finger and thumb of your left hand upon the second twist, and upon the knot also, and the fore-finger and thumb of your right hand upon the first fold C, and desire some one of your spectators to cut all asunder with a sharp knife at the cross line E D; when it is cut, hold still your left hand, and let all the ends fall that you hold in your right hand, for there will be a show of eight ends, four above and four below, and so the strings will be thought to be cut into four parts, as may be seen by the third figure; then gather up the ends that you let fall into your left hand, and deliver two of the ends (seeming to take them at random) unto two several persons, bidding them hold them fast, still keeping your left-hand fingers upon the twists or folds; then with both your hands seem to tumble all the ends together that you had in your left hand, twist out the slips and pieces, which are three, as you may see at A and B in the third figure,—twist them all, I say, into a little ball, and conceal it between some of your fingers of your left hand, and crumble thereon another confused heap, and, after some words said, with your right hand deliver this confused heap unto any of the company, bidding them hold it fast, saying, “Hulla passa;” then bid them look on it, and while they are greedily looking after the event, you may with ease convey the ball or roll of ends into your pocket; so it will be thought that you have made it whole by virtue of your words. This is an excellent trick, if it be gracefully handled: it cost me a great deal of trouble and time to find it out.
To unloose a Knot upon a Handkerchief by Words.
Make a plain loose knot with two ends of a handkerchief, seeming to draw the same very hard. Hold fast the body of the handkerchief near to the knot, with your right hand, pulling the contrary end with your left. Then close up handsomely the knot, which will be somewhat loose, and pull the handkerchief so with your right hand, that the left hand may be near the knot; then will it seem to be a true and firm knot; and to make it appear more assuredly to be so indeed, let a stranger pull at the end which you hold in your left hand, while you hold fast the other in your right hand, and then holding the knot with your fore-finger and thumb, and the lower part of your handkerchief with your other finger, as you hold a bridle when you would with one hand slip up the knot and lengthen the reins. This done, turn your handkerchief over the knot with your left hand; in doing whereof you must suddenly slip out the end or corner, putting up the knot of your handkerchief with your fore-finger and thumb, as you would put the aforesaid knot of your bridle. Then deliver the same, covered and wrapped within the midst of the handkerchief, to one to hold fast, and, after the pronunciation of some words of art, take the handkerchief and shake it, and it will be loose.