SEt one of your cups upon a Table, and take a good big stoole-ball out of your pocket, and say, clapping your hand with the ball in it under the Table, My masters would you not think it a pretty trick that I should make this ball come thorow the table into the cup:
Then some one or other will take up the cup to see if it be so; then holding the ball betweene your two middle fingers of your right hand, stare him in the face, and say nay but you must not move my cup out of its place, while I have said my words of command: with that set your cup in its former place, and in setting it downe nimbly, convey the ball under it, and say, Hei Fortuna nunquam credo, vade couragious: Now see (say) if it be there or not, which when they see they will imagine was conjured into it by vertue of your words.
Other very pretty tricks with Bals.
REtaine one small ball in your hand, and lay three other small bals upon the table: then with your right hand take up one of the three bals, and put into your left hand, saying, There is one, then take up the second, and put that into your left hand also, and therewith likewise put the ball you retained in your right hand, saying, And there is two (yet you know there is three already) and shut your hand in due time: then take up the third ball in your right hand, and clap your right hand unto the upper part of your left arme, retaining the ball firmely pronounce these words: Iubeo celeriter, come all into my hand when I bid you. Then withdraw your right hand (holding the palm thereof downward) saying, That's gone Gentlemen: then open your left hand, and say, Here are all three together, and lay them downe on the Table.
Another.
TAke up one of the bals in your right hand, & put it into your left, holding it firmely between your forefinger and thumbe of your said left hand. Then with your forefinger and thumbe of your right hand (but be nimble) seeme to pull one ball out of another, which you may doe by slipping the ball that you retained in your right hand betweene the forefinger and thumb of the said hand, saying, Thus by activity have I learn'd to do, out of one little ball for to make two: and all of a bignesse, then lay all foure balls upon the table.
Another.
VVIth your right hand take up one of the balls, and seeme to put it into the left, but retain it, shutting your left hand in due time, and say, There is one: then hold your hand from you. Then with your right hand take up another, saying, Here I take another. Then pronounce these words, Mercus mercurius by the powder of experience, Iubeo; then open your left hand, saying, That's gone, and then open your right hand and shew them both together.