Page:Magic book, or, The whole art of ledgeremain.pdf/4

4 be conveyed into the middle of the plate, and then sitting or kneeling under the board, let the head only remain upon the board, in the frame, then to make the sight more dreadful, put a little brimstone into a chafing-dish of coals, setting it before the head of the boy, who must gasp two or three times so as the smoke may enter his nostrils and mouth, which is not unwholesome, and the head presently will appear stark dead, if the boy set his countenance accordingly; and if a little blood be sprinkled on his face the sight will be stranger. This is commonly with a boy instructed for that purpose, who being familiar and conversant with company, may be known as well by his face as by his apparel. In the other end of the table, where the like hole is made, another boy of the bigness of the known boy must be placed, having on his usual apparel: he must lean or lie upon the board, and must put his head under the board, through the side hole, so as the body shall seem to lie on the end of the board, and his head lie in a plate on the other end. There are other things which might be performed in this action, the more to astonish the beholders, which, because they require long descriptions, I omit; as to put about his neck a little dough kneaded with bullock’s blood, which, being cold, will appear like dead flesh, and being