How to make a sheet of paper called Trouble-wit.
This is called Trouble-Wit, or Puzzle-Wit, which you please to call it, and indeed it is a very fine invention, by folding a sheet of paper as that, by art, you may change it into many several forms or fashions, take a sheet of marble Paper, fold it down the middle of the sheet long ways, when you have so done, turn down the edge of each fold outwards, the breadth of a single penny; then measure it as it is so folded into three equal parts with compasses, which makes six divisions in the sheet, let each third part be turned outward, and the other in course will fall right; then pinch it a quarter of an inch deep, in the manner as you pinch paper lanthorns, that is, in plaits like a ruff, so that when the paper lies pinched in its form, it is in the fashion represented by the figure A; when closed together like the figure B; unclose it again, and shuffle it with each hand, it resembles the shuffling of a pack of cards: close it, and take each corner inward with your fore-finger and thumb, it resembles a rose for a lady’s shoe, as is seen in the figure C, stretch it forth into the same form, and it resembles the cover for an Italian couch, as is shewed by the letter D; let go your fore-finger, at the lower end, and it resembles a wicket to a gate, or a portal to a nobleman’s door, as is shewed by the letter E; close it again, and pinch it at the bottom, spreading it on the top, and it is the fashion of a screen. For as it is shewed by the letter F. Pinch it half way, and open the top, and it is in the fashion of a shoe-maker’s cutting knife, which is shewn by the letter G; holding of it in that form, and with the thumb of your left-hand, turn out the next fold, and it is in form of a curry-comb, as it is shewed by the letter H. So that those who are resolved to learn to comb, do this feat, innocent, and diverting enough, both in city and country.
And I would have shewn more of the cuts, but that here is enough for the ingenious, since they have the manner of folding the paper, which is a great help to do it: the next fashion is a buttrice, such as farriers use to pair their horses heels withal; in the fashion of a lawyer’s desk; in the fashion of a bridge made of wood to carry a troop of horse over a river: in the fashion of a dark lanthorn: in the fashion of a bough-pot; in the fashion of a lanthorn with a rose at each end: in the fashion of a minced-pye, without any meat in it; in the fashion of a cardinal’s cap; in the fashion of a coster-monger’s cap; in the fashion of a sugar dish; and many more knacks to be played with it.
To make sport in company.
When you are in company, and shewing your tricks, and that you have done as many as you can, or think to do at this time, then say, to conclude, I will shew you the best and cleverest trick that ever I did shew in all my life; not only shew you, but learn it you, that you may do it yourself another time. The trick is this: how to set a glass of brandy on the other side of the table, and to make it come jumping and never touch it.
First, fill a glass of brandy, and put it on the farther end of the table, and have in readiness the crown of your hat blacked, then say to the company, gentlemen, whatever you see or hear, I desire you to say nothing; for this is done by the black art; now I desire every one of you to change hats one with another, and do as I do, and say as I say; now you must all turn the crowns of your hats towards your faces, and so speak as I do, saying, John of Basket; John of Basket! then rub your face, and he that hath your blacked hat, will laugh because the glass doth not move, and the others will laugh at his black face; and so you will make sport enough, then you must speak two or three bold words to the glass; as thus: glass of brandy, glass of brandy, come to me, if you will not, I will fetch you, and so take it up with your hand and drink it, then seem to fling the glass up against the cieling, and break it, and it will seem very strange. I have done this often.