Then follow certain rules for concealing balls and money in the hand, and other secrets worth knowing to students in the art and mystery of conjuration. From “The Merry Companion; or, Delights for the Ingenious. By Richard Neve” (whose jocular physiognomy, with the exhibition of one of his hocus pocus tricks, graces the title). 1721. Amongst these you shall see a grey goose-cap (as wise as the rest) with a 'what do ye lacke?' in his mouth, stand in his boothe, shaking a rattle, or scraping on a fiddle, with which children are so taken that they presently cry out for these fopperies. And all these together make such a distracted noise that you would think Babel was not comparable to it. Here there are also your gamesters in action; some turning off a whimsey, others throwing for pewter, who can quickly dissolve a round shilling into a three-halfpenny saucer. Long Lane at this time looks very faire,-and puts on her best cloaths with the wrong side outward, so turn'd for their better turning off; and Cloth Faire is now in great request; well fare the ale-houses therein; yet better may a man fare (but at a dearer rate) in the Pig-market, alias Pasty-nooke, or Pye-corner, where pigges are al houres of the day on the stalls, piping hot, and would cry (if they could speak) 'come eat me.'” The chronicler calls over the coals a “fat greasie hostesse” for demanding an additional shilling for a pig's head when a lady's longing is in the case; inveighs against the unconscionable exactions, and excessive inflammations of reckonings, and concludes with a reiterated and rhyming caution:-- “Now farewell to the Faire; you who are wise, Preserve your purses, whilst you please your eyes.” * The restoration of King Charles II. threw England into a transport of joy. Falstaff had not more his bellyfull of Ford, than had the nation of Jack Presbyter. ** * The historian has forgot to describe the wonderful performances of Francis Battalia, the Stone-Eater. ** “Presbyter is but Jack Priest writ large.”--Milton. In “The Lord Henry Cromwell's speech to the House, 1658,” he is made to say: 44 Methinks I hear 'em (the Players) already crying, thirty years hence at Bartholomew Fair, 'Step in, and see the Life and Death of brave Cromwell. Methinks I see him with a velvet eragg about his shoulders, and a little pasteboard hat on his head, riding a tittup, a tittup to his Parliament House, and a man with a bay leaf in his mouth, crying in his behalf, 'By the living G-- I will dissolve you!' which makes the porters cry, 4 O, brave Englishman!' Then the devil carries him away in a tempest, which makes the nurses squeak, and the children cry,”