18
How to burn a Thread, and to make it whole again with the Ashes.
It is not one of the worst tricks to burn a thread handsomely, and make it whole again, ⟨the⟩ manner whereof is this; take two threads, ⟨or⟩ small laces, of one foot length a-piece, roll ⟨up⟩ one of them round, which will be about the bigness of a pea, put the same between your ⟨left⟩ fore-finger and your thumb, then take the ⟨other⟩ thread, and hold it forth at length betwixt ⟨your⟩ fore-finger and thumb of each hand, holding ⟨all⟩ your fingers daintily, as young gentle women ⟨are⟩ taught to hold up a morsel of meat: then let ⟨one⟩ cut asunder the same thread in the middle: ⟨when⟩ that is done, put the tops of your two ⟨thumbs⟩ together, and so shall you with less suspicion receive the piece of thread which you hold in ⟨your⟩ right hand into your left, without opening of ⟨your⟩ left finger and thumb; then holding those ⟨two⟩ pieces as you did before it was cut, let these ⟨two⟩ be also cut asunder in the midst, and they conveyed again as before, until they be very ⟨short⟩ and then roll all those 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 together, take pains ⟨to⟩ rub the ashes till your thread be renewed, ⟨and⟩ draw out that thread at length which you had ⟨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
