ABSTRACT
Thomas Brandon (early sixteenth century), Bomelio Feats (late sixteenth century) and William Vincent, alias Hocus Pocus (early seventeenth century) each practiced juggling. Evidence exists of their respective trades with some of their tricks published in Reginald Scot’s Discouerie of witchcraft. Discussion takes place of the significance of the terms and practice of ‘private confederacy’ and ‘public confederacy’ in juggling tricks. ‘Private confederacy’ refers to a trick which the juggler has already prepared and conducted privately, and ‘public confederacy’ alludes to the use of a confederate assistant to execute the trick. Evidence concerning the work of Bomelio Feats is presented here for the first time. William Vincent was the Joculatori domini Regis [the lord king’s juggler] and author of Hocvs Pocvs Ivnior. The Anatomie of Legerdemain (1634).
