Resources
Here are the resources I have found, collected, or written over the years. This includes books, documents, and the few SCA Arts and Sciences Documentations I have developed.
The Complete Medieval History of Magic 1650 BCE – 1650 CE
This is a comprehensive look at the history of medieval sleight of hand, starting with ancient Egypt and ending with the beginning of the Renaissance. This book includes information on every known magic book as well as several of the prominent magicians of the time.
If you want to book a lecture for either your SCA or Magician group please let me know. The lecture is an hour long, highlights the most important parts of this book, includes stories and information not included in this book, as well as showing examples of some of the magic. The lecture can be done online or in person.
Jason@jasonmporter.com
Aslak’s List of Old Magic
This is every magic trick I have been able to dig up pre-1650. Some methods are revealed so avoid it if you don’t want to know. This list was compiled with the SCA and Ren Faire performers in mind. I use whatever method I can to accomplish the magic, as long as it looks good and appears on this list I consider it fair game.
Aslak’s Guide to doing Magic in the SCA
This guide will talk about sleight of hand performance magic and the things I have learned over the 15 years I have been doing it in the SCA.
Aslak’s Two Decks No Waiting Documentation
This is the trick I developed using period techniques and using period materials. This is a unique trick that still gets as close to a medieval performance as I am able. Methods are not really discussed but some of the trick is revealed so consider yourself warned if you don’t want to know how magic is done.
Aslak’s Tale of Gorm Documentation
A trick that started out with a gift and transformed into one of my favorite pieces of magic. A Norse morality tale punctuated by very visual and (IMO) pretty magic.
Aslak’s A Mind of its Own Documentation
4-minute sleight of hand routine from Reginald Scots Discovery of Witchcraft, andJ. Prevosta’s La Premier partie des subtiles et plaisantes inventions (Clever and Pleasant Inventions). A Mind of its Own is a combination of effects from the 16th century and earlier combined into a unique routine.
Cups and Balls Documentation
Documentation on my Cups and Balls performance for our Shire A&S. Methods are not discussed but could be extrapolated so you are forewarned.
Aslak’s Brief History of Cards
A very short list of information I have found on the history of cards. Dates included and I will work on the bibliography of where I got this information.
Aslak’s Brief History of Cups and Balls
A very short list of information I have found on the history of cups and balls, my favorite trick of all time! Dates included and I will work on the bibliography of where I got this information.
Aslak’s (Very) Brief History of Magic
A very short list of information I have found on the history of magic. Dates included and I will work on the bibliography of where I got this information.
Aslak’s Brief History of Magic Lecture
This is a video of a lecture I gave during a virtual SCA event in the middle of the lockdown. Still not a complete history of medieval sleight of hand, it has most of my resources at least mentioned as well as a lot of good information I have found over the years.
SCA Magicians Facebook Group
A Facebook group I formed to further the discussion of medieval magic in the SCA setting. If your profile is locked down you may have to message me to get in.
Artemisia Magicians Facebook Group
A Facebook group I formed to further the discussion of medieval magic in the SCA setting, specifically in the Kingdom of Artemisia (Montana, Idaho, Utah). If your profile is locked down you may have to message me to get in.
Discovery of Witchcraft
Published in 1584 in London. Authored by Reginald Scot, a justice of the peace in Kent, England. He was guided by John Cautares, a 16th century French sleight-of-hand artist
De Viribus Quantitatis
De Viribus Quantitatis, written in 1493, is a unique treatise. It is one of the first (if not the first) to gather multiple mathematical recreations, magical effects and “scientific” experiments, explaining and exposing these within the spirit of its age. This text aims to provide a modern updated survey of the content of this book for related studies, as well as a résumé of its contents
A Brief and Pleasant Treatise
A Brief and Pleasant Treatise, Entitled, Natural and Artificial Conclusions.
Written in 1581 by Thomas Hill, this is the first time a magic book was written in English. This copy is in early modern English so can be hard to understand if you aren’t familiar with the language at the time.
The Art of Juggling or Legerdemaine
The Art of Juggling or Legerdemaine Written in 1612 by Samuel Rand
This book is outside of the typical SCA period, but the effects inside were for sure used before 1600. It contains magic with cards, coins, balls, knives, and other objects. It even includes a packet trick with specially designed cards. Many of the effects are taken directly from Reginald Scot’s The Discoverie of Witchcraft with two notable exceptions; a three-ball routine and an early use of specially printed cards.
Hocus Pocus Jr
Written in 1634, outside of the SCA period, I have included it because it contains the first working instructions to Cups and Balls, one of the oldest magic effects we know of. Many of the other effects were done in period as well so it is a great resource for the SCA period performer
Refutation of All Heresies
Written in the 3rd Century probably by Hippolytus of Rome. It catalogues both pagan beliefs and 33 gnostic Christian systems deemed heretical by Hippolytus, making it a major source of information on contemporary opponents of Christian orthodoxy as understood today. Book 4 seeks to refute magicians and diviners and in doing so exposes some of their methods. This is the oldest book I am aware of on the subject. The discussion of magic begins on page 61. Some of the tricks/methods are quite brutal so view it at your own risk.
Ms. Fr. 640
Ms. Fr. 640 is a unique manuscript composed in 1580s Toulouse. It offers firsthand insight into making and materials from a time when artists were scientists. A set of recipes on fols. 33r–43v in Ms. Fr. 640 is dedicated to sleight of hand.