![Screenshot of a PDF of the transcription. Text reads: "A watche at cardes to tell a man at what ower he thincketh to Risse proved trewe"; then a horizontal line; then "tacke xij cardes [w^th (and)] the knaue of clubes & laye them Round licke a clocke turnynge them all ther faces downward but the knave of clubes & laye hime vnder neth licke you^r watche & laye them this- then aske the ptie at what ower he will Risse & leat him kepe yt to hime seallfe & yf he thincke vij then poynte hime a a card to teall frome & bead hime yf he thincke vij to teall the card viij observinge this Rewle frome your leafte hand a cownt; that j for xv always & when you will have the ptie ^tell a poynt hime to tell toward you^r Right hand to what card you will a poynte hime you muste tell to your sealfe as before toward you leafte hand be ginynge at the j wch is xv & so tell them vpward as thus 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 & w^ch of al thes nvmbers that you poynte vpon bead him tell frome that w^ch he thinketh in his mind tel he haue towld to so maney toward his Right hand & then leat hime turn yt vp & yt shalbe that w^ch he thincketh a proved." To the right is a diagram of the numbers 1-12 arranged in a circle, with an X in place of 10.](https://aperiodical.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-2-1024x680.png)
In a dimly-lit tavern on the South Bank of the Thames, Philip Henslowe — builder and owner of the Rose Theatre — is celebrating the success of Shakespeare’s latest blockbuster, Henry VI Part I, among the cutthroats, actors and other lowlife of London. He spreads thirteen playing cards on a table in a circle. “Pick…


