the earliest known english-language work on magic, or what was then known as "legerdemain" (sleight of hand), was published anonymously in 1635 under the title "hocus pocus junior: the anatomie of legerdemain". further research suggests that "hocus pocus" was the stage name of a well known magician of the era. this may be william vincent, who is recorded as having been granted a license to perform magic in england in 1619. whether he was the author of the book is unknown.