’PrimerowasthefashionablegameatthecourtofEnglandduringtheTudordynasty。ShakspearerepresentsHenryVIII。playingatitwiththeDukeofSuffolk；andFalstaffsays，"IneverprosperedsinceIforsworemyselfatPrimero。"IntheEarlofNorthumberland’slettersabouttheGunpowder-plot，itisnoticedthatJoscelinPercywasplayingatthisgameonSunday，whenhisuncle，theconspirator，calledonhimatEssexHouse。IntheSidneypapers，thereisanaccountofadesperatequarrelbetweenLordSouthampton，thepatronofShakspeare，andoneAmbroseWilloughby。LordSouthamptonwasthen"SquireoftheBody"toQueenElizabeth，andthequarrelwasoccasionedbyWilloughbypersistingtoplaywithSirWalterRaleighandanotheratPrimero，inthePresenceChamber，afterthequeenhadretiredtorest，acourseofproceedingwhichSouthamptonwouldnotpermit。

Primero，originallyaSpanishgame，issaidtohavebeenmadefashionableinEnglandbyPhilipofSpain，afterhismarriagewithQueenMary。

MawsucceededPrimeroasthefashionablegameattheEnglishcourt，andwasthefavouritegameofJamesI。，whoappearstohaveplayedatcards，justasheplayedwithaffairsofstate，inanindolentmanner；requiringinbothcasessomeonetoholdhiscards，ifnottoprompthimwhattoplay。Weldon，alludingtothepoisoningofSirThomasOverbury，inhisCourtandCharacterofKingJames，says:’ThenextthatcameonthestagewasSirThomasMonson，butthenightbeforehewastocometohistrial，thekingbeingatthegameofMaw，said，"To-morrowcomesThomasMonsontohistrial。""Yea，"saidtheking’scard-holder，"where，ifhedonotplayhismaster’sprize，yourMajestyshallnevertrustme。"Thissoranintheking’smind，thatatthenextgamehesaidhewassleepy，andwouldplayoutthatsetthenextnight。

’ItisevidentthatMawdifferedveryslightlyfromFiveCards，themostpopulargameinIrelandatthepresentday。Asearlyas1674thisgamewaspopularinIreland，aswelearnfromCotton’sCompleatGamester，whichsays:"FiveCardsisanIrishgame，andismuchplayedinthatkingdomforconsiderablesumsofmoney，asAll-foursisplayedinKent，andPost-and-pairinthewestofEngland。"

’NoddywasoneoftheoldEnglishcourtgames。Thishasbeensupposedtohavebeenachildren’sgame，anditwascertainlynothingofthekind。Itsnatureisthusfullydescribedinacurioussatiricalpoem，entitledBattuponBatt，publishedin1694。

"ShowmeamancanturnupNoddystill，Anddealhimselfthreefivestoo，whenhewill；

Concludewithone-and-thirty，andapair，NeverfailteninStock，andyetplayfair，IfBattbenotthatwight，Ilosemyaim。"

’Fromtheselines，therecanbenodoubtthattheancientNoddywasthemoderncribbage——theNodofto-day，rejoicinginthenameofNoddy，andthemodernCrib，beingtermedtheStock。

’OmbrewasmostprobablyintroducedintothiscountrybyCatherineofPortugal，thequeenofCharlesII。；Waller，thecourtpoet，hasapoemonacardtornatOmbrebythequeen。

ThisroyalladyalsointroducedtotheEnglishcourtthereprehensiblepracticeofplayingcardsonSunday。Pepys，in1667，writes:"Thisevening，goingtothequeen’ssidetoseetheladies，Ididfindthequeen，theDuchessofYork，andanotheratcards，withtheroomfullofladiesandgreatmen；

whichIwasamazedattoseeonaSunday，havingnotbelieved，butcontrarilyflatlydeniedthesame，alittlewhilesince，tomycousin。"[61]

[61]Hombre，orratherElHombre，or’TheMan，’wassonamedasrequiringthoughtandreflection，whicharequalitiespeculiartoman；orrather，alludingtohimwhoundertakestoplaythegameagainsttherestofthegamesters，emphaticallycalledTheMan。

Itrequiresverygreatapplicationtoplayitwell:andletamanbeeversoexpert，hewillbeapttofallintomistakesifhethinksofanythingelse，orisdisturbedbytheconversationofthosethatlookon。Itisagameofthree，with40cards，thatis，rejectingtheeights，nines，andtensofallthesuits。

’InapassagefromEvelyn’sMemoirs，thewriterimpressivelydescribesanotherSunday-eveningsceneatWhitehall，afewdaysbeforethedeathofCharlesII。，inwhichaprofligateassemblageofcourtiersisrepresentedasdeeplyengagedinthegameofBasset。ThiswasanItaliangame，broughtbyCardinalMazarintoFrance；LouisXIV。issaidtohavelostlargesumsatit；anditwasmostlikelybroughttoEnglandbysomeoftheFrenchladiesofthecourt。Itdidnotstanditsground，however，inthiscountry；OmbrecontinuingthefashionablegameinEngland，downtillaftertheexpirationofthefirstquarterofthelastcentury。

’QuadrillesucceededOmbre，butforacuriousreasondidnotreignsolongasitspredecessor。FromthepeculiarnatureofQuadrille，anunfairconfederacymightbereadilyestablished，byanytwopersons，bywhichtheotherplayerscouldbecheated。

’WhiletheprecedinggameswereinvoguethemagnificenttempleofWhist，destinedtooutshineandovershadowthem，wasincourseoferection。

"LetIndiavauntherchildren’svastaddress，WhofirstcontrivedthewarlikesportofChess；

LetnicePiquettetheboastofFranceremain，AndstudiousOmbrebetheprideofSpain；

Invention’spraiseshallEnglandyieldtonone，WhenshecancalldelightfulWhistherown。"

’Allgreatinventionsanddiscoveriesareworksoftime，andWhistisnoexceptiontotherule；itdidnotcomeintotheworldperfectatallpoints，asMinervaemergedfromtheheadofJupiter。Norwereitswonderfulmeritsearlyrecognized。UnderthevulgarappellationsofWhiskandSwobbers，itlonglingeredintheservants’-hallereitcouldascendtothedrawing-room。

Atlength，somegentlemen，whometattheCrowncoffee-house，inBedfordRow，studiedthegame，gaveitrules，establisheditsprinciples，andthenEdwardHoyle，in1743，blazonedforthitsfametoalltheworld。

’Manyattemptshavebeenmade，atvarioustimes，toturnplaying-

cardstoaverydifferentusefromthatforwhichtheywereoriginallyintended。Thus，in1518，alearnedFranciscanfriar，namedMurner，publishedaLogicaMemorativa，amodeofteachinglogic，byapackofcards；and，subsequently，heattemptedtoteachasummaryofcivillawinthesamemanner。In1656，anEnglishman，namedJackson，publishedawork，entitledtheScholar’sScientialCards，inwhichheproposedtoteachreading，spelling，grammar，writing，andarithmetic，withvariousartsandsciences，byplaying-cards；premisingthatthelearnerwaswellgroundedinallthegamesplayedattheperiod。Andlaterstill，aboutthecloseoftheseventeenthcentury，therewaspublishedtheGenteelHousekeeper’sPastime；ortheModeofCarvingatTablerepresentedinaPackofPlaying-Cards，bywhichanyoneofordinaryCapacitymaylearnhowtoCarve，inMode，allthemostusualDishesofFlesh，Fish，Fowl，andBakedMeats，withtheseveralSaucesandGarnishespropertoEveryDishofMeat。Inthissystem，fleshwasrepresentedbyhearts，fishbyclubs，fowlbydiamonds，andbaked-meatbyspades。Thekingofheartsruledanoblesirloinofroast-beef；themonarchofclubspresidedoverapickledherring；andthekingofdiamondsrearedhisbattle-axeoveraturkey；whilehisbrotherofspadessmiledbenignantlyonawell-bakedvenison-pasty。

’Thekindofadvertisements，nowcalledcirculars，wereoften，formerly，printedonthebacksofplaying-cards。Visiting-cards，too，wereimprovised，bywritingthenameonthebackofplaying-

cards。Abouttwentyyearsago，whenahouseinDeanStreet，Soho，wasunderrepair，severalvisiting-cardsofthisdescriptionwerefoundbehindamarblechimney-piece，oneofthembearingthenameofIsaacNewton。Cardsofinvitationwerewritteninasimilarmanner。Inthefourthpicture，inHogarth’sseriesof"Marriagea-la-Mode，"severalareseenlyingonthefloor，upononeofwhichisinscribed:"CountBassetbegstonohowLadeSquandersleaptlastnite。"Hogarth，whenhepaintedthisinscription，wasmostprobablythinkingofMrsCentlivre’splay，TheBassetTable，whichacriticdescribesascontainingagreatdealofplotandbusiness，withoutmuchsentimentordelicacy。

’Acuriousandundoubtedlyauthentichistoricalanecdoteistoldofapackofcards。TowardstheendofthepersecutingreignofQueenMary，acommissionwasgrantedtoaDrColetogoovertoIreland，andcommenceafierycrusadeagainsttheProtestantsofthatcountry。OncomingtoChester，onhisway，thedoctorwaswaitedonbythemayor，towhomheshowedhiscommission，exclaiming，withprematuretriumph，"HereiswhatshalllashthehereticsofIreland。"MrsEdmonds，thelandladyoftheinn，havingabrotherinDublin，wasmuchdisturbedbyoverhearingthesewords；so，whenthedoctoraccompaniedthemayordownstairs，shehastenedintohisroom，openedhisbox，tookoutthecommission，andputapackofcardsinitsplace。Whenthedoctorreturnedtohisapartment，heputtheboxintohisportmanteauwithoutsuspicion，andthenextmorningsailedforDublin。Onhisarrivalhewaitedonthelord-lieutenantandprivycouncil，towhomhemadeaspeechonthesubjectofhismission，andthenpresentedtheboxtohisLordship；butonopeningit，thereappearedonlyapackofcards，withtheknaveofclubsuppermost。Thedoctorwaspetrified，andassuredthecouncilthathehadhadacommission，butwhatwasbecomeofithecouldnottell。Thelord-lieutenantanswered，"Letushaveanothercommission，and，inthemeanwhile，wecanshufflethecards。"BeforethedoctorcouldgethiscommissionrenewedQueenMarydied，andthusthepersecutionwasprevented。Wearefurtherinformedthat，whenQueenElizabethwasmadeacquaintedwiththecircumstances，shesettledapensionofL40perannumonMrsEdmonds，forhavingsavedherProtestantsubjectsinIreland。’[62]

[62]TheBookofDays，Dec。28。

Allthepursuitsoflife，allthetradesandoccupationsofmen，have，inalltimes，lentexpressionstothelanguagesofnations，andthoseresultingfromthepropensityofGAMINGareamongthosewhichperpetuallyrecurindailyconversation，andwiththegreatestemphasis。Thuswehave:——’Hehasplayedhiscardswellorill，’——appliedtothemanagementoffortuneorone’sinterest；

jactaestalea，’thedieiscast，’asexclaimedJuliusCaesarbeforecrossingtheRubicon；’hehasrunhisRACE——reachedtheGOAL’aturfadageappliedtoconsummatesuccessordisastrousfailure；’aluckythroworhit；’’withinanACE，’meaningonepointofgainingathing；’heHAZARDSeverything；’’chancesareforandagainst；’’hewasPIQUED，’fromthegameofpiquet，meaning，angryatlosingsomething；’leftinthelurch，’fromtheFrenchgamel’Ourche，whereinoncertainpointshappeningthestakeistohepaiddouble，andmeaning，’undercircumstancesunexpectedandpeculiarlyunfavourable；’’tosaveyourbaconorgamon，’fromthegameBack-gammon[63]ablotishit，’fromthesame；’checkedinhiscareer，’thatis，stoppedinhisdesignsfromthegameofchess。

[63]TheetymologyofthewordBack-gamonhasbeendisputed。

Hydeseemstohavesettledit。AcertainportionofthehogiscalledinItaliangambone，whenceourEnglishwordgambonorgammon。Confoundingthingsthatdiffer，manythinkthat’gamon’

inthegamehasthesamemeaning，andthereforetheysay——’hesavedhisgamonorbacon，’whichisabsurd，althoughitisaproverbialphraseofsufficientemphasis。ThewordBackgamonseemstobederivedfromtheverynatureofthegameitself，namely，back-game-on，thatis，whenoneofyourpiecesistaken，youmustgoback——beginagain——andthengameon——’Back-game-on’。

ThefabricationofcardsisamostimportantmanufactureofFrance；andParisandNancyarethetwoplaceswheremostcardsaremade。TheannualconsumptionofcardsinFranceamountsto1，500，000francs，orL62，500；butFrancealsosuppliesforeignerswiththearticle，especiallytheSpanish，American，Portuguese，andEnglishcolonies，tothevalueof1，000，000francs，orL41，666。ThegovernmentderivesfromthisbranchofFrenchindustrynotmuchlessthanL25，000annualrevenue，thatis，from20to25percent。oftheproduct。Thedutyoncardsissecuredandenforcedbyseverepenalties。

EnglishcardsareaboutathirdlargerthantheFrench。Thedouble-headedcardsareanEnglishinvention，andtheyarebeingadoptedbytheFrench。Theiradvantageisobvious，insecuringthesecrecyofthehand，forbyobservingapartyinarranginghiscardsafterthedeal，theactofturningupacardplainlyshowsthatitmustbeatleastafacecard，andtheoftenerthisisdonethestrongerthehand，ingeneral。InGermany，afourthface-cardissometimesaddedtothepack，calledtheKnight，orChevalier。TheItalianshavealsoinuselongcards，calledtarots，which，however，mustnotbeconfoundedwiththeFrenchcardscalledtarotees，withoddfiguresonthem，andusedbyfortune-tellers。

Themethodofmakingplaying-cardsseemstohavegiventhefirsthinttotheinventionofprinting，asappearsfromthefirstspecimensofprintingatHaerlem，andthoseintheBodleianLibrary。

’Themanufactureofplaying-cardscomprisesmanyinterestingprocesses。Thecardboardemployedforthispurposeisformedofseveralthicknessesofpaperpastedtogether；thereareusuallyfoursuchthicknesses；andthepaperissoselectedastotakepaste，paint，andpolishequallywell。Thesheetsofpaperarepastedwithabrush，andareunitedbysuccessiveprocessesofcold-drying，hot-drying，andhydraulicpressure。Eachsheetislargeenoughforfortycards。Theoutersurfacesoftheoutersheetsarepreparedwithakindofflintycoating，whichgivessharpnesstotheoutlineofthevariouscoloureddevices。Mostpacksofcardsarenowmadewithcolouredbacks。Theground-tintislaidonwithabrush，andconsistsofdis-tempercolour，orpigmentsmixedwithwarmmeltedsize。Thedeviceimpressedonthisground-tintisoftenverybeautiful。MessrsDelaRue，theleadingfirminthemanufacture，employtastefulartists，andinvestalargeamountofcapitalintheintroductionofnewpatterns。Oncardssoldatmoderateprices，thecoloursatthebackaregenerallytwo——onefortheground，andoneforthedevice；butsomeofthechoicerspecimensdisplayseveralcolours；andmanyofthedesignsareduetothepencilofMrOwenJones。Theprintingofthedesignisdoneonthesheetsofpaper，beforethepastingtoformcardboard。Thepipsorspotsonthefacesofplaying-cardsarenowspades，clubs，hearts，anddiamonds；butatdifferenttimes，andindifferentcountries，therehavebeenleaves，acorns，bells，cups，swords，fruit，heads，parasols，andotherobjectssimilarlyrepresented。InEnglishcardsthecoloursareredandblack；MessrsDelaRueonceintroducedred，black，green，andblueforthefoursuits；

butthenoveltywasnotencouragedbycard-players。Thesamemakershavealsoendeavouredtosupersedetheclumsydevicesofkings，queens，andknaves，bysomethingmoreartistic；butthis，too，failedcommercially；fortheoldpatterns，liketheoldwillow-patterndinner-plates，arestillpreferred——simplybecausetheusershavebecomeaccustomedtothem。Untilwithinthelastfewyearstheprintingofcardswasgenerallydonebystencilling，thecolourbeingappliedthroughperforateddevicesinastencil-plate。Thecolouremployedforthispurposeismixedupwithakindofpaste。Whenthereisadeviceattheback，theoutlineofthedeviceisprintedfromanengravedwood-

block，andtherestfilledinbystencilling。Thestencillingofthefrontandbackcanbedoneeitherbeforeorafterthepastingofthesheetsintocardboard。Onegreatimprovementinthemanufacturehasbeenthesubstitutionofoilcolourforpasteorsizecolour；andanother，thesubstitutionofprintingforstencilling。MessrsDelaRuehaveexpendedlargesumsofmoneyonthesenovelties；formanyexperimentshadtobemade，todeterminehowbesttoemployoilcoloursothatthespotsorpipsmaybeequal-tinted，theoutlineclearandsharp，thepigmentwelladherenttothesurface，andthedryingsuchastoadmitofpolishingwithoutstickiness。Theplatesforprintingareengravedoncopperorbrass，orareproducedbyelectrotype，orarebuiltupwithsmallpiecesofmetalorinterlacedwire。Theprintingisdoneintheusualwayofcolour-printing，withasmanyplatesastherearecolours(usuallyfive)，andonefortheoutlines；itisexecutedonthesheetsofpaper，beforebeingpastedintocardboard。Whentheprinting，drying，andpastingareallcompleted，acarefulpolishiseffectedbymeansofbrush-wheels，pasteboardwheels，heatedplates，andheatedrollers；insuchawaythatthepolishonthebackmaydifferfromthatontheface——sinceitisfoundthattooequallypolishedsurfacesdonotslidequitesoreadilyovereachother。

Formerly，everypackofcardsmadeinEnglandforhomeusepaidadutyofoneshilling，whichdutywasleviedontheaceofspades。

Themakerengravedaplatefortwentyacesofspades；theprintingwasdonebythegovernmentatSomersetHouse，andL1waspaidbythemakerforeverysheetofacessoprinted。Thelawisnowaltered。Cardsellerspayanannuallicenseof2s。6d。，andtoeachpackofcardsisaffixedathree-pencestamp，acrosswhichthesellermustwriteorstamphisname，underapenaltyofL5fortheomission。

Thecardboard，whenalltheprintingisfinished，iscutupintocards；everycardisminutelyexamined，andplacedamongthe’Moguls，’’Harrys，’or’Highlanders，’astheyaretechnicallycalled，accordingtothedegreeinwhichtheymaybefaultlessorslightlyspecked；andthecardsarefinallymadeupintopacks。’[64]

[64]Chambers’sCyclopaedia。

Machineryhasbeencalledintorequisitionincard-playing。In1815acasewastriedinwhichpartofthedebtclaimedwasforaninstrumenttocutcardssoastogiveanunfairadvantagetothepersonusingit。Theallegeddebtorhadbeenmostfortunateinplay，winningatonetimeL11，000fromanofficerinIndia。

Foranexactlyoppositereasonanothermachinewasusedin1818

bytheBennetStreetClub。Itconsistedofaboxcuriouslyconstructedfordealingcards，andwasinventedbyanAmericanofficer。

Anothercuriousfactrelatingtocardsisthedutyderivedfromthem。Intheyear1775thenumberofpacksstampedwas167，000，amountingtobetweenL3000andL4000duty。LordNorthputonanothersixpence。Ofcourse，avastnumberofpacksweresmuggledin，payingnoduty，asinthecaseoftobacco，inalltimessinceitsfiscalregulations。InthetimeofPitt，1789，L9000weretoberaisedbyanadditionaldutyofsixpenceoncardsanddice，consequentlytheremusthavebeennolessthan360，000packsofcardsandpairsofdicestampedintheyear1788，tojustifythecalculation——aproofthatgaminginEnglandwasnotonthedecline。Intheyear1790，thedutyoncardswastwoshillingsperpack，andondicethirteenshillingsperpair。

Thisdutyoncardswentonincreasingitsannualadditiontotherevenue，sothatabouttheyear1820themonthlypaymentsofMrHuntalone，thecard-makerofPicadilly，forthestamp-dutyoncards，variedfromL800toL1000，thatis，fromL9600toL12，000perannum。In1833thestamp-dutyoncardswas6d。，andityieldedL15，922，showingaconsumptionof640，000packsperannum。Muchofthis，however，wassheerwaste，onaccountoftheruleofgamestersrequiringafreshpackateverygame。

IntheHarleianMiscellany[65]willbefoundasatiricalpoementitled’TheRoyalGamesters；or，theOddCardsnewshuffledforaConqueringGame，’referringtothepoliticaleventsoftheyearsfrom1702to1706，andconcludingwiththefollowinglines——

’ThusendsthegamewhichEuropehasinview，Which，bythestars，mayhappentobetrue。’

[65]Vol。i。p。177。

Invol。iv。ofthesameworkthereisanotherpoemofthekind，entitled’TheStateGamesters；or，theOldCardsnewpackedandshuffled，’whichcharacteristicallyconcludesasfollows——

’Butwethisresolutionhavelaiddown——

NevertoplaysohighasforaCrown。’

Finally，astoallusionstogaming，thereadermayrememberthefamoussarcasmofthelateEarlofDerby(asLordStanley)somethirtyyearsago，comparingtheGovernmenttoThimble-riggersinoperation。

CHAPTERX。

PIQUET，BASSET，FARO，HAZARD，PASSE-DIX，PUT，CROSSANDPILE，THIMBLE-RIG——

PIQUET

Piquetissaidtohavederiveditsnamefromthatofitsinventor，whocontrivedittoamuseCharlesVI。ofFrance。Thegamewasplayedwiththirtytwocards，thatis，discardingoutofthepackallthedeuces，treys，fours，fives，andsixes。Regularpiquet-packsweresold。Inreckoningupthepoints，everycardcountedforitsvalue，astenforten，ninefornine，andsoondowntoseven，whichwas，ofcourse，thelowest；buttheacereckonedforeleven。Allcourtcardsreckonedforten。Asinothergames，theacewontheking，thekingthequeen，andsoon，totheknave，whichwontheten。Thecardsweredealtatoptionbyfours，threes，ortwos，tothenumberoftwelve，whichwasthehand——’discarding’beingallowed；butboththedealerandhethatledwereOBLIGEDtodiscardatleastonecard，lettheirgamebeeversogood。Whenthecardswereplayedout，eachcountedhistricks；andhethathadmostreckoned10forwinningthecards；

ifthetrickswereequal，neitherreckonedatall。Hewho，withoutplaying(thatis，accordingtothevarioustermsofthegame)，couldreckonup30inhand，whenhisantagonistreckonednothing，scored90forthem；thiswascalledarepic；andallabove30countedsomany，——32counting92，andsoon。Hewhocouldmakeup30，partinhandandpartbyplay，beforetheothermadeanything，scored60；thiswascalledapic。

Thegamewasalsoplayedaspoolpreciselyaccordingtotherulesbrieflysketchedasabove，thepenaltyforlosingbeingaguineatothepool。

Piquetrequiredmuchpracticetoplayitwell。Itbecamesogreatafavouritethat，bythemiddleofthe18thcentury，themeanestpeoplewerewellacquaintedwithit，and’letintoallthetricksandsecretsofit，inordertorenderthemcompletesharpers。’Sucharethewordsofanoldauthor，whoaddsthatthegamewasliabletogreatimposition，andheexplainsthemethodsinuse。Shortcardswereusedforcutting，asinWhist，atthetime。Ofthesecardsthereweretwosorts，onelongerthantherest；andtheadvantagegainedbythemwasastheadversarymanagedit，bycuttingthelongerorbroader，asbestsuitedhispurpose，orimposingonthedealer，whenitwashisturn，tocutthosewhichmademostagainsthim。Theaces，kings，queens，andknavesweremarkedwithdotsatthecorners，andintheveryoldbookfromwhichIamquotingprecisedirectionsaregivenhowthismarkingcanbeeffectedinsuchamanner’asnottobediscoveredbyyourADVERSARY，andatthesametimeappearplaintoYOURSELF。’Withafinepointedpenandsomeclearspringwater，playersmadedotsupontheglazedcardatthecornersaccordingtotheabovemethod；ortheycolouredthewaterwithindiaink，tomakethemarksmoreconspicuous。Theworkconcludesasfollows:——’Therearebut32cardsmadeuseofatPiquet，sothatjusthalfofthemwillbeknowntoyou；andindealingyoumayhaveanopportunitytogiveyourselfthoseyouLIKEbest；andifyoucannotconvenientlyCHANGEthePACK

accordingtoyourdesire，youwillcommonlyKNOWwhatYOUaretoTAKEIN，whichisademonstrativeadvantagetowinanyone’smoney。’

Evidentlytheydidnot’assumeavirtue’inthosedays，’iftheyhaditnot。’

BASSET。

ThegameofBasset(inFrenchWassette)wasconsideredoneofthemostpolitegameswithcards，andonlyfitforpersonsofthehighestranktoplayat，onaccountofthegreatlossesorgainsthatmightaccrueononesideortheother。

ThesumsofmoneylostinFranceatthisgameweresoconsiderablethattheprincesofthebloodwereindangerofbeingundone；andaftermanypersonsofdistinctionwereruinedthecourtofFrancethoughtfittoforbidBasset。ThenFarowasinvented；andbothweresoonintroducedintoEngland，andafterthreeorfouryears’playhere，theyimpoverishedsomanyfamilies，thatParliamentenactedasuppressionofbothgames，withseverepenalties。Thetwogamesare，therefore，ofhistoricalinterest，anddeserveanexplanation。

Bassetwasasortoflottery。ThedealerwhokeptthebankatBasset，havingthesoledisposalofthefirstandlastcard，andotherconsiderableprivilegesindealingthecards，hadamuchgreaterprospectofgainingthanthosewhoplayed。ThiswasatruthsoacknowledgedinFrancethattheking，bypublicedict，orderedthattheprivilegeofatalliere，orbankeratBasset，shouldonlybeallowedtothe’chiefcadets，’orsonsofnoblemen——supposingthatwhoeverkeptthebankmust，inaveryshorttime，acquireaconsiderablefortune。

Inthisgametherewas:1。TheTalliere，thebanker，wholaiddownasumofmoneytoanswereverywinningcardwhichmightturnup。2。TheCroupiere，theassistantoftheformer，standingbytosupervisethelosingcards，——sothatwhenthereweremanyatplayhemightnotlosebyoverlookinganythingwhichmightturnuptohisprofit。3。ThePunter，oreveryplayer。4。TheFasse，thatis，thefirstcardturnedupbythetalliere，bywhichhegainedhalfthevalueofthemoneylaiduponeverycardofTHAT

SORTbythepuntersorplayers。5。TheCouch，whichwasthefirststakethateverypunterlaiduponeachcard——everyplayerhavingabookof13cardsbeforehim，uponwhichhemustlayhismoney，moreorless，accordingtohisfancy。6。TheParoli:inthis，whoeverwonthecouch，andintendedtogoonforanotheradvantage，crookedthecornerofhiscard，lettinghismoneylie，withoutbeingpaidthevaluebythetalliere。7。TheMasse，whichwas，whenthosewhohadwonthecouch，wouldventuremoremoneyontheSAMEcard。8。ThePay，whichwaswhentheplayerhadwonthecouch，and，beingdoubtfulofmakingtheparoli，leftoff；forbygoingthepay，ifthecardturnedupwrong，helostnothing，havingwonthecouchbefore；butifbythisadventurefortunefavouredhim，hewondoublethemoneyhehadstaked。9。

TheAlpieuwaswhenthecouchwaswonbyturningup，orcrooking，thecornerofthewinningcard。10。TheSept-et-le-vawasthefirstgreatchancethatshowedtheadvantagesofthegame，namely，iftheplayerhadwonthecouch，andthenmadeaparolibycrookingthecornerofhiscard，andgoingontoaSECOND

chance，ifhiswinningcardturnedupagainitbecameasept-et-le-va，whichwasseventimesasmuchashehadlaiduponhiscard。11。Quinze-et-le-va，wasattendingtheplayer’shumour，who，perhaps，wasresolvedtofollowhisfancy，andstilllayhismoneyupontheSAMEcard，whichwasdonebycrookingthethirdcornerofhiscard:ifthiscardcameupbythedealingofthetalliere，itmadehimwinfifteentimesasmuchmoneyashestaked。12。Trent-et-le-vawasmarkedbytheluckyplayerbycrookingtheendofthefourthcornerofhiscard，which，comingup，madehimwinthirty-threetimesasmuchmoneyashestaked。

13。Soissante-et-le-vawasthehighestchancethatcouldhappeninthegame，foritpaidsixty-seventimesasmuchmoneyaswasstaked。Itwasseldomwonexceptbysomeplayerwhoresolvedtopushhisgoodfortunetotheutmost。

Theplayerssatroundatable，thetalliereinthemidstofthem，withthebankofgoldbeforehim，andthepuntersorplayerseachhavingabookof13cards，layingdownone，two，three，ormore，astheypleased，withmoneyuponthem，asstakes；thenthetallieretookthepackinhishandandturnedthemup——thebottomcardappearingbeingcalledthefasse；hethenpaidhalfthevalueofthestakeslaiddownbythepuntersuponanycardofTHATSORT。

Afterthefassewasturnedup，andthetalliereandcroupierehadlookedroundthecardsonthetable，andtakenadvantageofthemoneylaidonthem，theformerproceededwithhisdeal；andthenextcardappearing，whethertheking，queen，ace，orwhateveritmightbe，wonfortheplayer，thelattermightreceiveit，ormakingparoli，asbeforesaid，goontosept-et-le-va。Thecardafterthatwonforthetalliere，whotookmoneyfromeachplayer’scardofthatsort，andbroughtitintohisbank——obviouslyaprodigiousadvantageinthetalliereovertheplayers。

Thetalliere，ifthewinningcardwasaking，andthenextafteritwasaten，said(showingthecardsallround)，’Kingwins，tenloses，’payingthemoneytosuchcardsasareofthewinningsort，andtakingthemoneyfromthosewholost，addedittohisbank。Thisdone，hewentonwiththedeal，itmightbeafterthisfashion——’Acewins，fiveloses；’’Knavewins，sevenloses；’

andsoon，everyothercardalternatelywinningandlosing，tillallthepackwasdealtbutthelastcard。

TheLASTcardturnedupwas，bytherulesofthegame，fortheadvantageofthetalliere；althoughaplayermighthaveoneofthesamesort，stillitwasallowedtohimasoneoftheduesofhisoffice，andhepaidnothingonit。

Theboldplayerwhowasluckyandadventurous，andcouldpushonhiscouchwithaconsiderablestaketosept-et-le-va，quinze-

et-le-va，trente-et-le-va，&c。，mustinawonderfulmannerhavemultipliedhiscouch，orfirststake；butthiswasseldomdone；

andthelossoftheplayers，bytheverynatureofthegame，invariablyexceededthatofthebank；infact，thisgamewasaltogetherinfavourofthebank；andyetitisevidentthat——inspiteofthisobviousconviction——thegamemusthavebeenoneofthemosttemptingandfascinatingthatwaseverinvented。

OurEnglishadventurersmadethisgameverydifferenttowhatitwasinFrance，forthere，byroyaledict，thepublicatlargewerenotallowedtoplayatmorethanafrancorten-pennybank，——andthelossesorgainscouldnotbringdesolationtoafamily；butinEnglandourpunterscoulddoastheyliked——

stakingfromoneguineatoonehundredguineasandmore，uponacard，’aswasoftenseenatcourt，’saystheoldauthor，myinformant。Whenthecouchwasalpieued，parolied，tosept-

et-le-va，quinze-et-le-va，trente-et-le-va，&c。，thepunter’sgainswereprodigious，miraculous；andiffortunebefriendedhimsoastobringhisstaketosoissante-et-le-va，hewasverylikelytobreakthebank，bygainingasumwhichnotallierecouldpayaftersuchtremendousmultiplication。Butthisrarelyhappened。Thegeneraladvantagewaswiththebank——asmustbequiteevidentfromtheexplanationofthegame——besidesthestandingrulethatnotwocardsofthesamesortturningupcouldwinfortheplayers；thesecondalwayswonforthebank。Inadditiontothistherewereother’privileges’whichoperatedvastlyinfavourofthebanker。

However，itwas’ofsobewitchinganature，’saysouroldwriter，’byreasonoftheseveralmultiplicationsandadvantageswhichitseeminglyofferedtotheunwarypunter，thatagreatmanylikeitsowellthattheywouldplayatsmallgameratherthangiveout；

andratherthannotplayatallwouldpuntatsix-penny，three-penny，nay，atwopennybank，——somuchdidthehopeofwinningthequinze-et-le-vaandthetrente-et-le-vaintoxicatethem。’

OfcoursetherewerefraudspractisedatBassetbythetalliere，orbanker，inadditiontohisprescriptiveadvantages。Thecardsmightbedealtsoasnottoallowthepunteranywinningthroughoutthepack；anditwasinthepowerofthedealertoletthepunterhaveasmanywinningsashethoughtconvenient，andnomore！

ItissaidthatBassetwasinventedbyanobleVenetian，whowaspunishedwithexileforthecontrivance。ThegamewasprohibitedbyLouisXIV。，in1691，andsoonafterfellintooblivioninFrance，althoughflourishinginEngland。ItwasalsocalledBarbacoleandHocca。

FARO，ORPHARAOH。

AlthoughbothBassetandFarowereforbiddeninFrance，onseverepenalties，yetthesegamesstillcontinuedingreatvogueinEnglandduringthe18thcentury，especiallyFaro；fortheallegedreasonsthatitwaseasytolearn，thatitappearedtobeveryfair，and，lastly，thatitwasaveryquietgame。Itwas，however，themostdangerousgameforthedestructionoffamilieseverinvented。TheFarobankersseemtohaveemployedsome’gentlemen’togiveaveryfavourablereportofthegametothetown，andsoeveryonetookitupontrustwithoutfurtherinquiry。FarowasthedaughterofBasset——bothalikenotoriousfrauds，therebeingnoone，exceptprofessedgamblers，whocouldbesaidtounderstandthesecretsofthesegames。

Farowasplayedwithanentirepackofcards，andadmittedofanindeterminatenumberofplayers，termed’punters，’anda’banker。’Eachplayerlaidhisstakeononeofthe52cards。

Thebankerheldasimilarpack，fromwhichhedrewcards，oneforhimself，placedontheright，andtheother，calledthecarteanglaise，orEnglishcard，fortheplayers，placedontheleft。

Thebankerwonallthemoneystakedonthecardontheright，andhadtopaydoublethesumsstakedonthoseontheleft。Certainadvantageswerereservedtothebanker:——ifhedrewadoublet，thatis，twoequalcards，hewonhalfofthestakesuponthecardwhichequalledthedoublet；ifhedrewfortheplayersthelastcardofthepack，hewasexemptfromdoublingthestakesdepositedonthatcard。

Supposeapersontoputdown20s。uponacardwhenonlyeightareinhand；thelastcardwasacipher，sotherewerefourplacestolose，andonlythreetowin，theoddsagainstbeingas4to3。

If10cardsonlywerein，thenitwas5to4againsttheplayer；

intheformercaseitwastheseventhpartofthemoney，whateveritwas，L1orL100；inthelattercase，aninth。Theoddsfromthebeginningofthedealinsensiblystoleupontheplayerateverypull，tillfromthefirstsupposed4percent。itbecameabout15percent。

Atthemiddleofthe18thcenturytheexpensesofaFarobank，inallitsitemsofservants，rent，puffs，andotherincidentalchargesofcandles，wine，arrack-punch，suppers，andsafeguardmoney，&c。，inCoventGarden，amountedtoL1000perannum。

ThroughoutthiscenturyFarowasthefavouritegame。’Ourlifehere，’writesGillyWilliamstoGeorgeSelwynin1752，’wouldnotdispleaseyou，forweeatanddrinkwell，andtheEarlofCoventryholdsaPharaoh-bankeverynighttous，whichwehaveplunderedconsiderably。’CharlesJamesFoxpreferredFarotoanyothergame。

HAZARD。

Thisgamewasproperlysocalled；foritmadeamanorundidhiminthetwinklingofaneye。

Itisplayedwithonlytwodice；20personsmaybeengaged，orasmanyaswill。ThechiefthingsinthegamearetheMainandtheChance。Thechanceisthecaster’sandthemainisthesetter’s。

Therecanbenomainthrownabove9，norunder5；sothat5，6，7，8，and9areallthemainswhichareflungatHazard。Chancesandnicksarefrom4to10。Thus4isachanceto9，5to8，6

to7，7to6，8to5，and9and10achanceto5，6，7，and8；inshort，4，5，6，7，8，9，and10arechancestoanymain，ifanyofthese’nick’itnot。

Nicksareeitherwhenthechanceisthesamewiththemain，as5

and5，6and6，7and7，andsoon；or6and12，7and11，8and12，whereobserve，that12isoutto9，7，and5，and11isoutto9，8，6，and5。

Thebettertoillustratethegameweshallgiveanexample。Let7bethemainnamed。Thecasterthrows5，andthatishischance；andsohehas5to7。Ifthecasterthrowshisownchancehewinsallthemoneysettohimbythesetter；butifhethrows7，whichisthemain，hemustpayasmuchmoneyasisonthetable。

If，again，7bethemain，andthecasterthrows11，thatisanick，andsweepsawayallthemoneyonthetable；butifhethrowsachancehemustwaitwhichwillcomefirst。

Theworstchancesinthegameare4to10，and7isconsideredthebestandeasiestmaintobethrown。Itmightbethoughtthat6and8shouldadmitofnodifferenceinadvantageto7，butitisjustthereverse，although6，7，and8haveeightequalchances。

For6，orsice，wehavequatre-duce，cinque-ace，andtwotreys；

for8，wehavesice-duce，cinque-trey，andtwoquatres；butthedisadvantageisinthedoubletsrequired——twotreys，twoquatres；thereforesice-duceiseasierthrownthantwoquatres，andso，consequently，cinque-aceorquatre-ducesoonerthantwotreys。

’Isawanoldrook(gambler)，’saysthewriterbeforequoted，’takeupayoungfellowinatavernuponthisverybet。Thebargainwasmadethattherookshouldhavesevenalways，andtheyounggentlemansix，andthrowcontinually。Toplaytheywent；

therookwonthefirstdayL10，andthenextdaythelikesum；

andsoforsixdaystogether，inallL60。Notwithstandingthegentleman，Iamconfident，hadfairdice，andthrewthemalwayshimself。AndfurthertoconfirmwhatIallegedbefore，notonlythisgamester，butmanymorehavetoldmethattheydesirednogreateradvantagethanthisbetof7to6。Butitistheopinionofmostthatatthefirstthrowthecasterhaththeworstofit。

’Hazardiscertainlythemostbewitchinggamethatisplayedwithdice；forwhenamanbeginstoplay，heknowsnotwhentoleaveoff；andhavingonceaccustomedhimselftoit，hehardlyeveraftermindsanythingelse。’[66]

[66]TheCompleatGamester，byRichardSeymour，Esq。1739。

Asthisgameisofasomewhatcomplicatedcharacter，anotheraccountofit，whichappearedinthePallMallGazetteforSept。

3，1869，maynotbeunacceptable。

’Theplayersassembleroundacirculartable，aspacebeingreservedforthe"groom-porter，"whooccupiesasomewhatelevatedposition，andwhosedutyitistocalltheoddsandseethatthegameisplayedcorrectly。Whoevertakestheboxanddiceplacesinthecentreofthetableasmuchmoneyashewishestorisk，whichisatoncecoveredwithanequalamounteitherbysomeindividualspeculator，orbythecontributionsofseveral。Theplayer(technicallycalledthe"caster")thenproceedstocalla"main。"Therearefivemainsonthedice，namely，5，6，7，8，and9；ofthesehementallyselectsthatonewhicheitherchanceorsuperstitionmaysuggest，callsitaloud，shakesthebox，anddeliversthedice。Ifhethrowstheexactnumberhecalled，he"nicks"itandwins；ifhethrowsanyothernumber(withafewexceptions，whichwillbementioned)，heneitherwinsnorloses。

Thenumber，however，whichhethusthrowsbecomeshis"chance，"

andifhecansucceedinrepeatingitbeforehethrowswhatwashismain，hewins；ifnot，heloses。Inotherwords，havingcompletelyfailedtothrowhismaininthefirstinstance，heshouldlose，butdoesnotinconsequenceoftheequitableinterferenceofhisnewly-madeacquaintance，whichconstitutesitselfhischance。Forexample，supposethecaster"sets"——thatis，placesonthetable——astakeofL10，anditiscoveredbyanequalamount，andhethencalls7ashismainandthrows5；thegroom-porteratoncecallsaloud，"5to7"——thatmeans，5isthenumbertowinand7thenumbertolose，andtheplayercontinuesthrowinguntiltheeventisdeterminedbytheturningupofeitherthemainorthechance。Duringthistime，however，amostimportantfeatureinthegamecomesintooperation——thelayingandtakingoftheoddscausedbytherelativeproportionsofthemainandthechance。These，ashasbeensaid，arecalculatedwithmathematicalnicety，areproclaimedbythegroom-porter，andarenevervaried。Intheaboveinstance，asthecasterstandstowinwith5andtolosewith7，theoddsaredeclaredtobe3to2

againsthim，inasmuchastherearethreewaysofthrowing7，andonlytwoofthrowing5。Assoonastheoddsaredeclared，thecastermayincreasehisstakebyanysumhewishes，andtheotherplayersmaycoveritbyputtingdown(inthisinstance)

two-thirdsoftheamount，themasse，orentiresum，toawaittheturningupofeithermainorchance。Ifaplayer"throwsout"

threetimesinsuccession，theboxpassestothenextpersononhisleft，whoatoncetakesuptheplay。Hemay，however，"throwin"withoutinterruption，andifhecandososomehalf-dozentimesandbackhisluck，thegainswillbeenormous。

’Thechoiceofamainisquiteoptional:manyprefer7becausetheymaymakeacoupatoncebythrowingthatnumberorbythrowing11，whichisa"nick"to7，butto7only。Shrewdplayers，however，prefersomeothermain，withtheviewofhavingamorefavourablechancetodependuponofwinningbothstakeandodds。Forexample，letusreversewhatwasmentionedabove，andsupposethecastertocall5andthrow7；hethenwillhave7ashischancetowinwithoddsof3to2INHISFAVOUR。

’SuchisthegameofEnglishHazard，atwhichlargefortuneshavebeenwonandlost。Itisexceedinglysimple，andattimescanbecomepainfullyinteresting。Cheatingisimpossible，unlesswithloadeddice，whichhavebeenusedanddetectedbytheirsplittingintwo，butnever，perhaps，unlessatsomedisreputablesilverhell。Themodeofremuneratingtheowneroftheroomswasapopularone。Theloserneverpaid，andthewinneronlywhenhesucceededinthrowingthreemainsinsuccession；andeventhenthe"boxfee，"asitwascalled，waslimitedto5s——ameretriflefromwhathemusthavegained。InFrenchHazardabankisconstitutedataboardofgreencloth，andtheproceedingsarecarriedoninamoresubduedandregularmodethanisthecaseintherough-and-readyEnglishgame。Everystakethatis"set"iscoveredbythebank，sothattheplayerrunsnoriskoflosingalargeamount，when，ifsuccessful，hemaywinbutatriflingone；

butenrevanche，thescaleofoddsissoalteredastoputthedoublezeroofrouletteandthe"aprez"ofRougeetNoirtotheblush，andtooperatemostpredjudiciallytotheplayer。InnocaseisanequalrateofoddsbetweenmainandchancelaidbytheFrench"banquier，"asisinsistedonbytheEnglishgroomporter；

whileagain"directnicks"alonearerecognizedbytheformer。

VeryextraordinaryrunsofluckhaveoccurredatHazard，oneplayersometimesthrowingfive，seven，andevenelevenmainsinasinglehand。InsuchcasesasthesethepeculiarfeatureintheFrenchgamebecomesvaluable，thebankbeingpreparedtopayallwinnings，while，generallyspeaking，ahandofsixorsevenmainsatEnglishHazardwouldexhaustallthefundsoftheplayers，andleavethecasterinthepositionof"settingthetable"andfindingthestakestotallyunnoticedoronlypartiallycovered。

’InadditiontothefixedrulesofEnglishHazard，thereareseveralregulationswhichrequiretobeobserved。Theroundtableonwhichitisplayedhasadeeplybevellededge，whichisintendedtopreventthedicefromlandingonthefloor，whichwouldbenothrow。Again，ifeitherdieafterhavinglefttheboxshouldstrikeanyobjectonthetable(suchasaman’selboworstick)exceptMONEY，itwouldbecallednothrow。Again，eachplayerhastheprivilegeof"callingdice，"evenwhenthediceareintransitu，which，ifdone，rendersthethrowvoid，andcausesanothersettobehandedtothecasterbythegroom-

porter。Manyaluckycouphasbecomemanquebysomecaptiousplayerexercisingthisprivilege，andmanyanangryrencontrehasensuedbetweentheofficiousmeddlerandthedisappointedcaster，whofindsthathehasnickedhismaintonoadvantage。Sometimesonedieremainsintheboxaftertheotherhasbeenlanded；thenthecastermayeitherthrowitquickly，ormaytantalizethoseinterestedintheeventbygentlycoaxingitfromthebow。Ifonedielandsonthetopofanother，itisremovedbythegroom-porteranddeclaredathrow。

’SomethirtyyearsagoEnglishHazardwasafavouritegameinIreland，andDublincouldboastofthreeorfourhellsdoingabrisktrade。Themostfrequentedandlongestestablishedwascalled"TheCoalHole，"beingsituatedonthecoalquay。Here，atanyhouraftermidnight，amotleycompanymightbeseen，eachindividual，however，wellknowntotheporter，whojealouslyscannedhisfeaturesbeforedrawingbackthenoiselessboltswhichsecuredthedoor。Theprofessionalgamblertryingtolivebyhiswinnings，thefashionableswellfinishinghisroundofexcitement，thestrugglingtradesmanhopingtoavertimpendingbankruptcy，theprize-fighter，and，moreconspicuousthanany，thekeen-eyedusurerwithhisrollofnotesandsheafofbillstamps，weretobefoundthere。Manystrangesceneshaveoccurredinthishouse，somefollowedbytragicconsequencestoopainfultorelate，othersridiculousandamusing。Hereitwasthatanangrycaster，havinglosthislastsovereignandhistemper，alsoplacedhisblackhatinthecentreofthetable，sworethatitwaswhite，andfindingnoonedisposedtodisputehisaccuracy，flunghimselffromtheroom，andenabledthenextplayerwhohadwonsolargelyandsmiledsogood-humouredlytotaketheboxinturn。Butfortunedesertedhimalso，andlefthimpenniless，when，glaringsavagelyroundtheroom，andstrikingthetableviolently，hethunderedforththeinquiry，"Wherewastherascalwhosaidhishatwaswhite？"Itwasherealso(althoughthevenuehasbeenchangedbystory-mongers)thatawell-knownfrequenterofthehouse，asportingM。P。，ononeoccasiondroppedonthe’doororinthepassageabank-notewithoutdiscoveringhislosstillhehadreachedhome。Onthenexteveninghereturnedtoinquireforitinaforlorn-hopespirit，whenthefollowingconversationtookplacebetweenhimandtheporter:——

"M。P。Ithink，Simpson，Idroppedanoteherelastnight——didyouseeit？

"Porter。Shure，then，monyanotewasdroppedherebesideyours。

"M。P。Ah！butImeanoutofmypocket。Ididnotloseitatplay。ItwasforL20，oneofBall’sBank，andveryold。"

’Hereupontheporterbroughtthesenatorintoacorner，fumbledthenoteoutofhisfob，and，placingitinhishands，whispered，"Shure，Iknowit’syours，andhereitis；but(lookingcautiouslyround)wasn’titluckythatnoneofthejintleminfoundit？"

’AnotherestablishmentmuchpatronizedinthosedayswasinNassauStreet，whereearlyintheeveningunlimitedLoo，neverunder"threeandthree，"sometimes"sixandsix，"mightbeindulgedin，whilealittlelaterRouletteformedtheattractionofanadjacentroom，andstilllateratnightallflockeddown-

stairstothehotsupperandrattlingEnglishHazard。ForoneortwoseasonsStStephen’sGreenlentoneofitslordlymansions，formerlytheresidenceofacruelandwittyLordChiefJustice，tothevotariesoffortune；hereeverythingwasdoneingrandstyle，withgildedsaloons，obsequiouswaiters，andchampagnesuppers。Allthishaslongsincebecomematterofthepast，anditwouldnowpuzzlethekeenestdetectivetofindthetraceevenofasilverhellintheIrishcapital。Noonewillbehardyenoughtodefendtheviceofgambling，butsomehaveargued，andnotwithouttruth，thatifamanwillplayitisfarbetterforhimtoindulgethepropensityatHombourgorBaden，wherehecannotlosemoremoneythanhehaswithhim，thantodosointhecozyclub-roomofaprivate"salon，"whereindulgentfriendsmaytempthimtobecomebankruptnotonlyinfortunebutinreputation。’

Passingoverotherlessimportantgames，calledBiribi，andKraps(playedwithdice)，wecometoPasse-Dix，whichseemstodemandsomenotice。

PASSE-DIX。

Thisgame，consideredthemostancientofallgamesofchance，issaidtohaveactuallybeenmadeuseofbytheexecutionersatthecrucifixionofourSaviour，whenthey’partedhisgarments，castinglots，’Matt。xxvii。35。

Itisplayedwiththreedice。Thereisalwaysabanker，andthenumberofplayersisunlimited。Eachgamesterholdstheboxbyturns，andtheotherplayersfollowhischance；everytimehethrowsapointUNDERtenhe，aswellastheotherplayers，losestheentirestakes，whichgotothebanker。EverytimehethrowsapointABOVEten(orPASSESTEN——whencethenameofthegame)，thebankermustdoubletheplayer’sstakesandthestakesofallthosewhohaveriskedtheirmoneyonthesamechance。Whenthegameisplayedbymanytogether，eachgamesterisbankerinhisturn。

PUT。

Thiswasanddoubtlessstillisthespecialcard-gameofourLondonsharpers。Manyofthesearemenwhohaverunthroughafortuneintheearlypartoftheirlives，byassociatingwithgamblersandsharpers，setupforthemselves，sethonourandconscienceatdefiance，becomeblacklegs，andarescoutedoutofeventhegambler’scompany；and，asalastresource，areobligedtoresorttolowpot-houses，robbingthepoorestandmostignorantofsociety。

Behindthedupetherestoodaconfederatesharper，lookingoverthenovice’shand，andtellinghisopponent，byhisfingers，whatcardsheholds——hencehewassaidtoworkthetelegraph，ofwhichmoreinthesequel。Anotherconfederatepliedthenovicewithdrink。

’ThegameofPutisplayedwithanentirepackofcards，generallybytwo，andsometimesbyfourpersons。Atthisgamethecardsrankdifferentlyfromallothers；atreybeingthebest，thenatwo，thenanace，thentheking，queen，&c。Thegameconsistsoffivepoints。Thepartiescutfordeal，asinWhist。Thedealismadebygivingthreecards，oneatatime，toeachplayer。Thenon-dealerthenexamineshiscards，andifhethinksthembad，heisatlibertytoPUTthemuponthepack，andhisadversaryscoresonepointtohisgame。This，however，shouldneverbedone。Eitherpartysaying——"Iput，"thatis，I

play，cannotretract，butmustabidetheeventofthegame，orpaythestakes。

’TheTHREEbeingthebestcard，ifthesharpercanmakecertainofhavingathreeeverytimehisopponentdeals，hemusthaveconsiderablythebestofthegame；andthisiseffectedasfollows:——thesharperplacesathreeunderneathanoldgentleman(acardsomewhatlargerandthickerthantherestofthepack)，anditdoesnotsignifyhowmuchhisopponentshufflesthepack，itisaboutfivetoonethathedoesnotdisturbtheOLD

GENTLEMANorthethree。Thesharperthencutsthecards，whichhedoesbyfeelingfortheoldgentleman；thethreebeingthenthetopcard，itisdealttothesharperbyhisopponent。Thatisonewayofsecuringathree，andthisaloneisquitesufficienttomakeacertaintyofwinning。’[67]

[67]DoingsinLondon。

CROSSANDPILE。

CrossandPile，socalledbecauseancientlyEnglishcoinswerestampedononesidewithacross，nowbearsthenames，HeadandTail，andisapastimewellknownamongthelowestandmostvulgarclassesofthecommunity，andtowhomitisnowconfined；

formerly，however，itheldahigherrankandwasintroducedatCourt。EdwardII。waspartialtothisandotherfrivolousdiversions，andspentmuchofhistimeinthepursuitofthem。

Inoneofhiswardrobe’rolls，’oraccounts，wefindthefollowingentries——’Item，paidtoHenry，theking’sbarber，formoneywhichhelenttothekingtoplayatCrossandPile，fiveshillings。Item，paidtoPiresBernard，usheroftheking’schamber，moneywhichhelenttheking，andwhichhelostatCrossandPile；toMonsieurRobertWartewille，eight-pence。’

Ahalf-pennyisnowgenerallyusedinplayingthisgame；butanyothercoinwithaheadimpressedwillanswerthepurpose。Onepersontossesthehalf-pennyupandtheothercriesatpleasureHEADorTAIL，andlosesaccordingtotheresult。

CrossandPileisevidentlyderivedfromtheGreekpastimecalledOstraKinda，playedbytheboysofancientGreece。Havingprocuredashell，theysmeareditoverwithpitchononesideandlefttheothersidewhite。Aboytossedupthisshell，andhisantagonistcalledwhiteorblack，[68]ashethoughtproper，andhissuccesswasdeterminedbythewhiteorblackpartoftheshellbeinguppermost。

[68]IntheGreek，nuxkaihmera，thatis，’nightandday。’

ItisthefavouritegameoftheboysofLondonandthevicinity，now，however，considerably，ifnotentirely，discontinuedthroughthevigilanceofthepoliceandtheseverityofthemagistrates。

Notlongago，however，IwitnessedasadandstrikingsceneofitatTwickenham。ItwasonaSundaymorning。Severalboyssurroundedtwoplayers，oneofthelatterbeingabout14yearsofage，welldressed，andtheotherofabout10years，allintattersandshoeless。Theyoungerurchinhadalongrunofgoodluck，whereathisantagonistexhibitedmuchannoyance，swearingintemperately。Atlength，however，hisluckchangedinturn，andhewentonwinninguntiltheformerrefusedtoplayanylonger，saying——’There，you’vegotbackallIwonfromyou。’Thebiggerboybecameenragedatthisrefusaltocontinuetheplay，andseemedinclinedtoresorttofisticuff，butIinterposedandputastoptotheaffray。Ithenquestionedtheelderboy，andgatheredfromhimthatheplayedasoftenashecould，sometimeswinningorlosingfromeighttotenshillings。’Anddoyougenerallywin？wasmynextquestion。’’No，sir，’hereplied，’I

oftenerlose。’Ishudderedtoconjecturewhatwouldbethefutureofthisboy。ThewordofwarningIgavehimwasreceivedwithashrugoftheshoulder，andhewalkedoffwiththegreatestunconcern。

THIMBLE-RIG。

Allraces，fairs，andothersuchconglomerationsofthosewhomHeavenhadblessedwithmoremoneythanwit，usedtobefrequentedbyminormembersof’TheFancy，’whoaretechnicallycalledflat-catchers，andwhopickedupaveryprettylivingbyaquickhand，arattlingtongue，adealboard，threethimbles，andapepper-corn。ThegametheyplayedwiththesethreecuriousarticlesisasortofLilliputiangameatcupsandballs；andthebeautyofitliesindexterouslyseemingtoplacethepepper-cornunderoneparticularthimble，gettingagreentobetthatitwasthere，andthenwinninghismoneybyshowingthatitisnot。

Everyoperatoratthisgamewasattendedbycertainofhisfriendscalledeggersandbonnetters——theeggersto’egg’onthegreenonestobet，bybettingthemselves；andthebonnettersto’bonnet’anygreenonewhomighthappentowin——thatistosay，toknockhishatoverhiseyes，whilsttheoperatorandtheothersboltedwiththestakes。

Someyearsagoacuriouscasewastried，exemplifyingthemodeofprocedure。AFrenchman，M。Panchaud，wasatAscotRaces，andhetheresawthedefendantandseveralother’gentlemen’bettingaway，andapparentlywinning’lotsofsovereigns，’atoneofthesesamethimble-rigs。’Tryyourluck，gentlemen，’criedtheoperator；’I’llbetanygentlemananything，fromhalf-a-crowntofivesovereigns，thathedoesn’tnamethethimbleascoversthecorn！’M。Panchaudbettedhalf-a-crown——wonit；bettedasovereign——wonit；bettedasecondsovereign——LOSTit。’Tryyourluck，gentlemen！’criedtheoperatoragain，shiftinghisthimblesandpepper-cornabouttheboard，hereandthereandeverywhereinamoment；andthisdone，heofferedM。Panchaudabetoffivesovereignsthathecouldnot’namethethimblewhatcoveredthecorn。’’Bethim！Bethim！Whydon’tyoubethim？’saidthedefendant(alandlord)，nudgingM。Panchaudontheelbow；andM。

Panchaud，convincedinhis’ownbreast’thatheknewtherightthimble，said——’IshallbettayoufivesovereignifyouwillnottouchdetimblesagaintillIname。’’Done！’criedtheoperator；

andM。PanchaudwasDONE——for，layingdownhisL10note，itwascaughtupbySOMEBODY，theboardwasupset，theoperatorandhisfriendsvanished’likeaflashoflightning，’andM。Panchaudwasleftfullofamazement，butwithemptypockets，withthedefendantstandingbyhisside。’Theyareasetofrascals！’

saidthedefendant；’butdon’tfret，myfinefellow！I’lltakeyoutosomebodythatshallsoongetyourmoneyagain；andsosayingheledhimoffinadirectionthusdescribedincourtbythefleecedFrenchman——’YoutookemetheWRONGway！Thethievesranoneway，andyoutookmetheother，youknow，ahah！Youknowwhatyouareabout——youtookmetheWRONGWAY——ahah！’

CHAPTERXI。

COCK-FIGHTING。

Cock-fightingisapracticeofhighantiquity，likemanyotherdetestableandabominablethingsthatstillclingtooursocialfabric。ItwasmuchinvogueinGreeceandtheadjacentisles。

TherewasanannualfestivalatAthenscalled’TheCock-

fighting，’institutedbyThemistoclesattheendofthePersianwar，underthefollowingcircumstances。WhenThemistocleswasleadinghisarmyagainstthePersians，hesawsomecocksfighting；hehaltedhistroops，lookedon，andsaid:——’Theseanimalsfightneitherforthegodsoftheircountry，norforthemonumentsoftheirancestors，norforglory，norforfreedom，norfortheirchildren，butforthesakeofvictory，andinorderthatonemaynotyieldtotheother；’andfromthistopicheinspiritedtheAthenians。Afterhisvictoriousreturn，asanactofgratitudeforthisaccidentaloccasionofinspiringhistroopswithcourage，heinstitutedtheabovefestival，’inorderthatwhatwasanincitementtovalouratthattimemightbeperpetuatedasanencouragementtothelikebraveryhereafter。’

Onecannothelpsmilingatthesenaivestoriesoftheancientstoaccountfortheirmightiestresults。Onlythinkofanymodernwarriorhaltinghistroopstomakeuseofacock-fightforthepurposeofinspiritingthemtovictory！

OnoneoccasionduringthePeninsularwar，whenanimportantpointwastobecarriedbyassault，theofficerswererequiredtosaysomethingencouragingtotheirmen，inordertobracethemupfortheencounter；butwhilstthemajorityoftheformerrecalledtheremembranceofpreviousvictories，anIrishcaptaincontentedhimselfwithexclaiming——’Now，mylads，youseethosefellowsupthere。Well，ifyoudon’tkillTHEM，SHUREthey’llkillYOU。

That’sall！’Struckwiththecomicoriginalityofthisaddress，themenrushedforwardwithalaughandashout，carryingallbeforethem。

AmongtheancientGreeksthecockwassacredtoApollo，Mercury，andaesculapius，onaccountofhisvigilance，inferredfromhisearlyrising——thenaturalconsequenceofhis’earlytobed’——andalsotoMars，onaccountofhismagnanimousanddaringspirit。

Itseems，then，thatatfirstcock-fightingwaspartlyareligious，andpartlyapolitical，institutionatAthens；andwastherecontinued——accordingtotheabovelegend——forthepurposeofcherishingtheseedsofvalourinthemindsofyouth；butthatitwasafterwardsabusedandperverted，boththereandinotherpartsofGreece，bybeingmadeacommonpastime，andappliedtothepurposeofgamblingjustasitwas(andisstillsecretly)

practisedinEngland。AnAtticlawranasfollows——’Letcocksfightpubliclyinthetheatreonedayintheyear。’[69]

[69]Pegge，inArchoeologia，quotingaelian，Columella，&c。

Astocock-fightingatRome，Pegge，inthesamework，giveshisopinion，thatitwasnotcustomarytheretillverylate；butthatquailsweremorepittedagainsteachotherforgamblingpurposesthancocks。ThisopinionseemsconfirmedbythethankfulnessexpressedbythegoodAntoninus——’thathehadimbibedsuchdispositionsfromhispreceptor，ashadpreventedhimfrombreedingquailsforthefight。’

’Onecannotbutregret，’wrotePeggein1775，’thatacreaturesousefulandsonobleasthecockshouldbesoenormouslyabusedbyus。ItistruethemassacreofShroveTuesdayseemsinadecliningway，andinafewyears，itistobehoped，willbetotallydisused；butthecock-pitstillcontinuesareproachtothehumanityofEnglishmen。ItisunknowntomewhenthepitchedbattlefirstenteredEngland；butitwasprobablybroughthitherbytheRomans。ThebirdwasherebeforeCaesar’sarrival；butnonoticeofhisfightinghasoccurredtomeearlierthanthetimeofWilliamFitz-Stephen，whowrotetheLifeofArchbishopBecket，sometimeinthereignofHenryII。Williamdescribesthecockingasthesportofschool-boysonShroveTuesday。"Everyyear，onthedaywhichiscalledCarnelevaria(Carnival)——tobeginwiththesportsoftheLondonboys，——forwehaveallbeenboys——alltheboysarewonttocarrytotheirschoolmastertheirfighting-cocks，andthewholeoftheforenoonismadeaholidayfortheboystoseethefightsoftheircocksintheirschoolrooms。"Thetheatre，itseems，wastheirschool，andthemasterwasthecontrolleranddirectorofthesport。Fromthistimeatleastthediversion，howeverabsurd，andevenimpious，wascontinuedamongus。’

’Althoughdisapprovedofbymany，andprohibitedbylaw，cock-

fightingcontinuedinvogue，patronizedevenbyroyalty，andcommonlycalled"theroyaldiversion。"StJames’sPark，which，inthetimeofHenryVIII。，belongedtotheAbbotofWestminster，wasboughtbythatmonarchandconvertedintoapark，atenniscourt，andacockpit，whichwassituatedwhereDowningStreetnowis。Theparkwasapproachedbytwonoblegates，anduntiltheyear1708theCock-pitGate，whichopenedintothecourtwhereQueenAnnelived，wasstanding。Itwassurmountedwithloftytowersandbattlements，andhadaportcullis，andmanyrichdecorations。WestminsterGate，theotherentrance，wasdesignedbyHansHolbein，andsomeforeignarchitectdoubtlesserectedtheCockpitGate。Thesceneofthecrueldiversionofcock-fightingwas，however，obliteratedbeforeAnne’stime，andthepalace，whichwasalargerangeofapartmentsandofficesreachingtotheriver，extendedoverthatspace。’[69]

[69]Wharton，QueensofSociety。

Cock-fightingwasthefavouriteamusementofJamesI。，inwhosereigntherewerecock-pitsinStJames’sPark，DruryLane，TuftonStreet，ShoeLane，andJermynStreet。Therewasacock-pitinWhitehall，erectedforthemoremagnificentexhibitionofthesport；andthepresentroominWestminsterinwhichherMajesty’sPrivyCouncilholdtheirsittings，iscalledtheCock-pit，fromitsbeingthesiteoftheveritablearenaofold。

Cock-fightingwasprohibitedbyoneofOliver’sactsin1654；butwiththereturnofCharlesandhisprofligacy，thesportagainflourishedinEngland。Pepysoftenalludestoitinhis’Diary。’

Thus，Dec。21，1663，hewrites:——

’ToShoeLane，toseeacocke-fightingatanewpitthere，aspotIwasneveratinmylife；but，Lord！toseethestrangevarietyofpeople，fromParliamentman，bynameWildes，thatwasDeputy-

GovernoroftheTowerwhenRobinsonwasLordMayor，tothepoorest’prentices，bakers，brewers，butchers，draymen，andwhatnot；andallthesefellowsonewithanothercursingandbetting。

Isoonhadenoughofit。Itisstrangetoseehowpeopleofthispoorrank，thatlookasiftheyhadnotbreadtoputintheirmouths，shallbetthreeorfourpoundsatatime，andloseit，andyetbetasmuchthenextbattle；sothatoneofthemwillloseL10orL20atameeting。’

Again，April6，1668:——

’ItothenewCocke-pitbytheking’sgate，andtheresawthemannerofit，andthemixedrabbleofpeoplethatcamethither，andsawtwobattlesofcockes，whereinisnogreatsport；butonlytoconsiderhowthesecreatures，withoutanyprovocation，dofightandkilloneanother，andaimonlyatoneanother’sheads！’

Uptothemiddleofthe18thcenturycock-fightingwas’alltherage’inEngland。’Cocking，’saysawriterofthetime，’isasportorpastimesofullofdelightandpleasure，thatIknownotanygameinthatrespectwhichistobepreferredbeforeit。’

Thetrainingofthepugnaciousbirdhadnowbecomeasortofart，andthisisascuriousasanythingabouttheold’royaldiversion。’Afewextractsfromatreatiseonthesubjectmaybeinterestingasleavesfromthebookofmannersandcustomsofthegoodoldtimes。

Themostminutedetailsaregivenastotheselectionoffighting-cocks，thebreedingofgamecocks，and’thedietingandorderingacockforbattle。’Underthislastheadweread:——’Inthemorningtakehimoutofthepen，andlethimsparawhilewithanothercock。Sparringisafterthismanner。Covereachofyourcock’sheelswithapairofhotsmadeofbombastedrollsofleather，socoveringthespursthattheycannotbruiseorwoundoneanother，andsosettingthemdownonstrawinaroom，orgreengrassabroad；letthemfightagoodwhile，butbynomeanssufferthemtodrawbloodofoneanother。Thebenefitthataccruesherebyisthis:itheatethandchafeththeirbodies，anditbreakeththefatandglutthatiswithinthem。Havingsparredasmuchasissufficient，whichyoumayknowwhenyouseethempantandgrowweary，thentakethemup，and，takingofftheirhots，givethemadiaphoreticorsweating，afterthismanner。

Youmustputthemindeepstraw-baskets，madeforthispurpose，andfillthesewithstrawhalfway，thenputinyourcocksseverally，andcoverthemoverwithstrawtothetop；thenshutdownthelids，andletthemsweat；butdon’tforgettogivethemfirstsomewhitesugar-candy，choppedrosemary，andbutter，mingledandincorporatedtogether。Letthequantitybeaboutthebignessofawalnut；bysodoingyouwillcleansehimofhisgrease，increasehisstrength，andprolonghisbreath。Towardsfourorfiveo’clockintheeveningtakethemoutoftheirstoves，and，havinglickedtheireyesandheadwithyourtongue，andputthemintotheirpens，andhavingfilledtheirthroatswithsquare-cutmanchet，****therein，andletthemfeedwhilstthe****ishot；forthiswillcausetheirscouringtowork，andwillwonderfullycleansebothheadandbody。’

Waseverpooranimalsubjectedtosuchindignity？Thepreparationoftheotheranimal，thejockey，isnothingtoit。

But，tocontinue:——

’Theseconddayafterhissparring，takeyourcockintoafairgreenclose，and，havingadunghillcockinyourarms，showithim，andthenrunfromhim，thattherebyyoumayenticehimtofollow，permittinghimtohavenowandthenablow，andthuschafehimupanddownabouthalfanhour；whenhebeginstopant，beingwell-heated，takehimupandcarryhimhome，andgivehimthisscouring，&c。’

Thistrainingcontinuedforsixweeks，whichwasconsideredasufficienttimefor’orderingacockforthebattle；’andthen，afterthe’matching，’camethelastpreparationofthepoorbipedfortheterriblefightinwhichhewouldcertainlybeeitherkilledorkillhisantagonist，ifbothwerenotdoomedtobitethedust。Thisconsistedinthefollowingdisfigurementofthebeautifulcreature:——

’Withapairoffinecock-shearscutallhismaneoffcloseintohisneckfromtheheadtothesettingonoftheshoulders:

secondly，clipoffallthefeathersfromthetailclosetohisrump；theredderitappearsthebetteristhecockincondition:

thirdly，takehiswingsandspreadthemforthbythelengthofthefirstrisingfeather，andcliptherestslope-wisewithsharppoints，thatinhisrisinghemaytherewithendangertheeyeofhisadversary；fourthly，scrape，smooth，andsharpenhisspurswithapen-knife；fifthly，andlastly，seethattherebenofeathersonthecrownofhisheadforhisadversarytotakeholdof；then，withyourspittlemoisteninghisheadallover，turnhimintothepitTOMOVETOHISFORTUNE。’

Ishould，perhaps，statethat，insteadofthenaturalspurs，longartificialonesofwell-temperedsteelwerefixedtothecock’sheelsinlatertimes，andthesewerefrequentlydrivenintothebodyofhisantagonistwithsuchvigourthatthetwocockswerespittedtogether，andhadtobeseparated。

Thedreadfulfighthavingcomeoff，thefollowingwasthetreatmentprescribedforthefortunateconqueror。

’Thebattlebeingended，immediatelysearchyourcock’swounds，asmanyasyoucanfind。SUCKthebloodoutofthem；thenwashthemwellwithwarm****，andthatwillkeepthemfromrankling；

afterthisgivehimarollofyourbestSCOURING，andsostovehimupashotasyoucanforthatnight；inthemorning，ifyoufindhisheadswelled，youmustsuckhiswoundsagain，andbathethemwithwarm****；thentakethepowderofherbRobert，andputitintoafinebag，andpouncehiswoundstherewith；afterthis，givehimagoodhandfulofbreadtoeatoutofwarm****，andsoputhimintothestoveagain，andlethimnotfeeltheairtilltheswellingbefallen。’

Acocksometimestookalongtimetorecoverfromhiswounds——as，indeed，maybewellsupposedfromtheterrible’punishment’whichhenecessarilyreceived；andsoourprofessorgoesontosay:——

’Ifafteryouhaveputoutyourwoundedcocktotheirwalks，andvisitingthemamonthortwoafter，youfindabouttheirheadanyswollenbunches，hardandblackishatoneend，youmaythenconcludethatinsuchbunchesthereareunsoundcores，whichmustbeopenedandcrushedoutwithyourthumbs；andafterthis，youmustsuckoutthecorruption，andfillingtheholesfulloffreshbutter，youneednotdoubtacure。’

Apoeticaldescriptionofacock-fight，byDrR。Wild，writtenatthecommencementofthelastcentury，willgiveanideaofthe’diversion。’

’Nosoonerwerethedoubtfulpeopleset，Thematchmadeup，andallthatwouldhadbet，Butstraighttheskilfuljudgesoftheplay；

Broughtforththeirsharp-heel’dwarriors，andtheyWerebothinlinnenbags——asif’tweremeet，Beforetheydied，tohavetheirwinding-sheet。

Intothepitthey’rebrought，andbeingthere，Uponthestage，theNorfolkChanticleerLooksstoutlyathisne’erbeforeseenfoe，Andlikeachallengerbegantocrow，Andclaphiswings，asifhewoulddisplayHiswarlikecolours，whichwereblackandgrey。

’Meantime，thewaryWisbichwalksandbreathesHisactivebody，andinfurywreathesHiscomelycrest，andoftenwithasound，Hewhetshisangrybeakupontheground。

Thisdone，theymeet，notlikethatcowardbreedOfAesop；thesecanbetterfightthanfeed:

Theyscornthedunghill；’tistheironlyprizeTODIGFORPEARLSWITHINEACHOTHER’SEYES。

’Theyfoughtsonimblythat’twashardtoknow，E’entotheskill’d，whethertheyfoughtorno；

IfthatthebloodwhichdyedthefatalfloorHadnotbornewitnessof’t。Yetfoughttheymore；

AsifeachwoundwerebutaspurtoprickTheirfuryforward。Lightning’snotmorequick，Orred，thanweretheireyes:’twashardtoknowWhether’twasbloodorangermadethemso。

I’msuretheyhadbeenouthadtheynotstoodMoresafebybeingfencedinwithblood。

Thustheyviedblows；butyet(alas！)atlength，Altho’theircouragewasfulltried，theirstrengthAndbloodbegantoebb。

Theirwings，whichlatelyateachblowtheyclapp’d(Asiftheydidapplaudthemselves)，nowflapp’d。

Andhavinglostth’advantageoftheheel，Drunkwitheachother’sblood，theyonlyreel。

FromeithereyessuchdropsofblooddidfallAsiftheyweptthemfortheirfuneral。

Andyettheyfainwouldfight；theycamesonear，Methoughttheymeantintoeachother’searTOWHISPERWOUNDS；andwhentheycouldnotrise，Theylayandlook’dblowsintoeachother’seyes。

Butnowthetragicpart！Afterthisfit，WhenNorfolkcockhadgotthebestofit，AndWisbichlayadying，sothatnone，Tho’sober，butmightventureSeventoOne；

Contracting，likeadyingtaper，allHisstrength，intendingwiththeblowtofall，Hestrugglesup，andhavingtakenwind，Venturesablow，andstrikestheotherblind！

’AndnowpoorNorfolk，havinglosthiseyes，Fightsonlyguidedbyantipathies:

Withhim，alas！theproverbholdsnottrue——

Theblowshiseyesne’ersawhisheartmostrue。

Atlength，bychance，hestumbledonhisfoe，Nothavinganypowertostrikeablow。

Hefallsuponhimwithhiswoundedhead，Andmakeshisconqueror’swingshisfeather-bed；

Wherelyingsick，hisfriendswereverycharyOfhim，andfetch’dinhasteaPothecary；

Butallinvain！HisbodydidsoblisterThat’twasincapableofanyglyster；

Wherefore，atlength，openinghisfaintingbill，Hecall’dascriv’nerandthusmadehisWill。

’IMPRIMIS——Letitneverbeforgot，MybodyfreelyIbequeathtoth’pot，Decentlytobeboil’d。

****

ITEM:ExecutorsIwillhavenoneButhethatonmysidelaidSeventoOne；

And，likeagentlemanthathemaylive，Tohim，andtohisheirs，myCOMBIgive，Togetherwithmybrains，thatallmayknowThatoftentimeshisbrainsdidusetocrow。

****

Tohimthat’sdullIdomySPURSimpart，AndtothecowardIbequeathmyHEART。

Toladiesthatarelight，itismywillMyFEATHERSshallbegiven；andformyBILL

I’dgive’tatailor，butitissoshort，ThatI’mafraidhe’llrathercursemefor’t:

****