522 THE CENTURY, 



ufual fafhion, with a Device fo dex 

 terous, that with a knock of it 

 againft the Table the four good 

 Dice are fattened, and it 1 loofeneth 

 four falfe Dice made fit for his 2 pur- 

 pofe. 



1 it omitted. 8 this for his. P. 



\_A Dicing -box.~\ It would be doing deep injustice to 

 the Marquis of Worcester, to judge him in all respects 

 rigidly by modern fashions, customs, and habits of 

 thought. The modern critic, in simple ignorance of 

 the age, might exclaim with just indignation against 

 the promulgating an invention to cheat at dice. We 

 have many examples to prove, that the Marquis was 

 not singular in proposing so questionable an invention, 

 and we can only consider such schemes put forth as 

 marvels in themselves and warnings to the unwary. 



We find, as early as 1594, that Sir Hugh Plat, in his 

 &quot;Jewel House of Art and Nature,&quot; describes u A per 

 spective ring that will discover all the cards that are 

 neere him that weareth it on his finger 5&quot; an effect 

 produced by a hollow crystal stone or glass, with a good 

 foil on the concave part, to act as a mirror. The 

 apology he offers for publishing this scheme, will well 

 apply also in the present instance ; he says : &quot; I have 

 discovered this secret rather to discorage yong novesses 

 from card-play, who by one experiment may easily 

 ghesse, how mannie sleights and cousenages, are dayly 

 practised in our dicing and gaming houses, not doubting 

 but that the general publication thereof will make the 

 same so familiar with al men, as that I shall not justly 

 be charged of anie to have taught old knaves new- 

 schoole pointes.&quot; 



