1621.] BETTING AND GAMING. 317 



To be employed alwayis vpoun the pure of the paroche 



Ouhair suche evynning sail happin to fall out and to \q. 



effect that ather exces' in playe may be thus restrayned 



Or at the leist that excessive winning may be employed as 



said is OURE SOUERANE Lord by actis of his supreme 



Court of parliament gevis full power and Commissioun to the 



bailzeis and magistraitts of borrowes The schireffis and 



Justices of peax in the Cuntrie To persew and Convene all 



suche persounes for all wynning at Cardes or dyce and hors' 



races w*^"^*^ shalhappin to be made by any persoun by and 



attoure the said soume of anc hundreth merkis money forsaid 



And incace the magistrat informed J^airoff refuis to persew for 



the same The pairtie Informer sail have actioun agains the 



said Magistrat for double of ]?e lyik soume the ane half q"" of 



to be gevin to |?e pure and the vther halff to J»e pairtie 



informer." — Acts of Pari., Scot., vol. iv., p. 612 ; 4to edit. 



Lond., 1 8 16. 



A curious instance of the rage for gambling in those days 



is mentioned by Sir John Harington.* " Because examples 



are more effectual often than perswasyons, and to 



prayse the dead is no flattery, I will alleadsre one ^^.mes i. 

 •^ ^ Gaming, 



example, well known to many and thearfore not 



unfit for this purpose. Who was more magnificent in matters . 

 of trew honor, more sumptuous in buildinge, ritch in fur- 

 nishinge, royall in entertayning, orderly in maintayninge his 

 howse then Sir Christofer Hatton, late Lord Chawncellor ? a 

 man taught vyrute, framed to wisdom, raysed to honor, by 

 her Majesties speciall grace and choyce ; yet when some 

 ambassadors lay at his howse, (knowinge the generall humor 

 of the meaner sort to love to see great play) whyle hee him- 

 self entertayned the cheefest of them with some grave dis- 

 course or some sollom musycke, he caused some of his freends 

 to play at cardes with ^1000 in fayr golde of his money, 

 ratinge it at theyr owne pleasures at ^\\d. in the pownd, or 

 as they themselves agreed on, that the summes played might 

 seem great, and show bountifull, the substance not unsup- 

 portable. Thus you see that, if men will needes have a 

 * " Nugse Antique," edit. Lond., 1804, vol. i., p. 210. 



