w t. G A 
prentices, excepting the duration of the Chriftmas holi- 
<iays, and then only in tlieir niafters hoiifes. We learn 
from Stow, that tliel'e holidays extended “ from All-Hol¬ 
lows evening to the day after Candlemas-day, when,' (fays 
t'le hidorian,) there was, amotjg other fports, playing at 
cards for counters, nailes, and points, in every lioiife, 
more forpallime than for gain.” The recreations prohi¬ 
bited by proclamation in the reign of Edward 111 . exclu- 
(ive of the games of cliance, are thus fpecified ; throwing 
of flones, wood, or iron, pLaying at hand-ball, foot-ball, 
club-b.ill, and cambucam, which is'fuppofed to have been 
a fpccies of gotf, and probably received its name'from the 
crooked bat with wliicii it was played. Tliefe games 
were not forbidden from any particular evil tendency in 
themlelves, but becaufe they engroffed too much of the 
leifureand attention of the populace, and diverted their 
minds from the purfuitsofa more martial nature. We 
fliould add, tiiat ‘‘bull-baiting and cock-figliting” are 
included with“ otherdinioneft games, as trivial and ufe- 
fefs.” In the reign of'Edward Iv. we find quoits, clolh 
or cldiih, kayles or nine-pins, half-bowl, hand-in and 
hand-out, with qiiick-borde, clafTed among the unlawful 
atniifements ; wliicli lifi: was confiderably augmented in 
the furceeding reigns, and efpecially in the eighteenth 
year ot Henry VIII. v\ hen bovyling, loggating, playing at 
tennis, dice, cards and tables, or back-gammon, were in- 
chided. 
In modern times, the penal laws have been multiplied, 
and inucit invigorated, in order to refirain the licentious 
Ipirit of gambling ■, and in fome meafure they have Iiad a 
falutary cli'ett ; but tlie evil is fo fufeinating and fo gene¬ 
ra], th.-.t in all probability it will never be totally eradi. 
cared from the minds of the people. The frequent repe- 
tiiion and enforcement of tlie fiatntes in former times, 
proves tliat tliey were then, as ih.ey are now, inadequate 
to the ruppredion of gaming for a long continuance ; and, 
when one pafiime was prohibited, another was prefeotly 
kivented to fupply its place, and perhaps of an equally de- 
tbiiilive tendency. The general decay of thofe manly 
and fpiriied ex^rcifes, which formerly were praftifed in 
.the vicinity of the metropolis, has not arifen from any 
want of inclination in the people, but from the want of 
places proper for tlie purpole : fuch as in times jiaft had 
been allotted to them are now covered with buildings, or 
lluit up by enclofures, fo that, if it were not for (Icittles, 
dutch.pins, four-corners, and the like pafiimes, they would 
have no anuifements for the exercile of the body ; and 
.tliefe amufements are only to .be met with in places be¬ 
longing to common drinking-houfes, for v\hich reafon 
rl.ieir play is feldom produflive of much'benefit, but more 
frequently becomes the prelude to idienefs and debauch¬ 
ery. This evil has been increafing for a long feries of 
years; and honed: Stow l.arnents the retrenchments of the 
grounds appropriated for martial paftimes which had be¬ 
gun to take place in liis day : “ Why (fays he) fliould I 
.ipe.ak of tlie tuicient exerciles of the long bow, by the ci¬ 
tizens of this city, now almofl clean left off and foiTakeii ? 
i over-pafs it ; for, by the means ol clofeing i:i of common 
grounds, our archers, for want of room to (hoot abroad., 
creep into bowling-illeys and ordinarie diceing-houfes 
near l.onie, u here they have loom enougli to hazard their 
niongy at unlawful games.” He then exclaims, ‘‘ Oh, what 
ariQnderful change has taken place I onr wreaflling at 
arnies is turned to wallowing in ladies’ laps, our courage 
to cowardice, our running to royot, our bowes into bowls, 
and our dans into didies.” 
The evils co.inp.lained of in former times, were then 
only in their intancy : tliey have in the prefent day at¬ 
tained to a gigantic Itature; and we may tidd to them E. O. 
tables, alfo other t.iblcs for gambling, diftingui-thed by 
the appellation of noir ct rouge \ iiharo-banks, and many 
more iafltioiiable novelties, are equally as detrimental to 
morality, and as deflru^tive to the fortunes of ihofe who 
pitrfue them, as any of the games of former ages. Even 
horfe-iacing, which anciently vs as confidered as a liberal 
M E. 
fport, and proper for the amufement of a gentleman, 'da 
well as to encourage that ufeful and noble breed of animals, 
has been of late years degraded into a dangerous fpecies 
of gambling, by no means the lefs deferving of cenfure, 
becaufe it is faftionable, and countenanced by perfons of 
the highefi rank and fortune.—See ail thefe games and 
tables explained under their refpeclive titles in this En¬ 
cyclopaedia. 
The laws now in force for prohibiting unlawful games, 
and for punifuing gamblers, are as follews : By ftatute 33 
Hen. VIII. c. 9. juflices of peace, and head officers in 
corporations, are impowered to enter houfes fufpetSted «f 
Unlawful games; and'to arreft and imprifon thegamefters, 
till they give fecurity not to play for the future: alfo the 
perfons keeping unlawful ganiing-houfes, may be com¬ 
mitted by a juflice, until they find fureties not to keep 
fuch houfes; who fliall forfei^ forty-fliillings, and the 
gameflers fix fliillings and eight-pence a time.-: and if the 
king licenfe the keeping of gaming-lioufes, it is againft 
law, and void.—The fame ftatute alfo provides that, no 
artificer, apprentice, labourer, or fervant, lhall pfay at 
any tables, tennis, dice, cards,'bowis,'&c. out of Chrift- 
mas time, on pain of twenty fliillings for every offence; 
and at Chriftm'js, they are to play in their mafter’s houfe, 
or prefence: btit any nobleman, or gentleman, having 
one hundred pounds per a:mum eftate, may licenfe his 
fervants orfamily to play within the precindls of his houfe, 
or garden, at cards, dice, tables, or otlier games, as well 
among thenifelves, as otfiers repairing thither. This aft 
is to be proclaimed once a quarter, in every market-town., 
by the refpeftive mayors, S.-c. and at every allizes and 
feftions.—A perfon was convifted of keeping a cock-pit; 
and the court reiolved it to be an iiiilawful game, within 
the-ftatute 33 Hen. VIII. c. 9. and fined him forty fhil- 
ling.« a day. Keb. 5:0. But if the guefts in an inn or 
tavem, call for a pair of dice, or tables, and'for tlieir re- 
creation play with them, or if any neighbours 
bowls, for tlieir recreation, or tlie like, tliefe are no't 
within the ftatute; if the houfe be not .kept for gamiiig, 
nor the gaming be for lucre or gain. Dalt. c. 46. 
By the ftatute 16 Car. fi. c. 7. if any perfon, of what 
degree foever, fhall by fraud, deceit, or unlawful device, 
in'playing at cards, dice, tables, bowls, cock-fighting, 
horfe-races, foot races, or other games or paftimes, or 
bearing a ftiare in the (fakes, betting, &C. win any money 
or valuable thing, he fliall forfeit treble tlie value, one 
moiety to tlie crown, and the other to the party grieved, 
profecution being in fix months \ in default whereof, tlie 
laft mentioned moiety is to go to fuch other perfon as will 
profecuie within one year, &c. And by the faid ftatute, 
if any perfon fhall play at cards, &c. other than for ready 
money ; or bet, and iliall lofe above one h.undrcd pounds 
at one time or meeting, upon tick (i. e. ticket), lie fhall 
not be bound to make it good, but tlie coiitraft or tick 
and fecurity fhall be void, and tke winner fhall forfeit tre¬ 
ble the value. 
By the ftatute 9 Ann. cap. 14. all notes, bills, bonds, 
judgments, mortgages, or other feenrities, given for mo¬ 
ney won by playing at cards, dice, tables, tennis, bowls, 
or other games; or by belting on the (ides of fuch as play 
at any of thofe games, or for repayment of any money 
knowingly iant (ur fuch gaming or betting, (hall be void. 
And where lands are granted by (uch mortgages or (ecu- 
rities, they fliall go to the next perfon who oug-lTt to have 
the fame, as if the grantor were aftually dead, and the 
grants had been made to the perfon fo -intitled after the 
death of the perfon fo incunibeiiiig tlie fame. If any 
perfon playing at cards, dice, or o.her game, or betting, 
(hall lo(e the value of ten pounds at one time, to one or 
more perfons, and (hall pay the money, he may recover 
tlie money loft by a6lion of debt, w itliiii three months afier- 
wards ; and if the lofer do nut (tie, any other [ er(dn may 
do it, and recover the fame, and treble the value with 
cofts, one moiety to the prolecutor, and the other to the 
poor; and the perfon profecuted (hall anfwer upon oath, 
on 
