186 
would have them, that your gamesters 
think they never give enough for their 
purchase, if they prove right. They are 
sold in many places about the town, 
price current, (by the help of a friend) 
eight shillings, whereas an ordinary bale 
is sold for six-pence,” p. 10. 
Whist is meade by Stratt, in his 
*¢ Sports and Pastimes,” a modern game, 
and to be first mentioned in the Beaux 
Stratagem : but he is mistaken: it ismen- 
tioned under its old name, Whisk, by 
‘Faylor the Water-Poet, (part ii. p. 54.) 
who wrote in 1632. Trump, is an 
evident corruption of Triomphe, and 
the Tower, (a la Triomphe Ducange 
Gloss, V. Pagina, Carticella Triumphu- 
ts,) is one of the most ancient games 
upon the cards; and prohably was the 
architype of whist.  ** Ruffand Honours, 
€alius Slamm,) and Whist, are games so 
commonly known in Eni gland, in all 
parts thereof, that every child almost, of 
eight years old, hath a comuetent kuow- 
ledge in that recreation” p. 84. He then 
proceeds to an account of whist, as then- 
played, and the methods of cheating at it, 
whieh are curious, amusing, and now ate 
terly unknown. The extract is from p- 
86, 87, 58. 
“* Whist is a game, not much differing 
from this, only “they put out the deuces 
and take in no stock, and is called whist 
from the silence that is to be obser ved in 
the play; they deal as before, playing 
four, two of a side, (some play at two- 
handed, or three-handed whist, if three- 
handed, always strive to suppress and 
keep down the rising-man,) I say they 
deal to each twelve a-plece, and the 
trump isthe bottom card. The manner 
of erafty playing, the number of the game 
Nie, honours and dignity of other cards, 
are all alike; and he that wins most 
tricks, is most forward to win the set. 
He that can by eraft overlook his 
adversaries’ game, hath a great advan- 
tave; for by that means, he may partly 
know what to play securely, or if he can 
have some petty glimpse of his partner’s 
hand. There is a way by winking, or 
the fingers, to discover to their parti.ers, 
what honours they have; as by the wink 
of one eye, or putting one finger on the 
nose, or table, it signifies one lionour ; 
shutting both the eyes. two; placing 
three fingers or four on the table, three or 
four honours. They have several ways 
of securing an honour, or more, in the 
battom, when they deal, either to their 
partners, or selves; af to their partner, 
they place in the second lift next to the 
top, 1,2,5, or 4-acesy or court cards,. 
The Coneordanice of Fears.  . 
your adversary, cut 
[Sept. Li 
all of a suit, according as they could get 
thein together i in the former deal, and 
place a card of the same suit in the bot- 
tom; when the cards are cut, they must 
use their hand so dexterously, as not to 
put the top in the bottom, but’ nimbly 
place where it was before. 
If they would secure honours to them= 
selves, when dealing, they then place so 
many as they can get upon their lap, or 
other place, undiscerned ; and after their 
eards are cut, then clap them very neatly 
under. But the cleauliest looking away 
is, by the breef; that is, take a pack of 
cards and open them; then take out all 
the honours as aforesaid, the four aces, 
the four Kings, &c. then take the rest 
and cut a little from the edges of them, 
all alike, by which means the honours 
will be broader than the rest; so that 
when your adversary cuts to you, you 
are certain of an honour, when you cut to 
at the ends, and 
then it is a chance if you cut him an ho- 
nour, because the cards at the ends are’ 
all of a Jength, thus you may make breefs 
endways, as well as sideways. 
There are a sort of cunning fellows 
about this city, who before they go to 
play, will plant half a dozen of these 
packs, (nay sometimes halfa score) in the 
hands of a drawer, who, to avoid being’ 
suspected, will call to their confederate 
drawer, for a fresh pack of cards, who’ 
brings them from a shop new; ‘and some 
of these packs shall Le so finely marked, 
whereby the gamester shall plainly, and 
certainly know every card therein con- 
tained, by the outside; although the best 
of other eyes shall not ‘discern where any 
mark was made atall; and this done with: 
that variety, that every card, of every 
suit, shall have a different distinguishable 
mark, 
Some have a way to stick with a stick- 
stone, all the henours very smooth; by 
which means he will be sure to cut his- 
partner an honour, and so bis partner 
to him again, and that is done by laying 
a fore-finger ‘on the top indifferent hard, 
and giving a sturring jerk to the rest, ” 
which will stip off from the sticked card. 
Tt is impossible to shew you all the 
cheats of this game, since your cunning | 
‘gamester 1s always stud ving new mveli« 
tions, to deceive the i ignorant.” 
The Concordanice of Years. By Arthur 
Hopton, b. tl. 1010. : 
This work is a kind of perpetual alma. 
nack: but conformed to all those dogmas: 
of judicial astrology, which obtained in’ 
its ata, It is known, that not only prin: 
vate 
