The History of Gambling in EnglandDifference between Gaming and Gambling-Universality and Antiquity of Gambling-Isis and Osiris-Games and Dice of the Egyptians-China and India-The Jews-Among the Greeks and Romans-Among Mahometans-Early Dicing-Dicing in England in the 13th and 14th Centuries-In the 17th Century-Celebrated Gamblers-Bourchier-Swiss Anecdote-Dicing in the 18th Century. Gaming is derived from the Saxon word Gamen, meaning joy, pleasure, sports, or gaming-and is so interpreted by Bailey, in his Dictionary of 1736; whilst Johnson gives Gamble-to play extravagantly for money, and this distinction is to be borne in mind in the perusal of this book; although the older term was in use until the invention of the later-as we see in Cotton's Compleat Gamester (1674), in which he gives the following excellent definition of the word: -"Gaming is an enchanting witchery, gotten between Idleness and Avarice: an itching disease, that makes some scratch the head, whilst others, as if they were bitten by a Tarantula, are laughing themselves to death; or, lastly, it is a paralytical distemper, which, seizing the arm, the man cannot chuse but shake his elbow. |
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Page 25
... Guinea yourself . The Elector admir'd at his bold Challenge , which , never- theless , accepting , he tost up for £ 15,000 , and lost the Money upon Reputation , with which Bourchier was very well satisfied , as not doubting in the ...
... Guinea yourself . The Elector admir'd at his bold Challenge , which , never- theless , accepting , he tost up for £ 15,000 , and lost the Money upon Reputation , with which Bourchier was very well satisfied , as not doubting in the ...
Page 49
... Guineas with a sort of a - sort of a — kind of a Milk Sop , as I thought : a Pox of the Dice , he flung out , and my Pockets being empty , as Charles knows they sometimes are , he prov'd a Surly North Briton , and broke my face for my ...
... Guineas with a sort of a - sort of a — kind of a Milk Sop , as I thought : a Pox of the Dice , he flung out , and my Pockets being empty , as Charles knows they sometimes are , he prov'd a Surly North Briton , and broke my face for my ...
Page 51
... , play Fair , And lose to one another on the Square . This Itch for Play , has , likewise , fatal been , And more than Cupid , drawn the Ladies in , 1 Cant term for false Dice . A Thousand Guineas for Basset prevails , A Bait when 51.
... , play Fair , And lose to one another on the Square . This Itch for Play , has , likewise , fatal been , And more than Cupid , drawn the Ladies in , 1 Cant term for false Dice . A Thousand Guineas for Basset prevails , A Bait when 51.
Page 52
John Ashton. A Thousand Guineas for Basset prevails , A Bait when Cash runs low , that seldom fails ; And , when the Fair One can't the Debt defray , In Sterling Coin , does Sterling Beauty pay . " Ward , in a Satire called Adam and Eve ...
John Ashton. A Thousand Guineas for Basset prevails , A Bait when Cash runs low , that seldom fails ; And , when the Fair One can't the Debt defray , In Sterling Coin , does Sterling Beauty pay . " Ward , in a Satire called Adam and Eve ...
Page 57
... Guinea Reward . -18 . Common Bail Affidavit Men , Ruffians , Bravoes , Assassins , cum multis aliis . " - We have read before ( p . 49 ) of the King's gambling at the Groom Porter's on 5 Jan. 1731 , but , to show the fair- ness and ...
... Guinea Reward . -18 . Common Bail Affidavit Men , Ruffians , Bravoes , Assassins , cum multis aliis . " - We have read before ( p . 49 ) of the King's gambling at the Groom Porter's on 5 Jan. 1731 , but , to show the fair- ness and ...
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Common terms and phrases
afterwards appeared betting Buckinghamshire Buckley Square called Captain Cards chance cheating Club Coffee House Committee course Court Covent Garden Crockford cross and pile croupiers d'Eon dice dinner Doncaster Duke England Faro bank fortune gambler gambling houses gamester gaming house gaming-house gave gentleman George give Groom Porter guineas hand hath hazard honour horse racing hundred pounds Insurance John John Outlawe Justice keeper King Knave lady late letter London Lord Lordship lose loser lost Lots lottery luck Ludus Latrunculorum Mayor morning never Newmarket night paid Parliament parties person plaintiff play players present prize proprietors Queen Railway Railway Mania reign says servants shillings speculation sport St James's Street stakes Stock story subscribed SUNDAY HOUSES tells Thornton thousand guineas thousand pounds ticket tion town Turf wager whilst White's White's Club witness