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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 61
Page 2
... say , on the Stock Exchange , hundreds rush in to follow his ex- ample , as they would were a successful gold field discovered- the warning of those that perish by the way is unheeded . Of the universality of gambling there is no doubt ...
... say , on the Stock Exchange , hundreds rush in to follow his ex- ample , as they would were a successful gold field discovered- the warning of those that perish by the way is unheeded . Of the universality of gambling there is no doubt ...
Page 3
... say , having accom- panied with Saturn by stealth , was discovered by the Sun , who , hereupon , denounced a curse upon her , that she should not be delivered in any month or year . Mercury , however , being likewise in love with the ...
... say , having accom- panied with Saturn by stealth , was discovered by the Sun , who , hereupon , denounced a curse upon her , that she should not be delivered in any month or year . Mercury , however , being likewise in love with the ...
Page 4
... say , " Guess , " or " How Many ? " Sometimes they played the game back to back , and then a third person had to act as referee . The Chinese and Indian games of skill , such as Chess , are of great antiquity ; but , perhaps , the ...
... say , " Guess , " or " How Many ? " Sometimes they played the game back to back , and then a third person had to act as referee . The Chinese and Indian games of skill , such as Chess , are of great antiquity ; but , perhaps , the ...
Page 6
... say the Talmudists , ' Tho ' he that games with a Gentile does not offend against the prohibition of Theft , he violates that de rebus inanibus non incumbendo : it does not become a man , at any time of his life , to make any- thing his ...
... say the Talmudists , ' Tho ' he that games with a Gentile does not offend against the prohibition of Theft , he violates that de rebus inanibus non incumbendo : it does not become a man , at any time of his life , to make any- thing his ...
Page 8
... says , " Non tria , duas est " ( Not three points , but two ) . In the next picture the same individuals have sprung to their feet , and show fight . The younger says , " Not two , but three ; I have the game ! " Whereupon , the other ...
... says , " Non tria , duas est " ( Not three points , but two ) . In the next picture the same individuals have sprung to their feet , and show fight . The younger says , " Not two , but three ; I have the game ! " Whereupon , the other ...
Other editions - View all
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