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 32
Page vii
... Stakes CHAPTER XVII • 199 The Lottery - Its etymology and origin -- The first in England - Succeeding ones - Prince Rupert's jewels - Penny lottery - Suppression and revival - Rage for them in Queen Anne's reign - Lotteries for public ...
... Stakes CHAPTER XVII • 199 The Lottery - Its etymology and origin -- The first in England - Succeeding ones - Prince Rupert's jewels - Penny lottery - Suppression and revival - Rage for them in Queen Anne's reign - Lotteries for public ...
Page 10
... stakes in a vase with a large opening . The one who succeeded first in throwing his missile inside the jar would gain its contents . They also tossed " head or tail , " betting on which side a piece of money , thrown up in the air ...
... stakes in a vase with a large opening . The one who succeeded first in throwing his missile inside the jar would gain its contents . They also tossed " head or tail , " betting on which side a piece of money , thrown up in the air ...
Page 12
... stake their liberty upon the throw of the dice ; “ and he who loses submits to servitude , though younger and stronger than his antagonist , and patiently permits himself to be bound , and sold in the market ; and this madness they ...
... stake their liberty upon the throw of the dice ; “ and he who loses submits to servitude , though younger and stronger than his antagonist , and patiently permits himself to be bound , and sold in the market ; and this madness they ...
Page 17
... Stakes , and , there- upon , instantly draw , saying , if you will have your money , you must fight for it ; for he is a Gentleman , and will not want : however , if you will be patient , he will pay you another time ; if you are so ...
... Stakes , and , there- upon , instantly draw , saying , if you will have your money , you must fight for it ; for he is a Gentleman , and will not want : however , if you will be patient , he will pay you another time ; if you are so ...
Page 66
... stake , and he lost that also . But , when our generous gamester had found his lord- ship sufficiently punished for his temerity , he returned all , only stipulating that he should be paid five thousand pounds whenever he should think ...
... stake , and he lost that also . But , when our generous gamester had found his lord- ship sufficiently punished for his temerity , he returned all , only stipulating that he should be paid five thousand pounds whenever he should think ...
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