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 18
... Town , ( being half drunk ) to press a Gentleman very much to lend him a crown the Gentleman refus'd him several times , yet , still , the Borrower persisted ; and , holding his head too near the Caster's elbow , it chanced to hit his ...
... Town , ( being half drunk ) to press a Gentleman very much to lend him a crown the Gentleman refus'd him several times , yet , still , the Borrower persisted ; and , holding his head too near the Caster's elbow , it chanced to hit his ...
Page 19
... Town ; price current , ( by the help of a friend ) eight shillings ; whereas an ordinary Bale is sold for sixpence for my part , I shall tell you plainly , I would have those Bales of false Dice to be sold at the price of the ears of ...
... Town ; price current , ( by the help of a friend ) eight shillings ; whereas an ordinary Bale is sold for sixpence for my part , I shall tell you plainly , I would have those Bales of false Dice to be sold at the price of the ears of ...
Page 28
... Town and University . The novelty of his method of treatment made it a complete success ; and it was felt throughout the University that his shafts had told with more than ordinary effect . But , of course , these sermons being preached ...
... Town and University . The novelty of his method of treatment made it a complete success ; and it was felt throughout the University that his shafts had told with more than ordinary effect . But , of course , these sermons being preached ...
Page 34
... Town for Playing at Cards during Divine Service . The Sergeant commanded the Soldiers at Church , and when the Parson had read the prayers , he took his text . Those who had a Bible , took it out , but the Soldier had neither Bible nor ...
... Town for Playing at Cards during Divine Service . The Sergeant commanded the Soldiers at Church , and when the Parson had read the prayers , he took his text . Those who had a Bible , took it out , but the Soldier had neither Bible nor ...
Page 59
... Town , to improve themselves in the Beau Monde . The young and unwary , thro ' their Inexperience , greedily swallow this Advice , and deliver themselves up to the Con- duct of these Harpies who swarm in every Corner , where Visiting is ...
... Town , to improve themselves in the Beau Monde . The young and unwary , thro ' their Inexperience , greedily swallow this Advice , and deliver themselves up to the Con- duct of these Harpies who swarm in every Corner , where Visiting is ...
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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