Politeuphuia VVits common wealth.

Of Gaming.

Defi. Gaming is a stealing away of time, busi∣ing our vnderstanding in vaine things, with∣out any profit.

CHilon, being sent from Lacedemonia to Corinth in embassage, to intreat a peace betweene them, and finding the noble men playing at dyce, returnnd backe againe with∣out deliuering his message; saying, that hee would not staine the glory of the Spartans, with so great an ignomie, as to ioyne them in society with dyce-players.

Alphonsus, Sonne of Ferdinando King of Spayne, straightly commaunded, that no Knight shoulde presume to play at dyce or cardes for any money, or gyue his consent to any such play in his house, vppon payne of forfaiting his wages for one whole month, and himselfe to bee forbidden an other mo∣neth and a halfe from entering into the kings pallace.

It is a very hard matter to follovv ordinari∣lie the deceitfull practises of cousening skill, or skilfull cousenage, vvithout the discre∣dite of a mans good name, by the marke of

reproch, or badge of open infamy.

The fame or good name of a man is no soo∣ner in question, then when he is known to be a common gamster.

It is no freedome to be licentious, nor liber∣ty to liue idely.

Such gaming is to be abhorred, wherein wit sleepeth, and idlenes vvith couetousnesse is onely learned.

Aurelius Alexander Emperour of Rome, made a lawe, vvhich vvas ratified by the au∣thority of the Senate and people, that if any man was found playing at the dice, he should be taken for franticke, or as a foole naturall, which wanted wit and discretion to gouerne himselfe.

The same Emperor likewise, after the pro∣mulgation of the fore-sayde lavve, counted Dice-players no better then theeues and ex∣••orcioners.

Gaming at cardes and dyce, are a certaine kind of smooth, deceitful, and sleightly theft, wherby many are spoyled of all they haue.

Sir Thomas Eliot, (that woorthy Knight) in ••is booke of gouernance, asketh; vvho will not thinke him a light man, of small credite, dissolute, remisse, and vaine, that is a dice∣••layer, or a gamster.

Howe much cunninger a man is in gaming and dice-playing, so much the more is he cor∣rupted in life and manners. Publius.

Iustinian made a law, that none eyther pri∣uately or publiquely, should at any time play at dice or cardes.

Old mens gaming is a priuiledge for young men. Iuuenal.

The deuill was the first inuentour of ga∣ming. Aug.

Dycing Comedies bring often tragicall ends.

Plato seeming to commend table-play, cō∣pareth it vnto the life of man; that like as an euill chance may be holpen by cunning play; so may a bad nature be made better by good education.

The King of the Persians sent golden dyce to King Demetrius, for a reproch of his light∣nesse.

Cicero in the Senate-house put Anthonius to silence, in saying he was a dycer.

Dycing neyther beseemeth the grauitie o•• a Magistrate, nor the honour of a Gentle∣man; for that the gayne is loaden vvith dis∣honest practises, and the losse, vvith vnqui•••• passions.

As a dead carkasse in an open field, is a pray

for many kinde of vermine, so a plaine min∣ded man, vsing deceitfull houses, is an assured pray, for all sorts of shifters.

In Turky, he is noted of great infamy that is found playing for money, and greeuous paynes are appoynted for punishment if hee returne to it againe.

The Lydians vvere the first inuentours of gaming, but it vvas vvhen theyr Countrey was brought into great necessitie for want of victualls, to the ende, that by playing they might finde some meane to resist and sustaine hunger the better.

Cyrus to punish them of Sardis, commaun∣ded them to passe avvay theyr time in play∣ing and banquetting; thereby to render them lesse men, and keepe them from rebel∣lion.

Ars aleatoria dum aliena cōcupiscentia sua pro∣fundit patrimonij nullam reuerentiam tenet.

Est ars mendaciorum, periuriorum, furtorum, litium, iniuriarum homicidiorumque mater est veré malorum demonum inuentum, quae exciso Asiae regno inter euersae vrbis manubias varia sub specie migrauit ad graecos.