Wits fittes and fancies Fronted and entermedled with presidentes of honour and wisdome. Also: Loves Ovvl. An idle conceited dialogue betwene loue, and an olde man. Recta securus. A. C.

OF GAME AND GAMESTERS.

A Lady had an vnthriftie son, and she being to take water on a time, and seeing the billowes rough, and the winde high, ••aid vnto him: Son, if I drowne to day, I praye thee play not away my cloathes till I be buried.

One vsed to say, that dice and purging pilles were of like nature: ••or that a litle of th'one purgeth a mans panch through∣ly, and as litle of the other a mans purse.

One dispraisd Dice, and said, that Dicers are woorse then Vsurers for that they with a hundred get but ten: but Dicers with ten▪ happely get a hundred.

A Captaine and a Marchant plaid at dice, & the Captain lost,

and swore lustily euer and anon: At last hauing lost all, he snat∣ched it all away from the marchant againe: Whereat the mar∣chant amaz'd, stood trembling and said: Captaine, if you meant I should not carie away any winnings, what a••l'd you to swear, and rage so at euery word.

Hernando Gonzales woonted to say: That a great gamester could hardly be an honest man, because he both heares that in play, which he may not well abide, and vttereth that which o∣thers may no lesse abide.

One asked a great Dicer of a pale complexion, what was the reason he stil look'd so pale and wan: He answered: So looks the money I lost at play.

One asked another what Gallant that was, that passed by so brauely towardes the Court, so stately mounted, and attyr'd all in gold: Mary (quoth he) it is one maister N. a Gentleman that maintaines himselfe so gallant as you see, only by play. By play? (repli'd the other) In truth I haue not seene any, that hath so well redressed his owne defaults by others defaults.

A friend aduisd a great gamester his kinsman to giue ouer play, affirming that it was a great sinne, and a folly both: Wher∣vnto th'other answered: Rather is it an especiall vertue, and a singular remedy against all the seuen deadlie sins. For first, how can that man be proud (trow yee) who after hauing lost an hun∣dred or a thousand pounds at dice with a Noble-man, will after∣ward be so humble, as to venture his Tester with a Lackey? Or how can that man be couetous, that cannot safegard his vtmost pennie from play? Or how can he possi••lie be lustie to women, that continually tyres himselfe out at play? Or how can he be a glutton, that dare not bestow a Tester on his bellie, for feare he should want it at play? Or how can he be enuious of other mens goods, that is so carelesse of his owne? Or how can he be easly angry, that puts vp a thousand curses euery night, for sitti••g vp so late at play? Or how can he be accompted slothful, that sits vp whole dayes and nights at play, and neuer lins playing?

One discommending bull-bayting in Spaine with dartes, where the bul is suffred to runne loose: and his reason was: Be∣cause it teacheth men to runne away.

Pedro Mexia a Spanish Croniographer, wonted to say, that belike it is a shamefull thing to runne at the ring, seeing none doe it bare-fac'd, but with their beuers downe.

A Gentleman who did greatly stut & stammer in his speech, playing at Mawe, laid downe a winning card, and then said vn∣to his partener: How sa-ay ye now, wa-was not this ca-ca-ard pa-as-assing we-we-well la-a-ayd: Yes (answered th'other) It is well layd, but yet it needs not halfe this cackling.

A Moore viewing the bull bayted with dartes in an inclo∣sed compasse of ground, where both the Bul & the men fought loosely and in daunger: A Spaniard asked him how hee liked that sport: Hee answered: Too litle for earnest, and too much for Iest.

A greasie companion lost his money at cardes, and in his rages still said: The Deu'st take me: At last a stander by hearing him say so▪ answered: So would he (I warrant you) were it not for feare of your bird-lime.

A cogging companion asking a ciuill Gentleman, whether he would play with him at dice: He answered: No, with no such lucratiue fellowes as you.

A Gamester ought a Gentleman (a friend of his) fiue pounds, and hauing lost all his money at dice, sent to borrow 5 pounds more, by the token that he ought him already fiue poundes: Wherunto the Gentleman thus answered the messenger: Bid your Maister send mee the token, and then I'le send him the fiue poundes.