Pastimes▪ Cha. 7.

ARe you dispo∣sed to be merrie and sport the time away alittle?

What sirs! are you all asleepe?

Let vs go to some game.

Lets go vvalke.

Tis fine vval∣king indeed, the streets are so foule and filthie.

O what fine vvether it is to studie neere the fire side on a paire of new cards.

I had thought you would haue sayd on some new booke.

I say, on a new paire of cards.

Lets rather go to tables.

Page  55I could neuer yet play at tables.

Lets to dice.

I cannot dice it neither.

Lets play at draughts, or at chests then.

No: but vve vvill play at cards.

At cards, be it.

At all plaies, theres but the hazard.

I dare not play vvith you, Tripit-taintie, you are a little too craftie a companion.

You are a fret∣ter, a vvrangler, a brangler, a foulemouthed vil∣lain, and for nothing you will take exceptions, and quarrell.

You teare, you sweare, you forsweare.

Thou art a prating rascall, and liest in thy throat in saying so. I play fairer play then thou doest.

By your sleue ye• Page  52 we vvill none of your com∣panie: For you haue an ill report.

For vvhat? To be a corni∣fler, a coozener, they say to, that you carrie alwaies with you a bung card in your pocket to coosen simple companions.

Whosoeuer shall say so, lies in his throat.

Farewell my friend, I would be leath to play in thy companie, for thou doest no∣thing but picke quar∣rels and vvrangle.

Whiff, my friend, my man is fluced away.

What a companion? you haue sent him away with a flea in his eare.

Well, shall we too it now?

But thou Lancelot, so soone as thou hast gotten six∣pence, you do giue them ouer, with whom you play.

Page  53That is rather to deceaue and mocke, then to play.

You say true indeed: For if I loose once sixpence, I am tied by the foote till the Cow come home.

Let vs sit downe then as vve were vvoont to do, crosse-legged, ho.

Geue me this chaire, to the end I may loose at more ease.

Shuffle the cards.

Cut, He shall deale vvho lifts the highest card, I shall deale.

Lets play at Primero.

No, no, wee will play at Spanish triumph.

Fie vpon it, tis euerie common alehouse game in Eng∣land.

At Sant then.

No, for Gods sake, vve will play at the Page  50 Lance-knights game.

Well tis done, cut the cards.

Steuen you cut at the boung card.

I know not what it means truly.

Theres for thee An∣tonie, a dame without blame.

I haue a king with∣out a kingdome.

Looke this is mine owne.

What, maister knaue of clubs, you are vvel∣come.

Will you vvin me six pence?

Here is a ten, a nine, an ace, the foure of spades, the three of pickes, the two of harts.

A plague of the cards, I shal not turne vp one of these cards.

I thinke that there is no more kings or queenes in the decke.

O heres the brother of Robin Hood come.

You haue lost the game.

Page  51Come six pence for me.

Come a shilling to me.

Ile lay a vvager, if I had a hundred crownes in my pursse, I should set them packing to day at play.

Leaue thy pra∣ting, if thou vvilt play, stake.

I know if I had a kingdome I should loose it now.

Play no more then.

Yet must I needs play.

Deale the cards with a plague.

What a vengeance, I shall loose as much to day, as my Lord maior is vvorth.

Theres an eight for you.

I will lay on this eights head, eight crowns. I will then cast vp the cards.

Play but six onely, and I will hold them.

Play then, Take a card for your selfe, Page  56 Thou hast a fiue.

Play faire play and be hangd, looke not on the bottom card.

Whats this in the name of God?

God vvas neuer plaier at cards.

O fortune happie now be luckie.

One fiue fingers now, to get me fiue crowns.

Here tis by God.

This is mine.

Let my monie alone com∣panion.

And why?

Go to, go to, I say.

Sblood, you shall haue none of my monie.

And wherefore?

Therefore, I say.

I will be iudged.

Say companion, hath he playd faire play?

Page  57I thinke so surely.

Did not he take the bottom card?

I vvill be iudged by him.

No truly: he hath woon the monie, and you haue lost it.

Take it then.

These cards are marked on the backs,

Thou knowest them all.

The greatest part of them truly, I know by the faces vvhen I looke vpon them.

Peraduenture also by the backs.

I vvill cast these cards into the fire.

They shall loose me no more monie.

VVhat haue you lost all at one cut of cards?

Tis no matter, I will play no more at cards.

I haue lost inough for one sitting.