The compleat gamester, or, Instructions how to play at billiards, trucks, bowls, and chess together with all manner of usual and most gentile games either on cards or dice : to which is added the arts and mysteries of riding, racing, archery, and cock-fighting.
Cotton, Charles, 1630-1687.
Page  31

Orders to be observed by such who will play at Billiards.

1. IF the Leader touch the end of the Table with his Ball at the first stroke he loseth one.

2. If the Follower intend to hit his Adversaries Ball, or pass at one stroke he must string his Ball, that is, lay it even with the King, or he loseth one.

3. He that passeth through the Port hath the advantage of touching the King which is one if not thrown down.

4. He that passeth twice, his Ad∣versary having not past at all, and toucheth the King without throwing him down wins two ends.

5. He that passeth not hath no o∣ther advantage than the Hazards.

6. He that is a Fornicator (that is, hath past through the back of the Port) he must pass twice through the fore part, or he cannot have the ad∣vantage of passing that end.

7. He that hits down the Port or King, or hazards his own Ball, or Page  32 strikes either Ball over the Table lo∣seth one.

8. He that hazards his Adversary's Ball, or makes it hit down the King winneth the end.

9. If four play, two against two, he that mistakes his stroke loseth one to that side he is of.

10. He that after both Balls plaid, removes the Port without consent, or strikes his Ball twice together, or that his Adversaries Ball touch his Stick∣hand, Clothes, or playeth his Adversa∣ries Balls, loseth one.

11. He that sets not one foot up∣on the ground when he strikes his Ball shall lose an end, or if he lay his hand or sleeve on the Cloth.

12. A stander by though he betts shall not instruct, direct or speak in in the Game without consent, or being first asked; if after he is advertised hereof he offend in this nature, for every fault he shall instantly forfeit Two pence for the good of the Com∣pany, or not be suffer'd to stay in the Room.

13 He that plays a Ball, while the Page  33 other runs, or takes up a Ball before it lie still loseth an end.

14. He that removes the Port with his Stick when he strikes his Ball, and thereby prevents his Adversaries Ball from passing loseth an end.

15. All controversies are to be decided by the Standers by, upon asking judg∣ment. Here note, that whosoever breaks the King forfeits a shilling, for the Port ten shillings, and each Stick five shillings.

16. Five ends make a Game by Day-light, and three by Candle-light.

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Page  34

The Orders in Verse as I found them fram'd for a very ancient Billiard-Table.

1.
THe Leading ball the upper end may'nt hit;
For if it doth it loseth one by it.
2.
The Follower with the King lie even shall
If he doth pass or hit the others ball;
Or else lose one, the like if either lay
Their arm or hand on board when they do play.
3.
That man wins one who with the o∣thers ball
So strikes the King that he doth make him fall.
4.
If striking at a hazard both run in,
The ball struck at thereby an end shal win.
5.
He loseth one that down the Port doth ling;
The like doth he that justles down the King.
6.
He that in play the adverse ball shall touch
With stick, hand, or cloaths forfeits just as much.
Page  357.
And he that twice hath past shall touch the King,
The other not past at all shall two ends win.
8.
If both the balls over the Table flie,
The striker of them loseth one thereby.
And if but one upon the board attend,
The striker still the loser of the end.
9.
One foot upon the ground must still be set,
Or one end's lost if you do that forget:
And if you twice shall touch a ball e're He
Hath struck between an end for him is free.
10.
If any Stander by shall chance to bet,
And will instruct, he then must pay the set.
11.
The Port or King being set, who moves the same
With hand or stick shall lose that end or Game.
12.
He that can touch being past, or strike the other
Into the Hazard is allowed another.
13.
If any Stander by shall stop a ball,
The Game being lost thereby he pays for all.
Page  3614.
If any past be stricken back again,
His pass before shall be accounted vain.
15.
He that breaks any thing with vio∣lence,
King, Port, or Stick is to make good th'offence.
16.
If any not the Game doth fully know
May ask another whether it be so,
Remember also when the Game you win,
To set it up for fear of wrangling.
17.
He that doth make his ball the King light hit,
And holes th'other scores two ends for it.