x days
after all was in the dust!'

The following curious observations on the gaming in vogue during the
year 1668 are from the Harleian Miscellany:

'One propounded this question, "Whether men in ships at sea were to be
accounted amongst the living or the dead--because there were but
few inches betwixt them and drowning?" The same query may be made of
gamesters, though their estates be never so considerable--whether they
are to be esteemed rich or poor, since there are but a few casts at dice
betwixt a person of fortune (in that circumstance) and a beggar.

'Betwixt twelve and one of the clock a good dinner is prepared by way
of ordinary, and some gentlemen of civility and condition oftentimes eat
there, and play a while for recreation after dinner, both moderately and
most commonly without deserving reproof. Towards night, when ravenous
beasts usually seek their prey, there come in shoals of hectors,
trepanners, gilts, pads, biters, prigs, divers, lifters, kidnappers,
vouchers, mill kens, piemen, decoys, shop-lifters, foilers, bulkers,
droppers, gamblers, donnakers, crossbiters, &c., under the general
appellation of "rooks;" and in this particular it serves as a nursery
for Tyburn, for every year some of this gang march thither.

'Would you imagine it to be true--that a grave gentleman, well stricken
in years, insomuch as he cannot see the pips of the dice, is so
infatuated with this witchery as to play here with others' eyes,--of
whom this quibble was raised, "Mr Such a one plays at dice by the ear."
Another gentleman, stark blind, I have seen play at Hazard, and surely
that must be by the ear too.

'Late at night, when the company grows thin, and your eyes dim with
watching, false dice are often put upon the ignorant, or they are
otherwise cozened, with topping or slurring, &;c.; and, if you be not
vigilant, the box-keeper shall score you up double or treble boxes, and,
though you have lost your money, dun you as severely for it as if it
were the justest debt in the world.

'There are yet some genteeler and more subtle rooks, whom you shall not
distinguish by their outward demeanour from persons of condition; and
who will sit by a whole evening, and observe who wins; and then, if
the winner be "bubbleable," they will insinuate themselves into his
acquaintance, and civilly invite him to drink a glass of wine,--wheedle
him into play, and win all his money, either by false dice, as high
fulhams,(11) low fulhams,