ecame the
favourite pastime of the knights, and both dicing schools (_scholae
deciorum_) and gilds of dicers existed. After the downfall of feudalism
the famous German mercenaries called _landsknechts_ established a
reputation as the most notorious dicing gamblers of their time. Many of
the dice of the period were curiously carved in the images of men and
beasts. In France both knights and ladies were given to dicing, which
repeated legislation, including interdictions on the part of St Louis in
1254 and 1256, did not abolish. In Japan, China, Korea, India and other
Asiatic countries dice have always been popular and are so still.

See Foster's _Encyclopaedia of Indoor Games_ (1903); Raymond's
_Illustriertes Knobelbrevier_ (Oranienburg, 1888); _Les Jeux des
Anciens_, by L. Becq de Fouquieres (Paris, 1869); _Das Knochelspiel
der Alten_, by Bolle (Wismar, 1886); _Die Spiele der Griechen und
Romer_, by W. Richter (Leipzig, 1887); Raymond's _Alte und neue
Wurfelspiele_; _Chinese Games with Dice_, by Stewart Culin
(Philadelphia, 1889); _Korean Games_, by Stewart Culin (Philadelphia,
1895).

DICETO, RALPH DE (d. c. 1202), dean of St Paul's, London, and
chronicler, is first mentioned in 1152, when he received the
archdeaconry of Middlesex. He was probably born between 1120 and 1130;
of his parentage and nationality we know nothing. The common statement
that he derived his surname from Diss in Norfolk is a mere conjecture;
Dicetum may equally well be a Latinized form of Dissai, or Dicy, or
Dizy, place names which are found in Maine, Picardy, Burgundy and
Champagne. In 1152 Diceto was already a master of arts; presumably he
had studied at Paris. His reputation for learning and integrity stood
high; he was regarded with respect and favour by Arnulf of Lisieux and
Gilbert Foliot of Hereford (afterwards of London), two of the most
eminent bishops of their time. Quite naturally, the archdeacon took in
the Becket question the same side as his friends. Although his narrative
is colourless, and although he was one of those who showed some sympathy
for Becket at the council of Northampton (1164), the correspondence of
Diceto shows that he regarded the archbishop's conduct as
ill-considered, and that he gave advice to those whom Becket regarded as
his chief enemies. Diceto was selected, in 1166, as the envoy of the
English bishops when they protested against the excommunications
launched by Becket. But, apart from