Footnotes
[8]finger.
[9]without foul play. MS. and P.
[Primero Gloves.] Although we cannot give a clue to this contrivance for registering reckonings in card-playing, it is worth noticing the old game indicated:—
Primero, according to Dr. Johnson, is derived from the Spanish, which Minsheu, coupling with the Italian, thus explains, “primum et primum visum, that is, first, and first seen, because he that can show such an order of cards, wins the game.” He then quotes as examples:—
“I left him at primero with the Duke of Suffolk.”—Henry VIII.
“The Spaniard is generally given to gaming, and that in excess; their common game at cards is primera.”—Howell’s Letters, i. iii. 32.
“Give me your honest trick, yet, at primero, or gleek.”—Ben Jonson’s Alchemist.
Mr. S. W. Singer affords some curious information on Primero, in his excellent “Researches into the History of Cards,” quarto, 1816. It appears to be uncertain whether it is of Italian or Spanish origin. Primero, prime, and primavista, are the same game, differently designated. It was very popular in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and, as we have seen, is mentioned by Shakespeare; indeed, it is supposed to have been one of the earliest played card games in England.
90.