A Main at Hazzard, is that cast of the Die which is thrown first, but then it must be above Four, and less than Ten, otherwise it is no Main; so that hence you may understand there are five Mains, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, to these Mains there are seven Chances, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Ames Ace[Ames Ace], and Duce Ace, are general outs or losses to them all; Eleven is out to 5, 6, 8, or 9; Twelve is out to 5, 7, or 9; but it nicks 6, or 8, as 11, doth 7, and so doth 5, nick 5, and so on to 9; after the second throw, the cast that comes first wins. At Hazzard the cunning Gamester will pray it may be Quatre Ace against Cinque Duce, or Tray Ace against Cinq Tray; you had need be well verst before you meddle with this, it being very hazzardous. Though twenty at a Table set you, you may knock with your Box but at one, and then all the rest draw their Money; as many as you knock to you must pay if you loose; if you throw at all, winning, you sweep all; O the sweet that is in that throw, when a man upon the success of that nick shall boldly cry more Money Gentlemen, although the Table is covered with Half-Crowns. If you sett, and the Caster refuse you, if another cover you, and you accept theereof, it is one and the same thing.
At In and In you play with four Dice, you may drop from one shilling to a pound; In, is when any two Doublets appear: Out, when none; In and In, when three Aces, three Duces, &c. or four of one sort.
At Passage you are to play with three Dice; you cannot Pass unless you throw Doublets above Nine, less than nine you are out; all other throws signifying nothing, you must thrown on. What other criticismes and crotchets there are in these Games, you cannot understand, otherwise than by observation in your practice; but as I told you at first, it is best not to meddle with it at all.
Hereupon my Gentleman took several Dice out of his Pocket, and throwing them, I saw he could make them run as he listed; my fingers itched to be at the sport, so that I spent the most part of every day in consulting what advantages I could find out in Play: nay, in the very night I was never at rest for dreaming of these confounded Devils bones: the indefatigable pains I took (to find out the ready way to my destruction,) made me speedily an accomplisht Gamester; and to show my Master how I had improv’d my self from his dictations, I engaged with him at single hand, he entring the List with me, found himself equally, if not overmatcht.
Hereupon he perswaded me to study how I might contrive an opportunity to Play, when at one bout we might both sow and reap a plentiful crop, that might help to a future maintenance. The Plott I laid at a Gentlemans House five miles distance from Salisbury, where I was invited to be merry, with orders to bring what friends I pleased with me; you may be sure I carried none but what had Money enough, otherwise no company for me. Being met together, we were very jovial, and amidst our cups, I propounded to throw with Dice, who should drink a Glass; it was agreed on; being all half boozie, I made another proposition to play at Hazzard round for a Crown and no farther; this motion took as well as the former, and to work we went.
To be short, I won all their Moneys, hardly leaving our Entertainer a penny in the House; and fearing he should recruit the next day, and so farther engage me, my new Comrade perswaded me to trip off, and share, for it was reasonable he should go snips with me; I therefore caused my Horse to be brought forth, and notwithstanding the many thousand perswasions to the contrary, (rewarding the Servants) I took my leave of them, promising to give what Revenge they pleased the next day, but that was none of our intent, for early the next morning, we with our booty rode for London.