[169] The two following are of later date but in the same strain. 'A Murnival of Knaves: or Whiggism plainly display'd, and if not grown shameless, burlesqu'd out of countenance, a Poem. 1683.' 'Win at first, lose at last; or the Game of Cards which were shuffled by President Bradshaw, cut by Col. Hewson the Cobler, and played by Oliver Cromwell and Ireton till the Restoration of Charles II. 1707'—A Murnival, at the game of Gleek, was all the four aces, kings, queens, or knaves.
[170] Poems on State Affairs, vol. iii, p. 25. Edit. 1704. "Tricon is, at cards, that which we now call a gleek of Kings, Queens, Knaves, &c., viz. three of them in one hand together."—Howell's Edition of Cotgrave's French and English Dictionary, 1673. The term Gleek is probably derived from the German Gleich, signifying like; thus the Gleek was a certain number of cards of a like kind. See further illustrations of the word Gleek in Halliwell's Dictionary of Archaic Words.
[171] William Maxwell, in a catalogue of his works prefixed to his 'Admirable Prophecies concerning the Church of Rome,' 4to, 1615, inserts the following as one already published: "Jamesanna, or a Pythagorical play at cards, representing the excellency and utility of Union and Concord, with the incommodities of Division and Discorde, dedicated to the most hopefull Prince Charles." He also mentions another work of his, of the same kind, unpublished, written in imitation of More's Utopia. The author informs us, that his grandfather, William Maxwell, son of the Laird of Kirkconnel, was man-at-arms to the Most Christian King, and had the honour to serve the mother of Mary Queen of Scots, and also Mary herself. The Maxwells are still "Lairds of Kirkconnel," in Dumfries-shire. "Fair Kirkconnel Lea," mentioned in the old ballad, "I wish I were where Helen lies," is one of the most beautiful spots in Britain.
[172] Saunt he properly explains by centum, a hundred. Cientos was a Spanish game, resembling Piquet.
[173] Englands Balme: or, Proposals by way of Grievance and Remedy, humbly presented to his Highness and the Parliament; towards the Regulation of the Law and better Administration of Justice. Tending to the great Ease and Benefit of the good People of the Nation. By William Sheppard, Esq. 12mo, 1657. The disregard of such good men as Mr. Sergeant Sheppard for the feelings and opinions of those whom they were pleased to consider bad, and who formed a great majority of the nation, paved the way for the restoration of Charles II.
[174] Though this pamphlet does not treat of the game, but is wholly political, it cannot be doubted that Ombre was well known in England at the time of its publication.
[175] Titus Britannicus: An Essay of History Royal, in the Life and Reign of his late Sacred Majesty, Charles II, of ever blessed and immortal memory. By Aurelian Cook, Gent. p. 296. Edit. 1685. Aurelian is loud in his praises of his Titus for his piety and religion. According to his account, it would seem that in these respects the "Martyr Charles" was nothing to "Old Rowley."
[176] In Heath's Chronicles, a right loyal publication, it is said that Dr. Dorislaus,—the Parliamentary envoy, who was assassinated at the Hague in May, 1649,—was accustomed to play at cards on Sundays at Sir Henry Mildmay's, in Essex.—The Democracy, or pretended free State, being the 2d part of the Brief Chronicle of the late intestine War, p. 435. Edit. 1662.
[177] Basset would seem to have been a common game at the court of France about the same period. "The King (Louis XIV) now seldom or never plays, but contents himself sometimes with looking on; but formerly he hath been engaged, and has lost great sums. Mons. S. rookt him of near a million of livres at Basset by putting false cards upon him, but was imprisoned and banished for it some years."—Dr. Martin Lister, Journey to Paris in the year 1698. In 1691, Louis XIV issued an ordonnance prohibiting Faro, Basset, and other similar games. Whoever should be convicted of playing at any of those games was to be fined a thousand livres; and the person who allowed them to be played in his house incurred a penalty of six thousand livres. Basset and Flush—il Frusso—appear to have been known in Italy in the fifteenth century. They are mentioned by Lorenzo de Medici in his Canti Carnascialeschi, quoted by Singer, Researches, p. 26.
[178] The following is the title of a pack of geographical cards, now lying before me, which appear to have been engraved in the reign of Charles II. "The 52 Counties of England and Wales, geographically described in a pack of Cards, whereunto is added the length, breadth, and circuit of each county, the latitude, situation, and distance from London of the principal Cities, Towns, and Rivers, with other Remarks; as plaine and ready for the playing of all our English Games as any of the common Cards." The heads of the Kings are shown at the top of the maps of Hereford, Monmouth, Middlesex, and Yorkshire; of the Queens at the top of the maps of Durham, Huntingdon, Radnor, and Worcestershire; and of the Knaves at the top of the maps of Anglesey, Gloucester, Leicester, and Rutland. If the deviser had any particular meaning in his assignment of the coat cards, it is not easy to be discovered; though it may be "shrewdly guessed at" as respects Monmouth and York.