[234] Observations sur les Cartes à jouer.
[235] This subject is erroneously numbered, both in the Roman characters and in the cyphers, as has been previously observed.
[236] These cards were exhibited to the Antiquarian Society by Dr. Stukeley, in 1763. They were purchased in 1776, by Mr. Tutet, and on his decease, they were bought by Mr. Gough. In 1816 they were in the possession of Mr. Triphook, the bookseller.
[237] Mons. Duchesne expresses himself on this subject, as follows: "Les enseignes employées pour les couleurs out éprouvé beaucoup de variations: cœur, carreau, trèfle et pique sont les plus répandues; mais, en Italie et en Espagne, elles sont encore désignées par coupes, deniers, bâtons, épées. En Allemagne on dit rouge, grelots, glands et cert.[**"cert"?] Quelquefois, en conservant les cœurs, les deniers ont été remplacés par des grelots; puis des glands tiennent lieu des trèfles, et des feuilles de lierre remplacent les piques, dont elles ont la forme."—Observations sur les Cartes à jouer.
[238] Mons. Duchesne says that the mark which the French call Pique was called Capprel in Italy, from its resemblance to the fruit of the Caper.—Précis Historique, prefixed to Jeux de Cartes Tarots et Numérales, p. 11.
[239] Carte Parlanti, p. 57, edit. 1651.
[240] The name of Lancelot did not really appear on the Valet of Trèfle, in the time of Père Daniel; but from a passage in Daneau's 'Liber de Alea, ou Breve remontrance sur les jeux de Cartes et de Dez,' printed in 1579, he concluded,—and, in this instance, correctly,—that Lancelot was the old name. By a royal ordinance of 1619, the card-makers of France were required to put their names and devices upon the Valet of Trèfle; and, from this circumstance, he considers that the name of Lancelot was omitted.
[241] 'The Perpetual Almanac, or a Gentleman Soldier's Prayer-book, shewing how one Richard Middleton was taken before the Mayor of the city he was in for using cards in church, during Divine Service.'
[242] Daniel, 'Mémoire sur l'Origine du jeu de Piquet, trouvé dans l'histoire de France, sous le règne de Charles VII,' printed in the Journal de Trévoux, for May, 1720. A summary of this memoir is given by Peignot, who questions the correctness of Daniel's explanations, but yet does not venture to say what they really are—mere gratuitous conceits. It would seem that the French consider the invention of Piquet as a point of national honour, and that the native author who should call it in question, would render himself liable to a "suspicion of incivism."
[243] "Ces cartes rarissimes faisaient partie d'un jeu de cartes numérales gravées sur bois sous notre roi Charles VII, vers 1425."