Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards

by William Andrew Chatto

"From this examination," says Mons. Duchesne, "we may conclude that the word Cartes is an interpolation made by a transcriber a century later: consequently it cannot be admitted as a proof that cards were known in 1367." [84]

In an edition of William de Guilleville's allegorical poem, entitled 'Le Pelerinaige de l'Homme,' [85] printed at Paris by Verard in 1511, the following verses, in which cards are named, were pointed out to me by my friend Mr. N. Hill, of the Royal Society of Literature, to whom I am greatly indebted for much curious and interesting information relating to the Origin and History of Playing Cards.

At folio xlv, a, Oysivete tempts the pilgrim to quit the right way by recounting to him the pleasures enjoyed by those who place themselves under her guidance:

"... Je meyne gens au bois,

Et la leur fais-je veoir danseurs,

Jeux de basteaulx et de jougleurs,

Jeux de tables et déschiquiers,

De boulles et mereilliers.

De cartes, jeux de tricherie,

Et de mainte autre muserie."