Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards

by William Andrew Chatto

In the comedy of 'Gammer Gurton's Needle,' said to have been first printed in 1551, old dame Chat thus invites two of her acquaintance to a game at cards:

"What, Diccon? Come nere, ye be no stranger:

We be fast set at trump, man, hard by the fire;

Thou shalt set on the king, if thou come a little nyer.

Come hither, Dol; Dol, sit down and play this game,

And as thou sawest me do, see thou do even the same;

There is five trumps besides the queen, the hindmost thou shalt find her."

In a Satire on Cardinal Wolsey and the Romish Clergy by William Roy, without date, but most likely printed in 1527, [128] some of the bishops are charged with gaming in addition to their other vices:

"To play at the cardes and dyce,

Some of theym are nothynge nyce,