THE HISTORY OF
GAMBLING IN
ENGLAND
_All Rights Reserved_
THE HISTORY
OF GAMBLING
IN ENGLAND
BY
JOHN ASHTON
AUTHOR OF “SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE,”
“A HISTORY OF ENGLISH LOTTERIES,” ETC.
[Illustration: LOGO]
LONDON
DUCKWORTH & CO.
3 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C.
1898
CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTORY
Difference between Gaming and Gambling—Universality and
Antiquity of Gambling—Isis and Osiris—Games and Dice of the
Egyptians—China and India—The Jews—Among the Greeks and
Romans—Among Mahometans—Early Dicing—Dicing in England in
the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries—In the Seventeenth
Century—Celebrated Gamblers—Bourchier—Swiss Anecdote—Dicing
in the Eighteenth Century 1
CHAPTER I
Latimer and Cards—Discourse between a Preacher and a
Professor—The Perpetual Almanack, or Soldier’s Prayer
Book—Origin of Playing Cards—Earliest Notice—Royal Card
Playing 28