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In another part of the poem he says：
Li jeune enfant deviennent Rufien；
Joueurs de Dez； gourmands et plains d'yvresse；
Hautains de cuer； et ne leur chant en rien
D'onneur； &c。
‘There young men become ruffians； dice…players； gluttons； and
drunkards； haughty of heart； and bereft of honour。'
Still it seems that gaming had not then confounded all
conditions； as at a later period。 It is evident； from the
history and memoirs of the times； that the people were more given
to games of skill and exercise than games of chance。 Before
the introduction of the arquebus and gunpowder； they applied
themselves to the practice of archery； and in all times they
played at quoits； ninepins； bowls； and other similar games of
skill。＇41＇
＇41＇ Sauval； _Antiquites de Paris_； ii。
The invention of cards brought about some change in the mode of
amusement。 The various games of this kind； however； cost more
time than money； but still the thing attracted the attention of
the magistrates and the clergy。 An Augustinian friar； in the
reign of Charles VII。； effected a wonderful reformation in the
matter by his preaching。 At his voice the people lit fires in
several quarters of the city； and eagerly flung into them their
cards and billiard…balls。＇42＇
＇42＇ Pasquier； _Recherche des Recherches_。
With the exception of a few transient follies； nothing like a
rage for gambling can be detected at that period among the lower
ranks and the middle classes。 The vice； however； continued to
prevail without abatement in the palaces of kings and the
mansions of the great。
It is impossible not to remark； in the history of nations； that
delicacy and good faith decline in proportion to the spread
of gambling。 However select may be the society of gamesters； it
is seldom that it is exempt from all baseness。 We have seen a
proof of the practice of cheating among the Hindoos。 It existed
also among the Romans； as proved by the ‘cogged' or loaded dice
dug up at Herculaneum。 The fact is that cheating is a natural；
if not a necessary； incident of gambling。 It may be inferred
from a passage in the old French poet before quoted； that cheats；
during the reign of Charles VI。； were punished with
‘bonnetting；'＇43＇ but no instance of the kind is on record； on
the contrary； it is certain that many of the French kings
patronized and applauded well…known cheats at the gaming table。
＇43＇ Se votre ami qui bien vous sert
En jouant vous changeoit les Dez；
Auroit…il pas _Chapeau de vert_。
LOUIS XI。Brantome says that Louis XI。； who seems not to have
had a special secretary； being one day desirous of getting
something written； perceived an ecclesiastic who had an inkstand
hanging at his side； and the latter having opened it at the
king's request； a set of dice fell out。 ‘What kind of _SUGAR…
PLUMS_ are these？' asked his Majesty。 ‘Sire；' replied the
priest； ‘they are a remedy for the Plague。' ‘Well said；'
exclaimed the king； ‘you are a fine _Paillard_ （a word he often
used）； ‘_YOU ARE THE MAN FOR ME_；' and took him into his
service； for this king was fond of bon…mots and sharp wits； and
did not even object to thieves； provided they were original and
provocative of humour； as the following very funny anecdote will
show。 ‘A certain French baron who had lost everything at play；
even to his clothes； happening to be in the king's chamber；
quietly laid hands on a small clock； ornamented with massive
gold； and concealed it in his sleeve。 Very soon after； whilst he
was among the troop of lords and gentlemen； the clock began to
strike the hour。 We can well imagine the consternation of the
baron at this contretemps。 Of course he blushed red…hot； and
tightened his arm to try and stifle the implacable sound of
detection manifestthe _flagrans delictum_still the clock went
on striking the long hour； so that at each stroke the bystanders
looked at each other from head to foot in utter bewilderment。
‘The king； who； as it chanced； had detected the theft； burst out
laughing； not only at the astonishment of the gentlemen present；
who were at a loss to account for the sound； but also at the
originality of the stunning event。 At length Monsieur le Baron；
by his own blushes half…convicted of larceny； fell on his knees
before the king； humbly saying：〃Sire； the pricks of gaming are
so powerful that they have driven me to commit a dishonest
action； for which I beg your mercy。〃 And as he was going on in
this strain； the king cut short his words； exclaiming：〃The
_PASTIME_ which you have contrived for us so far surpasses the
injury you have done me that the clock is yours： I give it you
with all my heart。〃 '＇44＇
＇44＇ Duverdier； _Diverses Lecons_。
HENRY III。In the latter part of the sixteenth century Paris was
inundated with brigands of every description。 A band of Italian
gamesters； having been informed by their correspondents that
Henry III。 had established card…rooms and dice…rooms in the
Louvre； got admission at court； and won thirty thousand crowns
from the king。＇45＇
＇45＇ Journal de Henri III。
If all the kings of France had imitated the disinterestedness of
Henry III。； the vice of gaming would not have made such progress
as became everywhere evident。
Brantome gives a very high idea of this king's generosity；
whilst he lashes his contemporaries。 Henry III。 played at tennis
and was very fond of the gamenot； however； through cupidity or
avarice； for he distributed all his winnings among his
companions。 When he lost he paid the wager； nay； he even paid
the losses of all engaged in the game。 The bets were not higher
than two； three； or four hundred crownsnever； as subsequently；
four thousand； six thousand； or twelve thousandwhen； however；
payment was not as readily made； but rather frequently compounded
for。＇46＇
＇46＇ Henry III。 was also passionately fond of the childish
toy _Bilboquet_； or ‘Cup and Ball；' which he used to play even
whilst walking in the street。 Journal de Henri III。； i。
There was； indeed； at that time a French captain named La Roue；
who played high stakes； up to six thousand crowns； which was then
deemed exorbitant。 This intrepid gamester proposed a bet of
twenty thousand crowns against one of Andrew Doria's war…galleys。
Doria took the bet； but he immediately declared it off； in
apprehension of the ridiculous position in which he would be
placed if he lost； saying；‘I don't wish that this young
adventurer； who has nothing worth naming to lose； should win
my galley to go and triumph in France over my fortune and my
honour。'
Soon； however； high stakes became in vogue； and to such an extent
that the natural son of the Duc de Bellegarde was enabled to pay；
out of his winnings； the large sum of fifty thousand crowns to
get himself legitimated。 Curiously enough； it is said that the
greater part of this sum had bee