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of France set the ruinous exampleHenry IV。； the roue； the
libertine； the duellist； the gambler；and yet （historically） the
_Bon Henri_； the ‘good king；' who wished to order things so that
every Frenchman might have a _pot…au…feu_； or dish of flesh
savoury； every Sunday for dinner。 The money that Henry IV。 lost
at play would have covered great public expenses。
There can be no doubt that the spirit of gaming went on acquiring
new strength and development throughout every subsequent reign in
France； and we shall see that under the Empire the thing was a
great national institution； and made to put a great deal of money
as ‘revenue' into the hands of Fouche。
But the Spaniards have always been； of all nations； the most
addicted to gambling。 A traveller says：‘I have wandered
through all parts of Spain； and though in many places I have
scarcely been able to procure a glass of wine； or a bit of bread；
or any of the first conveniences of life； yet I never went
through a village so mean and out of the way； in which I could
not have purchased a pack of cards。' This was in the middle of
the seventeenth century； but I have no doubt it is true at the
present moment。
If we can believe Voltaire； the Spaniards were formerly very
generous in their gaming。 ‘The grandees of Spain；' he says； ‘had
a generous ostentation； this was to divide the money won at
play among all the bystanders； of whatever condition。
Montrefor relates that when the Duke of Lerma； the Spanish
minister； entertained Gaston； brother of Louis XIII。； with all
his retinue in the Netherlands； he displayed a magnificence of an
extraordinary kind。 The prime minister； with whom Gaston spent
several days； used to put two thousand louis d'ors on a large
gaming…table after dinner。 With this money Gaston's attendants
and even the prince himself sat down to play。 It is probable；
however； that Voltaire extended a single instance or two into a
general habit or custom。 That writer always preferred to deal
with the splendid and the marvellous rather than with plain
matter of fact。
There can be little doubt that the Spaniards pursued gaming in
the vulgar fashion； just as other people。 At any rate the
following anecdote gives us no very favourable idea of Spanish
generosity to strangers in the matter of gambling in modern
times； and the worst of it is the suitableness of its application
to more capitals than one among the kingdoms of Europe。 ‘After
the bull…feast I was invited to pass the evening at the hotel of
a lady； who had a public card…assembly。 。 。 。 This vile
method of subsisting on the folly of mankind is confined in Spain
to the nobility。 None but women of quality are permitted to hold
banks； and there are many whose faro…banks bring them in a clear
income of a thousand guineas a year。 The lady to whom I was
introduced is an old countess； who has lived nearly thirty years
on the profits of the card…tables in her house。 They are
frequented every day； and though both natives and foreigners are
duped of large sums by her； and her cabinet…junto； yet it is the
greatest house of resort in all Madrid。 She goes to court；
visits people of the first fashion； and is received with as much
respect and veneration as if she exercised the most sacred
functions of a divine profession。 Many widows of great men keep
gaming…houses and live splendidly on the vices of mankind。 If
you be not disposed to play； be either a sharper or a dupe； you
cannot be admitted a second time to their assemblies。 I was no
sooner presented to the lady than she offered me cards； and on my
excusing myself； because I really could not play； she made a very
wry face； turned from me； and said to another lady in my hearing；
that she wondered how any foreigner could have the
impertinence to come to her house for no other purpose than to
make an apology for not playing。 My Spanish conductor；
unfortunately for himself； had not the same apology。 He played
and lost his moneytwo circumstances which constantly follow in
these houses。 While my friend was thus playing _THE FOOL_； I
attentively watched the countenance and motions of the lady of
the house。 Her anxiety； address； and assiduity were equal to
that of some skilful shopkeeper； who has a certain attraction to
engage all to buy； and diligence to take care that none shall
escape the net。 I found out all her privy…counsellors； by her
arrangement of her parties at the different tables； and whenever
she showed an extraordinary eagerness to fix one particular
person with a stranger； the game was always decided the same way；
and her good friend was sure to win the money。
‘In short； it is hardly possible to see good company at Madrid
unless you resolve to leave a purse of gold at the card…
assemblies of their nobility。'＇10＇
＇10＇ ‘Observations in a Tour through Spain。'
We are assured that this state of things is by no means
‘obsolete' in Spain； even at the present time。 At the time
in question； however； the beginning of the present century； there
was no European nation among which gaming did not constitute one
of its polite and fashionable amusementswith the exception of
the _Turks_； who； to the shame of Christians； strictly obeyed the
precepts of Mahomet； and scrupulously avoided the ‘gambling itch'
of our nature。
In England gambling prevailed during the reign of Henry VIII。；
indeed； it seems that the king was himself a gamester of the most
unscrupulous sort； and there is ample evidence that the practice
flourished during the reign of Elizabeth； James I。； and
subsequently； especially in the times of Charles II。 Writing on
the day when James II。 was proclaimed king； Evelyn says； ‘I can
never forget the inexpressible luxury and profaneness； gaming and
all dissoluteness； and as it were total forgetfulness of God （it
being Sunday evening） which this day se'nnight I was witness of；
the king sitting and toying with his concubines； Portsmouth；
Cleaveland； and Mazarine； &c。； a French boy singing love…songs；
in that glorious gallery； whilst about twenty of the great
courtiers and other dissolute persons were at Basset round a
large table； a bank of at least L2000 in gold before them；
upon which two gentlemen who were with me made reflections with
astonishment。 Six days after all was in the dust！'
The following curious observations on the gaming in vogue during
the year 1668 are from the Harleian Miscellany：
‘One propounded this question； 〃Whether men in ships at sea were
to be accounted amongst the living or the deadbecause there
were but few inches betwixt them and drowning？〃 The same query
may be made of gamesters； though their estates be never so
considerablewhether they are to be esteemed rich or poor； since
there are but a few casts at dice betwixt a person of fortune （in
that circumstance） and a beggar。
‘Betwixt twelve and one of the clock a good dinner is prepared by
way of ordin