A01545:450
Of the nature and use of lots a treatise historical and theologicalOf the nature and vse of lots a treatise historicall and theologicall
Of the nature and use of lots a treatise historical and theological; written by Thomas Gataker B. of D. sometime preacher at Lincolns Inn, and now pastor of Rotherhith.Of the nature and vse of lots a treatise historicall and theologicall; written by Thomas Gataker B. of D. sometime preacher at Lincolnes Inne, and now pastor of Rotherhith.
London: printed by Edward Griffin, 1619
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The kfirst Law wherein dice are said to be generally forbidden, enacteth only that All servants of husbandry, labourers, servants of any artificer or victualler shall have bow and arrows, and use the same on Sundays and Holidays; and shall leave all playing at Tennis, foot-ball, quoits, dice, casting of the stone, kayles, and other such importune games. The lnext Act imposing a penalty of 6. days imprisonment upon all offenders against the former. The mthird of them discovereth the main scope of these acts, namely, to bring in a more frequent use of the bow, because the defence of the Land was much then by Archers: and withal giveth divers other grounds of the former prohibitions then revived and renewed, to wit, sundry unlawful games as closh, kayles, bowls, qeckbord &c. newly invented, gaming houses erected and so commonly employed; Gamesters thereby impoverished; murders and robberies occasioned &c. Whereupon ⟨p. 204⟩it enacteth further a penalty of twenty pounds and three years imprisonment against every one that shall keep, and of ten pounds and two years imprisonment against every one that shall haunt, any such house. The nfourth commandeth that no servant or labourer play at tables save for meat and drink: nor at any other unlawful game save at Christmas, and then in his Masters dwelling house only: every one so offending to be set in the stocks, and he that suffereth it in his house to forfeit a noble at least. To which, though not alleged, may be annexed oanother Act of little later date, forbidding the same persons to play at tables, tennis, closh, dice &c. save as above, with the same penalties upon persons therein delinquent imposed.
The kfirst Law wherein dice are said to be generally forbidden, enacteth onely that All seruants of husbandrie, labourers, seruants of any artificer or victualer shall haue bow and arrowes, and vse the same on Sundaies and Holidaies; and shall leaue all playing at Tennis, foot-ball, quoites, dice, casting of the stone, kailes, and other such importune games. The