[Cotton, Charles] | Gambling, games, and sports

[Cotton, Charles]

Instructions how to play at billiards, trucks, bowls, and chefs. Together with all manner of games either on cards, or dice. To which is added, the arts and mysteries of riding, racing, archery, and cock-fighting. London: Printed for Charles Brome, 1687

8vo (152 x 101 mm). Engraved frontispiece, explanation of the frontispiece; frontispiece detached, first and final quires soiled, frayed and partially detached, minor dampstaining in lower inside margin of quire H. Contemporary calf; very worn, spine imperfect, upper board partially detached, upper right corner of same chewed.

The fourth edition, the first having appeared in 1674 under the title of "The Compleat Gamester" printed by Brome's father Henry, as were the second and third editions in 1676 and 1680. Better known for his friendship and collaboration with Izaak Walton, Cotton published this work anonymously. It was the first to discuss billiards and remained a primary work on chess for decades.  

Cotton observes in his notice to the reader the simple pleasures of recreation: "It is not (I'le assure you) any private interest of my own that caus'd me to ad­venture on this subject, but the delight & benefit of eve­ry individual person; Delight to such who will pass away their spare minuts in harmless recreation if not abus'd; and Profit to all, who by inspect­ing all manner of Games may observe the cheats and abu­ses, & so be arm'd against the injuries that may accrue thereby."

He concludes on a moral note: "[L]et me ad­vise you, if you play (when your business will permit) let not a covetous desire of win­ning another's money en­gage you to the losing your own; which will not only disturb your mind, but by the disreputation of being a Gamester, if you lose not your estate, you will certain­ly lose your credit and good name, than which there is nothing more valuable. "

REFERENCE:

ESTC R174281; Wing C6386A