THE royal AND delightful GAME Of PICQUET.  
Written in French: and now rendered into English out of the last French Edition.  
LONDON Printed for J. Martin, and J. Ridley, and are to be sold at the Castle in Fleet-street nere Ram-Alley. 1651.   

THE STATIONER To the READERS.  
THere coming to my hands not long since a small Treatise, concerning the game of PICQUET, and having perused the same; I have since thought fit to communicate it to the World; as being a game approved of every where, especially among all the Gentry, and persons of Honour. It is a kind of Divertion, so sweet, and pleasing, as that it makes the houres slide away insensibly: it easeth the Gouty person; clears up the melancholic spirit; and refresheth the pensive Lover. These considerations are of sufficient force to raise up in any one a desire to the Play: But that which should most stir you up to the purchasing of this book, is, that you have here laid down before you, an absolute, and exact account of the whole Game, and have all the difficulties, that may arise therein, fully resolved. If you therefore but observe the Rules, and maxims here delivered; you shall avoid all the quarrels, which usually arise amongst Gamesters, for want of being thoroughly informed in the Game; and shall preserve mutual Society, which is the Bond that unites all things. Be sure therefore that you purchase this book: For in so doing, you shall not only much advantage yourselves, but me also: Who am  
Your most humble and most affectionate servant J. C. B M D. L. M.   

THE Pleasant and delightful Game of PICQUET.  

CHAP I.  
Of the Cards that are to be played with, and the number of them.  
FIrst of all, you must take out of a Pack of Cards all the Deuces, tree, Foures, and Fives, and so play with the rest, which amount in all to thirty six.  
Then the two Gamesters are to agree upon the number of the Set, how many they will make up; which usually is a Hundred. Yet notwithstanding it is in the choice of the Gamesters to make the Game more, or less, according as they please: And he, that first comes to the number agreed upon, wins the Set.   

CHAP. II.  
Of Lifting for Dealing.  
When you are now going to play, you are first of all to see who shall deal: where you are to note, that it is a great disadvantage to be Dealer. The usual way of trying for this is, by each mans taking up as many, or as few of the Cards as he pleaseth; provided always that he take up more then one. For a man must not take a single carded only; because possibly he may know it by the back-side. Now which soever of the two dips the least carded, he is to deal: And if by chance, as it often happens, through hastiness in lifting, any carded drop off from those he takes up, and falls upon the table, there is no notice to be taken of That carded, but only of the lowest of those which he hath in his hand.   

CHAP. III.  
Of the value of the Cards.  
THe Cards are in value, according to the number of the points they bear, all except the Ace, which goes for Eleven: so that by this means it wins the King, as the King does the Queen, the Queen the Knave, and the Knave the Ten; and so in order down to the Six, which is the least of all.   

CHAP. IV.  
Of Dealing.  
THe Dealer, that is to say, he that in Lifting had the least carded, is to shuffle the Cards; which when he hath done, he is to lay them before the other to cut them; which he is to do cleanly, without scattering any of them. For if in cutting of them, he chance to drop, or scatter any of them, it goes for nothing; and the Cards in this case are to be shuffled and cut again. When this is done, the Dealer delivers them out, in what number he pleaseth, so that it be not above four, nor under Two. And with what number he begins his dealing, he is to continue the same till he hath dealt to each his dozen: And the Twelve that remain, are to be laid upon the table betwixt the two gamesters.   

CHAP. V.  
Of a blanch, or White Game.  
THe Gamesters then having each of them taken up their Cards, and survaid them, if he that is the Elder hand find that he hath never a Coat carded in his hand, he says to the other, I have a blanch, and I intend to discard so many Cards: and that you may see my blanch, do you discard as many Cards as you intend to do. Which being done, the Elder hand shows the other all his twelve Cards; which the other may take time to look over, to see that there be no carded turned, nor concealed by design. Which done, he that hath the blanch, reckons Ten for it: and so taking up his Cards again, he discards those which he thinks fit; but always is bound to the same number which he at first propounded. This being done, he takes out of the stock as many Cards as he hath laid out. Now if it so happen, that the other also have a blanch as well as he; notwithstanding that the Elder hand's blanch should consist of the bigger Cards, yet for all this the Younger hand's blanch shall serve for a bar to the Former's, and shall also hinder his Picq, and Repicq.   

CHAP. VI.  
Of Discarding: and what Advantages the Eldest hand hath therein.  
HE, that is the Eldest hand, hath great advantage in Discarding; for as much as he hath liberty to take in Eight of the Twelve Cards which are remaining in the stock; having first discarded as many of his own: and it is also in his choice, according as he finds his game, to take fewer; that is, either One, Two, Three, four, Five, Six, or Seven; having first discarded so many of his own, as hath been formerly said. And if he take in less then Eight, he hath liberty to look upon the remainder of those Eight, laying them down again upon the rest, after he hath seen them, in the same order they were in. Then may the other afterwards take all the rest, or else as few as he Pleaseth, discarding likewise as many of his own. But if he take not all of them in the Elder hand also hath power to see them, after the other hath seen them; provided always, that he first tell the other what svit he intends to play: by which he is obliged to play the same svit, which he said he would play. And if by chance it should so fall out, that either by mistake, or else with apurpose of cheating, he should say, I will play such a svit; and it should afterwards appear, that either he had discarded all of that svit, or else had not at first any of it at all; he is then bound to play such a svit as the other shall appoint him. And here it is to be noted, that each of them, as well the Elder, as the Younger hand, is necessary to discard at least one carded, how good so ever their Game be.   

CHAP. VII.  
Of the ruff.  
AFter they have done discarding, and have taken in each of them what Cards they please, they then begin to look after the ruff, and to see, how much each of them can make of a svit. The Elder hand then speaking what he can show, if the other have not as much, or more, his ruff is then good: and for every Ten that he can reckon, he is to set up One. As for example, for Thirty, he is to reckon Three; for forty, four; and so upward. Where by the way it is to be noted, that you are to reckon as much for Thirty five, as for Forty; and as much for Forty five, as for Fifty; and so of the rest: but for thirty six, thirty seven Thirty eight, or Thirty nine, you are to reckon no more then for Thirty five: in like manner as for Thirty one, Thirty two, Thirty three, or Thirty four, you are to reckon no more then for Thirty. And the same rule is to be observed in all other higher numbers.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of Sequences, and their Value.  
AFter the ruff is played, the Elder hand then says what Sequences he hath, if he have any: and these are, Tierces, quarts, Quintes, Sixiesmes, Septiesmes, Huictiesmes, and Neufiesmes; according to the number of Cards which he hath of the same svit, which follow in sequence. As for example: the Tierces are,( beginning at the least carded, and so going upward) six, Seven, and Eight; Nine, Ten, and Knave; Queen, King, and Ace: which is the highest or biggest Tierce, and is called a Tierce mayor.  
A Quart is, where there is a sequence of four Cards of a svit; a Quint is a sequence of five; a Sixiesme, of six; a Septiesme, of seven; a Huictiesme, of eight; and a Neufiesme, of nine; And therefore they are called, by the French, Tierces, quarts, Quin●es, Sixiesmes, Septiesmes Huictiesmes, and Neufiesmes. Now these Sequences take their name from the highest, or biggest carded in the Sequence; as for example; it is a Tierce mayor, or a Tierce of an Ace, when there is Queen, King and Ace: a Tierce of a King is, when the King is the biggest carded of it; a Tierce of a Queen, when there is neither King, nor Ace in it: and so in all the rest, till you come down as low as to the Tierce of an Eight; which is the least Tierce of all.  
For every Tierce, you reckon Three; for every Quart, four; but a Quint is Fifteen, a Sixiesme, sixteen; a Septiesme, seventeen; a Huictiesme, eighteen; and a Neufiesme, nineteen. Now what ever you can make of all these, you are to add it to your blanch,( if you have any,) or to your ruff, reckoning the whole together.  
And here it is to be noted, that the biggest Tierce, Quart, Quint, or other Sequence, although there be but one of them, drowns all the Others Lesser Sequences, be they never so many, so that they become utterly useless unto him: and besides, he that hath the biggest Sequence, whether it be a Tierce mayor, or the like, shall by virtue of It reckon all his Lesser Sequences, though they should be such, as otherwise his adversaries greater Sequence would have drowned. As for example: suppose that one of them hath a Tierce mayor, and withall a Tierce of a Queen, a Tierce of a Knave, or any other Lesser Tierce, and the other hath a Tierce of a King: I say, that for as much as the Tierce mayor of the one drowns the others Tierce of a King; he that hath the Tierce mayor shall, by virtue of It, reckon also all his Lesser Tierces, of Queens, Knaves, and the like.  
It is further to be noted, that a Quart drowns a Tierce; and a Quint drowns a Quart; and so of all the rest: in so much that he that hath a Sixiesme may reckon his Tierces, Quarts, or Quints, if he have any, notwithstanding that the other may haply have a Tierce, Quart, or Quint, of higher value then His are, who hath the Sixiesme. And the method is the same in all other the like Sequences.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of Three Aces, Kings, Queens, &c. and of Quatorzes.  
AFter Sequences, you then come to reckon your Three Aces, Three Kings, Three Knaves, or Three Tens, if you have any of these. And for each of these Ternaries, or three, you are to reckon Three: and these are in value according as the Cards are whereof they consist; in like manner as it is in Sequences: so that Aces are the highest, and best; next them, are Kings, then Queens; after these, Knaves; and last of all, Tens. For as for Nines, Eights, Sevens, and Sixes, they have no place here in this account. And here likewise he that hath Three Aces may reckon his Three Queens, Three Knaves, or Three Tens, if he have them, notwithstanding that the other have Three Kings; and this, by virtue of his higher Ternary. In a word, the Rule is in this case the same that it is in Tierces, Quarts, Quints, and other Sequences; where the Higher always drowns the Lower. Now he that hath four Aces, four Kings, four Queens, four Knaves, or four Tens, reckons, for each of these, Fourteen: and for this reason every such four Cards is called a Quatorze: which Quatorzes do in like manner win one another, according to the Higher, or Lesser value of the Cards, whereof they consist; as hath been said.   

CHAP. X.  
Of playing the Cards.  
AFter all this is done, and that each of the gamesters hath reckoned up his whole game whatever he can make, either in blanch, ruff, Sequences, Aces, Kings, Queens, Knaves, or Tens, the Elder hand is then to begin to play his Cards, the other answering each carded of his, in like manner as it is at Trump; and for every Ace, King, Queen, Knave, or Ten that he plays, he is to reckon One: but for any other carded under a Ten he is not to reckon any thing. Now these Cards, thus played down, are won by him that plays down the biggest carded, so it be of the same svit, and not otherwise. For he that plays a six of any svit, if the other, having none of that svit in his hand, play to it an Ace perhaps, or a King, Queen, or the like; he shall not win the others six, nor yet reckon any thing for his carded, though it be a Ten carded, or better. For He only is to reckon upon his Cards as he plays them, who either plays first, or else wins the trick. A carded once played down cannot be recalled, or taken up again; except he that played it find, that he hath a carded of the same svit which was first played: for in this case he may take up his carded again, and answer the Other's carded in the same svit, without any prejudice to him at all, or imputation of Fowle Play.  
An example of this Playing of the Cards may be this. Suppose the Elder hand first plays down an Ace, King, Queen, Knave, or Ten; for every such carded he is to reckon One, which he reckons on to the number of his game before. Now if the other be able to play upon it a bigger carded of the same svit, he then wins the Trick, and shall also reckon One for His carded, as the other did for his when he played it down. And now it is the Younger hands turn to play first, of what svit he pleases: and so he is to continue on, as long as he can keep it in his hand. And thus they play on, while their Cards last: and whosoever wins the last Trick, he is to reckon Two for it, if he win it with a Ten: but if his last carded were but a Nine, Eight, Seven, or six, he is then to reckon but One for it. When all this is done, they tell their Cards; and he that hath gotten the most, is to reckon Ten for them: but if they have each of them his Cards, they are then neither of them to reckon any thing.  
After all this is done, each man with Counters, or the like, sets up all the games he hath made this Dealing: and if neither of them hath at this first 'bout won the Set, they then fall to dealing the Cards about again; having first shuffled, and ●ut them, as before. Now he that was the Elder hand before, ●s now to be Dealer: and so ●hey are to take it in their turns successively, till such time as on one side or other the Set is won. Which done, if he that lost the Set have a mind to play any more, they then lift again for Dealing; that is to say, if they did at first agree to lift for the Dealing at the end of every Set: For otherwise there is no need of any such thing; but when a Set is done, he that was the Elder hand before, is now to take his turn in Dealing first in the new Set, in the same manner as he should have done, had not the Set been ended: Each of the gamesters notwithstanding having the liberty to give over play at the end of any Set; there being no obligation upon him to play any longer than himself pleases, though the other perhaps be the Loser, and should in the next Set have been the Elder hand by Course. And observe, that a Set is won in this manner here following.  
Suppose that each of the Gamesters is got up so forward in the game, that they want not above four, or Five, apiece, of the Set: If now it so fall out, that Either of them have a blanch, he shall win the Set; for as much as the Blanches are always reckoned first of all. But if there be never a blanch, then the ruff comes next in order to be reckoned; and after the ruff, come your Sequences; then your Aces, Kings, Queens, Knaves, and Tens; next, that which you reckon for your Cards in playing: and after all these, the Cards you have won; which cannot be reckoned till the last of all, when you have played them out all.   

CHAP. XI.  
Of a Picq, Repicq, and Capot.  
Which so ever of the two Gamesters can reckon, either in blanch, ruff, Sequences, Aces, Kings, Queens, Knaves, or Tens, up to Thirty, in his hand, without playing any carded, and before the other can reckon any thing, instead of counting Thirty, he shall reckon Ninety: and look how many he makes afterwards above his Thirty, he shall reckon them with his Ninety: as for example; instead of saying, Thirty one, Thirty two, Thirty three, &c. he shall reckon, Ninety One, Ninety two, Ninety three, and so forward. And this is called, a Repicq.  
again, he that can in like manner make, what by blanch, ruff, Sequences, &c. and also by playing his first carded, up to the said number of Thirty, before the other hath played any carded, or can reckon any thing; instead of reckoning Thirty, he shall reckon Sixty, and this is called a Picq.  
And here it is to be noted, that if, instead of reckoning Sixty, he by mistake, or forgetfulness say Thirty; and so going on, reckons Thirty one, Thirty two &c. if at length he recalling himself say, And Thirty for the Picq, which makes Sixty two, or for the Repicq, Ninety two, or the like, he shall not in this case lose either of them, though he should not perchance recall himself till all the Cards were played, and they had both made up their whole Reckonings: provided always, that he remember to call for them before the Cards be shuffled again, and cut for a new Dealing, and perhaps some of the Cards dealt abroad: for it is then too late to call either for the Picq, or Repicque but he must be content to give them over for lost.  
Which of them soever wins all the Cards, instead of reckoning Ten,( which is the usual number for him to reckon upon, that wins more than his own Cards,) he shall reckon forty; and this is called a Capot.  
And here it is to be noted, that if both Gamesters have equal Cards, both for ruff, Sequences, and the rest, neither of them both can reckon any thing; there being no Priority at all in this case, or Prerogative of Eldership: and they can only set up what they shall be able to make in playing their Cards, or winning them.   

CHAP. XII.  
Of the Rules of the Game; and the Cases that usually happen in Play.  
FIrst of all, if the Dealer either give the other, or take himself more Cards than his due, whether it be by mistake, or otherwise with a purpose of Fowle play, it is in the choice of the Elder hand, whether he shall deal again or no, or whether they shall play it out. As for example; Suppose the Elder hand find, that he hath Thirteen Cards, instead of Twelve: if he please, he may play it on: only he is in this case to discard one carded more than he taketh in; that so he may have but his just number of Twelve to play with, as the other hath. But if it so fall out, that the Dealer have given himself Thirteen Cards; it being in the power of the Elder hand only to choose, whether he shall deal again, or they shall play it out;( because the Dealer only here can be in the fault:) if the Elder hand will play it out, after he hath discarded what Cards he thinks fit, and hath taken in as many of the stock, the other is then to make himself up an even dozen, by laying out one carded more than he takes in: and this is never to be done, without notice of it first given by the party to his fellow gamester; and that too before they have seen the Cards they intend to take in, or have mixed them with their other former Cards: For it is then too late to think of rectifying their number of Cards. And this is the Law of the Play in this case; which who so observes not, he is liable to the punishment hereafter Specified for those that take more Cards than their due. And here it is to be noted, that if the Dealer either give the other, or take himself Fifteen, or Sixteen Cards,( which may easily be, by giving the other, or taking himself, a Lift more than he should,) in this case he must necessary deal again; neither is it in either of their choices to do otherwise; and that, to avoid all the confusion which would otherwise necessary arise from hence.  
He that forgetting to reckon his blanch, ruff, Sequences, Aces, Kings, or the like, hath begun to play his Cards, he cannot then reckon them, but must utterly lose them for his forgetfulness.  
Whosoever, before he play his first carded, doth not show his ruff, if it be more than the other hath, or else his Pareil, if it be equal to his, as also his Sequences, he is debarred from showing them afterwards, and must utterly lose them; and besides, his Adversary shall reckon whatsoever he can show of the same things, though they be of less value than His are, and notwithstanding that he hath played some of his Cards, provided always that he show what he hath; and that, so soon as ever the error of the other is discovered. For if he afterwards play but one carded more after this discovery, before he show what he hath, he is then to lose all such things, as well as the former.  
Who ever shall reckon any thing false, as if he say, I have Three, or four Aces, Kings, Queens, Knaves, or Tens, which games are not used to be shewed, as the blanch, ruff, and Sequences are, if he have played but one of his Cards, having reckoned the aforesaid games; and his Adversary shall at length find, either in the beginning, middle, or end of the Game, that he had not those things which he reckoned,( which might come to pass, either by his oversight, or else perhaps by having discarded some of the Cards he reckoned on,) he shall for his punishment be debarred from reckoning any thing of all that he truly hath; and his Adversary shall have power to reckon all that He hath: Yet shall not this hinder the other from making what he can in playing his Cards: and this Penalty lies upon him but for this one Dealing only. And here it is to be noted, that this false reckoning of the one cannot at all hinder the Picq, or Repicq of the other: For in this case, the oversight of the one is not to hinder the other from making the most of His game; notwithstanding that the discovery were not made before he had begun to play his Cards; or till the middle, or very end of the Game.  
He that takes in more Cards than he discardeth, is liable to the same penalty; or if he be found in playing to have more Cards than he should have. But he that takes fewer than he should, or in playing is found to have fewer than his due, he is notwithstanding to play his Game, and to reckon what he hath: for as much as a man may play with less than his due, though not with more: and he that hath fewer Cards than he should have, is to answer the others Cards as he plays them, so long as his will hold out: as for example; If he that hath Twelve Cards, win Ten Tricks one after an other, and his two last cards be of two different suits, he that hath but one carded left, is bound to Play it down to answer the others carded which he plays, although it be not of the same svit, and so by this means he come to be Capotted; and that too, though perhaps his last carded be a bigger carded, and of the same svit that the others last carded is. For, as hath been formerly said, he is bound to answer the Cards the other plays, as long as he is able; seeing it is by his own default only that he wants of his due, since it was in his own power to have taken what was his due.  
Moreover, any carded, that is once out of the hand, and down upon the board, cannot at all be recalled again▪ except he that played it, knew not that he had any of the svit which the Other's carded is of and so played it by mistake: for in this case he is to take up his carded again, and to follow svit. For, no man ought to renounce, or not follow svit, if he may do otherwise: and for this Oversight there is no penalty due. But if a man, intending to play an Ace, King, Queen, or other, should by chance, before he be ware, throw down some other carded, which is a less carded than that the other played before; if his carded be once out of his hand, it is to go, and cannot by any means be recalled again.  
Furthermore, if any one, instead of reckoning three, or four Aces, Kings, Queens, Knaves, or Tens, chance to reckon some other thing, which he hath not; he loseth his whole Game, as hath formerly been said. As for Example; Suppose that one of them having Aces, should reckon Kings, or the like, which he hath not; in this case, although he really have Aces in his hand, yet notwithstanding by reason of this mistake of his, in reckoning the one for the other, he is to undergo the penalty in this case due to the Offender by the laws of the Game: but this, for that Dealing only; and in case he perceived not his error until he had begun to play his Cards. For if he have not yet played any of his Cards, he hath liberty then to recall himself; and there is no more to be said to him.  
He that hath thrown up his Cards, upon a presumption that he shall lose them all, and hath mingled them with the other Cards which are upon the Table; if he afterwards perceive that he was mistaken, he is by no means however allowed to take up his Cards again and play it out, but must lose it. But yet notwithstanding, in case the Cards have not at all been mixed one with the other, he may then play it out, to try whether he hath lost the Cards, or not.  
Moreover, if, as it often happens, the Gamesters having not above two, or three Cards apiece left in their hands, one of them( believing that his adversary hath the better Cards of the two, and therefore in all probability will win the Cards) shall throw down his Cards all at once; those Cards which first touch the Table, are to be supposed the first played. So that if the other should chance to have discarded one, or two of those Cards which his adversary conceived him to have had in his hand; he may either take, or leave the said Cards, according as he shall find his own Cards to be either bigger, or lesser than those upon the Table.  
No man is suffered to make two discardings: as for example; Suppose the Elder hand discards six Cards, and so consequently is to take in six: If by chance, coming to the seventh carded, he should know it by the backside, and knowing it to be for his turn, should desire to take it in too; this is not to be allowed him: For, he may not make a second discarding, by putting out one carded more, that so he may take in an other carded which he knows would be useful to him.  
In like manner, if the Younger hand,( purposing not to take in all the remaining Cards, but to leave one or two of them) after he hath discarded so many as he intended to take in, and hath taken in as many, shall know the next carded by the back, and would discard another carded, that he might take in one more of the Stock; he is not permitted to do this, no more than the other: neither is it allowed to either of them, before they have discarded, to examine the Cards which they are to take in, that is to say, to spread, or scatter them abroad; because that by this means they may possibly know them by the backside. And therefore the signior hand ought to tell the other truly what number of Cards he intends to take in, and what to leave, to the end that the other may not take occasion to say, I know not ho● many Cards you have taken in; and therefore you must give me leave to tell the rest. Now this he could have no pretence to do, had not the Elder hand refused to have  told him what number of Cards he had taken, and what he had left.  
Likewise if either of them discard fewer Cards than he takes in, and the other perceive that he hath taken too many; if so be he hath neither put back any one of them himself, nor hath clapped them upon his own Cards; he is only then fairly to return back those Cards which he hath too much; But if he have first thrown back any one of them himself, or that he have laid them upon the rest of his own Cards, this renders him liable to the loss of his Game; but for that Dealing only.  
He that dealt last, if forgetting himself, he deal again; yet at length finding his own error, remembers that it is not his turn to deal; the other is then necessary to take his turn and deal: always provided, that he, that had dealt twice together, had not seen any of his Cards; although the other might have seen His.  
again, if the Elder hand Speaking his ruff, Sequences, Aces, Kings, or the like, the other Say to him, It is good: if after wards looking better upon his Cards,( he having not yet played any carded, for then it is too late to recall himself;) he find that he was mistaken, and that he hath in his hand more for the ruff, or greater, or lesser Sequences, or Aces, Kings, or the like, which are of higher value than those things which the other reckoned upon; he may in this case recall himself, and reckon what he hath.  
In like manner, if the Younger hand giving the Elder leave to reckon what he hath, in the ruff, Sequences, Aces, Kings, or the like, shall yet, before he plays his first carded, recall himself, finding that he himself can reckon as much, or more than the other in the same things; he may here in this case come in and reckon what he hath, notwithstanding that the Elder may have played his first carded down: who is also hereby constrained to take down whatsoever he had before set up of his game, in prejudice to the Other: the First word( as hath been formerly shewed,) not being necessary to stand. For so, in speaking the ruff, if a man, out of design to discover what Cards the other hath, and to gain some light, by the help of his own hand, to know what the other hath in His, shall say, I am so much for the ruff, though the number he pitches upon be more, or perhaps less, than he really hath; when the other hath afterwards  told what he is for the ruff, the former hath then liberty to tell the just sum that he hath: neither lies there any Penalty upon his recalling his first word. For, this is the Liberty of This Game; especially at Paris, and the parts thereabout. Yet in some Other places, as in Provence, and Languedoc, the First word is always to stand; neither is a man by any means permitted to recall his Word.  
A blanch is reckoned before any other thing, and it is to be shown, as well by the Elder, as by the Younger hand, before Discarding; as hath been formerly said: For afterwards it is not by any means to be allowed of; notwithstanding that he that had it, is able to make it appear, by the witness of the standards by that he had a blanch. And he that hath a blanch, his blanch shall hinder the others Picq and Repicque and that too, though he have nothing else to show but his blanch: and his blanch also is to be reckoned with what other Games soever he shall be able to make.  
He that hath four Aces dealt him, or four Kings, Queens, Knaves or Tens; if he discarding one of the four, shall afterwards reckon the other Three, and the other shall say to him, It is good: if after he hath reckoned them, the other shall ask him, what Ace, King, queen, Knave, or Ten he wants, he is bound to tell him, or else to show his other Three, if the other desire to see them; neither may be refuse to do this.  
If it so happen, that in playing the Cards, they are found to be false, or imperfect: as suppose there should be two Aces, Kings, Queens, or the like, of a svit; That Dealing only, wherein this is discovered, is to go for nothing; all the former standing for good.  
But if after lifting for Dealing, and cutting the Cards, the Dealer in giving them out shall find, that there are either too many Cards, or too few; they shall not, for this imperfectnesse of the Cards, go to lift for Dealing again: but only having taken out the Supernumerary Cards, if there be any, or else by putting in what Cards were wanting, the Cards must only be shuffled and cut again; but the Dealing is to be his, whose it was before.  
The Dealer may change the number by which the Cards were dealt before; provided that before the Cards be cut, he say that he will do so: As for example? suppose they dealt before Three Cards apiece, if the Dealer, having lost, think by changing the number in Dealing, he may possibly change his ill Fortune; he may deal out the Cards either 2 & 2, or 4 & 4. if, before the Cards be cut, he say he will do so. And afterwards, if his bad Fortune should chance to continue; he hath then the liberty to refume the former number, if he please. But by the way it is to be remembered, that he is not by any means allowed to exceed the number of four in Dealing.  
If, after the Cards have been cleanly Cut, that is to say, without Dropping off, or Scattering any of them upon the table, either of the Gamesters, knowing the uppermost carded, by the back, to be either a Good, or a Bad carded,( as Suppose the Elder hand know it to be a six, or a Seven, and therefore having no mind to it,) should tell the other, that he must shuffle the Cards again; this is by no means to be allowed of: but he is to stand to his Cards, for as much as the Cards were Cleanly cut, without any tumbling, or Scattering of them. And so in like manner, if the Dealer perceive that the Other hath cut himself an Ace, or some other the like good carded, and would therefore Shuffle, and Cut again; this is not to be allowed to him neither, no more than to the other. And indeed there ought to be some Penalty set down, for him that shall offend in this particular: which Penalty the Gamesters ought to agree upon, before they begin to play: forasmuch as it as a kind of Cheating, and foul Play, to do any such thing; and therefore he that offends herein, justly deserves to be punished.  
If in Dealing, any carded be found to be Faced, this is not a sufficient cause for the Dealer to shuffle the Cards again, but he ought to deal on; and he, whose carded it happens to be, is to take it, whether it be good, or bad. But if there should chance to be two Cards Faced, or turned upside down, the Cards must then necessary be shuffled, and cut again for a new dealing: for otherwise it would be too great an advantage to either of the Gamesters, if he should know two of his Adversaries Cards.  
Whoever is found changing, or taking back again any of his Cards; besides that he is from thenceforth to be noted for a Cheating, Fowle Player, he shall also lose his game, and shall not reckon any thing that he hath: and the other ought to refuse him, as a Cheat, and play no more with him.  
And thus have I given you a brief Account of the whole game of Picquet, and what ever belongs to it. And if by accident any other Difficulties, than are here specified, should arise in Play; they may very easily be resolved out of These here set down, by examining them according to the rules of reason. But as for the Art of Playing well, which consists chiefly in discarding rightly, and in skilful playing a mans carded, for the winning of the Cards; as these things depend upon the variety of Cards which a man may have in his hand, so would the Demonstration of the Particular Rules in all Cases prove both long, and wearisome; and perhaps too, when all is done, not so very certain. it is better therefore, that he, who desires to be skilful in this Game, should play often himself, or else observe the play of those that are skilful in the Game.  
THE END.