Triples and Doubles, and indeed all Peals upon Six, may likewise go upon Seven Bells, thus,

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5432761 4523716 5432176 5341267 3514276 3152467 1325476 1352746

Plain Triples.

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2143657 2416375 4261735 4627153 6472513 6745231	7654321 7563412 5736142 5371624 3517264 3152746 1325476

In this all the Bells have a Hunting Course.

Colledge Triples, dodging before, and behind.

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4263751 2467315 4276135 2471653 4217635 4126753 1462735

1467253 4176235 4712653 7421635 4726153 7462513 4765231

This Peal thus prick’t, will go, 84 Changes, and the Treble leading, and the Half Hunt lying next it, and a parting Change (which is a Double on the four middlemost of the Six hind Bells) being made, it will go 420, and by making bobs, 5040.

Thus much shall suffice for Peales upon Seven Bells, I proceed to Changes upon Eight.

Peals of Eight Bells.

Without amusing our selves with what Notes are most Musical, to lye behind, we will come to the matter of Fact; for those Methods of Peals that are prick’t on Six, may be the same upon Eight, Observing only, that Triples and Doubles upon Six, must be Quadruples, and Triples upon Eight. Doubles upon Six, must be Triples upon Eight, &c. Now then to our purpose of Demonstration; We generally give preference to things, as they are dignified with some eminent Title, and are ready to suppose they may have something more than ordinary, that merits such Esteem, whereof the Title is but a Sign, or Token; which Custome induced me to head my Discourse upon Changes on Eight Bells, with that which carries the most Swelling Title.

The Imperial Bob:
Quadruples and Triples.

The Treble hath a dodging Course, the two first, and two last Bells always dodge, till hindred by the Treble, the two next to these, lying still one Change, dodge the next, till the Treble hinders them too. Those in the 5th. and 6th. places dodge (the Treble being behind) and those in the 3d. and 4th. places likewise dodge (the Treble being before) and so till hindered by the Treble.

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24365871 42638517 24635871 42368517 24638157 42361875 24368157 42631875 24613857 42168375 24618357 42163857 41268357 14623875 41263857 14628375

14263857 41628375 14268357 41623875 46128357 64213875 46123857 64218375 46281357 &c.

16847253 16482735 18765432 bob. 17864523 16573824 bob. 15678342 17352648 17536284 13274586 13725468 12438765 12347856 14826357

14283675 18645273 18462537 16587432 bob. 15684732 18753624 bob. 17856342 15372846 15738264 13254768 13527486 12436587 12345678

By this method, the Peal will go 224 Changes, and by making of Bobs it will go 448, 672, 1344. The Bob is a Triple Change at the Leading of the Treble, wherein the Bell in the Fourth place lies still.

The next that comes to our Observation, and answers to what we first hinted at in the beginning of this discourse of Peals upon Eight Bells I mean Precedency in Title, is the

Bob Major.
Plain Quadruples and Triples.

In this all the Bells have a direct Hunting Course, until the Treble leads, and then the six hindmost Bells dodge.

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87654321 78563412 75836142 57381624 53718264 35172846 31527486 13254768 31527486

By this method this will go 112. And by making Bobs, 224, 336, or 672. The Bob is a Triple Change, as in the foregoing Imperial is specified. By making two Extreams it will go 1344, and with four Extreams, 2688.

All Peals upon six Bells, wherein half the Changes are Triples, will go upon Eight according the method before-going, thus; If it be a Peal upon Six, consisting of 360, or 720 Changes, then there must be five Hunts in the Ringing of it upon Eight, the Treble being the first, 2 the Second, &c.

Colledge Bob Major.
Quadruples and Triples.

There is four wayes of Pricking these. The first hath single Dodging behind, and is thus Peal’d.

The First.

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53684721 35867412 38576142 83751624 87315642 78136524 71863542 17685324 16758342

The Second.

This hath Single Dodging before and behind, thus prickt.

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24385761 42837516 24873156 42781365 24718356 42173865 41237856 14328765 13482756

The Third.

This hath double Dodging behind, thus Prickt.

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65384721 56837412 58673142 85761324 87216342 78153624 71856342 17583624 15786342

The Fourth.

This hath double Dodging before and behind both thus.

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24368751 42637815 24367185 42631758 24613785 42167358 41263785 14627358 16423785

These may be prick’t several other wayes, but that I Omit here for Brevities sake; The Dodging is without Intermission, except an hinderance comes by the Treble; as likewise between two Bells, until Treble parts the Fray. The Bobs are Triple Changes, as the Treble leads; in the 1st. 2d. and 6th. the Bell in the 4th. place lies still at the Bobs, and in the 3d. 4th. and 5th. that in the 2d. place lies still.

Each of these will go 112 Changes, and by making Bobs 224, 336, or 672.

Colledge Triples Dodging both before and behind.

This Peal is the same for Bobs, as the Bob Major, and will go as many Changes by making Bobs, or otherwise, as any of the foregoing Four, and is thus Peal’d.

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24586731 42587613 24578163 42571836 24517863 42157836 41275863 14725836 17452863

The Wild-Goose Chace
Triples.

The Explanation shall follow the Peal; intending here to put an end to my Epitome of the Art of Ringing, and therefore shall first present you with this Prick’t thus.

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37625481 73265418 72356148 27531684 25713648 52173684 51237648 15327684

13572648 31752684 37125648 73215684 72351648

In this Change the 4th. Bell must first hunt up into the Sevenths place, and then the 4 and 8 alwayes dodge behind throughout the Peal, unless when obstructed by the Treble. The Bell that moves up into the 6th. place, when the Treble moves thence down, lies still there, till displaced by the Treble; during which time the two hind Bells dodge, and the five first go a perfect Hunting-Course: And when likewise the Treble moveth out the 5th. place the five first Bells go a Hunting-Course, till it comes down there again: By this method it will go 80 Changes, and by Bobs 160, 240, or 480. The Bob is made as in the foregoing Changes.

And here I thought to make an end of the Art of Ringing, but Cynthius aurem vellit, the young Practitioner, whose only Information is hereby aimed at, plucks me by the Sleeve, and tells me in the Ear, That tho Peals upon six, as Triples and Doubles, &c. make excellent Musick upon Eight Bells, 4 8, 6 8, 4 1, or 1 8 lying behind: Or, Triples and Doubles upon the six middle Bells, the Tennor lying behind; yet for him who is not arrived to such a perfection of Skill, at to Ring these compleat Peals, the most proper and easy for him are Set-Changes, which are founded on these Grounds.

First, Placing the Bells Fifths; thus: The 4 must hunt up behind the 7, the 3, behind the 6, and the 2 behind the 5; Or the one may hunt down under the other, as the 5 under the 2, the 6 under 3, and 7 under 4: Or if you will, first let a Single, next a Double, and then a Triple Change be made on the Middle Bells, all coming to the same effect; for then the Changes will lye Fifths thus, 1 5, 2 6, 3 7, 4 8. In the Peal four Concords are to be regarded, The first 1 5; the second 2 6. the third 3 7. and the fourth 4 8.

These four Concords may go the Methods of any Changes upon four Bells; 1, 5 being taken for the Treble; 2, 6 for the Second; 3, 7 for the Third; and 4, 8 for the Fourth; and the Concords may Change places with one another, as you list. In which this Observation is highly necessary, That the two Notes of every Concord must constantly attend each other in their Motion; that is, whenever one of the two Notes moves, the other must follow it.

Or Secondly, Place the Bells Thirds; thus: The 6 4 and 2 must hunt up, or else the 3 5 7 down; or otherwise on the middle most Bells let a Triple, Double or Single Change be made, they are to one effect; and then the Bells will lie Thirds thus, 1 3. 5 7. 2 4. 6 8. Herein are four Concords observable; as in the former Peal, viz, 1 3. 5 7. 2 4. 6 8. These Concords may go the Methods of any Changes upon Four Bells, 1, 3 being taken for the Treble; 5, 7 for the Second; 2, 4 for the third; and 6, 8 for the fourth; moving in the same manner as before shewed.

By these Grounds Variety of excellent & Musical Changes are to be Rung; Any Concord may be made a Hunt, and to move up and down at the begining.

In Ringing these Set-Changes, the Note will lye sometimes Fifths, sometimes Thirds, and sometimes both, and then to Clam them, is admirable Musick: Clamming is, when each Concord strike together; which being done true the 8 will strike as but four Bells, & make a Melodious Harmony. You may Clam two or three bouts, and then strike as many times Open, alternatively, one Clam one Pull, and Open the next, &c.

Thus much shall suffice for my treating of Ringing, and had not the Variety of its Theme, in which I was insensibly engaged, invited my Tast of something of every thing: I had not enlarged so much as I have; but I hope the pleasure it may produce, will attone for my dilating on so delightful a Subject; All I have therefore to add is, some Advice to the Ringer, in the Lawfull prosecuting this Recreation; and that is this.

When God in Israels Exodus out of Egypt, commanded Moses to Consecrate Aaron, and his Sons, and invest them with those Pontificial Vestments, according to the Pattern God had cut out, it is observable, that the Robe of the Ephod, was with a particular Circumstance of Beauty to be Adorned, by hanging the Hem of it with Golden Bells, and Pomegranates, each placed in an orderly Position, one by another round: This was the first institution we can read of, for the Use Bells in Sacred Offices; but the reason was this: Because in Aarons Ministration before God, when he entered into the Holy Place, and when he came out, the Sound of the Bells might be heard in the Temple, for a Memorial to the Children of his People. This Use of Bells continue in the Aaronical Order, to this day. From hence the Christian Church likewise (of which the Church under the Mosaic Dispensation was but a Type) has made Use of Bells, for the notifying the Time when the People are to Assemble, and made a Signal for convocating them together to the Temple; and herein differing from the Mahometans, in the Steeples of whose Temples, are never found any Bells, but Cryers, Persons who with a loud Voyce call them to Prayers.

Now then let us make this Use of the Institution of Bells. First, Let not only the Musick and Delight the Bells give thee, invite thee to come to the Temple, to be partaker of that Pleasure they may afford thy Body, but let their Musick invite thee to come thither when they call thee, to exercise thy Soul in Devotion; to God. Do not let thy frequent coming thither on Week-days for thy Diversion, make thee absent thy self on Sundays from thy Devotion; but let their Original Use make thee mindful of the Sanctum Sanctorum, the most Holy Place. Do not let the Sunday Mornings Peal engage thy presence then, and the Ale-House have thy company afterwards. Be as quick in hearing the Chyming for Prayers, as thou art in the Notes for Pleasure.

And shouldst thou not be as nimble, when the Saints-bell of the Church sounds in thy Ears, and calls thee to attend the Priest, who now signifyes his entrance into the Holy-place, and invites thee to joyn with him in the Sacrifice of Prayers and Praises.

Secondly, Nor let the Bells be made thy Lullaby, to drown some Dissatisfaction, and so makes thee repair to the Belfree, (like the Nurse to her Whistle-Bells) to quiet thy disturbed mind, and thus (as the Divine Poet excellently expresses it) to silence it with

But let the Altar have thy presence in Communion with God, in Prayers for his Grace, and Patience, to support any Calamity that may fall upon thee.

Lastly, Let the Bells put you in mind to contemplate on Death, and every time you Ring, think how long it may be ere one of these may be your turn to have to sound

This in short, is the use the Ringer ought to make of this his Recreation, which if he makes duly and rightly, he may then Lawfully enjoy all the Benefit he can desire from it. And here I shall make an end of this Observation by way of Advice to the Ringer, which perhaps coming amongst Recreations may look unseasonable; But I know (at least presume) if I meet with an ingenious Reader, I shall need no Apology, for playing the Divine, in the directing the good Use of our Pleasures, and aiming at the furtherance of Virtue in all our Actions.

Thus much for Ringing.

Of Billiards

Italy is asserted by universal Consent, to have been the Country whence this Recreation took its Birth and Original; and indeed ’tis no wonder that she who is called the Queen or Empress of the World, the Mistress of the Nations, nay the Paradise of the World, should yield such Art and Ingenuity, and gentile Cunning, as her proper Product: A Country whose Inhabitants for their Gravity, Respectiveness, and Ingenuity will ever stand Chronicled in the Books of Fame. A People that are obedient to their Superiors, Courteous to their Inferiors, full of all Civility to their Equals, Affable to Strangers, and most desirous by all fair and friendly Offices to win their Love. In their Apparel fine and modest, in their Furniture of their Houses sumptuous, and at their Tables neat, sober in Speech, Enemies of all ill Reports of others, and so tender of their own Reputation, that whosoever Slanders any one, and it reach the Parties Ear, the Slanderer certainly dies for it: Thrifty they are generally of their Money and Expence, and love no more Cost, than what they are sure to Save by, or have great Thanks for; but otherwise for civil Behaviour and Deportment, surpassing all the Gentry of the World besides. But one thing I dare not omit in this Character of them, viz. That they are extream Jealous of their Wives; and indeed not without some reason, if what is spoken proverbially of their Women, be true, That they are as Magpies at the door, Saints in the Church, Goats in the Garden, Devils in the House, Angels in the Streets, and Syrens at the Windows; if Nature does not make them appear Beautiful, Art shall, as Paintings and other sophistical Helps; whence comes this Proverb among them, If God make them tall and Fat (a goodly Woman being a Title of great Value among them) they will make themselves fair. In fine, The Gentry are very Rich, live of all Men the most careless and contented Lives, keeping the Poor as Drudges and Slaves for them; and as it is said of the Tyrant Polycrates, Have nothing to trouble them, but that they are troubled with nothing.

Thus I have given you a brief Character of the Inventors of this Recreation we are coming to treat of, and hence we may presume, how fit such a People as this is, to give Birth to such a Recreation, so Gentile, so Cleanly, and so Ingenious, that as their Persons and Manners are emulously esteemed, so are their Pastimes ambitiously pursued, by most Nations in Europe; and this Sport is hugely valued by all in general, few Noblemen’s or private Gentlemen’s Families, nor few noted Towns in England, but have Billiard Tables, and admire the Excellency of it, both for the Exercise of the Body, and the Recreation of the Mind. But to the Matter in hand.

First then, He that would rightly understand this excellent Pastime, must be very careful of the Form and Make of the Table, and the right ordering, framing, and fitting it for the Game, which is known by these ensuing Marks.

1. The Form of a Billiard Table ought to be Oblong, that is to say, somewhat longer than it is broad; Both the length and breadth being left to your Discretion to make; proportionable to the Room you design it for; It ought to be railed round, and this Rail or Ledge a little swelled or stufft with fine Flox or Cotton, that may yield to the Ball when struck against it, and expedites rather than deads the Flight of the Ball; though that happens according to the Violence of the Stroke or Push: The Superficies of the Table ought to be covered with Green fine Cloath, clean and free from Knots: The Board must be levelled as exactly as is possible for the Eye and Hand of the most curious Joyner to Level, to the end your Ball may run true upon any part of the Table, without leaning or declining to any side of it: I must confess I do believe there are few have been so careful in this last thing, as they ought, because they have not timely foreseen, if the Boards, whereof the Table is made, be well-seasoned, and not subject to Warp, and that the Floor whereon it stands be even and level; so that through the Ill-seasonedness of the one, or Unevennes of the other, as likewise in time by the weight of the Table, and the Gamesters yielding and giving way, there are very few found true. And indeed without a Table be exactly true, a good Gamester can never shew the Excellency of his Skill and Art, but a very Bungler sometimes, by being well acquainted with the Turnings and Windings of a false Table, may beat a good Gamester with great vexation and shame, who otherwise would have given him any odds whatsoever. Therefore let me tell you, it will conduce as much to the Interest of the Master of the House, where a Billiard Table is kept, to see that it be well and truly levelled and kept, as it does to the Pleasure and satisfaction of a good Gamester, whose Skill is best seen and exhibited on such Tables, and never comes unattended with Company and Profit to the House, by his Recommendation he gives abroad of it. And now let us proceed to the rest of its parts, and fit it for our Play; and then let’s to’t as you list.

2. The four Corners of the Table must be furnished with four Holes, and exactly in the middle of each side one Hole, and these Holes must be hung at the bottoms with Nets, Which Holes are named Hazards, because if either by Skill or Chance one Gamester strikes anothers Ball into these Holes, or Hazards, as we will now call them, he wins One; the Nets are made to receive the Ball, and keep them from falling to the Ground when hazarded; and indeed is a very commendable way, far better than Wooden Boxes which some use, these being apt to let a Ball to fly out again, when they are struck in by a stiff stroke, whereas the Nets keep them safe, and makes it impossible for them to rebound.

3dly. The other Utensils and Instruments belonging to this first part of our Observations of the Billiard Table, are 1. An Ivory Port, this must be placed at one end of the Table. 2. An Ivory King, which must stand at the other end. 3. Two Ivory Balls, which must be compleatly round, or no good proof of your Play can be expected. 4. and Lastly, Two Sticks made of Brasile, Lignum-Vitæ, or some other weighty Wood, to make them heavy, and at the broad end tipt with Ivory: And be sure to observe narrowly, if the Heads be tight and fast, for if they should be loose you will never strike a smart stroke; and therefore if you fear this Defect, see if your stroke be hollow and dead, and your Ball run faintly, these are infallible Tokens that your Play will come to nothing without a fresh supply of other Sticks, or the heads of these fixt.

Thus much for the Table, and all the other Implements belonging to it, which are necessary for our first Enquiry for the right understanding of this Game, I come next to those Rules and Measures which are to be observed for the rendring one a Gamester at this gentile Game.

Secondly, This Game in its Number is, according to the Place and Time, when and where it is play’d; for in Gentlemens Houses they do not oblige themselves to a certain Number, but make as many as they please to admit up without any Restriction: But in Houses where part of their Subsistence has a Dependance upon a Billiard Table, the Game is Five by Day-light or Seven, if odds be given, and Three by Candle-light, or more, as the Rule of the House is. Now then having agreed upon what number we play, let us learn next how to manage our Game skillfully and with Art, and this we may understand by these following Rules.

1. Let us know who must lead, which thus is resolved: You must stand on the one side of the Table opposite to the (so called) King, with your Ball laid near the Cushion, and your Adversary on the other placed in the like posture; and thus He of the two, that comes nearest the King, leads first.

2ly. Having gotten the Lead, have a Care how you strike your Ball, that at the first stroke you touch not with your Ball the end of the Table, leading from the King to the Port, for if you touch it you lose One, as you shall observe hereafter in the Orders. But after the first Stroke you need not fear doing it: And you Leader be sure to lead so, that you may be in a possibility of passing the Port the next Stroke; or else to lye so cunningly, that you may probably hazard your Adversaries Ball the very Stroke you play after him.

3ly. Generally the first Contest is who shall pass first the Port, and herein much Pains is taken, and all the Art and Cunning possible used to do it, and sometimes, nay frequently, an Opportunity of a Hazard ends the Controversy: Sundry and various, as well as very pleasant, are the Policies and Tricks which are here used to obstruct each others Pass, as; By turning the Port by a strong clever stroke (the Sticks turning it, it is nothing, but to set aright again is the amends, though some would have the severity of the Orders inflicted on such an Offence by the Loss of One:) Next by laying your Ball (when you see it impossible to pass) in the Port, or before your Adversaries Ball, for then let him do his utmost, he must Pass after you; if he has Past first, and you dare not venture to follow him, as fearing he should in the mean time touch the King, and so carry away the End; then you must wait upon him, and watch every Opportunity how you may hazard, or king him: Kinging of him is, when his Ball lyes in so advantageous a manner, as that if you strike his Ball, he must inevitably strike down the King, then you win, and prevent the Loss of that End: But with this Caution however, That you be careful how you strike, for if you do king him, and your Ball happens to fly over the Table, or into a Hazard, you shall lose One notwithstanding you have King’d him; and therefore a skillful Precaution must ever be had in this, and he that would prevent any such Chance, must

4ly. Have a curious Eye, and a good Judgment, to take and quarter just so much of the Ball, that when he intends either to King or Hazard his Adversaries Ball, he may with Facility & Dexterity effect either. Which Observation must be noted, in passing on your Antagonists Ball, or corner of the Port: And indeed some are curious Effectors of this part of the Recreation, who with less than a fifth part of a Ball, will rarely miss a King or Hazard; which I must confess is an excellent part of a compleat Gamester in this Sport.

5ly. Be careful that you lay not your hand on the Table when you strike, nor let your Sleeve drag upon it, if you do it is a Loss; Or if you smoke a Pipe of Spanish or Virginia, being so wedded to that Fume, that were you sure to smother all the rest of the Company you are insensible of the Indecency, be careful that the Ashes fall not on the Table, lest the Cloth be burnt, which many times falls out: In these two Cases, let the Mulcts and Forfeitures of both, but especially the Hinderance the last gives a Man in the Skillful managing his Game, deter you from the lolling slovenly Posture of the first, and the stinking Indecency of the latter; because this Pastime being of a neat and cleanly Composition, will not admit any such Irregularities and Indecorums, without an absolute Violation of its Laws, and a Punishment attending such unhandsome Offences.

6thly. As this cleanly Pastime exacts our diligent Care of keeping a Decorum, in the prosecuting the same, so does it require that we handle our Instruments with a neat and tractable hand, dislikes a Clumsey-Fist, which palms the Stick, as if he were handling a Plough-share: And therefore when you strike a long stroak, hold your stick neatly between your two fore-Fingers and your Thumb, and then strike a smart stroak; and by taking a steady and right Aim, (in this having your Eye and Judgment about you) you may when you list, either fetch back your Adversaries Ball, when he lyes fair for a Pass; or many times, when he lyes behind the King, and you at the other end of the Table, you may by a dextrous management of your stroke, King him backward: Both which ways, I must confess, require a great deal of Care, and good Play, which he that would be, or already is, a Gamester, is never wanting in. But

7thly, If you lye close, then the small end of your Stick, or the flat of the big end, raising up one end over your shoulder, is practicable and useful, and either of them to be used, as Occasion shall require, and as you judge most convenient and proper for the working the Effect you Aim at.

8thly, There is one Fault, which tho its Demerits perhaps may not reach a Forfeiture, yet I must tell you will scarce admit of an Excuse, though this I presume is regulated according to the Agreement first stipulated between the Gamesters, and this Fault is called Raking, i.e. not striking your Ball cleanly, but gliding along, as it were; But in this, if you touch your Ball twice, it is a loss; as indeed repugnant to all Rule and Method.

9thly, There is another Caution you are to take at the Port, viz. When you jobb your Ball with the great end of your stick through the Port, beware that you throw it not down, the doing of it is a loss; and therefore be careful to do it so handsomly, that at one stroke without turning the Port with your stick (which as I have mentioned before is a fault) you accomplish your Intention: But on the contrary observe

10thly, It is good play to turn the Port with your Ball, (not with your stick) and so hinder your Adversary from passing: Nor is it amiss, to make your Adversary a Fornicator if it lyes in your Power: I mean to make him a Fornicator is, having past your self a little way, and your Adversaries ball being hardly through the port, you put him back again, and it may be quite out of pass, and so you may the sooner peradventure gain the end, having the Advantage of passing, by gently thrusting the other back again.

11thly, Let Policy likewise be a guide to you, for obtaining the Conquest, and lying a-loof off, and laying a long Hazard sometimes for your Antagonist, will be an excellent way to entice and entrap him; for that he promising to himself the good fortune of Hazarding you, will be induced rashly to adventure at that distance, and supposing to strike your Ball, which cunningly lyes (to tempt him to that Venture) near the Hazard, is himself caught in that Trap he thought to throw you into, by reason that the distance, deceives his Expectation, and blows up his thoughts with fruitless Suppositions.

12thly, Let Art likewise teach you Cunning, i. e. by lying abscond, or at Bo-peep with your Adversary; this is a subtlety which perhaps may gain the Advantage of a Pass or Hazard. For I must tell you, in this Game, is required much Cunning, and subtle Contrivance, as in any Recreation whatever, and therefore when you are to Play with an Expert Player, you must muster up all the forces of your Ingenuity and Wit, for the vanquishing of your Opponent.

Lastly, Observe the Advantages may be gained, and endeavour to get them, if they fall within the sphere of your Activity. One of which I shall here insert, which is indeed the chief, viz. That if your Adversary hath not past the Port, and lies up by the King, take the Advantage of a Second Pass, endeavour to pass again, which if you dextrously perform, and after touch the King, you gain two; but if your too great Precipitancy and Inadvertency, or sometimes an unlucky Chance hurryes you on to throw down the King, then you loose.

Some instead of a King use a string and Bell, so that after you have passed, you need not doubt the end, as being a thing not so ticklish, or requiring so much Art as the King does, to be toucht finely and gently at a distance, without throwing it down: This alone is to be preferred for ingenious Persons, the other for the use only of Bunglers.

Thus much shall suffice for Rules for the right Playing at Billiards, which being a Recreation not Admitting of any further Observations and Methods to be made and shewn on it; Let Practice, and the Dictates of the ensuing Orders compleat your Perfection in this gentile Game.

ORDERS for Players at the Gentile Game of Billiards to Observe.

I.

If the Leader touch the end of the Table with his Ball, at the first stroke, he loseth One.

II.

If the Follower intend to hit his Adversaries Ball, or pass at one Stroke, he must string his Ball, that is, Lay it even with the King, or he loseth One.

III.

He that Passeth through the Port hath the Advantage of touching the King, which is One, if not thrown down.

IV.

He that passeth twice, his Adversary not having passed at all, and toucheth the King, without throwing him down, wins two Ends.

V.

He that passeth not hath no other Advantage than the Hazards.

VI.

He that is a Fornicator (that is hath past through the Back of the Port) he must pass twice thro the fore-part, or he cannot have the Advantage of passing that end.

VII.

He that hits down the Port, or King, Hazards his own Ball, or strikes either Ball over the Table, loseth One.

VIII.

He that Hazards his Adversaries Ball, or makes it hit down the King, winneth the end.

IX.

If four Play, two against two, he that mistakes his stroke loseth one to that side he is of.

X.

He that after both Balls plaid, removes the Port without consent, or strikes his Ball twice together, or that his Adversaries Ball touch his stick, hand, or Clothes, or playeth his Adversaries Balls, loseth One.

XI.

He that sets not one foot upon the Ground, when he strikes his Ball shall lose an end, or if he layes his hand or Sleeve on the Cloth.

XII.

A stander-by, tho he betts shall not instruct, or speak in the Game without Consent, or being first asked; If after he is Advertised hereof he Offend in this nature, for every fault he shall instantly forfeit Two-pence for the good of the Company, or not be suffered to stay in the Room.

XIII.

He that Playes a Ball, while the other runs, or takes up a Ball before it lies still, loseth an End.

XIV.

He that removes the Port with his stick, when he strikes his Ball, and thereby prevents his Adversaries Ball from passing, loseth an end.

XV.

All Controversies are to be decided by the standers-by, upon asking Judgment.

XVI.

Whosoever breaks the King forfeits a Shilling, for the Port ten Shillings, and each stick Five Shillings.

XVII.

Five ends make a Game by Day-light, and Three by Candle-light.

Many other Orders there are which concern the House, and thither I refer you for further Infomation; and here take leave to conclude this my School of Recreation.

Utrum horum Mavis accipe, &c.

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FINIS.