NOTES AND QUERIES. [11 s. vn. JAN. n, 1013.
Finally, some particulars are given in
Nares's 'Glossary' (1822), where, although
the game is not described, two helpful
dialogues are set out, and here reproduced.
The first is from John Florio's ' Second Prutes ' (1591), as follows :
S. Go to, let us plaie at Primero, then.
A. What ? be these French cardes ?
S. Yea, sir, doo not you see they have clubbs, spades, dyamonds, and hearts ?
A. Let us agree of our game, what shall we plaie for ?
S. One shilling stake, and three rest.
A. Agreede, goe to, discarde.
S. I vye it, will you hould it ?
A. Yea, sir, I hold it, and revie it, but despatch.
S. Faire and softly, I praie you. Tis a great matter I cannot have a chiefe carde.
A. And I have none but coate cardes.
S. Will you put it to me.
A. You bid me to losse.
JS. Will you swigg ?*
A.. Tis the least part of my thought.
- 8. Let my rest goe then, if you please.
A. I houlde it, what is your rest ?
8. Three crownes and one third, showe, what .are you ?
A. I am foure and fiftie ;t and you ?
S. O filthie luck, I have lost it by one ace. J
In the above dialogue there are just two players, probably playing with the Hombre pack and a dealt hand of six cards, two of which are discarded to reduce it to four cards. The vying is not clear, and it is difficult to reconcile the hands shown with the previous statements of the players, unless these statements were made for the express purpose of deceiving.
The other extract is from John Minsheu's ' Pleasant and Delightful Dialogues in Spanish and English ' (1599), as follows :
O. Now, to take away all occasion of strife, I will give a means and let it be Primero.
M. You have said very well, for it is a mean between extremes.
L. I take it that it is called Primero, because it hath the first place at the play at cardes.
R. Let us go, what is the sum me that we play for?
M Two shillings stake, and eight shillings rest.
L. Then shuffle the cards well.
O. I lift to see who shall deale, it must be a Court card ; I would not bee a coat with never a blanke in my purse.
E. I did lift an Ace.
L. la foure.
M. I a six, whereby I am the eldest hand.
- A note here by the editor says that " swigg "
probably means yield, or throw up.
t Probably a hand of two or three suits con- sisting of a Six, Ace, and two Court cards.
J That is, by one point. Probably holding a hand similar to the other, consisting of a Seven, Six, Court card, and Four.
O. Let the cardes come to me, for I deale
them ; one, two, three, foure ; one, two, three, foure.
M. Passe.
R. Passe.
L. Passe.
O. I set so much.
M. I will none.
R. I '11 none.
L. I must of force see it, deale the cards.
M. Give me foure cards, I '11 see as much as he sets.
R. See here my rest, let every one be in.
M. I am come to passe again.
R. And I too.
L. I do the selfe-same.
O. I set my rest.
M. I '11 see it.
R. I also.
L. I cannot give it over.
M. I was a small Prime.
L. I am Flush.
M. I would you were not.
L. Is this good neighborhood ?
M. Charitie well placed doth first beginne with oneself.
O. I made five and fiftie with which I win his Prime.
L. I Flush, whereby I draw.
R. I play no more at this play.
In Minsheu's dialogue there are four players playing with the Hombre pack. As in the show-cutting a Court card turns out to be lower than a Four, it is evident that the small cards have ten points added to their pips. Each puts his stake of two shillings into the pool. Two cards are dealt round, and all go out upon them except the dealer. The dealer playing either obliges the others to stake their rests respectively, or gives them the liberty to do so. The remainder of the cards are dealt round, and it would seem that discarding was allowed from the completed dealt hand, cards being taken in accordingly. M. is the only player who adopts this course. The method of vying is obscure. M. and L. show their hands, and the others retire. L. wins the pool.
Prima-Vista, already mentioned, was very [ikely just Primero with some distinguishing variation in it. Some authors state that the games were identical. John Florio, in bds ' Dictionary, Italian and English ' (1598), gives each game separately ; and John \Iinsheu, in his ' Gvide jnto Tongves '
1617), has both terms together, and says,
6 two games at cardes."*
J. S. McTEAB. 6, Arthur Chambers, Belfast.
(To be continued.)
- In the ' Dictionary .... of the Canting Crew '
(by B. E., c. 1690) Primero is stated to be " an old German game at cards."
