''The Compleat Gamester'', first published in 1674, is one of the earliest known English-language games
compendia
A compendium ( compendia or compendiums) is a comprehensive collection of information and analysis pertaining to a body of knowledge. A compendium may concisely summarize a larger work. In most cases, the body of knowledge will concern a specific ...
. It was published anonymously, but later attributed to
Charles Cotton
Charles Cotton (28 April 1630 – 16 February 1687) was an English poet and writer, best known for translating the work of Michel de Montaigne from French, for his contributions to ''The Compleat Angler'', and for the influential ''The Complea ...
(1630–1687). Further editions appeared in the period up to 1754 before it was eclipsed by ''Mr. Hoyle's Games'' by
Edmond Hoyle
Edmond Hoyle (167229 August 1769) was an English writer best known for his works on the rules and play of card games. The phrase "according to Hoyle" (meaning "strictly according to the rules") came into the language as a reflection of his broa ...
(1672–1769).
History
In the mid-17th century, game literature in England took off. Initially these were translations of French books, for example on
piquet
Piquet (; ) is an early 16th-century plain-trick card game for two players that became France's national game. David Parlett calls it a "classic game of relatively great antiquity... still one of the most skill-rewarding card games for two" but ...
, but later more original publications appeared. The most successful of these was ''The Compleat Gamester'', which was first published anonymously in 1674, but was attributed during the 18th century to Charles Cotton.
Contents
The 1674 edition included instructions on how to play "all manner of usual and most gentile games either on
cards
{{Redirect, CARDS, other uses, Cards (disambiguation){{!Cards
The CARDS programme, of Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation, is the EU's main instrument of financial assistance to the Western Balkans, covering spec ...
or
dice
A die (: dice, sometimes also used as ) is a small, throwable object with marked sides that can rest in multiple positions. Dice are used for generating random values, commonly as part of tabletop games, including dice games, board games, ro ...
," as well as "the arts and mysteries" of
riding,
racing
In sports, racing is a competition of speed, in which competitors try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific g ...
,
archery
Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a Bow and arrow, bow to shooting, shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting ...
and
cock-fighting
Cockfighting is a blood sport involving domesticated roosters as the combatants. The first documented use of the word gamecock, denoting use of the cock as to a "game", a sport, pastime or entertainment, was recorded in 1634, after the term ...
.
Editions
Charles Cotton died in 1687, so subsequent editions were edited by other writers.
* 1674
''The Compleat Gamester'' A.M, London. Charles Cotton.
* 1676: ''The Compleat Gamester'', 2nd edn. Charles Cotton.
* 1709: ''The Compleat Gamester''. Brome, London. Unknown editor.
* 1721:
The Complete Gamester'. J. Wilford, London.
Seymour
Seymour may refer to:
Places Australia
*Seymour, Victoria, a township
** Seymour railway station
* Electoral district of Seymour, a former electoral district in Victoria
* Rural City of Seymour, a former local government area in Victoria
* Se ...
* 1725:
The Compleat Gamester', 5th edn with additions. J. Wilford, London. Unknown ed.
* 1726: ''The Compleat Gamester'', 6th edn with additions. Wilford, London. Unknown ed.
* 1734:
The Compleat Gamester', 5th edn. E. Curll / J. Wilford. London. Edited by Richard Seymour.
* 1739:
The Compleat Gamester', 6th edn. Curll/Hodges, London. Edited by Richard Seymour.
* 1750: ''The Compleat Gamester'', 7th edn. J. Hodges, London. Edited by Richard Seymour.
* 1754:
The Compleat Gamester', 8th edn. J. Hodges, London. Edited by Charles Johnson.
Footnotes
References
Literature
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Compleat Gamester, The
1674 non-fiction books
1674 in England
English non-fiction books
Non-fiction books about gambling
Books about games
Works published anonymously