ed against the practice,
and outraging all the decencies of society. The brother of Saint Louis
played at dice in spite of the repeated prohibitions of that virtuous
prince. Even the great Duguesclin gamed away all his property in
prison.(38) The Duc de Touraine, brother of Charles VI., 'set to work
eagerly to win the king's money,' says Froissart; and transported
with joy one day at having won five thousand livres, his first cry
was--_Monseigneur, faites-moi payer_, 'Please to pay, Sire.'

(38) Hist. de Dugueselin, par Menard.

Gaming went on in the camp, and even in the presence of the enemy.
Generals, after having ruined their own fortunes, compromised the safety
of the country. Among the rest, Philibert de Chalon, Prince d'Orange,
who was in command at the siege of Florence, under the Emperor Charles
the Fifth, gambled away the money which had been confided to him for
the pay of the soldiers, and was compelled, after a struggle of
eleven months, to capitulate with those whom he might have forced to
surrender.(39)

(39) Paul. Jov. _Hist_. lib. xxix.

In the reign of Charles VI. we read of an Hotel de Nesle which
was famous for terrible gaming catastrophes. More than one of its
frequenters lost their lives there, and some their honour, dearer than
life. This hotel was not accessible to everybody, like more modern
gaming _salons_, called _Gesvres_ and _Soissons;_ its gate was open only
to the nobility, or the most opulent gentlemen of the day.

There exists an old poem which describes the doings at this celebrated
Hotel de Nesle.(40) The author, after describing the convulsions of the
players and recording their blasphemies, says:--

(40) The title of this curious old poem is as follows:--'C'est le dit du
Gieu des Dez fait par Eustace, et la maniere et contenance des Joueurs
qui etoient a Neele, ou etoient Messeigneurs de Berry, de Bourgogne, et
plusieurs autres.'

Que maints Gentils-hommes tres haulx Y ont perdu armes et chevaux,
Argent, honour, et Seignourie, Dont c'etoit horrible folie.

'How many very eminent gentlemen have there lost their arms and horses,
their money and lordship--a horrible folly.'

In another part of the poem he says:--

Li jeune enfant deviennent Rufien, Joueurs de Dez, gourmands et plains
d'yvresse, Hautains de cuer, et ne leur chant en rien D'onneur, &c.

'There young men become ruffians, dice-players, gluttons, and drunkards,
haughty of heart, and bereft of honour