gives a very high idea of this king's generosity, whilst he
lashes his contemporaries. Henry III. played at tennis and was very
fond of the game--not, however, through cupidity or avarice, for he
distributed all his winnings among his companions. When he lost he paid
the wager, nay, he even paid the losses of all engaged in the game. The
bets were not higher than two, three, or four hundred crowns--never,
as subsequently, four thousand, six thousand, or twelve thousand--when,
however, payment was not as readily made, but rather frequently
compounded for.(46)

(46) Henry III. was also passionately fond of the childish toy
_Bilboquet_, or 'Cup and Ball,' which he used to play even whilst
walking in the street. Journal de Henri III., i.

There was, indeed, at that time a French captain named La Roue, who
played high stakes, up to six thousand crowns, which was then deemed
exorbitant. This intrepid gamester proposed a bet of twenty thousand
crowns against one of Andrew Doria's war-galleys.

Doria took the bet, but he immediately declared it off, in apprehension
of the ridiculous position in which he would be placed if he lost,
saying,--'I don't wish that this young adventurer, who has nothing worth
naming to lose, should win my galley to go and triumph in France over my
fortune and my honour.'

Soon, however, high stakes became in vogue, and to such an extent that
the natural son of the Duc de Bellegarde was enabled to pay, out of
his winnings, the large sum of fifty thousand crowns to get himself
legitimated. Curiously enough, it is said that the greater part of this
sum had been won in England.(47)

(47) Amelot de la Houss. _Mem. Hist_. iii.

HENRY IV.--Henry IV. early evinced his passion for gaming. When very
young and stinted in fortune, he contrived the means of satisfying this
growing propensity. When in want of money he used to send a promissory
note, written and signed by himself, to his friends, requesting them to
return the note or cash it--an expedient which could not but succeed, as
every man was only too glad to have the prince's note of hand.(48)

(48) Mem. de Nevers. ii.

There can be no doubt that the example of Henry IV. was, in the matter
of gaming, as in other vices, most pernicious. 'Henry IV.,' says
Perefixe, 'was not a skilful player, but greedy of gain, timid in high
stakes, and ill-tempered when he lost.' He adds rather naively, 'This
great king was not without spots any more th