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 c