areful that you _lay not your hand on the Table_ when you
strike, nor let your Sleeve drag upon it, if you do it is a Loss; Or if
you _smoke a Pipe of Spanish or Virginia_, being so wedded to that Fume,
that were you sure to smother all the rest of the Company you are
insensible of the Indecency, be careful that the Ashes fall not on the
Table, lest the Cloth be burnt, which many times falls out: In these two
Cases, let the Mulcts and Forfeitures of both, but especially the
Hinderance the last gives a Man in the Skillful managing his Game, deter
you from the lolling slovenly Posture of the first, and the stinking
Indecency of the latter; because this Pastime being of a neat and
cleanly Composition, will not admit any such Irregularities and
Indecorums, without an absolute Violation of its Laws, and a Punishment
attending such unhandsome Offences.

_6thly._ As this cleanly Pastime exacts our diligent Care of keeping a
_Decorum_, in the prosecuting the same, so does it require that we
handle our Instruments with a neat and tractable hand, dislikes a
Clumsey-Fist, which palms the Stick, as if he were handling a
_Plough-share_: And therefore when you strike a long stroak, hold your
stick neatly between your two fore-Fingers and your Thumb, and then
strike a smart stroak; and by taking a steady and right Aim, (in this
having your Eye and Judgment about you) you may when you list, either
fetch back your Adversaries Ball, when he lyes fair for a Pass; or many
times, when he lyes behind the _King_, and you at the other end of the
Table, you may by a dextrous management of your stroke, _King_ him
backward: Both which ways, I must confess, require a great deal of Care,
and good Play, which he that would be, or already is, a Gamester, is
never wanting in. But

_7thly_, If you lye close, then the small end of your Stick, or the flat
of the big end, raising up one end over your shoulder, is practicable
and useful, and either of them to be used, as Occasion shall require,
and as you judge most convenient and proper for the working the Effect
you Aim at.

_8thly_, There is one Fault, which tho its Demerits perhaps may not
reach a Forfeiture, yet I must tell you will scarce admit of an Excuse,
though this I presume is regulated according to the Agreement first
stipulated between the Gamesters, and this Fault is called _Raking_,
_i. e._ not striking your Ball cleanly, but gliding along, as it were;
But in this, if you touch your Ball