The Middleton Accounts of 1526: #5

The next entry in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 was dated as the 22^nd January. It was again described as money to Sir Henry Willoughby for him to play cards. This time the amount was 4 pence, which was the equivalent of about £7.35 today.

In this post we are providing instructions for another Tudor card game that was mentioned in Francis Willughby’s Book of Games. This time it is the game Laugh and Lie Down. It is a type of “fishing” game, which was stated to be a genre of games historically rarely played in England. The first record of this game being played in England was in 1522, but the first description of its rules is credited to Francis Willughby. This game is known to have still been played in the 19^th century in parts of England.

Cover of Francis Willughby's Book of Games.

 Willughby explained that, in this game, all cards were played with, aces were low and it was a game for 5 players. He also added that the aim was to be the last player holding cards in the hand.

1. Players cut the pack to decide the dealer. The one with the lowest card becomes the dealer. Both deal and play are clockwise. The dealer puts 3 chips into the pot and all other players put 2 chips. The dealer then deals 8 cards to all players.

2. The remaining 12 cards are laid face up in the centre of the table. If there are any sets of four of the same number face up, the dealer removes them from the centre. If any player had been dealt three- or four-of-a-kind in their hand they immediately laid down all of the four-of-a-kind or two cards from the three-of-a-kind in front of themselves.

3. The eldest player (term for the first to receive their cards from the dealer) then played a single card from their hand that matched one in value that was face up. They picked up that card and laid the pair in front of themselves. If their one card matched 3 that were face up, they took all 4 cards. If someone could not play any cards, their remaining cards became part of the face up cards in the centre of the table. The remaining players kept going as long as they could continue laying down cards.

4. The last card to be picked up counted as 6 cards. For every 2 cards more than 8 that they had picked up, the dealer gave the player one counter. However, for every 2 cards less than 8 they had picked up, they had to pay the dealer one counter.

Next entry: 13th February.

Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911, p381.

David Cram, Jeffrey L. Forgeng & Dorothy Johnston, Francis Willughby’s Book of Games, 2003. pp.138-140.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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