the society of the _Inner Temple_ made several regulations for keeping good rule in _Christmas-time_, two of which will show how much gaming had been practised there before that time. "8. That there shall not be any knocking with boxes, or calling aloud for gamesters. 9. That no play be continued within the house upon any Saturday night, or upon Christmas-eve at night, after twelve of the clock." Sir Simon D'Ewes also, in the MS. life of himself in the British Museum, takes notice of the Christmas irregularities about this period (p. 52, Dec. 1620)--"At the saied Temple was a lieutenant chosen, and much gaming, and other excesses increased during these festivall dayes, by his residing and keeping a standing table ther; and, when sometimes I turned in thither to behold ther sportes, and saw the many oaths, execrations, and quarrels, that accompanied ther dicing, I began seriously to loath it, though at the time I conceived the sporte of itselfe to bee lawfull."--["Life of D'Ewes," edit. 1845, i. 161.] "The first day of Januarie [_i.e._, 1622-23] at night, I came into commons at the Temple, wheere ther was a lieftenant choosen, and all manner of gaming and vanitie practiced, as if the church had not at all groaned under those heavie desolations which it did. Wherefore I was verie gladd, when, on the Tuesday following, being the seventh day of the same moneth, the howse broake upp ther Christmas, and added an end to those excesses."--[Life, _ut supr._, i. 223.] To what excess gaming was carried on in the inns-of-court at this period may be judged from the following circumstance, that in taking up the floor of one of the Temple halls about 1764, near one hundred pair of dice were found, which had dropt at times through the chinks or joints of the boards. They were very small, scarce more than two-thirds as large as our modern ones. The hall was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. [See on this subject "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," i., where copious collections will be found upon this subject.] [30] This tavern, with the same sign as above described, [existed till 1787. See Gifford's Ben Jonson, 1816, ix. 84-5.] [31] This question is improperly given to Sim in the 4º.--_Collier._ [32] [See Dyce's Middleton, iii. 97, and v. 208.] [33] [A line of an old song altered.] [34] This is the reading of the quarto, but Mr Reed, without necessity or notice, changed it thus-- "A qualm of threescore _pounds a year_ came over his stomach." Sim refers to the age and infirmity of Bloodhound.--_Collier._ [35] All that follows, to the entrance of Moll, in the 4º is made a continuation of what is said by Bloodhound.--_Collier._ ACT II., SCENE I. _A table set out. Enter two servants, +Jarvis+ and +John+, as to cover it for dinner._ +John.+ Is my mistress ready for dinner? +Jar.+ Yes, if dinner be ready for my mistress. +John.+ Half an hour ago, man.