The first mention of Whist under the revised name is in "The Compleate Gamester," which was published in 1674, and was intended to supply standard rules for the fashionable games of the time. But Cotton's laws were confusing, and the game was played in various ways in different parts of England, since this standard was not universally accepted, and it is said that Whist was a favourite only in the servants' hall, so that these unarbitrary rules led to quarrels and sometimes even to bloodshed. But when Edward Hoyle became interested in the game of Whist, he had for partners or opponents some of the deepest players and most distinguished men about town, and the gamesters gradually adopted regular rules for their own guidance, which usually originated with Hoyle, so the fame of his decisions about disputed points was noised abroad throughout London. This led to his taking pupils at a guinea a lesson, and finally Hoyle wrote out his rules for their benefit, distributing them first in manuscript, but finally publishing them in "A Short Treatise on Whist," for which he received one thousand guineas. Hoyle's rules were adopted by the clubs and players throughout England, so, when any dispute arose, his book was consulted, and, instead of the players saying, "It is the wish (or the voice) of the gods," as had been the original custom when consulting the oracles of Mercury, and continued by card votaries, it became customary to say, "It is according to Hoyle." That gentleman lived until 1769, and his rules remained unaltered for over one hundred years. In 1864, however, the Arlington and Portland Clubs, finding that modifications were needed, revised the rules, after which the "Cavendish rules" became the mode, but books on card rules are still issued under the name of Hoyle's "Games of Cards," so "According to Hoyle" is still a fashionable saying among the votaries of the card table. CHAPTER XIII ENGRAVED CARDS Thanks to the lovers of woodcuts, prints, and engravings, the history of European Playing Cards has been preserved. Through these it has been investigated, as it would have been impossible in any other way, since the men who are devoted to the card table are not usually of an investigating turn of mind, while those who prophesy with cards prefer the occult and mysterious to the scientific.