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The Royal Gamesters, or the old Cards new shuffled for the Conquering Game.

Germany.
E're we to play this Match prepare,
Let's know, first, who together are.

Holland.
Let England deal the Cards about,
The four Knaves play, the rest stand out.

Prussia.
France is a Gamester, and must fall,
Else Odds will beat the Devil and all.

France.
What I have won I'll venture still,
I will give nothing but the Deal.

England.
Play fair then, and it is agreed,
The two black Knaves against the Red;
The Kings shall hold another Sett,
And the four Queens shall set the Bett.
The Knaves of France and Spain are black,
'Tis Germany must hold the Pack.

Germany.
Give me the Cards, the Deal is mine,
Diamonds are Trumps, Who betts this time?

Holland.
I'll hold ten Thousand Livers by
'Gainst France and Spain; I'll tell you why,
Because the Odds are ten to one,
They'l certainly be both undone.

Savoy.
I'll take you up, with you I'll lay,
That France and Spain will hold you play.

Denmark.
I'll nothing bett on either side;

Portugal.
Nor I until I see them try'd.

Bavaria.
I know on which side I would bett,
But will not tell my Mind as yet.

Sweden.
Nor I, but still will Neuter stand,
And do them Service underhand.

Poland.
One single Game with Swedes I'll try,
I'll make the smooth-fac'd Youth comply,

Venice.
Go on, and prosper all, say I.

The First Game, 1702.

Germany held good Cards, and play'd them well,
Got some by Tricks and Honours, and some by Deal.
The second Deal France held the Cards, and then
The Game seem'd two to one for France & Spain,
But in a little time they turn'd again.
For Fortune now old Lewis's Side forsakes,
England won all, but Holland drew the Stakes.

The Second Game, 1703.

The Second Game Bavaria took their Parts,
And the first Deal turn'd up the King of Hearts,
Got the Court Cards and Trumps into his Power,
And put the Slip upon the Emperor.
And well it was for France he serv'd him so,
For Lewis else had quickly been brought low;
Germany fretted thus to see it go.
England still play'd its Part, and won some Tricks,
And fairly brought the Game up Eight, to Six.
But Germany had no good Cards to play,
And by ill Fortune gave the Game away.
Savoy did from France and Spain divide,
And ventur'd all on the contrary Side;
Loses some Stakes, but England lends him more,
And Portugal does for that same declare.

The Third Game, 1704.

But vex'd to see the Business done by halves,
England and Holland took the Cards themselves.
Germany laid his last Stake down to play
France cut the Cards, and Holland led the way,
But all the Stress upon the Dealers lay.
The first Deal from the Cards Bavaria lost,
And fear'd that now his great Designs are cross'd.
Holland deals next, France the first Trick did get,
But England by the Honours won the Sett.
Bavaria ruin'd threw the Cards away,
And had not left another Cross to play.

The Fourth Game, 1705.

France to the last Stake brought, & Spain the same,
But Germany revok'd and spoil'd the Game;
Which made the other Gamesters for to swear,
He did not play at all upon the Square.
England chang'd Sides, and took the Dutch again,
Whilst Portugal play single hand with Spain.
But after many Deals, and mighty cross
Between them both, there little was but lost.
Now England deals about for the last Stake,
And had a hand that made Great Monsieur quake.
But when the Sett to a Conclusion came,
Holland lost Dealing, and quite baulk'd the Game.

The Conquering Game, 1706.

England deals next, and France is fain
To lend a losing Stake to Spain.
Savoy betts all, France threatens hard
To take from him his Leading Card:
But England all the rest restore,
And tell him they will lend him more.
Now on all Sides the Stakes are down,
And Spain plays briskly for the Crown:
And Portugal some Betts doth lay,
Which England does, and Holland pay.
The first Deal Spain three Tricks does lose,
Which doth old Lewis much confuse.
France shuffles next, more Stakes doth bett,
And threatens hard to win the Sett,
E're Germany his Cards can sort,
While Venice laughs and likes the Sport.
England says nothing all the while,
But plays such Cards makes Holland smile.
France wins a Stake or two at first,
And Swedes would back them if they durst:
But Poland holds him to't as yet,
And hopes to gain his last lost Bett.
France with his best Court-Cards begins,
While Spain lose faster than he wins.
The Lot grows warm, brisk Play is shown,
And Savoy lays his last Stake down.
But Germany with Trumps supply'd,
Soon turns the Game on t'other side.
France with the Ace of Hearts doth join,
But England plays the King and Queen.
Old Lewis vex'd, yet looking grave,
With speed throws down another Knave,
And questions not the Game to save.
While Portugal, with Anger then,
Plays down another Single Ten:
At which the Gamesters seem'd to smile,
And stood amaz'd a little while.
But when he some Excuse did make,
They pass it by as a Mistake.
Venice at last for Holland betts,
And holds ten thousand Pounds on th'Sett.
France offers now to part the Stakes,
And Spain the self-same Proffer makes:
But England will to neither stand,
For all the Honours are in their Hand.
France plays a Trump then, for to try
In whose Hand all the others lie;
Which he soon found unto his Cost;
When Spain perceiving all was lost,
Throws down the Cards, & gives the Sett for gone,
Bavaria takes it up and plays it on:
But England trumps about, & so the Game is won.