"Sic knavis and crakkaris, to play at carts and dyce, Sic halland-scheckaris, qwhilk at Cowkilbyis gryce Are haldin of pryce, when lymaris do convene; Sic store of vyce, sae mony wittis unwyse, Within this land was nevir hard nor sene."
In the poems of Sir David Lyndsay, there are several allusions to card-playing; and in his 'Satire of the Three Estaites,' which Chalmers says was first acted at Cupar, Fifeshire, in 1535, the Parson declares himself to be an adept at the game:
"Thoch I preich nocht, I can play at the caiche: I wot there is nocht ane amang yow all Mair ferylie can play at the fute-ball; And for the cartis, the tabels, and the dyse, Above all parsouns I may beir the pryse."
In Sir David's poem, entitled 'The Cardinal,' exposing the personal vices and tyrannical conduct of Cardinal Beaton, who was assassinated at St. Andrews in 1546, that prelate is represented as a great gamester:[130]
"In banketting, playing at cartis and dyce, Into sic wysedome I was haldin wyse; And spairit nocht to play with king nor knicht, Thre thousand crownes of golde upon ane night."
In the examination of Thomas Forret, a dean of the Kirk, and vicar of Dollar, on a charge of heresy brought against him by John Lauder, a tool of Cardinal Beaton's, at Edinburgh, 1st March, 1539, Forret's answer to one of the charges of his accuser, affords some idea of the manner in which many bachelor priests of the period were accustomed to spend their tithes:
"_Accuser._ False Heretic, thou sayest it is not lawful to Kirkmen to take their teinds (tythes) and offerings and corps-presents, though we have been in use of them, constitute by the Kirk and King, and also our holy father the Pope hath confirmed the same?
"_Dean Forret._ Brother, I said not so; but I said it was not lawful to Kirkmen to spend the patrimony of the Kirk, as they do, on riotous feasting, and on fair women, and at playing at cards and dice."[131]
Pinkerton, in his 'History of Scotland,' says: "Stewart the poet, in an address to James V, advises him to amuse himself with hunting, hawking, and archery, justing, and chess; and not to play at cards or dice, except with his mother or the chief lords, as it was a disgrace for a prince to win from men of inferior station, and his gains at any time ought to be given to his attendants."