Note 269 — Chapter IV · OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CARDS AND THE MARKS OF THE SUITS.

It is but fair to observe here that the Dutch name for the suit which we call Spades, is Scop, a Shovel, or Spade; and that as this name has been evidently given to the suit from the mark bearing some resemblance to a spade, the same suit might have been called Spades by the English for the same reason. This objection, however, does not affect the conjecture with respect to Clubs. In the Nugæ Venales, printed in Holland, 1648, we meet with the following: "Query. Why are the Four Kings of cards, Diamonds, Trefoil, Hearts, and Spades—Rhombuli, Trifolii, Cordis, et Ligonis—always poor?—Answer. Because they are always at play; and play, according to the proverb, is man's perdition. Their state is also in other respects most miserable; for when through them much money is lost, they are condemned to the flames, and burnt like wizards." The modern Dutch names for the suits of French cards are Hart,—Heart; Ruyt, a lozenge-shaped figure, a diamond-shaped pane of glass,—Diamonds; Klaver, Clover, Trefoil,—Clubs; Scop, a Spade, Shovel, or Scoop,—Spades.