Oct. 31, 2015: 1451: Siena - New law on games

Translator's introduction
 (by Michael S. Howard)

Below is my translation of Franco Pratesi's note, "1451: Siena - Nuova Legge sui giochi", posted Oct. 31, 2015 at http://www.naibi.net/A/425-SIENA1451-Z.pdf. I would draw particular attention to his observations at the end, the section "Comments on games excluded from the prohibition".  I posted this translation first at http://forum.tarothistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1082#p16628.

1451: Siena - New law on games

(by Franco Pratesi) 

Introduction

The present study can be considered as a direct continuation of an earlier one that reported the law on games that was declared in Siena and other cities of its territory at the beginning of 1451.(1) Of that law, if we have only vague information, its text, transcribed for the first time in full at that time, has represented a valid document of interest for the history of the first card games in Tuscany. However, that text was not from the Sienese municipal archives, but from a statute of the town of Asinalunga (currently Sinalunga); it seemed therefore necessary to confirm the result with a comparison to the original documents of Siena; the research did not happen then, but that purpose was not forgotten and has been eventually satisfied thanks to this study.

The original document

The original wording of the law at issue has been found among the resolutions of the City of Siena; in particular it is located in one of the volumes of the series Deliberazioni [Resolutions] of the section Consiglio Generale [General Council]. (2) It is a heavy volume of 348 pages, tied on the axis and large (ca. 40x30x15cm), clearly in correspondence with the particular relevance of its contents. (3) The book contains all the resolutions of the General Council from 4 April 1450 to 12 August 1452; at the date of 12 March 1450 (in the Sienese style of time, corresponding to 1451 in the modern style) is also the law copied below. The pages involved are 129v and 130r, the more recent numbers in pencil, or 118V and 119r and older in pen.
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1. http://trionfi.com/trionfi-siena
2. ASSI, Consiglio Generale, Deliberazioni, 225.
3. http://archiviostato.si.it/AriannaWeb/m ... 6_archivio

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[Translator’s note: I am not going to attempt to translate the 1450 document, as I cannot be sure of accuracy. Afterwards Franco discusses it fairly thoroughly. Only one sentence mentions trionfi, which I highlight in bold.]

Item provviddero che nisuna persona di qualumque stato o conditione si sia dela Città contado o districto di Siena possi o presuma giocare a giuocho di dadi o veramente di carte o Naibi sotto la pena di L venticinque di denari per ciascuna volta che contra facesse da aplicarsi al comune di Siena et facta la decta condepnagione. in mediate qualunque officiale havesse congnosciuta. sia obligato sotto la medesima pena a significarlo in biccherna et allo spechio intendendosi che durante la descriptione a decta condepnagione al decto spechio sia et essere sintenda stractato come gli altri che sono scripti al decto spechio sicondo liordini et statuti del comune di Siena.

Item che ciaschuno el quale giochasse a decti Giuochi prohibiti adalcuno dessi in luoghi secreti o in chase o in altri luoghi occulti debbi essere condepnato per ciaschuna volta nel doppio dela sopradecta pena da essere descripto in Bicherna et allo Spechio ne modi sopradecti et sotto la medesima pena allofficiale che in ciò fusse negligente. Salvo niente dimeno che le predecte pene et condepnagioni non abbino luogho contra chi giochasse a tavole con dadi et a naybi o carte a questi giuochi cioè al Dricto a vinceperde al trenta e a triunfi et in altri modi sintendano essere giuochi prohibiti.

Item che nele predecte cose et contra le predecte cose el podestà Capitano delaiustitia Regelatori et officiali di mercantia dela Città di Siena possino et debbino congnoscere et procedere contra atali giochatori sotto la sopradecta pena. Et di fuore dela Città ciaschuno officiale possi et debbi cognoscere punire et condepnare come di sopra è ordinato intendendosi essere reserbata la congnitione aquello officiale che prima pervenisse o a procedere cominciato avesse et possino congnoscere et procedere per inquisitione et accusa come vedranno essere più conveniente.

Item che dela soprapredecta pena et condepnagione la terza parte sia et essere sintenda dellofficiale el quale farà la decta condepnagione laltra terza parte allacusatore et ellatra terza parte al comune di Siena. Et questo quando el decto officiale la decta condepnagione avrà rischossa et inverità facta venire nele mani del camerario del monte del comune di Siena.

Item che achiaschuna persona sia lecito accusare, et (de)nuptiare quelli che giucherano a decti giochi prohibiti et sielli data piena fede quando tale acussa proverà per due testimoni e quali giurino di veduto avere, veduto giochare et el nome di tale acussatore per li decti officiali sia tenuto secreto sotto pena di L. cinquanta per ciaschuna volta che contra facesse.

Item che qualunque persona giucherà a decti Giuochi prohibiti et accusarà et denunpciarà quello o quelli che collui giuchorono adecti giochi sintenda et sia libero et absoluto dala condepnagione et pena nela quale era incorso per lo decto giuocho et abbia ancora la terza parte dela decta condepnatione come di sopra è decto.

Item che se alcuna persona giocharà al alcuno de decti Giochi vetati et a quello giuocho perderà alcuna quantità di denari o daltre cose che al decto perditore sia lecito et possi intermine di sei mesi dal dì dela decta perdita dinanzi a qualunque de decti officiali quello che arà perduto adimandare al vincitore doversi alui restituire. Et ciaschuno de decti officiali sia tenuto et debba trovato la verità del facto pronuptiare et condepnare el decto vencitore a rendare et restituire le decte cose vinte al decto perditore le due parti et laltra parte sia desso rectore et officiale che ne farà la

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executione. Et se achadesse che il decto perditore le decte cose perdute non volesse adimandare che sia lecito al padre madre figliuoli fratelli carnali a la moglie e zii et nipoti carnali desso perditore tali cose perdute adimandare et congnosciuta la verità del facto e decti officiali et rectori sieno tenuti a farle alloro restituire le due parti et laltra sia dessi officiali come di sopra è decto.

Item che qualunque persona per li sopradecti giuochi vetati serà condepnato pagando in termine di quindici dì dapoi serà condepnato possi pagare el terzo meno et se confesserà spontaneamente tale excesso overo giuocho avere commesso pagando infra il decto termine la mettà dessa condepnagione sia libero et absoluto dallatra metà et dal decto termine in là non pagando possi essere constrecto in persona et in avere a pagarsi interamente la decta condepnagione da essere descripta et distribuita nemodi sopradecti per la quale condepnagione non li possi essere conceduto alcuno salvo conducto o altra sicurtà et essendoli conceduto non glivaglia per alcuno modo.

Item che qualunque persona ricettarà alcuno de decti Giuochi prohibiti in alcuna sua casa o in alcuno altro suo luogo proprio o conducto caggia nela pena del doppio di quello che è ordinato di sopra contra quelli che adecti giuochi prohibiti giuochassero da distribuirsi et discriversi come di sopra è decto. Et in simile pena incorra qualunque persona prestarà vendarà o donarà per alcuno modo dadi carte o naibi per giuchare a sopra decti Giuochi prohibiti avendone legiptime prove come di sopra è decto del giuocho.

Et tucte le sopradecte cose così sintendino per li forestieri come per li cittadini di Siena et sottoposti di qualunque grado o conditione si sia.

Et vincendosi et obtenendosi la sopradecta provisione sieno tenuti e Regolatori in termine di xv dì di farla publicamente bandire et insinuata in tucti li statuti che stanno presso a sopradecti officiali. Et in termine di due mesi sieno tenuti di notificarla a tucti li officiali et comitati del contado di Siena per fante propio ale spese del comune di Siena che ciaschuno similmente la faccia bandire et observare ne modi sopradecti.

In this transcript, accents on final vowels, lacking in the original, have been introduced, as well as a few other minor changes, to conform the writing to the current style; further changes in the same direction which perhaps would be desirable have not been introduced, in the belief that the document is not very hard to read and understand. If you compare this text with the one already published by the Statute of Sinalunga there may occur some marginal variations in the spelling, but the content does not appear to be anything significantly different. The important fact remains that this time, finally, the document originates from a more genuine and more authoritative Sienese source.

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General considerations on the law in question

The assumption is usually that gambling has found too much following among citizens and it is necessary to put a firm stop to bad habits, ones so sweeping as to assume a certain relevance on the public as well as private level.

It establishes immediate punishment that has a double aspect: first, there is a fine amounting to 25 lire, which proves to be very heavy, so that to be paid by an ordinary citizen would have usually required the involvement and assistance of relatives and friends. What's more, it imposes inscription in the books of the Biccherna and Specchio, which, with the crime, not only finished the decorum and honor of the player, but precluded elegibility to any office and political appointment in the city.

There follow even stricter provisions for special cases: for the player, the penalty is doubled if caught gambling in the city in private homes or in any interior, while if the officer did not impose the sentence, for him is applied the same punishment is applied to him as that provided for the player. However, it excepts from prohibitions some games, which are discussed later. In addition to being caught in the criminal are it also expected sentences following investigations based on allegations, inquiries and miscellaneous information. It is ordered that the fine be divided into three parts, the first for the officer imposing the sentence, the second for the accuser, and the third for the city.

Informing is not only authorized but also awarded a third of the sentence; in addition, the anonymity of the accuser is guaranteed because of the difficulty that an officer revealing the identity has the threat of a penalty of 50 lire; the accusation needs only confirmation by two witnesses under oath (and it can be seen in this context that perjurers were then severely punished). A special case among the informants is of those who give the names of fellow players: indeed they will be given a third of the penalty, as provided for the informers, also the penalty was canceled which they would have had to pay in person.

One particular item concerns the return of gambling debts, a subject that has caused rivers of ink among the jurists of all time. Here it is determined that gambling debts can be obtained not only by the loser, but also the immediate family if the player himself did not intend to request the amount lost. At their request, the officer

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is required to verify the case and also has a personal interest in recovering gambling losses, in so far as one third of the sum recovered is reserved for him.

Advantageous conditions are granted to those sentenced who recognize their wrong, confessing the crime and willing to pay the penalty promptly. In those conditions, the penalty is reduced by one third and it is sufficient to pay half, while if the term is exceeded one can count on no reduction. Fixing the penalty for the player, it is determined that a double penalty is imposed on anyone acting as receiver of the game, hosting players in his locale, providing the material needed for gambling. In the application of the new law on gambling there is no distinction between citizens and foreigners.

Within fifteen days of approval, the new law should be posted in public and inserted in the official statutes of the city, and the term is extended to two months for it to be distributed and adopted throughout Sienese territory. After reviewing all of the law, they can comment on some points. Overall, the rules against gambling are presented in a rather conventional manner, and not too different from many laws that have been transmitted and debated by historians for other locations and earlier times; (4) also the increased penalty for playing indoors. and therefore not being exposed to regular checks by town security officers. is relatively common. Here there is no provision to increase the penalty for gambling at night, which is found in other cases. Perhaps the point that most distinguishes this from other similar laws is in the amount of the fine, steeper than average.

As in other cases, the most controversial and sensitive point appears to that of restitution of gambling losses (5), but in this regard there are not enough local records to let us catch a glimpse of the extent to which this law could be effectively implemented.

In regard to our interest in the history of card games, the most interesting point definitely concerns not the forbidden games, but the games that are allowed, and in particular the four games indicated as such in the law in question.
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4. L. Zdekauer, Il gioco d’azzardo nel medioevo italiano. Firenze 1993. (Reprint)
5. Ref. 4, pp. 34-41.

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Comments on games excluded from the prohibition

The prohibitions of games provide some exceptions where they are not applicable, as follows: "They do not take place against those who play at tables [boards] with cards or dice and naybi [cards], in these games: at Dricto at vinceperde, at trenta, and at triunfi". [“non abbino luogho contra chi giochasse a tavole con dadi et a naybi o carte a questi giuochi cioè al Dricto a vinceperde al trenta e a triunfi.”] The list that we find here for card games is very similar to that approved by the Councils of Florence only three months prior, although being fully independent; the same can be said for the entire provision, which is almost like a version in the common tongue, only slightly reduced, of the Latin text approved in Florence. At the time, Siena was not yet required to follow the laws of Florence, but somehow the spirit of the Florentine law - and largely also the same form - obviously managed to move from the one city to the other.

For card games, the fact must be emphasized that it lists the names of games excluded from the prohibitions and not of a list of forbidden games; the difference is substantial and in fact involves precise consequences. If it were a list of forbidden games, it would be possible to interpret them, preferably, as games recently introduced, such as to arouse suspicion about the dangers linked to large losses of money, of cheating that is difficult to prevent, of crowds and sensational fights; but a game just arrived in town is not named in a a law in order to exclude it from the prohibitions!

In particular, it is seen that the game of triumphs already appears in the Florentine law of the end of 1450; and one could even think that only in Florence that game had acquired the character of a traditional game, such as to allow it as a legitimate pastime. But now we find virtually the same law in Siena, only three months after the approval of the Florentine one, and the consequence of this is immediate: the game of triumphs could not be a game that became traditional within a single city, but now as one that had developed on a much larger scale. Therefore, if we try to get closer to the origins of the game, all that remains is to penetrate as deeply as possible into the first half of the fifteenth century; by the middle of the century the game of triumphs was already widely practiced and accepted by the population, at least in the vast territories subject to both major cities of Tuscany.

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Conclusion

There has been reported in full the Sienese law on games of March 12, 1451, as it was written in the original document kept in the State Archives of Siena, in a volume of Resolutions of the General Council. Clearly the importance of the law consists precisely in its subject: the prohibition of gambling, with the prescription of the corresponding punishments. For us, however, the importance is even greater for the exceptions to the rule and in particular the list of games that were excluded from those prohibitions. The text concerned is discussed taking into account a redaction of the same law previously found in a statute of Sinalunga and the Florentine law on games of December 1450, which basically lists among the card games excluded from the prohibitions the same four recorded in Siena: diritta [straight?], vinciperdi [won-lost], trenta [thirty], trionfi [triumphs]. For the game of triumphs it is very important evidence, because not only is it absolutely early, but at the same time shows that the game had already assumed the character of a traditional game among the population, by having been so considered lawful: it is in the territory of Siena as well as in that of Florence, where the exclusion from Forbidden Games was approved three months earlier.

Franco Pratesi - October 31, 2015