“There are . . . painted cards of the early fifteenth century which first show the suit signs of Coeurs, Carreaux, Trfles, and Piques which are characteristic of the French cards of to-day. The suit signs of the old tarots had been Cups, Swords, Coins, and Batons; the French suit signs are supposed to have been introduced by a famous knight, tienne Vignoles, or Lahire, as he is called. He is said to have invented the game of piquet, which was the game of knights and chivalry, in contrast to the old game . . . chess, the game of war. Lahire is said to have had the help of his friend, tienee Chevalier, who was secretary to the king and a clever draughtsman and who may have been responsible for the new designs. The suit of Coeurs denotes the church; Carreaux, the arrowheads or diamonds, are symbolic of the vassals, from whom the archers and bowmen were drawn; Trfles, or clover (clubs) signifies the husbandmen, and Piques, or points of lances (spades), the knights themselves.”

—Catherine Perry Hargrave, from A History of Playing Cards, first published in 1930, and still published unabridged by Dover.