Very similar games were played in mainland Europe, the earliest recorded dating to the 14th century.

Doublets may be an elaboration of the Spanish game of doblet which is described in detail in 1283 in El Libro de los Juegos published by Alfonso X of Castile.

[9] The earliest known English rules were written down around 1665-1670 by Willughby in his Volume of Plaies, who describes "Dublets" as "the most childish game at Tables in which there is nothing but chance and scarce any skill.

The one with the highest cast wins, picks up both dice and makes the first throw of the game.

In turn, each player throws the dice and moves his or her men based on the result.

Cotton's description is broadly similar except that, when a player is unable to use the throw of a die, the opponent may use it instead if able.

[a][b] There are two players who only have 12 men each and they place them in pairs on the six points on the table of the board nearest to them.

[3] This is "the exact description" of the French game of dames rabattues in Moulidars' Encyclopédie des Jeux (1888) except for the number of men and dice used and their deployment.

[8] The game is listed by Rabelais in Gargantua in 1534 and extensive rules appear from around 1699 onwards.

An important exception is that a player who has not yet unstacked all 15 men may not utilise the throw of an opponent who is in the process of bearing off.

In this version, each player has 12 men which they deploy in their right-hand table, stacking two on each point as in Spanish doblet.