There are many trick-taking card games in the Renaissance. This one is somewhat unique and quite familiar to Milwaukeans. (I say this because I'm not sure how many other areas play this game.) The familiar part is the game plays a lot like Sheepshead. The unique part is it is played with a tarot deck. The following is a reconstruction of a French game. Since Bristol is a port town, it could be argued that it arrived with the incoming crews. Unfortunately, I have misplaced the reference. Please inform me if you find it.
The tarot deck consists of the four suits, each with four face cards. There are also 21 trump cards and the Fool. Cards are ranked basically by from low to top. One is the lowest card. Page the lowest face card. Magician (I) is the lowest trump. The Fool has a special purpose. The Fool cannot win a trick. On the trick where the Fool is played, the Fool is returned to the person playing it in exchange for any card from his/her trick pile. If there is no trick pile, a card is exchanged when a trick is won. If no trick is won, the Fool is given back in lieu of an exchange.
The game is played by four players. Twelve cards are dealt to each player. The remaining cards are set aside; they are not used for this hand. As in other Renaissance, the eldest plays first. Any card can be played. Here is the Sheepshead part. Subsequent players must play a card that follows suit. A trump can be played if no suit card is held. Only if both the suit and trump are missing can one play any other card. Of course, this means the trick will not be won. The person playing the highest ranking card wins the trick and plays the first card of the next trick. After the last trick is played, the points are scored.
The players count the number of cards won in tricks. A total under 12 results in the loss of one point for each card under. Conversely, one point is won for each card over a total of 12. The pip cards aren't worth any points. The face cards score 1 for a page, 2 for a knight, 3 for a queen, and 4 for a king. The only trump cards that score are the Magician (I) and the World (XXI). Each is 4 points. The Fool scores 5 points. The deal is passed around until someone has scored 50 points.
That's the game. I think this one is easy enough to teach patrons, and it gives them another view of how the tarot deck was used.