Ludus Scacchiae: Chesse-play.

A Game, both pleasant, wittie, and politicke: with certain briefe instructions there­vnto belonging; Translated out of the Italian into the English tongue.

Containing also therein, A prety and pleasant Poeme of a whole Game played at Chesse.

Written by G. B.

Printed at London by H. Iack­son, dwelling beneath the Con­duite in Fleetstreet. 1597.

❧ To the Reader greeting.

STrange (perchance) may it seeme to some (curtcous Reader) that anie man should employ his time, and bestow his labor in setting out such bookes, whereby men may learne to play, when indeede most men are giuen rather to play, than to studie and trauell: which were true, if it were for the teaching of Games vnlawfull, as dice-play, or cogging, or falshoode in card-play, or such like. But forasmuch as this Game or kingly pastime, is not onely void of craft, fraud, and guile, swearing, staring, impatience, fretting and falling out, but also breedeth in the players, a certaine study, wit, pollicie, forecast and memorie, not onely in the play thereof, but also in actions of publike gouernement, both in peace and warre: wherein both Counsellers at home, and Captaines abroade may picke out of these wodden peeces some pretty pollicy, both how to gouerne their subiects in peace, and howe to leade or conduct liuely men in the field in warre: for this Game hath the similitude of a ranged battell, as by placing the men, and setting them forth in the march, may very easily appeare. The King standeth in the field in the middest of his Army, and hath his Queene next vnto him and his nobilitie about him, with his souldiers to defend him in the forefront of the battell. Sith therefore this Game is pleasant to all, profitable to most, hurtfull to none, I pray thee (gentle Reader) take this my La­bour in good part, and thou shalt animate me hereafter to the setting forth of deeper matters. Farewell.

Thy friend G. B.

❧ The Chesse-play.

THe first principle is to know the peeces, to wit, the names, the number, and the seate of euery one. As for the fashion of the peeces, that is according to the fantasie of the workman that makes them after this maner: Some make them like men, wherof the King is the highest, and the Queene (which some name Amazon) is the next, both twoo crowned. The Bishops some name Alphius, some Fooles, some Archers, being placed next to the King and the Queene. The Knights some call horsemen, and they are men on horsebacke. The Rookes some call Elephants, carrying Towers vpon their backes, and men within the towers. The Pawnes some doe call footemen, and they are souldiours on foote, carrying (some of them) pikes, and othersome har­quebushes, othersome halberdes, and othersome the iaueline or target. Our English Chessemen are com­monly made nothing like to these foresaide fashions: to wit, the King is made the highest or longest: the Queen is longest next vnto him. The Bishop is made with a sharp top, and clouen in the mids, not much vnlike to a Bishops Miter. The Knight hath his top cut aslope, as though he were dubbed Knight. The Rooke is made likest to the King and Queene, but that he is not so long. The Pawnes be made the sma­lest and least of all, and thereby they may best be kno­wen. This haue I added hereunto (good Reader) for the better vnderstanding and knowing of the saide Chesse men.

[Page]I will not therfore now figurate them, but only in speaking of euery place particularly I will name them according to the most frequent phrase in the English tongue: To wit, the King (being the head of the play) I will name King. The Queene (being the best peece in the Game) I will name Queene. The Bishoppes next vnto the King and Queene, I will name Bishops. The Knights being next vnto the Bi­shops I will name Knights. The Rookes being next vnto the Knights, and standing in the two corners, I will call Rookes. The Pawnes (standing in a rowe before them all) I will call Pawnes.

Of the Rooke or Towre.

The Tower is named among the Spaniardes, Por­tingales; and Italians, Rocho, which is as much to say in their language as a fortresse, because it is a great vp­holding to the game. Also the Towers are set in the vttermost ends of the Chesse boord, as a strong ram­pire in the front. Their office is not to remooue, but in necessitie, and most chiefly for the succour of their King.

Of the Knight or Horsman.

The Horseman is also named, as representing a man of Armes, which fighteth on horsebacke, and his seate is next vnto the Tower, from whence hee must come into battell, and place himselfe where hee may most offend, for there is no peece in the Chesse boord that more readily may do hurt then he, because of his marching forth, which is made from three into three [Page] places: to wit, from white to blacke, and from blacke into white, and ceaseth not to make his assault or his leape, although he be inuironed; prouided that hee haue roome to place himselfe in.

Of the Bishop or Archer.

In ancient time, the Frenchmen named him Foole, which seemeth to me an vnproper name. The Spa­niards named him Prince with some reason: for (as Prince of the blood) hee is nearer vnto the King and the Queene then any other of the Chesse men. And some name him Archer, because his draughts drawe alwayes aside, and neuer forth-right: as it is the office of a good Archer or harquebusier in warre, which ne­uer planteth himselfe right against his enemie, but in skirmishing or in plain fight, make semblāce to shoot at one, and hit another, not remaining long in place.

Of the King.

The King is the head of the conduct, according to the Spaniards, he hath liberty to assault three roomes or steppes, as he listeth: yea he may make the assault of the Knight, so that he haue not the way, but it must be then, whilest he is yet in his lodging, and that he is not remooued, otherwise hee can make no more but one step. Although in Italy the King (if he haue the way open) may run al the length of the Chesseboord, or may remooue a Pawne to set himselfe in his place. And in France, they cause him to make two steppes along his front: prouided, that there be no peeces be­tweene him and the Rooke, and set the Rooke in the place of the King. Behold here his marching and his liberty, prouided, that he haue had no checke. And to [Page] say the trueth, the King was played no otherwise in the antient time, but after the maner of the French­men: yea the most part of the Spaniardes and Portin­gales (who are counted the best players) did play it so.

Of the Queene or Amazon.

Some name her Queene, othersome Lady, and it is the best peece in the Chesse boord. hir lodging is next vnto the Kings, & hath as great a traine as the King. Briefly, she representeth a Kings Lieutenant in an ar­my: she doth (when she will) the office of the Rooks, and also of the Bishops. And because the first wo­men that vsed to go to the warres were the Amazons, therefore some name her Amazon white, and Amazon blacke. But aboue all, the players ought to keepe her well, because that the game is seldome wonne, after that she is once lost.

Of the Pawne or footeman.

The footman is the rapier and the target, as it were of the great Chesse men, and the Kings especially for this cause, that when he can proceede so well in warre as to arriue at the last ranke of his enemies, he is cho­sen and made the best peece of the play, to wit, hee is the Queene. And if in making himselfe Queene, he can giue checke, he is so much the more to be esteem­ed. The marching foorth of the Pawne, for the first time is to make two steppes, if he will, or one onely, if he list, marching alwayes right before him, and not a­side. And the best Pawnes are next vnto the King. Therefore when checke is giuen to the King, the Pawne cannot passe the barres of his way, for to suc­cour [Page] him: that is, if checke be giuen to the King, the Pawne cannot march aside, be it on the left, or on the right, for to couer his King: for his way is beset on both sides, and cannot go but right forth, and alwaies step by step: prouided, that his way be not stopped. It is true, that in taking he marcheth awry one onely step, of what side soeuer it be, and can not take that which is right against him. It shall be also best for the Pawne, not to aduaunce himselfe much within the campe of his enemy.

The Checker or Chesse boorde, whereon are placed the peeces, euery one in his order.
The blacke side.
QRQKnQBQKKBKKnKR
PPPPPPPP
        
        
        
        
PPPPPPPP
QRQKnQBQKKBKKnKR
The white side.

[Page]Beholde here the forme of the Checker or Chesse­boorde, and how the Chessemen ought to be placed in euery house whereof there are in all, threescore and foure: to wit, thirty two on either side or halfe, wher­of the eight vppermore opposites (or one against an­other) are full of principall peeces on both sides. The other eight also next them on both sides, are full of Pawnes. So that there are thirty two peeces, which is to each player sixteene, whereof there be eight great ones and eight little. The roomes where euery one of them are set, I will name seates: the other which bee empty, I will name places or houses. Thorowe the which (as well seates as places) the great Chesse men and small do runne in their order, forward or backe­ward, to giue the mate to the contrary King. And to tell you, why there be so many houses, and why ney­ther more nor lesse, it passeth my intelligence: and I thinke there will be found no other resolution, but the wil of him that made the play, whom the best Hi­storiens record to be Exerses the philosopher, other­wise called Philometer, who to reproue the tiranny & bad maners of Euilmerodach K. of Babylon, first deui­sed this game. Some say, the inuēters therof, were two brethren Libius and Terrhenus, who being afflicted with great hunger and famine, did inuent this play, to the end, that in playing it, they might imploy their spirites so vehemently, that they might the more ea­sily passe ouer the affliction of famine. But whosoe­uer it was, no doubt the inuention and wittinesse thereof is greatly to be commended and followed.

Certaine generall rules chiefly to be vsed in the Chesse play.

First, you must play nocast or draught in vaine, if it be not vpon great necessitie.

Secondly, You must not make a fault.

Thirdly, You must not be too hastie to play.

Fourthly, If you haue a good draught to make, looke if you haue not a better.

Fiftly, If you haue aduantage, you may wel make a change, and yet not loose it.

Sixtly, If you haue aduantage, wherewith you may win the game, take heede that you spoile not your game, nor to abandon your King to win onelie a Pawne.

Seuenthly, the principall thing is, to set your king in a sure place, when he marcheth forth.

Eightly, The two Pawnes which be on that side where the King is transported, must not be remoued but in great necessitie: for that, oftentimes the game is lost by remoouing the Rookes Pawne or Knights Pawne one roume, because that there the contrarie King findeth the way of the mate.

Ninthly, Then you must goe abroad with your peeces, and not keep them inclosed at home.

Lastly, it is good, that the twoo Pawnes of the King and the Queene, be vpon their fourth houses, and also those of the Bishops.

It is to be noted for the well vnderstanding of the marching forth of the Chesse men, that the Chesse­boord ought to be set in such sort, that the Rooke on [Page] the right side bee sette in a white place, and take the Chesse men which you will white or blacke. Further you must knowe the names of the peeces and of the places: for the Chesse men that are on the kings side, be named the Kings Chesse men, and likewise the kings houses vnto the middest of the Chesse boorde. And from thence forward are the contrary kings houses. As for example: The Pawne which is before thy king, is in the second house of thy king. And if thou remoue him one step, he shall be in the third, or if he go further, in the fourth house of the king: But af­terwardes and if he doe goe further yet, hee shall be in the fourth house of the King of the contrarie parte. And so of all the other Chesse men on that side. The other side is that of the Queene, as well in Chesse men, as in houses, therefore for this cause is it needefull to haue before you a Chesse boorde with the Chesse men, for to see with your eyes the Arte which briefly shall be declared in this Treatise. And so, after presupposing the game, you may beginne af­ter two sortes to play it as foloweth.

The first maner of playing.

The first manner is to beginne with the Kings Pawne: and the second is to begin with the Queens Pawne. The first (according to my iudgement) is the best: that is to wit, to beginne with the Kings Pawne as farre as he may goe. And if the contrarie party play the kings Pawne as farre as he may, thou shalt play thy Kings knight to three houses, from the kings bishop. And if he play his kings knight to three houses from the kings bishop thou shalt take with [Page] thy knight his kings pawne, and if hee take also thy pawne with his knight, play thy Queene before thy king.

And if he retire his knight into the third house of his kings bishop, thou shalt giue him check with thy Queene, in turning her away from thy knight, the which thou shalt remooue into the third house of his Queenes bishop. And then hee can not play so well, but that he shall loose his Queene.

And if hee remooue not his knight, but play his Queene before his king, thou shalt take his knight with thy Queene: then hee will play his Queenes pawne one roume against thy knight, to the end that if thou remooue it from thence, hee may take thy Queene. Therefore thou shalt play thy Queenes Pawne as farre as he may go, and if he play the pawne of his kings bishoppe one steppe, thou shalt play the pawne of thy kings bishop as farre as he may go, and if he take thy knight with his Queenes pawne, thou shalt take his pawne, with that of thine, and if he play his other knight to the second house of his Queene, thou shalt remooue thine to the third house of thy Queenes bishop, by that meanes thy Queene shal re­maine safe.

And if the pawne of his kings bishop do take thy pawne, thou shalt play thy knight to the fourth place of his queene, to take her, but if he set her in her third house, then shalt thou take his pawne with thine.

And if he take thy pawne with his knight, thou shalt set thy queens bishop in the fourth house of thy kings bishop, and so of force he shall lose his knight: but if he take not thy pawne with his knight, hee is [Page] like to leese his owne.

If in steed of taking thy pawne with his knight he take it with his queen, thou shalt take his with thine, which after shall bee taken with his knight. This done, thou shalt giue him checke with thy knight, in taking the pawne of his queenes bishop, and he shall be forced to loose his queenes rooke.

And if hee take not thy pawne, but (to saue his queene) placeth her in the third house of his queenes bishop, thou shalt play thy kings bishop, to the fourth house of his queenes knight for to take her, and if in­steede of taking her, she take thy bishop, thou shalt giue him check with thy knight in taking the pawne of his queens bishop, then shalt thou take his queene, for the gaine is much greater than of the rooke.

And if in steede of placing his queene in the third house of his bishop, he place her in the fourth, thou shalt set thy queens bishop in the third roome of thy King for to take her.

And if hee giue the checke with his queene in the fourth house of his rooke, thou shalt couer it with thy bishop, by which meanes hee can doe no more but remooue her into the third house of his bishop, and thou shalt play the pawne of thy queenes knight, as farre as he may goe, for to take his queene, then he shall be forced to set his queene in the third house of his bishop, and thou shalt play thy kings bishop into the fourth house of his Knight, to take his Queene, and if she take it, thou hast thy instruction in the last Article before. Then can he not play it well, for if it become to pillage or spoile of queenes, thou shalt haue still the aduantage of the checke of thy Knight [Page] for to take his rooke. So shall he be weaker both in small and great peeces, as shall be declared in the Ar­ticle following.

And if hee set his queene in the third house of his King, thou shalt yet giue him checke with thy Knight, according to the last instruction. But if he set her in the third place of his Kings Knight (which is the best that hee coulde play) yee shall spoile toge­ther your Queenes, then shalt thou giue the checke with thy Knight, in taking the pawne of his queens bishop, to take his rooke.

The second maner of playing it.

The second manner of play, is to beginne with the Queenes pawne. If therefore thou beginne, thou shalt remooue thy Queenes pawne, as farre as he may goe, and if hee play his as farre as hee may, thou shalt play the pawne of thy queenes bishop as farre as he may goe: and if he take it, play thy Kings pawne as farre as hee may goe: he then will play the pawne of his queenes Knight, as farre as hee may to saue his other pawne, and thou shalt play the pawne of thy Queenes Rooke two steppes: and if he take it with his pawne, thou shalt take his other pawne with thy Kings bishop, then must hee of force take that Knights pawne, in playing thy Queenes knight into the third house of thy bishop, on that side: for thou shalt haue three peeces all prepared to his de­struction.

But if he take not thy rookes Pawne, but play the [Page] Pawne of his Queenes bishop, thou shalt take his pawne with that of thy rooke, and he will take thine with that of his bishop. Then play the Pawne of thy Queenes knight, and if hee take it, thou shalt take with thy kings bishop his knights Pawne, and shalt say checke, which hee will couer with his queenes bishop, and with thy queene thou shalt take his other Pawne. And if he take thy bishop with his, thou shalt take his with thy queene, and shalt say checke, and if he couer it with his queene, it will be no great daunger to spoile them both together, because the pawne of his queenes rooke, being without compa­ny, shal leese himselfe of force, if thou prepare thither thy Knight or thy bishop.

But if with his bishop he take not thine, but play his queenes Knight to the third house of his bishop, to take thy queens pawne, thou shalt play thy queens bishop to the third house of the King: and if hee play his queenes Rooke in the seate of the Knight, then remooue thy queene (out of the discouerie) to the fourth house of thy queenes Rooke, and if he set his Queene in the third house of his Knight, thou shalt remooue thy Queenes Knight to the third house of the bishop.

This done, thy bishop shall kill his Knight, and his Queene shall put to death thy Bishop, then thy Queene shall take his Rookes pawne who will set himselfe out of the way for feare of feeling the heauy strokes of thy queene. And in so doing suffereth his King to fall into checke, and yet for some other con­siderations, thou shalt remoue thy Kings Knight in­to the second house of thy King, then shalt thou [Page] serue thee of the rookes in loosing the one, to winne the other, and in so doing thou shalt not faile to win the game.

THus hast thou here (gentle Reader) for thy bet­ter instruction a few short precepts, onely for a taste, because I would not haue thee ingorged at the first, lest thou feeling thy selfe cloyed with the tedi­ousnesse of the precepts in prose thou mightest also loathe the folowing verses which I haue written for thy more delight, of a whole game played out at Chesse. And thus briefly I bid thee farewell, til bet­ter opportunitie shall cause me to set it downe heereafter more at large.

Finis
G. B.

SCACCHIA LVDVS: Chesse Play.

FOnd shapes of warre and fained fight,
loe (heere) Wee doo report:
Wee tell of Souldiers framde of Box,
and Battailes fought in sport.
How boxen Princes striue for praise,
in colours blacke and white:
And how in partie coloured Armes
each one with other fight.
Ayd mee ye sweet Sereian Nymphes
(by arte of learned Lore)
To speake of that, which Poets Pen
did neuer touch before.
Hard is the way, yet will I proue,
as Furie doth me lead,
In heate of youth, to trace the path
that neuer none did tread.
Yee sacred Nymphes and Goddesses
that in Sereia dwell,
Vouchsafe to guide my artlesse Pen,
This fained Fight to tell.
You first of all did bring this Play
vpon th'Italian Shore,
Scacchis your Sisters Monument,
found out in yeres of yore.
A time there was when Iupiter
(as Poets tell vs plaine)
[Page 2]Arriu'd on th'Ethiopian shore
where Memnon prince did raigne,
To visite olde Oceanus,
and taste of his good cheere,
Who then was ioynde in marriage
to Tellus faire and cleare.
Thither the Gods did all repaire,
to see olde Oceans choice,
The waues that beat vpon the shore
did seeme for to reioyce.
Here Mercury Ioues messenger
did first himselfe aduance.
Then Phoebus with his golden harpes,
that Muses taught to dance,
Thither the Sea-god Neptune went
with his three forked mace,
Whose chariot two mighty Whales
did draw vnto the place:
On him the Tritons all did waite,
and Sea-Nymphs on a row:
Thetis and Glaucus on the shore
their watry cheekes did show.
Then mighty Mars the God of warre
a castle great did holde,
Carried vpon an Elephant
all couered with gold.
Next after him comes Venus faire
set out vnto the proofe.
Vulcan with hammer in his hand
comes limping on aloofe.
Here Ceres was, and Pallas wise
renowmed for her wit:
[Page 3]Both Pluto and Proserpina
did here together sit.
Ioues wife and sister Iuno faire
was present at the feast:
Himen the God of marriage
was there among the rest.
The Muses nine and Graces three
were likewise there in place,
With pleasant voyce and nimble feete
the Measures for to trace:
First Iupiter, then all the rest
of hie gods that were there,
Each one in his degree sits downe
to taste of Oceans cheare:
There wants no kinde of dainty meates
that land or sea imparts,
Here Nectar and Ambrosia
did comfort all their harts.
No kinde of musike there did want
to make them merriments.
For Phoebe himselfe and Mercurie
did vse their instruments:
When all the Gods and Goddesses
that sate at wedding boord,
Were well refreshed with such fare
as Tellus could affoord.
Behold aged Oceanus,
to please the Gods withall,
Did cause a Chesse boorde be brought out
that hangd vpon a wall:
Wherein were threescore seates and foure
set downe in blacke and white,
[Page 4]Foure square the boord, and euery way
eight rankes appearde in sight.
Each seate had equall forme and shape,
each seate had equall space,
And yet in colour different,
which quite contrary was.
For as the white succeedes the blacke,
so blacke succeedes the white,
Which parti-coloured, like a snaile
appeered to their sight.
When gods did wonder at the thing,
olde Ocean gan declare,
Here may you see the field, quoth he,
and forged tents of warre:
Here with their ensignes opposite,
and here with speare and shield
You may behold the souldiers fight
and muster in the field.
Which sight the Sea-gods loue to see,
and Sea-nymphs on a row,
When neither Neptune seemes to rage,
nor Eolus to blow.
And here beholde the souldiers prest
this fained fight to show.
Which said, out of a box of woode
he powres vpon the bord,
His men of Boxe, such as the Art
of Grauers could afford.
These souldiers were in white and blacke,
whose equall force in fight
And number was sixteene in blacke,
and sixteeene more in white.
[Page 5]As shapes were diuers, so their names
and office diuerse were,
For mong the rest, two crowned Kings
and Queenes there did appeare.
Here footemen were and horsemen both,
archers some white, some blacke:
Here Elephants that vse to beare
a Castle on their backe,
Now one against another place
their battels in the field:
And armies both in battell ray
aduaunce both speare and shield.
The highest line containes the Kings,
in fourth seate opposite,
The white King standeth in the blacke,
the blacke stands in the white.
Next are the Queenes, which by their Kings
full louingly do stand:
And this vpon the right side sittes
that on the other hand,
Blacke Queene the blacke field doth containe,
the white Queene stands in white,
And in their roomes, their colours both
they doe maintaine by right.
Next them in either field doe stand
the Archers blacke and white:
Who Mars doth loue aboue the rest,
as fittest for the fight
Betweene them twaine both King and Queene
in middle part do stand,
Then come the braue and lusty Knights
their footemen to withstand.
[Page 6]Next them are plac'd the Elephants,
with Castles on their backe:
Which stand like Champions to defend
the Kings both white and blacke.
Last ranke conteineth Foot-men eight,
well armde with sword and shield:
Who in their Kings defence doo fight
the first stroke in the field.
One side much like the white-facde Galles,
thus standing in aray,
To fight against the Blackamoores,
old Ocean thus gan say:
Ye see, great Gods, the pitched Campe,
and Souldiers of the Band.
Now learne their Lawes (for Lawes they haue)
which they must not withstand.
First either King doth send abroad
the Battaile to begin,
Whom they shall thinke the fittest man,
the Game or Field to win.
If first a Souldier blacke doo moue
to fight in Field alone,
Then straight doth meete him one in white:
thus fight they one by one.
But all of them one purpose haue,
both Princes to offend,
Or els to take them prisoners:
and thus the Fight doth end.
They spare not one, but murder all
that in their way doo stand,
That they might sooner checke the Prince
when he is badly mand.
[Page 7]By dint of sword dead carkases
lye murdred on the Plaine,
The Campes wex thin, and as they slay,
so likewise are they slaine.
Who anie kills, must straightway stand
within his dead foes place,
And stoutly must both beard and braue,
his foemen to the face.
If he be out of Enemies reach,
and voyd the present blow,
Backward he may retire againe,
and saue himselfe below.
The Footmen onely are forbode
by law, among the rest,
Not to retyre within the Field,
because their losse is least.
Nor is their Marching all alike,
nor order of their fight:
The fighting Pawnes goe step by step
against their Enemies right.
Yet at first meeting may they make
two steps their force to trie:
But when they doo assaile the Foe,
then must they goe awrie.
The Elephants right on may goe,
on right or on left hand,
Or backe againe, to murder those,
that in their way doo stand.
Yet must they not goe ouerthwart,
their foe-mans force to proue,
As Archers vsen for to doo,
whom Mars doth chiefly loue.
[Page 8]Both Archers may march ouerthwart,
one standeth in the blacke,
In white space th'other seated is
with arrowes at his backe.
Nor must they change their wonted course,
though they by law may moue
And range abroad ore all the field,
and euerie seate to proue.
The horsman Knight rides through the Campe
with soft and equall pace,
He leapes aloft, yet may not passe
aboue a double space.
If first in white he takes his place,
the blacke field must he range:
And must by law keepe equall steps,
but colour still must change.
The lustie Queene, rightside or left,
forward or backe may goe▪
Right on she goes, not ouerthwart,
as horsmen vse to doe.
No certaine steps or course she hath,
but goes without all stay:
Except that some of either side
doo stand within her way.
For by the orders of the Field
it lawfull is for none
To ouer-leap anothers backe,
but for the Knight alone.
More warily the Prince doth fight
on whom the rest depends▪
He being safe, the Battaile holds,
he dead, the Battaile ends.
[Page 9]If Prince be taken prisoner,
then straight the Field is lost:
Therefore in his defence they stand,
and him they honour most.
Their Prince to saue, to dint of sword
their bodies oft they yeeld:
He hauing no desire to fight,
stands quiet in the Field.
He onely seekes his owne defence,
not others to offend,
But if they come within his reach,
a blow he will them lend.
The Prince may hurt on euerie side,
yet farre he may not passe:
For when he once remoued is,
and changed hath his place,
Whether he checked be himselfe,
or wound his deadly foe,
Or wander harmlesse in the Field,
but one step must he goe.
This is the order of the Field,
these Lawes they haue in Fight:
Now may you see the Armies both,
how they will vse their might.
Thus said good old Oceanus.
But seeing oftentimes,
When Men or Gods together fight
for iniuries or crimes.
It so falls out that Gods or Men,
that fauour either side,
Doo fall at oddes among themselues,
till that the Field be tride.
[Page 10] Ioue rising from his princely Seate,
and Chaire of high Estate,
Forbids the Gods to vse their armes,
or foster anie hate.
And threatens them with angrie words,
and with his thundring Dart,
That all the Gods them quiet keepe,
and fauour neither part.
This said, he calls Apollo foorth,
and Mercurie in place,
Old Atlas Sonne, both yong in yeres,
and beautifull in face.
Old Atlas Nephew Mercury
yet had no wings at all
Vpon his heeles, nor charming Rod,
which Caducee men call.
Nor yet did faire Apollo rule
the Sunne within the skyes:
His Bow he vsde, his golden Haire
did hang about his eyes.
Then Loue commaunds to fight the Field,
as Battaile stood prepar'd.
And promised the Conqueror
to haue a iust reward.
The great Gods sit, the lesser Gods
stand round as in a Ring:
Forbode by law in word or signe
to further either King.
Then lots were cast, which of the twaine
should first begin the Fight:
The lot vpon Apollo fell▪
which chosen had the white.
[Page 11]Then musing where to gin the Game,
that Pawne he first did moue
Which from the Foe deuides the Queene,
the blacke Mens force to proue:
Two steps he goes, then Mercury
remooues out of his place
A pawne that stood iust opposite,
to beard him face to face.
Thus stand these two in Battaile front,
offring to fight in vaine.
For Pawnes their foemen cannot hurt,
if they goe right on plaine.
On either side their fellow Pawnes,
march on to meet their foes,
And fill the Field with armed men,
thus on the Battaile goes.
And yet they came not to hand blowes,
but march like, Men at Armes:
And make but short excursions,
to keepe themselues from harmes.
But now behold, the foot, man blacke,
that first did meet his foe:
On left hand stroke his enemie,
and kild him with the blow.
And boldly stands with in his roome,
but did not see, alas,
His foe at hand, who with one stroke
did kill him in that place.
Which done, the blacke Prince then remooues
from place where he did stand,
And kept himselfe inuironed
with all his Princely Band.
[Page 12]Then sodenly, the warlike Knights
that on the left hand stood,
Did rouse themselues, and bathe their swords
in slaughtred foemens blood.
Meane time the Paunes goe still to wracke,
for backe they cannot goe:
The Horsmen vaunt it in the Field,
and still offend their foe.
But whiles Apollo seekes the spoyle
of Pawnes that armed stand,
And makes his Knight runne ouer all,
to wast the blacker Band:
False Mercuri: doth goe about
by subtiltie and sleight,
To daunt his foe, and makes his Knight
runne ouer foot-men streight,
Who seeking to intrap the King,
now here, now there doth range,
And ouer-runnes his enemies,
and still his place doth change.
But hauing found a place most fit,
he stands as in a Ring,
And seekes by all meanes possible
to counterchecke the King.
And therewithall sets on the Rooke,
which on the right Wing stands:
While Phoebus seekes to aid the King,
and rid him from his hands.
He sees the Rooke in danger great,
which makes him for to raue:
Sith one of them he needes must lose,
for both he can not saue.
[Page 13]He therefore seekes to saue the King
remoouing him a space:
Meane time the blacke Knight takes the ranke,
and standeth in his place.
Great losse (alas) for none there is
(the prowd Queene set apart)
That in the field doth better good,
or vseth greater Arte.
Thou shalt not vnreuenged goe
quoth Phoebus, full ofire,
And with his Pawnes doth compasse him,
which makes him to retire,
And quake for feare, for danger great
his soule doth vndertake,
While that he sees no hope of helpe,
nor any way to scape▪
For on that side the armed campe,
on this, the Queene did stand,
All armed like an Amazon,
and slew him with her hand.
The army white beginnes to rage
much like a furious Bull,
Who hauing lost one horne in fight,
yet beates his horned scull,
Against his raging ennemy,
begored all in blood:
So they inforst, with greater force
their furious foes withstoode.
But Phoebus on the other side
beganne to rage amaine:
And bends his forces to his foes,
to put them to more paine:
[Page 14]But while he seekes to spoile his foes,
two companies he lost▪
The slaughter of his enemies
full deare his army cost▪
False Mercury doth looke about,
but stayes his hand from stroke,
And now he ventures here, now there
his foemen to prouoke,
And that the Queene he might surprize,
a Pawne he doth present,
Which nathelesse the suttle God
doth seeme for to repent.
The Archer then for right side seekes
the white Queene to intangle,
Which heedelesse foe, not marking, thrust
a Pawne in left side angle
When Venus faire foresaw the losse
that thereby should ensue,
She warning gaue to Phoebus milde,
by signes and tokens true.
Apollo thus admonished
did cast his eyes about,
And viewd the campe, and sodainely
he spied among the rout,
One of his foes that ready was
to swallow vp the Pawne,
And checke the Queene, he with his hand
did pull him in againe.
And thus he both did saue the Pawne,
and rid the Queene from thrall,
Which else had brought destruction
to King and army all.
[Page 15]Then Mercury began to chafe,
and chide Latonaes sonne:
Affirming that the Queene was tane,
and that the game was wonne.
The Gods themselues beginne to iarre,
and speake on either part.
Then Phoebus answers for himselfe,
and vseth all his Art.
What wrong (quoth he) is offered,
if playing such a game,
We mend a sodaine ouersight,
what law forbids the same?
Then make a lawe, that whoso touch
a man, or white or blacke,
That forward he do play the same,
and not to pull him backe.
This sentence pleased all the Gods,
yet with a secret becke,
Ioue Venus chid, but Mercury
did not perceiue the checke.
But yet it greeu'd him to the hart,
that Phoebus vsde such play,
And ready was Chesse boord, and all
the men to cast away.
Then did he purpose with himselfe
to vse some cunning sleight:
If not by force to quell his foe,
to foile him by deceit.
Then doth he make the Archer faine
the paces of the Knight:
He standing foorth doth threaten death
vnto the Queene in white.
[Page 16]When Phoebus did perceiue his drift,
he smiling turn'd his face
To all the Gods, and vide these wordes▪
in Mercuries disgrace.
Though thou be suttle Mercurie,
and vse to filch thy pray,
Yet shalt thou not deceiue me so,
and therefore mend thy play.
The lookers on beganne to laugh,
then Mercury, though loath,
Pulld backe his man, and made him goe
euen as the Archer doth.
Apollo then beganne to watch,
and marke the suttle sleights
That Mercury did vse in play,
and gan to shunne his baites.
And now beholde the Archer white
against the Knight in blacke
Opposde himselfe, who went about
to spoile the Queene, alacke.
The right hand Rooke goes here and there▪
and glisters in white armes
And in the middst gainst King and Queene
he threatens mighty harmes.
The Knight likewise armed in white
as prowde of former spoile,
Beganne to glory in his actes,
not fearing any foile.
The Archer blacke seeing his pride
no longer could abide,
But bent his bowe, and shot his shaft,
and pierst him in the side.
[Page 17]There lies he tumbling in the dust,
both horseman, horse, and all:
Then steppeth forth a Pawne in white,
and killes the Archer tall:
Him killes another Pawne in blacke,
the battell waxeth hot:
The Rookes doe rage, and euery man
doth stand vnto his lot.
The Archers shoote their arrowes thicke,
the horseman or the Knight
Beginne to rage and range the fielde,
in colours blacke and white▪
Headlong they runne and rush in armes,
both armies blacke and white,
The captaines and the souldiers stout,
pel mel in fury fight.
Now this side gets the vpper hand,
now that doth seeme to yeelde:
Vertue and Fortune meete in one,
and striue to winne the field.
The white Queene like an Amazon,
doth fight with furious hand,
And going forward killes a Rooke
that in her way did stand:
Retiring backe vnto her place
the Bishop blacke she foiles,
And raging thus on euery side
her enemies she spoiles:
Much like a raging Lionesse
the furious Queene doth stampe,
On euery side she sleys her foes,
and spoiles her enemies campe.
[Page 18]At length the army all in blacke,
and blacke Prince gan to quaile,
And of his blacke Queene aide he craues
his foemen to assaile▪
Who layes about as she were mad,
and rageth here and there,
And helpes her friends, and hurtes her foes,
and puts them all in feare.
The Pawnes are slaine on euery side,
the Archers goe to wracke,
And there lay weltring in their blood
the horsemen white and blacke▪
For both the Queenes like Amazons
do either strike amaine,
Not meaning to forsake the Field
till one of them be slaine.
Meane time the rulers of the hoste
did keepe the bodies slaine,
And watch the captiue prisoners
lest they should fight againe.
But Mars a friend to Mercury,
standing by Phoebus side,
Did seeke by all meanes possible
to help his friend that tide.
And from the heape of dead men slaine,
blacke Rooke and Pawne he takes,
And put them in the campe againe,
which a fresh battell makes.
Thus secretly the prisoners,
that lately gan to yeeld,
Did stowtly fight, and vsed now
their weapons in the field.
[Page 19]But Iunos sonne lame Mulciber
who onely spide the act,
Cries out aloude▪ and Phoebus warnes
of this vnlawfull fact.
The Thracian Knight Don Mercury
thus taken, wexed pale,
Phoebus began to fret and fume
till Ioue had heard his tale,
Then Iupiter angry with Mars,
did Mercury checke plaine,
Commaunding him to throw them out
where they at first lay slaine:
And bids him cast those men away
that Mars had giuen of late,
And causeth them to bring their game
vnto the former state.
Both captaines now began to rage,
and furiously to stampe.
And both their Queenes they send abroad,
to spoile each others campe.
Their blades are both imbrewd in blood,
whiles here and there they fling,
At last placed iust opposite,
both seeke to saue their King.
But whiles blacke Queene lesse for her selfe
than for her husband cares,
Behold the white Queene sodainly
did kill her vnawares.
But not long time the Queene, alas,
enioyde the victory:
For Bishop shot a deadly shaft,
and slew her presently.
[Page]Both armies now beganne to faile,
the souldiers wept, alas,
When either side saw both their Quee [...] ▪
lie slaine before their face.
Then gan they for to guarde their King,
and stand about them round,
Both armies now beganne to feare
each souldier had his wound.
Yet were they not quite voyde of force,
some helpes were yet behinde,
Which liu'de as yet to trie the field,
as Fortune had assignde.
Phoebus had yet three footemen left,
which stoode on the right wing,
One Bishop and a Rooke beside
for to defend his King.
So many Pawnes had Mercurie
one Bishop and a Knight,
For both his Rookes and all the rest
were slaine in former fight.
Then Mercurie gan to dispaire,
for losse of men at armes:
Yet warily gainst Phoebus fought
for feare of future harmes.
And seekes by all meanes possible,
his foemen to offend,
And bide the fortune of the field,
hoping a better end:
Apollo then triumphantly
did march within the field,
Reioycing in the bloody spoiles
of those whom he had killd
[Page]Both Princes spoyled of their Queenes,
though former loue remaines:
Yet seeke they now new mariages
to ease their former paines.
Therefore the white King first of all,
of wayting Maids I weene,
Doth seeke to chuse a second wife,
and make of her a Queene.
But first he meanes to trie their force
and courage in the Field:
And plant his loue on one that makes
her Enemies to yeeld.
For none the Princes loue may gaine,
except with courage bold▪
She harmlesse passeth to the place
which aduerse King doth hold.
Straight on doo go the wayting Maids,
yet one among the rest,
That on right hand the third place held,
in swiftnes was the best:
And hopes by valor to obtaine
the marriage of the King,
For th'other twaine were cast behinde,
and thought of no such thing.
She marcheth on with courage bold
the foe-man King to greete:
For due reward, and hope of fame,
gaue wings vnto her feete.
The blacke Prince likewise doth attempt
a second marriage:
Which causeth Mercury to step
all forward in a rage.
[Page 22]Moouing a Pawne from left hand side,
which on the fourth ranke stood,
But by a step he was too slow,
which made him mad and wood.
But now behold the Pawne in white,
on top of Fortunes Ball:
Racing the Campe, did there possesse
the highest place of all.
This done, the King adorned her
with dead Queenes braue attire:
And takes her to his louing wife,
which was her whole desire.
Now gan the white Campe to reioyce,
and blacke men gan to frowne:
And Mercury began to weepe,
till teares did runne adowne.
The blacke Pawne now from highest place,
one onely step did lacke,
But Rooke in white was readie prest▪
to haue her by the backe.
So that for feare she durst not stirre
from place wherein she stood,
Least that her deadly Enemie
should triumph in her blood.
Meane time the stately new made Queene
her force in Battaile tride,
And raging so, she slew her foes
that stood on either side.
The blacke Campe at her verie sight,
began for feare to tremble:
For Thestilis the Amazon
in Field she did resemble.
[Page 23]The Souldiers gan to runne away,
afraid of euerie thing:
And running all vpon a heape,
inuironed their King.
Much like a Heard of Oxen faire
or Heyfers on the Plaine▪
When as they see the Wolfe approach,
their legges begin to straine,
And stand about the master Bull,
all round as in a Ring:
Euen so these seely fearfull Swaines,
stood round about their King.
But furious Queene, as Conqueror▪
ranne vp and downe the Field,
And sets vpon the King himselfe,
which now began to yeeld.
And had she not too hastie been
in running of her race,
No doubt she might haue tane the King,
or slaine him in his place.
That day had brought a fatall end
to blacke Prince at a blow▪
And Mercury Ioues Messenger,
had had an ouerthrow.
But Atlas Sonne did well perceaue
Apolloes ouer-sight:
And mocked him, and bade the Queene
looke better to her fight.
Thus while Apollo went about
a silly Pawne to catch,
He lost that oportunitie
which he before did watch.
[Page 24]And Mercury, to saue the King,
his Knight he did oppose
To fight against the new made Queene,
and to defend her blowes.
Then seeking to offend the Rooke
that staid the Pawne in blacke
From being Queene: he drawes a shaft,
and shootes him in the backe.
Thus while Apollo sought in vaine
his foe King to offend,
His lustie Rooke he lost, alas,
and brought him to his end.
The blacke Pawne then without all feare
in highest place was seene:
Nor could Apollo hinder her
from being made a Queene.
Now both of them with equall force
did fight within the Field.
And valiantly their new made Queenes,
did vse both speare and shield.
And though the fortune of the Fight,
and hope vncertaine was,
Yet Mercvry began to vaunt,
and take new hart at grasse.
As certaine of the victorie,
he gan for to insult:
And vseth all his subtilties
to make a new tumult.
When Phoebus did perceiue his drift,
these words he vsed hot:
Why Mercury doost thy triumph,
before the Field be got.
[Page 25]When thou hast gotten victorie,
then vse thy brauing words:
Meane time let vs not braggarts bee,
but fight it out with swords.
Thy words I will confute with swords,
thy braues with future blowes:
This said, he animates his Queene,
to set vpon his foes.
Straight-waies begins a Battaile great
and furious in the Field:
Both sides are bold, and neither part
is purposed to yeeld.
They runne vpon their foemens blades,
great feare is in the Campe,
Their hands imbrude in blood, their feete
through thicke and thin doo stampe.
The blacke Queene now begins to spoyle
her foes before her face.
The Queene in white withstood her not,
but runnes another race:
Vntoucht of all her Enemies,
a secret way she takes,
Ceasing to fly at smaller game,
toward the King she makes▪
And setting first vpon the Guard
that round about him stood,
She seekes to checke the King, and bathe
her hands within his blood.
The blacke Queene then, when as she saw
the white Queenes whole intent,
Leauing the Battaile as it stood,
to helpe the King she went.
[Page 26]For rather doth she seeke to runne
vpon her present death,
Than see her King, before her face
bereft of vitall breath.
But then there chaunst another thing
that grieued Phoebus sore:
For Mercury sent out his Knight
to vex him more and more.
The Horsman furiously doth fight,
nor stayes he in his race,
Till fearing neither King nor Queene,
he got his wished place.
And brauing in his armour blacke,
a stout Knight was he seene:
And threateneth destruction
both to the King and Queene:
Which when Apollo did perceiue
it grieu'd him verie sore,
And now the hope began to faile
which he conceiud before.
Now Mercury began to vaunt
of hoped victorie,
And glad in minde, both hart and voyce
did lift vnto the skie.
And with his Souldiers compassing
the white Queene round about,
He strikes her dead, and doth enioy
her spoyles with courage stout.
In which Conflict by white Kings stroke
he lost his valiant Knight:
Phoebus (though grieued at the losse)
yet fiercely held him Fight.
[Page 27]And with his Bishop all in white
and Pawnes that were but twaine
He fights the Field, and doth renew
the Battaile once againe.
The lesser hope they haue of helpe,
the boulder are they found:
To saue their King, they yeeld themselues
to manie a fearfull wound.
But all in vaine: for Mercury
gan furiously to fight,
And sends abroad his Queene in blacke,
to checke the King in white.
She rangeth here and there about,
not meaning once to yeeld,
Till she hath got the victorie
of white King in the Field.
And hauing slaine the foot men both
that on the King did tend,
She sets vpon the King himselfe
to bring him to his end.
Now had the King no hope of helpe,
but as a captiue stands:
Yet loath he was to yeeld himselfe,
into his Enemies hands.
But meanes by flight to saue himselfe,
and runs now here now there:
And seekes by all meanes possible
to rid himselfe from feare.
As one forsaken of his frends
he rangeth all about:
His foes pursue him in the chase,
and fight with courage stout.
[Page 28]The blacke Prince doth pursue the white,
and vseth all his strength,
And euer kept behinde his foe
about a weapons length.
But when he see him set his foote
vpon the highest seate:
He bids his Queene to watch him well,
that he away ne get.
The King thus brought into a straight,
beset of all his foes,
Doth faintly fight: yet to their blowes
himselfe he doth oppose.
The blacke Queene watching well her time
pursude the King so fast,
That he no place of refuge had
to saue himselfe at last.
For as he ranne into a nooke
himselfe for to defend,
The blacke Queene pierst him to the heart,
and so his life did end.
The Gods and all the Goddesses
that stoode them round about,
At Phoebus losse and ouerthrow
began to giue a shoute.
And Mercury the conquerour
thus hauing wonne the Field,
Beganne to scoffe Apollo faire,
who now of force must yeelde.
Phoebus was greeu'd that all the Gods
so ill did him regard:
And Mercury Ioues messenger
did looke for his rewarde.
[Page 29]Whom mighty Ioue the king of Gods,
doth call vnto him soone:
And giues to him a iust rewarde,
for that which he had done.
The gift was strange, a coniuring rod,
which Caducee men call,
Whose vertue was of great effect
to raise the dead withall.
To cast a man into a sleepe,
and wake him vp againe,
To raise the soules from Limbo lake,
and rid them from their paine:
To make men liuing dead, and send
their quicke soules downe to hell,
Which caused him in Magickes Artes
all other to excell.
Nor wanted Phoebus his rewarde,
though Mercury had wonne,
For Ioue did giue him leaue to rule
the Chariot of the Sunne.
This done, the Gods and Goddesses
that saw this pleasant game,
Went euery one vnto the place
from whence at first they came.
And Mercury long afterward,
in trauell, as I gesse,
Did teach the men of Italie
to play this game at Chesse.
For landed on th'Italian shore,
as ancient stories tell:
He spied by chance a louely Dame,
that likte him passing well,
[Page 30]And seeing her, and liking her,
he loued her withall:
This was a braue Sereian Nymph,
whome Scacchis men did call:
Who while she kept her snowie swannes
about the riuers wilde,
He spyde, and lou'd and lay with her,
and got the maid with childe.
And to requite such curtesie
shewd by so kinde a Dame:
To driue away the time withall,
he taught her first this game.
And for the losse of libertie,
and maidenhead withall:
Of her name Scacchis Scacchia
this play at Chesse did call.
And that this God in memorie
the Lasse might longer haue,
A Boxen Chesse boord gilded round
vnto the gerle he gaue,
And taught her cunning in the same,
to play the game by Arte.
Which after to the country swaines
this Lady did impart:
Who taught their late posteritie
to vse this kinde of play,
A game of great antiquitie
still vsed at this day.
Finis
W. B.

To the Reader.

THus haue you here, as I do gesse,
The order of the game at Chesse:
With all the precepts lesse or more,
As it was vsde in yeeres of yore:
Which game the Gods did first inuent,
To passe the time in merriment:
And that we mortall men on earth
Might imitate their heauenly mirth,
And driue all sorrowes from the hart,
Which now and then come ouerthwart,
I thought it good to set downe plaine
This Game, which Arcas did ordaine
To be a solace to the Gods,
When as their hearts were farre at ods.
Wherein if you do take delight,
And vse the same by day or night,
To driue away your sorrowes past:
I shall be pleased at the last,
Requesting you with all my hart,
To take my verses in good part;
And to remaine my louing friend,
For this time thus I make an end.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.