Chess History And Reminiscences
(ROBERT BELL)-CHAUCER, Vol. VI. p. 157.
------
SAUL AND BARBIERE
Barbiere 1640, in his work, "The famous game of chess play,"
dedicated to Lucy, Countess of Bedford, observes:
"For the antiquity of this game, I find upon record, that it was
invented 614 years before the Nativity of Christ, so that it is now
2,252 years since it hath been practiced, and it is thought that
Xerxes (a puissant King) was the deviser thereof, though some be
of opinion that it was made by excellent learned men, as well
appeareth by the wonderful invention of the same."
The title is quaintly expressed.
The famous game of chesse play, "Being a princely exercise
wherein the learner may profit more by reading of this small book,
than by playing of a thousand mates. Now augmented by many
material things formerly wanting and beautified by a threefold
methode of the Chesse men, of the Chesse play, of the Chesse
moves."
by J. BARBIERE, P.
To which is added representation of a chesse board and pieces,
with two players thereat, in the act of drawing for the move with
the following lines:
"If on your man you light,
The first draught you may play,
If not tis mine by right,
At first to leade the way.
Printed in London, for John Jackson, dwelling without Temple
Barre, 1460.
The introduction is in the following words:
To
The Right
Honourable, Thrice Noble, and Vertuous Lady,
Lucy Countesse of Bedford, one of the Ladies of Her
Majesties Privie Chamber.
This little book, not so much for the subject sake (though much
esteemed), as for bearing in front your Honour's honoured name
having found that good acceptance with the world, as now to come
to be re-imprinted. I have been desired by the printer, my friend,
little to review it, and finding it indeed a prettie thing, but with
some wants specially or a good methode, I have to my best skill
rectified it for him, leaving to the author (now deceased), with
the good respect and commendation due to him for his honest and
generous endeavour, his phrase and stile whole as farre as I might
of this Madame, I now presume to offer your Honour the censure
whose singular judgment, and love in and unto this noble
exercise, is reported to be a chief grace to the same, that so both
his labour and mine herein, may returne to the sacred Shrine of
your Honour's vertues, there still to receive protection against
ignorance and malice.
For which attempt of mine, humbly craving pardon I rest,
Noble Madame of Your Honour,
The most submissive observant, J. BARBIERE, P.
------
JOHN LYDGATE
The earliest English references to chess, are in the works of
Chaucer, Gower, Occreve, Price, Denham, Sir Philip Sydney, Sir
Walter Raleigh, &c.
John Lydgate the English Monk of St. Edmund's-Bury, calls
this game, the Game Royal, and he dedicates his book, written in
the manner of a love poem, to the admirers of chess, which he
compares to a love battle, in the following words: M.S.
JOHN LYDGATE.
To all Folky's vertuose,
That gentil bene and amerouse,
Which love the fair play notable,
Of the Chesse most delytable,
Whith all her hoole full entente,
Where they shall fynde, and son anoone,
How that I not yere agoone,
Was of a Fers so Fortunate,
Into a corner drive and maat.
The old English names in Lydgate, are 1, Kynge, 2, Queen or
Fers, 3, Awfn, or Alfin, 4, Knyght, or Horseman, 5, Roke or
Rochus, 6, Paune.
Although Shakespeare makes no mention of chess in his works,
some of his brother dramatists, and other writers who were
contemporary with him, were fond of referring to it. Skelton, poet
laureate to Henry the Eighth, says:
For ye play so at the chesse,
© 101ChessTips.com. All Rights Reserved.
