THE Pleasant and witty Play of the Chests renewed, with Instructions both to learn it easily, and to play it well. Lately translated out of Italian into French: And now set forth in English by james Rowbothum.  
PRINTED AT LONdon by Roulande Hall, for james Rowbothum, and are to be sold at his shop under Bow church in Cheap side.  
1562.   

LIBER AD LECTOREM.  
HVne ego pingo iocum lusori fraud carentem  
Caetera sunt variis omnia plena dolis.  
Nobilis hic iocus est, ullas nec suscitat iras,  
Atrae nec quicquam bilis inesse potest.  
Caetera semper habent fucos, hic semper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
Caetera fraus ornat, nullus in hoc dolus est.  
Etsi flexibili ligno latrunculus omnis  
Cultro excindatur, stetque carens anima  
Hic tamen armati nunc militis induit arma  
Belligerique gerit ligneus effigiem.  
Sunt hic regis omnis qui suscepere regendi  
Penthesilea quibus prima locata loco est,  
Sunt comites, equites, elephants, sunt peditesque  
Ex quibus est acies ordine structa bono.  
Ludite nunc reges, animis secludite curas  
Regalique ioco tempora conterite:  
Ludice nunc proceres, nunc anglica lude juventus  
Et mercatores ludite, lude puer.  
Vxor lude, rogo, colludas atque marite  
Et simul innuptae ludite pierides  
Ludite ductores, ludat quoque miles in armis.  
Ludite milltiae, ludite uterque domi.  
Si quis in hoc abaco cupiat ꝑdiscere quicquam  
Me legat ut le●●● doctior esse queat.  
W. Ward.   

To the right honourable, the Lord ROBERT DUDDELEY Master of the Queen's horse, and Knight of the noble order of the Sarter, james Rowbothum wisheth long life with increase of godly honour.  
AS THE grave and weighty affairs of Princes (most honourable) require men of profound knowledge and experience, which must daily consider and east in their minds some good, wholesome and profitable counsel for the government of the common wealth by good laws: so also must they for recreation sake, surcease sometime from those extreme travails of the mind, and refresh their memory and careful heads with some recreative exercise meet for their estate. And as there be for noble men noble pastimes (and invented first only for the nobility) as feats of arms, tourneys, fight at the barriers, running at the tilt, clean riding of horses, with other like, whereby the nobility of realms was first increased and great renown gotten, & were done altogether with the strength of the arm and courage of the heart: so is there also for the like, certain other witty inventions of plays or games to recreate the mind withal, and are learned and exercised not with the outward strength of the body, but with the inward force of wit and intelligence, to the great sharpening of the ententive parts of man's understanding, the which I will not trouble your Lordship with in numbringe them: but among so many as are used and exercised in courts of Princes, in Lords, Knights, and Gentelmen's houses, none (in my judgement) is more meet for noble men, than the noble play or game of the Cheastes invented first by a noble Philosopher, or as some think by the noble King Xerxes. Wherein if I should declare particularly the wit, the invention, the warlike order, the politic conveyance, that great pleasure is taken in it, of them that have practised the knowledge of it, I should seem to tedious unto your Lordship: but yet left I should pretermit the commendation of such a kingly game, I thought it my duty to present your Lordship with this little book, teaching an order how to play perfectly and to the advantage, with the names that both the French men, Spaniards and Italians call the Cheastmen by, & also the fashion and ordering of the chrast board, which was never before this time in our tongue as far as I can learn with so good and compendious a way to learn the same. And although I know that both your Lordship, with divers other of the noble men & gentle men of this realm can play excellent lie at this game of the chest, & have as deep knowledge therein as either French men, Italians or Spaniards have: yet because none ever attempted to put in writing the feat, wit, and policy that is in it, and that they understand. I was so bold (having found it translated out of French into English after the form and manner in all points as it is here printed) to choose your honour to whom I might offer this simple present, trusting that as your Lordship doth always gratefully accept more the givers good will, than the value of the gift, the same will receive this book into the number of those which other have given unto your honour, although of greater importance, yet not of greater good will. Which I doubt not but in many things you will delight to read, and to consider when so ever occasion shallbe offered to your lordship to play at the same game, being a pastime without all tediousness, malice, melancholy, anger, guile, or deceit, and hath in itself a certain majesty both in the setting of the men and also in naming them. Besides that it hath formam instructae acici and of a ranged battle the King placed in the middle as is seen by the setting of the men. The cause why, of whom, and when it was made, your Lordship shall read in the beginning of the book which is a thing worthy to be known, for that it is now so common lie used in this realm, as well of noble men as of others of lower estate and degree, to the great quickening of their wit and memory. Which game as it is kingly and honest, and meet for divers sorts of men, so is it (in many men's judgements) not altogether unprofitable for Captains, conductors of armies, and common Soldiers. For out of those wooden men may some knowledge be had how to march and set forth Soldiers in the field, how to guard a King, and what forces ought to be in the sides of the battle, as in the discourse of playing it, men may easily see.  
Thus leaving to hold your Lordship with any longer Epistle, from the reading of the book, I wish the same long life in health, with much increase of vertus and honour. (‡)  
Your Lordships to command james Rowbothum.   

To the reader.  
IT may peradventure seem strange unto some that any man should bestow his labour and time in setting out such kind of books as this is, whereby men may learn to play, when in deed most men are given rather to play then to study. And because there may be alleged some reasons, why no man ought to allure any unto games: some more curious than wise will by and by catch occasion if not to condemn yet to disprove the travail and pains that hath been taken in this, & so think that either the author or the translator might have been much better occupied. Whose opinion and judgement I grant were true & good if it were a book conteinig any art of dise play, of cogging, or setting dice, of falsehood in card play, or any other like sleights for the deceiving one another or for stirring men to anger as such games do often times. But for asmuch as this game or rather kingly pastime is not only void of all craft, guile, fraud, deceit, colour, swearing, staring, impatience, fretting, or falling out: but also it breadeth in plays a certain study, policy, wit, forecast, memory, with other properties, to make men circumspect not only in playing this game, but also comparing it to a public government, or more properly a battle, all men as well Captains as soldiers, may pike out of these wooden pieces some pretty policy how to lead or conduct lively men in the field. For this game hath a certain allusion or similitude of a ranged battle, as by order in placing the men and setting them forth in their march, it may easily appear. The king is here as a king in the field placed in the middle of his army, and hath his well-beloved queen next unto him, and his nobility about him, with the soldiers in the forefront orderly set. And although this be but a brief instruction to teach to play, yet the onset being given, some other will follow to amplify or to finish this ingenious and pretty devise, that thereby the subtleties and hidden guiles of this game may be more discovered, with the manner how to play without board or men walking or riding on horse back with as great delight and contentation as if they had the chestebourde and men in their hands, which thing is done by diligent noting the place and houses wherein each man standeth, and whither or into what house he marcheth or may march, every one having his way appointed him to go. And in the mean time content yourself with this, for I assure you the difficulty to express or set out the types and figures of the men is so much and the charges so great, that as yet no man would ever gladly take in hand to print them. Albeit Hieronimus Cardan ' in his book de varietate rerum, giveth a certain form and manner, how to set out in print the chest board and the men upon it, according to the diversity of the colours black and white. But he that would follow him should cut as many boards and divers figures of men as the play hath divers ways to be played, which would be intolerable charges. And therefore (curiosity set a part) take in good worth these types and figures here presented until some better invention be found. For I doubt not but there be in England as good heads as either Italians or Spaniards, that can if they would invent as fine a way to plai at this game as this is: but yet when a thing is begun, it is the easier and the sooner made an end of. Now they that will play well at this game, must beware that they talk not with any other standing by, nor give ear to any that talketh by, for than shall his senses be occupied so with other matters that his enemy that playeth against him will with his diligence give him the foil: for this game (as the best players say) requireth the whole man, and consequently all the senses. Take heed also that the by standers (which commonly see more than the players) do neither by sign or word admonish your adverse party of any good or gainful draught: for that is one thing among many other that causeth choler, and offendeth one of the players, but it is such a kind of choler that passeth away lightly, far unlike the dice players anger, for he fretteth, he fumeth, be curseth, and banneth the dice, & despyteth his ill luck, and you at the chest, blame not your men but yourself, so that if you have a mate you say commonly, if I had played thus or thus I had saved the mate, herein is no offence to any but unto yourself, and anon it is gone. such and other like pleasure is there in this game, being a most princely exercise, and full of good policy, and quickening of a man's wit. These things considered, I thought it no labour evil bestowed to occupy myself in the translation hereof, at times extraordinary, when my more earnest studies and business were done: Thus far well gentle Reader.   

The cheastes play.  

¶ The first Chapter.  
THE principle is to know the pieces, to wit, the name, the number, and the seat of every one. As for the fashion of the pieces, that is according to the fantasy of the workman, which maketh them after his manner. Some make them like men, whereof the king is the highest, and the Queen (which some name Amasone or lady) is the next, both two crowned. The Bishops some name Alphius, some fools, & some name them Princes, like as also they are next unto the king and the Queen: other some call them archers, and their are fashioned according to the will of the workman. The knights some call horsemen, and they are men on horse back. The Rooks some call Elephants, carrying towers upon their backs, and men within the towers. The Paunes some call foot men, and they are soldiers on foot, carrying some of them pikes, other some harquebuses, other some halberds, and other some the tavelyn and target. Other makers of Cheastmen make them of other fashions: but the use thereof will cause perfect knowledge.  
(Our English Cheastmen, are commonly made nothing like unto these foresaid fashions: to wit, the king is made the highest or longest: the Queen is longest next unto him: the Bishop is made with a sharp top and cloven in the mid dost not much unlike to a bishop's Mitre: the knight hath his top cut asloope, as though being dubbed knight: the Rook is made likest to the King and the Queen, but that he is not so long: the Paunes he made the smallest & least of all, & thereby they may best be known. This have I added hereunto good reader for the better understanding and knowing of the said cheastmen).  
I will not therefore figurate them at this present: but only in speaking of every piece 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 Queen (being the best piece in the game) I will name queen: the bishops (being next unto the king and queen) I will name bishops: the knights (being next unto the bishops) I will call knights: the Rooks (being next unto the knights and standing in the corners) I will call Rooks: the Paunes (standing in a row before them all) I will call Paunes.  

Of the Rook, or Tower.  
THe Tower is named amongst the Spaniards, Portugese's, and, Italians Rocho, which is as much to say in their language, as a Fortress, because it is a great upholding to the game, also the Towers are set in the uttermost ends of the Cheastbourd, as a strong rampire in the front. Their office is not to remove but in necessity, and chiefly for the succour of their King.   

Of the knight or horseman.  
THe Horseman is also named, as representing a man of Arms, which fighteth on horsebarke, and his seat is next unto the Tower, from whence he must come into battle, and place himself where he may most offend. For there is no piece in the Cheastbourd that more readily may do hurt than he, because of his marching forth, which is made from three into three places, to wit, from white into black, and from black into white, and yet he ceaseth not to make his assault or leap, although he be environed, provided that he have room to place himself in.   

Of the Bishop or Archer.  
IN the ancient time the French men named him Fool, which seemeth unto me an improper name. The Spaniards named him prince, with some reason: For (as Prince of the blood) he is nearer unto the King and the Queen than any other of the Cheastmen. And some name him Archer, because that their draughts draw always aside, and never forth right: as it is the office of a good Archer or Harquebusier in war: which never planteth himself right against his enemy, but in skirmishing or in plain fight, make semblance to shoot at one, and shooteth at another, not remaining long in a place. If our Cheasse Archer have the passage open, he may go from one corner of the Cheastbourde into the other. But as for the advantage of him, or of the Knight, it is little, and hath therein but the disposings of the game, in the which some times the one is better than the other. Like as also there be players or gamesters, which help themselves better with the horseman then with the archer, & some other contrariwise.   

Of the King.  
THe king is the head of the Conduct, According to the Spaniards, he hath liberty to assault three rooms or steps, as he listeth, yea he may make the assault of the knight, so that he have not the way: but it must be then whilst he is yet in his lodging, and that he is not removed, otherwise he can make no more but one step. Although that in Italy the king (if he have the way open) may run all the length of the Cheastbourd, or may remove a Pawn, to set himself in his place. And in France they cause him to make two steps along his front. Provided that there be no pieces between him and the Rook, & set the rook in the place of the king. Behold here his marchinges, and his liberty, provided that he have had no check. And for to tell you the truth the king was played none otherwise in the ancient time, but after the manner of the Frenchmen, yea the most part of the Spaniards and Portugese's (who are esteemed the best players) did play it so.   

Of the Queen or Amasone.  
SOme name her Queen, other some Lady, it is the best piece on the Cheastbourd, also she representeth the King's wife. Her lodging is next to the Kings, and hath as great a train as the king. Briefly she representeth a King's Lieutenant in an army: she doth (when she will) the office of y erooks & also of the bishops. And because the seldom the wives go to war, & that the first that so much advantaged their kind (as to go thither and work marvels) were the Amasones, therefore some name her Amasone white, Amasone black. But above all, the Players ought to keep her well, because that the game is seldom won, after that she is once lost.   

Of the Pawn or footman.  
THe footman is the rampire & the target of the great chest men, and by the kings especialty: For this cause that when he can proceed so well in war, as to arrive at the last rank of his enemies, he is chosen and made the best piece of the play, to wit, he is the Queen. And if in making himself Queen, he can give check, he is so much the more to be esteemed. The marching forth of the Pawn, for the first time, is to make two assaults or leaps, if he will, or one only, marching always right before him, and not aside. And the best Paunes are next unto the King. Also, therefore when check is given to the king, the Pawn can not pass the bars of his way for to secure him: that is to say, if check be given to the King, the Pawn can not march aside, be it on the left, or on the right, for to cover his King: for his way is beset on both sides, and can not go but right forth, and always step by step, after his first marching forth, provided that his way be not stopped. It is true, that in taking, he marcheth awry one only step, of what side so ever it be, and can not take that which is right against him. It shallbe also best for the Pawn, not to advance himself much within the camp of his enemy.   

The chequer or Cheastbourde, whereupon are placed the pieces, every one according to his order.  
Behold here the form of the chequer or Cheastbourde, and how the Cheastmen ought to be placed in every house, whereof there are sixty four in all. To wit, thirty two on either half or side, whereof the eight uttermost opposites (or one against another) are full of principal pieces on both sides. The other eight also next them on both sides are full of Pawns. So that there are thirty two pieces, which is to each player sixteen, whereof there be eight great ones and eight little ones. And the rooms where every one of them are set, I will name Seats: the other which be empty, I will name them places or houses indifferently. Through the which, (aswell Seats as places,) the great Cheastmen and small do run according to their order, be it in advancing or reculinge, for to give the mate to the contrary King. For to be able to tell you why there is so many houses, and why there is neither more nor less, that passeth my intelligence. Neither hath any man spoken of it. And I believe that there will be found none other resolution but only the will of him that made the play, of whom there are divers opinions. Some say that it was Yerses: and yet the Spaniards do retain the name Aredres, albeit corrupted by the mutation of s into d set before r.  
Other some say that they were two brethren: The one named ●idie, and the other Tirrhene, who being afflicted with great hunger and famine did invent this play, to the end that in playing of it, they might employ their spirits so behementlye, that they might more easily pass the faminall affliction. And in deed they passed the time so well, that they made but three meals in two days.   

General rules.  
YOU must play no cast (or draught) in vain, if it be not for necessity.  
You must make not fault.  
You must not be to hasty to play.  
If you have a good draught to make, look if there be not a better. If you have advantage, you may well make a change, and yet not lose it.  
If you have advantage, wherewith you may win the game, take good heed for undoing your game, nor to abandon your king, for to win only a pawn.  
The principal thing that you have to do, is to set your king in a sure place, when he marcheth forth.  
The two Paunes which be on that side where the king is transported, ought not to be removed, but in great necessity: for that, that often times the game is lost by removing the Rooks pawn or knights pawn one room, because that not there the contrary King findeth the way of the mate.  
You must go abroad with your pieces, and not keep them enclosed. It is good that the two Paunes of the King and of the Queen be upon their fourth houses: Yea, also those of the bishops.  
It is to be noted, for the well understanding of the marching for the of the Cheastmen, that the cheastbourd ought to be set in such sort, that the Rook on the right side be set in a white place, & take the chest men which you will, white or black. Further, you must know the name of the pieces & of the houses & places: for the cheastmen which are of the king's side, be named the Kings Cheastmen, and likewise the King's houses, unto the midst of the Cheastbourd: Because that from thence forward, those are the contrary kings houses. As for example, the Pawn which is before thy King, is in the second house of thy King: and if thou remove him one step, he shallbe in the third, or if he go as far as he may, he shallbe in the fourth house of thy King: but afterwards if he pass further, he shallbe in the fourth house of the king of thy contrary party. And so it is of all the other Cheastmen of that side.  
The other side is that of the queen aswell in cheastmen as in houses: for this cause it is needful to have before you a Cheastbourde with the Cheastmen, for to see with your eye the art which shallbe declared in this present treatise. And after having presupposed the game you may begin after two sorts.    

The second Chapter.  
THE first manner is to begin with the kings Pawn. And the second is to begin with the Queen's Pawn. The first (according to my judgement) is best. That is to wit, to begin with the King's Pawn, as far as he may go. (I will cause thee always to hold the white part.) And if thy contrary party play his Kings pawn as far as he may, thou shalt play thy king's Knight to three houses from the kings bishop. And if he play his king's knight to three houses from his king's bishop, thou shalt take with thy knight his kings Pawn, & if he take also thy pawn with his knight, play thy queen before thy king.  
And if he retire his knight into the third house of his kings bishop, thou shalt give him check with thy queen, in turning her away from thy knight the which the shalt remove into the third house of his queen's bishop. And he can not play so well but that he shall lose his queen.  
If in steed of taking thy Pawn with his knight, he take it with his queen, thou shalt take his with thine, which afterward shall be taken with his knight. This done, thou shalt give him check with thy knight in taking the Pawn of his queens bishop, and therefore he shallbe forced to lose his queen's Rook.  
And if he take not thy Pawn, but (to save his queen) placeth her in 
This 5 table followeth the play three marked A. 2.  the third house of his queen's bishop.  
And if he remove not his Knight, but play his queen before his king, thou shalt take his knight with thy Queen: then he will play his queens Pawn one room against thy Knight, to the end that if thou remove it from thence, he may take thy Queen. For this cause thou shalt play thy Queen's Pawn as far as he may go, and if he play the Pawn of his King's bishop one step, thou shalt play the pawn of thy king's bishop as far as he may go, & if he take thy knight with his queen's pawn, thou shalt take his pawn with that of thine, and if he play his other knight to the second house of his queen, thou shalt remove thine to the third house of thy queen's bishop: by that means thy queen shall remain safe. And if the pawn of his king's bishop take thy pawn, thou shalt play thy knight to the fourth place of his queen for to take her, and if he set her in her third house, thou shalt take his pawn with thine.  
And if he take thy Pawn with his 
This table is the continuation of the first, leving the 2. marked with. B. 1.  knight, thou shalt set thy queen's bishop in the fourth house of thy king's bishop, & in so doing he shall lose of force his knight: but if he take not thy pawn with his knight, he shall have lost his.  
Thou shalt play thy king's bishop 
This table followeth the. 3. of an other fashion than the article of the. 5.  to the fourth house of his queen's knight for to take her, & if in stead of taking her, she take thy bishop, thou shalt give him check with thy knight, in taking the pawn of his queens bishop, then shalt thou take his Queen, for the gain is much greater than of the Rook.  
And if in stead of placing his queen in the third house of his bishop, he 
This table followeth the last before.  place her in the fourth, thou shalt set thy queens bishop in the third room of thy king for to take her.  
And if he give the check with his queen in the fourth house of his Rook, thou shalt cover it with thy bishop, by which means he can do no more but remove her into the third house of his bishop, and thou shalt play the Pawn of thy queens knight, as far as he may go, for to take his queen, than he shallbe forced to set his queen in the third house of his bishop, & thou shalt play thy king's bishop into the fourth house of his knight for to take his queve, and if she take it, thou haste thine instruction in the last article before. And he can not play but ill: for if it come to pillage (or spoil) of queens thou shalt have still the advantage of the check of thy knight for to take his Rook. And therefore he shallbe always the weaker both in great and small pieces, as shallbe declared in the article following.  
And if he set his Queen in the 
This table is the continuation of the 3. of another manner than the other.  third house of his King, thou shalt yet give him check 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 he could play) ye shall spoil together your queens, & then shalt the give the check with thy knight, in taking the pawn of his queen's bishop for to take his Rook.  

Another manner of playing.  
IF thou hast the draught, thou shalt play the kings pawn as far as he may go. If he play so likewise his king's Pawn, thou shalt play thy kings knight into three houses from the Bishop. And if he play his queen's Knight into three rooms from his Bishop, thou shalt play thy kings Bishop into the fourth house of thy queen's Bishop: If he play his kings Bishop into the fourth house of his queen's Bishop, thou shalt play the Pawn of thy queen's Bishop one step: and if he play his kings Knight into the third room of his Bishop, thou shalt play the queens pawn one step: If he play his queen's Pawn one step, thou shalt play thy kings Rook in the place of the Bishop: and if he play his queen's Bishop into the fourth house of thy kings Knight, thou shalt set thy Queen in the third house of thy queen's Knight, and shalt win a pawn, to wit, that of his king's bishop, by thy bishop, or that of his quenees knight by thy queen. But if he play his queen's Knight into the fourth house of his Rook, for to take thy Queen, thou shalt take the Pawn of his kings bishop with thine, saying check: then shalt thou set thy Queen in the fourth house of thy queen's Rook, and if his King take thy Bishop, thy Queen shall take his Knight. But if he take not thy Bishop, but playeth the Pawn of his queens bishop one step, thou shalt play the Pawn of thy queens Knight as far as he may go: for if thou remove thy bishop, thou shalt either lose him, or thy Queen: by this means thou shalt be stronger than he by one Pawn, because that if he take thy Bishop, thy Queen shall take his Knight, & if he will take her with his Queen, the exchange shallbe made by thy knights pawn, and so shalt thou still be stronger by one pawn.  
  

Another manner of playing. 
Ye must finish the game.   
I If thou play the first, thou shalt set thy kings pawn in the fourth house, if he play also with his Pawn the same, than set thy kings knight in the third house of thy Bishop, for to take his pawn, if he do not save it. The which he may do in three sorts: to wit, in placing his queen's Knight in the third house of his bishops, which is the best play: or in saving him with his queen's Pawn, which is not so sure, because that the passage of the king's Bishop is stopped: Or with the Pawn of his kings Bishop, which is the worst. If he save it with his said Pawn of the kings Bishop, thou shalt not fail to take him with thy Knight: and if with his Pawn he take thy knight thy Queen shall give him check, in making her draught unto the fourth house of his kings Rook.  
He may cover it with the Pawn of his kings Knight, or set his King in the second house. If he cover it with his Pawn, thou shalt take with thy Queen his king's Pawn, which is in his fourth house, and shalt say check. If he cover it with his queen, thou shalt take his kings Rook with thy Queen, and he will also take thy kings pawn with his Queen, and will say to thee check. Then remove thy king into the seat of thy queen, & so he can do the no hurt. And then he shall be forced to keep his king's knight or the rooks pawn, that thou tookest of him. He will play then his knight into the second house of his King, and thou shalt take of him his rooks pawn: So shalt thou have great advantage then having of his one Rook and three Paunes, when as he hath of thine but one Knight and one Pawn.  
If when thou hast given him check with thy Queen, he remove his King one room forward, thou shalt take his Pawn with thy Queen, and shalt say check, and he will retire into the second house of his king's Bishop, for he hath none other shift: then shalt thou give him check with thy king's Bishop, causing him to remove unto the fourth house 
3. answering to the first.  of thy queen's Bishop.  
He will retire into the third house of his Knight, or else cover it with his queen's Pawn, which is the better. If he return into the third house of his knight, thou shalt give him check with thy Queen, removing her one room, that is to wit, into the fourth house of his kings bishop, then hath he none other retract or draft but the third place of his Rook: therefore thou shalt play thy queen's Pawn one step, giving him check by discovery of thy queen's Bishop: then shall he not have any wherewith to cover it, but with his knights Pawn, and thou shalt play the Pawn of thy kings Rook as far as he may go. He shall then be forced to play the Pawn of his queen as far as he may go, if he will not lose his Queen. Then if he play that Pawn as far as he may go, for to take thy Queen with his queen's Bishop, or thy king's Bishop with his queens pawn, thou shalt take his knights Pawn with thy rooks pawn, giving him double check, to wit, with thy Rook and with thy rooks pawn, and he shallbe forced to retire into the second house of his knight, but there thou shalt give him check, setting thy Queen in the fourth house of his Kings. The best then that he shall have to do, shallbe to cover it with his Knight, the which thy rooks pawn shall take, saying check, & he will take thy pawn with his Queen, by which means the two queens shallbe spoiled. That done thou shalt take his queen's pawn with thy Bishop. And so shalt thou have still seven paunes, and he shall have but four, which is a great disvantage.  
If in giving him check with thy 
4 following the. 3.  kings Bishop, he cover it with his queen's Pawn, thy Bishop shall take his Pawn, and thou shalt 
Ye must hold on this play.  say yet check. Then he will retire into the third place of his Knight. That is to the end that thou give him not check with thy Queen in the fourth house of his kings Bishop. By means whereof thou shalt play the pawn of thy king's Rook, as far as he may go. He will play his rooks pawn opposite one step only, which is the best that he could play. Thou on the other part shalt 
figure.  take with thy kings bishop, the Pawn of his queen's knight: and if his Bishop take thine, thou shalt give check and mate, setting thy Queen in the fourth house of his king's Bishop. But if he take not thy Bishop with his, but play him in the second house of his queen, thou shalt set thy Queen in the fourth house of his queen's Rook, then shalt thou take with thy Bishop his Rook, and so shalt thou win the game.    

The third Chapter. 
5. following the. 3.  
Ye must hold on.   
THE second manner of playing is to begin with the queen's 
figure.  Pawn. If therefore thou begin, thou shalt remove thy queen's pawn, as far as he may go: and if he play that of his queen also, as far as he may, thou shalt play the pawn of thy queen's bishop as far as he may go: and if he take it, play thy king's pawn as far as he may go: he will play then the pawn of his queen's knight, as far as he may, for to save his other pawn, & thou shalt play the pawn of thy queen's Rook two steps: and if he take it with his pawn, thou shalt take his other pawn with thy kings Bishop: afterward he shall take of force that knights pawn, in playing thy queen's Knight into the third house of thy Bishop of the same side. Because that thou shalt have three pieces prepared up on him against the which he can have no remedy but to his loss and confusion.  
But if he take not thy rooks pawn 
Ye must hold on.  but play the Pawn of his queens Bishop one step, thou shalt take his Pawn with that of thy Rook, and he will take thine with that of his Bishop. Then shalt thou play the Pawn of thy queen's knight one step, and if he take it, thou shalt take with thy king's bishop his knights pawn, and shalt say check, of the which he will cover it with his queens bishop, and with thy Queen thou shalt take his other Pawn.  
And if he take thy bishop with his, thou shalt take his with thy queen, and shalt say check, and if he cover it with his queen, it will be no great danger to spoil them both to together, because that the Pawn of his queen's Rook, being without company shall lose himself of force, if thou prepare thither thy Knight, or thy Bishop.  
But if with his Bishop he take 
Ye must hold on.  not thine, but play his queen's Knight to the third house of his Bishop, for to take thy queen's Pawn, thou shalt play thy queen's Bishop to the third house of the King: and if he play his queen's Rook in the seat of the Knight, then remove thy Queen (out of the discovery) to the fourth house of thy queen's Rook, and if he set his Queen in the third house of his Knight, thou shalt remove thy queen's Knight to the third house of the Bishop.  
This done, thy Bishop shall kill his Knight, and his Queen shall put to death thy Bishop, than thy Queen shall take his Rooks pawn who will set himself out of the way for fear of feeling the heavy strokes of thy queen, and in so doing suffereth his King to fall into check, & yet for some other considerations: that which for to withstand, thou shalt remove thy kings Knight into the second house of thy King, and then shalt thou serve thee of thy Rooks, in losing the one for to win the other, and in so doing, thou shalt not fail to surmount.   

The four Chapter.  
How he ought to play to whom is given the advantage of a Pawn.  
WHEN the advantage of a Pawn is given, it is the custom to take away that of the kings Bishop, because that it is the best: then if thy contrary party play his kings pawn as far as he may, thou shalt play also that of thy King as far as he may go: he will remove his kings Knight to the third house of his Bishop, and thou shalt play the Pawn of thy kings Bishop as far as he may go.  
And if he take thy kings pawn with his knight, thou shalt give him check with thy Queen, causing her to remove into the fourth house of his king's Rook: and if he cover it with the pawn of the kings Knight, thou shalt take his kings Pawn with thy Queen, & shalt say check, whereof he will cover it with his Queen, and thine shall take his kings Rook.  
And if he give thee check by the discovery of his Knight which he will cause to remove into the third house of his kings Knight, thou shalt cover it with thy kings Bishop, setting him in the second house of thy King. And if with his Knight be take thy Rook, thou shalt play thy Queen to the fourth house of his King. Then of force he will take her from thee with his, the which thou shalt also take with thy bishop's Pawn, and his Knight can not save himself, so shall he lose the game: for thou haste the greater advantage if thou canst keep it well.  
But if in steed of taking thy kings pawn with his knight, he take the Pawn of thy kings Bishop with his kings Pawn, thou shalt play thy queen's Pawn as far as he may go.  
If he take thy kings Pawn with 
A table following the first of the 4. Chap. by another fashion.  his Knight, thou shalt give him the check of thy queen here above mentioned, setting thy Queen in the fourth house of his king's Rook, for to take his Rook if he cover it with the knights Pawn, if not, if his King march forth into his second house, thou shalt give him check with thy queen, which shall come into the fourth place of his king, who in retiring himself to the second of his knight for to escape from the check, shall of force lose his knight.  
And if he give thee not check by the discovery of his knight, as I have told thee (being the play according to the second table of this chapter) but give the check with his Queen in the fourth house of thy kings Rook, thou shalt remove thy King into the seat of thy queen. And if he give thee not check with his Knight at the second house of thy kings Bishop: thou shalt set thy King in his second house. And if he take thy Rook, thou shalt give him check with thy Queens in the fourth place of his King.  
From thence forth he shall lose: for his Knight can not escape without being taken. So shalt thou have the advantage.  
And if (after that thou hast played thy queen's Pawn, according as it is in the fourth table) he take not with his Knight thy king's pawn, but play the Pawn of his kings Knight, as far as he may go, for to secure his other Pawn, which is within the bars of thy camp: thou shalt play thy kings Pawn, one step, for to take his Knight, whom to meet he will set his Queen before thy King: for if thou wouldst think to take his Knight with thy Pawn, thy King should be in check. Wherefore thou shalt set also thy Queen, one room before thy King, and he will remove his Knight to the fourth house of his Queen, which is the best draught that he could make. And thou shalt play the Pawn of thy Queen's bishop, as far as he may, that is to wit, above his Knight, and if he give check with his Queen at the fourth house of thy queen's Knight.  
Thou shalt remove thy King to the second house of thy kings bishop, than he shallbe forced to save his Knight in the second house of his King. And thou shalt give him check with thy Queen, in the fourth house of his kings Rook. Wherefore his king will march into the seat of his queen. Then thy queen shall take the Pawn of his kings knight without danger, and also that of his bishop, and therefore he shall lose: for thou hast the advantage.  
And if he give thee not check with his Queen, (as it is said in the seventh table of this present chapter,) but for saving his Knight, set him in the fourth house of thy queen's Knight: thou shalt remove thy queen's Pawn one step, for to keep that his queen's Knight do not remove, and if he set his kings Bishop in the second house of his Knight (which is a good draught) cause thou his Knight to avoid, in removing the Pawn of thy queen's Rook one step.  
Then his Knight will remove into the third house of his queen's Rook. afterward thou shalt play thy kings Knight to the third house of thy kings Bishop, and if he put the Pawn of his kings Knight, one room further, for to take thy Knight: thou shalt remove him into the fourth place of thy Queen: then he may take with his Queen, or with his kings Bishop thy kings Pawn.  
If he take it with his Bishop, thou shalt set thy Knight in the fourth house of his kings Bishop, for to take his Queen: but he will remove her one step into the third house of his kings Bishop. And thou shalt take the Pawn of his kings Bishop by thy Queen's Bishop. And if his Queen take thy Knight, thy Bishop shall take his. So shall he be forced, for the safeguard of his Rook, to remove him into the seat of the Knight: for if he did otherwise (in taking his Rook with thy Bishop) thou shalt give him check with thy queen, in turning her away from thy Bishop, the which (not being able to take any more the kings Rook,) shall march one step into the third house of his Queen, and thou shalt say, check: Whereof he shall save him in the second house of his Bishop, because that otherwise he should be mate at the first draft, playing thy queen in the second house of his king, the which thou shalt not cease to play, and shalt give him check, of the which he shall save him in the third house of his Knight, also he can not otherwise: wherefore thou shalt set thy Queen in the third house of thy King: and if he take thy Bishop, thou shalt cover his Queen with thy kings bishop, setting him in the third house of thy Queen: but if he take not thy Bishop, but play his Queen to the fourth house of his kings Knight, for to spoil together the Queens, thou shalt give him check with thy kings Bishop, to the third place of thy Queen. And if his King march into the fourth house of his Rook, thou shalt cover thy Queen with the queen's Bishop, setting him in the fourth house of thy king's Bishop, for to take his Queen, whom he will retire into the third place of his kings Bishop, and thou shalt set thy king's Rook in the place of the Bishop. If he draw his Queen from thence, thou shalt give him check and mate well and readily: for albeit that he put his Queen in place where he may defend the check that thou shalt give him with thy Queen in the fourth house of his King, it behoveth (for to make him retire) to set thy queen's Knight in the same fourth place of the King, and then to give him check with thy Rook, in such sort, that he shall incontinent be mate.   

The .v. Chapter.  
How thou shalt play, when thou hast the advantage of a Pawn, and the first draught.  
FIrst thou shalt play the Pawn of thy King, as far as he may go, and he will remove his queen's Pawn one step: and thou shalt remove thy queen's Pawn two steps. Then he will place his kings Knight, in the third house of thy kings Bishop, and thou shalt set thy queen's Knight, in the third house of thy queen's Bishop: and if he play his kings Pawn, as far as he may, thou shalt take him with thy queen's Pawn: and if he take thine with his queen's Pawn, thou shalt spoil his Queen with thine, who shall also be taken with his King, the which (by this means) can no further proceed. Then thou shalt play the king's Bishop to the third house of his Queen: And if he remove the Pawn of his queen's bishop one step, thou shalt set thy kings Knight, in the second house of the King, and he will play his King to the second house of the queen's Bishop. Therefore thou shalt play thy Knight to the third house of thy kings Knight, and if he play his queen's Bishop to three houses from his King, thou shalt cause thy King to march into his second house, from whence he will give the check by his queen's Bishop, setting him in the fourth house of thy kings Knight, the which thou shalt cover by the Pawn of thy kings Bishop, removing him one step: whereby he shall be forced to retire, from whence he came last. And thou shalt remove the Pawn of thy kings Rook one steps. And if he come with his queen's Knight into the second house of his Queen, thou shalt play thy queen's Bishop to the third house of thy King, and if he play his kings Bishop so far as unto the fourth house of thy queen's Knight, thou shalt cause thy Knight to retire to the lodging of thy Queen: and if he play the Pawn of his queen's Bishop one step, thou shalt play the Pawn of thy queen's Bishop one step, to the end that if he push his Pawn one step more, thou mayst also retire thy Bishop one step: but first he shall retire his to the fourth house of his queen's Rook.  
Then shalt thou set thy Knight in the second house of thy kings Bishop. And if he push the Pawn of his queen's Bishop, for to take thy Bishop, thou shalt retire him into the second house of thy queen's Bishop.  
And if (in assailing to break thy defences, or to put thy camp in disorder) he play the Pawn of his queen's Knight as far as he may: thou shalt overthrow his enterprise, in marching the Pawn of thy queen's Rook one step.  
And if (in not being able to offend thee on that side) he go about on the other part to play the Pawn of his kings Rook, even unto the fourth house of it, it behoveth that thou stay him for coming, in playing also the Pawn of thy kings Rook, one step. And if he play his kings Bishop into the third house of his queen's Knight, for to take thine, which is in the third house of thy King, suffer him to do it: for if he take thine, thou shalt take his with thy King: when therefore he shall have played his Bishop, to the third house of his knight: cause that thy Knight, (which is in the second house of thy kings Bishop) may remove into the third house of thy kings Rook, and he will take him with his queen's Bishop, for to keep thee from setting him into the fourth house of his kings Knight. And thy Rook shall take his Bishop. So shalt thou have the advantage over him of two Paunes: and also thy game shall be set in such sort that thou mayest easily make a Queen, of one of thy Paunes, of the kings side. And therefore thou canst not fail to win the game.   

The vi Chapter.  
How he ought to play to whom is given the advantage of a knight in the stead of the pawn of the king's Bishop.  
IF he which playeth against thee, play with one Knight only, and thou with seven paunes, and that thou leavest away the Pawn of thy kings Bishop. He will play the Pawn of his King as far as he may go: and thou shalt remove thy king's pawn one step: and if he play his queen's Pawn, as far as he may go, thou shalt play thy queens pawn as far also.  
And if his kings pawn take thy queen's Pawn, thou shalt take his with thy kings Pawn.  
And if with his Queen he give thee check in the fourth house of thy king's Rook thou shalt cover it with the Pawn of thy Kings Knight. And if yet he give thee another check with his Queen, in the fourth house of thy King, for to have thy kings Rook, thou shalt cover it with thy queen. And by that means he can not play his: for he should put himself in check. Wherefore if you will both of you, ye shall spoil together your Queens: by that means the advantage shall always be on thy side.  
And if he take not thy queen's Pawn with his king's Pawn, but removeth him one step, entering within the bars of thy camp, thou shalt play abroad the Pawn of thy queen's Bishop as far as may. And if he play the Pawn of his queen's Bishop one stepe, for to defend his queen's Pawn, thou shalt not let to take him with thy bishops pawn, and he will take it with his, and thou shalt play thy queen's Knight to the third house of thy Bishop.  
And if he play the kings Bishop to the third house of his Queen, thou shalt take his queen's Pawn with thy Knight, and if he give thee check with his Queen, in setting her in the fourth house of thy kings Rook, take good heed to cover it with thy knights Pawn, otherwise thou shalt play very evil, in place of that, thou shalt march forth thy King into the second house of thy Queen. And if his king's Bishop take thy Rooks pawn, thou shalt give him check with thy Knight, in setting him in the second house of his queen's Bishop, and therefore he can not choose but lose his queen's Rook, or his Queen, if he took thy Knight with his kings Bishop.  
But if after that thou haste played thy queen's Knight into the third house of the Bishop, he play not his kings Bishop to the third house of his Queen: but play his kings Knight to the third house of his Bishop: or his queen's Bishop to the third house of the King, for to save his Queen's Pawn, thou shalt give him check with thy kings Bishop, setting him in the fourth house of his queen's Knight.  
And if he cover it with his queen's Bishop, thou shalt play thy Queen to the fourth house of thy queen's Rook. And if he cover it not with his Bishop, but set his King in his third house, his game shallbe evil appointed: for thou shalt play the Pawn of thy queen's Knight one step. And if he play his Queen into the fourth house of his queen's Rook, for to avoid the check, which thou wouldst give him with thy queen's Bishop, in setting him in the third house of thy Rook. Thou shalt give him the said check, and he shallbe forced to set himself in camp at the third house, and ye shall spoil together your two Bishops.  
But if to avoid that check, he set his Queen in the fourth place of his Rook: thou shalt set thy queen's Bishop in the second house of thy Queen. And if he take not his Queen from thence, thou shalt give him check with thy Knight, in taking his queen's Pawn, which is in the fourth house. And by that means shall he lose his Queen. But in what sort so ever it be he can not but play evil, your two plays being set, as is above, whereof the table followeth.   

The vii Chapter.  
Another manner of playing with the advantage of a knight, for the pawn of the kings Bishop.  
IF he play his kings Pawn, as far as he may, thou shalt remove thy queen's Pawn one step, and if he play the Pawn of his kings Bishop as far as he may go, thou shalt play forth thy kings pawn two steps.  
And if he take thy kings Pawn, with his bishops Pawn, thou shalt give him check with thy Queen, in removing her into the fourth house of his kings Rook, whereof he shall cover it with the Pawn of his Knight, wherefore in taking with thy Queen his kings Pawn, thou shalt say check, and if he cover it with his queen, thou mayest take his Rook: but it is not the best, for thou must take his Pawn which is behind thy Queen, to the end that in taking thine with his Queen, thou mayst retake his with thy queen's Pawn. So shalt thou have the advantage free of a Knight.  
And if he play of another fashion, to wit, his kings pawn two steps, and thou thy queen's Pawn one step, and his queen's Pawn as far as he may, thou shalt play thy kings Knight to the third house of the Bishop.  
And he will not push his kings pawn upon thy Knight for to take 
It seemeth that this play is false for his king had not stayed, and was yet in his white house, which is out of the check of this leap of thy knight, in the second house of his kings bishop which is also a white house, and joining a side to that of his said king.  him: for thy queen's Pawn should take his, not withstanding if these two Paunes take one another, and he take thine with his queen's Pawn, ye shall spoil together your Queens: then shalt thou play thy Knight into the fourth house of his king's Knight, for to take his pawn, which took thine. And if he defend him by his queen's Bishop, setting him in the fourth house of his kings Bishop, or in setting his kings knight in the third house of his kings bishop, thou shalt give him check with thy Knight, in taking the Pawn of his kings Bishop, for in drawing himself out of the check, to take his Rook, than shall his loss be evident.  
And if he push not his kings pawn upon thy Knight, but play his kings Bishop to the third house of his Queen: suffer not his kings pawn to descend upon thy Knight, and for to turn him away thou shalt make to him an obstacle of thy kings Pawn, removing him two steps. He will play the Pawn of his Queen's Bishop one step, and thou shalt play the Pawn of thy Bishop as far as he may go, for to keep him from having the two Paunes of his King and of his Queen, both two together.  
By means whereof he will push his queen's Pawn one step, which is better played for him, then to spoil one another, because that he is the weaker in great pieces. When therefore he shall have pushed his queen's Pawn one step within the borders of thy camp, thou shalt set thy queen's Bishop in the fourth house of his kings knight, for to take his Queen (the which for to resist) he will remove the Pawn of his kings Bishop, one step, which will cause to retire thy Bishop to the fourth house of thy Rook.  
And if he play the other kings Knight his two steps, thou shalt retire thy Bishop into the third house of thy kings Knight, and if he will break thy bars in playing the Pawn of his kings Bishop one step: thou shalt take him with thy kings Pawn and if he take thy Pawn with his queens Bishop, thou shalt play thy queens Knight into the second house of thy Queen, for to hinder always that his Kings pawn do not descend into thy camp, but if peradventure he do descend after that draught made, thou shalt take him with thy queen's pawn, and if his Bishop take thy pawn, thou shalt take his Bishop with thy Knight, and if he take not thy pawn with his bishop, thou shalt take his other queen's pawn with thy kings Knight. So shall he be weaker than thou aswell in great Cheastmen as in small.   

The viii Chapter.  
How he ought to play to whom is given the advantage of a knight.  
IF thy contrary party play his kings pawn as far as may go, thou shalt play so likewise thy kings Pawn: and if he play his kings Knight to the third house of the Bishop, thou shalt play thy queen's Knight to the third house of the Bishop. He will remove his kings Bishop to the fourth house of his queen's Bishop: and thou shalt play also thy kings Bishop to the fourth house of thy queen's Bishop: & if he play the Pawn of his queen's Bishop one step, thou shalt set thy kings Bishop in the third house of the queen's knight. And if he play his queen's pawn as far as he may, for to break thy point, thou shalt play thy queen's Pawn one step, and if he take thy kings pawn with his queen's Pawn, thou shalt take his with that of thy Queen. And what thing so ever it be, hinder him always, if it be possible, for taking of thy kings Pawn: because that it is one of the greatest strengths of thy game.  
If therefore he play his kings Rook one step, for to hinder that with thy queen's Bishop thou do cover his Knight, thou shalt play forth thy kings Knight to the third house of the Bishop. And if he set his queen's Bishop in the fourth house of his kings Knight, thou shalt remove thy rooks pawn one step, which will cause him to retire into the fourth house of his kings Rook. And then thou shalt play the Pawn of thy kings Knight as far as he may go, in such sort that he shallbe forced either to lose his kings Pawn (which thou shalt take with thy kings Knight) or else his queen's Bishop (which thou shalt take with thy Knights pawn) if he retire not one room backward.  
But if (in taking with his Knight the Pawn of thy kings Knight) he be content to lose the same Knight, for to win thy two Paunes, to wit, that of thy kings Knight, and then that of thy Rook, which he will take with his queen's Bishop: thou shalt set thy Rook in the seat of thy knight in the room of the said Bishop, and (if for to defend his Bishop) he remove his Rooks pawn one step, thou shalt set thy Queen in his third house, and therefore he can not hinder thee to take his kings Pawn, and so shall his game be in an ill order.   
The end of the Cheastes play.   

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