In this century the game of chess had become extremely popular among the feudal aristocracy--including under that head all who could aspire to knighthood. Already, in the twelfth century, directions for the game had been composed in Latin verse, which seems to show that, in spite of the zeal of men like cardinal Damianus, it was popular among the clergy. Towards the latter end of the thirteenth century, a French dominican friar, Jacques de Cessoles, made the game the subject of a moral work, entitled _Moralitas de Scaccario_, which became very popular in later times, was published in a French version by Jean de Vignay, and translated from this French version into English, by Caxton, in his “Boke of Chesse,” so celebrated among bibliographers. To the age of Jacques de Cessoles belongs an Anglo-Norman metrical treatise on chess, of which several copies are preserved in manuscript (the one I have used is in MS. Reg. 13 A. xviii. fol. 161, v^o), and which presents us with the first collection of games. These games are distinguished by quaint names, like those given to the old dances; such as _de propre confusion_ (one’s own confusion), _ky perde, sey sauve_ (the loser wins), _ky est larges, est sages_ (he that is liberal is wise), _meschief fet hom penser_ (misfortune makes a man reflect), _la chace de ferce et de chivaler_ (the chace of the queen and the knight), _de dames et de damyceles_ (ladies and damsels), _la batalie de rokes_ (the battle of the rooks), and the like. It is quite unnecessary to attempt to point out the numerous allusions to the game of chess during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, when it continued to be extremely popular. Chaucer, in one of his minor poems, the “Boke of the Duchesse,” introduces himself in a dream as playing at chess with Fortune, and speaks of false moves, as though dishonest tricks were sometimes practised in the game. He tells us,-- _At chesse with me she gan to pleye,_ _With hir fals draughtes_ (moves) _dyvers _She staale on me, and toke my fers_ (queen); _And whanne I saugh my fers awaye,_ _Allas! I kouthe no lenger playe,_ _But seyde, “Farewel, swete! ywys,_ _And farewel al that ever ther ys!”_ _Therwith Fortune seyde, “Chek here!”_ _And “mate” in the myd poynt of the chekkere_ (chess-board), _With a powne_ (pawn) _errante, allas!_ _Ful craftier to pleye she was_ _Than Athalus, that made the game_ _First of the chesse, so was hys name._ --ROBERT BELL’S Chaucer, vol. vi. p. 157.