[From "_The Phoenix Nest. Built vp with the most rare and refined workes of Noble men, woorthy Knights, gallant Gentlemen, Masters of Arts, and braue Schollers," &c. "Set foorth by R. S. of the Inner Temple, Gentleman." 4to. London, by Iohn Iackson, 1593, page 28._] A secret many yeeres vnseene, In play at chesse, who knowes the game, First of the King, and then the Queene, Knight, Bishop, Rooke, and so by name, Of euerie Pawne I will descrie, The nature with the qualitie. THE KING. The King himselfe is haughtie care, Which ouerlooketh all his men, And when he seeth how they fare He steps among them now and then, Whom, when his foe presumes to checke, His seruants stand, to giue the necke. THE QUEENE. The Queene is queint, and quicke conceit, Which makes hir walke which way she list, And rootes them vp, that lie in wait To worke hir treason, ere she wist: Hir force is such against hir foes That whom she meetes, she ouerthrowes. THE KNIGHT. The Knight is knowledge how to fight Against his prince's enimies, He neuer makes his walke outright, But leaps and skips, in wilie wise, To take by sleight a traitrous foe, Might slilie seeke their ouerthrowe. THE BISHOP. The Bishop he is wittie braine, That chooseth crossest pathes to pace, And euermore he pries with paine, To see who seekes him most disgrace: Such straglers when he findes astraie He takes them vp, and throwes awaie. THE ROOKES. The Rookes are reason on both sides, Which keepe the corner houses still, And warily stand to watch their tides, By secret art to worke their will, To take sometime a theefe vnseene, Might mischiefe meane to King or Queene. THE PAWNES. The Pawne before the King, is peace, Which he desires to keepe at home, Practise, the Queene's, which doth not cease Amid the world abroad to roame, To finde, and fall upon each foe, Whereas his mistres meanes to goe. Before the Knight, is perill plast, Which he, by skipping ouergoes, And yet that Pawne can worke a cast, To ouerthrow his greatest foes; The Bishop's prudence, prieng still Which way to worke his master's will. The Rooke's poore Pawnes, are sillie swaines, Which seeldome serue, except by hap, And yet those Pawnes, can lay their traines, To catch a great man, in a trap: So that I see, sometime a groome May not be spared from his roome. THE NATURE OF THE CHESSE MEN. The King is stately, looking hie; The Queene doth beare like maiestie: The Knight is hardie, valiant, wise: The Bishop prudent and precise. The Rookes no raungers out of raie[CX], The Pawnes the pages in the plaie. LENVOY.