According to Fitz-Stephen, "After dinner, all the youths go into the fields to play at the ball. The scholars of every school have their ball and bastion in their hands. The ancient and wealthy men of the city come forth on horseback to see the sport of the young men, and to take part of the pleasure, in beholding their agility." And till within the last few years: "... The humble play Of trap or football on a holiday, In Finsbury fields,"-- was sufficiently common in the neighbourhood of London and other places. See Brande's _Popular Antiquities_, vol. i. pp. 63-94. (Bohn's edition), and Hone's _Every-Day Book_, vol. i. pp. 244. 255-260.] _Vossioner; its Meaning._--In looking over a parcel of brass rubbings made some years since, I find the word _vossioner_ used, and not knowing its signification, I should be glad to be enlightened on the subject; but, in order to enable your readers to judge more correctly, I think it better to copy the whole of the epitaph in which the word occurs. The plate is in Ufton Church, near Southam, county Warwick; it measures eighteen inches in width by sixteen deep. "Here lyeth the boddyes of Richard Hoddomes, Parsson and Pattron and _Vossioner_ of the Churche and Parishe of Oufton, in the Countie of Warrike, who died one Mydsomer Daye, 1587. And Margerye his Wiffe w^{th} _her_ seven Childryn, as namelye, Richard, _John_, and _John_, Anne, Jane, Elizabeth, Ayles, _his_ iiii Daughters, _whose soule_ restethe with God." I give the epitaph _verbatim_, with its true orthography. There are some curious points in this epitaph. First, the date of the death of the clergyman only is given; second, the children are called _hers_, while the four daughters are _his_; and two of the sons bear the same Christian name, whilst only one _soul_ is said to rest with God. The family is represented kneeling. Above the inscription, and between the clergyman and his lady, is a desk, on which is represented two books lying open before them. J. B. WHITBORNE. [Vossioner seems to be corruption of the Italian _vossignor_, your lord, or the lord, _i.e._ owner or proprietor. Many similar words were introduced by the Italian ecclesiastics inducted into Church livings during the sixteenth century. The inscription is given in Dugdale's _Warwickshire_, vol. i. p. 358.] _The Game of Chess._--At what period was the noble game of chess introduced into the British Isles; and to whom are we indebted for its introduction among us? B. ASHTON. [The precise date of the introduction of this game into Britain is uncertain. What has been collected respecting it will be found in the Hon. Daines Barrington's paper in _Archæologia_, vol. ix. p. 28.; and in Hyde's treatise, _Mandragorias, seu Historia Shahiludii_. Oxoniæ, 1694.]