“I will give the major his revenge whenever he pleases,” said Mr. Seymour; “but as I well know how dearly the vicar loves an antiquarian anecdote, if he will listen I will furnish him with one that will be probably new to him. Do you observe the form of the chess-board, resembling, as you perceive, two folio volumes?” said Mr. Seymour. “The origin of it was this: Endes, bishop of Sully, forbade his clergy to play at chess. As they were resolved, however, not to obey the command, and yet did not dare to have a chess-board seen in their houses or cloisters, they had them bound and lettered as books, and called them their wooden gospels. These same monks had also drinking vessels bound to resemble the breviary, and were found drinking when it was supposed they were at prayers.” ----- Footnote 70: Many reasons have been assigned for this custom; the more commonly received opinion is, that it was intended as a token of the bridegroom having left off childish diversions, and entered on a more serious state of life; whence _nucibus relictis_, has passed into a proverb. This conjecture is favoured by Catullus:--           “Satis diu Lusisti nucibus. Lubet Jam servire Thalassio.” We have already stated, that _nuces_ were played with like our marbles; the custom, therefore, might be intended to express that the bridegroom had deserted his playthings. Footnote 71: “War’s harmless shape we sing, and boxen trains  Of youth, encount’ring on the _cedar_ plains.  How two tall kings, by different armour known,  Traverse the field, and combat for renown.” Footnote 72: ‘Ludus Latrunculorum;’ ludus, anglice dicitur _Draughts_, à trahendo calculos.--HYDE _de Ludis Orientalium._ Oxon, 1694. Footnote 73: Voltaire tells us that Charles XII. always lost the game at chess, from his eagerness to move his king, and to make greater use of him than of any of the other pieces. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XX. _The arrival of the populace at Osterley Park.--The commencement of the festivities.--Dancing on the Tight and Slack Rope.--Balancing.--Conjuring.--Optical illusions.--Various games.--The Penthalum.--The Banquet.--Grand display of Fire-works.--Conclusion._ Never had the rosy fingers of Aurora shown so much reluctance in unbarring the gates of the East, as on the morning of the Osterley Jubilee; at least, so thought about half a score peasants, who, fevered by anxiety and expectation, had arisen from their beds long before the break of day.