The first is of the eschequer
The seconde of the yssue and progression of the kynge
The thirde of the yssue of the quene
The fourth is of the yssue of the alphyns
The fifth is of the yssue of the knyghtes
The sixty chapitre of the yssue of the rooks
The seuenth is of the meuynge & yssue of the comyn
peple
And the eyght and laste chapitre is of the epilegacion.
And of the recapitulacion of all these forsaid chapitres.
[Illustration]
This first chapiter of the first tractate sheweth
under what kynge the play of the chesse was founden
and maad.:.
Amonge all the euyll condicions and signes that may
be in a man the first and y’e grettest is whan
he feereth not/ ne dredeth to displese and make wroth
god by synne/ and the peple by lyuyng disordynatly/
whan he reccheth not/ ner taketh hede unto them that
repreue hym and his vices/ but fleeth them/ In suche
wyse as dide the emperour Nero/ whiche dide do slee
his maister seneque For as moche as he might not suffre
to be repreuid and taught of hym In lyke wyse was
somtyme a kynge in babiloine that was named Evilmerodach
a Jolye man with oute Justice and so cruell that he
dyde do hewe his faders body in thre honderd pieces/
And gaf hit to ete and deuour to thre honderd birdes
that men calle wultres And was of suche condicion
as was Nero/ And right well resemblid and was lyke
unto his fader Nabogodonosor/ whiche on a tyme wold
do flee alle the sage and wyse men of babylonye/ For
as moche as they coude not telle hym his dreme that
he had dremed on a nyght and had forgoten hit lyke
as it is wreton in the bible in the book of danyell/
Under this kynge than Evilmerodach was this game and
playe of the chesse founden/ Trewe it is that some
men wene/ that this playe was founden in the tyme
of the bataylles & siege of troye But that is not soo
For this playe cam to the playes of the caldees as
dyomedes the greek sayth and reherceth That amonge
the philosophrs was the most renomed playe amonge all
other playes/ And after that/ cam this playe in the
tyme of Alixandre the grete in to Egipte And so unto
alle the parties toward the south/ And the cause wherfore
thys playe was so renomed shall be sayd in the thirde
chapitre.
[Illustration]
This second chapitre of the first tra3tate sheweth
who fonde first the playe of the chesse.
Thys playe fonde a phylosopher of Thoryent whiche
was named in Caldee Exerses or in greke philometor/
which is as moche to saye in english as he that loveth
Justice and mesure/ And this philosopher was renomed
gretly amonge the grekes and them of Athenes whiche
were good clerkys and philosophers also renomed of
theyr connynge. This philosopher was so Juste
and trewe that he had leuyr dye/ than to lyue longe
and be a fals flaterer wyth the sayd kynge. For
