Of the chamber games enumerated in the foregoing extract from the romance of “Blonde of Oxford,” that of chess was no doubt looked upon as by far the most distinguished. To play well at chess was considered as a very important part of an aristocratic education. Thus, in the “Chanson de Geste” (metrical romance) of Parise la Duchessse, the son of the heroine, who was brought up by the king in his palace, had no sooner reached his fifteenth year, than “he was taught first his letters, until he had made sufficient progress in them, and then he learnt to play at tables and chess,” and learnt these games so well, “that no man in this world was able to mate him:”--

_Quant l’anfès ot xv. anz et compliz et passez,_ _Premiers aprist à lettres, tant qu’il en sot assez;_ _Puis aprist-il as tables et à eschas joier,_ _It n’a ome an cest monde qui l’en peust mater._ --Parise la Duchesse, p. 86.

A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages — Part 111

In this numerous cycle of romances, scenes in which kings and princes, as well as nobles, are represented as occupying their leisure with the game of chess, occur very frequently, and sometimes the game forms an important incident in the story. In “Garin le Loherain,” a messenger hurries to Bordeaux, and finds count Thiebaut playing at chess with Berengier d’Autri. Thiebaut is so much excited by his news, that he pushes the chess-board violently from him, and scatters the chess-men about the place--

A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages — Part 111

_Thiebaus l’oït, à pou n’enrage vis,_ _Li eschés boute, et le jeu espandit._ --Garin le Loherain, ii. 77.

A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages — Part 111

So, in the same romance, the emperor Pepin, arriving at his camp, had no sooner entered his tent than, having put on a loose tunic (_bliaut_), and a mantle, he called for a chess-board, and sat down to play--

_Eschés demande, si est au jeu assis._ --Ib., ii. 127.

Even Witikind, the king of the pagan Saxons, is represented as amusing himself with this game. When the messenger, who carried him news that Charlemagne was on the way to make war upon him, arrived at “Tremoigne,” the palace of the Saxon king, he found Witikind playing at chess with Escorfaus de Lutise, and the Saxon queen. Sebile, who was also well acquainted with the game, looking on--

_A lui joe as eschas Escorfaus de Lutise;_ _Sebile les esgarde, qi do jeu est aprise._ --Chanson des Saxons, i. 91.