The Game and Play of Chesse

While the blackletter type is not easy for modern eyes to read, this 1474 book was one of the first works to be printed in English. Caxton includes a translation of Jacobus de Cessolis’ 13th-century political treatise "The Book of the Morals of Men and the Duties of Nobles and Commoners, on the Game of Chess." The title is deceiving, however: this book contains no board diagrams or instructions for play. Instead, the text uses chess as a metaphor to teach proper moral roles in late medieval society. The king and queen rule the realm while bishops enforce justice, knights protect the peace, and rooks act as emissaries of the king's will. Pawns are envisioned as tradesman ranging from farmers to innkeepers, moneychangers, doctors, notaries, blacksmiths and other professionals and artisans.