The Game of Chess

I, Brother Jacob of Casalis Jacobus de Cessolis (c. 1250 – c. 1322), a Dominican monk famous for using chess as a metaphor for medieval society., of the Order of Preachers The Dominicans, a Catholic religious order known for their intellectual focus and preaching.,
have been persuaded by the prayers of the brothers and
secular students and also other noble laypeople
who have heard me preach on the game
called Chess original: "schachzabel," derived from the Latin "scaccarium.", so that I have made
this book about it. And I have brought it
together for human customs and as a teaching for the
noble human race, and I have named it
the Book of Human Customs and the Duties of Nobles.
In this same book, I have set forth how many
parts the book has and how many parts each
chapter has, so that one may more easily
find within it what one wishes to have. The book
has four parts. The first part is why the
chess game was invented. The first chapter of the
first part is under which king the game was
found. The first chapter of the second part is
about the King’s form on the chessboard
and about his conduct and what pertains to the King.
The second is about the Queen, how she is
formed and also about her conduct. The third is about
the Elders original: "alten." In medieval chess, these pieces (the Alfins) were the precursors to the modern Bishop and were often depicted as judges or wise men. and also about their conduct. The fourth is about
the Knights and also about their conduct and their
duties. The fifth is about the form of the Rooks original: "Roch," representing the King's vicars or regional governors.
and about their duties and also about their conduct.
The first chapter of the third part is about the
Peasants original: "pawlauten," referring to laborers or common farmers.; the second is about the Smiths; the
third is about the Wool-workers; the fourth is