The Game of the Chesse (Caxton, facsimile)

...teach him and to show him the layout of the chessboard and the chess pieces original: "chesse meyne". He also intended to show him the manners and the conditions of a king, of the nobles, and of the common people, along with their duties original: "offyces", how they should be touched and moved, and how he should improve himself and become virtuous.

And when this king heard that the philosopher was reproving him, he demanded of him, upon pain of death, to tell him why original: "wherefore" he had invented and made this game.

The philosopher answered: "My very dear lord and king, the greatest thing that I desire is that you have in yourself a glorious and virtuous life. And I cannot see that happening unless you are educated and well-mannered; only then may you be beloved by your people. Thus, I desire that you have a different form of government than you have had, and that you first have lordship original: "seignourie"; meaning sovereign authority and mastery over yourself, just as you have over others by force rather than by right. Certainly, it is not right that a man be master over others and a commander when he cannot rule himself, nor ensure that his virtues dominate over his vices. For lordship by force and will alone cannot long endure.

Therefore, you may see one of the reasons why I have invented and made this game, which is to correct and reprove you for your tyranny and vicious living. For all kings ought especially to listen to their correctors and keep their corrections in mind. In the same way, Valerius Valerius Maximus, a Roman author of historical anecdotes relates that King Alexander Alexander the Great had a noble and renowned knight who said, in reproving Alexander, that he was too covetous—especially regarding the honors of the world. He said to him that if the gods had made...