title: A Game at Chess
variant_description: There are two issues of this edition. In 412b(i), the preliminaries contain verses in which the "Picture" is "plainly explained" [A1r] and an engraved title page [A2r]. In 412b(ii), the original half-sheet A was replaced by a cancel, which contains the "Prologue" [A1v] and the same explanatory verses [A2r]. See also Greg 
title_page_title: A GAME AT CHESSE. ... [in single column] A Game at Chesse is here displayde, | Betweene the <i>Blacke</i> and <i>White-House</i> made, | Wherein Crowne-thirsting Policy, | For the <i>Blacke-House</i> (by Falacy) | To the <i>White-Knight</i>, check, often giues, | And to some straites, him thereby driues; | The <i>Fat-Blacke-Bishop</i> help's also. | With faithlesse heart to giue the blow: | Yet (maugre all their craft) at length, | The <i>White Knight</i>, with wit-wondrous strength; | And circumspectiue Prudency, | Giues Check-mate by Discouery | To the <i>Black Knight</i>; and so at last | The game (thus) won, the <i>Black-House</i> cast | Into the Bagge, and therein shut, | Finde all their plumes and Cockes-combes cut. | Plaine-dealing (thus) by  wisedomes guide, | Defeats the cheats of Craft and Pride.
title_page_performance: As it was Acted nine Dayes together at the G<small>LOBE</small> on the <i>Bank-side</i>.
title_page_imprint: Printed. 1625.
stationer_entries_in_register: Mar 15, 1655: Transferred from Martha Harrison, the widow of John Harrison (4), to John Stafford (1) and William Gilbertson: "The Game att Chesse." [It is very unlikely that this entry refers to this play.]
stationer_additional_notes: For the printer of this edition, see Gary Taylor, "A Game At Chess: General Textual Introduction," in <i>Thomas Middleton and Early Modern Textual Culture</i>, 718-19.
transcript_modern_spelling: A game at chess as it was acted nine days together at the globe on the bankside a game at chess is here displayed between the black and white house made wherein crown-thirsting policy for the black house by fallacy to the white knight check often gives and to some straits him thereby drives the fat black bishop helps also with faithless heart to give the blow yet maugre all their craft at length the white knight with wit-wondrous strength and circumspective prudency gives checkmate by discovery to the black knight and so at last the game thus won the black house cast into the bag and therein shut find all their plumes and coxcombs cut plain dealing thus by wisdom's guide defeats the cheats of craft and pride