Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/220

 200 Hijlory of T>077iejlic Manners " Ogier le Danois," this fcene is reprelented in an illumination which is copied in our cut No. 139. Similar incidents are rather common in thefe old romances. In that of " Parife la Ducheffe/' her young fon, brought up as a foundling at the court of the king of Hungary, becomes an obje6t of jealoufy to the old nobles. Four of the fons of the latter confpire to murder him, and it is arranged that they fliall invite him to go and play at chefs with them in a retired cellar, and, having fecretly provided themfelves with knives, infult him, in order to draw him into a No. 139. A Siuarrel at Chefs. quarrel, and then ftab him to death. " Hugues," they faid, ''will you come with us to play at chefs ? you may gain a hundred francs on the gilt cheff-board, and at the fame time you will teach us chefs and dice 5 for certainly you know the games much better than any of us." Hugues feems to have been confcious of the frequency of quarrels ariling from the game, for it was not until they had promifed him that they would not feek any caufe of difpute, that he accepted their invitation. They then led him into the cellar, and fat down at the cheff-board. " He began by playing with the fon of duke Granier ; and each put down a hundred francs in coined money 3 but he had foon vanquilhed and mated them all, that not one of them was able to mate him:" — All