Forbes thinks it probable that chess was known in Italy before
or during the ninth century, and suggests that it was probably
received there from the Saracens rather than the Greeks. The
story of Peter Damianus the Cardinal, (Ravenna) who lived 1007
to 1072, and his reproof of the Bishop for playing chess, is
given by both of the writers, Forbes and Linde.
NOTE. Swiss in vol. 11, page 77, on the authority of Verci, says
that the following adventure happened to a Bishop of Florence,
who, according to Ughelli (Ital Sac tem 3), was Gerard, who died
in 1061. It is told by Damianus, Bishop of Ostia and Cardinal in
his epistles, and is confirmed by Baronius and Lohner. These two
prelates were travelling together, and on a certain evening
when they arrived at their resting-place, Damianus withdrew to
the cell of a neighbouring priest, in order to spend the time in
a pious manner, but the Florentine played at chess all night
among seculars or laymen, in a large house of entertainment.
When in the morning the Cardinal was made acquainted with this,
he sharply reproved the prelate, who endeavoured to excuse
himself by saying that chess was not prohibited, like dice.
Dice, said he, are prohibited by the canon laws; chess is
tacitly permitted. To which the zealous Cardinal replied the
canons do not speak of chess, but both kinds of games are
expressed under the comprehensive name of Alea. Therefore, when
the canon prohibits the Alea, and does not expressly mention
chess, it is undoubtedly evident that both kinds of games,
expressed in one word and sentence, are thereby equally
condemned.
The Bishop who was very good-natured stood corrected, and
submitted cheerfully to the penance imposed on him by the
Cardinal, which was: that he should thrice repeat the psalter of
David, and wash the feet of twelve poor men, likewise bestowing
certain alms on them, and treating them to a good dinner, in
order that he might thus, for the glory of God and the benefit
of the poor, employ those hands which he had made use of in
playing the game.
It must have taken some considerable time before the game
became so common as to be played at houses of entertainment by
seculars or laymen.