Hi Bernard,
Here’s a question to history fans and yourself. I volunteer at a local museum and we’ve got an Alice in Wonderland exhibition located in the first chamber. Those familiar with ‘Alice through the Looking Glass’ know the story and characters are based on the game of chess. However, I’ve heard that there was a variation in the rules: it could be that the king was once the most powerful albeit important piece, but this probably changed to the queen during Elizabeth I’s reign. But I’m also wondering if, during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Bishop piece was perhaps relegated to the four corners of the board, thus ‘limiting’ their movement (influential power) from the beginning? Any conclusion/feedback from Bernard or fellow history fans welcome!
Robert Douglas