A quaint question I had lately: what is the earliest known appearance of the “Fool’s Mate”? I refer to both the name and the move sequence.
A quick search with Google Books revealed a reference dated to 1672 in The famous game of chesse-play by Arthur Saul and John Barbier.
Here is an image of the relevant text portion.
Transcript:
Of a Mate to bee given at two Draughts.
CHAP. XX.
Meeting with an eaſie Gameſter, thou mightſt likewiſe give him a Mate at two draughts, if he ſhould chance to play thus: Firſt, to remove his Kings Biſhops Pawne, a ſingle draught (which I told thee before, was ill to play for the firſt draught) thou thy Kings Pawne, a ſingle remove: he for his ſecond draught, his Kings knights pawn, advanced a double remove: thou bringing forth thy Queene, into the Fifth Houſe of thy Kings Rooks file, giveſt him Mate at thy ſecond draught: which Mate for him that hath it given him, may well (if the ſchollers Mate, be cal’d the peſants Mate) be termed the fools Mate.