Duels in the Days of Yore.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XXI, 23 November 1901, Page 996

Duels in the Days of Yore.

The duel, which we associate especially with France and Italy, was probably derived from the barbarous north. Nor did it at the outset touch the point of honour. It was rather on appeal from the jv.rlgment of a

man to the ju.ljrinent of an all-wise Providence. The ordeal by duel, in fact, was a roug-h-and-ready kind or justice with divine sanction. If u man had been wronged by his neignbour he challenged him to mortal combat, he accepted the result without question, and if death did not accompany defeat the gallows awaitea the miscreant who was worsted in the fray. And. as became an affair oi

justice, the duel was solemnly arranged and solemnly attended. The Kins', who permitted it, commonlywitnessed it with all his court, so ♦ hat it was often a stately pag-eant. Such a duel took place in 1:49 between the Baron d’Ag-uerre and the Lord or Fendi Iles. Henri 11. of France forbade it. but the Due de Bouillon granted the lists in his own country, amt the battle took place at Sedan. The

cause of the quarrel is immaterial, and the duel is chiefly remarkable tor the truculence which inspired the Lord of Fendilles to prepare a gibbet and a fire for his adversary when he should have vanquished him. But priiie had its fall, the Baron d’Aguerre was victorious, the gibbet was never used, and we are left with a strang-e comment upon the manners of the fifteenth century. More remarkable still, because it lies outside the rules of chivalry, was the fight between two tailors. These persons, two common journeymen, were not permitted any other weapons than wooden clubs ana triangular shields, and were compelled by strict ordinance to fight to the death. As they entered the lists they ent an odd figure. They- were shaved and barefooted. Their nails were pared, and their leathern clothes were tightly sewed upon them. Before they began to fight they tier manded grease, wood ashes and sugar —grease for the besmearing of their garments, wood ashes that their hands might be better able to hold their clubs, and sugar to allay their thirst. The fight, of course, was a piece of crude brutality; the victor tore out the eyes of his victim and flung him over the stockade for the hangman to finish on his gibbet.— “London Spectator.”