AChristiangentlemanofSevillesentachallengetoaMoorishcavalier，offeringtoproveagainsthim，withwhateverweaponshemightchoose，thatthereligionofJesusChristwasholyanddivine，andthatofMahometimpiousanddamnable。TheSpanishprelatesdidnotchoosethatChristianityshouldbecompromisedwithintheirjurisdictionbytheresultofanysuchcombat，andtheycommandedtheknight，underpainofexcommunication，towithdrawthechallenge。
　　Thesameauthorrelates，thatunderOthoIaquestionaroseamongjurisconsults，viz。whethergrandchildren，whohadlosttheirfather，shouldshareequallywiththeirunclesinthepropertyoftheirgrandfather，atthedeathofthelatter。Thedifficultyofthisquestionwasfoundsoinsurmountable，thatnoneofthelawyersofthatdaycouldresolveit。Itwasatlastdecreed，thatitshouldbedecidedbysinglecombat。Twochampionswereaccordinglychosen；onefor，andtheotheragainst，theclaimsofthelittleones。Afteralongstruggle，thechampionoftheuncleswasunhorsedandslain；anditwas，therefore，decided，thattherightofthegrandchildrenwasestablished，andthattheyshouldenjoythesameportionoftheirgrandfather’spossessionsthattheirfatherwouldhavedonehadhebeenalive。
　　Uponpretexts，justasfrivolousasthese，duelscontinuedtobefoughtinmostofthecountriesofEuropeduringthewholeofthefourteenthandfifteenthcenturies。Amemorableinstanceoftheslightnessofthepretextonwhichamancouldbeforcedtofightadueltothedeath，occursintheMemoirsofthebraveConstable，DuGuesclin。Theadvantagehehadobtained，inaskirmishbeforeRennes，againstWilliamBrembre，anEnglishcaptain，sopreyedonthespiritsofWilliamTroussel，thechosenfriendandcompanionofthelatter，thatnothingwouldsatisfyhimbutamortalcombatwiththeConstable。
　　TheDukeofLancaster，towhomTrousselappliedforpermissiontofightthegreatFrenchman，forbadethebattle，asnotwarrantedbythecircumstances。TrousselneverthelessburnedwithafiercedesiretocrosshisweaponwithDuGuesclin，andsoughteveryoccasiontopickaquarrelwithhim。Havingsogoodawillforit，ofcoursehefoundaway。ArelativeofhishadbeentakenprisonerbytheConstable，inwhosehandsheremainedtillhewasabletopayhisransom。Trousselresolvedtomakeaquarreloutofthis，anddespatchedamessengertoDuGuesclin，demandingthereleaseofhisprisoner，andofferingabond，atadistantdate，forthepaymentoftheransom。DuGuesclin，whohadreceivedintimationofthehostilepurposesoftheEnglishman，sentbackword，thathewouldnotaccepthisbond，neitherwouldhereleasehisprisoner，untilthefullamountofhisransomwaspaid。Assoonasthisanswerwasreceived，TrousselsentachallengetotheConstable，demandingreparationfortheinjuryhehaddonehishonour，byrefusinghisbond，andofferingamortalcombat，tobefoughtthreestrokeswiththelance，threewiththesword，andthreewiththedagger。DuGuesclin，althoughillinbedwiththeague，acceptedthechallenge，andgavenoticetotheMarshald’Andreghem，theKing’sLieutenant-GeneralinLowerNormandy，thathemightfixthedayandtheplaceofcombat。TheMarshalmadeallnecessaryarrangements，uponconditionthathewhowasbeatenshouldpayahundredflorinsofgoldtofeastthenoblesandgentlemenwhowerewitnessesoftheencounter。
　　TheDukeofLancasterwasveryangrywithhiscaptain，andtoldhim，thatitwouldbeashametohisknighthoodandhisnation，ifheforcedonacombatwiththebraveDuGuesclin，atatimewhenhewasenfeebledbydiseaseandstretchedonthecouchofsuffering。Upontheserepresentations，Troussel，ashamedofhimself，sentnoticetoDuGuesclinthathewaswillingtopostponethedueluntilsuchtimeasheshouldbeperfectlyrecovered。DuGuesclinreplied，thathecouldnotthinkofpostponingthecombat，afterallthenobilityhadreceivednoticeofit；thathehadsufficientstrengthleft，notonlytomeet，buttoconquersuchanopponentashewas；andthat，ifhedidnotmakehisappearanceinthelistsatthetimeappointed，hewouldpublishhimeverywhereasamanunworthytobecalledaknight，ortowearanhonourableswordbyhisside。TrousselcarriedthishaughtymessagetotheDukeofLancaster，whoimmediatelygavepermissionforthebattle。
　　Onthedayappointed，thetwocombatantsappearedinthelists，inthepresenceofseveralthousandspectators。DuGuesclinwasattendedbythefloweroftheFrenchnobility，includingtheMarshaldeBeaumanoir，OlivierdeMauny，BertranddeSaintPern，andtheViscountdelaBelliere，whiletheEnglishmanappearedwithnomorethanthecustomaryretinueoftwoseconds，twosquires，twocoutilliers，ordaggermen，andtwotrumpeters。ThefirstonsetwasunfavourabletotheConstable:hereceivedsoheavyablowonhisshield-arm，thathefellforwardtotheleft，uponhishorse’sneck，and，beingweakenedbyhisfever，wasnearlythrowntotheground。Allhisfriendsthoughthecouldneverrecoverhimself，andbegantodeplorehisillfortune；butDuGuesclincollectedhisenergiesforadecisiveeffort，and，atthesecondcharge，aimedablowattheshoulderofhisenemy，whichfelledhimtotheearth，mortallywounded。Hethensprangfromhishorse，swordinhand，withtheintentionofcuttingofftheheadofhisfallenfoe，whentheMarshalD’Andreghemthrewagoldenwandintothearena，asasignalthathostilitiesshouldcease。DuGuesclinwasproclaimedthevictor，amidthejoyousacclamationsofthecrowd，andretiring，leftthefieldtothemeanercombatants，whowereafterwardstomakesportforthepeople。FourEnglishandasmanyFrenchsquiresfoughtforsometimewithpointlesslances，whentheFrench，gainingtheadvantage，thesportsweredeclaredatanend。
　　InthetimeofCharlesVI，aboutthebeginningofthefifteenthcentury，afamousduelwasorderedbytheParliamentofParis。TheSieurdeCarrougesbeingabsentintheHolyLand，hisladywasviolatedbytheSieurLegris。Carrouges，onhisreturn，challengedLegristomortalcombat，forthetwofoldcrimeofviolationandslander，inasmuchashehaddeniedhisguilt，byassertingthattheladywasawillingparty。Thelady’sasseverationsofinnocencewereheldtobenoevidencebytheParliament，andtheduelwascommandedwithalltheceremonies。“Onthedayappointed，“saysBrantome，[MemoiresdeBrantometouchantlesDuels。]“theladycametowitnessthespectacleinherchariot；buttheKingmadeherdescend，judgingherunworthy，becauseshewascriminalinhiseyestillherinnocencewasproved，andcausedhertostanduponascaffoldtoawaitthemercyofGodandthisjudgmentbythebattle。Afterashortstruggle，theSieurdeCarrougesoverthrewhisenemy，andmadehimconfessboththerapeandtheslander。Hewasthentakentothegallowsandhangedinthepresenceofthemultitude；whiletheinnocenceoftheladywasproclaimedbytheheralds，andrecognizedbyherhusband，theKing，andallthespectators。“
　　Numerousbattles，ofasimilardescription，constantlytookplace，untiltheunfortunateissueofoneencounterofthekindledtheFrenchKing，HenryII，todeclaresolemnly，thathewouldneveragainpermitanysuchencounter，whetheritrelatedtoacivilorcriminalcase，orthehonourofagentleman。
　　Thismemorablecombatwasfoughtintheyear1547。FrancoisdeVivonne，LordofLaChataigneraie，andGuydeChabot，LordofJarnac，hadbeenfriendsfromtheirearlyyouth，andwerenotedatthecourtofFrancisIforthegallantryoftheirbearingandthemagnificenceoftheirretinue。Chataigneraie，whoknewthathisfriend’smeanswerenotveryample，askedhimoneday，inconfidence，howitwasthathecontrivedtobesowellprovided？Jarnacreplied，thathisfatherhadmarriedayoungandbeautifulwoman，who，lovingthesonfarbetterthanthesire，suppliedhimwithasmuchmoneyashedesired。LaChataigneraiebetrayedthebasesecrettotheDauphin，theDauphintotheKing，theKingtohiscourtiers，andthecourtierstoalltheiracquaintance。InashorttimeitreachedtheearsoftheoldLorddeJarnac，whoimmediatelysentforhisson，anddemandedtoknowinwhatmannerthereporthadoriginated，andwhetherhehadbeenvileenoughnotonlytocarryonsuchaconnexion，buttoboastofit？DeJarnacindignantlydeniedthathehadeversaidso，orgivenreasontotheworldtosayso，andrequestedhisfathertoaccompanyhimtocourt，andconfronthimwithhisaccuser，thathemightseethemannerinwhichhewouldconfoundhim。Theywentaccordingly，andtheyoungerDeJarnac，enteringaroomwheretheDauphin，LaChataigneraie，andseveralcourtierswerepresent，exclaimedaloud，“Thatwhoeverhadasserted，thathemaintainedacriminalconnexionwithhismother-in-law，wasaliarandacoward！“EveryeyewasturnedtotheDauphinandLaChataigneraie，whenthelatterstoodforward，andasserted，thatDeJarnachadhimselfavowedthatsuchwasthefact，andhewouldextortfromhislipsanotherconfessionofit。Acaselikethiscouldnotbemetorrebuttedbyanylegalproof，andtheroyalcouncilorderedthatitshouldbedecidedbysinglecombat。TheKing，however，sethisfaceagainsttheduel[AlthoughFrancisshowedhimselfinthiscaseanenemytoduelling，yet，inhisowncase，hehadnotthesameobjection。EveryreaderofhistorymustrememberhisanswertothechallengeoftheEmperorCharlesV。TheEmperorwrotethathehadfailedinhisword，andthathewouldsustaintheirquarrelsingle-handedagainsthim。Francisreplied，thathelied——
　　qu’ilenavaitmentiparlagorge，andthathewasreadytomeethiminsinglecombatwheneverandwhereverhepleased。]andforbadethemboth，underpainofhishighdispleasure，toproceedanyfurtherinthematter。ButFrancisdiedinthefollowingyear，andtheDauphin，nowHenryII，whowashimselfcompromised，resolvedthatthecombatshouldtakeplace。Thelistswerepreparedinthecourt-yardofthechateauofSt。Germain-en-Laye，andthe10thofJuly1547wasappointedfortheencounter。Thecartelsofthecombatants，whicharepreservedinthe“MemoiresdeCastelnau，“wereasfollow:——
　　“CartelofFrancoisdeVivonne，LordofLaChataigneraie。
　　“Sire，“HavinglearnedthatGuyChabotdeJarnac，beinglatelyatCompeigne，asserted，thatwhoeverhadsaidthatheboastedofhavingcriminalintercoursewithhismother-in-law，waswickedandawretch，——I，Sire，withyourgood-willandpleasure，doanswer，thathehaswickedlylied，andwilllieasmanytimesashedenieshavingsaidthatwhichIaffirmhedidsay；forIrepeat，thathetoldmeseveraltimes，andboastedofit，thathehadsleptwithhismother-in-law。
　　“FrancoisdeVivonne。“
　　TothiscartelDeJarnacreplied:——
　　“Sire，“Withyourgoodwillandpermission，Isay，thatFrancoisdeVivonnehasliedintheimputationwhichhehascastuponme，andofwhichIspoketoyouatCompeigne。I，therefore，entreatyou，Sire，mosthumbly，thatyoubepleasedtograntusafairfield，thatwemayfightthisbattletothedeath。
　　“GuyChabot。“
　　Thepreparationswereconductedonascaleofthegreatestmagnificence，theKinghavingintimatedhisintentionofbeingpresent。LaChataigneraiemadesureofthevictory，andinvitedtheKingandahundredandfiftyoftheprincipalpersonagesofthecourttosupwithhimintheevening，afterthebattle，inasplendidtent，whichhehadpreparedattheextremityofthelists。DeJarnacwasnotsoconfident，thoughperhapsmoredesperate。Atnoon，onthedayappointed，thecombatantsmet，andeachtookthecustomaryoath，thatheborenocharmsoramuletsabouthim，ormadeuseofanymagic，toaidhimagainsthisantagonist。Theythenattackedeachother，swordinhand。LaChataigneraiewasastrong，robustman，andoverconfident；DeJarnacwasnimble，supple，andpreparedfortheworst。
　　Thecombatlastedforsometimedoubtful，untilDeJarnac，overpoweredbytheheavyblowsofhisopponent，coveredhisheadwithhisshield，and，stoopingdown，endeavouredtomakeamendsbyhisagilityforhisdeficiencyofstrength。InthiscrouchingpostureheaimedtwoblowsattheleftthighofLaChataigneraie，whohadleftituncovered，thatthemotionofhislegmightnotbeimpeded。Eachblowwassuccessful，and，amidtheastonishmentofallthespectators，andtothegreatregretoftheKing，LaChataigneraierolledoveruponthesand。Heseizedhisdagger，andmadealastefforttostrikeDeJarnac；buthewasunabletosupporthimself，andfellpowerlessintothearmsoftheassistants。Theofficersnowinterfered，andDeJarnacbeingdeclaredthevictor，felldownuponhisknees，uncoveredhishead，and，claspinghishandstogether，exclaimed:——“ODomine，nonsumdignus！“