Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-11-29
selected =.
Prom hs Msgashs n, Nrr To,k fanaal Zoe 1871.
THE WIDOW ORDEAL

1918 'FA NNFHf iNf hfN'Hi fi AN "a iNNfF-
icct %a2peals we're made "a hcateh la darn aud
doubtful eases Of stlroctous aecussi tou.
The accused Wss required 10 plunge his hand In
boiling ol. or TO walk across rcd.bu' plourhshafcs.
~ io maintain his Innocence 10 stmed eight ana tie
ted held. ia pst.aa or b. Champion. lf he passed
th'so "fd"sls unsostbed. he aiopd acquitted. aud
TIE result was regarded as a verdict itu,u uu high.
ltI somewhat ronsrksble that, in the gallant
age IT %chi,aliy. the gcntlcr sex should have been
mast frequently the subjects or these rude tua}s
and prrllous ordrsls and that, too. when s-sailcd
- their most delicate and Vulnerable part-iler
honor.
Ia The present yer, old aud enlightened sge Of
The world, when the huuan intellect Is perfectly
competontto The management Of rs oWu concerns.
aud needs 40 specisi ln'etposiuou at heaven IN It's
affairs, the lual by jury has superseded these super.
human ordetls aud the uuenimiiy Of twelve dis
cordant binds is necessary TO constitute g verdict.
Such n unanimliy would, at Grst sight. appear also
to require a miracle from heaven bat II Is prodn.
ced by a simple device Of human ingenuity. The
twelve jurors are locked up il their box, there to
fast until abstinence shall have 30 clarified their in-
,cllects that the whole Iirring pane can discern he
ruit, and concur IA 3 unanimous decision. One
point is certain, that truth is one, aud 10 mmuiablc
until The jurors all agree, they cannot all be
right.
II IL not our intention, however. 30 discuss this
great Judicial point, or To question the aVo~ed gu
perlorIly of the mode Of investigating truth, adop-
ted IA This autiqnaicd and very sngacious era. j
II our object merely 10 exhibit to the curious Tca
der, one Of The most memorable cases of judicial
combat We find 10 the annals of Spain. 1t occurred
al The bright commencement Of the reign, and IN
the Youthful, and, as yet, plorious days Of Roderick
ofGnth who subsequently, tarnlshcd Lls fame at
home by his n,isdeeds, and, finally, lost his Kingdom
and his he On the banks of the G0adelele, ia that
disastrous battle. which gaze up Spain u conquest
to the Moors. The following Is the ito.y
There Was, once upon a limo. a certain duke OF
i.orra,ne; Y Ne Mss ~seh9oWis5se5 ihT1qfgth e. cI nS
lived. In fact, there was not any one measure that
he adopted that did not aslonisb all his prvy com
scllors and gentlemen IN attendance aud he said
80 many witty ID ngs. ali made such sensible
speeches, that his high chamberlain had his jaws
dislora'ed from laughing with delight at the one,
and gaping with wonder Mt he other.
This very U,itV and exceedingly wisc puteutalo
lived Tor half 4 century In sugle ble-sedness When
his c~our'icrs began to ihiHs ii a great pity So wI,e
and wealthy q prince should not have a child a!)cT
his own likeness, 10 inherit hts talents and domains;
so they urged him must respectfully 'o marry, rr
the good Of his estate, and tic welfare Of has sub
jects.
He turned their advice over IN his mind some four
( or I've years, and then sending euilssaries to al parts,
he summoned to his cour, all the beautiful maldens
in the land who wefe smbippus al shifIug a ducal
crown. The court was soon crowded with beG =
ties Of all styles and cumglcxons. Gom smong
whom he chose one 10 the pur'esi bHddlag Of tier
charms. oud acknowledged ty al he gentlemen to
be unparalleled ior grace anc l1volmess. The
courtiers ektollcd ,he duke to the SKI : for making
such a choice. aud considered u another proof Of
h, great wisdom. The duke said they, 10
waxing II lirlle too old Ihe domseI, on the other
hand. is a little too Young If one il lacking in
wears, the other has a supersjuadaHcc. thus a Nsut
on one side Is balanced by an cxcess On the 1Ihet,
and the result Is a well-assoflod marriage"
Tho duke, a. Is often tie case Nah wise men.
who msrry rather late, and take daGscls rather
Vuuihul 70 Their bosoms, became duaungiy fond OF
bis N,ie, and indaiged her in s. lhugs. lie was.
consequently, cried up by he sublscts - general.
md bi The ladies' IN particular a. O pattern for hus-
bands; aud, 10 the eut. fro tie vonte-'el dociir
W'h which 30 Submitted 70 be- refined oud checked,
acquired the smiahlc 6nd cu,iable urpeilalou uf
duke Phillberi The wIfe-rdjen.
There was oa!y one thing that disturbed tie
cnuIurai felicity ~ tn, paragon of tp-bauds tho
8 consiIeuJlc time elapsed ater Ls marfisge, be
su.l remained without auy prospect OF On helr. The
good duke lett 40 means uatred To- propuiaje tea
yea be made VOWS and pilgrimage, be- fss'ed uud
be- paved, but to 40 purpose. The o0uuists we're
oil ns'onfrECd az Tie stoumslauee. They could
not account fof o.. Matte 'te mruucst pcafsnt lu
The couuity tad sturdy bfsis bg d5z,n-. ohout
putting ug puyer, me dokv aofo hia.eif 10 skio
ans baoe ~iiL pcnsnoes end iastnph, get seemed
farther Of from h,s object than ever.
Al length. the woub, puGce irt dangerously 49,
sud Cii l. end approaching. lie looked ~,th sn'-
roafal ewes upon bic yosug snd tender spouse who
buag over Lm vita iesrs and -,bbins-. Alss p
-4i3 be-. .fssr, &C. econ G. .o- i.1.a ]rouiafai ese-
and sorrow lies lightly 20 . youtbtal A,si;. lu O.
.rff.s uAicI she'll be- eco more cod 90 i4c 1rms "
saatber husband ih,n 1it forge, him WHO hss .oy
"a thee So 'eLdert.
Never ne.ef % cued the ouiche,s. ,Aesef
vii clea,e o. so.sser Alas. lhst ny lord
,hoaid th.ak ue csfs5ie u surh iscousisncY q
The nsrhy I'D wIts-ndden e-Ae ~ss sllthee by
her sssufanees for he eoUid noi endure tie tbo'ts
of giving her W even after he shoe4 be desd.-
san be wished 10 haze some pledge Of her endat-
ing Consistency.