Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-12-30

of battle.
A brief account Of the sole5nnities observed
on the occasion of Judicial ducls may prove
interesting. In civil trial Of writ of right
by which 1t was sought to obtain possession
Of lands or tenements, in the occupation of
another-the tenant pleaded the general Is
sue that is to say, that he had more night to
hold than the demandant had to recover. and
offered to prove it by the body Of his cham
pion This offer vas accepted, the champion |
was produced, who, throwing down lis glove /
as gage or pledge, waged or stipulated bat |
tie with the champion Of the opposing party !
The latter accepted TIE challenge by picking
up the glove,
a piece of ground, sixty feet square, was
set out, enclosed with lists, with seats erected
for the Judges Of the Court Of Common Pleas;
who presided at these trials il their full scar
let robes, and bar vas prepared for the lear
ned geants-at-law. As soon as the Court
had assembled, at sun-rising, proclamation
was made for the parties and their champi-
ons. These were introduced by two knights,
and dressed in coats Of armor, with rex san
dals, bare-leggeI from the knee downwards,
bare headed, and with bare arms to the el-
bows. The weapons they were furnished
with, though formidable. were not deadly
Indeed a fatal termination TO these civi! com
bats was rarely if ever knoEn. They were
armed only with batons, or stayes CT an eli
long, and each carried fouc-coruercd leath-
orn shield.
On their arrival in the lists. the champion
OF the tenant took bis adversary by the hand,
and made oath that the tenemeuts in dispute
sere not the property Of the demandaut, the
champion Of the cl aimant in precisely the same
form, swore in answer that they were. Next,
both champions took IN oath that they had
not made use Of any sorcery or enchantinent
to assist them ia the igat. The usual form
Of this was as follows Hear this, yc JUS
tees, that have this day neither eat nor
: drank, nor have upon me neither bones,
stones, nor grass c. nor any euchantment,
sorcery Or witchcra;t, whereby the law Of God
may be abased. or the law Of the devil may
be exalted. So help ne God and his Saints. .
Then the tigh5 commenced, and tLey were
bound TO fight the whole day through, until
t he stars appeared. or unt.l oae was beaten
IF the victory could be achieved either by III,
death ola champion "a very rare occurrence
, or by either proving recycant, that IS b. yiel
. ding, and pronouncing the horrible word era
ven, word Of no absolute lneauing, but,
says BiacGsto5e. "a horrible word indeed t
= the yanquished champion, since as a punish
T. ment TO him for forfei,ing the lands of hi
t principal by prOaouncing that shameful word
= be Is deemed as 4 rccreant atHitterc iberaI
: egem, that IS to become Infamous, being sup
posed by the event to be foresworn, and there
] fore never to be put upon jury or admittc
., as witness in any cause ~
: The proceedings in criminal cases wer
Y very sinilar to the abeve, only the oaths
" the two combatants we're much more strikin
and solemn. Blackstone gives the followin
-e as the form; the accused party holding tt
d Billie in his right hand, and his antagonist
- hand in the other, said =
Of Hear this, oh, man whom I holl by Il
ef hand, who calest thyself John by the nan
.e OF baptism, that [, who call myself Thorn.
e.: by the name of baptism, did not falolious
B. murder thy father, William by name, nor a
le any way guilty of the said felony. 50 help n
or God and the Saints. AID this | will defer
-y against thee BY my body as this court sba
or award
lie The aecuscr answered in the same fern
ht making cath to his antagonist that he was pc
SO jurcd, which he will defend with bis bod
Il. &c, as before. The same weapons were er
Cd ployed, and the same oaths. against apule
a, and sorcery as in civil combat If the ace
&C. sed party yielded, he was ordered to be han
II ed Immediately; but, if he could vanqui
y his opponent, or maintain his ground fro
is sunrise to starlight, he was acquitted. T
sc same penalties Of infamy aud loss of citize
IS, ship awaited the accuser if lie yielded, as +
he to the lot Of the recrcant champion; IN al,
I'D ton to which, the victor could recover dan
Ter ges for the false accusation.
Ter Such were the laws which regulated
ed old institution OF the wager OF battle But
in these things have passed away and it is |
M now for poor unlettered roughs assembled
street cornors, or disputiDg in their ia proc
of and for duellists, to fight by way of Prov
to the best man. Yet not entirely so, either.
fa- When despotic sovereign bent on SELF
iy, grandisement lays claim to territories not
or own when other nations interfere, and
of him he has no right to back his claims. ,
ere when at last the question is put to the dr.
la arbitrement of war-what is this after ali
Get gigantic fight to prove vhieh IS the hct