The Shasta courier., 1867-11-02
COURIER
Trial by Battle in the Early Ages.

UunnlIua, sister TO uardlcanute, king OF
England, was celebrated for beauty and
sanctity of manners she had been courted
in her fathers life time by the Emperor
Henry Ill. The lustre of this match gilded
all the woes which others easily foresaw must
arise in matrimony with a person of this
princes disposition. The humber crowds
OF admirers, because subjects, though they
were of the first rank were disdained and
the friends of Gunhilda thought she could
not be miserable if she was great. The
match, therefore, was Concluded between her
and the Emperor while Hardicanute. con-
ceiving he could not have fairer opportuni-
ty of displaying his magnifcence, ransacked
all nature and art to celebrate the nuptials.
This was done with such exquisite luxury.
with such memorable profusion, that it got
even into the songs of the bards of those
days; and was transmitted, by the rude
mlnstrels of the times, in lays which sur.
vived to the age of Westminster the histo-
rian. At last, the effusion of pomp and
luxury being over, the fair bride was sent to
her consort. But Henry took in such
draughts of love as intoxicated his brain
while Jealousy, prompted by conscious de.
merits, whispered to him, that so MANY
charms were not made for him alone. Sus.
those who found it more easy to sooth, than
to combat, the prepossessions of princes and,
at last, Imagination forming circumstances.
Gunhilda was accused of adultery. Such
accusations in those DAYS were too arbitrary
and too delicate to be handled in the common
way of evidence "a d defence to be suspected
was to be guilty; and nothing could wipe off
that guilt, but the precarious success of
single combat between two champions. one
for the accuser, and one for the accused.
The fair Gunhilda had, in all her numerous
train, only one Englishman his name, from
his diminutive size, was Mimecan he had
been bred about her own person, and was
an ocular witness to her purity of conyersa.
ton
The day of combat being come, a gigantic
champion for the accusation stepped into the
lists, and staggering about like another
Goliah, threw out his defances against the
power of living beauty. The wretched Gun.
hilda in vain cast round her fair eyes, and
unable to read, in the countenance of any
person present, one sentiment of manly
compassion for her fate, was Just fixing them
upon the prospect of death and infamv, when
the generous Englshman stepped forth. as
the champion of her honor lie was her
own page his years too tender to make it
suspicious that he had any motive for danger.
besides the vindication ofinjured innocence
and his person too diminutive for Gunhilda
ever to entertain a thought of him for a
champion. However, supplying weakness
with courage, and aiding courage by cool
dexterity, the beardless CHAMPION with
sword IN hand advanced against his enor- |
nous antagonist. The security of the latter
proved his destruction for endeavorinc, |
rather to tread out his adversary's life, than
to fight with him, Mimecan was tall enough |
to reach the giants hams, with his sword, |
and to cut them so, that his bulk came thun-
derlng to the ground; the gallant boy gave |
him his death wound then dividing his |
head from his body he laid it at the feet of
his lovely mistress.
While Gunhilda, with a soul truly royal, |
looked upon the event of this combat as her |
dellverance, her narrow-hearted lord consid- |
cred 1T as her vindication with open arms
he invited her to her former place in his |
heart; but she, at once abhorring the fury |
of his Jealousy, and disdaining the easiness |
OF his reconciliation, sought peace where it |
can best be found, in retirement from
worldly grandeur, with virtuous affections. !
In vain were menaces and Establishments
applied to shake this purpose OF her soul
she obtained divorce from his bed and per-
son, and died an illustrious example of inno-
cence triumphing over malice, and wisdom
innocence, by seasonable retreat |
from farther temptations, and therefore from
father dangers. My readers will not imag-
inc that have embellished the above nara.
tive, when | inform them, that, with the
variation of but a very few phrases, have
kept strictly to facts, as find them unani-
mously recorded in all our Oldest, gravest,
and most creditable historians