Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-08-13
Trial by Battle.

Trial oF Batfles
The law of trial by bsttle--a relIc Of
barbarism only abolished in our own coun-
try within comparatively recent times
wss frequently applied TO as means OF
determining guilt In days Of old. not only
by the mobiles of the land, but even by the
peasant class; the ordeal of battle, when
invoked, being always regarded as sacred,
lawful, and indisputable night. The fol-
lowing is an account of = duel Of this na-
ture, recorded by the historian DArleux
IN his ''Notice SUI Vslenclennes, which
took place between bourgeois named
Jacotin Plouvier, and = certain Mshout
Cocauelel, who had belonged to the army
of the Duke of Burgundy, and who had
been accused by Plouver OF the murder Of
his cousin, which accusation he had claimed
TO justify by an appeal TO single combat.
As the ceremony promised to be both
grave and imposing, Philippe the Good,
Duke OF Burgundy and Count OF Hslnault.
determined to be himself present. and so
on Tuesday, the goth OF March, 14+5, the
Grand Place of Valenclennes was con-
verted into a list, around which an i'm
mense multitude of people was congrega-
ted. At o'clock the champions were
led IN, dressed IN basGRe, or black sleeps
leather, of one entire piece, close sewed
together from neck to feet, their heads
naked and shsven and their nsls closely
cut. They were accompanied by the
Bretons, or masters Of exercises, who had
been assigned to each Of them after their
first confinement IN prison, aud who car
ab. .afA a.,l hasr
shields were formed OF willow wood
covered with sneep's leather, and were
three feet long. The sticks were Of medlsr
wood, also three feet long, and sharpened
a. each end.
Jacotln Plouvler, the appellant, first
entered the list, made several signs Of the
cross, and then seated himself on char
covered with black cloth at one end OF the
list on the side OF The Church of st.
Pierre. Mahout followed Immediately,
knelt down, crossed himself, kissed the
ground and seated himself st the other
end Of the list. The provost then entered
the enclosure and the champions then
swore on the Holy Gospels that their
quarrel was just Next their dresses were
creased in order that they might have less
mold upon each other; spiced drinks were
brought in silver cups to invigorate them,
and two other cups containing ashes, with
which they rubbed their hands. When
everything was properly arranged according
TO the usages and franchises of the town,
the provost threw up the glove, the gage
of battle, and on his crying, do your
duty! do your duty! do your dutyl" the
combstants advanced On each other and
began the combat.
The champions, after having beaten
each other severely with their sticks,
grappled and shook each other violently
Mshout fell, but instantly got up again.
On which Jacotin rushed upon him,
threw him down again, held him firmly
10 the ground, thrust sand INTO his eyes,
and 50 tortured him for nearly three
quarters of an hour 10 make him confess
the murder.
Philippe, who had remained in the pro-
vost's house, and watched the combat
from behind screen, sent to inquire of
the magistrate if there were no means of
putting an end to the horrible struggle.
The magistrate replied that it could not be
stopped without prejudice to the privileges
of the city, and thai the conflict must have
It's course.
At last, after being for this long while
so dresdfully tortured by his adversary,
Mahout, quite blind and crippled in every
limb, cried. Enough but on being al
lowed to nse, he eudeavored to rush upon
his foe, on which Jacotin again seized hIn,
and twisted his arms until they broke.
Tue wreicled man then acknowledged
himself beaten, and confessed the murder,
but had still strength enough to cry oat so
as to be heard al q distance: '.My Lord of
Burgundy, pity, pItyl ! served you well
IN your war with Ghent.' The Duke wss
moved even to tears, an1 again sent to the
magistrate to know whether it was possible
to save the lite Of the unfortunate wretch,
or at least, when deal, TO afford him burial
IN consecrsted ground. The provost an
swered that tue law must be fulfilled step
by step. and that he could not interfere.
Meanwhile, Jacoun had completed his
terrible vengeance by repeated bios of his
stick, and then, seizlng the bleeding
corpse by one leg, he dragged 1t out of the
list; after whicb-snd this part OF the
cannot be read without shudder
be went to the church OF Notre Dame,
to return thanks to God for having caused
Justice TO triumph!
The magistrate gave judgment that the
murderer should be dragged on hurdle to
the gallows. and be there, for forms sake.
strangled and hung. The Duke of Bur-
gundy, justly indignant and disgusted at
the frlghtful scene which lie had viii.
messed, and which, in spite of all his
power, he had been unable to prevent,
swOre to abolish the barbsrous custom in
his dominIons, aad thenceforward it was
never practlced in the Low Countries.