The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-13
DUELING IN 0LDEN DAYS,
HOW THE NOBILITY OF FRANCE
ENTERED THE FIELD OF HONOR.

Sometimes They Had Very Genuine
Grievances and Fought Savage!y,
But Frequently 9hay Fought Over
Very Frivolous Differences Just to
Exhibit Their Valor.
From MGcmllan'S Magazine.
1t was the summer of 1917, and q great
multitude of people hal assembled in the
forest Of st. German to witness spectacle
that was never again to be seen on French
soil. All Paris was there-nobles, mer-
chants, soldiers artisans, black-robed law
yers, students, priests; they had poured in
thousands out of the narrow, crooked
streets into the fragrant greenwood. And
among them were many gaunt figures in
doublets Of a fashion Of a quarter of q GEN.
tury old, mounted on lean and hmpinr
horses; poverty-stricken nobes from distant
provinces, who had wandered out from their
ruined manors and empty oranges, moved
by strange curiosity to look for once on
the new court and king.
For the king was there; it was in fact
ROYAL quarrel that was to be tied on the
greensward in presence of those eager
spectators And with him was Diane de
Poitiers, the pale woman, twenty years
older than the young sovereign about
whom she had woven her mysterious spells,
1t was for DIanas qualification that the
chivelry Of France had gathered under the
great oaks TO assist at a duel between two
combatant5 so unequally matched that the
result was a foregOne conclusion.
The courtiers of Francis |. headed by the
Duchesse d'Estampes, had considered
woman Of 40 captivating prince Of 20 a
fair mark for their wit. They had flung
their insults at Diane lightly for some
years, forgetting that kings do
not live forever. But the funera!
ceremonies Of Frances were scarcely
over before Dame took measures to prove
to these imprudent people that La Vieille,
as they called her, was not e. be ridiculed
with impunity. The DuChessa d'Estampes
was bauished to Brittany, with twofoll
c1arge Of heresy and treason hanging over
her.
Among the warmest friends Of the duchess
was q certain NJ de Jarnac, wno had long
been destined TO receive the blow aimed act
uauy at DANES rival. Everything had been
in train for long time. A year or more
ago the docile Henry had put into circula>
ton an OdiOus SANDER about De Jarnac,
which came, of course. in due time to the
victims ears, when he exclaimed hotly that
it was an Infamous lie, whoever had uttered
it. Then it appeared that the highest ger
sonage but one in the kingdom was respon>
sible for the story.
The dauphin could not, OF course, take
up his own quarrel; but he had no difficulty
in finding a champion. Francois de
Nivonne, seigneur de la Chataigneraie,
begged eagerly to be allowed to act for the
prince. The king was applied to for leave
TO settle the matter according to ancient
CUSTOM by the wager of battle. Francis
refused the required permission, and for
some months the subjecs was dropped.
Francis died in the spring of 1547, and
Henry had been king exactly three weeks
when the secretary Of state signed an
order of council summoning De Jarnac to
meet Chataigneraie in judicial combat in
three months time.
his characteristic institution of the mid
die ages had already become half obsolete.
The laws which regulated it were CON
demned for their barbarity even in that
age, which cannot be accused of being
oveT-seusitlve 10 human suffering They
provided that the combat should terminate
only ~ the death or surrender of one of
the ccmbatants, who, in either case. re-
NAMED at tie absolute disposal Of the vic
Tor. Chataigneraie was man of seven Or
eight and twenty, Of middle hight. SQUARE
set, strongly built, an athlete renowned for
his surprising feats OF arms. He was sone-
thing OF a bully, but no one cared to quar-
rel with him, for his reputation both as a
wrestler and swoTdsman was well estab-
ilshed, and he stood high in the
kings good gracas De Jarnao
was older than his opponent, q tall,
slender, delicate man, little wanting in
nerve, certainly with no passion for fight
ing. They had once been comrades in
arms, and no one knew better than he
Chataigneraie's immense superiority. He
made one melancholy attempt to arrange
matters with Nine de Poltssrs, who in.
formed him coldly that the wine was drawn
and must be drunk, adding that the king
was interested in the matter and would
never yield. De Jarnac then began to at
tend to his soul, in preparation for death.
But, at the same time, he engaged an Ital-
Ian swordsmah to give him lessons in fenc-
ing, hoping very family that the profes
slonal would be able to teach him some new
botte which might discomfort his formidable
antagonist.
While De Jarnac was visiting various
churches and commencing himself to vari-
Gus saints, Chatalgnerale was going bragg
ging about, says De Vieilleville, in manner
intolerable TO those who were not of his
party.
The day fixed was July TO- The lists were
erected on the large and lofty plateau of st.
dermain. Pavilions had been pitched for
the grand people; the poor mobiles from the
provinces lodged contentedly In the shade of
the forest trees. For the oonrt it was de-
lghttul sort of picnic. sylvan festivity Of
winch Diane was the cold, implacable
queen.
IL was warm summer weather and early
rising seems to have been in vogue. At 6
O'Clock in the morning, before the dew was
OH the grass. all was ready and the specta-
Tors In their places, the restless, excitabIe
rarislan populace pressing into every avail
aDIe space, eager for q good view of the
Tragedy. Among the lookerS-on were some
whose names are conspicuous In the disas-
EouS history of the noxt thirty years. They
sat TRANQUILITY together enjoying the bright
eunshlne and the fragrant air.
Inc heralds summoned the challenger to
appear, and Chataigneraie rode into the
.isVS' accompanied by Francis of Guise his
spons T, aud 800 other gentlemen, all
praVely dressed in white and crimson. They
made the circuit OF the lists, saluted the king
ana queen, and then Chataigneraie returned
70 us tent. The Duke of Vendome. unwill-
Gtne 10 remain quiet in the background while
ouIse occupied such position, and sorry
p s uaps Tor De Jarnac'5 fOrlorn attitude.
uttered 10 act for his sponsor. The king
perehptorlly forbade his cousin to confer SO
snuch honor on De Jarnac, whereat Ven
LII indignant at the prohibition. arose
'- s !, 10 MS departure, followed by the rest
me Ihe bouroons. De Jarnac had TO fall
01 M on NJ de Boisy, the grand equerry.
ooa liou followed long delay in the pro-
otSoul'igs' Inc challenged had the right of
ouGyoslhg the weapons to be used in the duel
70,