The Tupelo journal., 1915-07-23
The Kings
Scapeg0at
An Account of a Duel Fought
In the Sixteenth Century.
By r. A. mitchell

occurred 400 years ago and a fine il
lustration of the difference between
the method of settling affairs of hon-
or among men in the olden time and
the beginning Of the nineteenth cen
tury, when mortal combat to settle diff
~iculties between individuals may be
said TO have received its quietus in the
new world in the death Of Alexander
Hamilton at the hands of Aaron BuIr.l
How comes it. Guichot. that you
are able to make so brave Il how with
the revenues which You have for L
know that they are not cXceSSive?"
The question was asked Of Gay Cha
bot Sieur de Jarnac 10y the dauphin.
who afterward became Henry H., king
Of France.
.Jarnac, embarrassed ut such Il ques-
ton, was unfortunate in the choice of
words used in his reply. He said that
his stepmother kept him, giving him
everything he required. Henry delib
erately m~isconStrued the statement
and reported 10 members Of the court
that Jar4iae had boosted of a love af-
fair with his stepmother.
Mortified, indignant at such an ac-
cusation, the young man publicly de
clared that whoever had made the as
sertioh was "a malicious villain and
had wickedly led Then, Fastening
to his fathers chateau, he threw him
self at his feet and protested that he
was innocent of the charge. Having
convinced his father, he returned to
court intent upon %avenging the injury
done him.
The dauphin found himself in a very
unpleasant position. When princes err
there must be a s%capegoat. Francis
Vivowne. Sieur de Chatagnerie, a cour-
tier in favor both with King Francis
and the dauphin. q young warrior OF
great prowesS, though a friend of Jar
mac, seeing that he would confer a
great favor on the future king by do
ing so, took up the quarrel in his be-
half. declaring that it was to him n
him alone that Jarnac had made his
boast.
DuelS at his time were IL part of the
feudal tradition and law of France.
requiring the consent of the king.
Francis referred the matter 10 the
priyy council. which after Il long debate
recommended that permission to fight
he refused. But no sooner had the
king died ana the dauphin ascended
the throne than C~hatagnerie addressed
Il letter to the new king, repeating his
accusation, wllereupon JarDac made
a request that the duel be permitted to
take place. The king consented, n
arrangements for the contest were
forthwith made.
Chatagnerie was twenty-siX years
old, while his adversary was thirty-six.
The former was also of great strength
and very ready with his sword. He
was continually Boosting of his feats
of arms M ever ready to pick a quar-
rel. In short. he was just the man to
vindicate his royal master in his CON
temptible charge.
At that time the same rule of the
code. that the challenged party shouid
have the choice of arms. existed us 1t
has since. Jarnac had accused his ad-
NftSd1h a " III tlHh btNh h'''Ni
ed; therefore he was permitted to fight
in any way he pleased. Upon the ad-
vice of his fencing master he demand
ed the heavy armor long double
edged swords in vogue a century be-
fore. The reason for this was that his
opponent had been wounded in battle
in the right arm and had never re-
gained perfect use of it. and the
heavy iron gauntlet II sword would
naturally hamper the movements OF
this arm. Chatagnerie's great strength
gave him III advantage in closing with
his enemy. downing him and stabbing
him while PROSTATE. The armor III this
case would be to his disadvantage.
Jarnac also stipulated for heavy
shields, which would be an advantage
TO the weaker party, who would nat
urally be on the defensive.
Chatagnerie seemed TO have no fear
whatever of making an easy conquest
Of his adversary. As he was accus-
toned to boast of the deeds he had
performed. he now boosted OF the deed
he was about to perform. He ordered
a banquet to be served in his tent on
the field. to which he invited the court
TO celebrate his victory.
Naturally the affair was the sensa-
ton Of the day. The courtiers were
largely on the side of the kings scape-
goat, and Henry did not deny that his
own sympathies were with Chata-
gnerie. The provincial nobility. of
whom the Jarnac family were mem
bers. regarded Jarnac as the defender
of their honor and looked upon him as
their champion. One of the powerful
Guise family was to act as second for
the royal s%capegoat. and the Duke de
Vendome of a rival family TO the
Guises asked the kings permission to
act for Jarnac. He was refused and.d dis
gusted at the kings favoritism. with
drew. followed by the other princes