The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1915-06-04
The Kings
ScapegOat
An Account Of a Duel Fought
In the Sixteenth Century.
BY Y. A. Mitchell

Ia n historical account Of n duel that
occurred 400 years ago and n fne Il.
iustration Of the difference between
the method Of settling affairs Of hon
or among men In the olden time aud
the beginning Of the nineteenth cen
fury. when mortal combat 30 settle dlf
nculties between individuals may be
said TO have received It's quietus in the
new world in the death Of Alexander
Hamilton at the hands OF Aaron Burrl
How comes II. GuIchot. that you
are able to make 80 brave n show with
the revenues which you have. for I
know that they are not excessivvT'
The question was asked Of Guy Cha.
bot sieur de Jarnac by the dauphin.
who afterwari became Henry H.. king
OF France.
Jarnac. embarrassed nc such u qucs-
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 misconstrued the statement
and reported 10 members Of the court
that Jarnac had boosted OF love M.
fair with his stepmother.
Horrifed. indignant at such nm nc.
cusatlon. the young mnn publicly de.
clared that whoever had made the as.
sertion was "a malicious villain ard
had wickedly lied" Then. Fastening
10 bis fathers chateau. he threw him.
self nj his feet and protested that he
was innocent Of the charge. Having
convinced his father. he returned a.
court intent upon avenging the injury
done him.
The dauphin found himself In very
unpleasant position. When princes err
there must be n scapcgoaL Francis
vlyowne. Sieur de Chatagncric. n cour.
tier In favor both with King Francis
and the dauphin. n young warrior Of
great prowcss. though friend OF JAG.
nae. seeing that he would confer n
great favor on the future king by do,
Ing va. took up the quarrel In his be
half. declaring that II was 10 him and
him alone that Jarnnc had made his
boast.
Ducls at this time were n pnrt Of the
feudai tradition and law Of France.
requiring the consent OF the king.
Francis referred the matter 90 the
privy council. which after long debate
recommended that permission TO fight
be refused. But no sooner had the
king died ana the dnuphin assembled
the throne than Chatngnerie addressed
a letter 60 the new king. repeating his
accusation. whercupon Jarnac made
a request that the duel be permitted 10
take place. The king consented. anil
arrangements for the contest were
forthwith made.
Chatagnerie was twenty.six years
old. while his adversary was thlrty-s
The former WINS also OF great strength
and very ready with his sword. lie
was continually Boosting Of his feata
% arms and ever ready 90 pick n quar-
rel. In short. he was just the man 10
vindlcate his royal master In his con.
temptiblc charge.
AZ that time the same rule OF the
code that the challenged party should
have the choice OF arms. existed as II
has since. Jarnac had accused his ad-
versary Of n lie and Ind been challeng.
cd: therefore he WIS permitted 10 fight
In any way he pleased. Upon the nd.
vice OF his fencing master he demand
ell the heavy armor and long double
edged swords In vogue century be-
fore. The reason for this was that his
opponent had been wounded In battle
IN the right arm aud had never re-
\ gained perfect use OF a. aud the
heavy iron gauntlet aud sword would
naturally hamper the movements ~
this arm. Chatagnerie's great strength
gave him an advantage In closing with
bis enemy. downing him and stabbing
him while prostrate, The armor In n
ease would he TO his dlsadvantag
Jarnnc also stipulated for henv,
shields, which would he an advantage
20 the weaker party. who would M
urally be on the defensive.
Chatagneric seemed 90 have no fear
whatever OF making an easy conquest
81 his adversary. As he was accus.
toned 20 boast of the deeds he had
performed. lie now boosted OF the deed
he was about 10 perform. lie ordered
a banquet 10 he served In his tent .
the field. Ia which he invited the coui
Ia celebrate his victory.
Naturally the AFFAIR was the sensn
ton OF the day, The courtlers were
largely on the side OF the kings scapc.
goat and Henry did not deny that hls
avn syIupathles were with Chata-
gnerle, The provincial nobility, or
whom tis Jarnac family We're mem.
bers. regarded Jarnac as the defender
OF their honor AMI looked upon him as
their champion. One OF the powerful
Gulse family was 20 act as second FOR
the royal scapegoat and the Duke de
VendOme ~ rival family 90 the
Gulses asked the kings permission 10
act for Jarnac, lie was refused and, dis
gusted at the kings favoritlsm, with
drew, followed by the other princes
OF the blood The constable Of France
then filed the position,
The king having announced his I'm.
tentlon 90 preside AT the encounter. the
constable made arrangements IN ae-