Chapter III.

THE ORIGIN OF DUELLING.

Association of Brute Courage with Superstition.--Religion and Love.--Barbarous Courage of the Northern Nations.--Personal appeal to arms traced to their irruption in the Fifth Century.--Universal militarism.--Decision of Differences by brute force.--Establishment of Ordeals.--Judicial Combats.--Law of Gundebald, King of the Burgundians.--Mode of conducting these Judicial Combats.--A Burgundian Conflict described.--Lady Spectatresses.--Duel between Baron des Guerres and the Sieur de Faudilles.--Mode of conducting Ordeals and Judicial Combats.--The Weapons.--Form of Denial.--The Gage.--Duels by Proxy.--Bravoes, or Champions.--Trial by Hot Iron.--Trial by Hot and Cold Water.--Ordeal of the Cross.--Ordeal by Balance.--Ordeal by Poison.--Ordeal by Hot Oil.--Antiquity of the practice of Ordeals.--First Fire Ordeal.--Story of Simplicius Bishop of Autun.--Account of a Trial by Hot Water 21