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 Wager of Battle. so great that no prince at the court could equal them, for they amounted to more than twelve hundred crowns a day. Jarnac was more prudent; instead of making a public display, he kept himself secluded, and took lessons of Captain Cassi, an ex perienced master of the duello. It was by his counsel that, at the last moment, Jarnac obliged Vivonne to put on his left or shield

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prince of the blood, to appear on the side of Jarnac, and M. de Boisy, the grand-equerry, was selected in his place; he had, in addi tion as seconds, four other gentlemen of the court. The principal second of Vivonne was the Comte d'Aumale; and he had likewise four others. The confidence of Vivonne was exces sive. He is described by Carloix, the sec-

SINGLE COMBAT TO BE DECIDED BY THE JUDGMENT OF GOD. From a manuscript of the Fifteenth Century. arm an arm-piece, which quite prevented him from bending it. Vivonne, having been wounded in the right arm, and still suffering from the effect, was thus deprived of the power of wrestling with Jarnac and throwing him. The day for the duel was fixed for the tenth of July, 1 547. The first thing to be done was for each combatant to choose his seconds, then called godfathers. The King would not permit M. de Vendome, the first

retary of the Marshal de Veilleville, as "fearing his enemy no more than a lion fears a dog." A few days before the duel the King and all the court removed to Saint-Germain-enLaye, where he had ordered that it should take place. The Constable de Montmo rency issued all the necessary orders, and selected the place of combat, — a meadow on the eastern side of the chateau. The extent of the lists was carefully regulated;