Page:The child's pictorial history of England; (IA childspictorialh00corn).pdf/79

 dethrone him; but the plot was discovered, and the Earl of Northumberland, who was at the head of it, was taken prisoner, and confined in Windsor Castle all the rest of his life.

25. There was another great lord, the Count d'Eu, who was accused of being engaged in this plot, by a knight called Geoffrey Bainard, so the king had him arrested. The Count, however, denied having any thing to do with it, and said he defied his accuser, and was ready to fight with him, and that God would give the victory te whichever of them was in the right.

26. So they fought with swords, in the presence of the king and court, when Bainard was victorious, and the Count being thus convicted, was condemned to have his eyes torn out.

27. This was a strange way for a man to prove his innocence of any crime, but it became a common custom in England, and was called "Wager of battle." Even law-suits, respecting right of property, were often thus decided; and, if a lady had a quarrel or a lawsuit, she might get a man to do battle for her, and he was called her champion.

28. It was the fashion for many ages, not only in England, but all over Europe, for young men of noble birth to roam about the world in search of adventures; and, as they were gene