56 TILT A L'OUTRANCK.. 



tion should never be raised again, either by the principal parties or 

 by any of their kin. But the Sire de Carrouges, a bold and approved 

 knight, has refused to concur in this arrangement, and has summoned 

 Jacques Legris before the parliament, who has been obliged to de- 

 liver hostages and security. The case has been again discussed most 

 formally, and the proof being otherwise impossible than by mortal 

 combat the Sire de Carrouges has thrown down his wager of battle, 

 which the bold and handsome Jacques Legris has accepted. The 

 court of parliament having pronounced that wager of battle was 

 permitted, the trial has been deferred to force of arms, each cham- 

 pion having to justify his cause by bodily strength with equal 

 weapons. A period of forty days has in consequence been assigned 

 before the combat, during the first twenty of which the champions 

 have been consigned to the care of their friends, who engaged to 

 produce them at the proper time and place, save in the three justi- 

 fiable causes of absence, which are imprisonment by enemies, 

 languishing sickness, or death. During the said twenty days, the 

 champions have been daily admonished to examine their consciences 

 scrupulously in order not to peril both body and soul in an unjust 

 cause, but each has persisted in his first avowal. 



" During the last period, which ends to-morrow, they have been 

 closely confined in the Louvre, and there admonished by churchmen 

 and learned personages, endeavouring to bring them to confess either 

 their hatred or sin ; but no change has taken place, and to-morrow 

 they will appear in arms, and the wager of battle, a I'outrance, will 

 be decided. Whatever may be the result, the consequence is that it 

 attracts crowds of people to Paris, both from the provinces and from 

 abroad. So great is the interest excited, that our sovereign, King 

 Charles, who with his barons was at the mouth of the Scheldt, 

 intending to pass over the sea to chastise those English dogs, has 

 sent word that he intends to be present at these jousts. He has 

 therefore set out for Paris, with the Dukes of Burgundy, of Berri, 

 and of Bourbon, who are all equally desirous of witnessing the com- 

 bat. Yesterday they all arrived at the Hotel de Saint Paul ; and so 

 much is the Court of Lions crowded by knights, squires, and their 

 attendants, that many are obliged to seek for accommodation wher- 

 ever it may be found. The Comte d'Alen^on is also arrived, who 

 bears no great good will towards the Sire de Carrouges, whom he 

 would have caused to be slain had he not transferred the affair to the 

 decision of parliament ; and it is my opinion, that if his party get the 

 upper hand, neither the Sire de Carrouges, his hostages or securities, 

 will be long on this side of paradise, and that sooner or later the Count 

 will pay them what he has Promised. On this account they hide them- 

 selves like rats, for the Count is just the man to cause them to be 

 put to death, even were they to shelter at the marble table of the palace." 



" Threatened men livelong," said Sebastian Quimbel ; " but what is 

 the opinion of the people of Paris about this affair, which appears to 

 me very obscure ?" " By my faith," answered the host, " it is not a 

 very easy question to decide, whether a woman, noble or otherwise, 

 ought to be believed on such a subject without some further proof; for 

 well I wot the evidence of women is rarely admitted, save when no 



