128 STAR-CHAMBER DECREE AGAINST DUELS. 



shew valour in a quarrel, except there were a just 

 and worthy ground of the quarrel ; but that it was 

 weakness to set a man s life at so mean a rate as to 

 bestow it upon trifling occasions, which ought to be 

 rather offered up and sacrificed to honourable ser 

 vices, public merits, good causes, and noble adven 

 tures. And as concerning the remedies, he con 

 cluded, that the only way was, that the state would 

 declare a constant and settled resolution to master 

 and put down this presumption in private men, of 

 whatsover degree, of righting their own wrongs, and 

 this to do at once ; for that then every particular 

 man would think himself acquitted in his reputation, 

 when that he shall see that the state takes his honour 

 into their own hands, and standeth between him and 

 any interest or prejudice, which he might receive in 

 his reputation for obeying : whereunto he added like 

 wise, that the wisest and mildest way to suppress 

 these duels was rather to punish in this court all the 

 acts of preparation, which did in any wise tend to 

 the duels, as this of challenges and the like, and so 

 to prevent the capital punishment, and to vex the 

 root in the branches, than to suffer them to run on 

 to the execution, and then to punish them capitally 

 after the manner of France : where of late times 

 gentlemen of great quality that had killed others in 

 duel, were carried to the gibbet with their wounds 

 bleeding, lest a natural death should keep them 

 from the example of justice. 



Thirdly, his majesty s said attorney-general did, 

 by many reasons which he brought and alleged, free 



