STAR-CHAMBER DECREE AGAINST DUELS. 131 



shall carry or deliver any writing or message of chal 

 lenge ; if any man shall accept or return a challenge ; 

 if any man shall accept to be a second in a chal 

 lenge of either part ; if any man shall depart the 

 realm with intention and agreement to perform the 

 fight beyond the seas ; if any man shall revive a 

 quarrel by any scandalous bruits or writings con 

 trary to a former proclamation, published by his 

 majesty in that behalf; that in all these cases his 

 majesty s attorney-general, in discharge of his duty, 

 by the favour and assistance of his majesty and the 

 court, would bring the offenders, of what state or de 

 gree soever, to the justice of this court, leaving the 

 lords commissioners martial to the more exact reme 

 dies : adding farther, that he heard there were cer 

 tain counsel learned of duels, that tell young men 

 when they are before-hand, and when they are other 

 wise, and did incense and incite them to the duel, 

 and made an art of it ; who likewise should not be 

 forgotten. And so concluded with two petitions, 

 the one in particular to the lord chancellor, that in 

 case advertisement were given of a purpose in any 

 to go beyond the seas to fight, there might be granted 

 his majesty s writ of &quot; Ne exeat regnum&quot; against 

 him ; and the other to the lords in general, that he 

 might be assisted and countenanced in this service. 

 After which opening and declaration of the ge 

 neral cause, his majesty s said attorney did proceed 

 to set forth the proofs of this particular challenge 

 and offence now in hand, and brought to the judg 

 ment and censure of this honourable court ; where- 



