132 STAR-CHAMBER DECREE AGAINST DUELS. 



upon it appeared to this honourable court by the 

 confession of the said defendant priest himself, that 

 he having received some wrong and disgrace at the 

 hands of one Hutchest, did thereupon, in revenge 

 thereof, write a letter to the said Hutchest, con 

 taining a challenge to fight with him at single 

 rapier, which letter the said priest did deliver to the 

 said defendant Wright, together with a stick con 

 taining the length of the rapier, wherewith the said 

 priest meant to perform the fight. Whereupon the 

 said Wright did deliver the said letter to the said 

 Hutchest and did read the same unto him ; and 

 after the reading thereof, did also deliver to the said 

 Hutchest the said stick, saying, that the same was 

 the length of the weapon mentioned in the said 

 letter. But the said Hutchest, dutifully respecting 

 the preservation of his majesty s peace, did refuse 

 the said challenge, whereby no farther mischief did 

 ensue thereupon. 



This honourable court, and all the honourable 

 presence this day sitting, upon grave and mature 

 deliberation, pondering the quality of these offences, 

 they generally approved the speech and observations 

 of his majesty s said attorney-general, and highly 

 commended his great care and good service in bring 

 ing a cause of this nature to public punishment and 

 example, and in professing a constant purpose to 

 go on in the like course with others : letting him 

 know, that he might expect from the court all con 

 currence and assistance in so good a work. And 

 thereupon the court did by their several opinions 



