Belgium was the cradle of the monarchy1 of the Franks: Tournay was one of the first conquests of Clodion over the Romans; in 1653, the tomb of Childeric was discovered; and Aix-la-Chapelle was the capital of Charlemagne. The customs of the Franks were, therefore, prevalent in their several provinces, and trials by battle, ordeals3, and the many barbarous modes of settling differences and establishing rights which we have recorded of France and other countries were resorted to in cases where the judgement of God was appealed to. These appeals must have been frequent amongst these turbulent people, who were incessantly4 embroiled5 362 in foreign or intestine6 wars to such an extent, that it is related of one of the sultans, who, hearing of their endless contests, asked to see the map of the theatre of war; that, amazed at its narrow limits, he exclaimed, “Were I concerned in this affair, I should send my pioneers to cast this little corner of the world into the sea.”
The inhabitants of the Low Countries were ever remarkable7 for their impatience8 of control, and their anxiety to preserve their rights and immunities9 untouched; they were faithful to their antique customs and prejudices, and zealous10 defenders11 of what they considered their independence and liberties; and, to their credit, it must be said, that both the aristocracy and the democracy of the land united their efforts in the common cause of their country; while the clergy12, all powerful and influential13, exercised a mighty14 power over a bigoted15 and superstitious16 people, who, even to the present day, are more imbued17 with religious prejudices than the inhabitants of any other Roman Catholic realm.
To this hour, the Belgians firmly believe in the traditionary legend of the Abbey of Cambrai, and the duel18 between Jean le Flamand and a Jew. The Virgin19 of Cambrai having appeared in a vision to Jean le Flamand, an old carpenter, and complained of the injury done to her image by the impious Israelite, who had 363 falsely pretended to abjure20 his faith, our worthy21 immediately repaired to the chapel2, and beheld22 the image of the Virgin with five wounds of a lance, from each of which the blood was flowing. The Jew, named Wilhelm, was immediately apprehended23 and tortured, but no avowal24 could be extorted25 from him by the most ingenious torments26. Jean le Flamand thereupon begged to consult the Abbé of Cambrai, who told him that the Virgin commanded him to call out the Hebrew to a single combat, to knock out his brains, and then cut off his empty head. The battle took place with shield and stave, when the Jew, who was a powerful youth, was thoroughly27 thrashed,—Divina cooperante gratia; after which he was duly hanged between two dogs, according to custom. Why the poor dogs were hanged with the unbeliever, history does not state.
A celebrated28 combat that took place at Valenciennes in 1455 has been recorded by many historians. This battle was fought in maintenance of an ancient franchise29, which provided that any man who killed another in self-defence, might claim a franchise at Valenciennes, and maintain with staff and shield that the contest had been fair. In this instance, a tailor, named Mahuot Cocquel, sought refuge in this town, after having killed a citizen of Tournay, one Philippe du Gardin, who had had the impertinence 364 to refuse him his daughter. A relation of the deceased, Jacotin Plouvier, followed the tailor, and accused him of having feloniously killed Du Gardin. The two champions were forthwith put in prison; and a Breton (Britanny being renowned30 for its skill in cudgelling) was attached to each of the parties, to teach them the use of the staff.
On the 20th of May, the field being appointed, the Duke of Burgundy, and his son the Duke de Charolais, attended by a numerous court, proceeded to the spot. A triple barrier had been raised in the market-place, and the ground was deeply covered with sand; the space between the second and third barrier was appropriated to the accommodation of the prevost, the jury-men, and several of the nobility; and the third row was for the reception of three hundred knights31, their squires32, and the wealthy burghers.
At nine o’clock in the morning, the champions appeared. Their heads had been shaved, and they wore tight leather doublets. Jacotin, the appellant, first appeared, accompanied by his Breton, and followed by a man carrying his target in a sack. After crossing himself several times, he sat down on a chair covered with black cloth; Mahuot Cocquel followed with a similar train, and, falling on his knees, crossed himself with great devotion, kissed the ground, and 365 then seated himself on another stool covered with black.
The magistrates33 then proceeded to swear the champions on the holy Evangelists. Jacotin kissed the book, and swore that his cause was a just one; Mahuot did the same, and added, that Jacotin was a false and villanous liar34; but, on kissing the book a second time, it was observed that he turned pale.
The parties were then smeared35 with grease from head to foot, to prevent their being easily grasped, and their hands were rubbed with ashes, that their staves might be more securely held. Food was then presented them on two silver salvers; and, to show them that it was not poisonous, the bearers of the collation36 themselves tasted it. A lump of sugar was then put into their mouths, that they might not become parched37, and they were then armed with two knotty38 cudgels of equal length, and bucklers painted red; but they were obliged to bear the shield with its point uppermost, to show that they were not of noble birth.
The prevost of the town now exclaimed in a loud and audible voice, “Do your duty!” and the combatants rushed upon each other. Mahuot commenced the attack by throwing sand in his adversary’s eyes, and then broke his head with his staff; but Jacotin attacked his antagonist39 in his 366 turn, knocked his buckler off, and then knocked him down; Mahuot rose to be knocked down again, while Jacotin was rubbing sand in his eyes, biting his ears, and pommelling his face. The Duke of Burgundy, Philippe le Bon, felt compassion40 for the battered41 Mahuot, and sent one of his officers to the magistrates, to know if it were not possible to save the life of the unfortunate man; but they replied, that the privileges of their town must be maintained. In the mean time, Jacotin was pursuing his delectable42 occupation, cramming43 sand in his opponent’s mouth, biting and scratching him, and then turning him upon his face; in which exploit, however, Mahuot contrived44 to bite off one of his fingers: a mutilation that so incensed45 the conqueror46, that, according to the chronicler, he broke his arm and his loins, and then jumping upon him, roared out, “Surrender, traitor47, and confess the fact, that thou didst murder my poor relation!” to which Mahuot replied, “I confess it! I confess it!” “Speak louder, that thou mayest be heard!” roared out Jacotin. “I did it! I did it!” cried Mahuot; “and oh! my Lord Duke of Burgundy,” he added, “I served you faithfully in your wars of Ghent,—oh! my good lord, I pray for mercy!—for God’s sake, save my life!”
Again the duke sent to the burgomasters; but they remained inflexible48, sticking to their fueros. 367 They even maintained that the deceased should not be allowed a Christian49 burial; and then Jacotin despatched his victim with four desperate blows on the head; after which, he dragged him off the ground by the legs; but Mahuot was not quite dead, for he was able to recite his creed50, confess his sins to a Carmelite, and drink several glasses of wine, before he yielded up the ghost.
The magistrates then ascended51 the bench, and ordered that, according to their sacred municipal privileges, the vanquished52 should be hanged and strangled as a murderer, which was forthwith done by the executioner. The conqueror then went up to the burgomaster, and asked him, if he had properly done his duty: to which it was replied in the affirmative; and he was informed, that he was free to go wherever he thought proper. He of course proceeded to the chapel of Notre Dame53 la Grande, to present an offering, and return thanksgivings for her protection. The staves, bucklers, and stools of the combatants were then suspended as trophies54 in the town-hall.
Amongst the many ferocious55 combats of these barbarous times may be noticed the duel between Arnold d’Egmont and Adolphus, his son, who was encouraged in his unnatural56 conduct by his mother, Catherine de Cleves.
Numerous edicts and placards were promulgated57 368 at various periods to check the progress of duelling in the Low Countries, but with as little success as in France. Of late years, these hostile meetings have become very rare, and are chiefly confined to the military; although, after the revolution of 1833, duels58 arose in consequence of the stormy discussions that took place in the chambers59. In June 1833, two deputies, Messrs. Rogier and Gendebien, fought with pistols at a distance of forty paces, being allowed to advance ten paces on each other. Rogier fired first, but missed his opponent, who, firing in his turn, at a distance of thirty-five paces, shot his antagonist in the mouth. M. Gendebien was afterwards called out by a French general officer, to apologise for his objection to the employment of foreigners in the Belgian army; but the deputy very wisely refused to meet him, on the score of parliamentary freedom of speech.
In 1834, when Brussels was in a state of great anarchy61 and confusion, duels were not unfrequent; a man was assassinated62 in coming out of the playhouse for having declined a challenge; and the minister assured the chamber60, that he would adopt the most energetic means to repress these excesses. Notwithstanding the prohibitory laws, several fatal meetings took place without any judicial63 punishment. A captain of artillery64, named Pariset, had reprimanded 369 a M. Vanderstraeten, one of his lieutenants66, for not having saluted67 him, observing, that “he was but a boy.” The lieutenant65 called out his captain, who declined the meeting; when another captain, of the name of Eenens, took up the quarrel, and obliged Pariset to give him satisfaction, by calling him a coward. The meeting took place in a pine-wood near Waterloo, when Pariset was killed at the first fire. The survivor68 was tried by a court-martial, but acquitted69 on the plea that there did not exist any law to punish duelling. More recently, at Luxemburg, a duel was fought between a Baron70 de Tornaco and a Dutch captain, when the latter was shot dead; but no judicial inquiry71 followed.
The government of Belgium are at this moment preparing a law for the utter prohibition72 of this practice, which hitherto has been rarely visited with severity. In the Belgian army, as well as in that of France, duelling, even between officers of great disparity of rank, is only punished by cashiering the offender73, as appears in the following order of the day of the minister of war, Count Maison, in 1835:—
“In breach74 of all subordination, a lieutenant-colonel has presumed to challenge his superior officer. Such a serious transgression75, which might prove most injurious to the discipline of the corps76, demands a prompt and severe punishment. The minister, therefore, orders, that the lieutenant-colonel 370 shall be forthwith brought before a court-martial. In regard to the superior officer, who might and ought to have exercised the authority which his rank conferred on him, but who condescended77 to accept the challenge, he is cashiered. The seconds and the other officers who were present at, or who did not prevent the meeting, shall be placed under close arrest for a fortnight.”
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1
monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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ordeals
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| n.严峻的考验，苦难的经历( ordeal的名词复数 ) | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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embroiled
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| adj.卷入的；纠缠不清的 | |
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intestine
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| adj.内部的；国内的；n.肠 | |
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7
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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immunities
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| 免除，豁免( immunity的名词复数 )； 免疫力 | |
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zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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bigoted
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| adj.固执己见的，心胸狭窄的 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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imbued
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| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
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18
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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abjure
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| v.发誓放弃 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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avowal
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| n.公开宣称，坦白承认 | |
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extorted
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| v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 )；曲解 | |
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torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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28
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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franchise
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| n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权 | |
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renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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32
squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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collation
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| n.便餐；整理 | |
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parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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knotty
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| adj.有结的，多节的，多瘤的，棘手的 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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40
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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41
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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42
delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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43
cramming
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| n.塞满，填鸭式的用功v.塞入( cram的现在分词 )；填塞；塞满；（为考试而）死记硬背功课 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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45
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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46
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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48
inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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49
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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50
creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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51
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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53
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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54
trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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55
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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56
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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57
promulgated
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| v.宣扬（某事物）( promulgate的过去式和过去分词 )；传播；公布；颁布（法令、新法律等） | |
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58
duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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61
anarchy
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| n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序 | |
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assassinated
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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63
judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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survivor
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| n.生存者，残存者，幸存者 | |
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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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70
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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prohibition
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| n.禁止；禁令，禁律 | |
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offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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74
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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transgression
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| n.违背；犯规；罪过 | |
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76
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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