doublets, and in their shirts, they set to, having before commanded their surgeons to withdraw at some distance, and requiring them, as they respected their favours or their own safety, not to stir, but to suffer them to execute their pleasure, both being fully resolved to dispatch each other by what means they could.

And now we must quote the Earl of Dorset's dreadful description of the encounter:-"I made a thrust at my enemy, but was short; and on drawing back my arm, I received a great wound therein, which I interpreted as a reward for my short-shooting; but, in revenge, I pressed it to him, though I then missed him also, and then received a wound in my right pap, which passed both through my body and almost to my back; and then we wrestled for the two greatest and dearest prizes we could ever expect trial for, honour and life. In which struggling, my hand, having but an ordinary glove upon it, lost one of her servants, though the meanest, which having hung by a skin, and, to sight, yet remaineth as before.

"At last, breathless, yet keeping our holds, there passed on both sides propositions of quitting each other's swords. But when amity was dead, confidence could not live; and who should quit first was the question, which on neither part either would perform; and wrestling again afresh, with a kick and a wrench together, I freed my long-captivated weapon, which, instantly levelling at his throat-being master still of

his-I demanded if he would ask for his life, or yield his sword-both which, though in that imminent danger, he bravely refused to do.

"Myself being wounded, and feeling loss of bloodhaving three conduits running on me, which began to make me faint-and he dangerously persisting not to accord to either of my propositions-through remembering his former bloody desire, and feeling my present state, I struck at his heart, but, by his avoiding, missed my aim, yet passed through the body; and, drawing out my sword, repassed it again through another place, when he cried, 'Oh, I am slain!' seconding his speech with all the force he had to cast me. But he being too weak, after I had defended his assault, I easily became master of him, laying him on his back, when, being upon him, I re-demanded if he would request his life, but it seemed he prized it not at so dear a rate, to be beholden for it, bravely replying, 'He scorned it,' which answer of his was so noble and worthy, as I protest I could not find it in my heart to offer him any more violence, only keeping him down, until at length his surgeon afar off cried out, 'He would immediately die if his wounds were not stopped.' Whereupon I asked if he desired his surgeon should come, which he accepted of, and so being drawn away, I never offered to take his sword, counting it inhuman to rob a dead man, for so I held him to be.

"The matter being thus ended, I retired to my surgeon, in whose arms, after I had remained awhile,

VOL. I.

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for want of blood I lost my sight, and withal, as I then thought, lost my life also; but strong waters and his diligence quickly recovered me, when I escaped from a very great danger :-Lord Bruce's surgeon, when nobody dreamt it, came full at me with his lordship's sword, and had not mine, with my sword, interposed, I would have been slain by those base hands, although my Lord Bruce, weltering in his blood, and past all expectation of life, conformable to all his former courage, which was undoubtedly noble, cried out, 'Rascal, hold thy hand!""

Such was the terrible duel between the Earl of Dorset and Lord Bruce.

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CHAPTER IX.

EARLY DUELS IN ITALY, SPAIN, GERMANY, NORTHERN EUROPE, BELGIUM, AND ICELAND.

1. ITALY.

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DURING the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Italy teemed with treatises on 66 the noble art and science of duelling, which was held up to the admiration of the world in the most elegant language; and it among the Italians that we hear of the most atrocious duels and the disreputable tricks and ruses with which expert, but dishonourable, combatants have triumphed in the deadly encounter. The celebrated Jarnac, or hamstring cut, was an Italian invention, taught to Châtaigneraye, before mentioned, by an Italian master of fence. There were regular professors of the scienza cavalleresca, and Alberic Balbiano, Constable of Naples, instituted a military order, under the patronage of St. George, for the due maintenance of this honourable pursuit. One Michael Angelo Cara

for want of blood I lost my sight, and withal, as I then thought, lost my life also; but strong waters and his diligence quickly recovered me, when I escaped from a very great danger :-Lord Bruce's surgeon, when nobody dreamt it, came full at me with his lordship's sword, and had not mine, with my sword, interposed, I would have been slain by those base hands, although my Lord Bruce, weltering in his blood, and past all expectation of life, conformable to all his former courage, which was undoubtedly noble, cried out, 'Rascal, hold thy hand!""

Such was the terrible duel between the Earl of Dorset and Lord Bruce.