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CHAPTER X.

DUELS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE EIGHTEENTH.

1. FRANCE.

ABOUT the commencement of the period to which I am referring, or immediately preceding it, there figured in France an English nobleman and duellist, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, then our ambassador at the French Court, to whom I have already alluded, as the authority who stated that there was scarcely a Frenchman deemed worth looking on who had not killed his man in a duel.

To show the prevalence of duelling in France, and the esteem in which duellists were held, he relates the case of a M. Mennon, who, being desirous to marry a niece of M. Disancour, thought to be an heiress, was thus answered by him,-" My friend, it is not time yet to marry. I will tell I will tell you what you must do if you will be a brave man. You must first kill in single combat two or three men; then marry, and beget two or three

an astronomer of Iceland, the pupil of Tycho Brahé, and author of a history of Iceland, published in 1643, tells us that duels took place in that island in former times, on account of disputed inheritances and betting. The last and the most memorable of Icelandic duels occurred between two poets, respectively named Gunnlang, "serpent-tongue," and Rafn, the interpretation of which is not given. They fought for the hand of the beautiful Helga, with golden locks, and both fell in the encounter. The fate of these young lovers excited universal commiseration, and an edict was passed, in one of the largest popular assemblies ever known in Iceland, and with the concurrence of all the wise men of the country, prohibiting and completely abolishing duelling in perpetuity.

CHAPTER X.

DUELS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE EIGHTEENTH.

1. FRANCE.

ABOUT the commencement of the period to which I am referring, or immediately preceding it, there figured in France an English nobleman and duellist, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, then our ambassador at the French Court, to whom I have already alluded, as the authority who stated that there was scarcely a Frenchman deemed worth looking on who had not killed his man in a duel.

To show the prevalence of duelling in France, and the esteem in which duellists were held, he relates the case of a M. Mennon, who, being desirous to marry a niece of M. Disancour, thought to be an heiress, was thus answered by him,-" My friend, it is not time yet marry. I will tell you what you must do if you will be a brave man. You must first kill in single combat

to

two or three men; then marry, and beget two or three

an astronomer of Iceland, the pupil of Tycho Brahé, and author of a history of Iceland, published in 1643, tells us that duels took place in that island in former times, on account of disputed inheritances and betting. The last and the most memorable of Icelandic duels occurred between two poets, respectively named Gunnlang," serpent-tongue," and Rafn, the interpretation of which is not given. They fought for the hand of the beautiful Helga, with golden locks, and both fell in the encounter. The fate of these young lovers excited universal commiseration, and an edict was passed, in one of the largest popular assemblies ever known in Iceland, and with the concurrence of all the wise men of the country, prohibiting and completely abolishing duelling in perpetuity.

CHAPTER X.

DUELS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE EIGHTEENTH.

1. FRANCE.

ABOUT the commencement of the period to which I am referring, or immediately preceding it, there figured in France an English nobleman and duellist, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, then our ambassador at the French Court, to whom I have already alluded, as the authority who stated that there was scarcely a Frenchman deemed worth looking on who had not killed his man in a duel.

To show the prevalence of duelling in France, and the esteem in which duellists were held, he relates the case of a M. Mennon, who, being desirous to marry a niece of M. Disancour, thought to be an heiress, was thus answered by him,-" My friend, it is not time yet to marry. I will tell I will tell you what you must do if you will be a brave man. You must first kill in single combat two or three men; then marry, and beget two or three

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