Trial by Combat

'All the authorities on the subject, I believe, are collected in this excellent book.' Sir Frederick Pollock, The Genius of the Common LawAlthough it is not known exactly when trial by combat, battle, or duel began as a method of conflict resolution, its origin certainly goes back before the feudal era. Neilson focuses on Britain and Scotland and traces this tradition from before the Middle Ages to the Appeal of Murder Act of 1819. CONTENTSPART I. PRELIMINARY: EUROPE1. Before the Middle Ages2. King Gundobald, A.D. 5013. Mode of Battle4. Among the Norsemen5. The Church6. Decadence and ExtinctionPART II. ORIGIN IN BRITAIN7. A Question Stated8. Norse Evidence9. English and Scotch Evidence10. The Question AnsweredPART III. ENGLAND, 1066-1300: LAW11. Legal Outline12. Sketch of Procedure13. The Duel in Finance14. The Approver15. The Champion16. Some Churchmen’s Champions17. Another Champion’s Contract18. Three Early Duels, A.D. 1096-116319. A Hibernian Hero20. Charters and Charter Stories21. An Incident, A.D. 126722. Reactionary Signs23. Review and ProspectPART IV. SCOTLAND TILL 1300: LAW24. In Early Scotland25. Under David the First26. Under William the Lion27. Writ of Right28. The Battle29. An Argument30. Exemptions from Duel31. Regiam Majestâtem32. In the Regiam33. Crime in the Regiam34. Under Alexander II and after35. The Duel Described36. March Law37. ’The Lawis of Merchis,’ A.D. 124938. Recorded Duels from 115539. A Great Trial, A.D. 124240. Merse and Kyle, A.D. 1264-66.41. Baron Courts of the Bruces, A.D. 129242. By 1300PART V. ENGLAND, 1300-1603: LAW AND CHIVALRYSection First - THE DUEL OF LAW43. Continued Decline after 13004. The Prior of Tynemouth’s Champion45. Magic, A.D. 135546. The Last Approver’s Duel, A.D. 145647. An Elizabethan Scene, A.D. 1571Section Second-THE DUEL OF CHIVALRY48. A French Edict, A.D. 130649. The Rise of Chivalry50. Precedents, A.D. 1350-5251. Transmarine Treason, A.D. 1380-8452. The Court of Chivalry53. In Chaucer54. A Contrast and Conclusion55. Richard II56. A Royal Jest, A.D. 139957. Some Treason-Duels58. The end of Chivalry59. A Summary with an ExceptionPART VI. SCOTLAND, 1300-1603: CHIVALRY60. Before Bannockburn61. Before Halidon Hill62. The Law and Custom in 135463. Three half-told Stories, 1362-9564. Border Duels till 139665. ’Vegetius’ in Scotland66. ’The Maner of Battale’67. International Tilting68. A New Conclusion69. Precedents for the Inch of Perth70. Preliminaries - Inch of Perth71. The Inch of Perth, A.D. 139672. Facts and Suppositions, 1398-141273. On ’The Order of Combats’74. ’The Order of Combats’75. The Scottish Court of Chivalry76. Stray Duels, A.D. 1426-5677 In Parliament and Burgh Court78. Note on the Passing of Chivalry79. Pitscottie’s Dutchman, A.D. 150080. John Major’s Homily81. Under James V82. Rise of Private Duels83. An Interlude, A. D. 1549.84. Two Historic Cartels85. The last Trial by Combat86. The Act of Parliament of 160087. A Final Episode88. On the Borders89. Scottish SummaryPART VII. BRITAIN, 1603-181990. Last Words on Scotland91. England under James I92. England under Charles I93. Appeal of Murder Act, 181994. The End