[462] Ephr. Gerhardi Tract. Jurid. de Judic. Duellico, cap. iii. § 7, et Mantissa.—Dreyer, Anmerckung von den Quellgesetzen, p. 160.—Meyer, Der Gerichtliche Zweikampf, 1873. Gerhardt gives from a MS. of the fifteenth century in the Grand-ducal Library of Saxe-Gotha a rude representation of the first stage of one of these combats, which is here reduced in facsimile. A MS. at Wolfenbüttel has a miniature virtually the same. In another representation of these combats, the antagonists are furnished with curved knives (Würdinger, Beiträge, p. 18).
In many places, however, crimes which a man was forced to disprove by combat were subject to the ordeal of hot iron or water when the accused was a woman. Thus, by the Spanish law of the thirteenth century, “Muger ... salvese por fierro caliente; e si varon fuere legador ... salvese por lid”—Fuero de Baeça (Villadiego, Fuero Juzgo fol. 317a).
[463] Patetta, Le Ordalie, p. 159.
[464] Capit. Ludov. Pii I. ann. 819, cap. X.
[465] Ughelli, T. II. p. 122 (Du Cange).
[466] Addunt insuper, quoniam si aliquis militum sacerdotes Dei in crimine pulsaverit per pugnam sive singulari certamine esse decernendum.—De Pressuris Eccles.
[467] Muratori Script. Rer. Ital. II. II. 499, 505.
[468] Clericus ... si duellum sine episcopi licentia susceperit ... aut assultum fecerit, episcopis per pecuniam emendetur.—Orderic. Vital. P. II. Lib. V. c. 5.
[469] Goffrid. Vindocinens. Lib. III. Epist. 39.