in speaking of that age, designate it
as "l'epoque de la fureur des duels." The parliament of Paris endeavoured,
as far as in its power lay, to discourage the practice. By a decree dated
the 26th of June 1559, it declared all persons who should be present at
duels, or aiding and abetting in them, to be rebels to the king,
transgressors of the law, and disturbers of the public peace.

When Henry III. was assassinated at St. Cloud in 1589, a young gentleman,
named L'Isle-Marivaut, who had been much beloved by him, took his death so
much to heart, that he resolved not to survive him. Not thinking suicide
an honourable death, and wishing, as he said, to die gloriously in
revenging his king and master, he publicly expressed his readiness to
fight any body to the death, who should assert that Henry's assassination
was not a great misfortune to the community. Another youth, of a fiery
temper and tried courage, named Marolles, took him at his word, and the
day and place of the combat were forthwith appointed. When the hour had
come, and all were ready, Marolles turned to his second, and asked whether
his opponent had a casque or helmet only, or whether he wore a _sallade_,
or headpiece. Being answered a helmet only, he said gaily, "So much the
better; for, sir my second, you shall repute me the wickedest man in all
the world, if I do not thrust my lance right through the middle of his
head and kill him." Truth to say, he did so at the very first onset, and
the unhappy L'Isle-Marivaut expired without a groan. Brantome, who relates
this story, adds, that the victor might have done as he pleased with the
body, cut off the head, dragged it out of the camp, or exposed it upon an
ass; but that being a wise and very courteous gentleman, he left it to the
relatives of the deceased to be honourably buried, contenting himself with
the glory of his triumph, by which he gained no little renown and honour
among the ladies of Paris.

[Illustration: HENRY IV.]

On the accession of Henry IV. that monarch determined to set his face
against duelling; but such was the influence of early education and the
prejudices of society upon him, that he never could find it in his heart
to punish a man for this offence. He thought it tended to foster a warlike
spirit among his people. When the chivalrous Crequi demanded his
permission to fight Don Philippe de Savoire, he is reported to have said,
"Go, and if I were not a king, I would be your second." It i