The duellium seems to have been particularly in vogue at this time.
‘There chanced a single combat betwixt James Hepburn of Moreham and one
Birnie, a skinner in Edinburgh [at St Leonard’s Craigs]. They were both
slain [and buried the morning after]. The occasion and quarrel was not
thought to be great nor yet necessary. Hepburn alleged and maintained
that there was seven sacraments; Birnie would have but two, or else he
would fight. The other was content with great protestations that he
would defend his belief with the sword; and so, with great earnestness,
they yoked, and thus the question was decided.’--_P. And._
[Sidenote: 1596-7.]
There was a traditionary tale in Edinburgh, which Sir Walter Scott had
heard in his youth, and which he narrated to the author of this work in
1824, to the effect that, a gentleman having been foully murdered by a
man of formidable repute as a swordsman, his widow brought forward two
sons in succession to challenge the murderer to mortal combat, and when
these had fallen, did not scruple even to send a third, her youngest
and favourite, to avenge the slaughter of the rest; thus imitating, as
Sir Walter remarked, the conduct of Don Arias Gonzalo, in sending his
three sons in succession to meet Don Diego Ordoñez, when the latter
challenged the people of Zamora for sheltering the traitor Vellido--as
related in the _Chronicle of the Cid_.[224] The two first youths, like
the sons of Don Diego, ‘died like good men in their duty;’ but the
third slew the murderer. The last fight, said Sir Walter, took place on
Cramond Island in the Firth of Forth, and since then there has been no
such combat permitted. Apparently the basis of this story is as follows:
[Sidenote: MAR. 15.]
James Carmichael, second son of the Laird of Carmichael, had killed
Stephen Bruntfield, captain of Tantallon, in a duel at St Leonard’s
Craigs, 22d December 1596. Adam Bruntfield, brother of the deceased,
‘allegit that James Carmichael had slain his brother by treason, having
promisit to meet him hand to hand, and had brought others with him to
his slaughter, and therefore was a traitor. The other stood to his
denial, and they baith seyit [tried] their moyen [influence] at his
majesty’s hands for ane license to fecht, whilk with great difficulty
was granted by his grace.’ They met on Barnbougle Sands or Links,[225]
in the presence of a great multitude, and with the Duke of Lennox, the
Laird of Buccleuch, Sir James Sandilands, and Lord Sinclair, to act as
judges. ‘The one was clothed in blue taffeta, the other in red sattin.’
Carmichael, who was ‘as able a like man as was living,’ seemed at first
to have great advantage over Adam Bruntfield, who was ‘but ane young
man, and of mean stature;’ and at the first encounter he struck Adam
on the loin. To the surprise of all, however, Bruntfield ‘strikes him
in the craig [neck], and syne loups aboon him, and gives him sundry
straiks with his dagger, and sae slays him. Adam Bruntfield is convoyit
to Edinburgh with great triumph as ane victorious captain; and the
other borne in deid.’--_Bir._ _Pa. And._ _C. K. Sc._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1597.