Trial by combat
Courtesy of the British National Archives website, I can now share with you my favorite image of a judicial duel. I give you Blowberme v Stare [1249].



Walter Blowberme, a thief pictured fighting on the left, became an approver, which is to say he agreed to convict some of his thieving accomplices by judicial duels in return for his own freedom. He accused Hamo the Stare of helping him to steal some clothing. The unlucky Hamo lost the battle and is pictured hanging on the gallows. That's what happens if you lie spent in posta longa when your opponant still has half a tempo to play with. But why does Walter appear to be traversing to the left, when that's where Hamo's weapon is? And what are the heads of those duelling batons made of, anyway? Such are the important questions that occupy my day.