"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 ...