TheQueenappearstohavedisapprovedpersonallyofthismodeofsettlingadisputedclaim，butherjudgesandlegaladvisersmadenoattempttoalterthebarbarouslaw。Thepracticeofprivateduellingexcitedmoreindignation，fromitsbeingofevery-dayoccurrence。InthetimeofJamesItheEnglishweresoinfectedwiththeFrenchmadness，thatBacon，whenhewasAttorney-general，lenttheaidofhispowerfuleloquencetoeffectareformationoftheevil。InformationswereexhibitedintheStarChamberagainsttwopersons，namedPriestandWright，forbeingengaged，asprincipalandsecond，inaduel，onwhichoccasionhedeliveredachargethatwassohighlyapprovedofbytheLordsoftheCouncil，thattheyorderedittobeprintedandcirculatedoverthecountry，asathing“verymeetandworthytoberememberedandmadeknownuntotheworld。“Hebeganbyconsideringthenatureandgreatnessofthemischiefofduelling。“Ittroublethpeace——itdisfurnishethwar——itbringethcalamityuponprivatemen，periluponthestate，andcontemptuponthelaw。Touchingthecausesofit，“heobserved，“thatthefirstmotiveofit，nodoubt，isafalseanderroneousimaginationofhonourandcredit；butthen，theseedofthismischiefbeingsuch，itisnourishedbyvaindiscoursesandgreenandunripeconceits。Hereuntomaybeadded，thatmenhavealmostlostthetruenotionandunderstandingoffortitudeandvalour。
Forfortitudedistinguishethofthegroundsofquarrelwhethertheybejust；andnotonlyso，butwhethertheybeworthy，andsettethabetterpriceuponmen’slivesthantobestowthemidly。Nay，itisweaknessanddisesteemofaman’sselftoputaman’slifeuponsuchliedgerperformances。Aman’slifeisnottobetrifledwith:itistobeofferedupandsacrificedtohonourableservices，publicmerits，goodcauses，andnobleadventures。Itisinexpenseofbloodasitisinexpenseofmoney。Itisnoliberalitytomakeaprofusionofmoneyuponeveryvainoccasion，neitherisitfortitudetomakeeffusionofblood，exceptthecauseofitbeworth。“[See“LifeandCharacterofLordBacon，“byThomasMartin，Barrister-at-law。]
ThemostremarkableeventconnectedwithduellinginthisreignwasthatbetweenLordSanquir，aScotchnobleman，andoneTurner，afencing-master。Inatrialofskillbetweenthem，hislordship’seyewasaccidentallythrustoutbythepointofTurner’ssword。Turnerexpressedgreatregretatthecircumstance，andLordSanquirborehislosswithasmuchphilosophyashewasmasterof，andforgavehisantagonist。Threeyearsafterwards，LordSanquirwasatParis，wherehewasaconstantvisitoratthecourtofHenryIV。Oneday，inthecourseofconversation，theaffablemonarchinquiredhowhehadlosthiseye。Sanquir，whopridedhimselfonbeingthemostexpertswordsmanoftheage，blushedasherepliedthatitwasinflictedbytheswordofafencing-master。Henry，forgettinghisassumedcharacterofanantiduellist，carelessly，andasamerematterofcourse，inquiredwhetherthemanlived？Nothingmorewassaid，butthequerysankdeepintotheproudheartoftheScotchbaron，whoreturnedshortlyafterwardstoEngland，burningforrevenge。Hisfirstintentwastochallengethefencing-mastertosinglecombat，but，onfurtherconsideration，hedeemeditinconsistentwithhisdignitytomeethimasanequalinfairandopenfight。Hethereforehiredtwobravos，whosetuponthefencing-master，andmurderedhiminhisownhouseatWhitefriars。Theassassinsweretakenandexecuted，andarewardofonethousandpoundsofferedfortheapprehensionoftheiremployer。
LordSanquirconcealedhimselfforseveraldays，andthensurrenderedtotakehistrial，inthehopehappilyfalsethatJusticewouldbeliehername，andbelenienttoamurdererbecausehewasanobleman，who，onafalsepointofhonour，hadthoughtfittotakerevengeintohisownhands。Themostpowerfulintercessionswereemployedinhisfavour，butJames，tohiscredit，wasdeaftothemall。Bacon，inhischaracterofAttorney-general，prosecutedtheprisonertoconviction；andhediedthefelon’sdeath，onthe29thofJune，1612，onagibbeterectedinfrontofthegateofWestminsterHall。
Withregardtothepublicduel，ortrialbybattle，demandedunderthesanctionofthelaw，toterminateaquarrelwhichtheordinarycourseofjusticecouldwithdifficultydecide，Baconwasequallyopposedtoit，andthoughtthatinnocaseshoulditbegranted。Hesuggestedthatthereshouldbedeclaredaconstantandsettledresolutioninthestatetoabolishitaltogether；thatcareshouldbetakenthattheevilbenomorecockered，northehumourofitfed，butthatallpersonsfoundguiltyshouldberigorouslypunishedbytheStarChamber，andtheseofeminentqualitybanishedfromthecourt。