CHAMPION, a person who under takes a combat in the place or quarrel of another ; and sometimes the word is used for him who fights in his own cause.
It appears that champions, in the just sense of the word, were persons who fought instead of those, that, by custom, were obliged to accept the duel, but had a just excuse for dispensing with it, as being too old, infirm, or being ecclesias tics, and the like. Such causes as could not be decided by the coutte of common law were often tried by single combat ; and he who had the good fortune to con quer was always reputed to have justice on his side. Champions, who fought for interest only, were held infamous : these hired themselves to the nobility, to fight for them in case of need, and did homage for their pension.
When two champions were chosen to maintain a cause, it was always required that there should be a decree of the judge to authorize the combat: when the judge had pronounced sentence, the ac cused threw a gage or pledge, originally a glove or gauntlet, which being taken up by the accuser, they were both taken in to safe custody, till the day of battle ap pointed by the judge.
Before the champions took the field, their heads were shaved to a kind of crown or round, which was left at the top : then they made an oath, that they believed the person who retained them to be in the right, &c. They always
engaged on foot, and with no other weapon than a club and a shield, which weapons were blessed in the field by the priest, with a world of ceremonies ; and they always made an offering to the church, that God might assist them in the battle.
The action began with railing, and giv ing each other ill language ; and at the sound of a trumpet, they went to blows. After the number of blows or encoun ters expressed in the cartel, the judges of the combat threw a rod into the air, to advertise the champions that the com bat was ended. If it lasted till night, or ended with equal advantage on both sides, the accused was reputed the vic tor. If the conquered champion fought in the cause of a woman, and it was a capital offence, the woman was burnt, and the champion banged. If it was the cham pion of a man, and the crime capital, the vanquished was immediately disarmed, led out of the field, and hanged, together with the party whose cause he maintain ed. If the crime was not capital, he not only made satisfaction, but had his right hand cut off: the accused was close confined in prison, till the battle was over.