The Last Duel - A Film

 In 1386 Marguerite de Carrouges watched a duel to the death that would decide her fate. She had accused Sir Jacques ld Gris of rape. A trial by combat riveted the French nobility as Le Gris was pitted against Marguerite’s husband and champion Sir Jean de Carrouges. If he was killed, she would be declared a false accuser and burned alive. She has largely been accused of mistaken identity or of lies. Her report is filed in the Parlement of Paris. The defendant had an alibi and was offered a chance to defend himself in court. The Court preferred his story but failed to reach a verdict so the duel was authorised under the ancient theory that God would reveal the truth on the battlefield. 

 

Her allegations were closely and repeatedly questioned and examined. Her charges run to nearly 1000 words in legal Latin. Marguerite accuses not only Jaques le Gris but also an accomplice Adam Louvel.  He helped lay the trap for her. He had once served under Jean de Corrouges. Marguerite testified that on that day January 18 1386 while lodging with their mother in law at a nearly deserted Château at Capomesnil, Norman estate, she was first approached by Louvel who accosted her at the Manor house and made an unwelcome romantic appeal on behalf of LeGris. She had no wish to speak toLe Gris who suddenly burst in declaring her the Lady of all land. He swore that he loved her most and would do anything for her. Marguerite demanded that Le Gris not speak to her in this way. He then seized her by the hand and pulled her down beside him on the bench, telling her that he knew all about her husbands recent money troubles and offering to pay her abundantly. When Marguerite adamantly refused to suffer the violence, it quickly escalated. The two men dragged her upstairs where she was forced onto the bed and her mouth covered with a cap. She struggled hard. She testified that he ordered Louvel to help hold her down while Le Gris  raped her. Le Gris’ lawyer, Jean Le Coq, had a private notebook that was printed in 1500 and reveals that he was impressed by Marguerite’s testimony and had serious doubts about his client’s truthfulness.Le Gris was a cleric in minor orders and his lawyer urged him to avoid risk by claiming benefit of clergy. Clergy accused of serious crimes including rape and murder could obtain a change of venue from the secular courts to a church court, where they were likely to receive a lenient sentence. Studies show statistics that mediaeval clerics on rape charges were out of all proportion to their numbers in society. Benefit of Clergy was a rule to get clerics off serious charges. LevGris refused to have this benefit accorded to him. 

By Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk