Trial by Combat

Although 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. "All the authorities on the subject, I believe, are collected in this excellent book." --Sir Frederick Pollock, The Genius of the Common Law.