Please see the introduction of this series for more information on the authors and context.

One of the survivors of the Duel des Mignons died in another duel, three years later, on the 1st of May, 1581. As told by Pierre de Bourdeille:

Transcription

M. le marquis de Maignelais, fils ayné de M. de Pienne, estant nouvellement tourné d’Italie fraischement esmollu, et qui avoit fort bien appris à tirer des armes qu’il avoit des mieux en main, estant arrivé à la cour un soir au bal, prist querelle avec le seigneur de Livarot (celluy qui avoit esté l’un des six au combat de Quiélus et Entraguet) fust ou non avec juste occasion, je ne le dis point, sinon que plusieurs tenoient que de gayetté de coeur il avoit pris la querelle pour s’éprouver avec Livarot, qui se tenoit pour un mauvais garçon et grand mesprisant des autres depuis l’heureuse issue de son combat; et pour ce avoit esleu pour maîtresse une dame de la cour, belle certes, et ne vouloit qu’aucun la servist que luy, comme jaloux de sa beauté, de son honneur et de son bien. Cedict marquis, tout gentil et tout courageux en l’aage près de vingt ans, luy présente son service devant luy. L’autre haut à la main comme luy, l’attaqua peu à peu de parolles, enfin à bonne paille bien seiche le feu se prend aisément ; par ainsi s’entredonnèrent (sans faire grand bruict) le combat en une petite isle sur la rivière à Blois, sans second ne sans rien. Le matin doncques ne faillirent, chascun sur un beau courtaut montez, à comparoir, ayant pourtant chascun un laquais pour tenir leur chevaux. Le marquis ne faillyt dans deux coups tuer son homme d’une estocade franche, que je représenterois mieux que je la dirois, car il me l’avoit dict avant, et le rendit tout roide mort. Mais quel malheur pour luy ! Ainsi qu’il s’en retournoit, le laquais de Livarot, qui estoit un grand laquais et fort, et desjà portant espée, l’ayant caché une heure devant dans du sable (aucuns disent que ce fut de son propre mouvement, autres du commandement de son maistre, ce que ne croy, car il estoit trop gallant), vint par derrière, et luy donna un grand coup d’espée, dont il le tua tout roide mort, ledict marquis ne disant seulement (ainsi que l’autre l’eut atteint) : “Ah ! mon Dieu qu’est cecy ?” Ledict laquais fut aussitost pris, par le rapport d’aucuns qui le visrent, et fut tout aussitost pendu, ayant confessé le tout, et qu’il l’avoit faict pour venger la mort de son maistre. Plusieurs discourent là-dessus, que si l’un et l’autre eussent pris des seconds, ce malheur ne fust pas advenu par le laquais, et qu’il est fort besoin d’avoir des seconds pour plusieurs raisons qui se peuvent alléguer là-dessus, tant pour engarder et esviter supercheries que pour témoigner de leurs valeurs et poltronneries ;

Mr marquis de Maignelais, eldest son of Mr de Pienne, having recently come back from Italy, and having learned to use weapons very well and being among the best with them, arrived in the court one evening during a ball and took a quarrel with the lord of Livarot (the one who had been among the six in the fight between Quélus and Antraguet).

Was it or not a rightful dispute, I cannot say, but several hold that Maignelais caused the quarrel on purpose to measure himself with Livarot, who held himself for a bad boy and was very contemptuous of others since the happy ending of his fight. Livarot had for his mistress a lady of the court, beautiful indeed, and suffered no others to serve her, as if he were jealous of her beauty, of her honour and good. The marquis, gentle and brave and nearly twenty of age, offered his services in front of him. The other, also quick to take a fight, attacked him with words, and finally good dry straw easily catches fire; thus they resolved (without too much ado) to fight one another on a small island on the river in Blois, without seconds or anything.

In the morning they did not fail to show up, each riding a beautiful rouncey, but each with a lacquey to hold their horses. The marquis did not fail to kill his man within two blows with a committed thrust, which I would show better than I would describe, because he had told me about it earlier, and dropped him dead.

But woe to him! As he was coming back, Livarot’s lacquey, who was big and strong, and already able to carry a sword, having hidden it an hour before in the sand (some say of his own volition, others by the order of his master, which I do not believe since he was too brave), came from behind and give him a great sword blow, which dropped him dead. The marquis was only able to say (as the other wounded him) “Ah! My God, what is this?” The lacquey was soon taken, by the report of a few who saw him, and was soon hanged, having confessed the whole thing, and that he had done it to avenge his master.

More than a few discussed this, pointing out that if one and the other had taken seconds, this ill fate would not have occurred by the lacquey, and that seconds are much needed for several reasons, as much to guard oneself and avoid cheating as to bear witness of their values, or cowardice.

Brantôme, Discours sur les duels, p.320

Pierre de L’Estoile also gives an account of the fight (which is how we know the date). According to him, the sword was hidden the day before, and indeed upon Livarot’s command. We’ll probably never know…

This of course highlights the reason to have seconds. Do note that Brantôme seems to be mainly disturbed by the trickery and the fact that death came through the hands of a lacquey. There are other instances of duels that ended one against two. The account is also interesting because it shows that culprits could be swiftly found and executed even in a supposedly discrete duel. Presumably there had been witnessed others than Maignelais’ lacquey, from Brantôme’s wording. Who were these “few who saw him”? Hard to be sure. Certainly if Livarot had killed Maignelais, he wouldn’t have finished hanged like his lacquey…