Note 10 — Chapter III · THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

[Custom had permitted that when anyone had murdered, wounded, or beaten another the victim or his relatives might immediately avenge themselves by killing, wounding, or beating the offender or any of his relatives, even if the latter were ignorant of what had occurred. The ordinance of quarantaine-le-roi, forbade the injured to attack any of the offender’s family until after the lapse of forty days (une quarantaine). During the interval the offender himself was alone held answerable for his action. Furthermore, if either victim or offender chose to submit his cause to his suzerain he could secure inviolability (asseurement), for his goods and person, until a judicial decision had been given. When this inviolability had been demanded its breach was punishable by death.]