Change: the defendant.
After the plaintiff accused the defendant of dishonorable conduct the two would fight to the death before judges, a form of trial by combat.
Whichever knight survived the duel was found to be the innocent one. (6)
(1)http://www.medieval-life.net/chivalry.htm
(2)http://www.chronique.com/Library/Chivalry/code.htm
(3) http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall/chivalry.html
(4)http://www.thegreatbooks.com/books/details.php?ISBN=0231073054&return=www.thegreatbooks.com/courses/medieval.php
(5)http://www.medieval-life.net/chivalry.htm
(6)http://www.chronique.com/Library/Glossaries/glossary-KCT/gloss_j.htm#judicial%20duel
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