of Lancafter, and Pickering were always 

 efteemed the beft precedents of foreft-law*. 



In the middle of Yorkihire lies the wide 

 /oreft of Knarefborough, once a very romantic 

 fcene ; now inclofed, and cultivated. A little 

 to the fouth lies Harewood; and on the eaft, 

 XJaltries, ftill a woody diftricT:, extending almoil 

 to the walls of York. 



Around Hallifax lies Hardwicke-foreft, 

 within the precincls of which Hallifax-law, 

 as it was called, took place. It was a very 

 fevere jurifdiftion, veiled in the magiftrates 

 of the town, to punifh cloth-dealing. The 

 offender within the fpace of two or three 

 market-days, was tried, condemned, and exe- 

 cuted. The inflrument of his execution was 

 called a maiden. It was- a machine, in which 

 an axe was drawn up a confiderable height 

 between two pofts, and under the prefTure of 

 a heavy weight, fell rapidly on the criminal's 

 neck. The axe is flill fhewn at Hallifax. 



There were probably many other forefls in 

 Yorkfhire, but we can only trace with any 

 degree of certainty the fite of one more, which 

 is Hatfield-chace ; and this might likewife 



* See Manwood on Forefl-law, in various parts. 



have 



