( 3" ) 



efteemed fufficient precedents for all the other 

 foreft courts in England*. 



In the middle of Yorkfhire lies the wide 

 forefl of Knarefborough, once a very romantic 

 fcene ; now inclofed, and cultivated. A little 

 to the fouth lies Harewood ; and on the eaft, 

 Galtries, ftill a woody diftric~t, extending almoft 

 to the walls of York. 



Around Hallifax lies Hardwicke-foreft, 

 within the precincts 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-ftealing. The 

 offender within the fpace of two or three 

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

 cuted. The inftrument 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 preflure of 

 a heavy, weight, fell rapidly on the criminal's 

 neck. The axe is ftill fhewn at Hallifax. 



There were probably many other forefts 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 Foreft-Iaw, in varioxis parts. 



have 



