OF SELBORNE. 



6*27 



not unworthy of notice. There is on the south side of 

 the king's field (a large common field so called) a con- 

 siderable tumulus, or hillock, now covered with thorns 

 and bushes, and known by the name of Kite's Hill, 

 which is presented, year by year, in court as not 

 ploughed. Why this injunction is still kept up respect- 

 ing this spot, which is surrounded on all sides by arable 

 land, may be a question not easily solved, since the 

 usage has long survived the knowledge of the intention 

 thereof. We can only suppose that as the prior, be- 

 sides thurset and pillory, had also/ureas, a power of life 

 and death, that he might have reserved this little emi- 

 nence as the place of execution for delinquents. And 

 there is the more reason to suppose so, since a spot 

 just by is called Gaily [Gallows] Hill. 



The lower part of the village next the Grange, in 

 which is a pond and a stream, is well known by the 



WAY LEADING TO GKACIOUS SfRliET. 



name of Gracious Street, an appellation not at all 

 understood. There is a lake in Surrey, near Chobham, 

 called also Gracious Pond : and another, if we mistake 



s s 2 



