1S4 *HB FORESTS OF ^NGLAljD. 



doo the cure/ and layd downe the corse and went his waye, 

 and Mr Gylpyn did berye the childe.' 



" The History of Halifax in Yorkshire, published in 1712, 

 sets forth ' a true account of their ancient, odd, customary 

 gibbet-law ; and their particular form of trying and exe- 

 cuting of criminals, the like not us'd in any other place in 

 Great Britain.' This law prevailed only within the Forest 

 of Hardwick, which was subject to the lord of the manor 

 of Wakefield, a part of the Duchy of Lancaster. If a felon 

 were taken within the liberty of the forest with cloth,' or 

 other commodity, of the value of thirteenpence-halfpenny, 

 he was, after three market-days from his apprehension and 

 condemnation, to be carried to the gibbet, and there have 

 his head cut off from his body. When first taken, he was 

 brought to the lord's bailiff in Halifax, who kept the town, 

 had also the keeping of the axe, and was the executioner 

 at the gibbet. This officer summoned a jury of frith- 

 burghers to try him on the evidence of witnesses not upon 

 oath ; if acquitted, he was set at liberty upon payment of 

 his fees ; if convicted, he was set in the stocks on each of 

 the three subsequent market-days in Halifax, with the 

 stolen goods on his back, if they were portable ; if not, 

 tliey were set before his face. This was for a terror to 

 otherSj and to engage any who had aught against him to 

 bring accusations, although after the three market-days he 

 was sure to be executed for the offence already proved 

 upon him. But the convict had the satisfaction of know- 

 ing, that after he was put to death it was the duty of the 

 coroner to summon a jury, 'and sometimes the same jury 

 that condemned him,' to inquire into the cause of his 

 death, and that a return thereof would be made into the 

 crown-office ; ' which gracious and sage proceedings of the 

 coroner in that matter ought, one would think, to abate, 

 in all considering minds, that edge of acrimony which hath 

 provoked malicious and prejudiced persons to debase this 

 laudable and necessary custom.' 



"In April 165U, Abraham Wilkinson and Anthony 



