Wiltshire Quarter Sessions. 



105 



XX. — Criminal Jurisdiction. 



The principles which limited the jurisdiction of the Court of 

 Quarter Sessions in the trial of criminals exhibit no analogy to the 

 distinctions recognized at the present day. The penalty of death 

 is again and again imposed (to the number of seven capital 

 sentences, one on a woman, at a single sessions), and "peine 

 forte et dure " is adjudged. An unusually long entry is devoted to 

 the case of an outlaw who was charged with stealing a gelding : he 

 pleaded a previous acquittal on this selfsame accusation, but failed to 

 support his plea with any sufficient evidence, wherefore it is com- 

 manded to the Sheriff " quod suspendatur." Highway robbery was 

 generally visited with hanging and in one instance of murder the 

 sentence is that the convict be hanged in chains near the place of 

 the crime. In some cases execution was respited by warrant of 

 the Lord Chief J ustice. Burglary is dealt with, and the graver as 

 well as the lighter degrees of larceny. Whipping is unsparingly 

 dealt out, and the pillory had its victims for minor offences. These 

 sentences to the pillory are stated with a*pitiless particularity. For 

 three charges of cosenage an offender from Holt is thus treated: — 



" Wherefore lie has judgment of the pillory with both his ears fastened to the 

 same until he thence have torn them (dilaceravit). And afterwards to be com- 

 mitted to gaol there to remain for three months without bail for each offence." 



For the fabrication, writing and completion (confeclio, not the 

 publication, of which another prisoner was found guilty), of scandalous 

 libels, a native of Devizes was fined £10 : — 



" And to stand on the pillory in the Borough of Devizes on the next market 

 day there to be held, for the space of one hour at the time of market there, with 

 his right hand in the pillory aforesaid with a paper set over his head on which 

 paper shall be written in English these words following that is to say (for con- 

 trivinge of slaunderous libells,) and to be imprisoned until the fine aforesaid be 

 paid and afterwards until he find sureties for his appearance at the next Sessions 

 and for his good behaviour in the meantime." 



Robert Jeffrey of Wootten Bassett, had to pose in the same 

 attitude for two hours, in Marlborough, with a fine of 20s, His 

 misconduct took the by no means uncommon form of assault and 

 affray, but he was injudicious in his selection of time and place. 



