e top of the frame, is there fastened by a
wooden pin (with a notch made in the same, after the manner of a
Samson's post), unto the middest of which pin also there is a long rope
fastened, that cometh down among the people; so that when the offender
hath made his confession, and hath laid his neck over the nethermost
block, every man there present doth either take hold of the rope (or
putteth forth his arm so near to the same as he can get, in token that
he is willing to see justice executed), and pulling out the pin in this
manner, the head-block wherein the axe is fastened doth fall down with
such a violence, that if the neck of the transgressor were so big as
that of a bull, it should be cut in sunder at a stroke, and roll from
the body by a huge distance. If it be so that the offender be
apprehended for an ox, sheep, kine, horse, or any such cattle, the self
beast or other of its kind shall have the end of the rope tied somewhere
unto them, so that they, being driven, do draw out the pin, whereby the
offender is executed."

In the illustration we give, which is a reproduction of an old picture,
it will be observed that a horse is drawing the rope to loosen the pin,
and to allow the axe to fall and cut off the head of the victim. The
doomed man had doubtless stolen the horse. Near the gibbet are assembled
the jurymen, and the parish priest is engaged in prayer.

[Illustration: HALIFAX GIBBET.]

Before a felon was condemned to suffer, the proof of certain facts
appears to have been essentially necessary. In the first place, he
was to be taken in the liberty of the forest of Hardwick, and if he
escaped out of it, even after condemnation, he could not be brought back
to be executed; but if he ever returned into the liberty again, and was
taken, he was sure to suffer. It is recorded that a man named Lacy
escaped, and resided seven years out of the forest, but returning, was
beheaded on the former verdict. This person was not so wise as one
Dinnis, who, having been condemned to die, escaped out of the liberty on
the day fixed for his execution (which might be done by running in one
direction about five hundred yards), and never returned. Meeting several
people that asked if Dinnis was not to be beheaded on that day, his
answer was, "I trow not," which, having some humour in it, became a
proverbial saying in the district, and is used to this day--"'I trow
not,' quoth Dinnis." In the next place, the fact was to be proved