[8] “Hist. of the Norman Conquest,” ii. 34.
[9] “De sorte qu’on a long-temps douté si un ecclésiastique pouvoit, sans hazard d’irrégularité, faire exercer Justice de sang en sa terre; estant chose étrange qu’on puisse commettre à autruy, ce qu’on ne peut faire soi-mesme” (Loyseau, Œuvres, ed. 1701, p. 4).
[10] Placita de Quo Waranto, p. 479.
[11] Chron. William of Malmesbury, ed. Stubbs, i. 171.
An interesting story is told of the rescue by a bishop of a man in the year 1184. One, Gilbert Plumpton, actually had the rope round his neck when the bishop passed by. He ordered the executioners to let the man down, alleging that the day was Sunday, and besides the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. But he had heard the people crying out that Plumpton was innocent, and he believed them. On threat of excommunication the executioners loosed the rope. The bishop prevailed with the king to spare Plumpton’s life. Plumpton remained in prison till the death of the king (Chron. Roger de Hoveden, ed. Stubbs, ii. 286).
[12] Annales de Waverleia (in Annales Monastici), ed. Luard, ii. 395. Waverley Abbey, which, by the way, has nothing to do with Scott’s “Waverley,” was founded in 1218, being the first Cistercian Abbey in England. The abbey is, of course, in ruins, but the abbat’s mill still exists, and the place retains more of the character of a monastery than any I have seen. Cobbett, who was born at Farnham, not far distant, speaks of the ruins, which probably inspired one of the best passages in his writing. (“Hist. of the Protestant Reformation,” pars. 184, 155.) In one of the abbey’s charters mention is made of the oak of Tilford as existing in the time of Stephen. It is to-day one of the sights of this part of Surrey.
[13] Rot. Hund., i. 407, 417, 418, 422, 425, 429; Plac. de Quo War., pp. 478, 480.
[14] Spelman, “Glossarium,” s.v. Trailbaston. Rot. Parl. i. 178, 218-9; ii. 174; iii. 24.
[15] Annals of Tewkesbury, in Annal. Monas., ed. Luard i. 511-6.
[16] Dugdale, Monast. Anglic., ed. in 8 vols., vi. 240.