[37] “Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey,” 1868, pp. 384-5.
[38] Chron. Walter of Coventry, ed. Stubbs, ii. 251-2; Gregory’s Chron. (Camden Socy.), p. 63; Chron. Grey Friars, in Mon. Francisc., ed. Howlett, ii. 146; Capgrave, ed. Hingeston, p. 151. Coggeshall, Chron. Angl., ed. Stevenson, p. 11.
[39] “Tractus” is the usual form; for the other forms see, for example, Chron. Angliæ, ed. Thompson, p. 2; Chron. Barth. Cotton, ed. Luard, pp. 132, 159, 164, 166.
[40] See illustration in Annals, under year 1242.
[41] Annals, under year 1196.
[42] “Et super corium bovinum tractus, ne concito moreretur” (Annales de Vigornia, in Annales Monastici, ed. Luard, iv. 523).
[43] “Liber Assisarum, Le Livre des Assises et Pleas del’ Corone,” &c. Sir Robert Brook, 1679. This sentence contains the first mention of the hurdle in this connection. In the Popish Plot sentences “sledge” and “hurdle” are used indifferently as names for the same thing.
[44] Chronicles: Waverley, ed. Luard, ii. 378; Flores Hist. ed. Luard, iii. 24-6; Osney (in Annales Monastici, ed. Luard, iv. 251); Cotton, ed. Luard, p. 148; an account unfavourable to the prior is found in Liber de Antiq. Leg., Riley’s translation, pp. 150-3.
[45] Matthew Paris, Chron. Majora, ed. Luard, iii. 497, 498.
[46] Chrons. Osney, Worcester, in Annales Monas. ed. Luard, iv. 294, 488. Between the executions for high treason of Prince David and Sir William Wallace, comes that, in 1295, of Sir Thomas de Turberville. His crime was undoubtedly high treason, but the punishment was abnormal; he was drawn to the gallows, and there hanged, no doubt alive, by a chain of iron. See Annals, under the year. A passage in “Fleta,” written about 1285, seems to indicate that at the time the character of the punishment was not rigorously fixed: “If he is found guilty, he shall undergo the last punishment (ultimum supplicium) with aggravation of the corporeal penalty” (book i., chap. xxi).