The Famous Stocking Case.
A woman and her daughter nine years old, were hanged in Huntingdon for selling their souls to the devil, and raising a storm by pulling off their stockings!—Ibid., p. 20.
Note 10.—Page 214.
Enslaving.
So young a king, and so ignorant a peasant were likely to make mistakes—and this is an instance in point. This peasant was suffering from this law by anticipation; the king was venting his indignation against a law which was not yet in existence: for this hideous statute was to have birth in this little king's own reign However, we know, from the humanity of his character, that it could never have been suggested by him.
Notes to Chapter XXIII.—Page 285.
Death for Trifling Larcenies.
When Connecticut and New Haven were framing their first codes, larceny above the value of twelve pence was a capital crime in England—as it had been since the time of Henry I.—Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's "Blue Laws, True and False," p. 17.
The curious old book called "The English Rogue" makes the limit thirteen pence ha'penny; death being the portion of any who steal a thing "above the value of thirteen pence ha'penny."
Notes to Chapter XXVII.—Page 317.
From many descriptions of larceny, the law expressly took away the benefit of clergy; to steal a horse, or a hawk, or woollen cloth from the weaver, was a hanging matter. So it was, to kill a deer from the king's forest, or to export sheep from the Kingdom.—Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's "Blue Laws, True and False," p. 13.
William Prynne, a learned barrister, was sentenced—[long after Edward the Sixth's time]—to lose both his ears in the pillory; to degradation from the bar; a fine of £3,000, and imprisonment for life. Three years afterwards, he gave new offence to Laud, by publishing a pamphlet against the hierarchy. He was again prosecuted, and was sentenced to lose what remained of his ears; to pay a fine of £5,000; to be branded on both his cheeks with the letters S. L. (for Seditious Libeller,) and to remain in prison for life. The severity of this sentence was equalled by the savage rigor of its execution.—Ibid., p. 12.
