Note 227 — Chapter III · SECURITY OF THE ROADS

A characteristic example of thief-catching, the man being a vagabond, is in Thorold Rogers: William atte Lane had “feloniously bereft Richard [de Herbarton] of a striped gown, worth ten shillings.” Richard ran after him, “cum hutesio et clamore,” and the man was caught “by the bailiff of the liberty of Holywell, Oxford.” William pleaded not guilty and asked for a jury, “ponit se super patriam.” The jury found him guilty, ordered that he restitute the gown to Richard, and as he had no goods to make atonement, and was “a vagabond belonging to no ward,” he be hanged, “suspendatur,” (Dec. 8, 1337); the marginal note “susp.” shows that he was actually hanged. “Hist. of Agriculture,” ii. 665.