Sir George had once hanged a man to a tree on Bowling Green Hill by no other authority than his own desire.

That execution was the last in England under the old Saxon law of Infangthef and Outfangthef.

Sir George had been summoned before Parliament for the deed; but the writ had issued against the King of the Peak, and that being only a sobriquet, was neither Sir George's name nor his title.

So the writ was quashed, and the high-handed act of personal justice was not farther investigated by the authorities.

Should my cousin capture his daughter's lover, there would certainly be another execution under the old Saxon law.