taking us back to Tudor times,
illustrating the strange superstitions and the power exercised by the
nobility in that era. Some three hundred years ago the Peak of
Derbyshire was ruled by the iron hand of Sir George Vernon, who, from
the boundless magnificence of his hospitality at the famous Hall of
Haddon, was known throughout the country round as the "King of the
Peak." His "kingly" character was further supported by the stern
severity with which he dealt with all cases of dispute or crime that
came before him, even when human life was concerned; though it must be
added, that if strict, he was also just. The following is an instance of
his arbitrary and decisive manner of dealing with the lives of those who
came beneath his control, and shows his fondness for the exercise of the
summary processes of lynch-law. A wandering pedlar was one morning found
dead in an unfrequented part, evidently murdered. He had been hawking
his goods about the neighbourhood the previous day, and was in the
evening observed to enter a certain cottage, and after that was not
again seen alive. No sooner had Sir George Vernon become acquainted with
these facts than he caused the body to be conveyed to the hall, where it
was laid. The man occupying the cottage where the pedlar had last been
seen alive was then summoned to attend at the hall immediately, and on
arriving was met by the question, what had become of the pedlar who had
gone into his cottage on the previous evening? The fellow repudiated any
knowledge of him whatever, when the "King of the Peak" turned round,
drew off the sheet which had been placed over the dead body, and
ordered that everyone present should successively approach and touch it,
declaring at the same time each his innocence of the foul murder. The
cottar, who had retained his effrontery until now, shrank from the
ordeal, and declined to touch the body, running at once out of the hall,
through Bakewell village, in the direction of Ashford. Sir George,
coming, as he well might, to the conclusion that the suspicions which
had pointed to this man had been well founded, ordered his men to take
horse and pursue the murderer, and, overtaking him, to hang him on the
spot. They did so; he was caught in a field opposite to where the
toll-bar of Ashford stood, and there instantly hanged. The field is
still called "Galley Acre," or "Gallows Acre," on this account. It is
stated that for this exercise of his powers in summary justic