The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-12
BY THE KINGS
EDICT
By MARTHA L. WRIGHT
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation. 1871.

STORY.
Koyle had Just come of age. and
there was a celebration in honor Of the
event on his fathers farm. The young
men and maidens danced on the green
and it was noticed that Edmond Koyle
and Margaret Manning, comely lass
Of nineteen years, danced many times
| together Moreover some who were
there saw old Simon Winter standing
by himself looking on at the couple,
scowling and tapping his foot angrlly
on the floor, for he had that day APP
piled to Farmer Manning for Margaret
to wife, and now he saw that her heart
! was going out to Koyle.
That night the church was robbed
of the silver service plate, and, search
being made, 1t was found hid in the
barn on the farm to which young
Koyle had the day before come to an
inheritance. his father having died two
year agone. And there were those
who averred that they had seen Ed
mond carrying plumber from the
church at dead OF night
So the young man was tried before
the judge, and those persons who
claimed that they had seen him carry
ing a load from the church swore to
the fact, and Edmond was sentenced
to be hanged by the neck till he was
dead.
Edmond was defended before the
Judge by Montgomery, his advocate, In
this wise:
Most worshipful sir, there be a con
spIracy on the part of Simon Winter to
ruin my client, that the said Winter
may put away a rival. This man,
who has a farm and much cattle and
sheep, did propose to Farmer Manning
for his daughter. a comely wench, and
the proposal was accepted by Farmer
Manning.
Then came the prisoner and on
the day he was Of age danced merrily
with Margaret Manning, and Simon
Winter. being jealous, did hire men for
pay to rob the church and place the
plate I'm Edmond Koye's barn. that he
might make 1t appear that the sacri-
lege had been done by Koyle, Winter
having the intent TO injure Koyle
that he should cease TO be rival for
the band Of Margaret Manning.
Therefore, | pray you. most wor-
shipful sir, to let my client go free,
or II you are not satisfied of his in
nocence he will willingly decide wheth-
er he or Winter is guilty of this sacri- |
lege by deadly combat"
But Winter. being no match for !
young man. declined the combat and
the judge was constrained to pro
nounce the accused guilty and pass
sentence upon him.
Then did Margaret, who was in the /
court. fall down in swoon and was
carried to her fathers house.
When the day came that Edmond I
Koyle was TO be executed the people /
In those parts came to see, some in
wagons, some on foot and some on 4
the women riding on pill 1
lions behind the men. so that great 4
crowd was collected And there were 1
present many friends of Koyle, who
knew him to be innocent of the crime /
charged against him, and they muir
INJURED that he should be hanged for a
crime he had not committed. Among I
the spectators sat Farmer Manning
and his wife and between them Mar
garet, their daughter. And the people
greatly to see maiden sit
ting by the scaffold on which the man
she loved was to suffer death. But
near her sat Montgomery. who had
spoken in Koyle's behalf before the
All looked for Simon
wondering mayhap If he
would venture to attend the execution
But he dare not come. fearing the
people
Then came forth Edmond Koyle, be
ng pale of countenance. but walking
With firm step and head erect Be
ore the cap was put over his face he
stepped to the front of the seaffold
md spoke the words which all who
ire condemned TO die may at the last
say to the people But all he
poke was that he was innocent
Then when the executioner was
bout to make ready for the hanging
montgomery looked at Margaret. and
he, rising in her seat. said to the
heriff:
II claim this man in marriage"
The people marveled and the sher
e., paying no heed TO Margaret's de-
nand. told the executioner to proceed.
,ut up stands Montgomery and cries
ut with loud voice
II protest against the execution as
Illegal"
''In what respect?" asks the sheriff.
'There is an edict of our sovereign.
King Edward ~. commanding that
I woman shall demand in marriage
ny man condemned to death he shall
o free and be given to the woman"
And Montgomery took parchment to
he sheriff and showed him the ediet,
nd the sheriff read and ordered that
he prisoner be given to Margaret.
Then all rose up and went to the
hurch. consoled for not seeing
angling by being given view Of a
yedding. But they were after all not
ltisfied without a hanging, and when
imon Winter came to see what was
j the wind they made rush for him,
nd, taking him to the scaffold, where
II was in readiness for such a specta-
Ie. they hanged him instead Of his In
snded victim.