The fair continued down till about twenty years since. The neighbouring Magdalen or “Morn” fair lasted four years longer. Dean Kitchin writes: “As the city grew stronger and the fair weaker, it slid down St. Giles’ hill and entered the town where its noisy ghost still holds revel once a year.” [Sidenote: Execution.] On the brow of St. Giles’ hill, Waltheof, Earl of Northumberland, was beheaded by order of the Conqueror. He had conspired with some other Saxons against the Norman invaders, and was betrayed by his wife--a niece of William’s. At dawn he was conducted through the city from the Castle, “arrayed in all the badges of his earl’s rank.” After distributing memorial gifts to a few of his friends who accompanied him, he was engaged in prayer so long that the executioners became tired and told him to hasten. He then begged to be allowed to say the Lord’s prayer, but, being overcome and halting in the middle of it, the headsman would wait no longer and the axe fell. It was said that after his head was off it finished the sentence, “Deliver us from evil.” This probably was thought by those who were surprised to see the lips move, as they often do, after decapitation.[45] FOOTNOTES: [33] This was the first place where the curfew was established. [34] Add. MSS. 6,768, British Museum. [35] Of the eleven streets mentioned in the Winton Domesday book, only two--“Mensterstret” and “Colobrockstret” retain their names. [36] Archbishop Trench. The name may have been more or less in use before. [37] Harl. MSS. 66. [38] Though one destroyed in Henry II.’s reign seems to have been near the Westgate. One existed in Henry III.’s reign. [39] Pat. Rolls, 5 Henry V., p. 2. [40] The Corporation of Winchester used to send this accommodating Marquess presents of sack and sugar-loaves. [41] There was great anxiety that the Mayor should keep up his dignity. He was not to be seen without his gown unless he was going into the country, and his wife was to wear a scarlet gown. In 1584 it was decreed that “no citizen that hath been bayliff of the city shall wear in the street hose or stockings of white, green, yellow, redde, blewe, weggett or oringe color.” [42] Among the Tanner MSS. 76 in the Bodleian there is a curious account (about 1600) of the devil appearing to four women who were in Winchester gaol. He came to the windows like a fire and shook the gratings, and on another occasion was like “a great black thing with great eyes.” The women screamed, and the keeper ran in but saw nothing. He observed however, that one of the candles he held in his hands blew out, and the other burnt blue, and that the devil had left an “unsavoury” odour in the room. [43] This chapel was burnt down in 1231. Perhaps both it and St. Catherine’s were originally of wood. A curious old dagger and spear head were found where the new house on the hill was built. [44] Pat. Rolls, 4 Henry III.