among the Romans, the common executioner. By reason of the odiousness of his office, the carnifex was expressly prohibited by the laws from having his dwelling house within the city. In middle-age writers—carnifex also denotes a butcher.

Under the Anglo-Danish kings, the carnifex was an officer of great dignity; being ranked with the archbishop of York, Earl Goodwin, and the lord steward. Flor. Wigorn. ann. 1040, Rex Hardecanutus, Africum Ebor. Archiep. Goodwinum comitem, Edricum dispensa-

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