Patibular fork

A patibular fork was a gallows that consisted of two or more columns of stone, with a horizontal beam of wood resting on top.

[1] Those condemned to death were hanged from the wooden beam, their bodies left on the gallows for passers-by to see and for crows to devour.

[8] Only the king could have as many as he wished, and in principle, dukes had eight, counts six, barons four, chatelains three, and simple high justiciars two.

[9] There were, however, many exceptions to this general rule, and these varied, for example, according to the customary law of the various provinces and the history of each seigneury: The High Justice must obtain the King's authorization to erect new patibular forks, or to rebuild them if they have been down or destroyed for more than a year and a day.

[6] According to the thesis of Anne Lafran, quoted by Cécile Voyer of the Centre d'études supérieures de civilisation médiévale (Center of Advanced Studies in Medieval Civilization), the hanging and the disembowelment (by corvus) recall the death of Judas.