The following paragraph is an extract from page 23 of Selby First 3 Hundred Million Years, (Farrar 1987).
Deborah Middleton a spinster from Hambleton pleaded guilty to stealing 5 hens valued at 18d (approximately 8 ½p pence today) and a capon worth 8d (approximately 3 ½ today) from Robert Lund. She pleaded guilty but was too poor to pay the fine so she was whipped. A capon is a cockerel that has been castrated.