ɪnðə sˈɛvəntˌiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi bɹˈɪɡændz ænd fˈʊtpædz pɹˈeɪd əpˌɑːn tɹˈævɛlɚz ɚɹˈaʊnd ðə kˈɑːmən, ðə mˈoʊst fˈeɪməs ʌvwˈɪtʃ wʌzðə "wˈɪkᵻd lˈeɪdi", ɐ hˈaɪweɪwˌʊmən klˈeɪmd, ˈæftɚ hɜː dˈɛθ, tə hɐvbɪn lˈeɪdi kˈæθɹɪn fˈɜːɹɚz ʌv mˈɑːɹkɪˌeɪt.
In the 17th century brigands and footpads preyed upon travellers around the common, the most famous of which was the "Wicked Lady", a highwaywoman claimed, after her death, to have been Lady Katherine Ferrers of Markyate.