Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/359

 Ch. 9. months after the king's demie, unles ooner diplaced by the ucceor. We may farther oberve, that by tatute 1 Ric. II. c. 11. no man, that has erved the office of heriff for one year, can be compelled to erve the ame again within three years after.

hall find it is of the utmot importance to have the heriff appointed according to law, when we conider his power and duty. Thee are either as a judge, as the keeper of the king's peace, as a miniterial officer of the uperior courts of jutice, or as the king's bailiff.

his judicial capacity he is to hear and determine all caues of forty hillings value and under, in his county court, of which more in it's proper place: and he has alo judicial power in divers other civil caes. He is likewie to decide the elections of knights of the hire, (ubject to the control of the houe of commons) of coroners, and of verderors; to judge of the qualification of voters, and to return uch as he hall determine to be duly elected.

the keeper of the king's peace, both by common law and pecial commiion, he is the firt man in the county, and uperior in rank to any nobleman therein, during his office. He may apprehend, and commit to prion, all perons who break the peace, or attempt to break it: and may bind any one in a recognizance to keep the king's peace. He may, and is bound ex officio to, purue and take all traitors, murderers, felons, and other midoers, and commit them to gaol for afe cutody. He is alo to defend his county againt any of the king's enemies when they come into the land: and for this purpoe, as well as for keeping the peace and puruing felons, he may command all the people of his county to attend him; which is called the poe comitatus, or power of the county : which ummons every peron above fifteen years old, and under the degree of a peer, is bound to at- Rh