Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/363

 Ch. 9. of the king's bench is the principal coroner in the kingdom, and may (if he pleaes) exercie the juridiction of a coroner in any part of the realm. But there are alo particular coroners for every county of England; uually four, but ometimes ix, and ometimes fewer. This officer is of equal antiquity with the heriff; and was ordained together with him to keep the peace, when the earls gave up the wardhip of the county.

is till choen by all the freeholders in the county court, as by the policy of our antient laws the heriffs, and conervators of the peace, and all other officers were, who were concerned in matters that affected the liberty of the people ; and as verderors of the forets till are, whoe buines it is to tand between the prerogative and the ubject in the execution of the foret laws. For this purpoe there is a writ at common law de coronatore eligendo : in which it is exprely commanded the heriff, "quod talem eligi faciat, qui melius et ciat, et velit, et poit, officio illi intendere." And, in order to effect this the more urely, it was enacted by the tatute of Wetm. 1. that none but lawful and dicreet knights hould be choen: and there was an intance in the 5 Edw. III. of a man being removed from this office, becaue he was only a merchant. But it eems it is now ufficient if a man hath lands enough to be made a knight, whether he be really knighted or not : for the coroner ought to have etate ufficient to maintain the dignity of his office, and anwer any fines that may be et upon him for his mibehaviour ; and if he hath not enough to anwer, his fine hall be levied on the county, as a punihment for electing an inufficient officer. Now indeed, through the culpable neglect of gentlemen of property, this office has been uffered to fall into direpute, and get into low and indigent hands: o that, although formerly no coroners would con- Rh