of the king's bench is the principal coroner in the kingdom, and may (if he pleaſes) exerciſe the juriſdiction of a coroner in any part of the realm[1]. But there are alſo particular coroners for every county of England; uſually four, but ſometimes ſix, and ſometimes fewer[2]. This officer[3] is of equal antiquity with the ſheriff; and was ordained together with him to keep the peace, when the earls gave up the wardſhip of the county.
He is ſtill choſen by all the freeholders in the county court, as by the policy of our antient laws the ſheriffs, and conſervators of the peace, and all other officers were, who were concerned in matters that affected the liberty of the people[4]; and as verderors of the foreſts ſtill are, whoſe buſineſs it is to ſtand between the prerogative and the ſubject in the execution of the foreſt laws. For this purpoſe there is a writ at common law de coronatore eligendo[5]: in which it is expreſſly commanded the ſheriff, "quod talem eligi faciat, qui melius et ſciat, et velit, et poſſit, officio illi intendere." And, in order to effect this the more ſurely, it was enacted by the ſtatute[6] of Weſtm. 1. that none but lawful and diſcreet knights ſhould be choſen: and there was an inſtance in the 5 Edw. III. of a man being removed from this office, becauſe he was only a merchant[7]. But it ſeems it is now ſufficient if a man hath lands enough to be made a knight, whether he be really knighted or not[8]: for the coroner ought to have eſtate ſufficient to maintain the dignity of his office, and anſwer any fines that may be ſet upon him for his miſbehaviour[9]; and if he hath not enough to anſwer, his fine ſhall be levied on the county, as a puniſhment for electing an inſufficient officer[10]. Now indeed, through the culpable neglect of gentlemen of property, this office has been ſuffered to fall into diſrepute, and get into low and indigent hands: ſo that, although formerly no coroners would con-
