Cottages and Curtelages.X. It is also to be inquired of Cottagers, that is to say, what Cottages and Curtelages they hold, and by what Service, and how much they do pay by the Year for all their Cottages and Curtelages.
Perquisites of Courts. XI. It is also to be inquired of Pleas and Perquisites of the Counties, of the Courts of the Forests, with Lawing of Dogs, and how much they be worth by the Year in all Issues.
Patronages.[1]XII. It is also to be inquired of Churches that belong to the Lords Gift, how many there be, and what, and where, and how much every Church is worth by the Year, after the true Estimation of the same.
Liberties, Customs, and Services.XIII. It is also to be inquired, what be the Value of Herriots, Fairs, Markets, Eschetes,[1] Customs, Services, and foreign Works and Customs, and what the Pleas and Perquisites of Courts, Fines, and Reliefs, and all other Casualties are worth by the Year, that may fall in any of these Things.
A Statute De Officio Coronatoris, made Anno 4 Edw. I. Stat. 2. and Anno Dom. 1276.
Of what Things a Coroner shall inquire.
[1]A Coroner of our Lord the King ought to inquire of these Things,
if he be certified by the King's Bailiff's, or other honest Men of the Country: First, he shall go[2] to the Places where any be slain, or suddenly dead, or wounded, or where Houses are broken, or where Treasure is laid to be found, and shall forthwith command four of the next Towns, or five or fix, to appear before him in such a Place ;
Murther.(2) and when they are come thither, the Coroner upon the Oath of them shall inquire in this manner, that is to wit, If ⟨it concerns a Man slain, whether⟩
[3] they know where the Person was slain, whether it were in any House, Field, Bed, Tavern, or Company, and ⟨if any, and who,⟩
[4] were there: Likewise it is to be inquired, who were culpable ⟨and in what Manner culpable⟩
[5] either of the Act, or of the Force, and who were present, either Men or Women, and of what Age soever they be (if they can speak, or have any Discretion;)
Inquiry of the Offenders. A Man found slain.(3) and how many soever be found culpable by Inquisition in any of the Manners aforesaid, they shall be taken and delivered to the Sheriff, and shall be committed to the
Gaol; (4) and such as be founden, and be not culpable, shall be attached until the coming of the Justices, and their Names shall be written
in Rolls.[6] (5) If it fortune any such Man be slain,
which is found in the Fields, or in the Woods,[7] first it is to be inquired, whether he were slain ⟨there⟩
[8] in the same Place, or not; (6) and if he were brought and laid there, they shall do so much as they can to follow their Steps that brought the Body thither,
whether he were brought upon a Horse, or in a Cart[9]: (7) It shall be inquired also, if the dead Person were known, or else a Stranger, and where he lay the Night before;
The Murtherer found culpable.(8)
and if any be found culpable of the Murther[10], the Coroner shall immediately go unto
his[11] House, and shall inquire what Goods
he hath,[12] and what Corn
he hath in his[13] Graunge; and
if he be a Freeman,[14], they shall inquire how much Land
he hath,[15] and what it is worth yearly; and further, what Corn
he hath[16] upon the Ground. (9) And when they have thus inquired upon every thing,
- ↑ 9 H. 3. c. 17.; 3 Ed. 1. c. 10.
- ↑ Instead of the Words in Italicks, read first, when Coroners are commanded by the King's Bayliffs, or by honest men of the Country, they shall go, &c.
- ↑ Add if it concerns a Man slain, whether they know, &c.
- ↑ Add if any, and who, &c.
- ↑ Add and in what Manner culpable.
- ↑ For in Rolls, read in the Rolls of the Coroners.
- ↑ Read in the Fields or Woods, and be there found, &c.
- ↑ Read there.
- ↑ Read or of the Horse which brought him, or Cart, if perchance he was brought upon a Horse or Cart.
- ↑ Read and if there be any who are said to be guilty of the Murder.
- ↑ For his, read their.
- ↑ For he hath, read they have.
- ↑ For he hath in his, read they have in their.
- ↑ Read if they be Freemen.
- ↑ Read they have.
- ↑ Read they have.