The Medieval Coroner

The office of coroner was established in England in 1194; it has had an unbroken history, and has been exported to many countries, including the United States. At the zenith of his power, in the thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, the coroner was concerned with many aspects of law and local administration, and with some of the most tragic and dramatic episodes of medieval life. Coroners - 'keepers of the pleas of the crown' - had to be knights or substantial landowners; they were required to hold inquests on victims of suicide or violent death, receive abjurations of the realm (ceremonial undertakings by felons in sanctuary to leave the country), hear appeals and confessions of felony, and legalise any exactions, outlawries or subsequent pardons. Their responsibilities included the arrest of suspects and the safeguarding of property subject to forfeit; the coroners' rolls contained the written records of many official proceedings.

ISBN 0521079438   Pages 232 ISBN13 9780521079433 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Cambridge University Press   Weight (grammes) 300 Imprint Cambridge University Press   Published in Cambridge Format Paperback   Previous ISBN 9780521053501 Publication date 08 Sep 2008   Height (mm) 216 Library of Congress HB103.O95 A4 1971   Width (mm) 140 DEWEY 330/.0924 [B]   Spine width (mm) 13 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level Professional / Scholarly

		General Editor's Preface
		Preface
		List of Abbreviations
Chapter I		The Early Years		1
Chapter II		The Coroner's Inquest		9
Chapter III		Abjurations of the Realm		37
Chapter IV		Appeals and Outlawries		55
Chapter V		Miscellaneous Duties		75
Chapter VI		The Coroners' Rolls		96
Chapter VII		Character and Efficiency		118
Chapter VIII		Coroners' Districts		134
Chapter IX		Elections and Qualifications		150
Chapter X		The Declining Years		190
		Select Glossary		201
		Index		205

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