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[i]; 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_[k]: 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 of Westm. I[l], that none but lawful and discreet knights should be chosen. But it seems it is now sufficient if a man have lands enough to be made a knight, whether he be really knighted or not[m]: and there was an instance in the 5 Edw. III. of a man being removed from this office, because he was only a merchant[n]. The coroner ought also to have estate sufficient to maintain the dignity of his office, and answer any fines that may be set upon him for his misbehaviour[o]: and if he have not enough to answer, his fine shall be levyed on the county, as a punishment for electing an insufficient officer[p]. 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 coroner would condescend to be paid for serving his country, and they were by the aforesaid statute of Westm. I. expressly forbidden to take a reward, under pain of great forfeiture to the king; yet for many years past they have only desired to be chosen for the sake of their perquisites; being allowed fees for their attendance by the statute 3 Hen. VII. c. 1. which sir Edward Coke complains of heavily[q]; though they have since his time been much enlarged[r]. [Footnote i: 2 Inst. 558.] [Footnote k: F.N.B. 163.] [Footnote l: 3 Edw. I. c. 10.] [Footnote m: F.N.B. 163, 164.] [Footnote n: 2 Inst. 32.] [Footnote o: F.N.B. 163, 164.] [Footnote p: Mirr. c. 1. Sec. 3. 2 Inst. 175.] [Footnote q: 2 Inst. 210.] [Footnote r: Stat. 25 Geo. II. c. 29.] THE coroner is chosen for life: but may be removed, either by being made sheriff, or chosen verderor, which are offices incompatible with the other; or by the king's writ _de coronatore exonerando_, for a cause to be therein assigned, as that he is engaged in other business, is incapacitated by years or sickness, hath not a sufficient estate in the county, or lives in an inconvenient part of it[s]. And by the statute 25 Geo. II. c. 29. extortion, neglect, or misbehaviour, are also made causes of removal. [Footnote s: F.N.B. 163, 164.]