He employed a deputy or undersheriff, who
was an attorney, and clerks. If there was civil commotion or
contempt of royal authority, the sheriff had power to raise a
posse of armed men to restore order [posse comitatus: power of the
county]. The coroner watched the interests of the crown and had
duties in sudden deaths, treasure trove, and shipwreck cases.
There were about five coroners per county and they served for a
number of years. They were chosen by the county court. The
escheator was appointed annually by the Treasurer to administer
the Crown's rights in feudal land, which until 1242 had been the
responsibility of the sheriff. He was usually chosen from the
local gentry. The constable and bailiff operated at the hundred
and parish level to detect crime and keep the peace. They assisted
sheriffs and Justices of the Peace, organized watches for
criminals and vagrants at the village level, and raised the hue
and cry along the highway and from village to village in pursuit
of offenders who had committed felony or robbery. The constables
also kept the royal castles; they recruited, fed, and commanded
the castle garrison.
County knights served sheriffs, coroners, escheators, and justices
on special royal commissions of gaol-delivery. They sat in
judgment in the county court at its monthly meetings, attended the
two great annual assemblies when the lord, knights and freeholders
of the county gathered to meet the itinerant justices who came
escorted by the sheriff and weapon bearers.
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