These laws shall now be enforced: If a town does not punish the
murderer of a man murdered in the town, the town shall be
punished. A town shall hold any man who wounds another in peril of
death, until there is perfect knowledge whether the man hurt
should live or die. Upon viewing a dead body, the coroner should
inquire of the killers, their abettors, and anyone present at the
killing and certify these names. In addition, the murderer and
accessories indicted shall be tried at the King's suit within a
year of the murder, which trial will not be delayed until a
private suit is taken. If acquitted at the King's suit, he shall
go back to prison or let out with bail for the remainder of the
year, in which time the slain man's wife or next of kin may sue.
For every inquiry made upon viewing a slain body coroners shall be
paid 13s.4d. out of the goods of the slayer or from a town not
taking a murderer, but letting him escape. If the coroner does not
make inquiry upon viewing a dead body, he shall be fined 100s. to
the King. If a party fails to appear for trial after a justice has
taken bail from him, a record of such shall be sent to the King.
Up to 1600, the Star Chamber heard many cases of forgery, perjury,
riot, maintenance, fraud, libel, and conspiracy. It could mete out
any punishment, except death or any dismemberment. This included
life imprisonment, fines, pillory, whipping, branding, and
mutilation.
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