Bracton: Thorne Edition: English. Volume 2, Page 344

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Volume 2, Page 344

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[001] of the fee. And after inquiry has thus been made into all these matters let the
[002] bodies of the slain be buried. If they are buried prior to the said inquest and the
[003] coroners' view the entire township will be amerced.¹

Of those who are drowned.

[005] If an inquest is to be made as to those who have been drowned or crushed by
[006] misadventure, or have met untimely deaths in some other way, it ought to be
[007] done in the same way. Inquiry must be made as to who were² present when the said
[008] persons were drowned, crushed, or died without warning, and then [Let the bodies
[009] of those deceased, no matter how they died, be viewed, naked and uncovered, in
[010] order to ascertain whether it is a matter of felony or misadventure,³ as that may be
[011] inferred from external signs, as where open wounds are found or bruises which have
[012] not broken the skin, as⁴ where they have been strangled, which may be inferred from
[013] the mark of the impress of the rope around the neck. [If] by some wound discovered
[014] on the body, the coroners ought to proceed to an inquest in the manner described
[015] above⁵ and to make attachments of persons or⁶ property according as the malefactors
[016] have or have not been found.]⁷ they ought to attach, until the coming of the
[017] justices, all those who were of the company when the said misadventure occurred.
[018] If there were none, then the finder. ⁸<Let the boats from which such persons have
[019] been drowned be appraised, and any other things which are the cause of death and
[020] are deodands for the king, [that is] if he has been drowned in fresh water, not in the
[021] sea, where neither the ship nor, if the ship has broken up, its timber, will be deodands,
[022] because all will belong to their owners, if they are alive, as their chattels.
[023] Nor are there deodands arising from misadventure at sea, nor is there wreck, nor
[024] is there a murder-fine as to those slain or drowned at sea.>⁹

Of treasure.

[026] The coroners' official duty if treasure is reported found and the making of attachments
[027] with respect thereto.¹⁰ They ought first to inquire of them [the inquest] who
[028] are accused thereof, and if someone is found seised, [or if a presumption that he
[029] has found treasure arises against someone because he has more than usual in the
[030] way of food and richer apparel than before, as above,]¹¹ he ought to be attached
[031] by four or six pledges, or more if they can be secured.

Where there is rape of virgins.

[033] This is their official duty in connexion with the rape of virgins: if a man

Notes

1. Infra 380

2. ‘fuerunt,’ OA

3. Infra 380

4. ’ut’

5. Supra 342

6. ‘vel’

7. Om: ‘Et si nulla ... tunc,’ a connective

8. Supra i, 386

9. Infra 380, 384

10. Rubric

11. Supra 338; om: ‘Et si ... inveniatur,’ a connective