the room called the Lodge, that the coroner might inquire into the
cause and manner of his death. And the manner of their doing it is
thus: As soon as the coroner is come the turnkeys run out into the
street under the gate, and seize upon every man that passes by, till
they have got enough to make up the coroner's inquest. And so
resolute these rude fellows are, that if any man resist or dispute
it with them, they drag him in by main force, not regarding what
condition he is of. Nay, I have been told they will not stick to
stop a coach, and pluck the men out of it.

It so happened that at this time they lighted on an ancient man, a
grave citizen, who was trudging through the gate in great haste, and
him they laid hold on, telling him he must come in and serve upon
the coroner's inquest. He pleaded hard, begged and besought them to
let him go, assuring them he was going on very urgent business, and
that the stopping him would be greatly to his prejudice. But they
were deaf to all entreaties, and hurried him in, the poor man
chafing without remedy.

When they had got their complement, and were shut in together, the
rest of them said to this ancient man, "Come, father, you are the
oldest among us; you shall be our foreman." And when the coroner
had sworn them on the jury, the coffin was uncovered, that they
might look upon the body. But the old man, disturbed in his mind at
the interruption they had given him, and grown somewhat fretful upon
it, said to them: "To what purpose do you show us a dead body here?
You would not have us think, sure, that this man died in this room!
How then shall we be able to judge how this man came by his death
unless we see the place wherein he died, and wherein he hath been
kept prisoner before he died? How know we but that the