Commission of Array
Encyclopedia
A Commission of Array was a commission
given by English
royalty to officers or gentry in a given territory to muster and array the inhabitants and to see them in a condition for war, or to put soldier
s of a country in a condition for military service. The term arrayers is used in some ancient English statutes, for an officer who had a Commission of Array.
Commissions of array developed from the ancient obligation of all free men to defend their country. Commissioners were usually experienced soldiers, appointed by the crown to array able bodied men from each shire. By the time of the Wars of the Roses conscript levies were less important than troops raised by indenture
.
Though obsolete by the 17th century, the system was revived by Charles I
in 1642 (in opposition to the 1641 Militia Ordinance
that gave Parliament
control of raising troops) in order to muster a Royalist
army at the onset of the English Civil War
.
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
given by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
royalty to officers or gentry in a given territory to muster and array the inhabitants and to see them in a condition for war, or to put soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s of a country in a condition for military service. The term arrayers is used in some ancient English statutes, for an officer who had a Commission of Array.
Commissions of array developed from the ancient obligation of all free men to defend their country. Commissioners were usually experienced soldiers, appointed by the crown to array able bodied men from each shire. By the time of the Wars of the Roses conscript levies were less important than troops raised by indenture
Indenture
An indenture is a legal contract reflecting a debt or purchase obligation, specifically referring to two types of practices: in historical usage, an indentured servant status, and in modern usage, an instrument used for commercial debt or real estate transaction.-Historical usage:An indenture is a...
.
Though obsolete by the 17th century, the system was revived by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in 1642 (in opposition to the 1641 Militia Ordinance
Militia Ordinance
The Militia Ordinance was a piece of legislation passed by the Long Parliament of England in March 1642, which was a major step towards the Civil War between the King and Parliament of England. Previously the King had the sole right to appoint the Lord Lieutenants, who were in charge of the county...
that gave Parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
control of raising troops) in order to muster a Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
army at the onset of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.