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the perfons who held lands in capite, that is, immediately of the crown, or their vaffals and undertenants, both of whom were, as has before been obferved, obliged by their tenures to attend the king and their lords to the wars, at home or abroad, completely armed and mounted, for forty days in a year, or according to the value of the fees held by them.

"The poffe comitatus, or power of the county, included every freeman above the age of fifteen, and under that of fixty, and although the chief deftination of this ela blishment was to preserve the peace under the command of the fheriff, they were alfo, in cafe of hoftile invafions called out to defend the country, and repel the enemy. The poffe comitatus differed from the feudal troops in this; they were only liable to be called out in cafe of internal commotions, or actual invasions, on which occafions only they could legally be marched out of their refpective counties, and in no cafe out of the kingdom; whereas the feudal troops were fubject to foreign fervice at the king's pleafure. That this body of men might be ready to take the field, the following law was enacted by Henry II. A. D. 1181, in the 27th year of his reign; which was in fubftance fimilar to that mentioned in treating of the military establishment before the battle of Hatings.

"Whofoever holds one knight's fee fhall have a coat of mail, a helmet, a fhield and a lance; and every knight to have as many coats of mail, helmets, fhields and lances, as he fhall have knights fees in his domain.

mail, a helmet, a fhield, and a
lance.

"Every free layman who fhall
have in chattels or rent ten marks,
fhall have a habergeon, a chapelet
of iron, and a lance.

"Alfo all burgeffes and the whole community of freemen fhall have a wambais, a chapelet of iron, and a lance.

"Every free layman having in
'chattels or rent to the value of fix--
een marks, fhall keep a coat of

Every one of thefe (before mentioned) fhall fwear that he will have these arms before the feast of St. Hilary, and will bear fealty to king Henry, to wit, the fun of the emprefs Matilda, and that he will keep thefe arms for his fervice, ac cording to his command, and with fidelity to our lord the king and his realm: and no man having thefe arms fhall fell, pledge, nor lend them, nor alienate them in any o nor fhall the lord ther manner: take them from his vaffal by for feiture, gift, pledge, or any other manner.

"On the death of any one hav ing thefe arms, they fhall remain to his heir; and if the faid heir is not of fuch age as to be able to use arms, they fhall, if neceffary, be put into the custody of him who has the guardianfhip of his perfon, who fhall provide a man to use them in the fervice of our lord the king, if required, until the heir fhall be of a proper age to bear arms, and then they fhall be delivered to him.

"Any burgefs having more arms, than he is by this affize required to have, fhall fell or give them, or fo alienate them, that they may be retained for the fervice of our lord the king of England; and none of them fhall keep more arms than be is by this affize bound to have.

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"No Jew fhall have in his cufody a coat of mail, or habergeon,

but

but shall fell or give itaway, orin fome other manner fo difpofe of it, that it fhall remain in the king's service. "Alfo no man fhall carry arms out of the kingdom, unlefs by the command of our lord the king, nor fhall any man fell arms to another, who means to carry them out of the kingdom.

By other parts of this law it was directed, that juries fhall be appointed in the hundreds and boroughs of every county, to difcover who had chattels or rent to the value expreffed therein; on which inqueft no perfon who had not chattels to the value of fixteen marks, or ten at least, was to serve. The king's juftices in their circuits were required to enroll the names of the jurors, and of thofe who fhould be found to have chattels or rents to the value above mentioned, after which they were to cause this affize to be publicly read, and all the perfons concerned were to be fworn to obferve it in all points.

"And if it happened that any one of those who ought to have thefe arms was not in his county at the time the juftices were there, they were directed to appoint another time and county for his appearance; and if he did not come to them in any of the counties through which they paffed, they were in that cafe to appoint him a time at Westminster, at the octaves of St. Michael, then to attend and take his oath, as he loved himfelf and all that belonged to him; and he was likewife to be commanded to have, before the feast of St. Hilary, arms fuch as he was by law bound to poffefs.

"Alfo the justices were enjoined to cause it to be notified over all the counties through which they were to pafs, that those who had not thefe arms as atorefaid, the king would punish corporally in $786.

their limbs, and not in their goods, their lands, or chattels.

"Alfo none might act as jurors. refpecting legal and free men, who hath not fixteen marks in land, or ten marks in chattels.

"Alfo the juftices to command in all the counties by which they fhould pafs, that no one as he lov ed himself and all that belonged to him, fhould buy or fell any ship, to be taken out of England; and the king commanded that none but a freeman fhould be admitted to take the oath of arms.

"This regulation, or affize, received a farther corroboration, by the ftatute of the 13th of king Edward I. called the ftatute of Winchefter, by which, every man was bound to provide and keep armour and weapons, according to his estate or goods.

The armour and weapons directed by the ftatute of Winchester to be kept by perfons of different pof feffions, were thus allotted: every one poffeffed of lands to the yearly value of fifteen pounds and forty marks in goods, to keep a haubergeon, an iron head piece, a fword, knife, and horfe. Thofe having from ten, and under fifteen pounds in lands and chattels, or the value of forty marks, the fame as the preceding clafs, the horfe excepted. Perfons having an hundred fhillings per annum in land, and upwards, were to keep a doublet, a head-piece of iron, a fword, and a knife. And from forty fhillings annual rent in land, and upwards, to one hundred, a fword, bow and arrows, and a knife. He that had under forty fhillings in land, was worn to keep faulchions, gifarmes, daggers, and other fmall arms. Perfons poffeffing less than twenty. marks in chattels, to have fwords, daggers, and other inferior weapons; and all others authorifed to keep bows

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bows and arrows, might have them out of the forests. A review of these arms was to be made twice a year, by two corftables of every hundred, who were to report defaulters to the juftices, and they to prefent them to the king in parliament. This ftatute was repcaled in the first of Philip and Mary, and another enacted, wherein armour and weapons of more modern date were inferted.

"By that act it was provided, that all temporal perfons, having eftates of a thousand pounds or upwards, fhould, from the first of May, 1588, keep fix horfes or geldings fit for mounting demi-launces, three of them at least to have fufficient harnefs, fteele íaddles, and weapons requifite and appertaining to the faid demi-launces. horfes or geldings; and ten light horfes, or geldings with the weapons and harness requifite for light-horfemen; alfo forty corfekts furnished, forty almaine rivetts, or inftead of the faid forty almaine rivetts, forty coats of plate, coriclets or brigandines furnifhed; forty pikes, thirty long bowes, thirty fheaf of arrowes, thirty fteele cappes or fculles, twenty black bills or halberts, haque buts, and twenty morians or fallets. "Temporal perfons having eftates to the value of 1000 marks and upwards, and under the clear yearly value of col. to maintain four horfes or geldings for demilaunces, whereof two at the leaft to be horfes; with fufficient weapons, faddles, meet and requifite to the faid demi-launces; fix light-horfes, with furniture, &c. neceffary for the fame, thirty corcelets furnished; thirty almaine rivetts, or in lieu thereof thirty coates of plate, corcelets, or brigandines furnifhed; thirty pikes, twenty long bowes, twenty fheafs of arrowes, twenty fteel caps or fculls, ten black bills or

halberts, ten haquebuts and ten morians or fallets.

"Every temporal perfon having 400l. per annum, and under the clear yearly value of 1000 marks, to keep two horfes, or one horse and one gelding, for light-horses, twenty corfelets furnished, twenty almaine rivetts furnished, or instead thereof, twenty coats of plate, corfelets or brigandines furnished; twenty pikes, fifteen long bowes, fifteen heaves of arrowes, fifteen fteel caps, or fculls, fix, haquebuts, and fix morians or fallets.

"Temporal perfons having clear 20:1. per annum, and under 400l. per annum, one great horfe or gelding fit for a demi-launce with fufficient furniture and harness, steeled faddle, &c. two geldings for lighthorfe, with harness and weapons as aforefaid: ten corfelets furnished, ten almaine rivetts, or instead thereof, ten coats of plate corcelets, or brigandines furnished, ten pikes, eight long bows, eight fheafs of arrows, eight fteel caps or fculls, three haquebuts, and three morians or fallets.

"Every temporal perfon, &c. having 100l. or under 200l. per annum, two geldings and furniture, &c. for light-horfemen, three corfelets, furnished, three almaine rivetts, corfelets or brigandines furnished, three long pikes, three bowes, three fheafes of arrowes, three feel caps or fculls, two haquebuts, and two morians or fallets.

"Temporal persons having 100 marks and under 100l. per annum, one gelding and furniture for a light horfeman, two corcclets furnifhed, two almaine rivetts, coars of plate or brigandines furnished, two pikes, two long bowes, two fheafs of arrows, two iteel caps or fculls, one haquebut, one mcrian or fallet.

"Temporal perfons having 401.

or

or under 100 marks per annum, two corfelets furnithed, two almaine rivetts, corfelets or brigandines furnifhed; two pikes, one long bowe, one fheaf of arrows, one fteel cap or fcull, two haquebuts, two morians or fallets.

"Perfons having 201. and under 40l. per annum, one corfelet furnifhed, one pike, one haquebut, one morian or fallet, one long bowe, one fheaf of arrows, and one steel cap or fcull.

"Temporal perfons having 10l. and under 20l. per annum, one al maine rivett, a coat of plate or brigandine furnished, one haquebut, one morian or fallet, and one long bowe, one fheaf of arrows, and one steel cap or fcull.

"Temporal perfons having 51. and under ol. per annum, one coat of plate furnished, one black bill or halbert, one long bowe, and one fheaf of arrows, one fteel cap or

fcull.

"Temporal perfons having goods and chattels to the amount of 1000 marks, one horfe or gelding furnished for a demi-launce, one gelding furnished for a light-horfeman, or eighteen corfelets furnished in ftead of the faid horfe and gelding and furniture of the fame, at their choice; two corfelets furnished, two almaine rivetts, or inftead thereof two corcelets or two brigandines furnished, two pikes, four long bowes, four fheafs of arrowes, four feel caps or feul's, and three haquebuts, with three morians or fallets.

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dines furnished, one haquebut, two long bowes, two fheafs of arrowes, and two steel caps or fculls.

"Goods, &c. to the amount of 20:1. and upwards, and under 400l. one corcelet furnished, one pike, two almaine rivetts, plate coats, or brigandines furnished; one haquebut, one morian or fallet, two long bowes, two fheafs of arrows, and two fculls or steel caps.

"Goods, &c. to the amount of 100l. or above, and under zool. one corcelet furnished, one pike, one pair of almaine rivetts, one plate coat, or pair of brigandines furnished, two long bowes, and two fheafs of arrowes and two fculls.

"Goods, &c. to the amount of 401. and under 100l. two pair of almaine rivetts, or two coats of plate, or brigandines furnished, one long bowe, one fheaf of arrowes, One fteel cap or one fcull, and one black bill or halbert.

Goods, &c. to the amount of 201. and upwards, and under 401. one pair of almaine rivetts, or one coat of plate, or one pair of brigandines, two long bowes, two fheafs of arrowes, two fculls or feel caps, and one black bill or halbert.

"Goods, &c. to the amount of cl. and above, and under zol. one long bowe, one fheaf of arrowes, with one feel cap or fcull, and one black bill or halbert.

"Temporal perfons not charged by this act, having annuities, copyhods, or eftate of inheritance to the clear yearly value of 301. or upwards, to be chargeable with furniture of war, according to the proportion appointed for goods and chattels.

"And every perfon who by the aft of the 3d of king Henry VIII. cap. . was bound by reafon, that his wife fhould wear fuch kind of apparel, or other thing, as in the fame itatute is mentioned and de

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clared,

elated, to keepe or find one great ftoned trotting horfe, viz Every person temporal, whofe wife (not being divorced, nor willingly abfenting herself from him) doth were any gowne of filke, French hood, or bonet of velvet, with any habiliment, paft, or edge of golde, pearle, or stone, or any chaine of golde about her necke, or in her partlet, or in any apparell of her body, except the fonnes and heires apparent of dukes, marquefes, earles, viconts and barons, and others hav. ing heriditaments to the yearly value of 600 marks or above, during the life of their fathers and wardes having heriditaments of the yearly value of zool. and who are not by this act before charged, to have, maintaine, and keep any horfe or gelding; fhall from the faid first of May, have, keep, and maintain, one gelding, able and meete for a light-horfeman, with fufficient har nefs and weapon for the fame, in fuch manner and forme, as every perfon having lordships, houfes, lands, &c. to the clear yearly value of 100 marks is appointed to have.

"Any perfon chargeable by this act, who, for three whole months from the 1st of May, fhall lack or want the horses or armour, with which he is charged, fhall forfeit for every horfe or gelding in which he is deficient, ten pounds: for every demi-launce and furniture, three pounds; for every corfelet and furniture of the fame, forty thillings, and for every almain rivet, coat of plate, or brigandine and tuuniture of the fame, twenty fhillings; and for every bow and theaf of arrows, bill, halbert, hacquebut, fteel cap, fcull, morian and fallet, ten fhillings, one half of thefe forfeitures to the king

and queen, the other half to the parties fuing for the fame.

"The inhabitants of all cities, boroughs, towns, parishes, &c. o ther than fuch as are specially charged before in this act, fhal keep and maintain at their common charges, fuch harneis and weapons as fhall be appointed by the commiffioners of the king and queen, to be kept in fuch places as fhall by the faid commiffioners be appointed.

Indentures to be made of the numbers and kinds thereof between two or more of the fid commiffioners, and twelve, eight, er four, of the principal inhabitants of every fuch city, borough, &c. &c. one part to remain with the chief officer of the faid city, &c. and the other part with the clerk of the peace of the county.

"And if any of the inhabitants fhall be deficient for three months in any of the articles directed to be found, they fhall forfeit for every article according to the proportion before mentioned, to be applied and levied as there directed.

"The lord chancellor for the. time being shall have full power to grant commiffions under the great feal of England, to as many juf t ces of every fhire or county as he fhall deem neceflary for making this appointment of horfes and armour. This act not to invalidate any cove nant between a landlord and his te nant for finding horfes, armour, or weapons.

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The justices of every county are hereby authorized to make fearch and view from time to time of and for the horses, armour, &c. to be kept by perfons poffeffed of 200l. per ann, and not above 400l. per ann. or to be found by perfons chargeable on account of their

goods,

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