Foundations

Assize of Arms 1252 The Assize of Arms of 1252, also called the Ordinance of 1252, was a proclamation of King Henry III of concerning the appointment of constables to summon men to arms, quell breaches of the peace, and to deliver offenders to the sheriff. Along with the Ordinance of 1233 that required the appointment of watchmen, the main goal was to raise an armed force from the population in times of military emergencies to respond to local and foreign threats.

Commission of Array A commission of array was a commission given by English sovereigns 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 soldiers of a country in a condition for military service. he term arrayers is used in some ancient English statutes, for an officer who had a commission of array.Commissioners were usually experienced soldiers, appointed by the crown to array able bodied men from each shire. 

Lord Lieutenant The Lord-Lieutenant is the British monarch's personal representative in each county of the United Kingdom. Historically, the Lord-Lieutenant was responsible for organizing the county's militia.  He raised and was responsible for the efficiency of the local militia units of the count. He was commander of these forces, whose officers he appointed.

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 militias (also known as the trained bands). These militias were the only land forces available in peacetime, because England had no regular standing army. Parliament did not trust Charles and tried to deny him control of any military forces which he might use against them. 

English Civil War In 1642, at the start of the English Civil War both the Royalists (Cavaliers) and Parliament (Roundheads) raised men when and where they could, and both claimed legal justification. Parliament claimed to be justified by its own recent "Militia Ordinance", while the king claimed the old-fashioned "Commissions of Array"

New Model Army The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War. It differed from other armies in the series of civil wars referred to as the Wars of the Three Kingdomsin that it was intended as an army liable for service anywhere in the country. Its soldiers became full-time professionals, rather than part-time militia. To establish a professional officer corps, the army's leaders were prohibited from having seats in either the government.

New Model Army

New Model Army