The Assize of Arms of 1252, also called the Ordinance of 1252, was a proclamation of King

Henry III of England Henry III (1 October 1207 – 16 November 1272), also known as Henry of Winchester, was King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine from 1216 until his death in 1272. The son of John, King of England, King John and Isabella of Ang ...

concerning the enforcement of the Assize of Arms of 1181, and the appointment of constables to summon men to arms, quell breaches of the peace, and to deliver offenders to the

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland, the , which is common ...

. British historian, F.M. Powicke identified that it was actually issued on 12 May 1242, but was subsequently transcribed incorrectly. Along with the Ordinance of 1233 that required the appointment of watchmen, the appointment of constables has been cited as one of the earliest creation of the English

police The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...

, as has the

Statute of Westminster 1285 The Statute of Westminster of 1285 ( 13 Edw. 1. St. 1), also known as the Statute of Westminster II or the Statute of Westminster the Second, like the Statute of Westminster 1275, is a code in itself, and contains the famous clause ''De donis ...

. Stubbs saw the significance of the writ of ordinance as the bringing together of two separate but long-standing modes of ensuring peace and defence, expanding the 1181 Assize of Arms by adding the system of watch and ward, and pointing the way forward to subsequent legislation along similar lines by Edward I and Henry IV.W Stubbs ''Select Charters Illustrative of English Constitutional History'' (Oxford 1895) p. 154

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* * * * * 1240s in law 1242 in England 1250s in law 1252 in England English laws Royal prerogative History of archery Henry III of England {{UK-law-stub

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