Commi ion

of array. In the reign of Henry II. 1181, an a ize of arms was settled to the following effect: That every person po e ed of a knight’s fee, was to have a coat of mail, an helmet, a shield, and a lance, and as many of these as he had fees. Every free layman that had in goods or rents to the value of 16 marks, was to have the same arms; and such as had 10 marks were to have a le er coat of mail, an iron cap, and a lance; the two last of which with a wamhois were a igned for the arms of burge es, and all the freemen of boroughs. These arms were all to be provided before the feast of St. Hilary next following. To enforce these regulations, it was customary for the time, at certain seasons of the year, to i ue commi ions to experienced officers, to draw out and array the fittest men for service in each county, and to march them to the sea coasts, or to such other quarters of the country as were judged to be most in danger. Of these commi ions of array , there are many hundreds in the Gascon and French rolls in the tower of London, from the 36th of Henry III. to the reign of Edward IV. The form of the ancient commi ions of array may be seen in Rush worth’s historical collection published in 1640. These commi ions were again attempted to be revived by Charles I but they were voted illegal and unconstitutional by the parliament. Non - Commi ioned , applies to that particular cla of men who act between what are called the rank and file of a battalion, and the commi ioned or warrant officers. See Serjeants .