CONSTABLE

In medieval law. The name given to a very high functionary under the French and English kings, the dignity and importance of whose office was only second to that or the -in on arch. He was tn gen- · eral the leader of' t'1e royal armies, and had cognizance of all matters pertaining to war and arms, exercising both civil and military jurisdiction. He was also charged· with the conservation of the peace of the nation. Thus there was a "Constable of France" and a "Lord Hig~ Constable of England" In English law. A pub1ic civil officer, whose proper and general duty ls to keep the peace within his district, though he ls frequently charged with additional duties. 1 BI. Comm. 356. High, constable,, in England, are officers ap• pointed in every hundred or franchise\ whose proper dut, seems to be to keep the king-a peace within their res_l)ective hundreds. 1 BI. Cooµn. 856; 3 Steph. Co=. 47. Pettg oonstableB are inferior officers in every town and parish, subordinate to the high const a• ble of the hundred,.whose principal duty is the preservation of the peace, though they also have other particular duties. a igned to· them by act of parliament, particularly the service of the summonses and the execution of the warrants of justices of the.JJeaCe. 1 BL Comm. 356; 3 Steph. Comm. 47, 48. 8peC4a.l ·con at a bleB are persons appointed (with or without their consent) by the magistrates to execute warrants on,pa.rti~ar occasions, u in· the ease of riots, etc.., ··· · • '.,,, · ' In,Am~- law.,All offl~ of • munk.;ipal cewporatlon (uJlllll7 electe4) wb~ VII. [s. 258]