Court of Arraye facts for kids
A Court of Arraye was a special way to count how many men in English towns and cities could fight. This happened a long time ago, before England had a regular, full-time army. It was like a check-up to see who was ready to defend the country.
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What Was a Court of Arraye?
A Court of Arraye was a system used to find out how many men were available for fighting. It was also known as a "View of Men at Arms." Since there was no permanent army, this was how leaders knew who could be called upon if a war started.
How It Started
The idea for the Court of Arraye began with King Henry II. He ruled England from 1134 to 1159. King Henry made a law that said all men who could carry weapons should be checked. Local officials, called magistrates, would do these checks. They would visit every major town and city in England. This helped the king know how many men were ready to fight if needed.
Making It Stronger
Later, in 1285, another important law was made. It was called the Statute of Winchester. This law made the Court of Arraye even more official. It said that every man between 15 and 60 years old had to be checked. They would be given armor and weapons based on how much money they had. This made sure that everyone who could fight was ready.
When Did It End?
The laws about the Court of Arraye were stopped during the time of King James I. He ruled from 1566 to 1625. After the English Civil War, England finally got a regular, full-time army. This meant the Courts of Arraye were no longer needed. Around the year 1680, they were officially ended.
A Modern Tradition
Even though the Courts of Arraye are gone, a fun tradition continues today. In a town called Lichfield bower in Staffordshire, there's a carnival. This carnival has a procession, which is like a parade. This parade grew out of the old tradition where men would march after being inspected by the Court of Arraye. It's a way to remember this old part of history.
