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Commissions of array developed from the ancient obligation of all free men to defend their tribal lands. Commissioners were usually experienced soldiers, appointed by the crown to array able bodied men from each shire. By the time of the Wars of the Roses, conscript levies were less important than troops raised by [[indenture]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}
===Medieval examplesexample===
A Commission of Array was established in October 1403 by King [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]] by [[letters patent]] to raise an army to resist the Welsh rebellion of [[Owain Glyndŵr]], who had recently captured [[Newport Castle]]. The commission issued by the king at [[Gloucester]] on 7 October 1403 to leading members of the local gentry was as follows:▼
====Commission from Glendower rebellion 1403====
▲A Commission of Array was established in October 1403 by King [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]] by [[letters patent]] to raise an army to resist the Welsh rebellion of [[Owain Glyndŵr]], who had recently captured [[Newport Castle]]. The commission issued by the king at [[Gloucester]] on 7 October 1403 to leading members of the local gentry was as follows:
<blockquote>Commission to [[Maurice Russell, knight|Maurice Russell]], [[Gilbert Denys|Gilbert Dynys]], John Rolves and John Harsefelde to assemble all the able fencible men, footmen and horsemen, of the [[Hundred (county subdivision)|hundreds]] of [[Barton Regis (hundred)|Barton Regis]] by Bristol, Hembury, [[Pucklechurch|Pokelchurche]], Thornbury, Grymboldesasshe, [[Berkeley Castle|Berkeley]] and Whiston and bring them sufficiently armed to the town of [[Chepstow]]e by Thursday next at the latest to go with the King or his lieutenant to Wales to resist the rebels bringing with them victuals for 4 days and to take horses from those who have them who cannot labour and deliver them to those who can labour but lack horses. By K.<ref>Cal. Patent Rolls, Membrane 20, 1403, 7 Oct. Gloucester.</ref> </blockquote>
====Commission for St Michaels Mount in Cornwall, 1473====
On 27 October 1473 Commission to [[Trerice#Sir John II Arundell|John Arundell]], knight, John Colshyll, knight, [[Robert Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby de Broke|Robert Willoughby]], knight, John Crocker, knight, John Fortescue, Henry Bodrugan, John Sturgeon, Thomas Whalisburgh, John Trenowith, Thomas Trefrye, John Arundell, John Tremayne, John Carmynowe Richard Eggecombe, John Devyok, Oliver Wyse, Edward Assheton, John Pentyre, John Moyle, William TreTenoar, John Penpons, John Wydeslade the younger and William Horde to array the king's lieges of the county of Cornwall, and of other counties adjacent if necessary, to conquer John, late earl of Oxford, and. other rebels who have entered St. Michael's Mount, CO. Cornwall, and to bring back the mount into the king's hands and provide for its safe-custody and defence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/calendarpatentr05blacgoog/calendarpatentr05blacgoog_djvu.txt|title=Calendar of patent rolls, preserved in the Public Record Office|year=1948}}</ref>
===Civil War revival===
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