It was also his
duty to regulate all matters of chivalry. The office was
suppressed in 1627. The
constable, or
lord high
constable,
of England, was one of the highest officers
of the crown, commander in chief of the forces, and keeper of the
peace of the nation. He also had judicial cognizance of many
important matters. The office was as early as the Conquest, but
has been disused (except on great and solemn occasions), since
the attainder of Stafford, duke of Buckingham, in the reign of
Henry VIII.
2. (Law) An officer of the peace
having power as a conservator of the public peace, and bound to
execute the warrants of judicial officers.
Bouvier.
&fist; In England, at the present time, the constable
is a conservator of the peace within his district, and is also
charged by various statutes with other duties, such as serving
summons, precepts, warrants, etc. In the United States,
constables are town or city officers of the peace, with
powers similar to those of the constables of England. In addition
to their duties as conservators of the peace, they are invested
with others by statute, such as to execute civil as well as
criminal process in certain cases, to attend courts, keep juries,
etc. In some cities, there are officers called high
constables, who act as chiefs of the constabulary or police
force.
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