Recruitment Flashcards
Assize of Arms
The Assize of Arms provided the beginnings of a reliable source of infantry. As well as demanding that wealthy men should serve the king as knights.
For example, Henry III used the Assize of Arms to recruit infantry during the Barons’ War of 1264-67.
For example, in 1250 Henry III was using an Assize of Arms that said all men with land worth £15 had to supply him with a mounted knight.
Edward I in the Statue of Winchester ordered that every man, however poor, had to bring at least a bow, 24 arrows, a sword and a dagger.
Fuedal Duty of nobles and knights.
-Feudal troops were only required to fight in England, and only for 40 days a year. For more, they were expected to get paid. The quality of the fuedal system was unreliable. They were trained very little and the ability of their leaders varied, since they were chosen by social status. Discipline of feudal system knights was unreliable.
Mercenaries and scutage
Attitudes in society towards the fuedal system were changing and by 1250 kings found it difficult to force people to honour their fuedal duties or accept the assize of arms. As a result Kings routinely accepted money from people instead of military service. The payment was sued by kings to pay for cavalry to fight alongside feudal troops. Hnery III was using scutage to employ paid troops, called mercenaries.
