in england, the ordinance of 1233 required the appointment of watchmen. the assize of arms of 1252 and the statute of winchester of 1285 are considered among the earliest examples of a police in england. the assize of arms required that constables be appointed to call men to fight when the town was under attack. it also required them to stop disturbances of the peace, and to take criminals to the sheriff. by 1415, a watch was appointed to the parliament of england. king henry vii appointed a watch for his house, the tower of london, in 1485. these watchmen became known as the beefeaters.