Conservator of the Peace

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In ancient British customs, Conservators of the Peace (Latin: Custodes pacis), or Wardens of the Peace, were individuals who had a special charge, by virtue of their office, to see that the King's peace was kept.

Until the creation of the Justices of the Peace by King Edward III, there were several people, who by common law were interested in keeping the same—some having that charge as incident to other offices; others simply, or of itself, called custodes, or Conservators of the Peace.

More recently, the Chamberlain of Chester was a Conservator in that county; and petty constables are, by the common law, conservators in the first sense.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.