The essay attempts to locate basic themes in the constable's historical identity that offer standards against which to measure what the constable's identity in present-day Canada might be. The essay covers the period from medieval times to the mid-18th Century, discusses how the role of the constable was transplanted from England to Canada, and places the discussion in the context of English common law. The author concludes that the constable in Canada today bears little resemblance to the community-, crown-, civilian-, and court-based character of the constable of earlier years. 48 notes