A town is any unfortified permanent settlement that does not possess a charter from its monarch. They usually number their populace in the hundreds or perhaps, and in certain rare circumstances have been known to boast tens of thousands of residents. The upper limit is 30,000 at which point it will automatically be granted a charter.
A town exists by the leave of the local baron and remains part of that noble's administrative purview (and tax base).
Each town will usually boast a Holy Place, whether a hermitage, shrine or simple chapel. It will also have a Town Hall at which meetings are held and disputes are settled. It may have a guild hall, or two -- whichever guilds may be regionally located.
Official positions in towns are rare and depend on the whim of the baron. Typically all towns have an Elder. This is generally the person considered the wisest and most eminent among his fellows. He is generally filled by popular acclaim. If the Elder is recognized by the baron, he will have the task of representing the people before that court.
Usually a town has someone acting as The Watch. It is their job to raise the Hue & Cry when a crime is committed, some emergency occurs, or a fire breaks out. The chief law enforcement officer of the town is the local baron's Reeve. He has extraordinary power to enforce the laws and punish violators.
Each town will usually boast a Holy Place, whether a hermitage, shrine or simple chapel. It will also have a Town Hall at which meetings are held and disputes are settled. It may have a guild hall, or two -- whichever guilds may be regionally located.
Official positions in towns are rare and depend on the whim of the baron. Typically all towns have an Elder. This is generally the person considered the wisest and most eminent among his fellows. He is generally filled by popular acclaim. If the Elder is recognized by the baron, he will have the task of representing the people before that court.
Usually a town has someone acting as The Watch. It is their job to raise the Hue & Cry when a crime is committed, some emergency occurs, or a fire breaks out. The chief law enforcement officer of the town is the local baron's Reeve. He has extraordinary power to enforce the laws and punish violators.
A town is not permitted to harbor vagabonds or ne'er-do-wells. Those who fit the bill are generally remanded to the custody of the baron to enter serfdom, or else forcibly expelled. The impoverished of the town are the responsibility of the baron, who is charged with not letting them wander the province aimlessly.
The only judge a town will have is at the court of the local baron, time and temperament of that baron permitting. The baron will run his towns at his whim and with considerable leeway from the crown.
As all towns have grown up around markets, the laws regarding markets are of primary importance. In the majority of towns, the market day begins at the end of the Dawn Watch with the ringing of bells, either by the church or the criers, or both. The business day continues until the beginning of the Fourth Watch. After the Fourth Watch begins only taverns, inns, pubs, stables, barbers, healers, surgeons and ferriers remain open. Only those sorts of businesses will find themselves open on Suns days.
Economic traffic in towns is controlled by guilds. Not only does belonging to a guild guarantee a certain level of quality of work, it provides permission for free men to work a trade at all. Those who attempt to set up shop without guild membership can be brought before the Baron to answer for his crimes.
The only judge a town will have is at the court of the local baron, time and temperament of that baron permitting. The baron will run his towns at his whim and with considerable leeway from the crown.
As all towns have grown up around markets, the laws regarding markets are of primary importance. In the majority of towns, the market day begins at the end of the Dawn Watch with the ringing of bells, either by the church or the criers, or both. The business day continues until the beginning of the Fourth Watch. After the Fourth Watch begins only taverns, inns, pubs, stables, barbers, healers, surgeons and ferriers remain open. Only those sorts of businesses will find themselves open on Suns days.
Economic traffic in towns is controlled by guilds. Not only does belonging to a guild guarantee a certain level of quality of work, it provides permission for free men to work a trade at all. Those who attempt to set up shop without guild membership can be brought before the Baron to answer for his crimes.
No comments:
Post a Comment