Bells
and Criers
Bells
were the main medium of telling time and making announcements.
A Common Bell was rung to summon civic meetings, courts, and
as an alarm in case of fire or attack.
 The
town crier rang a hand bell when he walked throughout the
town declaiming news and proclamations. The criers were the
main source of news for town dwellers. They also had the task
of ringing their bells to solicit prayers in memory of people
who had paid for the privilege.
The
people in towns were free; they owed service and obedience
to no lord. Instead, the people paid a tax to the lords who
owned the land on which the town stood. The towns government
was led by a lord mayor and a council, who passed laws that
were made public by a town crier with a bell. These mayors
and councilmen were generally chosen from among the wealthiest
of the craftsmen and traders and they zealously guarded the
rights and privileges of their town against outsiders. Towns
were almost always fortified with high stone walls that encircled
the town and patrolled by guards in case the lord decided
to go back on his agreement.
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