Writs

Writs in Shadow Accord

Writs have a tradition of being used in different ways in history and within our game. This article focuses on how they are currently used in our game.

There are three major types of writ that are used in Shadow Accord: Writ of Nobility, Writ of Position, Writ of Ownership, Agreements and Proof of Regency. The Writ of Nobility identifies the holder as a noble. The writ of position identifies the holder as holding a position, what town they hold that position in and briefly covers their duties and pay. A writ of ownership grants custodianship of a piece of property to an individual discusses the tax rate of the property and may have additional caveats.

There are a few things that are true of all writs no matter the type.

They are not modern contracts, the details of the writ are an agreement but not exacting language, more or a reminder of the details of an agreement. So the language will look quite a bit looser than we would normally expect from official documentation in modern day. The primary purpose of the writ is to prove you are what you say you are.

There is not a standard language used, often the writ is made on the spot from memory by the one granting the writ. There are some examples of writs included below but you should use them as guidelines for what you will find on a writ not as a template.

Writ of Nobility

No matter if you are born to nobility, knighted for service or married into a noble family if you are going to travel where people do not know you and would like to treated in a way that reflexes your position you will need to carry proof of your claim. Most noble writs will carry a brief linage or other explanation of how there nobility was obtained.

Here is an example of Writ of Nobility (keep in mind that writs are usually fairly unique so you should use this as a guideline not as a template)

Official Earl of Ushaw Moor

The Earl of a township is appointed by the Lord of the County to oversee the King’s Trust within the assigned town. The Earl may rule over his town as he sees fit, within the laws, and he is empowered to give or take King’s Trust Proof’s as he sees fit, within the Laws. The Earl may also fill in for any missing King’s Trust, he may call court to occur immediately, and he may judge the court if the accused is a noble or King’s Trust.

In the year of our Lord [YEAR] in this month [MONTH] on this day [DAY]

Let it be known that the holder of this paper named [NAME OF NOBLE] is an official Earl of Ushaw Moor.

Assigned by [NAME OF SUPERIOR]

Writs of Position

These writs are given when a position of authority is bestowed on someone that is less than a noble such as a member of the King’s Trust, the tax collector or members of the King’s guard. These types of writs will generally discuss the duties and responsibilities of the one receiving the writ as well as any compensation that they are to receive in exchange for their work.

Here are some examples of Writ of Position (keep in mind that writs are usually fairly unique so you should use this as a guideline not as a template)

Magistrate of Ushaw Moor

The Magistrate’s primary duty is to give collected Fines and Concealment from Court to the Dues Collector and accompany the Dues Collector while he collects taxes from the folk of the town proper. The Magistrate is required to keep a list of names of the folk in the town proper as a record of who lives in the town and who has or has not paid their taxes. The Magistrate may appoint a Sheriff, Judge, Deputy and Court Witness if and when needed.

The Magistrate is to fill in for the Sheriff and Judge in the event of their absence, fulfilling the duties of those positions as written in the Law, until their return or replacement. The Magistrate may fill in as Court Witness in the event of their absence, until their return or replacement, if needed. If the Magistrate is not able to perform his duties due to absence from town or death, the Earl, Sheriff, or Judge may perform the duties of Magistrate as written in the Law, until the Magistrate returns or is replaced. The Magistrate shall be paid by the Earl or Dues Collector three shillings every two months, and is exempt from taxes for the duration of his good service, and a room in the king's trust shall be supplied to the Magistrate free of charge. The Magistrate is empowered to keep copies, or request at any time, the records of the Court and the Sheriff, and the writs and deeds for his own record keeping.

This rite proclaims that the undersigned is the Magistrate of Ushaw Moor.

[Magistrate of Ushaw Moor/Earl of Ushaw Moor/Witness]

Judge of Ushaw Moor

The Judge’s primary duty is to hold Court to determine if those accused before him is guilty or innocent, decide upon punishment for the guilty as defined by Law, record all Court proceedings, and collect Court Fines and Concealment to be given to the Dues Collector if the Magistrate or Sheriff is not available. The Judge may appoint up to three Court Witnesses as silent observers of the Court. The Judge is to fill in for the Magistrate and Sheriff in the event of their absence, fulfilling the duties of those positions as written in the Law, until their return or replacement. The Judge may fill in as Deputy in the event of their absence, until their return or replacement, if needed. If the Judge is not able to perform his duties due to absence from town or death, the Earl, Magistrate, or Sheriff may perform the duties of Judge as written in the Law, until the Judge returns or is replaced. The Judge shall be paid by the Earl or Dues Collector two shillings every two months, and is exempt from taxes for the duration of his good service, and a room in the king's trust shall be supplied to the Judge free of charge.

This rite proclaims that the undersigned is the Judge of Ushaw Moor.

[Judge of Ushaw Moor/Earl of Ushaw Moor/Witness]

Court Witness of Ushaw Moor

The Court Witnesses primary duty is to silently observe the proceedings of each Court held, that they may be called upon as witnesses in future recalls of a court case. A Court Witness is to remain silent unless called upon to speak by the Judge. If a Court Witness is not able to perform his duties due to absence from town or death, another Court Witness shall be assigned, until the Court Witness returns or is replaced. Each Court Witness shall be paid by the Earl or Dues Collector six pence every two months, and is exempt from taxes for the duration of his good service.

This rite proclaims that the undersigned is a Court Witness of Ushaw Moor.

[Court Witness of Ushaw Moor/Judge of Ushaw Moor/Witness]

Sheriff of Ushaw Moor

The Sheriff’s primary duty is to enforce the Law, apprehend those who violate the Law to be held for Court, keep a record of those who are apprehended and for what crime, and collect Court Fines and Concealment to be given to the Magistrate, or directly to the Dues Collector if the Magistrate is not available. The Sheriff may appoint up to four Deputies to assist him in upholding the Law. The Sheriff is to fill in for the Magistrate and Judge in the event of their absence, fulfilling the duties of those positions as written in the Law, until their return or replacement. The Sheriff may fill in as Court Witness in the event of their absence, until their return or replacement, if needed. If the Sheriff is not able to perform his duties due to absence from town or death, the Earl, Magistrate, or Judge may perform the duties of Sheriff as written in the Law, until the Sheriff returns or is replaced. The Sheriff shall be paid by the Earl or Dues Collector two shillings every two months, and is exempt from taxes for the duration of his good service, and a room in the jail shall be supplied to the Sheriff free of charge.

This rite proclaims that the undersigned is the Sheriff of Ushaw Moor.

[Sheriff of Ushaw Moor/Earl of Ushaw Moor/Witness]

Deputy of Ushaw Moor

The Deputies primary duty is to assist the Sheriff in Law enforcement, apprehend those who violate the Law to be held for Court, and report the apprehension to the Sheriff. A Deputy is to fill in for the Sheriff in the event of his absence, fulfilling the duties of those positions as written in the Law, until their return or replacement. A Deputy may fill in as Court Witness in the event of their absence, until their return or replacement, if needed. If a Deputy is not able to perform his duties due to absence from town or death, another Deputy be assigned, until the Deputy returns or is replaced. Each Deputy shall be paid by the Earl or Dues Collector one shilling every two months, and is exempt from taxes for the duration of his good service.

This writ proclaims that the undersigned is a Deputy of Ushaw Moor.

[Deputy of Ushaw Moor/Sheriff of Ushaw Moor/Witness]

Writ of Ownership

Sometimes called a deed, these papers grant a person the right to be a custodian over a piece of the King’s land. A piece of property can have different tax rates that will be outlined in writ, otherwise the King’s law covers what taxes will be do.

Here is an example of Writ of Ownership (keep in mind that writs are usually fairly unique so you should use this as a guideline not as a template)

Deed of Ownership

The holder of this writ is deemed to be the custodian of the above named property in Ushaw Moor of Durham County. This Writ entitles the custodian to maintain this property as he sees fit including the operation of business.

A tax of two shillings is to be paid every two months to the Dues Collector. If a business is operated on this land records must be kept by the custodian and proper taxes must be paid.

Transfer of custodianship shall occur before the Judge and shall be recorded in the court’s records with the Judge.

[Custodian/Judge/In the Year of our Lord]

Agreements

Most agreements are not written down, instead they are made in the presents of a witness that both parties can trust. With some very important agreements this is not the case, instead they will be written out and signed by both parties as well as the judge. Sometimes for a small fee the agreement can be stored with the other court records.

Because of varied nature of agreements there is not a very good example to provide, we recommend that you instead do your best to write out what each party will get and when they will get it. Also remember these are not like modern day contract but instead they are loose reminders of a verbal agreement.

Proof of Regency

When someone owes another person a sum of money and is not able to repay that debt, the debt will sometimes be settled by with servitude. Generally each day of servitude repays one shilling’s worth of debt but these terms are often modified by the holder of the writ to more greatly benefit them.

Proof of Regency

The holder of this writ or Regent may dictate the actions of the servant named in this writ as stated by the Laws of the King. The servant shall serve his Regent until his debt of [AMOUNT OF COIN] or until [FUTURE DATE]. All servants are required to wear manacle cuffs on each wrist, and all regents are to carry Proof’s of Regency for each servant he oversees. Servants are not liable to pay taxes, any Fines from Court are to be paid by the servants Regent, and if judged, are liable to spend time as stated in the Law in jail or stocks.

Regent/Servant/Judge/Witness