The Second Estate, Part II

Last time, we talked about what the specific ranks of nobility are in this new setting.  I do use a name when I think about it, but I have not shared it because I don't think it's good enough for this setting.

A Note on Money: The monetary values listed here and elsewhere in this setting are based on the Copper Standard (CuS), where 1 cp = 1 XP, and every price and prize is adjusted to conform to that standard.

Duties and Obligations: The Treasure Hunters Prolix domain system includes much on the duties and obligations of running a demesne.  Below are some specific ones.

The Noble Squander: To be a noble, you have to spend like a noble.  There are a thousand little expenses to empty your treasury; and if there are not, you still have to spend like crazy to maintain your status.  While modern people respect savers and investors, and sniff at conspicuous consumption as an end unto itself, the opposite is true about Medieval people.  Misers and skinflints are reviled, while generous and ostentatious nobles are revered and upheld as exemplars. At the very minimum, on top of normal expenses, nobles of the following ranks must Squander at the following rates each month:

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Revenue

Revenue is untaxed (but is tithed and you must pass through revenue).

We will use the Treasure Hunters Prolix domain system but update the numbers.  I’ll post it in full here when I rejigger everything to my satisfaction.

Justice

A Lord has the right of dispensing justice within his “soke” or jurisdiction. This is usually his own land, except when his overlord intercedes.

The Right of Thelony: A thelony is a toll or fee. It might be just or unjust. A just thelony was a toll considered to be compensation for what would now be considered a public service. An unjust thelony was a fee exacted contrary to custom or where no service was rendered to the person made to pay it. Often peasants were kept upon their land by the levy of a thelony to leave in amounts greater than they could pay.

The Right of Corvée: Corvée is a form of unfree, unpaid labor.  The Lord can demand of his peasants work for a certain number of days per year, not exceeding one in 36, to build and maintain public works.  Corvée greater than 1 in 36 (or about 10 days a year) was considered unjust and could result in uprisings among the peasantry. Furthermore, Corvée performed for the Lord direct upon his estate with no direct benefit derived for the Realm was considered unjust, but almost always tolerated.

The Right of Infangthief: Infangthief is the right to dispense summary justice against thieves or vandals within the Lord’s lands. For the purposes of this game, it includes the right of Outfangthief, which is to chase the miscreant to other jurisdictions and bring him back for justice – unless the thief is owed justice by some other jurisdiction!

The Right of Satisfaction: Among peasants, insolence or perceived lack of deference to a noble could be met with a fine of up to 1 gp or corporal punishment such as time in the stocks or a good beating.

Nobles of Baronial rank and higher may serve “high justice,” which includes the death penalty. Permissible methods of execution are limited to drowning and hanging. Other executions are a breach of etiquette and/or law. All nobles may serve “low justice.” Permissible punishments include: dunking, the pillory, bounty hunting, thelony, other fines, corvée, and executing summary justice.

Ennoblement

Nobles can raise to nobility anyone of the Third Estate.

Kings and Princes can create any rank or revoke any title.

Dukes and above can make Earls (but not Marcher Lords), although they will probably need to get their monarch's permission.

Viscounts and above can make Barons. 

Lord Knights and above can make Knights and Courtiers.

Courtiers

Nobles will generate a household full of trusted helpers as necessary to discharge their duties. These freeloaders accrue to themselves no expense but have meager salaries owed to them by the Lord.

Companion: 3-8 gp / month

           This is a catch-all for any of your lowborn friends who you want on staff, but haven’t got an aristocratic bone in their bodies.  Lady-in-waiting, Court Doctor, Court Jester, Lord High Rat-catcher, Inspector of Privies, Lord of the Coneygarth, or any other ridiculous title you can think of.

Butler or Castellan: 4 gp / month and all the wine you can drink

           This is the head of household.  He handles discipline, order, hiring and hanging within the household.  He often serves as the right-hand man and confidante of the Lord within the house.

Herald: 3-6 gp / month

          Heralds are tasked with keeping up on news from nearby settlements, tracking opinions and gossip at court, reading or dispersing to be read important decrees, announcing a retinue as it approaches some other castle, and arranging entertainment for the household.  But the real benefit of a Herald is that he may maintain a spy network and get secret information or knowledge and contraband from very far away. Only Barons and above need maintain a Herald, but any noble may employ one. Some higher ranks maintain several or even dozens. 

Shire Reeve: 3 gp / month, plus 3-6 GP skimmed off the top of court costs, plus 3-6 GP of bribes per month.

           The Sheriff handles the courts system for both commoners and nobles (ecclesiastical law falls outside his jurisdiction.)  He is responsible for dispensing the justice pronounced by the Lord, running the court of arbitration, running a jail if one exists, hiring bounty hunters to track down escaped criminals and peasants, and so forth.  He does not perform these duties himself but delegates them to underlings who may or may not be of the Second Estate.

          Sheriffs are theoretically appointed by the King for a set term renewable, but in practice are chosen by the Lord or his advisors at Court.

Steward or Regent: 3 gp 5 sp plus 1-2% of revenue per month.

      The Steward is an estate manager appointed by the Lord to oversee a pocket of noncontiguous or troublesome land, or to run the main estate if the Lord is out on adventure. Far-flung holdings may require several Stewards.  They exercise power in the Lord’s name and serve at his pleasure. Stewards are usually given wide latitude as long as things go reasonably well, but face severe judgement if they do not perform adequately as agents of the Lord.

Squire: No direct pay

          Squire is a catch-all for the Lord’s adventuring Retainers: those who take a share of treasure and XP in lieu of payment.  They have a rank of zero and are only considered part of the Second Estate in their capacity of serving their Lord.