Station: [20] Law and order

“As with a common currency, there was quite some confusion with regard to jurisprudence. Different laws were applicable in different towns and regions. Dispensing justice was moreover a duty shared by many different actors. Sovereign lords and bishops are just as much capable of performing this task as towns, counts or even landlords. A police force in today’s sense does not yet exist – generally it would fall to the local bailiff, a reeve or sheriff, to ensure people abide by the law.

This includes the lesser nobility and thus Rutger von der Horst, who may dispense low justice – as long as the offence is within the limits of minor misdemeanours. Thus he may have ne’er-do-wells pilloried, not far from the bridge to the outer bailey. The delinquent is then not only subjected to the people’s scorn – which may be bad enough – but they may also throw rotten fruit or manure at him. Punishment indeed!”