Greyhawk Shieldlands

The village of Wudham was established in the late summer of 576 CY by Sir John of Gerk near his outpost of Wudchester. It was initially populated by 17 human peasants and 1 talented armorer who had been rescued from slavery by Sir John. This population was soon doubled by 18 Gnomes likewise freed from bondage.

While both initial groups brought a good supply of grain with them, Sir John provided a large amount of basic home goods and tools to the village and the basic materials for 12 wooden huts and the village barn/storehouse which the villagers all constructed during September and October, in advance of the winter. The huts will hopefully be supplemented by cottages and other buildings at a later date.

Population: 18 humans, 18 gnomes
Buildings: 1 wooden barn, 12 wooden huts.
Leader: Robert Harr village bailiff.

VILLAGE CONTENTS NOV 1 576:wudham_contents_nov_1_576.docx

The Village of Wudham was founded upon vacant land recovered and claimed as prime holder in right allodial by Sir John of Gerk. Those who wish to be tenants on this land shall swear oath of fealty to Sir John or his heirs (the Lord of the Manor) to so hold the land.

Each household shall be allotted a parcel of farmland and a village allotment as drawn up by the bailiff of the village. New arrivals shall be granted a temporary dwelling as available from the common stock of such until they have built their homes. Householders should build their own dwellings and useful structures on their village allotment or on their farm plot as seems best to them. The bailiff will allow the use of the common tools provided by the Lord of the Manor, but tenants may buy their own tools and furnishings by their own means.

Each household among the tenants must pay as rent 1gp per person in the household per month to the Lord of the Manor and 1sp per person per month as a toll to the village bailiff. Each inhabitant is responsible for his own food and clothing and seed stock. Each adult man of the village must serve as a member of the village watch. The village watch must patrol the village, apprehend law-breakers in the village and fight in immediate defense of village, but cannot be led out of the village lands. Each tenant is held by his oath of fealty to be faithful and loyal to the Lord of the Manor and to his neighbors.

The Lord of the Manor is sworn to be a fair and equitable judge of all disputes between tenants and is the sole judge of such disputes. The Lord of the Manor is honor and oath bound to protect the inhabitants of the village from dangers to the best of his ability. The Lord of the Manor has no right to dispossess any tenant of his land or goods without a trial for oath breaking or crime. That trial must have a jury of 6 other tenants, chosen by the bailiff. Tenants who fail to pay rent or toll must work off their debt to the Lord or Bailiff at a rate of 5sp per day of labor. Those who refuse to do so shoud be charged as oath breakers.

Any tenant who wishes to abandon his place in the village may make public claim at the end of the harvest season. He may take any personal possession that he has made or purchased with him, but not any tools of the common stock. He has no claim to the value of his land nor any building that has been built on that land. Barring such abandonment, the lease of land and buildings are considered permanent with the land lease passing to the heir of the current holder.

Each adult male of the village must serve as a member of the village watch. As of November 1, 576, the watch includes Bailiff Harr, 5 other human men, and 5 gnomes. The village watch must patrol the village, apprehend law-breakers in the village and fight in immediate defense of village, but cannot be led out of the village lands. The Lord of the Manor shall be the Captain of the Watch, but the village bailiff assigns members their duties and schedules.

The Regulations of the Watch (November 1, 576) Each night 2 men and 2 gnomes will be on watch detail for the night. They shall each draw a spear and a whistle from the village barn.

At the sign of any trouble, watchmen should blow their whistles, and if things seem dangerous, one watchman must alert the bailiff and then rush to the barn to beat the alarm drum to awaken the whole village and the garrison of Wudchester.