[Jean Henri Chandler]

Thought some people here might find this interesting

http://www2.iisg.nl/esshc/programme.asp?selyear=9&pap=6190

[Randall Moffett]

Hmmmm..... is ten a year really supposed to be that violent? I'd think it worth looking at small modern market towns and see if any had as good as 10 per annum. This is the trap so to speak in looking at medieval violence.

RPM

[Craig Peters]

[Randall Moffett]

Craig, let me help explain. It is a town of 500 that SWELLS by many times with traders, merchants on other outsiders.... this actually is by far the most important factor that you seem to have missed. Market towns and ports populations could easily grow exponentially during trade season, a town of 500 could easily have five times or more people there, especially if as he says there were over 70 known settlements that traded there. Since he does not have the dates of the crimes we cannot be sure most take place during trade season. I think him assuming that we can discount 1/3 as not knowing where those involved are from is a bit odd. If it is a town court and there is but 500 townsmen it would be unlikely not to know of the parties involved and their origin, so instantly the idea that much of these crimes were townsmen centred crumbles as it then drops to less than 48% involved in total, and not always involving two townsmen parties. So then you have 5 violent crimes A YEAR or less in a single place not just 500 of people but thousands of people involved, likely a great amount between people who have little connection to each other in a small town. Perhaps as Hans showed you get the occasional feuds…. Still happens today, domestic crime likely still happens but I think the conclusion that this town was very violent is somewhat unfounded on the info he presents in a larger context. Crimes of townsmen to townsmen would drop this 5 well lower. I doubt highly that many towns that have similar make ups today have such a low crime rate. In medieval England I have looked at the books of fines in several towns and most ports like Southampton have well over 60-70% or more a year crime carried out by galleymen. I have lived in several ports on three continents now and am nearly sure that ports have increased crime due to similar problems. A massive influx of population with no real ties to the town is always going to be a strain. They get their after some time out of work or travel looking for food, drink and entertainment which also could lead to further conflict. That is why so many small towns and ports dislike sailors, soldiers and such. It is a fairly well known resentment in such places and often for good reason. One place I lived people actually had a rating system of what sailors or soldiers were worse than others. I am just lucky that where I live now is not a major port for trade anymore..... just tourism... which is a bit better I suppose.


RPM

[Jean Thibodeau]

[James R.Fox]

Sirs-Sounds like where I live(youngstown OH) We are'nt called Murdertow, USA for nothing,you know.