The Right to Bear Arms

Arms and armor are the potential tools of rebellion. Obviously, limiting their widespread use is in the interest of any ruling class. Weapons in the hands of simple folk challenges the nobility's hold on power. On the other hand, the gentry may require military assistance from those lower on the social ladder and benefits from having a supply of trained warriors. The bigger the army, the more powerful the sovereign, assuming the sovereign can control the army. Good government, in a feudal sense, is largely a matter of keeping the right number of people armed.

In theory, like land, the right to bear arms devolves from the sovereign whose ultimate duty it is to defend the state. Obviously, those charged with the defense of the kingdom, must be privileged to bear arms. In the strictest sense, only those explicitly granted the right or those who can trace their right to a grant from the sovereign, through his vassals, have the right to bear arms. The practice, however, is more liberal. Like knighthood, the right to bear arms may be delegated by anyone who possesses it, so that a gentleman can arm his retainers, as long as they remain in his employ.

Official military organizations, fighting orders, legions, etc., lend the right to bear arms to their members and this right is generally retained when an individual is honorably discharged, especially if the individual remains available for military service. Most mercenaries are former soldiers (or claim to be). The sons of soldiers often claim their father's right to bear arms, a dubious claim that, nevertheless, may go unchallenged. Towns charged with their own defense are usually given charter rights to organize militia and/or hire mercenaries. To assure themselves of legality, however, they nearly always hire knights to take charge.

Defining Weapons

One of the main difficulties is in defining weapons and armor. What constitutes a weapon and what a tool? Which is clothing and which armor? There are two subclasses of weapon, chivalric weapons which may only be used by gentlefolk. and common weapons which may be used by everyone else. Unfortunately, there is no universal standard by which all nations judge. Custom defines a weapon as a tool used for fighting on the battlefield or field of honor and excludes items which are used by craftsmen in their day to day work. Unfortunately, some weapons and tools cross the line. A maul can be a simple mallet, or it can be iron-reinforced for use in combat. Similarly, a grainflail reinforced with iron becomes a warflail. The Lady Calfona Astrin, wrote a treatise on Kaldoric etiquette called Manners and Affectations in 398 which has seen wide circulation, and has been translated into several languages. Calfona's Manners divided arms and armor into three broad categories; tools, weapons, and chivalric arms, and she is the accepted authority on the subject.

Social Class

For the purpose of bearing arms, society may be divided into three basic classes: (1) The Unfree; (2) Simple Freemen; (3) Gentlefolk (Nobility). Generally speaking, the unfree can use "tools", simplefolk can use "simple weapons", and gentlefolk can use whatever they wish. The Unfree The Unfree have no right to bear arms or wear armor, except as granted by their liege-lords, and gentlefolk are extremely hesitant to grant this right. Some lords, reluctantly, allow their unfree tenants the temporary right to bear arms during militia training, or when repelling an invasion. The unfree have certain rights in exchange for their servitude. The most important of these is the right to the protection of their lords. A lord who conscripted his unfree tenants for onerous military service would probably be violating the contract between his family and theirs.

Simple Freemen The gray areas have always been for simple freemen. Most gentlefolk acknowledge that it is appropriate for simple freemen to bear common (non­chivalric) weapons. This varies according to occupation and situation. A heavily armed mercenary is appropriate when on duty in a war zone, but not otherwise. A modestly armed freeman will rarely be challenged. Many freemen make a point of carrying some visible symbol of their right to bear arms, a shortsword for example, on the theory that asserting a right is the best way to retain it. In some regions, this practice is required by law.

The Gentry The right to bear arms is most easily defined for the nobility. They can bear whatever weapons and armor they please. The social elite do, however, have social restraints. Nobles prefer to express their class, in part, with the weapons .they bear, namely chivalric weapons, and woe betide any simple man who bears such weapons. Gentlefolk consider certain weapons to be dishonorable. No gentleman would, for example, carry a bow; they are cowardly weapons and a gentleman is no coward. Bows are weapons that kill at long range and a true gentleman fights only hand to hand, close enough to his opponent to introduce himself. Although gentlefolk consider bows beneath their own dignity, the less conservative are willing to accept the presence of a properly-disciplined contingent of longbowmen. These at least require some skill to use. Even so, most knights deem it inappropriate for archers to shoot at knights - this sets a poor precedent, simplefolk killing gentlefolk. Crossbows are loathed by nearly all gentlefolk and even by most common soldiers. A crossbow is a coward's weapon, used by thieves and murderers from ambush, or occasionally by a hunter with warped sportsmanship, but never by a gentleman and rarely by a simple soldier of "good virtue". Bearing a crossbow is likely to be met with a violent challenge by any noble.

Weaponcrafters

Obviously, weaponcrafters are in a special position and are generally exempt from normal limitations. In effect, they are "honorary gentlefolk". Their right to carry the products of their craft is rarely questioned. Weaponcrafters support (sometimes reluctantly) customary constraints and are expected to refuse to sell chivalric weapons or armor to a customer unable to prove his gentility. In any event, the price of chivalric weapons is prohibitively high, deliberately so, for most simplefolk.

Foreigners

Customs vary from one place to another. Most knights are willing to tacitly grant foreigners their own customs when it comes to bearing arms, and expect (and usually receive) similar treatment when traveling abroad. An lvinian, for example, where the right to carry weapons is more widespread, would normally have the same right in Melderyn, provided he does not abuse the privilege.

Conclusion

Bearing any unusual weapon or excessive armor will attract attention. Medieval society is xeno­phobic and not particularly tolerant, especially of well-armed strangers. The main difference between bearing arms unlawfully and other types of social offense, is the people likely to be offended. It is one thing to offend an innkeeper; the worst he will do is throw the offender into the street, hopefully not though a third floor window. It is another thing entirely to offend a knight who may be feel it his solemn duty to preserve the privilege of rank. Players must be especially careful of passing themselves off as gentlefolk to justify the arms they bear. Breach of Rank is a serious offense in all civilized jurisdictions of Harn. Some courts deem the bearing of chivalric arms as proof of guilt. Bearing Arms