[Moo] Ordinances of Richard II

[sigrune at aol.com]

Originally this was a specific command calling for a severely relaxed 
state of order among troops, essentially giving permission to loot, 
pillage and plunder.

It was meant to be called after you routed your enemy and there was no 
risk of him rallying. for it meant "to plunder"...  IE at your leasure, 
kill, mutilate, rape and steal whatever isn;t nailed down.

It was the final order to completely devastate an enemy or area.  Since 
people would be a bit loot-crazed, it became regulated since the 
confusion to pillage would detract from the effectiveness of a unit so 
severely that it could easily fall victim to an attack. Calling it 
without regard became one of the most severe crimes.

-Takeda


-----Original Message-----
From: Marcolo DelMare <marcolobronzethunder at gmail.com>
To: General Mailing List for the Barony of Stierbach 
<moo at lists.stierbach.org>
Sent: Fri, Jan 22, 2010 4:13 pm
Subject: Re: [Moo] Ordinances of Richard II


X. ITEM, that no one be so hardy as to cry "havok," under pain of 
losing his head, and that he or they that shall be the beginners of the 
said cry shall likewise be beheaded, and their bodies afterwards be 
hanged up by the arms.
 
 
Can anyone elaborate on the significance of this item? Obviously I know 
what the word means and can understand the sentiment of the order.
 
Marcolo
 
 
 
 

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