Town Criers Yesterday

_Elsa_

Tiffi does not understand why there are town criers today when anyone can go on the Internet and read the news. 

‘We live in an age of widespread literacy. When we want to know what’s happening in the world around us, we click hyperlinks and sometimes crack open a newspaper. However, for most of human history, the vast majority of people were illiterate—but they had the same desire we do to have the latest information. Gossip and town chatter played a role, but genuine news (as well as propaganda, sales, and everything else we still have today) from its source needed to be spread far and wide quickly.

Hundreds of years ago, thousands of years ago—the news was shouted at you as you walked by, and you could stop to listen and carry the news home to tell your friends and family, or you could keep on walking (maybe muttering falsum nuntium, “fake news!”)

The first ‘town criers’ were Spartan runners from the ancient Grecian empire. With news of battles, wins and losses on their lips, sometimes carrying spoken offers of peace or temporary ceasefires, runners were given information to deliver verbally. This concept of news delivery spread across Europe. Town Criers became a deeply important fixture in society.

“Don’t shoot the messenger” is little more than a cliché saying nowadays. Not too long ago, it was law. Any foul play visited upon a messenger was considered to have been done to the King and was therefore treason. These men were valuable and held a relatively rare skillset: they could read and write. Even today, any crier who works in the British Commonwealth is be left alone under threat of charge of treason. Perhaps surprisingly, town criers still exist.’ (Source)

Let’s continue - The beginning and end of a town crier’s message

Start at the beginning – Hear ye … hear ye …