Franchise.

[mariedeblois]

Tonight I and some folks were talking about various virtues and various kinds of offices in the SCA. Near the end, we were talking about franchise and trying to come to some kind of definition of it, particularly a medieval one (not the 'fast food franchise' kind). AElflaed suggested that it might be one of those words that fell out of favor, and

Comments

Re: History & Civics

[ae_o_duckford]

If we see voting as a privilege rather than as an obligation, then maybe the feudal parallel is (as in your example) advising--having a voice in what happens. If a knight (to use the most knightly example I know ) had a castle and rights and duties, he could just do that all himself without delegating much, and be secretive, or he could take counsel, or let others have leeway to do things without micromanaging. That might be an aspect of franchise. He could let go of some power and credit.

In an SCA context, one of the best things people have ever done for me (students, deputies when I was an officer, or friends) is to do a pass at peacemaking and soothing and untangling before I had to get involved, which is like the" just taking 5 minutes to help settle a dispute before a judge is needed" example above. They might have been acting partly on my authority, or on my behalf. So in that case it seems it was my franchise, and their being enfranchised (maybe). Sometimes that might not be clear until afterwards, in retrospect. If I successfully solve a problem for Artan (this month, while I'm steward of the royal household in Outlands-world), and if he's happy with the solution, I've done a good thing in his name. He gets the credit with the world at large and I get some credit with him. If I try to do a good thing and botch it, it won't fall into the same happy-ending category.

I think the idea of including people is a good element of what franchise might be too. They are made a part of the more-powerful group.

I wrote something better earlier, Marie, so if this shows up and seems a duplicate, could you throw this one away? Thanks. --AElflaed