For the purpose of administering the King’s justice, the Kingdom of Narcerion is divided into Shires. The chief official of a Shire is the Sheriff.
Most Shires are further subdivided into Hundreds. The chief official of a Hundred is typically a Bailiff of the Hundred, appointed by the Sheriff and answerable to him.
The Sheriff
The Sheriff has the responsibility to execute writs (legal orders) issued from the King at Kisar.
The Sheriff holds his own court to discover criminals and deliver them to the royal courts.
The Sheriff presides over the shire court (or moot), which tries offenses against the crown, and lesser offenses that involve two or more lords and so cannot be tried in the local manor court. Shire court juries also supply authoritative information on local customs and rights, and it is often at these courts that knights of the shire and coroners were chosen.
The Sheriff supervises the Crown lands in his shire and delivers their revenues to the Exchequer.
Sheriffs have rights of purveyance, that is compulsorily requisitioning food and supplies from the counties to supply the King.
In theory, the Sheriffs have the authority to summon the posse comitatus, i.e. the able-bodied men of the county, to help him maintain public order. This ability varies wildly depending on location.
The Sheriffs are generally large landowners in the county where they serve. In some places, they are the Earl himself.
Justices of the Peace
Justices of the Peace are typically members of the local gentry (large landowners who do not have noble titles) given a commission by the King (often by a Sheriff in the King’s name) to administer justice in their Shire. JPs can personally punish minor offenses and commit criminals for trial at the Shire Courts.
Coroner
The Shire Coroner reports to the Sheriff and is responsible for maintaining legal records so that criminal offenses can be prosecuted. The Coroner also acts as a royal tax collector.
Shires
