This is the call or cry of the town crier, now usually only heard at  ceremonials, fetes and local events. It would however have been a common  cry on the streets of medieval England.

‘Oyez’ (pronounced ‘oh yay’) comes from the French ouïr (‘to  listen’) and means “Hear ye”. The town crier would begin his cry with  these words, accompanied by the ringing of a large hand bell to attract  attention. It was the job of the crier or bellman to inform the  townspeople of the latest news, proclamations, bylaws and any other  important information, as at this time most folk were illiterate and  could not read.

The cry would then end with the words, ‘God save the King’ or ‘God save the Queen’.

Having read out his message, the town crier would then attach it to  the door post of the local inn, so ‘posting a notice’, the reason why  newspapers are often called ‘The Post’.

Proclaiming the news was not however their only role: indeed, their  original role was to patrol the streets after dark, acting as peace  keepers, arresting miscreants and taking them to the stocks for  punishment and posting their crimes to show why they were there. It was  also his job to make sure fires were damped down for the night after the  curfew bell.

It was also the role of the town crier at public hangings to read out why the person was being hanged, and then to help cut him or her down.

The key requirements of the role were the ability to read, a loud  voice and an air of authority. Bellmen would be paid for each  proclamation they made: in the 18th century the rate was between 2d and  4d per cry.

Town criers were protected by law. Anything they did was done in the  name of the monarch, therefore to harm a town crier was an act of  treason. This was a necessary safeguard as the town criers often had to  announce unwelcome news such as tax increases!

The town crier or bellman can be traced back at least to medieval  times: two bellmen appear in the Bayeaux Tapestry, which depicts the invasion of England by William of Normandy and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Today’s town criers are dressed to impress (called a Livery), most commonly in an elaborate and flamboyant coat,  breeches, boots and a tricorne hat - a tradition that dates back to the early 18th century. You can find them at local fetes, events and at town crier  competitions.