Town Crier
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A town crier is a person who is employed by a town council to make public announcements in the streets.
They usually dress elaborately—by tradition in a red and gold robe, white breeches, black boots and a tricorne hat.
They carry a hand bell to attract people's attention, as they shout the words "Oyez, Oyez!" before making their announcements. The words "Oyez, Oyez!" mean "hear ye", which is a call for silence and attention. Oyez derives from the Anglo-Norman word for listen.
In Medieval England, town criers were the chief means of news communication with the people of the town since many people could not read or write.
Town criers were protected by the ruling monarch, as they sometimes brought bad news (for example, tax increases).
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