The inhabitants of the towns and cities had various associations
called guilds (from gild, a payment or contribution). The object of
these was mutual assistance. The most important were the Frith guilds
or Peace guilds and the Merchant guilds. The former constituted a
voluntary police force to preserve order and bring thieves to
punishment.
Each member contributed a small sum to form a common fund which was
useed to make good any losses incurred by robbery or fire. The
association held itself responsible for the good behavior of its
members, and kept a sharp eye on strangers and stragglers, who had to
give an account of themselves or leave the country.
The Merchant guilds were organized, apparantly at a late period, to
protect and extend trade. After the Norman Conquest they came to be
very wealthy and influential. In addition to the above, there were
social and religious guilds, which made provision for feasts, for
maintenance of religious services, and for the relief of the poor and
the sick.