Authority and discipline in Aberdeen, 1650-1700
This study is concerned with aspects of urban society in the Scottish city of Aberdeen in the second half of the seventeenth century. The principal aim is to examine the multi-faceted nature and workings of civic government, of the interlocking hierarchies of people and institutions which together formed an invisible web of authority and discipline in the town. The burgh's three main administrative and judicial bodies - the town council, the kirk session, and the justice of the peace court - are examined in some detail. Other matters discussed include the 1640's legacy of civil war, plague, and severe economic dislocation; the impact of eight years of Cromwellian occupation; the demographic and socio-economic structures of the urban community; aspects of secular and ecclesiastical politics; the continuing challenge to the established kirk posed by Catholic recusancy, and the new challenge posed by the advent of Quakerism in the town; patterns of office-holding and the characteristics of the urban elite; and poor relief and social control. The fundamental structures of urban society underwent no sudden transformation in these years, but neither did they remain static: far from obscuring the true dynamics of
DesBrisay, Gordon Russell
DA890.A2D3 ; Aberdeen (Scotland)--History ; Aberdeen (Scotland)--Politics and government
Authority and discipline in Aberdeen, 1650-1700. This study is concerned with aspects of urban society in the Scottish city of Aberdeen in the second half of the seventeenth century. The principal aim is to examine the multi-faceted nature and workings of civic government, of the interlocking hierarchies of people and institutions which together formed an invisible web of authority and discipline in the town. The burgh's three main administrative and judicial bodies - the town council, the kirk session, and the justice of the peace court - are examined in some detail. Other matters discussed include the 1640's legacy of civil war, plague, and severe economic dislocation; the impact of eight years of Cromwellian occupation; the demographic and socio-economic structures of the urban community; aspects of secular and ecclesiastical politics; the continuing challenge to the established kirk posed by Catholic recusancy, and the new challenge posed by the advent of Quakerism in the town; patterns of office-holding and the characteristics of the urban elite; and poor relief and social control. The fundamental structures of urban society underwent no sudden transformation in these years, but neither did they remain static: far from obscuring the true dynamics of
authority discipline aberdeen study_concern aspect urban_society scottish city principal_aim examine multi_faceted nature working civic government interlock hierarchy people institution together_form invisible web authority discipline town burgh three_main administrative judicial body town council kirk session justice peace court examine_detail matter discuss_include legacy civil_war plague severe economic dislocation impact occupation demographic socio_economic structure urban_community aspect secular_ecclesiastical politics continue challenge establish kirk pose catholic new challenge_pose advent quakerism town pattern office_holding characteristic urban elite poor_relief social_control fundamental structure urban_society underwent sudden neither remain static far obscure true dynamic