Office Holdings in East Anglian Buroughs: 1272-1460

*Office Holdings in East Anglian Buroughs: 1272-1460*

This site is a study of medieval municipal government up to the time
when Edward IV assumed the throne.
http://www.the-orb.net/encyclop/culture/towns/mcontent.html

* Table of Contents*

* INTRODUCTION*
o Notes

* chapter 1:*
* THE STRUCTURE OF BOROUGH GOVERNMENT*
o Introduction: The architecture of borough records
o The executive office
o Checks and balances
o The town council
o The community as political entity
o Representation and election
o Limits to participation
o Notes

* chapter 2:
THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND OF OFFICE-HOLDERS*
o Introduction: Class and wealth
o Occupational analysis
o The ruling class as plutocracy?
o Origins of the ruling class
o The mercantile interest
o Class consciousness and the dignity of office
o Social cohesion and mobility within the ruling class
o Gentrification
o Notes

* chapter 3:
THE MONOPOLISATION OF OFFICE*
o Introduction: A question of perception
o Frequency of office-holding
o Membership of town councils
o The executive committee
o Power and dynasty
o The degree of popular participation in office-holding
o Notes

* chapter 4:
ATTITUDES TOWARDS OFFICE-HOLDING*
o Introduction: The human factor
o Incentives to office-holding
o The burdens of office
o Reluctance to serve
o The pursuit of power and prestige
o Notes

* chapter 5:
PROFESSIONALISM IN ADMINISTRATION*
o Introduction: A tradition of service
o Promotion and the hierarchy of experience
o Career administrators
o Expertise as a factor in selecting officers
o Notes

* chapter 6:
THE QUALITY OF GOVERNMENT*
o Introduction: Chronicles of sin
o The theory: "Good and vertuous governance"
o The practice: reconciling paternalism and self-interest
o The practice: offences against law, customs, and morals
o The practice: sins of avarice
o The practice: crimes of violence
o The practice: abuses of power
o Notes

* chapter 7:
CONFLICT AND SOLIDARITY IN URBAN POLITICS*
o Introduction: At moments of crisis
o The mask of unanimity
o Discontent and division
o Discords and disputes: Maldon and Colchester
o Discords and disputes: Ipswich
o Discords and disputes: Yarmouth and Norwich
o Discords and disputes: Lynn
o The Petypas affair (Lynn)
o Forces for political change
o Notes

* CONCLUSION*
o Notes

* APPENDICES:*
I The officers of borough government
1. Governmental structure
2. Lists of office-holders 1272-1460
II Statistical tables
1. Occupational divisions
2. Monopolisation of office
3. Ages of office-holders (Lynn)
4. Families prominent in Yarmouth government
III Parliamentary representation

* BIBLIOGRAPHY*
Principal abbreviations used in Notes and Bibliography
Primary sources: manuscripts
Primary sources: printed transcripts, extracts, calendars,
and catalogues
Secondary sources