Contents

• Notes

chapter 1:

THE STRUCTURE OF BOROUGH GOVERNMENT

• Introduction: The architecture of borough records
• The executive office
• Checks and balances
• The town council
• The community as political entity
• Representation and election
• Limits to participation
• Notes

chapter 2:

THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND OF OFFICE-HOLDERS

• Introduction: Class and wealth
• Occupational analysis
• The ruling class as plutocracy?
• Origins of the ruling class
• The mercantile interest
• Class consciousness and the dignity of office
• Social cohesion and mobility within the ruling class
• Gentrification
• Notes

chapter 3:

THE MONOPOLISATION OF OFFICE

• Introduction: A question of perception
• Frequency of office-holding
• Membership of town councils
• The executive committee
• Power and dynasty
• The degree of popular participation in office-holding
• Notes

chapter 4:

ATTITUDES TOWARDS OFFICE-HOLDING

• Introduction: The human factor
• Incentives to office-holding
• The burdens of office
• Reluctance to serve
• The pursuit of power and prestige
• Notes

chapter 5:

PROFESSIONALISM IN ADMINISTRATION

• Introduction: A tradition of service
• Promotion and the hierarchy of experience
• Career administrators
• Expertise as a factor in selecting officers
• Notes

chapter 6:

THE QUALITY OF GOVERNMENT

• Introduction: Chronicles of sin
• The theory: "Good and vertuous governance"
• The practice: reconciling paternalism and self-interest
• The practice: offences against law, customs, and morals
• The practice: sins of avarice
• The practice: crimes of violence
• The practice: abuses of power
• Notes

chapter 7:

CONFLICT AND SOLIDARITY IN URBAN POLITICS

• Introduction: At moments of crisis
• The mask of unanimity
• Discontent and division
• Discords and disputes: Maldon and Colchester
• Discords and disputes: Ipswich
• Discords and disputes: Yarmouth and Norwich
• Discords and disputes: Lynn
• The Petypas affair (Lynn)
• Forces for political change
• Notes

CONCLUSION

• 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