Towards the Union: Proclamation Warns Disobedient of Attack by the Town Guard

Summary

---

FOLLOWING the violence meted out by the Edinburgh mob, as described by the English spy Daniel Defoe, Queen Anne issued a proclamation against "tumults and rabbles", which was read and then posted across the city. It gives a valuable insight into the mood of the times - and the harsh nature of justice that would often be meted out.

In co-opting "regents and masters" at Edinburgh University to look out for signs of restiveness among their students, it raises a chilling parallel with our current government's desire for academics to "spy" on Muslim students. The proclamation stated:

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

Towards the Union: Proclamation Warns Disobedient of Attack by the Town Guard

[T]he raising of tumults [is] a most dangerous, pernicious and unboundable practice, contrary to the ...

See the full content of this document

---