he concept of the Burgess oath belongs - Aberdeen City Council

Establishment of a town council can betraced back to 1179 when the burgh’sBurgesses were granted a free Hanse ­freedom to act as a corporate body withpower to make its own rules of localgovernment.In early days, a new Burgess had to paynot only an entry fee to the CommonGood, he was also required to wine anddine Council members.When Queen Margaret Tudor, consort toJames IV and sister to Henry VIII,visited Aberdeen in 1511 she wasescorted into the burgh under a canopyheld by four Burgesses.In the 15th Century it was absolutelyessential that each Burgess have apersonal residence and possess propertyin the burgh. Non-resident Burgessescould be deprived of their freedom totrade.In 1576 it was decreed that after thefeast of St Martin no Burgess wouldwear plaid. Penalty - fined 40 shillings.In 1598 the Guild prohibited membersfrom wearing blue bonnets. Penalty - £5.Early Royal charters granted bysuccessive monarchs were all directedtowards the burgh’s Burgesses, someexclusively, others also towards thecommunity.In 1357, three Burgesses from Aberdeenwere appointed with others fromEdinburgh, Perth and Dundee tonegotiate for the ransom of King DavidII held captive, but in comfort, inEngland. The figure - 100,000 merkssterling.Burgh records of November 1736 tell ofa contract drawn up between the Dean ofGuild and William Durward - anent thetown’s dung.In 1296, letters patent were submitted onbehalf of Aberdeen Burgesses and thecommunity promising to serve well andloyally their dear Lord, Edward, King ofEngland, and his heirs.In October 1393, Robert III grantedlicence to Aberdeen Burgesses to build aTown House, 80ft by 30ft, on anysuitable site, but not in the midst of themarket place.It was customary that a new Burgess’sentry fee be handed over ceremonially ina white kid bag. By the 1970s the bagswere in need of cleaning and were dulywashed. They disintegrated.In the mid-16th Century, one Burgessgranted leave of absence from the burghfor three years without losing hisfreedom status had to arrange that afellow Burgess undertook to meet hisshare of taxation and other charges.First mention of the Guild Box fundcomes in burgh records of July 16 1600when the Town Council ordered that asuitable box be made to hold offeringsand fines, such to be bestowit to the helpand support of the dacayit brether ofGild.Assessors to the Dean of Guild werefirst appointed in 1609. Four were then