Bandits & blasphemers: crime in 17th century Scotland

History Extra podcast

Immediate Media

History

4.3 • 4.5K Ratings

🗓️ 12 October 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Which crimes were most common in Scotland in the 17th century – and what can those crimes reveal about society at the time? In today's episode, we're delving into a world of violence, vengeance, bandits and blasphemers, as historian Allan Kennedy speaks to Emily Briffett about his recent book Serious Crime in Late Seventeenth-Century Scotland. He explores what constituted a crime, who committed them, and how justice was pursued in a society shaped by intense religiosity and complex legal systems. (Ad) Allan Kennedy is the author of Serious Crime in Late Seventeenth-Century Scotland (Edinburgh University Press, 2025). Buy it now from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Serious-Crime-Late-Seventeenth-Century-Scotland-Kennedy/dp/1399533169/?tag=bbchistory045-21&ascsubtag=historyextra-social-histboty. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Sharing intimate photos of her without her consent.
0:03.0	Unwanted touching. Unwanted comments. Unwanted nudes.
0:06.6	Controlling what she can and can't wear.
0:08.5	Controlling who she can and can't see.
0:10.3	Threatening her.
0:11.7	Enough. This is abuse.
0:14.3	If you think it's wrong, act on it.
0:16.5	Call it out, show support, report it.
0:19.4	There are many ways you can safely tackle violence against women and girls.
0:23.4	Find out how at gov.uk slash enough.
0:27.4	If someone is in danger, call 9-99.
0:30.1	Welcome to Just Between Us, the podcast with all of the answers, some of the time.
0:35.1	A bit of a different thing going on this week.
0:37.4	You've been immature
0:38.3	and you've lied and now you're trying to turn it on me and manipulate me and gaslight me.
0:45.3	Diana, you would be chucking their clothes out of the window. I know, I'd be like, are you joking?
0:49.3	I don't know. I guess you'd have to ask someone that has sex.
0:54.4	Someone that has sex.
0:56.4	And remember, it's just between us.
1:04.1	Welcome to the History Extra podcast, fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History magazine.
1:13.4	What kind of crimes were most common in Scotland in the 17th century?
1:18.7	And what can those crimes reveal about society at the time?
	...

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