Aside from the early modern tension between self-governance and the nascent institutions of state administration, towns were also marked by the tension between council and burghers; only the town council could guarantee urban stability. In conflicts between burghers, council mediation was usually concluded with the ritualistic shaking of hands and the threat of punishment in case of a repeat offence. Punishment of burghers was in all cases less important than mediation between offenders. The councils followed on the other hand a multi-layered, participatory model in their attempt to involve all resident burghers in government.