Collectors such as Thomas Mostyn or the Davieses of Gwysaney presumed that the gentlemen from whom they sought fresh historical material would be interested in aiding in the study of Welsh history, whether in defence of the Galfridian British History or of broader approaches focusing on the ancient Britons as the original inhabitants of the land. Mostyn collected news material and books as well as manuscripts. Although his collection was not all focused on Wales, it demonstrates the survival of two more aspects of Welsh social and political culture: the operation of kinship networks to achieve practical ends, and the ways that the North-East gentry bolstered their status and authority in the region. This book has so far described Welsh historical culture, its character, purpose, and distinctiveness. Chapter 4 will explore the interests and actions of one North-East Welsh gentleman, Thomas Mostyn, in more depth. It will argue that Thomas Mostyn’s collections and correspondence reveal the continuous importance of Welsh history to the gentry of the region. Welsh, or ‘British’ history, confirmed the source of their power, affirmed their lineage, and maintained traditions across generations.

Thomas Mostyn and the context to his collecting

The Mostyn family were steeped in Welsh tradition, territorial power, and ancestral patriotism. Thomas Mostyn (1651–92) was the eldest surviving son of Sir Roger Mostyn, patriarch of a family that had been regionally powerful for hundreds of years. Of all the families in North Wales, the Mostyns have received the most scholarly attention, due to the breadth of their influence and the survival both of the estate and many of its papers. This case study will build on the work of Shaun Evans and Mary Chadwick to argue that the Mostyn library was testament to the continuing interest in Welsh history and identity in the seventeenth century and beyond. Mostyn was part of a wider network of antiquaries and scholars across North Wales and beyond. Like his brother Richard, Thomas Mostyn interacted with fellow enthusiasts. Mostyn was not a stereotypical insular or ‘backwards’ Welsh gentleman much beloved of English representations throughout the early modern period. He had been on the Grand Tour while a young man.