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The reign of Edward VI in Ireland: some political, social, and economic aspects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

Dean Guntner White
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Extract

The final Henrician policy towards Ireland, involving ‘surrender and regrant’ and overtones of conciliation and redress is a familiar part of Irish history. What actually happened to that policy in its early phase is not so familiar. In a paper setting forth the importance of Henry’s Irish policy Robert Dunlop felt obliged to say something concerning its fate and the reasons for its failure. Having rejected a religious explanation, or any ‘conflict between tribal and feudal ideas’, he placed the blame on the Irish chiefs themselves. While admitting that a weak central government was ‘unable to enforce its decrees without constantly appealing to the sword’, he stressed most that ‘the easy indifference with which the Irish accepted Henry’s plan was fatal to its success’. Had their chiefs been more willing to surrender some of their authority the policy, so well devised, would have succeeded. ‘Their inability or unwillingness to do so compelled the use of more drastic measures, and was the cause of all their subsequent misfortunes.’ Dunlop’s conclusions have an air of vagueness, and there were actually very concrete reasons, besides the general character of the Irish, why the policy did not achieve more immediate success. Those reasons are to be sought in Edward VI’s reign as it manifested itself in Ireland.

Type
Articles
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 14 , Issue 55 , March 1965 , pp. 197 - 211
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1965

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References

1 Dunlop, Robert, ‘Some aspects of Henry VIIFs Irish policy’ in Historical essays, ed. Tout, T.F and Tait, James, pp. 279–306 (1907).Google Scholar

2 See, for example, Brabazon, to Cromwell, Thomas, 10 Sept. 1535 (S.P. Hen. Vill, 2. 278–80),Google Scholar and Cromwell’s Remembrances for Ireland (L. & P. Hen. Vill, 1534, no. 1211). They are dated c. Sept. 1534, but the correct date would be c. Sept. 1535.

3 Cusack’s ‘devise’… c. Sept. 1541 (S.P. Hen. Vill, iii. 326–30), and the king to deputy and council, 23 Sept. 1541 (ibid., 330–36), which incorporates much of the ‘devise’.

4 See Bagwell, , Tudors, 1. 282–6,Google Scholar for a general account.

5 Privy council to deputy and council, 31 May 1547 (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Hen. Vill-Eliz., pp. 154–5).

6 Privy council to St Leger, 28 Nov. 1547 (ibid., p. 154).

7 Acts privy council, Ire., 1556–71. Appendix I : Table of contents for 1543–56, entry under Brabazon on p. 278. The 1546 entry of the A.F.M. also puts these events in that year.

8 ‘A note given to Mister Bellingham the worthie general Anno primus Ed. VIto c. Dec. 1547 (B.M., Lansd. MS 159, no. 5, f. 31). For a specimen of Brabazon’s hand see his autograph letter to Cromwell, 24 Apr. 1538 (P.R.O., S.P. Ire., Hen. Vill, 60/6 no. 47).

9 ‘Matters against… St Leger’, c. Dec. 1547. 8 pp. (P.R.O., S.P Ire., Ed. VI, 61/2. no. 53). It has been misplaced under c. July 1550, and ascribed to Alen. Brabazon also made a more detailed indictment of Browne, the archbishop of Dublin, in the autumn of 1548 (ibid., Ed. VI, 61/1, no. 141), in the same vein as the charges against St Leger.

10 Acts privy council, 1547–1550. Entries for 29 Jan., 5 Apr. 1548, pp. 165, 181. The Appendix has an undated letter to St Leger alongside one of 2 March 1548, informing him of ‘another meet gentleman to supply his room’.

11 Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Hen. Vill-Eliz., p. 125.

12 Liber mun. pub. Hib., ii. pt n, p. 117.

13 Bellingham to the privy council, c. Aug. 1548, covering operations from May, and John Alen to Somerset, 21 Nov. 1548 (P.R.O., S.P. Ire., Ed. VI, 61/1, nos 85, 130).

14 c. Jan. and 1, 2 Feb. 1549 (ibid., 61/1, nos 15, 16, 17).

15 Brian Jonys to Bellingham, 27 Feb. 1549 (ibid., no. 21).

16 Walter Cowley to Bellingham, 29 June 1549, on Shillelagh (ibid., no. 49). Lease to Brian Jonys of Slievemargy, 26 Mar. 1549, and lease to Giles Hovenden of lordship of Killabban, , 3 Dec. 1549 (Cal. fiants Ire., Ed. VI, nos 249, 407).Google Scholar Concordatum by Bellingham and council with Bagenal, 24 Nov. 1549 (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Hen. Vill-Ellz., pp. 228–9). Brere ton and Roger Fynglas, who was in OfTaly, appear as placed by Bellingham from documents later in the reign.

17 Alen’s remembrances, c. Mar., Brabazon and council to the privy council, 26 Mar. 1550 (P.R.O., S.P Ire., Ed. VI, 61/2, nos 50, 52).

18 Sir John Mason to the privy council, 29 June 1550, 18 Apr. 1551. Quoted in full in Tytler, P.F., England under the reigns of Edward VI and Mary, 1, pp. 301, 351.Google Scholar

19 Articles for expedition into Ireland, c. Jan., Croft’s instructions, 24 Feb. 1551 (P.R.O., Sfr Ire., Ed. VI, 61/63, nos 2, 14).

20 ‘Articles exhibited . by Andrew Brereton against . . Tyrone .’, Dec. 1550 (P.R.O., S.P Ire., Ed. VI, 61/3, no. 3), St Leger to Cecil, 19 Jan., same to privy council, and to Cecil, both 23 Mar., Irish council to the privy council, 20 May 1551 (ibid., 61/3, nos 17, 18, 25). The Irish council’s letter illuminates the whole affair.

21 Acts privy council, 1550–51. 11 Apr. and 15 Apr. 1551, p. 261

22 Edward VI to Croft, 17 Aug. 1551 (P.R.O., S.P. Ire., Ed. VI, 61/3, no. 48).

23 Brabazon’s accounts, 5 Sept. 1551, Croft to Cecil, 25 Feb. 1552 (ibid., 61/3, no. 53, 61/4, no. 13).

24 ‘Copy of the book sent from Sir Thomas Cusack’ to Northumberland, 8 May 1552 (ibid., 61/4, no. 43).

25 Croft and council to the privy council, 27 Jan., Croft to Cecil, »8 Feb. and 14 Mar. 1552 (P.R.O., S.P. Ire., Ed. VI, 61 /4, nos 5, 13, 27).

26 The Irish figures are obtained from Brabazon’s accounts for eleven years ending 5 Sept. 1551 (P.R.O., S.P Ire., Ed. VI, 61/3, no. 55), and from Sept. 1550 to Mar. 1552 (ibid., 61/4, no. 33.1), as well as Notes on Ireland’ c. Apr. 1553 by another hand (ibid., 61/4, no. 75). The English figures are from Mackie, J.D., The earlier Tudors, 1485–1558, pp. 500–502,Google Scholar and from Quinn, D.B., ‘Tudor rule in Ireland’, unpublished thesis, which confirms the Irish figures, and gives those for Elizabeth, pp. 517, 550.Google Scholar

27 Privy council to deputy and council, 29 May 1552 (P.R.O., S.P, Ire., Ed. VI, 61/4, no. 48).

28 Cal. fiants Ire., Ed. VI, and the section for Edward’s reign in Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Hen. Vill-Ellz. illustrate these points.

29 Cal. fiants Ire., Hen. Vill, nos 464, 470, 547

30 Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Hen. Vill-Ellz., pp. 252–3.

31 Cal. fiants Ire., Ed. VI, nos 774–9, 837

32 Croft to Cecil, 28 Feb. (P.R.O., S.P. Ire., Ed. VI, 61/4, no. 13), and Croft to privy council, 10 Mar. 1552 (ibid., no. 21).

33 Cal. fiants Ire., Ed. VI, no. 1052.

34 Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Hen. Vill-Ellz., pp. 264–5.

35 St Leger to Sir william Petre, 18 Dec. 1555 (P.R.O., S.P Ire., Ed. VI, 62/1, no. 8).

36 Notes on ‘men or war’ in Ireland, c. Apr. 1553, Edward VI to Tyrone, c. May 1553, and ‘A device how to keep Ireland… upon the revenues only’, c. 1553 (P.R.O., S.P. Ire., Ed. VI, 61/4, nos 75, 80, 83)