Thorough in Ireland during personal rule Flashcards
Issues in Ireland
- Potentially the most troublesome kingdom
- A catholic population with an alien ruling class imposed
- Society divided between: Native Irish, catholic “Old English”
- It created an annual deficit of £20,000
Issues in Ulster
- In the 16th century Ulster was the most Gaelic part of Ireland and english attempts to govern it were restricted by Chieftains led by Hugh O’Neill
- In 1607 O’Neill left Ireland to seek help from Spain but in the vacuum the Earls land was seized by the Crown
What was the plantation of Ulster designed to do
To pacify and civilise Ulster. With at least half the settlers to be Scotts, James I started to reward his subjects in Scotland with land in Ulster
Long standing links between Ulster and West Scotland meant Scottish participation was a practical necessity
Challenges of imposing thorough in Ireland
- The need to maintain an expensive standing army against the backdrop of a constant fear of foreign intervention
- The need to balance rival factions - Old English (Catholic) and new English (Protestants). The governing strategy
- Making Ireland profitable as it created an annual deficit of £20,000
When was Wentworth promoted to be in charge of the thorough in Ireland
- On 12 January 1632 Wentworth was promoted to lord deputy of Ireland - highest royal office in that kingdom
Wentworth’s three overreaching goals for Ireland
- To impose the authority of the English Crown
- To impose religious uniformity and conformity, in a Laudian style, on the Irish church
- To make Ireland profitable for the king
How did Wentworth impose authority on the Irish council
- Ruthless suppression of critics - Careful selection of high profile targets such as Lord Mountnorris who organised opposition to Wentworth’s management of the customs system. Mountnorris was court-martialed for treason and sentenced to death in 1635
Consequences of imposing authority on the Irish council
- Alienated political elites who found their influence reduced
- Destabilised the balance that factional politics brought to Ireland and united all parties against the crown
- Damaging to the relationships with the new english elites
How did Wentworth impose Laudianism on the Irish Church
- In 1634, the Anglican (Laudian) 39 Articles were introduced to the Irish Church
- The new Irish court of High Commission established to enforce Laudianism
Consequences of the imposing Laudianism on the Irish Church
- Alienated landowners, particularly among the New English who had benefited most from the change in Land ownership brought about by the reformation
- Enforcing Laudianism antagonised Protestant Irish who saw Laudianism as quasi-catholicism
How did Wentworth restore Ireland to profitability and make it contribute to the English Crown finances
- The book of rates was re-issued so that Crown income from customs doubled between 1633 and 1640
- In 1634 Irish parliament manoeuvred into voting in subsidies
- Revival of measures of fiscal feudalism eg. in 1634 statues of Uses enacted and enforced , which stopped heirs from being able to avoid paying a form of inheritance tax payable on land transfers
Consequences of making Ireland profitable
- Impacted on merchants and traders who had to pay significantly more in customs
- Particularly offended the Old English and Irish Catholics because of the Graces, but also led to a general feeling of disempowerment in the Irish Parliament
- Increased financial burden on wealthy elites and laid the Crown open to accusations of corruption and unfair practice
The Graces
Wentworth had originally that in return for a parliamentary grant of 3 subsidies of £20,000 over 3 years he would agree with the ‘graces’.
These included
- recusancy fines would not be collected
- relaxation of requirements for catholics in public office to take the oath of supremacy
- Guarantee of land titles over 60years old
However once the subsidies were granted the graces were not addressed
Why was Ireland’s threat to the English Crown limited
- Every group in Irish society had been negatively impacted by Wentworth’s policies, although there was not yet an organised opposition to Wentworth or the crown
- The factional basis of Irish politics and the complex ethnicities of Ireland meant a united opposition would take time
- Wentworth’s ruthless suppression of critics reduced the scope of opposition quickly and efficiently
- Irish Privy council was originally more subservient than its English equivalent - posed less if a threat to Wentworth’s rule
Reasons why rebellion in Ireland erupted
Wentworth had forced change onto the existing political factions and structures in Ireland. His departure in 1639 created a significant vacuum that generated a factional struggle for dominance
How did Wentworth create a subservient Irish Parliament
By exerting great pressure in the choice of parliamentary candidates and refusing to allow any debates until the Crown’s financial needs had been dealt with
Why did Wentworth come to represent the hated aspects of symbolise
in Ireland Wentworth was able to impose much stricter control and to achieve apparent acquiescence to royal commanders
In Ireland he alienated both Catholics and Calvinists
Successes in Ireland
- He ended the deficit and Ireland began to contribute to the English Treasury
- Large fines were imposed on those who opposed his measures
- The administration of customs was made more efficient and smuggling was attacked
Failures in Ireland
- Alienated every section of society and therefore succeeding in imposing his policies came at significant costs
- Within two years of his departure in 1639, royal authority had collapsed as rebellion swept the country - measures were futile
