THE DOWNFALL OF WENTWORTH'S ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

OPPOSITION IN ULSTER I n May 1639 Laud made a speech in the Star Chamber where Sir Piers Crosby was on trial for libelling the lord deputy. ‘The State’, he declared, ‘doth not owe a little to my Lord Deputy that the kingdom of Ireland is kept in that great peace and security; for at this day (God be thanked) that Kingdom is at peace, notwithstanding the Multitude of Scots in that Kingdom and those rebels that are within an hour and half's passage of Ireland. No part of England is in more security than they are at this time and under God and the King, I can attribute it to nothing but the wisdom, courage, and care of my Lord Deputy and therefore God forbid offenders against his reputation should go away without exemplary punishment.’ Appearances were deceptive, however, and for all its seeming peace Ireland was in a state of unstable equilibrium. Wentworth had succeeded in imposing his will upon the four sections of society in Ireland–Gaelic Irish, Ulster Scots, old English proprietors and new English planters—but everywhere there was a discontent which only fear prevented from emerging. What is surprising, indeed, is that the opposition to the lord deputy was not more effective. But it was hard to envisage a situation in which the piecemeal opposition of Boyle, Mountnorris, Clanrickarde, Westmeath and the Ulster Scots would be in a position to combine. Wentworth, himself, had no vision of future catastrophe, as his extensive purchases of land during these years showed, and he had good reason for his confidence, if economic prosperity was any guide.