The Welsh and the Shaping of Early Modern Ireland, 1558–1641, by Rhys Morgan

Abstract

The notion of a ‘Celtic’ sea, which facilitated rather than hampered contact between its shores, has a long history. Archaeological evidence has documented the movements of people and artefacts between Britain, Ireland and lands bordering both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The attractions of property and power in Ireland are known to have lured adventurers, traders, soldiers and administrators from areas such as Pembrokeshire and north-west Wales into the neighbouring kingdom after it was annexed by Henry II. Continuing and quickening trade and migration in later periods have also been sketched. For the first time, however, Rhys Morgan now adds impressive detail to the previous outlines. Methodically, he quantifies how many from Wales were involved in the wars, government and plantations in Ireland under the Tudors and early Stuarts. Using a wide range of materials (state and estate papers, correspondence and legal records) he looks in turn at those who served as soldiers, administrators and voluntary settlers. He emphasises the attractions of military service, and frees the Welsh (whether officers or in the ranks) from derogatory stereotyping. These soldiers are revealed as no more unruly than those drawn from other parts of the Tudors’ realm, and usually of some substance in their own communities. Speaking only Welsh, they had to be commanded by the bilingual. Prominent patrons are identified: notably Sir Henry Sidney and Sir John Perrot, both of whom served as lords deputy in Dublin. At court, Leicester promoted the Welsh. In the early seventeenth century, Sir Arthur Chichester, who had Welsh ties, continued to favour individuals from the principality. Even Wentworth employed some Welshmen. Not only did they colonise lands (notably in Kerry, Donegal, Monaghan, Londonderry and Down), but they served the established Protestant church. Appointed to bishoprics, one or two (Loftus and Jones) founded ecclesiastical and office-holding dynasties in Ireland. The Welsh who acquired Irish estates almost invariably employed their compatriots as agents. In time, some of the latter built up sizeable holdings of their own.