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XXXIV Rowland White’s ‘Discors Touching Ireland’, c. 1569

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

Nicholas Canny
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Extract

This selected document was forwarded to Sir William Cecil in March 1571, but it was probably composed some years previously, and almost certainly before the Irish parliament of 1569–71 had assembled. It is transcribed from a copy, bearing the name of Secretary Thomas Wilson, which survives among the State Papers, Ireland in the Public Record Office, London (S.P 63, vol. 31, no. 32, ff 73–117). The piece is considered worthy of presentation because it is the most comprehensive analysis of the social and political condition of sixteenth century Ireland made by an Irish-born contemporary; because it indicates how the author’s perception of the world differed from that of the majority of Englishmen who commented on Ireland; and because it can be established that White’s opinions were shared by other articulate people within the Pale. The document, which is disposed of in nine lines in the Calendar of state papers Ireland, 1509–73, also serves to illustrate how grossly inadequate is that series for the sixteenth century.

Type
Select documents
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 20 , Issue 80 , September 1977 , pp. 439 - 463
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1977

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References

1 Cal. S.P. Ire., 1509–73 p. 440.

2 ‘Edward Walshe’s “Conjectures” concerning the state of Ireland [1552]’, ed. Quinn, D.B., in I.H.S.,5, no. 20 (Sept. 1947), pp 303–22.Google Scholar

3 Quinn, D.B., ‘Anglo-Irish Ulster in the early sixteenth century’ in Belfast Natur. Hist. Soc. Proc. (1933–4), pp 56–78 Google Scholar; the details on White’s career come from John Denton to Cecil, 16 Jan. 1567 (P.R.O., S.P. 63, vol. 20, no. 11, i), and ‘The generall services by sea and land … by John Denton’ (B.L., Cotton MS Titus Β xii, 4–11). I wish to thank Mr Ciaran Brady;n Brady for drawing my attention to the second document.

4 Goldsmyth, John to Bellingham, , 22 Aug. 1548 (Cal. S.P. Ire., 1509–73,p.86).Google Scholar

5 Bradshaw, Brendan, The dissolution of the religious orders in Ireland under Henry VIII (Cambridge, 1974), pp 28–9, 89–91; 122–3Google Scholar.

6 Denton to Cecil as in note 3.

7 ‘The generali services by sea and land … by John Denton’, as in note 3, f. 9.

8 Denton to Cecil as in note 3.

9 Thomas Lancaster to Leicester, 5 Mar. 1566 (P.R.O., S.P. 63, vol. 16, no. 45); John to Cecil, 16 Jan. 1567 (P.R.O., S.P. 63, vol. 20, nos 11 and 11, i); Rowland White to Burghley, 23 Mar., 1571 (P.R.O., S.P. 63, vol. 31, no. 31).

10 Denton to Cecil, as in note 3.

11 Ibid.

12 Ibid, and Denton to Cecil, 16 Jan. 1567 (P.R.O., S.P. 63, vol. 20, no. 11 ) ; on Sidney’s programme see Canny, Nicholas, The Elizabethan conquest of Ireland: a pattern established, 1565–76 (Hassocks, 1976), !pp 45–65.Google Scholar

13 ‘The generall services by sea and land by John Denton’, as in note 3, if 8v–9r

14 Nicholas White to Burghley, 10 May 1573 (P.R.O., S.P. 63, vol. 40, no. 31).

15 See, for example, ‘Edward Walshe’s “Conjectures”’ in I.H.S., v, no. 20 (Sept. 1947), pp 318-19.

16 Bradshaw, Brendan, ‘The beginnings of modern Ireland’ in The Irish parliamentary tradition, ed. Farrell, Brian (Dublin, 1973), pp 68–87.Google Scholar

17 Bermingham’s memorial of advices for the government of Ireland, 24 Sept. 1563 (P.R.O., S.P 63, vol. 9, no. 27).

18 Treadwell, Victor, ‘The Irish parliament of 1560-71’ in R.I.A. Proc, sect, c, 65 (1966), pp 55–89 Google Scholar; Canny, Nicholas, The Elizabethan conquest of Ireland, pp 140–2.Google Scholar

19 Canny, Nicholas, The formation of the Old English élite in Ireland (O’Donnell lecture, Dublin, 1975), pp 9–15.Google Scholar

20 White’s ‘Discors’, ff 100v, 105v.

21 Canny, Nicholas, The formation of the Old English elite, pp 28–9.Google Scholar

22 Tremayne, Edmund, ‘Notes and proposition for the reformation of Ireland as the substance of his lordship’s own speeches brought together and written down’ (P.R.O., S.P. 63, vol. 32, no. 66).Google Scholar

23 White’s ‘Diseors’, ff 100, 77; Canny, Nicholas, The formation of the Old English elite, pp 26–8.Google Scholar

24 White’s ‘Discors’, f. 76v.