THE TUDORS

During the fifteenth century, English control over Ireland became increasingly remote with the Fitzgeralds of Kildare achieving a level of prominence which saw Garret More, the eighth Earl of Kildare becoming not only justicar, elected by the council of Ireland, but a king in all but name. In England, the War of the Roses and continued intermittent* conflict with France, meant that English kings were too busy attending to those affairs to give Ireland much thought. As long as Ireland did not pose a threat, England was content to leave well enough alone. With the eventual resolution of the War of the Roses which saw Henry VII come to the English throne, an attempt was made to bring Ireland more firmly into line. Sir Edward Poynings was sent to Ireland where he brough people together to form a parliament at Drogheda in 1494. Garret was accused of treason and brought to the Tower of London, though he was later reinstated by Henry. “Poynings Law”, however, was to have a more lasting effect: it stated that the Irish Parliament could only meet with the king’s approval and that it could only pass laws which the king and his council agreed. This law was to become an increasing source of conflict in the years to come.

Henry VII was prepared to allow his lordship over Ireland to be conducted through Irish justicars, particularly through the “Geraldines” or Fitzgerald family. His son, Henry VIII, however was to adopt a quite different attitude.

Henry VIII faced two problems which his father had not. Spain had emerged as a significant power whose interests were increasingly competing with the interests of England. Ireland could offer the Spanish a back door into England and so its loyalty had to be secured. Secondly, Henry’s break from Rome, for political and personal reasons rather than because of any strong theological convictions, meant that loyalty to the crown included religious conformity. When, in 1534, Garret More’s son and successor, Garret Oge was summoned to London, he left his son Thomas to act as his deputy. “Silken Thomas” as he was known was given an untrue report that his father had been executed and rose in rebellion against the crown. Whether this deception was part of Henry’s strategy or not is unclear but it provided him with the opportunity to send a large army to Ireland under the command of Sir William Skeffington in October of that year. Skeffington installed himself as deputy, defeated captured Silken Thomas’s stronghold at Maynooth in March 1535, executing those who surrendered. The ironically named “Pardon of Maynooth”, was intended to act as a deterrent to other would-be insurrectionists**. Thomas himself was captured and executed in London in 1537 along with other leading members of the Fitzgerald family. In spite of a “Geraldine League” being formed to protect Thomas’s young heir, who was sent to Italy, Thomas was to be the last Irishman to head a government in Ireland for almost four hundred years.

A “Reformation Parliament”, called in 1541, confirmed Henry as king of Ireland and the “Supreme Head on Earth of the whole Church of Ireland”. It outlawed anyone who described the Pope as the Head of the Church. Henry was prepared to “regrant” lands back to any Irish or Old English lords who accepted these conditions. While the laws were unenforceable in large parts of the country, an increasing military presence was established through a growing number of garrisons. Lands were confiscated and “English Land” extended. In spite of the fluctuating religious affiliations of Henry’s heirs, Edward, Mary and Elizabeth, the process of English colonisation continued.

* intermittent – that which stops for a period of time and then starts again; ceasing at intervals.

** insurrectionist - a person who organises or takes part in a revolt or rebellion.