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Archive for July 2nd, 2008

Wars of the Roses and Independence of Irish Parliament

The play of the English factions, however, soon brought the Geraldines into official favour. The struggle between the Houses of York and Lancaster was beginning, and the first effect of it in Ireland was the arrival of Richard, Duke of York as Lord Lieutenant with unlimited powers (1449).

He was the grandson of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March {page 170), and, therefore, descended from Lionel, Duke of Clarence. His policy was to win over the Irish chiefs, and to placate the Irish Normans. He gained the adhesion of both branches of the Geraldines, but although he bestowed offices upon Ormonde, the Butlers remained steadfast adherents of the Lancastrians.

A new element was introduced by English politics into the ancient rivalry. During the Wars of the Roses (1455-85) many of the Anglo-Irish fought on both sides in the numerous battles in England. The Butlers were almost the only supporters of the House of Lancaster in Ireland, and when the Yorkists were for a time defeated, and the Duke of York fled to Ireland (of which he still claimed to be Lord Lieutenant) he was warmly received and supported (1459).

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Posted on July 2nd, 2008 under Gaelic Feudalism. Tags: , , , , , , , . Comments: None

The Great Earl with the End of Wars of Roses

When Thomas, Earl of Kildare (page 182) died (1477), he was succeeded by his son, Garrett or Gerald as 8th Earl. The Irish Council elected Garrett as Lord Deputy, but the English King (Edward IV) refused to recognise him, and sent over Lord Grey in his stead. But the King’s nominee was refused admittance to Dublin Castle by the doughty Keating (page 183), and the Lord Chancellor refused to deliver him up the Great Seal.

Grey called a Parliament in Trim, but Kildare and the Chancellor (his father-in-law, Fitz-Eustace, Lord Portlester) immediately called a rival Parliament at Naas. During two years the contest went on until finally Kildare won, and was appointed Lord Deputy with increased powers, which left him practically independent. For the next 35 years (1478-1513) the Great Earl was the most powerful man in Ireland, and with the exception of one break of four years (1492-6) he was all that time Lord Deputy under the Yorkist Kings, Edward IV and Richard III, until 1485, and then under the Tudor King, Henry VII.

In 1485 the House of York fell at the battle of Bosworth, and Henry Tudor became King of England as Henry VII. The Wars of the Roses had ended, and new conditions prevailed jti England which were to have a profound influence on Irish affairs. The wars had destroyed the old feudal nobility of England, and for many years to come that country was to be ruled by sovereigns whose power was arbitrary. Untroubled by powerful nobles, the Tudors were able to direct the policy of England with a single mind. 

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Posted on July 2nd, 2008 under Gaelic Feudalism. Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Comments: None

Lambert Simnel and the Retention of Kildare

Henry found that the Yorkist Geraldines were too powerful to interfere with for the present. He did, indeed, summon Kildare to London, but the Earl evaded the call by getting a Parliament to declare that his presence in Ireland was essential. Kildare was continued as Deputy, his brother Thomas as Chancellor, and Portlester as Treasurer.

But they, and nearly all the Anglo-Irish, were still Yorkist, and they soon had an opportunity of displaying their sympathies. The last male representative of the House of York, Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick, a boy of twelve, was a prisoner in the Tower of London. Some Yorkist adherents got a youth named Lambert Simnel to personate him, and brought him to Ireland, where he was received with open arms by the leading officials. Kildare held aloof for some time, but when Warwick’s aunt, the Duchess of Burgundy, sent an army of Germans to support the pretender, the Earl declared in his favour. Simnel was crowned in Christ Church as Edward VI, and was accepted by many of the Anglo-Irish and by many towns, but not by the Butlers or the city of Waterford. At the head of an army of Germans and Anglo-Irish Simnel landed in England, but was defeated and captured at Stoke (H87)-Even this did not disturb Kildare’s position.

Next year Henry sent a Commissioner to take the homage of those who had sided with the Pretender, and to lay down the conditions upon which they would be pardoned. Kildare kept out of the Commissioner’s way for some time, and when he and the Council heard the conditions, they declared that sooner than accept them they woidd one and all “become Irish.” At length the conditions were withdrawn, and Kildare and the other officials were pardoned and retained in office upon taking an oath of allegiance to Henry.

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Posted on July 2nd, 2008 under Gaelic Feudalism. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Comments: None

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