Profits and patriotism: Nicholas Weston, Old English merchants, and Ireland's Nine Years' War, 1594–1603

Canning, Ruth A.

Profits and patriotism: Nicholas Weston, Old English merchants, and Ireland's Nine Years' War, 1594–1603

Files

1305.pdf(300.85 KB)

Accepted Version

Date

2016-09-20

Authors

Canning, Ruth A.

Publisher

Sage

Published Version

10.1177/0332489316666600

Abstract

Ireland’s Old English merchants, and especially those of the Pale, provided the English crown with vital material supplies, finance and intelligence throughout the Nine Years’ War (1594–1603). Yet, surviving official correspondence criticised the mercantile community for providing weak support and accused its members of favouring the queen’s Irish enemies. The reality was that they did both, but their reasons for doing so were complicated. Too often described as a homogenous group, Old English merchants did not all share the same economic ambitions, political views or faith. Examining the specific actions of certain individuals alongside those of the wider community provides a fresh angle on the conflict and sheds new light on the role of Old English merchants.

Keywords

The Pale , Old English merchants , Loyalties , Illegal trade , Irish History , Nine Years' War

Citation

Canning, R. A. (2016) 'Profits and patriotism: Nicholas Weston, Old English merchants, and Ireland's Nine Years' War, 1594–1603', Irish Economic and Social History, 43(1), pp. 85-112. doi: 10.1177/0332489316666600.