1641 in Ireland: Rebellion, Massacres and Refugees Dr John Cunningham john.cunningham@qub.ac.uk

Lecture Outline The Early Modern Context Why do the 1640s matter? What happened in 1641? Sources & Problems

Columbus, Luther & Copernicus

Early Modern Terminology - in fashion since 1970s Chronology - 1453-1789 / 1500-1700 / 1400-1800 1534-1691 / 1547-1917 / 960-1911

Early Modern Europe State Formation Religious Reform / Confessionalisation State Formation Major Wars e.g. the Thirty Years’ War, 1618-1648 Technology – e.g. in Warfare Population Growth Urbanisation The Body

Early Modern Ireland From a Bi-Cultural Society to a Society characterised by a dominant and sub-ordinate culture (with multiple areas of intersection) Gaelic Ireland English Ireland Protestant Ireland Catholic Ireland

Early Modern Ireland Conquest Plantation & Colonisation Migration Anglicisation Centralisation Towns & Market Economy

Early Modern Ireland Key Groups - Old English /New English / Gaelic Irish / Ulster Scots Key Questions - Why did the Reformation Fail? Kingdom or Colony? Atlantic World or European?

Why do the 1640s Matter? Major War, 1641-1653 Catholic Defeat / Protestant Victory Land Transfer Demographic Disaster Map from downsurvey.tcd.ie

Conflicting Interpretations /Memories Protestant Premeditated General Massacre Enormous Fatalities Barbaric Irish Catholics Time of Punishment / Trial Victory for Protestantism Triumph of English Civility Catholic Reaction to Oppression Defence of Constitution Quest for Equality/Supremacy Independence Government Overreaction Oliver Cromwell

Protestant & Catholic Versions of 1641 (London, 1662)

19th Century Debate – 1641 & Cromwell

Images - Germany (Vincent, 1638) & Ireland (Cranford, 1642)

Samuel Clarke, Generall Martyrologie (1651)

Cranford (1642) / Clarke (1651)

Matthew Taylor, England’s Bloody Tribunal (London, 1769).

Debate on ‘anti-sectarianism’ at Stormont 10 Sept. 2002 On Saturday 15 June 1991 Portadown District LOL No 1 held a mini- twelfth Orange pageant in commemoration of the drowning of Protestants in the River Bann in November 1641. Portadown bridge, coupled with the contemporary massacre of 17 men, women and children in the parish of Drumcree, has come to epitomise for them all that occurred throughout Ulster in the year of the 1641 rebellion. It was at that time that the sectarian battle lines that have dogged Ulster to this day were drawn. Dr Ian Adamson, MLA Belfast East

What Happened in 1641? Catholic Rebellion in Ulster, Oct. 1641 - Plan to Seize Strongholds and Secure Concessions from Government (Scottish Example) Unrest Spreads across the Island Social Order Breaks Down - Robberies, Strippings, Killings Government & Protestant Forces - Spiral of Violence Most of Ireland comes under Catholic Control From 1643 - Catholics Negotiate with the King 1649-53 - Oliver Cromwell’s Conquest Phelim O’Neill

Recent Historiography Killings occurred, but numbers have been grossly exaggerated Aspects other than the violence also merit attention – social, economic, cultural, religious, gender, identity, language The 1641 Depositions can be used to explore all of these areas

The 1641 Depositions c. 8,000 witness statements and related material concerning the rebellion Traditionally advanced as evidence for an enormous massacre of Protestants – estimated death tolls up to 600,000 (John Milton) Depositions from Protestant Survivors – details of their experiences Examinations of Prisoners & Others – miscellaneous information All freely available online at 1641.tcd.ie and cultura-project.eu

Wexford Delinquency Depositions, 1653-4 (TCD MSS 818-19) 513 Statements taken from 112 Deponents 3 Women & 109 Men 104 Stated their Age 64 Could Sign their Names 94 Identified their Occupation

Wexford Delinquency Depositions, 1653-4 (TCD MSS 818-19)

Wexford Delinquency Depositions, 1653-4 (TCD MSS 818-19)

Medical Practitioners in the 1641 Depositions 16 Deponents 4 doctors of physic 1 ‘Professor of Physicke’ 7 surgeons 1 surgeon’s mate 1 barber-surgeon 1 barber 1 midwife