Royalism, Religion and Revolution: Wales, 1640-1688 (Studies in Early Modern Cultural, Political and Social History, 42)

Analyses the role of long-term continuities in the political and religious culture of Wales from the eve of the Civil War in 1640 to the Glorious Revolution of 1688 In Royalism, Religion and Revolution: Wales, 1640-1688, Sarah Ward Clavier provides a ground-breaking analysis of the role of long-term continuities in the political and religious culture of Wales from the eve of the Civil War in 1640 to the Glorious Revolution. A final chapter also extends the narrative to the Hanoverian succession. The book discusses three main themes: the importance of continuities (including concepts of Welsh history, identity and language); religious attitudes and identities; and political culture. As Ward Clavier shows, the culture of Wales in this period was not frozen but rather dynamic, one that was constantly deploying traditional cultural symbols and practices to sustain a distinctive religious and political identity against a tide of change. The book uses a wide range of primary research material: from correspondence, diaries and financial accounts, to architectural, literary and material sources, drawing on both English and Welsh language texts. As part of the 'New Regional History' this book discusses the distinctively Welsh alongside aspects common to English and, indeed, European culture, and argues that the creative construction of continuity allowed the gentry of North-East Wales to maintain and adapt their identity even in the face of rupture and crisis. In Royalism, Religion and Revolution: Wales, 1640-1688, Sarah Ward Clavier provides a ground-breaking analysis of the role of long-term continuities in the political and religious culture of Wales from the eve of the Civil War in 1640 to the Glorious Revolution. A final chapter also extends the narrative to the Hanoverian succession. The book discusses three main themes: the importance of continuities (including concepts of Welsh history, identity and language); religious attitudes and identities; and political culture. As Ward Clavier shows, the culture of Wales in this period was not frozen but rather dynamic, one that was constantly deploying traditional cultural symbols and practices to sustain a distinctive religious and political identity against a tide of change. The book uses a wide range of primary research material: from correspondence, diaries and financial accounts, to architectural, literary and material sources, drawing on both English and Welsh language texts. As part of the 'New Regional History' this book discusses the distinctively Welsh alongside aspects common to English and, indeed, European culture, and argues that the creative construction of continuity allowed the gentry of North-East Wales to maintain and adapt their identity even in the face of rupture and crisis. Royalism, Religion and Revolution 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations 12 Map of North-East Wales 13 Introduction 14 Part 1. Welsh Historical Culture 36 How Was History Written in Wales? 38 The Character and Purpose of Welsh Historical Culture 57 Connecting Welsh Historical Culture 73 Thomas Mostyn: Collections, Historical Writing, and Welsh Identity 91 Part 2. Religion 108 The Welshness of the Church of England 110 The North-East Welsh Gentry and Their Catholic Neighbours 128 Puritanism and the North-East Welsh Gentry, 1640-88 140 ir Thomas Hanmer: Episcopalian Squire or ‘Church Papist’? 156 Part 3. Royalism and Loyalism 172 Loyalty in the Region and the Nation 174 Royalism 192 North-East Welsh Royalism and Loyalism, 1660-85 209 Robert Davies III: Royalism and Loyalism in North-East Wales 222 Epilogue 236 Bibliography 256 Index 274