Overview

In 1660 Charles II was restored to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland, but his hold on power was precarious. In particular, Ireland was fundamentally unstable Catholics formed the majority of the population in a country where Protestantism was the established religion, a state of affairs unique in Europe. It was through the law that the restored Stuart monarchy governed its subjects and its colonial dependencies, and this book examines how Catholics engaged with and experienced English common law primarily through the eyes of Catholic clerics and Gaelic poets. It also examines how Catholics engaged with the Courts and the particular challenges they faced as lawyers. The book draws on an extensive body of primary source materials, including Irish-language poetry and little-used archival material relating to elite Catholic families.

Full Product Details

9781526176356

Table of Contents

Reviews

'In Catholics and the Law in Restoration Ireland, Paul Smith offers an illuminating and innovative study of English common law as it was promulgated, enforced, and resisted in 17th-century Irish communities... Smith’s analysis is most convincing when he provides fully fleshed-out details of localized Catholic experiences of law in Restoration Ireland. The complexity at the heart of the volume is what makes Smith’s analysis shine. This volume is recommended for readers interested in Irish history, Restoration British history, legal historians, and anyone interested in early modern popular culture.' David Greder, Reading Religion -- .

Longlisted for the Royal Historical Society First Book Prize, 2026 -- .

Author Information

Paul Smith studies law and the legal profession in Early Modern Ireland.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available