Surrey, Thomas Howard, earl of

Surrey, Thomas Howard, earl of (d. 1554). Surrey's lord lieutenancy (1520–2) was an experiment in direct rule from England, presaging many problems encountered during the Tudor conquest. His English troops proved unsuited to Irish conditions and he had to levy forces locally. Raising only £750 from the annual Irish revenues, and refused extra money by parliament, he was forced to continue coyne and livery and to request subventions from England amounting to £18,000. Without the good offices of Gerald (Gearóid Óg) FitzGerald, earl of Kildare (on bail in England), he had to exact submissions from O'Neill and other great lords on progresses round the country. Order was restored in the Pale but increasing likelihood of English involvement in a European war forced him into truces with the Gaelic lords in 1521. A debate over the extension of sovereignty throughout the island was initiated. Surrey advocated the establishment of forts, towns, and plantations, with 2,500 men required over a number of years for a gradual conquest, or 6,000 men needed for a rapid one. Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey favoured the cheaper method of concessions to co‐opt the Gaelic lords into the English system.

Hiram Morgan