#259 Tudor Cornwall (1941)

Author: A.L. Rowse
Title: Tudor Cornwall
Genre: Local History
Year: 1941
Pages: 450
Origin: bought from Waterstone’s many moons ago
Nod Rating: 4 nods out of 5

 

It has been a while since the Worm returned to one of his favourite reading pursuits: the history of that most beloved of duchies/counties/countries (delete as your politics dictates): Cornwall. And what better historian to reacquaint the Worm with such history than the cantankerous A.L. Rowse? Rowse’s name is well established with the Tudor period, particularly in his scholarship on Shakespearian works. However, Cornwall is his place of birth, and Tudor Cornwall holds an esteemed reputation with Cornish historians the world over.

Rowse traces history from the lawless time of the Wars of the Roses in the late fifteenth century, the arrival of the Tudor dynasty, the turmoil under various rulers – principally that of Henry VIII – and the later focus on the trusty Elizabethan sea-dogs and the war with the super-power Spain. Due to such illustrious characters during this period, as well as the great religious changes, the sixteenth century offers easy pickings for anyone wishing to highlight its history.

In particular, focus is devoted on the principal rebellions, including the 1497 rebellion led by the legendary (or, would be legendary if only people remembered the legend) An Gof, the failed and foiled Perkin Warbeck uprising, as well as the 1549 Prayer Book Rebellion that engulfed social, religious and political barriers. Rowse charts the change of mood in religion, from a Catholic enclave to one that took pride in the state’s Protestant exploits. 1549 is seen as a decisive date in Cornish history: with an English prayer-book imposed on the region the Cornish language received a further nail in its coffin. Furthermore, during this period powers are taken away from the corners of the kingdom, placing greater central control within the capital of London. Rowse comments on the change from feudal anarchy, highlighting the painful transformation for such a remote county as Cornwall.

As well as the big themes that connect all of England together, special attention is provided for the local dimension. This includes the layout of the land of the country, its industry and trade, the social structure within Cornwall, as well as ‘the life of the society and of the individual’. The depth of research is striking: this is no mere overview of the Tudor period, but rather an extensive and exhaustive academic piece of work. It is a shame that the county has not received similarly in-depth attention from later historians (although it must be noted that Cornwall has been fortunate to receive the attention from the Institute of Cornish Studies).

When compared to modern-day historians and writers, it is clear that Rowse is a man stuck within his time. Opinionated and severe in his judgements, Rowse lives up every bit to that school of historians from the mid-twentieth century (and earlier) that spent time investigating Tudor England (particularly G.R. Elton). What with the smiling face of the modern-day TV personality historian, sometimes the Worm longs for such an old-fashioned historian to become popular once more in order to shake a few feathers.

Read about A.L. Rowse here