The Chief Governors

• Preface; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; Prologue: Ireland in the wake of the Kildare rebellion, 1536; Part I. The Course of Reform Government, 1536–1578: 1. Reform as process: the viceroyalties of Lord Leonard Grey and Sir Anthony St Leger, 1536–1547; 2. Ireland and the mid-Tudor crisis, 1547–1556; 3. Reform by programme: the viceroyalties of the earl of Sussex, 1556–1565; 4. Reform on contract: the viceroyalties of Sir Henry Sidney, 1566–1578; Interlude: government in Ireland, 1536–1579; Part II. The Impact of Reform Government, 1556–1583: 5. Reform government and the feudal magnates; 6. Reform government and the community of the Pale; 7. Reform government and Gaelic Ireland; Epilogue: reform in crisis: the viceroyalty of Sir John Perrot, 1584–1588; Bibliography; Index.

'The Chief Governors is a compelling book, lucidly and elegantly written … this is a hugely important book which no one interested in early modern Ireland can afford to ignore. It should set the terms of debate for years to come.' Andrew Hadfield, Irish Studies Review