A Dictionary of British and Irish History

John Collis, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, University of Sheffield

Gabriel Cooney, Adjunct Professor of Archaeology, UCD School of Archaeology, University College Dublin

David Crook, formerly Reader in Education, Brunel University, London

John Davies†, sometime Senior Lecturer in Welsh History, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth

Mark Edmonds, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, University of York

Janet Foggie, Church of Scotland Chaplain to the University of Stirling

Austin Gee, Tutor in History, Otago University, New Zealand

Colin Haydon, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and of the Royal Historical Society

Stuart Hunn, Head of Politics, Bancroft’s School, London

Mike Keoghan, Chief Economic Adviser of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK Government

Alan R. MacDonald, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Dundee

Alastair Macdonald, Mackie Lecturer in History, University of Aberdeen

Christine McGladdery, Associate Lecturer and Director of Teaching, School of History, University of St Andrews

Ailbhe Mac Shamhráin†, sometime Lecturer on the Medieval Irish Studies Programme at NUI Maynooth

Chris Murray, Editor, The Hutchinson Dictionary of the Arts

Helen Parish, Professor of Early Modern History, University of Reading

Robert Peberdy, formerly Assistant Editor, Victoria County History of Oxfordshire

Mark Philpott, Fellow of Keble College, Oxford ; J.M. Neale Fellow in Church History, St Stephen’s House, Oxford

Barry Raftery†, sometime Professor of Celtic Archaeology, University College Dublin

Paul Seaward, British Academy/Wolfson Research Professor, History of Parliament, London

Susan Skedd, independent scholar and heritage consultant

Glenn A. Steppler, military historian

Ann Swailes, OP, Assistant Chaplain, Fisher House, Cambridge

Richard Tames, Adjunct Professor of History at Syracuse University’s London Centre

Andrew Thompson, Professor of Global Imperial History, University of Oxford

David E. Thornton, Assistant Professor of History, Bilkent University

Jason Tomes, Lecturer in London for Boston University

Matthew Vickers, Chief Executive of Ombudsman Services, UK

Andrew Wareham, Reader in Medieval Economic History, University of Roehampton

Ian Whyte†, sometime Emeritus Professor, Lancaster Environment Centre, University of Lancaster

ADAnno Domini (Latin, ‘In the year of our Lord’; year 1 and forwards)Aug.Augustb.bornbap.baptizedBCBefore Christ (before year 1 and backwards)BPBefore PresentCcentralc.about (Latin circa)d.diedd.pence (Latin denarius/denarii)Dec.DecemberEeastEECEuropean Economic Communityest.estimatedEUEuropean UnionFeb.Februaryfl.flourishedFr.Frenchftfoot or feethahectare or hectaresHMSHis (or Her) Majesty’s ShipJan.Januarykmkilometre or kilometresNnorthmmetre or metresMEMiddle Englishmimile or milesMPMember of Parliament, referring 14th century—1707 to the English Parliament (including Wales from 1544); 1707—1800 to the British Parliament; 1801—1922 to the UK Parliament (for Great Britain and Ireland); from 1922 to the UK Parliament (for Great Britain and Northern Ireland)MtMountNnorthNATONorth Atlantic Treaty OrganisationNov.NovemberOct.OctoberOEOld EnglishOFr.Old FrenchOIr.Old IrishpopnpopulationR.RiverSsouths.shilling or shillings (Latin solidus/solidi)Sept.SeptembersqsquareStSaintTDTeachta Dála (officially ‘Deputy to the Dáil’, the lower house of the Irish Parliament)USUnited StatesUSAUnited States of AmericaUSSRUnion of Soviet Socialist RepublicsWwest

In addition to the Advisers and Contributors listed on previous pages, we are indebted to numerous people for assistance of various kinds. In the first instance we wish to acknowledge former and current members of staff at the publishers, particularly the late John Davey who commissioned the book, Tessa Harvey who long provided wise counsel, and Ajith Kumar who advised on production‐related matters. We are especially grateful to Jennifer Manias for encouragement and help during the final stages of preparation.

We wish to express thanks too for comments on draft entries and other kinds of support from the following: Dr Kate Adcock, Dr Virginia Bainbridge, Professor Jeremy Black, Professor Paul Brand, Kevin Brown, Dr Beatrice Clayre, Professor Peter Coss, the late Michael Crosby, the late Professor R.R. Davies, Charles Dickerson, Dr Rosamond Faith, Dr Dorian Gerhold, Alan Godwin, Dr Matthew Grimley, Professor Steven Gunn, Dr Andrew Hegarty, Arkady Hodge, Revd Dr Gordon Jeanes, David Lane, the late Aidan Lawes, Dr Chris Lewis, Revd Raymond and Joan Moody, Professor Richard Moore‐Colyer, Dr Pamela Nightingale, Professor Nicholas Orme, Bernard and May Peberdy, Ian and Linda Peberdy, Dr Max Peberdy, Dr David Pelteret, Professor Carl and Dr Gill Petrokofsky, Professor Charles Phythian‐Adams, Dr Nigel Ramsay, the late Dr J.M. Roberts, the late Professor Jack Simmons, Dr Graham Speake, John and Elaine Steane, Rosalind Tolson, Peter Truesdale, Jane Waller, Dr Peter Watson, Dr Elizabeth Wells, Dr Hilary Davan Wetton, Professor Chris Wickham, Roger Willson, the late Patrick Wormald. We are also grateful to the staff of the Bodleian Library in Oxford, particularly at the History and Law libraries, and thank Holly Regan‐Jones for checking the text and Giles Darkes for composing the maps.

ABBOT, GEORGE

(b. 29 Oct. 1562 at Guildford, Surrey, England; d. 4 Aug. 1633 at Croydon, Surrey, aged 70). A clothworker’s son and Church of ENGLAND clergyman, Abbot was appointed bishop of Coventry and Lichfield (1609), bishop of London (1610), and archbishop of CANTERBURY and privy councillor (1611) by JAMES VI/I. He lost favour with the king in 1613 for opposing annulment of the countess of Essex’s marriage ( see SOMERSET, ROBERT EARL OF). As a CALVINIST who tolerated moderate PURITANISM, Abbot welcomed the condemnation of ARMINIANISM in 1619 by the international Synod of Dort in the Dutch Republic. In July 1621 he accidentally killed a gamekeeper with a crossbow while hunting. Thereafter he was frequently taunted about the incident.

Abbot was disregarded by CHARLES I (king from 1625) who preferred advice from the anti‐Puritan William LAUD. He was effectively suspended from office during 1627–8 for rejecting a royal order: he had refused to license publication of a sermon that advocated absolute obedience to the king.

ABDICATION CRISISEvents of 1936 which led EDWARD VIII to renounce his position as king of Great Britain and Ireland. On 16 Nov. Edward expressed determination to marry Wallis Simpson, an American socialite. The prime minister, Stanley BALDWIN, and archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Lang, judged it impermissible for the titular head of the Church of ENGLAND to wed a twice‐divorced woman. DOMINION premiers agreed. The British press refrained from reporting the matter until 3 Dec. By then the authorities had ruled out a morganatic marriage (i.e., Mrs Simpson remaining a commoner rather than becoming queen). Edward abdicated (11 Dec.) in favour of a brother (see GEORGE VI). He went abroad, as duke of Windsor, and married in June 1937. ABDICATION CRISIS AND IRISH FREE STATE