Between the wars: identity and cross-cultural interaction on the English borders, 1558-1639

Abstract

This thesis examines how a period of prolonged peace, from 1558 to 1639, between the kingdoms of England and Scotland, affected regional identities and cross-border interactions on England’s landward borders. Previous border studies have tended to concentrate on societies during periods of war, or focus on a single border at a time, whereas comparative studies of Atlantic archipelago borders have tended to connect either the Anglo-Welsh or Anglo-Scottish border with Ireland. This thesis, therefore, provides a unique comparison of the Anglo-Welsh and Anglo-Scottish borders. The study reviews the core political English and Scottish primary sources through a social and cultural lens to show how policies and law affected the life of borderers. The similarities and differences between the Anglo-Scottish and Anglo-Welsh borderers are compared in order to explore how national identities blurred and overlapped in these liminal zones and how those areas possessed distinctive identities and characteristics of their own. This study argues that the English government’s view of border relations did not necessarily coincide with the actual lived experience of the borderers. Anglo-Welsh border relations were viewed in a positive light by the English government after the so called Acts of Union in 1536 and 1542/3, whereas Anglo-Scottish border relations continued to be regarded negatively by many after the Union of Crowns in 1603. The subjects of language, law, crime and punishment, regional relationship and every-day cross-border interactions are explored in this thesis to demonstrate that, while hostile interactions continued on the borders, many areas existed for positive, international, relationships to flourish. This thesis casts a flood of new light on ‘the process of pacification’ on England's landward borders between 1558 and 1639 and demonstrates that periods of peace are essential for understanding how different communities can live cohesively together and how peace can change the representation of national identity.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Natalie, Marie Williams: orcid.org/0000-0003-2600-845X

ORCID for Maria Hayward: orcid.org/0000-0002-3299-4383

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