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King Henry VI had become dissatisfied with the situation in Ireland which had always been a Yorkist stronghold. Henry now resolved to complete the subjection of Ireland by appointing his second son ( latterly Henry VIII) , as Viceroy and made Poynings the prince's deputy. The struggles between the Butlers and Geraldines leading Irish families, had reduced royal authority to a pale. In 1494 Poynings landed at Howth ,with a thousand men; it was part of the scheme to fill the chief Irish offices with Englishman. Poynings first measure was to lead an expeditionary force to Ulster to suppress chieftains who had resisted the first invasion of Ireland by Warbeck. Poynings abandoned the Ulster invasion turning south , and proceeded to Drogheda and summoned a parliament which proved to be one of the most momentous in Irish history. On December the first 1494 Poynings passed numerous acts , making Irish administration directly dependent upon the crown and privy council. There was a re-enactment of the statutes of Kilkenny passed in 1366: forbidding marriage between the English and the Irish , and also the adopting of any Irish laws,customs or manners by the English colonists.
Another act declared all laws 'late made' in England to be of force in Ireland, and it was subsequently decided this applied to all laws passed in England before 1494. These two measures were subsequently known as 'Poyning's Law' , or the 'Statutes of Drogheda' , rendering the Irish parliament completely subordinate to that of England. This act was totally repealed in 1782 making the Irish parliament independent once more.
Sir Edward Poynings was involved in numerous affairs of state - including in October 1501. he was one of those appointed to meet and take Catherine of Arragon to London.
1515 appointed ambassador to the Pope , the embassy appears not to have started .
In 1520 he played an important role in the proceedings at the peace talks with Francis I of France and King Henry VIII at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Poynings attended the meeting of Henry VIII and Charles at Gravelines on 10th July. He died at Westenhanger in Kent in October 1521. |
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