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Town and country

Early modern Wales was an overwhelmingly rural country. Although the country had 54 centres which had some claim to urban status, most were little more than villages.

Those with the fullest functions were the capitals of the four corners of Wales: Carmarthen, Brecon, Denbigh and Caernarfon.

Wales and Parliament

MPs from Wales first attended parliament in 1542. Initially they proved taciturn but, by the late 16th century, they became adept in defending the interests of Wales.

Few were bent upon a political career; rather they considered membership of the House of Commons as a way of emphasising their prestige in their home community. They were generally supporters of the crown and, when in 1642, Charles I raised an army to resist the claims of Parliament, Welsh opinion was broadly royalist.