This was in keeping with European trends, where humanist ideas were spreading ever wider among the mercantile classes. The essays in this book cover a period beginning c.1200 - from the founding of the town of New Ross by the Marshals, through to the grant of city status by King James VI and I in 1608, and the beneficial outcomes of the 1613- 15 parliament for the Kilkenny merchants. Aspects of urban life, such as the merchants' wealth, art patronage, houses, and their social networks are also investigated.
