Consul Thomas Maynard 1656-1689. A Reasssessment

Author:

Mrs L. M. E. Shaw

Report:

12

Page:

1985

Year:

1985

Subject Matter:

Diplomatic and General History

Excerpt:

It is impossible to study Anglo-Portuguese relations in the second half of the 17th century without reference to the reports of Thomas Maynard, who was consul in Lisbon for four years and consul-general for almost thirty. However, although Maynard has been quoted by many writers as the source of their information, only Mrs. M. S. Jayne, it seems, has tried to analyse Maynard's effectiveness as a consul¹ . To her, Maynard appeared to be a somewhat unsavoury upstart; a devious man; a contentious troublemaker, who only managed to remain consul for so long because he knew too much about too many people and could hold them, as it were, to ransom in his own support. .....

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