This episode I’ll try Christian names, Francis seems as good
as any.
So from Beauchamp H.D. Colclough 1879 documents.
Clare Agard wife of Sir Anthony was the daughter of Francis
Agard of Staffordshire, governor of Wexford, privy councillor in Ireland mid-16th
century.
Son of Sir Anthony and
Clare was Francis, noted to have died before 1576, without children.
Inscription on Sir Anthonys Tomb in the old Church, Tintern.
“ In obitum egregii viri Anthonii Colclough, militis.
Pristina Sublimi proavorum stemate ducta, Et seres magnis orta ab imaginibus:
Atque superba manus variis ornata tropheis, Haec sortis fragili sola parantum
ope. Ast sincerus amor patria vox consona vulgi. Et verus verd candor honore
niteus; Nescia vel duris flecti constantia rebus, Non aliena sed moc nostra vocare
licet. Utrum plura daret sors et natura vicissim, Certarunt uno hoc cuncta
viator habes.
Here lieth the body of Syr Anthony Colcloughe, Knight Eldest
Sune of Richard Colcloughe of Wollstaton in Staffordshire, Esquire., Who came
first into this land, the 34 year of Henry the 8 and then was Captayne of the
Pensioners, in which place and others of greater charg, he continued a most
faythful servitor, during the life of Edward the vi, and Queen Mary, and until
the xxvi year of our most noble Queen Elizabeth, and then died the ix of
December 1584. He left by his wife Clare
Agare daughter of Thomas Agare Esquire., 7 sonns, Francis, Ratlife, Anthony,
Syr Thomas Colcloughe, Knight, John, Mathew, Lenard, and 5 Daughters. Jaquet
was married to Nichlas Walshe Esquire of the Privie Counsayle, and one of the
Justice of the Kings Bench in Ireland, Fraunc, married to William Smethewike of
Smethewick in Cheshire, Maria married to Thom Cots, of Woodcot, in Shropshire
Esquire., Clare married to William Snead of Brodwal in Staffordshier,
Esquire., Elinor died iunge.
Translation of the Latin epitaph, by John P.Prendergast Esqr., Author
of the Cromwellian Settlement in Ireland, 1877
A Francis I’d like to have met, next…
Mary Barnewall was daughter of Honorable Francis Barnewall,
she was married in 1691 to Dudley Colclough of Duffry Hall.
Their offspring included
Francis mentioned in Part Nuptial Deed
of Settlement of Dudley Colclough of Mohurry
Copied from
manuscript Book of the Late Caesar Colclough Extract from Part Nuptial Deed of
Settlement of Dudley Colclough of Mohurry, dated 26th March 1700.
“To the use of said Caesar Colclough, eldest son of said
Dudley, during his life without impeachment of waste. Remainder to his first
and other sons in tail male, Remainder to Francis Colclough, second son of said
Dudley, during his life, Remainder to his first and other sons in tail male.
Remainder to the third son of said Dudley, to be lawfully begotten, and like
Remainder to the fourth, fifth, sixth, and every other son of the said Dudley,
and to the heirs male of their bodies. Remainder to Adam Colclough brother to
the said Dudley, for life without impeachment of waste. Remainder to his first
and other sons in tail male. Remainder to Margaret Pigott Colclough, for her
life. Remainder to Adam Colclough of-------in Nottinghamshire for life without
impeachment of waste. Remainder to William Colclough (since dead without issue)
son to the last named Adam Colclough for life. Remainder to his first and other
sons, in tail male. Remainder to the
second, third, and other sons of said Adam. Remainder to Caesar Colclough of
Rosegarland for life. Remainder to Anthony Colclough his eldest son for life.
Remainder to the second, third, and other sons of said Caesar of
Rosegarland in tail male. Remainder to
the heirs of the body of said Dudley Colclough.
Remainder to Walter Bagenal Esq., and the heirs male of his body.
Remainder over to the right heirs of the said Dudley Colclough.”
An early will of the above Dudley…
In the name of God, Amen. I, Dudley Colclough of Mohurry
etc., “I will that my dear and well
beloved wife Mary Colclough shall have and enjoy all my household goods plate,
jewells, rings, furniture, linen and woolen, horses, mares, cows, sheep,
coaches, chaises, and their harness, of what nature or kind soever. And the
remaining part of my personal goods and chattles, debts, arrears of rents and
assets, to be in the power and management of my Executors hereafter to be
named”. Recites deed of settlement (date
not given) formerly made and enrolled, whereby he settled his real estate on
his dear eldest son Caesar Colclough, and gave his eldest daughter Margaret
Colclough as portion £1000, also to his second son Francis Colclough £600, also
£1400, to be equally divided amongst the rest of his younger children hereafter
named, payable out of his real estate, except such part of it in jointure of
his dear wife, and whereas under said deed of settlement he had power to raise
out of his real estate, the further sum of --- not exceeding £1500. “I the said
Dudley Colclough in pursuance of said power to me reserved, bequeath the sum of
£100 part of the said £1500, to be added to the sd sum of £1400, to make up
£1500, which sum I order to be equally divided between my youngest children,
Maryanne Colclough, Thomas Colclough, John Colclough, Henry Colclough, and Dudley
Colclough £300 to each. Which sums being for their present advancement, I
direct my Executors shall advance to them at such times as they shall think
fit, and in case any of my sd younger children should die before the receipt of
their respective sums, it is my will, that such be divided among the remaining
of my said five younger children”. Bequeaths in addition to the sd sum of £300
-£500 to his dear daughter Marianne Colclough, to be paid her on her day of
marriage, and which £500 is to be taken out of the sd sum of £1500, but in case
she should die unmarried sd sum of £500 to revert back to his estate, which
would there remain discharged thereof. Recites power reserved under said
settlement for the reasonable maintenance and support of all his younger
children until they have received their several portions, and pursuant to the
intent thereof. “ I direct that £30 be paid my son Francis, £30 to my daughter
Margaret, £30 to my daughter Marianne, and £20 apiece to my sons Thomas, John,
Henry, and Dudley, the same to be levied out of my real estate (except such
part as is in jointure to my dear wife) and paid yearly at the usual gales, and
same payments to commence from the date of my death’”. Gives his Executors full power to raise £100
out of the £600 for his son Francis, and gives also such sums for his younger
sons, and out of their portions respectively, as sd Exors shall deem meet and
fit, for prefering them to trades or otherwise, directs interest to be paid on
younger childrens portions till principal sums to be paid in full. Item,
Bequeaths his natural brother Mr. Oliver Colclough £150 for his maintenance and
support, the same to be paid within three years of testator’s death, and
bearing interest till paid, and sd £150 to be part of sd £1500”. Bequeaths unto
Father Michael Fitzhenry, his Parish Priest £3, to be paid at testator's
decease, and directs that sd Priest, shall hold the lands of Shroughmore during
his life rent free, and be discharged of all arrears of rent due on said lands,
directs each one of Romish Clergy in the Diocese of Ferns, to be paid the sum
of £1, at the time of testator's burial. Directs £40 to be distributed to the
poor as his Exors shall deem fit. Directs all his debts to be paid out of the
sd £1500. Directs that £150 be expended on his funeral, the said sum to come
out of arrears of rent due at time of testator's death, and if there should
happen to be a deficiency, the s deficiency to be made up out of the sdd £1500.
“Item. I give and bequeath unto my dear brother Adam Colclough, a suit of
mourning, the like unto my beloved cousins and kindsmen, Sir Pierse Butler,
Knt, and Caesar Colclough Esqr, and the like unto Mr Oliver Colclough, to be
deducted out of the £1500 aforesaid. I
constitute and appoint the said Pierse Butler to be sole Executor of this my
will and the sd Caesar Colclough overseer of the same.“ Directs his Executor to
pay to his sister in law Mrs Bridget Barnwall whatever may be due her, and to
deduct the same from the aforesaid £1500, “All which I publish and declare to
be my last will and Testament and no other”.
In witness etc., 2nd of July 1712.
Dudley Colclough.
Probate granted same
year in the Diocese of Ferns.
Copied from a
Manuscript Book of the late Caesar Colcloughs, which was found by me (Beauchamp
H.D. Colclough) in an old press in the Abbey in 1853, and compared with
original will in the New Record Court, Dublin, Novr 1873.
However Francis was to be excluded…
12th George I,
1725. An Act (passed at Westminster) for
vesting certain lands and hereditaments in the Kingdom of Ireland, the Estate
of Caesar Colclough Esqr, in Trustees, to be sold or Mortgaged for raising
money to discharge encumbrances affecting the same, and for other purposes, (Taken from printed copy of act) .
And whereas, the said Dudley Colclough, by his last will and
testament in writing, dated the 2nd of July 1712, pursuant to the power
reserved to him by said settlement, charged the said Towns Lands, and Premises with several legacies,
debts, and sums of money greatly exceeding the said sum of £1500, And shortly
after died, leaving Issue the said Caesar Colclough his eldest Son and Heir,
then a minor of the age of 16 years or thereabouts, and 5 younger sons named Francis, Thomas, John, Henry, and Dudley
and two Daughters Margaret (who is since married to Charles Birne Esqr,) and
Mariana, (who is since married to John
Birne Esqr,) and the portions of such younger sons and daughters provided by
the said settlement to be raised out of the said Premises by the said Term of
61 years, amount together to the sum of £3100 and leaving the said Mary his
widow…
And Whereas the said Francis Colclough, 2nd Son of the said
Dudley was enticed into the French service when he was about 14 years old, for
which Fact he had been lately outlawed, and his estate for life in the Premises
expectant on the death of the said Caesar Colclough, and on failure of his
Issue male, is become vested in his Majesty…
Saving nevertheless to the Kings most excellent Majesty, his
heirs and successors all estate, right and interest (other than, and except
such estate right or Interest as his Majesty, his heirs or successors, have,
shall, or may have, or claim by virtue of the attainder of the said Francis
Colclough) and also saving and reserving to all and every other person and
persons, bodies political and corporate, their heirs and successors (other
than, and except the said Caesar Colclough and Henrietta his wife, and the
issue of their bodies, and all and every person and persons claiming in
remainder or reversion by or under the said several recited settlements, and
several and respective heirs male, and female of their several and respective
bodies issuing; And also all and every other person and persons whatsoever,
claiming or deriving any estate, use, right, title, or Interest into, or out of
the said premises, by, from, or under the said respective settlements, or
either of them, or under the Will of the said Dudley the Father) All such
right, title, estate, and Interest both in law and equity, as they, or any of
them, had, could, or ought to have of, in, or to the said lands tenements and hereditaments
herein before mentioned, as fully to all Intent and purposes, as if this act
had never been made.
Their son Francis mentioned above was Captain Francis Colclough, of the
Duke of Berwick’s regiment of the Irish Brigade in France, was noted to be one of
the wounded at Fontenoy 1745, possibly having gone to France after an argument
over money with his brother.
As noted below by Beauchamp H.D. Colclough 1879
Colonel Caesar’s lavish expenditure and as a consequence.,
numerous debts, drove him to the expedient of breaking the entail, and we find
him in 1725 petitioning the Irish Parliament
for an Act to do so. This first attempt was unsuccessful, but in the
following year he obtained an Act of the Imperial Parliament under which large
portions of the Estates were sold, and again, some years afterwards, 1746, he
obtained a similar Act from the Irish Parliament, by which he was enabled to
dispose of great deal more. Notwithstanding all which, he was never out of
monetary troubles, even with the members of his own immediate family, as may be
seen by a letter addressed to him by his brother Henry, which I found with
other papers in the Abbey after the first trial,) and by the Will of the youngest brother
Dudley, of Balecormuck. One of his favourite devices, was the assignment of his
life interest in a Townsland, instance Rossard to his brother Henry. It is said that an open rupture about money
took place between him and his next brother Francis, and which was perhaps the
cause of the latters joining the ranks of the Irish Brigade in the service of
France, and his consequent outlawry.
O’Callaghans History of the Irish Brigades in the service of France
pp.364, 365. In the Lists published of the killed and wounded in the Irish
Brigade, at the Battle of Fontenoy 1745, there appears the name of Captain
Colclough, (Francis) of the Duke of Berwicks Regiment, wounded, and it states
that gratuities of 600 Francs were given to wounded Captains.
Francis’ banishment followed him down the generations it
seems from the following…
Extracted from the
original letter, Mrs J.T.R.C. to the present writer (Beauchamp H.D. Colclough
1879)
Tintern Abbey, March 4th, 1875.
My dear Beauchamp,
I must
begin by congratulating you on the upward steps you have ascended to in your
Regiment. I think you are now as elevated in Military rank as any of our name
were. As I have unfortunately momentarily mislaid your letters, you may not
have a reply to your numerous queries. My brother never breathed, so was not baptised-
he was born I believe in the year 1807, about a year after my parents’ arrival
abroad. Caesar he would doubtless have been called after his good and gifted
father, so high up on the family tree, and the name of Edward would have been
added in honor of his father’s illustrious friend, the Duke of Kent. I do not
think any of my numerous aunts were married- I always heard of them as dying
young. One I heard was to have been
married to a Grogan of Johnstown. If the Catherine Colclough, buried at
Templeshanbo in 1828, had been one of them, I surely would have known it, or
heard it from either my Uncle Dudley or Sarsfield’s family with whom we had
such constant and intimate intercourse. The Francis Colclough I know nothing
about. Sir B. Burke, I am aware, was preparing a pedigree of my beloved
husband's family, and I believe their Rank was as high if not higher than ours,
as they descended from Dukes. (I forgot at this moment our descent from the
Plantagenets). I know nothing more that I can inform you of everything relating
to my personal family, is matter of legal and historic record as my beloved
husband left no stone unturned, and now blessed be God, tho not enjoying his
earthly inheritance, he is the possessor of that inheritance which passes not
away. I am sure you must be greatly busy with all the arranging of your book.
Susie and hers left us yesterday week, Louisa and Bill are away for a few days,
so May and I keep garrison. She joins in
kind love, and believe me your affectionate cousin,
Mary G.W.R.
Colclough.
Lieut. Colonel Colclough, 34 Grosvenor Road, Rathgar,
Dublin.
Francis, persona non grata, a man I’d have been happy to engaged with…
Another Francis of that era…
Deeds Registry
Office, Dublin. B.41, p.81, no 24635. Deed of Gift, Adam Colclough to children.
Dated 26th August, 1717. Registered, 13th November 1723.
Adam Colclough of Graigs, County Wexford, (Boley) 1st Part,
Caesar Colclough of Rosegarland, and John Walsh of Moneyseed, Co.Wexford. Said Adam in order to make provision for his
children to wit, Patrick Colclough, Francis, Thomasina, Catherine, and Richard
Colclough, settles on them certain mortgages and charges on Tintern, under deed
from Margaret Pigott Colclough, to said Adam.
Mrs Mary GW Colclough ended up with a Francis in the family though…
Louisa Maria Susana daughter of Mary Grey Wentworth
Colclough and John Thomas Rossborough, married Francis Digby Biddulph of
Rathrobin Kings County - Co. Offaly. 1884 Louisa Maria Susanna Colclough, of
Tintern Abbey and Duffry Hall, Co. Wexford, who had married Francis Digby
Biddulph of Rathrobin. Mr and Mrs Biddulph assumed the surname and Arms of
Colclough by Royal Letters Patent 1886. He was captain in the 3rd Middlesex
Militia, and he died 13 July 1895, and Mrs Biddulph Colclough died 19 January
1912 leaving issue one son and one daughter:
1.
Caesar Francis Thomas Bickerstaffe Biddulph,
born September 15th 1886, died and 6 July 1888 aged 1 year and ten months.
2.
Lucy Wilmot Maria Susanna Colclough born 2nd
June 1890 and lived in Tintern Abbey, until 1959 when she presented Tintern
Abbey to the Nation. She retained the
lands remaining to her following the land Acts of the 1890s. What neither she
or her predecessors knew was that the family had lived on top of a graveyard
for 400 years. It was only following an archaeological dig in 1982 that this
was discovered.
She was the last of the Tintern Colcloughs, and prior to
presenting the Abbey to the Nation she
had the rooms cleared and the rubbish burned. The ‘rubbish’ that was destroyed,
except for a few items saved by a curious workman, consisted of all the estate
records and other documents dating from the 16th century; and so a priceless
collection of manuscripts and documents of great importance to the nation was
inadvertently destroyed. Miss Lucy Wilmot Susanna Colclough died in Ely Nursing
Home in Wexford Town, 22nd December 1983 age 93 years.
Another military Francis.
1860. Colour Sergeant
Francis Colclough of the Wexford Militia, subsequently transferred to the
Westmeath Rifles at his own request. He died without issue at Mullingar 16th
August 1871, his father had been a soldier, and he was brought up at the Royal
Hibernian School, Phoenix Park, and joined the 99th Regt, as a drummer.
It is apposite to lock Fontenoy into Colclough history…
Battle of Fontenoy
European history
Written
By:
Battle of Fontenoy,
(May 11, 1745),
confrontation that led to the French conquest of Flanders during the War of the
Austrian Succession. It was the most famous victory of the French
marshal Maurice, Count de Saxe.
The battle was fought 5 miles
(8 km) southeast of Tournai
(in modern Belgium), between 52,000 French troops under de Saxe and about
50,000 Allied troops (composed of English, Hanoverian, Dutch, and Austrian
units) under William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland,
son of King George II
of England. Cumberland was marching to relieve Tournai, which the French had
besieged. De Saxe prepared to meet the Allied attack from a strong defensive
position, which included hastily constructed redoubts. The Allied attack was a
direct frontal push, with the Dutch and Austrians attacking the French right
and the British and Hanoverians striking the well-prepared left. After initial
attacks failed, Cumberland sent 15,000 infantry against the French left. When
these troops halted to dress ranks, there occurred a celebrated incident in
which Lord Charles Hay, of the Allied forces, dashed forward from the lines,
drank a toast, and, according to a doubtful story related by Voltaire, invited the
French to fire first. After entering the French camp in this first assault, the
British retreated to reform and advance once again. Finally, the French
artillery, cavalry counterattacks, and the charge of the Irish Brigade (in the
French service) against the British right forced the massive Anglo-Hanoverian
infantry formation to retreat with about 50 percent losses. Dutch losses in the
other sector were also heavy. Total French losses were about 7,500. Cumberland
retreated toward Brussels, and de Saxe followed the victory by taking Tournai
and most of Flanders during the next four months.
·
Contributor:The Editors of
Encyclopædia Britannica
·
Article Title: Battle of Fontenoy
·
Website Name: Encyclopædia Britannica
·
Publisher: Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.
·
Date Published: July 25, 2014
·
Access Date: October 01, 2017
The Irish at Fontenoy
STORY OF IRELAND
By A. M. Sullivan
CHAPTER LXXV. (continued)
From the Atlas and Cyclopedia of Ireland (1900)
« Chapter LXXV. (Irish Brigade) | Contents | Chapter LXXV. (Bonnie
Prince Charlie) »
Far more memorable, however, far more important, was the
ever-glorious day of Fontenoy—a name which to this day thrills the Irish heart
with pride. Of this great battle—fought May 11, 1745—in which the Irish Brigade
turned the fortunes of the day, and saved the honor of France, I take the
subjoined account, prefixed to Davis' well-known poem, which I also quote:
"A French army of seventy-nine thousand men, commanded by
Marshal Saxe, and encouraged by the presence of both the King and the Dauphin,
laid siege to Tournay, early in May, 1745. The Duke of Cumberland advanced at
the head of fifty-five thousand men, chiefly English and Dutch to relieve the
town. At the duke's approach, Saxe and the king advanced a few miles from
Tournay with forty-five thousand men, leaving eighteen thousand to continue the
siege, and six thousand to guard the Scheldt. Saxe posted his army along a
range of slopes thus: his center was on the village of Fontenoy, his left
stretched off through the wood of Barri, his right reached to the town of St.
Antoine, close to the Scheldt. He fortified his right and center by the
villages of Fontenoy and St. Antoine, and redoubts near them. His extreme left
was also strengthened by a redoubt in the wood of Barri; but his left center,
between that wood and the village of Fontenoy, was not guarded by anything save
slight lines. Cumberland had the Dutch, under Waldeck, on his left, and twice
they attempted to carry St. Antoine, but were repelled with heavy loss. The
same fate attended the English in the center, who thrice forced their way to
Fontenoy, but returned fewer and sadder men. Ingoldsby was then ordered to
attack the wood of Barri with Cumberland's right. He did so, and broke into the
wood, when the artillery of the redoubt suddenly opened on him, which, assisted
by a constant fire from the French tirailleurs (light infantry), drove him
back.
"The duke now resolved to make one great and final effort. He
selected his best regiments, veteran English corps, and formed them into a
single column of six thousand men. At its head were six cannon, and as many
more on the flanks, which did good service. Lord John Hay commanded this great
mass. Everything being now ready, the column advanced slowly and evenly as if
on the parade ground. It mounted the slope of Saxe's position, and pressed on
between the wood of Barri and the village of Fontenoy. In doing so, it was
exposed to a cruel fire of artillery and sharpshooters, but it stood the storm,
and got behind Fontenoy.
"The moment the object of the column was seen, the French
troops were hurried in upon them. The cavalry charged; but the English hardly
paused to offer the raised bayonet, and then poured in a fatal fire. On they
went, till within a short distance, and then threw in their balls with great
precision, the officers actually laying their canes along the muskets to make
the men fire low. Mass after mass of infantry was broken, and on went the
column, reduced but still apparently invincible! Duc Richelieu had four cannon
hurried to the front, and he literally battered the head of the column, while
the household cavalry surrounded them, and in repeated charges, wore down their
strength. But these French were fearful sufferers. The day seemed virtually
lost, and King Louis was about to leave the field. In this juncture, Saxe
ordered up his last reserve—the Irish Brigade. It consisted that day of the
regiments of Clare, Lally, Dillon, Berwick, Roth, and Buckley, with Fitzjames'
horse. O'Brien, Lord Clare, was in command. Aided by the French regiments of
Normandy and Vaisseany, they were ordered to charge upon the flank of the
English with fixed bayonets without firing.
Upon the approach of this splendid body of men, the English were
halted on the slope of a hill, and up that slope the brigade rushed rapidly and
in fine order; the stimulating cry of 'Cuimhnigidh ar Liumneac, agus ar fheile
na Sacsanach,' 'Remember Limerick and British faith,' being re-echoed from man
to man. The fortune of the field was no longer doubtful. The English were weary
with a long day's fighting, cut up by cannon, charge, and musketry, and
dispirited by the appearance of the Brigade. Still they gave their fire well
and fatally; but they were literally stunned by the shout, and shattered by the
Irish charge. They broke before the Irish bayonets, and tumbled down the far
side of the hill disorganized, hopeless, and falling by hundreds. The victory
was bloody and complete. Louis is said to have ridden down to the Irish
bivouac, and personally thanked them; and George the Second, on hearing it,
uttered that memorable imprecation on the penal code, 'Cursed be the laws which
deprive me of such subjects.' The one English volley and the short struggle on
the crest of the hill cost the Irish dear. One-fourth of the officers,
including Colonel Dillon, were killed, and one-third of the men. The capture of
Ghent, Bruges, Ostend, and Oudenard, followed the victory of Fontenoy."
"Thrice, at the huts of Fontenoy, the English column failed,
And thrice the lines of St. Antoine the Dutch in vain assailed;
For town and slope were filled with foot and flanking battery,
And well they swept the English ranks and Dutch auxiliary.
As vainly, through De Barri's Wood the British soldiers burst,
The French artillery drove them back, diminished and dispersed.
The bloody Duke of Cumberland beheld with anxious eye,
And ordered up his last reserve, his latest chance to try.
On Fontenoy, on Fontenoy, how fast his generals ride!
And mustering come his chosen troops, like clouds at eventide.
"Six thousand English veterans in stately column tread;
Their cannon blaze in front and flank; Lord Hay is at their head;
Steady they step adown the slope—steady they climb the hill,
Steady they load—steady they fire, moving right onward still.
Betwixt the wood and Fontenoy, as through a furnace blast,
Through rampart, trench, and palisade, and bullets showering fast;
And on the open plain above they rose and kept their course,
With ready fire and grim resolve, that mocked at hostile force.
Past Fontenoy, past Fontenoy, while thinner grow their ranks—
They break as broke the Zuyder Zee through Holland's ocean banks.
'More idly than the summer flies, French tirailleurs rush round;
As stubble to the lava tide, French squadrons strew the ground;
Bombshell and grape, and round shot tore, still on they marched
and fired—
Fast from each volley grenadier and voltigeur retired.
'Push on my household cavalry!' King Louis madly cried.
To death they rush, but rude their shock—not unavenged they died.
On through the camp the column trod—King Louis turns his rein:
'Not yet, my liege,' Saxe interposed, 'the Irish troops remain;'
And Fontenoy, famed Fontenoy, had been a Waterloo,
Were not these exiles ready then, fresh, vehement, and true.
"'Lord Clare,' he says, 'you have your wish: there are your
Saxon foes!'
The Marshal almost smiles to see, so furiously he goes!
How fierce the smile these exiles wear, who're wont to look so
gay;
The treasured wrongs of fifty years are in their hearts to-day.
The treaty broken ere the ink wherewith 'twas writ could dry,
Their plundered homes, their ruined shrines, their women's parting
cry,
Their priesthood hunted down like wolves, their country
overthrown!
Each looks as if revenge for all were staked on him alone.
On Fontenoy, on Fontenoy, nor ever yet elsewhere,
Pushed on to fight a nobler band than those proud exiles were.
"O'Brien's voice is hoarse with joy, as halting he commands,
'Fix bay'nets—charge!'—Like mountain storm rush on these fiery
bands!
Thin is the English column now, and faint their volleys grow,
Yet must'ring all the strength they have, they made a gallant
show.
They dress their ranks upon the hill to face that battle wind!
Their bayonets the breakers' foam; like rocks the men behind!
One volley crashes from their line, when through the surging
smoke,
With empty guns clutched in their hands, the headlong Irish broke,
On Fontenoy, on Fontenoy, hark to that fierce huzza!
'Revenge! remember Limerick! dash down the Sassenagh!'
"Like lions leaping at a fold when mad with hunger's pang,
Right up against the English line the Irish exiles sprang.
Bright was their steel, 'tis bloody now, their guns are filled
with gore;
Through shattered ranks, and severed piles, and trampled flags
they tore;
The English strove with desperate strength, paused, rallied,
staggered, fled—
The green hillside is matted close with dying and with dead.
Across the plain and far away passed on that hideous wrack,
While cavalier and fantassin dash in upon their track.
On Fontenoy, on Fontenoy, like eagles in the sun,
With bloody plumes the Irish stand—the field is fought and
won!"
http://www.libraryireland.com/Atlas/LXXV-Irish-Brigade-Fontenoy.php accessed 1st October 2017
I’d like to think Francis had ‘beagan Gaeilge
aici’…despite his background.
Some officers of the Irish Brigade are believed
to have cried out Cuimhnígí ar Luimneach agus ar fheall na Sasanach![18] ("Remember Limerick and
Saxon perfidy") at the battle of Fontenoy
in 1745. Modern research by Eoghan Ó hAnnracháin claims that it is very
doubtful if the regiments would also have been chanting in Irish, a language unknown to probably a majority
of the brigade at the time.[19] Others strongly dispute this, as over
the course of 100 years new recruits were brought into the brigade mostly from
the Irish-speaking regions of West Munster, the homeland of, among other the
O'Connell family. Stephen McGarry also makes the point in his book Irish
Brigades Abroad that Irish was widely spoken in the Irish regiments of
France.[20] Daniel Charles O'Connell
was the uncle of The Liberator Daniel O'Connell and was the last Colonel of the
French Irish Brigade in 1794 and rose to general rank. The O'Connells were
native Irish speakers and members of dispossessed Gaelic Aristocracy. According
to official French Army regulations, officers of the Irish Brigade regiments
had to be Irish, half of whom had to be born in Ireland and the other half born
of Irish descent in France.[21] In practice by the outbreak of the
French Revolution most serving officers of the Brigade fell into the second
category.
Seamus MacManus shows in his book The Story
of The Irish Race (1921):
"In truth, it was not the "Wild
Geese" who forgot the tongue of the Gael or let it perish. We are told
that the watchwords and the words of command in the "Brigade" were
always in Irish and that officers who did not know the language before they
entered the service found themselves of necessity compelled to learn it."[22]
19.
Eoghan Ó hAnnracháin, "Casualties in the Ranks of the Clare Regiment at
Fontenoy", Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society,
Number 99, 1994.
20.
McGarry, Stephen, Irish Brigades Abroad, Dublin 2013 p. 31-2,
21.
Moulliard, Lucien, The French Army of Louis XIV, Nafziger Collection, 2004,
ISBN 1-58545-122-3, p. 64, translated by G.F. Nafziger from the original
1882 French publication.
22.
MacManus, Seamus, The Story of The Irish Race, Gramercy,
ISBN 0-517-06408-1, p. 477
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Brigade_(France) accessed 1st October 2017
