Irish scholars of penal days; glimpses of their labors on the continent of Europe

Front matter

IRISH SCHOLARS

OF

The Penal Days: ,

Contents

FACE.

Intkoduction

The Penal Days in Ireland .------1

I

O! tell me, students— ye of Irish blood — Are ye never sad in gay France or Spain?

Do ye never sit in a lonely mood In the classic halls of renowned Louvain ?

II

Do you never wish for a dear old friend To unload your hearts of their hopes and fears ?

Do ye never wish for a speedy end

To the long, hard chain of your exiled years ?

in.

Do ye never think of the Shannon's tide, Or the lovely banks of the Boyne or Suir ?

Do ye never feel in your hearts a pride At the thought of Erin, so fair and pure ?

IV. Do ye never dream of Old Ireland's hills ?

When the stars light up soft Italian skies? Do ye never weep over Erin's ills

When ye hear that in sorrow deep she lies ?

V

When dear Christmas comes, or the Easter bells Speak aloud from each lofty tower and dome,

Do ye never sigh, in your foreign cells. For the love and joy of your Irish Home?

THE HOIVIES OF OLD TIPPEEAEY.

I will not pray for wealth or power.

For fleeting fame or glory ; I will not pray that I may live

In Ireland's sacred story : But I will ask my Patron Saint,

And my sweet Mother, Mary, To guard, and bless, and ever love

The Homes of Old Tipperary.

I'll ask a blessing on the Suir, —

The river of my childhood ; I'll ask a blessing on loved scenes —

On mountain, field, and wild-wood ; To-night I'll ask my Patron Saint,

And my sweet Mother, Mary, To gladden with their brightest smiles

The Homes of old Tipperary.

I've wandered much in foreign lands,

But still my heart is swelling With all its love for early friends,

And for my boyhood's dwelling ; So now I'll pray my Patron Saint,

And my sweet Mother, Mary, To guard, and bless, and love for me.

The Homes of Old Tipperary.

miSH CHAPLAINS WITH THE lEISH BRIGADES.

In Nothern Spain and Brittany, our brethren also dwell — O ! brave are the traditions of their fathers that they tell. The eagle and the crescent in the dawn of history pales, Before their fire, that seldom flags, and never wholly fails. One in name, and in fame Are the sea-divided Gaels.

Since Strongbow's haughty standard was reflected in the waters of the Suir up to the time of the Yiolated Treaty, Iiish soldiers swelled the ranks of every European Army. Some were to be found fighting under the banners of Russia, some under those of Spain and Austria, while a large number of them marched under the Fleur-de-lis of France. But it was immediately after the Siege of Limerick that whole regiments of Irish soldiers were to be met in France and Spain and the Netherlands.

This state of things, of necessity, opened a new field to the zeal of Irish priests. The Irish troops desired to have their own Soggartli Aroon by their side in the camp and on the battle-field. Hence wherever we find our Ii'ish soldiers there, too, we find our Irish Chaplains. No battle was fought, no battle won, by the sons of L'eland,

" From Dunkirk to Belgrade."

at which one of Erin's priests was not j^resent with the Crucifix in his hand. No soldier fell wounded on the gory ground above whom an Irish priest did not bend, to whom an Irish priest did not impart an Absolution.

As we do not intend to make this a lengthy article we shall merely refer to a few of the Irish Continental Chaplains who easily come to our minds. Father Henry Fitzsimmon and Father Hugh MacCaghwell had much to do with the Irish soldiers stationed in the Low Countries.

Of the last-named priest we may say here that he wrote some works in the Gaelic tongue, for the use of the regiment to which he was Chaplain. The name of Father James Archer, of Kilkenny, is one of the dearest in Ireland. The patriotic deeds of this Jesuit have been often made the theme of ballad and of song. The part he took in Ireland during the war of Tyrone is known to all. After having been chosen the first Rector of Salamanca, he became Chaplain to the Irish troops in the service of Spain. With the fleet sent to Ireland he also set sail. Father Francis Bray, of Clonmel, a man of great courage and piety, was Navy Chaplain in the service of Spain. He was killed by a cannon ball in a naval action between the Spaniards and Dutch in 1624. Father Peter McCarthy, who made his Novitiate at Mechlin with Blessed John Berchmans, was Chaplainin-Chief, or Head Camp Missioner, in the Netherlands. Father James Fullam, a Dominican, who on two occasions was thrown into prison by the English, was made Chaplain to the regiment of the Duke of Berwick. He filled his post faithfully, and was slain in a battle in the Milanese, between Prince Eugene, of Savoy, and the Duke of Yendome. Father Simon OTallon, of Galway, was appointed by the King of Portugal, not only to attend to the spiritual welfare of the soldiers, but likewise to inspect the fortifications. Father Bryan McDavitt, a most talented priest, was Chaplain to Owen Roe. The Confederates used for national purposes a printing-press, which this Father had bought in France for the Irish Jesuits. Father William Boyton, a native of Cashel, was military Chaplain for some time in Holland. In an article on Dominicus de Bosario, we mention him as being slain while administering the last Sacraments to a dying soldier on the taking of the Rock of Cashel. The most reliable historians say that he was either cut down or shot, while hearing the Confession of a wounded soldier. Father Augustine Fitzgerald " was for many years Professor of Moral Theology at the Azores, and was dear to all for his amiability and virtue ; on his return home he was Chaplain in the Fleet which was sent against the French, and in which were many Irishmen; after sundry escapes he was exiled from Ireland, and in the College of Faro looked after the spiritual interests of his countrymen." Father Lawrence Moore was in the Golden Fort with the Spanish soldiers when it was treacherously surrendered to the English Commander, Lord Grey. Father Moore, after being hanged, had his body cut into fragments. We read in the examination of James Roche, an Irishman of the Lord Roche's country.

" that in the Irish regiment there are many priests that have pay out of the army, amongst which McEgan, Flahir O'Mulconry and father Cusack are the chief est; the first whereof, in reputation, is not inferior to the other, but the other two are more stirring, and therefore employed in directions and plots betwixt the Spanish Court and the Low Countries. The lord Henry hath another priest, named doctor Chamberlayne, who still attends him, and is used in the secrecy of all their works." Father Thomas Carve, a native of the county of Tipperary, spent much of his life at St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna. During his earlier years he was Chaplain to a regiment and traveled through many parts of Germany "during the War carried on there by Gustavus Adolphus, and continued after his death." The Colonel of the regiment to which he was attached was "Walter Devereux. Carve was a writer of some repute, and among his works he left an aocount of his experience as an army Chaplain. Father Lawrence O'Ferrall, a Dominican, who studied at Prague, in Bohemia, died piously, while serving as Chaplain to Berwick's regiment in Spain. O'Ferral is justly placed among the Confessors of Lreland, having twice suffered imprisonment for the sake of his religion. His life, if full of perils, had something of romance in it. On one occasion he was sent into Portugal as a German. His companion on this trip was the Archduke Charles, afterwards Emperor of the Romans. It is well known in this country that the first regularly settled priest in New York city, the Rev. Charles Whelan, an Irish

Franciscan, " served as Chaplain on board of one of tlie French ships belonging to Admiral De Grasse's fleet, engaged in assisting the cause of the colonies. Father Whelan was much esteemed by Lafayette, and was recommended by that soldier to the favor of the State.

55 THE SWOED ALONE.

(A Song of 1641.)

The Sword alone can right your wrongs, All brave men now must own it ; The Sword to Freedom's cause belongs, All history past has shown it.

Then grasp the Sword,

And say no word, Bright steel must plead for Ireland.

In vain you weep, in rain you pray, Your masters smile, and heed not ; You sigh in vain for freedom's ray "While Erin's foemen bleed not.

Then grasp the Sword,

And say no word, Sharp steel must speak for Ireland.

Fling out your banners to the sky, Place swords around them gleaming ; Your tyrant foes can scare deny What's asked by sabres beaming.

Friends, grasp the sword.

And say no word, Bare steel must plead for Ireland.

With arms in hand now claim your right, Your arms alone can serve you ; Your Justice yet will vanquish Might, — But your arms first must nerve you.

Unsheathe the Sword,

And say no word.

With steel now strike for Ireland.

IRISH CHAPLAINS IN EUROPEAN COURTS.

Ieish monks and priests, from the very dawn of Christianity on their Island, were found to be no strangers in the Courts of Europe. St. Virgilius was high in the esteem of King Pepin, who much admired his mildness and erudition. Claude Clement, and John Scott, the famous " Wisdom-Sellers," who, according to the monk of St. Gall, were " men incomparably skilled in human learning and in the Holy Scriptures," were greatly beloved by Charlemagne. Many Irish monks were to be met in the Court and Council of Charles, the Bald. We read that, long before, St. Columbanus enjoyed the hospitality of Clotharius, King of the Soissons, and that St. Kylian was honored by Gozbert, the ruling Prince of Eranconia.

As we glance through the history of the Penal Times we are surprised to find how many of the poor exiled priests, who had been hounded from their country, became the friends and advisers of kings and queens. Doctor Plunket, a graduate of the College of the Lombards, Paris, and afterwards Bishop of Meath, was Almoner to the beautiful, but ill-fated Marie Antoinette — the unhappy queen whose misfortunes inspired Burke and Carlyle to write two of the most eloquent passages to be found in all their works. Eather Florence Conry, famed as a theologian, writer, and patriot, received many royal favors from different princes, and was held in the highest esteem by King Philip III., of Spain. Father Daniel O'Daly, alia^ Dominick a Rosario, a native of Kerry, was so greatly admired for his learning, piety, and prudence by the King of Portugal that that sovereign sent him, in the year 1655, as his special Ambassador to the brilliant Court of Louis XIV., on aifairs of great importance. Father O'Daly was also in great favor with the Spanish Kings, and was for a time Chaplain to Portugal's Queen. The celebrated Peter Talbot, Archbishop of Dublin, possessed great influence with the Spanish Ministers in Flanders, and particularly with the Count de Fonsaldagna, who was the actual Governor of the country, though the Archduke Leopold enjoyed the title. While Charles II. was exiled at Cologne, according to some respectable authorities, Father Talbot frequently visited his Majesty. After some conversations on religion, the Irish priest had the consolation, it is stated, of converting England's King to the true Faith.

Talbot was sent on an embassy to the Court of Spain, by his royal convert. On the marriage of the King of England to the Infanta of Portugal, Father Talbot was appointed one of the Queen's Almoners, officiated in her family, and became one of her household. Though Catholic priests " were hunted down like wolves," during the Penal Days, both in England and Ireland, foreign Catholic Ambassadors frequently brought their Chaplains with them into the very heart of London. Father Gerard Bobinson, an Irish Priest, and a student of Salamanca, was higli in favor among the royal personages at Madrid. After his ordination he was attached to the Spanish embassy in London. The patriotic Irish Jesuit, Father Archer, was Confessor to the Archduke of Austria. Father Bonaventure Baron, a native of Clonmel, and a distinguished classical scholar, was the historiographer of Cosmo III., Grand Duke of Tuscany. Father Nicholas Donnellan was also greatly loved and highly appreciated by the Grand Duke. Bartholomew Archer, of Kilkenny, was Almoner to the Duchess of Orleans. Dr. Thaddeus O'Eorke, Bishop of Killalla, held the post of Private Chaplain to Prince Eugene, of Savoy, and this illustrious commander, who held him in the highest esteem, presented him with a gold cross, and a ring set in diamonds, and obtained a letter from the Emperor Leopold, recommending the newly-consecrated Bishoj) to his ally, the Queen of England. Father Balph Corby was highly regarded at the Court of France. While this holy man was confined in a horrible cell in Newgate prison, awaiting a terrible and disgraceful death, he was honored by a visit from the French Ambassador. Father Ignatius Brown, of Waterford, was a Jesuit of great literary ability, taught Belles Lettres in Castile, was made Rector of the Irish Seminary at Poictiers, and held other important offices in different educational establishments. So highly was he rated for his virtue and learning that he was chosen as Confessor to the Queen of Spain.

Is it not strange, we will ask here, that Irishmen, who are so often said by the English to be unfit to rule their own little country, should so frequently be prayed to guide the kings and queens of Euroj)e? Is it not strange that the priests who were outlawed in their native land, who were hated and despised, and driven out of their country at the point of the sword, should rise, like Joseph, to such favor in the eyes of foreign rulers ? Is it not strange that for centuries Irishmen have had a large share in ruling the world as priests, writers, orators, warriors, and statesmen ? It is not so strange, after all, when we know that Englishmen are grossly mistaken in their estimate of Irish character, when we remember the brain, and blood, and Faith of Ireland's sons.

60 THE CKOSS.

Tell me, strong Faith, I asked,

"Which is the fairest tree ?

Faith smiled, and said to me :

** The fairest Tree to Faith— The Cross."

u Tell me, bright hope, I cried, "What lights the skies for thee ?

Hope shone, and answered me : "Hope's ever-burning star— The Cross."

m Tell me, chaste Love, I breathed, What is thy mystery ?

Love sighed, and whispered me : "Love's deepest mystery — The Cross."

IV

Tell me, pale grief, I said,

"What can bring joy to thee?

Grief wept, and said to me :

"My only fount of bliss— The Cross."

V

O, budding Earth, I sang,

"What makes all nature free ?

Earth singing said to me :

"My son, thou knowest well — The Cross."