For
Irish History
And
The Fighting Irish
And
The Fighting Irish
( The Geraldines )
security the boy was conveyed to France via the territory of O' Donnell. And savage at being robbed
of his precious prey, Henry VIII sent Lord Leonard Grey, his deputy of Ireland, to the scaffold, for not having effected Gerald's capture. Lady Eleanor unified the whole country. The French King and the Emperor Charles V promised their aid, once again, and Scotland's weight was to turn the balance in Ireland's favour. O' Neill was to be proclaimed High King at Tara. Once again foreign aid was illusory. The Earl of Desmond began by the invasion of
the English districts of Tipperary; and the Northern Chieftains " invaded the Pale " ( 1539 ) Against the field of the new English artillery, " the great grey guns " they had no adequate defence, so Irish hopes were once more futile.
But hope never yet died in the Irish breast. The name of the exiled young Gerald Fitzgerald became a source of inspiration and of hope to his countrymen at home. he had had a royal reception in France, in the Lowlands, in Italy and was acclaimed " King of Ireland " by the people who denounced Henry VIII as a mere usurper. He was followed by cheering crowds whenever he appeared in public. Kings and princes, the Emperor Charles, and the Pope vied with one another in honouring and aiding him.
In Italy the Bishop of Verona and of Mantua provided him with the best education the Peninsula afforded. The Dule of Milan pensioned him. Cosmo de Medici pensioned him. In the service of the Knights of Malta he fought the Turks. He afterwards became Master of the Horse to the Grand Duke of Tuscanny.
France concluded to use Gerald in uniting Scotalnd and Ireland. Lady Eleanor Fitzgerald had guaranteed the support of the MacCarthys' land of Carbery; the O' Neills and O' Donnells " who had the whole North hanging on their sleeves, " would give the French a glad welcome. Irish ambassadors were passing to and fro from the land of the Gaels and the Sean Ghall to the French King. The English believed there would be a universal rising as soon as the French and Gerald made their appearance. Irish monks and friars carried the fiery cross of revolt from Malin Head to Cape Clear - from North to South. A large French fleet had assembled at Brest, and 15,000 veteran soldiers were ready to embark. But at the last moment, the patching up of the quarrel between France and the Empire lead to a change of plans. The French went direct to Scotland, from there intending to invade Ireland. The English wishing the beautiful and fascinating child, afterwards the world-famed Mary Queen of Scots, as a wife for Edward VI, to unite the two countries, sent an army to enforce their demand. The armies of Scotland and England met at Pinkie ( 10th September 1547 ) The defeat of the Scots and their French and Irish allies was the result of the contest.
In Ireland however, the O' Donnells and 15, 000 Scots kept the flame alight in the North. The Geraldines and the O' Conors were ravaging the English Pale. It was at this juncture that French opinion favoured the marriage of Gerald Fitzgerald with Mary of Scots. English agents in Scotland reported that when Geraldine landed at Dumbarton " Gerald of Kildare should marry the Scottish Queen and array all Ireland in their party against England. " But the death of Francis I and the accession of Henry II, who wished Mary for his own son, altered all these plans. Scotland and Ireland found themselves but pawns on the Continental chessboard. Realising that all hope of freeing Ireland by the help of foreign princes was but an idle wind, Gerald, at the instance of his aunt, lady Eleanor, made his submission to the English Queen and was restored to a portion of his lands and his title
" legitimatised " ( 1554 ) Though even legitimatised he settled down to become the willing centre of endless and alas fruitless rebellious intrigue. The Irish Chieftains, the Scots, the French and the Spanish plotted for Ireland's freeing, ever with the young Geraldine as the hero around whom the hosts should rally.
the English districts of Tipperary; and the Northern Chieftains " invaded the Pale " ( 1539 ) Against the field of the new English artillery, " the great grey guns " they had no adequate defence, so Irish hopes were once more futile.
But hope never yet died in the Irish breast. The name of the exiled young Gerald Fitzgerald became a source of inspiration and of hope to his countrymen at home. he had had a royal reception in France, in the Lowlands, in Italy and was acclaimed " King of Ireland " by the people who denounced Henry VIII as a mere usurper. He was followed by cheering crowds whenever he appeared in public. Kings and princes, the Emperor Charles, and the Pope vied with one another in honouring and aiding him.
In Italy the Bishop of Verona and of Mantua provided him with the best education the Peninsula afforded. The Dule of Milan pensioned him. Cosmo de Medici pensioned him. In the service of the Knights of Malta he fought the Turks. He afterwards became Master of the Horse to the Grand Duke of Tuscanny.
France concluded to use Gerald in uniting Scotalnd and Ireland. Lady Eleanor Fitzgerald had guaranteed the support of the MacCarthys' land of Carbery; the O' Neills and O' Donnells " who had the whole North hanging on their sleeves, " would give the French a glad welcome. Irish ambassadors were passing to and fro from the land of the Gaels and the Sean Ghall to the French King. The English believed there would be a universal rising as soon as the French and Gerald made their appearance. Irish monks and friars carried the fiery cross of revolt from Malin Head to Cape Clear - from North to South. A large French fleet had assembled at Brest, and 15,000 veteran soldiers were ready to embark. But at the last moment, the patching up of the quarrel between France and the Empire lead to a change of plans. The French went direct to Scotland, from there intending to invade Ireland. The English wishing the beautiful and fascinating child, afterwards the world-famed Mary Queen of Scots, as a wife for Edward VI, to unite the two countries, sent an army to enforce their demand. The armies of Scotland and England met at Pinkie ( 10th September 1547 ) The defeat of the Scots and their French and Irish allies was the result of the contest.
In Ireland however, the O' Donnells and 15, 000 Scots kept the flame alight in the North. The Geraldines and the O' Conors were ravaging the English Pale. It was at this juncture that French opinion favoured the marriage of Gerald Fitzgerald with Mary of Scots. English agents in Scotland reported that when Geraldine landed at Dumbarton " Gerald of Kildare should marry the Scottish Queen and array all Ireland in their party against England. " But the death of Francis I and the accession of Henry II, who wished Mary for his own son, altered all these plans. Scotland and Ireland found themselves but pawns on the Continental chessboard. Realising that all hope of freeing Ireland by the help of foreign princes was but an idle wind, Gerald, at the instance of his aunt, lady Eleanor, made his submission to the English Queen and was restored to a portion of his lands and his title
" legitimatised " ( 1554 ) Though even legitimatised he settled down to become the willing centre of endless and alas fruitless rebellious intrigue. The Irish Chieftains, the Scots, the French and the Spanish plotted for Ireland's freeing, ever with the young Geraldine as the hero around whom the hosts should rally.
