Irish Brigade Flags - the "True Informer" and the Irish cross controversy

TRUE INFORMER AND OTHER SOURCES

Short Introduction here






Short Introduction here

POSSIBLE IRISH BRIGADE COLORS

0011.0
Field: White, possibly spattered with red, yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "AEQUUM EST PRO CHRISTO MORI" (It is just to die for Christ)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Red Crucifix
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Moran's source describes field as 'alibis respersis guts sanguineis' (white sprinkled with drops of blood). Blount says color was 'taken from the Irish Rebels in the late warres'
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35

0285.0
Field: Green (Vert), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "PATIOR UT VINCAM" (I suffer that I may conquer)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Christ carrying his cross on his shoulder
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Moran 17
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0112.0
Field: Yellow, yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI" (Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Resurrection of Christ
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Reid lists first motto as "EXURGAT DEUS, DISSIPEXTUR INIMICI".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0178.0
Field: Red (gules), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "IN NOMINE JESUS OMNE GENU FLECTITUR" (At the name of Jesus every knee shall bend)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Inscribed with the name of "Jesus" ("IHS") with a cross
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Blount (1655) claims it was captured from the Irish Rebels. First motto is from Phil. 2:10. Moran's source notes that Parliament had forbidden genuflection.
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0063.0
Field: Blue (azure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "CUNCTAS HAERESES INTEREMISTI" (Thou has overcome all heresies)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Virgin Mary holding infant Jesus in her arms, and with her heals trampling on a serpent's head.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Not in Blount (1655). Reid lists first motto as "CUNCTAS HARESES INTEREMIST".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35

0417.0
Field: Blue (Azure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "SOLVIT VINCULA DEUS" (God loosens the chains)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: An angel in white holding a sword with a gold handle cutting the chains of St Peter.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35

0322.0
Field: Red (gules), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "PRO DEO REGE ET PATINA [PATRIA]" (For God and the King and the Chalice [country])
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Two arms issue from clouds. One supports a chalice with a host over it, the other holds a sword to defend them.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Reid lists first motto as "PRO DEO, REGE AND PATINA".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 17
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0297.0
Field: Unknown (perhaps painted clouds), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "POST NUBILA PHOEBUS" (After the clouds comes the sun [Phoebus])
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Black roundel surrounded by a cloud out of which the sun is appearing.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 17
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0459.0
Field: Purple (purpure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "VICTOR REDIT DE BARATHRO" (He swiftly returns victorious from the edge of hell)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Christ delivering the Fathers out of limbo.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Not in Blount (1655). The first motto is a line from the latin hymn "The Lamb's high banquet called to share"
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 124
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0141.0
Field: Red (gules), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "FORTITUDO MEA DESUPER" (My strength is from above)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: To left a silver armoured arm issuing from a cloud and holding a silver lamp (or lance).
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Moran appears to suggest arm is holding a lance rather than a lamp. Reid lists first motto as "FORTITUDO MEADE SUPER".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0141.0
Field: White (argent), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "SIC PEREUNT HAERESES" (Thus heresies perish)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: An armoured man setting fire to John Calvin's book 'Institutes. The book is inscribed "Calv:Instit".
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Reid lists first motto as "SIO PEREUNT HARESES".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0088.0
Field: Purple (purpure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "DOMINUS VINDICAT POPULUM SUAM" (God will avenge his people)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: The figure of Judith holding a sword with the Holofernes severed head impaled upon it.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 124
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

THE IRISH CROSS CONTROVERSY

USEFUL LINKS & REFERENCES

http://samsflags.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/development-history-of-irish-flags-pt5.html

"The Flag" - a short film about Irish Confederates

Stumbled across this film (link at bottom of post) by accident on the Facebook page of an Irish historical re-enactment group called Claíomh (Irish for sword) Living History. The group, based in Ireland, re-create many different periods from the Middle Ages through to Early Modern. Photographs of this group portraying troops of the Irish Catholic Confederacy were featured in the excellent Osprey book, "Ireland 1649-52: Cromwell's Protestant Crusade" (Campaign 213).

Irish Confederate Ensign with colours, as portrayed by Claiomh

This short film is set in the aftermath of Cromwell's sack of Drogheda, shows 3 surviving Irish Confederacy soldiers, including an Ensign with his Confederacy colours, considering the course of action. The flag is based on the same descriptions for those of the Marquis of Antrim's Irish Brigade sent to the Scottish mainland to intervene in the war on behalf of the King. Antrim (see side bar) was himself on the council of the Irish Catholic Confederacy during 1644, and was Lt General of all confederate forces (although he resigned this commission before sending the Irish Brigade to Scotland).

"The Flag"

Anyway, I love the look these guys have achieved for the Confederates, it is very close to how I imagined them to look, so I reckon this is a great little short for all fans of the Irish soldier during the ECW! They have also added a second film on the Irish galloglas. And have a look at their Facebook page for more great photos like the one above.

Click here to watch film "The Flag" on You Tube

Click here to visit Claíomh on Facebook

Click here to visit the Claíomh blog