THE INFORMATION OF Sir Frederick Hammilton, Knight, and Colonell, Given to the Committee of Both KINGDOMS, Concerning Sir William Cole, Knight, and Colonell;
WITH The Scandalous Anſwer of the ſaid Sir William Cole, Knight:
TOGETHER With the Replication of Sir Frederick Hammilton, in Anſwer to the ſaid Scandalous and Recriminating Pamphlet of Sir William Cole.
With divers Letters and Depoſitions, for the cleering of the ſaid Sir Frederick Hammilton, from the ſeverall Scandals and Aſperſions in the ſaid Anſwer of Sir William Cole.
Printed, Anno Dom. 1645.
HE that doth moſt Service, when he hath leaſt encouragement, ſhews his principles to be Noble, and that he leaſt intends himſelf; and if his more particular imployment, chance to expire with his attendance, it may weaken his fortune, but cannot impair his credit: It is unfaithfulneſſe that onely makes a man to be uſed too long, whiles he that hath really done his part, need not to repine, though men of weaker abilities have better fortune. Thus it is task enough for great ſpirits to be patient, when they finde themſelves neglected for doing Service, and in ſuch a caſe, to keep humble and contented, well knowing, that at a low water there is time to mend the Banks, aad whiles the Ship is in the Harbour, it may be dreſſed and trimed, and made able to endure rough Seas and Tempeſts: I muſt confeſſe, it is not the firſt time I have had to do with men of the ſame rank and condition, which the enſuing diſcourſe hath brought upon the Stage, not occaſioned by any deſire of mine, for I am inforced to this Vindication of my ſelf, or muſt have lyen under thoſe baſe asperſions, which no other then a ſon of him that ruleth in the Ayr, could without ſhame and bluſhing, have publiſhed to the World; but his boldneſſe herein, I doubt not, but will appear to be void, both of Counſell and Religion, his diſhoneſty ſufficiently ſhewing his diſhonour, and puſilanimity; for a magnanimous man will be juſt, but ſuch favourites will be ſlaves at laſt, who to advance themſelves, will inthrall their poſterity, betray their Countrey, abuſe their friends, and by an intollerable baſeneſſe, and brutiſh demeanour, traduce thoſe that ſtand next in the way of their preferments, whoſe timorouſneſſe commonly for want of courage and judgement, makes them ſo ſuspitious, that they raiſe jealouſies, and preoccupate evils, never plotted any where, but in their own Immaginations; to which they are led, by prejudicate opinions, and unwarrantable fancies; and ſuch Beasts as theſe, do uſually run under great Trees in a ſtorm, for ſhelter and protection, where they leave nothing but dung and filth behinde them for their ſtanding, when the Tempeſt is once over: You may perceive, it hath been my zeal (and not too much officiouſneſſe, as ſome would have it) that hath carried me on unto this undertaking, with which, if you ſhall conſider the Injunctions of State laid upon me, how could I have done leſſe, if not to have muzled my Conſcience, and ſown up my Lips, to all relation whatſoever: I confeſſe, he that diſchargeth his duty, though be doth not deſerve thanks, yet he meriteth encouragement, and not diſcountenance, for his endeavour; but he that at any time, ſhall over act his part, be too forward for his Countreys good, be it never ſo advantagious to the Publike, ſhall many times be thought more preciſe, then wiſe, peradventure be accounted but a mad man for his labour: Envy will not want wayes and means to vent it ſelf againſt the innocent. I have not yet throughly underſtood it to be an offence, to uſe the ſword with the moſt keen, and ſharpeſt edge, againſt a cruell and bloody Rebell: Yet I have ſometimes heard of a Milkſop, ſet up in the ſtead of a Joſhua, but then it was to do the enemy a good turn; and that with more ſecurity they might make ſpoil and havock of their Adverſaries: Thus ſome man may with more ſafety ſteal a Horſe, then another man may look over the Hedge. And if this mans ſufferings be concluded for an Argument of his guilt, or that it be a warrantable proceeding to condemn him upon no better ground and evidence, then his adverſaries accuſation, I ſee not who can be ſafe or free in this world; but Juſtice layes the Gold to the Touchſtone, and findes out the counterfeit Mettall, and eſteems of both, according to their value: Let the Cosk then have the Barley Kernell; let the Lapidary take the Jewell that knows the price and value of it. And I beſeech you, judge of me as you ſhall finde the truth for to appear in that which follows, wherein I have dealt freely and cleerly, and deſire to be interpreted as the whole ſhall hold out unto you, the matter to be reſolved, for him to live or die in your opinion, that ſtrives to be yet a more lover of his Countrey, and to ſhew himſelf zealous and faithfull, in all his undertakings, and more particularly in this Cauſe and Covenant.
Ordered,
THat Sr Frederick Hammilton be deſired, that if he hath any thing that he can inform this Committee of, concerning any miſcarriage of any perſons in the Service of the Parliament in Ireland, That he will give it in to the Committee in Writing, on Thurſday next, in the Afternoon.
Shewing,
FIrſt, That the ſaid Sir William Cole had notice of the intended Plots of the Iriſh, to break out into Rebellion, above a fortnight before the Rebels took up Arms, as it is generally given out in Ireland; and yet did neither timely inform the State, nor his Neighbours, for to prevent the miſchief, and to defend themſelves.
II. That having a Commiſſion from His Majeſtie to be a Colonell onely of five Companies of Foot, he notwithſtanding taketh on nine Companies, making them beleeve, as if he had Commiſſion for a thouſand. And when he had made uſe of their Service, neer a yeer and a half; when Proviſions were ſent him by the Parliament, whereof they expected a2 ſhare, he caſhier'd four of the moſt deſerving Captains, and their Companies, of purpoſe to gain all the ſaid Proviſions to himſelf, and his Son in law, Dea•Barkley, who was his Agent to the Parliament, for thoſe Proviſions.
III. About the beginning of the Rebellion, there were two Engliſh Papiſts, whoſe Sirnames were Hetherington, who joyned themſelves with the Rebels, and plundered one Serjeant Abrels houſe, a Tenant unto Sir Frederick, and afterwards burned the Houſe, which was certified to Sir William Cole by Sir Frederick, with the Depoſitions of certain witneſſes, proving the ſame fact: And it was deſired, that Sir William Cole would make them ſure for Juſtice, they being then daily imployed by him, which he refuſed to do, aleadging that they had done good ſervice to him, and afterward ſuffered them to eſcape.
IV. That whereas Sir Frederick Hamilton had taken one Robert Parck, one that complied with the Rebels, and had him in cuſtody a yeer and more, and had likewiſe gained the Command of the Caſtle, which was of great advantage and ſervice to the Parliament: And by means whereof, the ſaid Sir Frederick did daily much ſpoil, and annoy the Rebels. The ſaid Sir William Cole knowing the conſequence thereof, and how well affected the ſaid Parck ſtood unto the Rebels, on a time after that horrid Ceſſation concluded with the Rebels; and when he knew that Sir Frederick himſelf, his Wife, and Children were gone for London-Derry, ſome ſixtie miles from Mannor Hammilton: The ſaid Sir William Cole, upon the Marquis of Ormonds commands, ſends his Enſign with 40. Muskettiers unto Sir Fredericks ſaid Garriſon, and by permiſſion of the ſaid Sir Fredericks Lievtenant, who commanded in his abſence, and correſponded with him, as it ſhould ſeem, be took away the ſaid Parck. And whereas he was by the ſaid Order to have conveyed him unto London-Derry, and ſo to Dublin, be firſt feaſted him as his Caſtle, and then returned him back amongſt the Rebels, who received him with all gladneſſe, and after they had rejoyced a while together, they go along with him to Dublin, where afterwards be procures an Order of the State for reſtitution of his Caſtle, with whatſoever Arms and Goods were in it; which he accordingly obtained in Sir Fredericks abſence: Which he, and the Rebels, now make good againſt the Parliament, to the great prejudice of the Parliaments Service, and the danger and hazard of all thoſe parts of Conaught. And this done, albeit, the ſaid Sir William Cole well knew, that Sir Frederick had refuſed to deliver the ſaid Priſoner, upon ſeverall Orders, and Commands, ſent unto him by the ſaid Marquis for that purpoſe, as well knowing the ſaid Parck to be an utter Enemy to the Parliament here, and their proceedings. And one for whom the Lord Viſcount Taaffe (that Arch-rebel) had by his Letters ſolicited the ſaid Sir Frederick for his delivery.
V. That the ſaid Sir William Cole did in the moneth of February, next after the ſaid Ceſſation, apply himſelf unto the Marquis of Ormond, who then, and long before, was declared an Enemy to the Parliament. And complained againſt the ſaid Sir Frederick and his Souldiers to the ſaid Marquis, for taking of a prey from the Rebels; which Rebels the ſaid Sir William Cole had then protected, and gained an Order from the ſaid Marquis for reſtitution thereof, which notwithſtanding was diſobeyed.
VI. That before the ſaid Ceſſation, the ſaid Sir William Cole correſponded with the Rebels, and took 100. of them at the leaſt into his Protection, and formed them into a Company, conſiſting of a Captain and Officers; and imployed them for ſome time, with the reſt of his Regiment, who did him ſervice in getting of Preys, but did great diſ ſervice unto the State, in giving Intelligence againſt all the Brittiſh of their proceedings; and more particularly, did much grieve and offend Sir Fredericks Garriſon at Mannor hammilton, who at the laſt, took their opportunitie, and turned Rebels again.
3The ſaid Sir Frederick could inform many other particular Omiſſions and Diſ ſervices, which the ſaid Sir William Cole hath committed in this time of his imployment, ſince the Rebellion began in Ireland, which becauſe they do concern himſelf in a more neer relation, he ſhall therefore forbear to mention. And the ſaid Sir Frederick is ready to juſtifie himſelf in whatſoever that any man can object againſt him; And humbly prayeth, that this honourable Committee will not think the worſe of him, for diſcharging his duty to God, and the State, by the informing of theſe Miſcarriages, which in Conſcience, he holds himſelf bound to relate in purſuance of his ſolemn League and Covenant.
I. FOr anſwer to the firſt Article, he ſaith; That he had no certain notice of the intended Plots of the Iriſh, to break out into Rebellion, as is ſuggeſted by the Informer; but ſaith, That upon the eleventh of October, 1641. Bryan mac Coconaght Magwire Eſquire, and one Flartagh mac Hugh, informed him of ſome jealouſies of ſuſpitions, that they then apprehended of ſome evil Intentions and practiſes of the Lord Magwire, Sir Phelem roe O Neil, Neil mac Kennay, Hugh oge mac Mahon, and others of the Iriſh Gentry of Ʋlſter, of which he gave advertiſement by his Letter, to the then Lords Juſtices and Councell of Ireland, with all poſſible ſpeed; alſo intimating his deſires, That their Lordſhips would be ſo pleaſed, to take that matter into their ſerious conſideration, as that they would ſtrictly examine the ſaid Lord Magwire, and others of his Complices concerning the ſame, who he underſtood were ſhortly after to be at Dublin; which Letter, or a Copie thereof, this Reſpondent underſtands, was tranſmitted by their Lordſhips to the Parliament of England, and remains with the Clerk of the Honourable Houſe of Commons, and was one of the chiefeſt evidences and motives (upon the Diſcovery made by Owin O Connallie) to induce the State to be upon their Guard, and alſo of the apprehenſion of the Lord Magwire, Hugh4 oge mac Mahon, Coconaght Magwire, Redmond Magwire, Tirlagh oge mac Hugh, and others of their conſorts in Dublin, the 23. of October, 1641. or thereabouts. And for proof of this advertiſement, he can produce their Lordſhips letter in anſwer of his, which he received before the Rebellion broke out. And further ſaith, That upon the 21. of October, 1641. the ſaid Plot being more fully diſcovered unto him, by the ſaid Flartagh mac Hugh, by direction from the ſaid Bryan Magwire, and by one Fargus O Howen, how the Rebellion was to break out univerſally by the Iriſh on the 23. of that Moneth. He not onely poſted away a Meſſenger with a ſecond letter,Notice was given of this Rebellion, from the Reſpondent to Sir Frederick Hammilton, at London-Derry, the 22. of October, 1641. by rancis Barnaby. to ſignifie the ſame unto the ſaid Lords Juſtices and Councell (which was intercepted by the way at Loghramar,) but alſo the ſame day haſtened eighteen Meſſengers with ſo many Letters, to notifie the ſame to his Neighbours at Monea, Caſtle-Balfour, Newtown, Newpurtton, Lowtherſtown, Archdale, Bowſſland, Clogher, Glaſslogh, and elſewhere, as far as in ſo ſhort and diſtracted a time he could poſſibly do, being fully buſied to draw his Neighbours and Tenants together, and to Arm and put them into a poſture of War, for the defence of the Caſtle and Town of Iniskillin, and the parts thereabouts; and amongſt others, did then direct particular advertiſement thereof, to be given unto Mannor-hammilton, (where the Rebellion broke not out in a Moneth after) and of which, the Informer could not afterwards be ignorant, though he himſelf was then abſent; and certainly, of all men, hath leaſt reaſon to lay this as a crime to the Reſpondents charge, had he not wanted other matter.
II. To the ſecond Article he anſwereth, That the Commiſſion therein mentioned (as he hath heard) was the firſt ground of the Informers envy, and diſcontent, not onely againſt this Reſpondent, but alſo againſt all the other Brittiſh Colonels then in Ʋlſter, that received Commiſſions from His Majeſtie at that time, for the raiſing of their Regiments, and proſecuting of the Rebels, taking it in great diſdain, that there was not the like Commiſſion then ſent unto him; whereas for ought this Reſpondent could ever hear, none of the ſaid Colonels knew any certainty of the ſaid Commiſſions, untill they were brought unto them; neither did this Reſpondent receive his ſaid Commiſſion, untill almoſt a yeer after the Rebellion began (at which time he gave notice thereof unto all his Captains) for that (during the greateſt part of that yeer) he was ſo incloſed on all ſides with multitudes of the enemies (being above fourty miles diſtant from any that were able to give him relief) that he could not receive any intelligence, how the ſtate of the5 Proteſtants of that Kingdom ſtood, in any part thereof, though he had often uſed his beſt endeavours to gain the ſame to his exceeding great charges, and the hanging of twelve or fourteen of his Meſſengers, by the Rebels. And the ſaid Informer finding this Reſpondent next unto him, and conceiving him eaſieſt to be dealt withall, hath ever ſince uſed his uttermoſt indeavours by invective Calumnies, to aſperſe and undervalue both him and his actions, which he hath ever envied, ſo that by extolling his own unknown ſervices, he laboureth as much as in him lieth, ſo eclipſe thoſe well know ſervices performed by this Reſpondent, and all other the Commanders and Officers in Ulster and Conaught: And this Reſpondent further ſaith, That by vertue of a Commiſſion from the Lords Juſtices and Councell of Ireland, to him directed, at the beginning of the ſaid Rebellion, for raiſing, Arming, and Banding, all the Brittiſh within the County of F•rmanaugh, he (with the help of his friends) raiſed, Armed, and Banded, the nine Companies in the ſaid ſecond Article ſpecified, together with a Troop of Horſe; by vertue whereof alſo, he might have raiſed, Armed, and Banded, as many of the Brittiſh as he could have drawn together, for their own mutuall defence, and proſecution of the Rebels, by whoſe aſſiſtance (and Gods great bleſſings) ſundry good ſervices have been performed, whereof this Reſpondent did often give intimation, both to the Honourable Parliament, and to the Lords Juſtices and Councell of Ireland, Humbly deſiring, that in reward of their good ſervices they might be liſted into the Parliaments pay, and Regimented under his Command. But inaſmuch as he could not obtain that favour, by reaſon of the troubles then hear, though earneſtly ſollicited by his friends, and that but 500. of his Foot, and his Troop, was inliſted and taken into the Parliaments pay, from the firſt of July, 1642. as appears by Order of the 21. of that Moneth, and Proviſions of Cloaths, and Victuals, being onely ſent for them, upon the ſolicitation of his Agent, Maſter Robert Barklay; this Reſpondent was conſtrained to deliver out the ſaid Cloaths unto the Officers and Souldiers, of the ſaid five Companies, (not being able to divide the ſaid 500. Suits amongſt 900. men) viz. Unto his own Company, his Lievtenant-Colonels, his Serjeant-Majors, to the Company of Captain John Cole, and to the Company of Captain Hugh Roſſe, of whom, three are Scottiſh Officers, and whom without prejudice to the others merrit, he conceived very deſerving of the Imployment. Offering at the very ſame time, to the other four Captains, and their Companies, an equall divident of all other Proviſions ſent him, then by the Parliament, and of what ſpoils they could get from the Rebels, if they would continue with him in the Service, promiſing alſo, to uſe his beſt endeavours6 to have them taken into pay, and added to his Regiment. But the Cloaths being thus divided (which could not be otherwiſe) the ſaid four Companies were ſo diſcontented, that of their own accords they disbanded themſelves, and went to ſeek their fortunes elſewhere, and yet the greateſt part of their beſt and ableſt men, were perſwaded to continue in the Garriſon; ſo that this Reſpondent denieth, that he did caſhiere four of the ſaid Captains and their Companies, of purpoſe to gain all the ſaid Proviſions to himſelf, and his ſon in law, Maſter Barklay, as is ſuggeſted by the Informer, but was ſo far from doing ſo diſhoneſt an act, that during the ſtay of the ſaid four Captains, and their Companies in the Garriſon, they received an equall and proportionable ſhare of the Victuals ſent by the Parliament unto his five Companies onely; and moreover, he then, and about that time did procure upon the credit and obligations of himſelf, and his friends, worth 1300 l. more in Corn, and other Proviſions, for his ſaid five Companies and Troop, beſides thoſe Proviſions before mentioned to be ſent them from the Parliament, without which care and charge, it was impoſſible for him to keep his Souldiers together, and to do ſervice for the publike, in a remote Garriſon, invironed then with Rebels on all ſides.
III. To the third Article, this Reſpondent ſaith, That one James Dunbar Eſquire, and ſon and heir of Sir John Dunbar Knight (whoſe Lands, with a good Iron-work thereon, lies next adjoyning, to part of the Lands of the Informer, whoſe deſire to intrude upon and gain their Rights to himſelf (as they often affirmed to this Reſpondent) begot much contention amongſt them, (as it did between him and all others, alſo who were his Landed Neighbours) which bred ſuch malice in the heart of the Informer againſt the ſaid James, that he not onely exceedingly thirſted after his life, but after the Lives alſo of his two ſervants the Hetheringtons, in the ſaid Article mentioned, (not Papiſts as therein is ſurmiſed) but then, and now Proteſtants, who as well to ſhun the malice of the Informer, as the fury of the Rebels, came with his ſaid Father unto this Reſpondent in December, 1641. Who intruſted the ſaid James with the cuſtody of the Caſtle of Liſſgole neer Iniskillin, with 74. perſons with him, where he was aſſaulted the 18. of December, 1641. or thereabouts, by a powerfull party of the enemy under the conduct of Rorie Magwire, brother of the Lord Magwire, who then took and burned the ſaid Caſtle, and maſſacred all that were in it, except the ſaid James Dunbar, whom the Rebels kept in priſon, untill May or June, 1642. At which time he made an eſcape, and came again (accompanied with the ſaid two Hetheringtons) unto this Reſpondent, where the ſaid Hetheringtons went to Church, and did many good and acceptable7 ſervices, behaving themſelves honeſtly and valiantly in all that time, and as he is informed, or both together with their Maſter at this time, in the ſervice of this Honourable Parliament, under Generall Major Monroe (whoſe Kinſman the ſaid James Dunbar is.) And where he and his ſaid men, are ready to anſwer ought the Informer can lay to their charge; but this Reſpondent ſaith, That he never knew, or heard, that the ſaid Hetheringtons joyned themſelves with the Rebels, or plundered the ſaid Serjeant Abrels houſe, or afterward burned it; neither was their any proof thereof made by the ſaid Abrel, or any witneſſes upon Oath, or otherwiſe produced, before the Reſpondent; neither did he deem it requiſit upon the bare Letters of the Informer, (knowing his malice towards them for their Maſters ſake) to commit them to Priſon, where they might have ſtarved for want of ſuſtenance; neither did he ſuffer them, as Fellons, or Traitors, to eſcape, for that they in the Service, did deſtroy divers Rebels, and Traytors, whileſt they remained at Iniskilling, under this Reſpondents command.
IV. To the fourth Article of the ſaid Information, this Reſpondent ſaith, That upon the firſt of July 1642. or thereabouts, the ſaid Informer having a deſign upon the Town of Sligoe, about ten miles from his houſe, marched to the Caſtle of Robert Parck Eſquire, in the ſaid Article mentioned, an Engliſh Proteſtant, and a Juſtice of Peace; which before the Rebellion, was poſſeſſed of an eſtate of about 1000 l. a yeer, and one that was of very good repute and eſteem amongſt his Neighbours, and who (as this Reſpondent hath been often informed by credible perſons) had (to the beſt of his power) oppoſed the Rebels in the beginning of that Rebellion, without complying, or any way correſponding with them. And under colour of going forward with that deſign, procured the ſaid Maſter Parck with 30, or 40. of his Souldiers to accompany him to Sligoe; and when they came neer the ſaid Town, both Maſter Parcks Souldiers, and thoſe of the Informers entered the Suburbs thereof; and having burned ſome few houſes in it, and received ſome Brittiſh Proteſtants that eſcaped unto them from the Rebels, they brought them unto the Informer, where he ſtood aloof with the ſaid Maſter Parck; two of the ſaid reſcued Proteſtants, namely, John Wetherspin the father, and James Witherspin his ſon, both Scotchmen, were queſtioned by the Informer, wherefore they were amongſt the Rebels. The father anſwered, that by reaſon of his age (being about 70 yeers old, or upwards) and that he was ſick and Bedridden three moneths before, he could not get away, but lived upon the Alms of the people; whereupon one of the Informers ſervants told him, that this old man was formerly Tenant to one John Waldrome Eſquire, (a Gentleman that had an8 eſtate neer the Informers Lands in that Countrey) and had borne witneſſe upon Oath on his Land-lords part, in matter of title of Land, againſt the Informer, by means whereof, the cauſe was decreed for Maſter Waldrome,Note, that this John Whetherſpin, conceived to have been the Father, was not the man the ſaid Sir Frederick ſhot, as aforeſaid, yet was hanged by him, but it was another old ſick Bedridden Scotchman, that was ſo ſhot, and kild by him, in manner aforeſaid. againſt the Informer, or matter to that purpoſe. Upon which (without uſing any more words) he ſhot, and kild the poor decreeped old man, which was the firſt, and laſt man, the Informer kild with his own hands ſince the Rebellion began in Ireland, as ſome of his own ſervants and Souldiers affirmed. Whereupon, being informed by James Wetherspin, the ſon, that the Forces of the County of Sligoe, were upon their march, to joyn with the O Roirkes, for to trouble Mannor-hammilton, he together with Maſter Parcks, and both their Companies, haſtened back to Maſter Parcks houſe, where at the importunitie of the Informer (as this Reſpondent hath been credibly informed) he got the ſaid Maſter Parck and his Company (for the better guard of him, and his men) to accompany him to Mannorhammilton. And although in the way they were hard beſet by the Rebels, inſomuch, as the Informer in a Bog, was unhorſe't, and his Horſe, with Furniture, and Piſtols, taken by the Rebels; by whom, he had been then ſlain, or taken, if by the care and valour of the ſaid Maſter Parck, and ſome of his Souldiers, he had not been horſed again, and brought off. Note, that there were Suites depending both in Ireland, and in England, between Sir Frederick Hammilton, and the ſaid James Wetherſpin, ſome yeers before the Rebellion. And that the ſaid Wetherſpin, being ſerved in Ireland with a Command, Dated the 14. of January, 1640. under the hand of the Speaker of the Houſe of Commons of England, at the inſtance of the ſaid Sir Frederick, he appeared here in London, 7. April. 1641. where having attended the Houſe to anſwer Sir Fredericks complaint, untill the 20 of September, 1641. And (not being able longer to ſtay) he returned into Ireland, where the ſaid Sir Frederick, became his Judge and Executioner, as in this Anſwer is declared.Yet when they had eſcaped that danger, and were come to the Informers houſe (as this Reſpondent hath credibly heard) he took the ſaid James Wetherspin (for having formerly witneſſed with his Father againſt him, as aforeſaid) and twiſted a Cord with a wrinch about his head ſo hard, that his blood ſtreamed forth of his Ears, Eies, Noſe, and Mouth; in which tortures, he continued him during his pleaſure, and then eaſing him of that, did caſt him into a Dungeon, where he continued him languiſhing for hunger, from Thurſday untill the Wedneſday following: And did cruelly puniſh a poor Scotſh-woman, which in pitty did caſt him an handfull of Oatmeal under the door, which the miſerable9 man, did lick with his Tongue from the dirt, his hands and feet, being faſt tied together with Cords or Withes; and upon the Wedneſday following, cauſed him to be hanged. Who at the beginning of the Rebellion, with a Horſe, Sword, and Fowling-Peace, came to him, offering his ſervice againſt the Rebels, from whom, not withſtanding he took the ſaid Horſe and Arms, commanding him to be gone out of his Garriſon, and that if he did not, he would hang him, or if ever he got him again, he would be his death; which he faithfully performed, as aforeſaid.
And alſo upon the Informers entrance into his Caſtle, he made exceeding ſhews of welcome to the ſaid Maſter Parck, whileſt in the interim, he cauſed all his Souldiers to be diſarmed, and they put in reſtraint in ſeverall lower Rooms in his houſe; and then, when he perceived no danger of oppoſition, he arreſted the ſaid Maſter Parck, charging him with Treaſon, and committed him cloſe Priſoner, where he detained him in durance, the ſpace of a yeer and upwards, without ſuffering any man, except Serjeant Major James Galbraith, to ſpeak unto him, which was but once, and that upon much importunitie; whoſe extreme miſery, was lamentably bewailed by all the men that were in that Garriſon. And then he not onely ſeized upon, and kept his Caſtle of Newtown, putting a Guard of his own into it; but alſo plundered, and converted to his own uſe, all his Money, Plate, Arms, Houſholdſtuff, Beding, Furniture, and all other his Goods whatſoever, which he had then as wel without, as within doors there, not ſuffering his Souldiers to come out of reſtraint, or uſe their own Arms, untill he had unlawfully compelled them, to take an Oath to ſerve as Souldiers under his onely Command. By reaſon whereof, the ſaid Maſter Parck was utterly diſabled to perform far greater, and much more advantageous Services, in every degree, in that place, for this Honourable Parliament againſt the Rebels, then ever the Informer did, or could do there, as this Reſpondent hath been credibly informed, as well by the Teſtimony of ſundry other honeſt men, as by the ſaid Maſter Parck himſelf.
Whereupon Sir Edward Pavie Knight, whoſe daughter was the Wife of the ſaid Maſter Parck, together with others his friends (being advertiſed of his extreme hard uſage) Petitioned the Lords Juſtices and Councell of Ireland, for his removall to Dublin, to anſwer ſuch matters, as the Informer had to lay to his charge, and entered into Recognizance of 10000 l. for his appearance, upon which their Lordſhips by Order dated in May 1643. or thereabouts, required the Informer, to ſet the ſaid Parck at libertie, to be ſent either to Captain Folliot to Ballyſhannan, or unto this Reſpondent to Iniskillin, together with the matters that he had to object againſt him. That ſo he might be conveighed10 by them, or one of them to London-Derry, to be ſent from thence to Dublin. But the Informer (notwithſtanding the ſaid Order, was ſhewed unto him) denied obedience thereunto, and detained the ſaid Parck ſtill in durance, untill his ſaid friends procured ſeverall Orders, commanding his inlargement, yet nothing would prevail to that effect with him, untill that about the beginning of Septtmber, 1643. Captain King coming with a Troop of Horſe from Conaught, into Vlster, about ſome buſineſſe he had with Sir William Stuart, and Sir Robert Stuart; he came about the thirteenth of that moneth to Iniskillin, unto this Reſpondent, who ſent his Enſign with fifty Muskettiers, to guard the ſaid Troop to the Abbey of Boyl in Conaught, which is about fourty miles from Iniskillin, who were ſo far from knowing, or allowing of the ſaid Ceſſation, mentioned in the ſaid fourth Article, that they fought with, and kild ſome Rebels in the paſſe of Ballinafadd, and took a prey from thence to the Boyl; whence upon return of the ſaid Enſign, he came to Mannor-Hammilton in his way, where he delivered a Letter from this Reſpondent, to Lieutenant Leſley, the Informers Lievtenant, it being directed to the Informer, or in his abſence, to the Officer in chief at Mannor-Hammilton, with an Order of the Copy of an Order, which the Reſpondent received from the ſaid Captain Foliot, in it directed alſo as aforeſaid, from the Lords Juſtices and Councell of Ireland, for the inlargement of the ſaid Parck, to be ſent to Iniskillin or Ballyſhannon, which this Reſpondent left to his choice to do, or not to do, as beſt pleaſed the Informer, or his ſaid Officer; who ſent the ſaid Parck along with the ſaid Enſign, and becauſe he was ſenſible of the great miſery which he had wrongfully ſuſtained by his Captains ſeveritie, he delivered to the ſaid Maſter Parck, two of his own Horſes, with ſome other little help, toward his charges, as the ſaid Parck, told this Reſpondent when he came to Iniskillin; before which time, this Reſpondent was never acquainted with him, neither did this Reſpondent know, or ever heard, that he was affected to the Rebels, neither did he know any manner of certainty of the concluding of the Ceſſation with the ſaid Rebels, untill he received advertiſement, together with a Proclamation to that effect, from the Lords Juſtices and Councell of Ireland, the 23. of October, 1643. or thereabouts, nor did he, or could he obey the ſaid Ceſſation, before, or ſince that day; neither did he take any notice, whether the Informer, or his Wife and Children, were gone to London-Derry; neither was the Marqueſſe of Ormond at that time, Lord Juſtice, Lord Deputy, or Lord Lievtenant of Ireland, nor did this Reſpondent receive any ſuch commands from his Lordſhip, to ſend to the Informer, as in the ſaid fourth Article is ſurmized; neither did this Reſpondent11 look for, or expect any indirect correſponding from the Informers Lievtenant.
And this Reſpondent ſaith, That as a Priſoner, and poor diſtreſſed Engliſhman, his Countrey-man (being under bail and mainprize as aforeſaid) he gave ſome entertainment unto the ſaid Parck, for ſome few weeks in his houſe, far ſhort of feaſting, as the Informer terms it, and not finding ſafety to convey him by the neereſt way to Dublin, he ſent a guard together with one Henry Langford, and other Engliſh and Scotchmen with him, to Mannor-Hammilton again, where he heard he was lodged for a night, and where the Informer, or his Officer, might have detained him if they pleaſed: But from thence he was conveyed by the ſaid Langford and others, to the Abbey of Boyl, whence after, he recovered of a Feaver (whereof he had almoſt died) he repaired to Dublin, and according to the condition of his ſaid friends Recognizance, appeared before the Lords Juſtices and Councell, at the Councell Board there, where how he was proceeded withall, this Reſpondent knoweth not, neither did this Reſpondent return him back amongſt the Rebels, neither doth he know, whether any of them did company him to Dublin, neither doth this Reſpondent believe, that the ſtate there would grant him an Order for Reſtitution of his Caſtle, with whatſoever Arms, or Goods, were in it, unleſſe it appeared to them, that he was wrongfully expulſed by the Informer. And this Reſpondent ſaith, That he heard, that by vertue of ſuch Order of the State, the ſaid Caſtle was reſtored unto him, and that he keeps it, as the reſt of the Brittiſh Forces in Conaught doth their Holds, for the Parliament forces. For upon the 25. of March laſt paſt (as this Reſpondent hath been informed,) the ſaid Parck, his Souldiers of Newtown, with the Informers Souldiers, did ſpoil and prey the Rebels at Dromahear, within ſix miles of Caſtle-hammilton, and two miles of Maſter Parcks Caſtle of Newtown, ſo as the Informers allegation, that he and the Rebels, makes good that Caſtle againſt the Parliament, to the prejudice of the Parliaments ſervice, and the danger and hazard of all thoſe parts of Conaught, is meerly ſurmized, invented, and deviſed, of purpoſe (as this Reſpondent conceives) to make him odious on the one ſide, that the Informer may thereby, the better work his malice againſt him, and on the other ſide, to bring the ſaid Maſter Parck into the diſpleaſure of the Parliament, whereby he may make way to gain his Eſtate.
And this Reſpondent further ſaith, That he never knew, or heard of any Orders or Commands, ſent unto the Informer, by the ſaid Marqueſſe of Ormond, to the ſaid Maſter Parck; neither did he know, or doth beleeve, the ſaid Parck to be an utter enemy to the Parliament, or12 their proceedings, nor doth he know, neither doth it concern him, whether the Lord Viſcount Taaffe, did by his Letters ſolicite the Informer, for the delivery of the ſaid Parck. But this Reſpondent doth beleeve in his conſcience, That if the ſaid Parck had but 1000 l. in the world, he would give 500 l. of it to be here now, to be a moſt humble Suiter to this Honourable Parliament for remedy, againſt the ſaid Informer, for theſe and many other intollerable wrongs, and high oppreſſions done him, by the ſaid Informer. And this Reſpondent humbly craveth leave, to declare further, the behaviour of the ſaid Informer, towards Thomas Abbercromy Eſquire, a Proteſtant, and principall undertaker in that Plantation, and ſometimes High-Sheriff of that County, whoſe Eſtate there bordered upon the Informers, within a mile of his Caſtle, whom he alſo Impriſoned, and kept in miſerable durance, for a long time, out of the malice, which in particular, he bore to himſelf, and alſo unto his Father in law, Sir John Dunbar Knight, and James Dunbar Eſquire, his Brother in law, not ſuffering any to waſh his linnen, but was neceſſitated, with his own hands, to waſh his ſhirts in his own Urine: And at length being ſet at liberty, the poor Gentleman with his Wife, and Children, came (in great want of all neceſſaries) to Iniskillin, to this Reſpondent, who uſed means to releeve them untill he conveyed them towards his native Countrey of Scotland.
And further this Reſpondent ſaith, That (as he hath been credily Informed by divers honeſt Proteſtants, who well knew the Informers evil carriages to thoſe that were under his command, and more eſpecially to the Proteſtants that fled from Sir John Dunbars Iron-works, to his houſe, for ſafeguard of their lives) the Informer compelled many of them (without ſending guards or convoys with them) to depart from his Garriſon, inſomuch, as by their endeavouring to travell twenty miles over Mountainous wayes, towards Iniskillin, many of them were murthered in their journey, by the Rebels. And in particular, twelve or fourteen perſons at one time, and divers of them famiſhed through hunger and cold, which will be proved by ſundry men and women of the ſame Companies, whoſe Fortune it was (through Gods Providence) to eſcape thoſe dangers. And are now reſident partly under this Reſpondent at Imskillin, and others of them diſperſedly dwelling amongſt other Regiments in Ʋlſter, and elſewhere.
V. To the fifth Article this Reſpondent ſaith, That he did not know in the Moneth of February, after the ſaid Ceſſation, whether or no, the ſaid Lord Marqueſſe of Ormond, was Lord Lievtenant of Ireland, nor whether he was declared an Enemy to the Parliament, nor did he hear any other, then that he was gracious and acceptable unto the Parliament,13 untill this Reſpondent was now upon his journey to London, and ſaith, that after concluding of the ſaid Ceſſation (which how acceptable it was to the Parliament, this Reſpondent being ſo remote, underſtood not,) he by vertue of a Commiſſion, dated in November or December, 1641. from Sir William Parſons, and Sir John Borlace, then Lords Juſtices of Ireland, and the Councell there, did upon the 29. of January, 1643. or thereabouts, receive Tirlagh oge mac Gawran, and ſome followers of his, being Inhabitants of the Barony of Tallaghagh in the County of Cavan, together with their Goods into protection, appointing them ſome quarters to dwell and graſe upon, neer Iniskillin, untill directions to the contrary, ſhould come from the Parliament, and that upon agreement, that they ſhould pay 70 l. in Money or Victuals, by a time limited, towards the better ſubſiſtance of the Souldiers of this Reſpondents Regiment, for the preſerving of that Garriſon, whoſe proviſions being then neer ſpent, had no hopes to be ſupplied by the State there, and as little expectation to be furniſhed in due time from hence, and the ſaid protected men having delivered in one of their Kinſmen unto this Reſpondent, to remain in priſon at Iniskillin in pledge as well for their Loyalties, during their continuance upon the ſaid Protection, as the paying of the ſaid Contribution, and performing other duties, conformable to their agreement, gathered their Goods from remote parts, and upon the ſecond of February, 1643. or thereabouts, were coming to the quarters aſſigned to them by this Reſpondent; but by the way, the Souldiers of the Informer, incountering them, declared, that they were in want of Victuals in their Garriſon; and although they would forbear to kill them (for ſo far they agreed to the ſaid Protection) yet they would, and muſt borrow ſome Cows from them upon Ticket, to be payed by the State, out of their entertainment, and thereupon took from them three or four hundred Cows, whereof their Officers at Mannor-Hammilton (upon the mediation of the Reſpondents Lievtenant Colonell) cauſed the greateſt part to be reſtored again unto the ſaid Owners, but refuſed to deliver the reſt. Of which (upon the next occaſion, that this Reſpondent had to write to Dublin) at the requeſt of the ſaid Owners, he gave intimation unto the then Lords Juſtices and Councell; and thereupon, the ſaid Lord Marqueſſe being newly then, Lord Lievtenant of Ireland, did by his Warrant command, not onely the reſtoring of the reſidue of the ſaid Goods unto the Owners; but withall, required better correſpendency to be obſerved for the future, between the Officers and Souldiers of the Informer, and thoſe of Iniskillin, and not to claſh or jar between themſelves; but whether the ſaid latter Order was obeyed, as touching the reſtitution of14 the ſaid Goods; this Reſpondent knoweth not, and faith, That the Officers and Souldiers of the ſaid Garriſons, not in obedience to that Order, but of their own mutuall accords (have ever ſince the Informer left thoſe parts) lived in better amitie, then ever they did, or could do, whileſt he continued there amongſt them: Nevertheleſſe, this Reſpondent faith, That by reaſon of that impediment, offered by the Informers Souldiers, as aforeſaid, this Reſpondent and his Souldiers loſt the benefit of that bargain, to the great prejudice of that Garriſon.
And faith further, That the Informer or his Officers, received into his Protection (by what authority this Reſpondent could never yet underſtand) one Owin, or James mac Murrey, Margaret Ny Cabe, and ſundry other Rebels of the Countie of Letrym, and kept them and their Goods upon his own Lands of Glanfern, neer his Garriſon in that County, which will be proved by Certificate, and ſundry Letters of the date of January, 1643. under the hand of his own Lievtenant and others.
VI. To the ſixth Article, this Reſpondent denieth, that ever he correſponded with the Rebels, as by the ſaid Informer is therein ſuggeſted; but faith, That by vertue of the aforeſaid Commiſſion from the Lords Juſtices and Councell of Ireland, he did receive into protection, one Bryan mac Coconaght mac Gwire Eſquire, with fourty or fifty of his Friends, Servants, and Tenants, who had ſome Goods of their own to live upon, taking Pledges from ſome of them, for Aſſurance of their Loyalties; which Protection, this Reſpondent humbly conceiveth was lawfull for him to grant unto the ſaid Bryan Magwire, for the Reaſons following, viz.
Firſt, For that upon the 21. of October, 1641. he diſcovered unto this Reſpondent by Flartagh mac Hugh aforenamed, the purpoſe of the Iriſh, to riſe into Rebellion upon Friday and Saturday, the 22. and 23. of October aforeſaid, adviſing him, and all the Engliſh and Scottiſh Proteſtants in the Town of Iniskillin, and County of Farmanagh, to be carefully upon their defence; which this Reſpondent acknowledgeth, was (by Gods mercy and providence) the principall Motive that prevented the Murthering of this Reſpondent, and of all thoſe Proteſtants that eſcaped that bloody Maſſacre thereabouts.
Secondly, For that the ſaid Bryan did refuſe to joyn in any Action with the Rebels, denying to enter into their Oaths of Confederacy and Aſſociation againſt the Proteſtants, for which, he was in great danger to be cut off by them.
Thirdly, For that he preſerved under his own Protection, divers of the Brittiſh Nation, Proteſtants; which together with ſeverall of their15 Goods he brought ſafe to Iniskillin, when he was ſo received into Protection, as Ambroſe Carleton, Richard Irwing, Gawan Bettie, and many others.
Fourthly, For that by receiving him, being an eminent man of Ʋlſter, and allied unto many Noble Families, (both in Scotland and Ireland,) it exceedingly abated the fury and courage of the Rebels, and diſtracted their Conſultations in thoſe Parts; and wholly dis-joyned the Forces of the Rebels in that County, by dividing themſelves into factions; and no leſſe diſheartned thoſe of the next adjoyning Counties, which in that interim, and for a long time after, did abundantly advantage, and further the Publike Service.
Fifthly, For that in further Evidence of his Loyalty to the Engliſh Crown and Government, he preſented a Letter unto this Reſpondent, which came unto him from Owin mac Artt O Neille (Uncle of the Lord Magwire, and Generall of the Rebels in Ʋlſter,) who lately before, arived in Ireland, with Men, Arms, and Ammunition, out of Weſt-Flanders, which Letter is as followeth, vix.
KNow that I am arived at this Harbour, nine or ten dayes paſt, whether I ſent before me, as much Ammunition as I deemed needfull, to anſwer the neceſſitie of this Countrey: And that I have here now, Men and Proviſions, ſuch as (by the leave of God) will give great comfort and ſuccour unto this whole Kingdom. But beloved Couſin, I am given to underſtand, that (not withſtanding your ſufferance and diſtreſſe) you are abundantly inclined to ſide with the Engliſh Nation, which indecd doth exceedingly grieve me; Wherefore, I will have you from henceforth (as you tender your own good) to baniſh thoſe thoughts out of your minde, and not to purſue thoſe Reſolutions, which in the end, may be the occaſion of your own Deſtruction, as I think it will be to all thoſe, whoſe mindes will appear contrary to ours: Let theſe ſuffice with the addage of many ſalutes unto you, from Caſtle-Do, the 18. of July, 1642.
And beſides, the ſaid Bryan gained Intelligence of great concernment, from the enemy, and diſcovered it at all times, and upon all occaſions unto this Reſpondent, who made great uſe thereof, for the furtherance, and advancement of the Publike Service; whereof, this Reſpondent made report by his Letters unto Sir William Parſons, and Sir John Burlace, then Lords Juſtices of Ireland, and the Councell there, to whom he did ſend the ſaid Bryan Magwire to Dublin, who did not onely approve of this Reſpondents act in receiving of him and his men, into Protection, as aforeſaid, but alſo (as this Reſpondent was informed) did further ſigniſie unto this Honourable Parliament, the affection and ſervice of the ſaid Bryan, with their deſires in his behalf, that he ſhould be rewarded for the ſame. And afterward their Lordſhips returned the ſaid Bryan unto this Reſpondent, allowing him and his men, to be continued upon Protection at Iniskillin: Neer unto which Garriſon, he remains loyall, even at this time, but in a moſt miſerable condition for want of neceſſaries. And this Reſpondent denieth, That ever he did forme the ſaid protected men into a Company, conſiſting of a Captain and Officers, as in the ſaid ſixth Article is meerly deviſed and ſurmiſed, but did imploy them under the leading of ſome of the Brittiſh Gentlemen of his Garriſon, upon Service many times, with the reſt of his Regiment, againſt the Rebels; wherein they were of abundant uſe, as well for Spies and Guides, as by killing and deſtroying the enemy, as effectually as others did; and (for ought known by this Reſpondent) did no diſ-ſervice at any time unto the State, in giving Intelligence againſt all, or any of the Brittiſh of their proceedings; and divers of the ſaid protected men, being taken priſoners at ſeverall times, by the Rebels, were put to death, for taking part with this Reſpondent. But this Reſpondent denieth, That all the ſaid protected men did take their opportunity, to turn to the Rebels again, as is ſurmiſed; but ſome few that did (leaving their Pledge which they gave for aſſurance of their Loyalty, in priſon at Iniskillin,) this Reſpondent cauſed him to be hanged, when they proved diſloyall. And this Reſpondent humbly conceiveth, That as Rahab and her Parents, Family, and Friends, for her ſake, were preſerved in Jericho for ſaving the two Spies of Joſhuah, ſo this Honourable Parliament, will be pleaſed to think, That this Reſpondent did no diſ-ſervice unto the State, in protecting, and preſerving of the ſaid Bryan Magwire, and ſome of his Friends for his ſake; who was the Inſtrument of the ſaving of the lives of many thouſands of Proteſtants (even Gods people) from being utterly deſtroyed by the fury of the ſaid bloody Rebels.
17ANd for anſwer unto that expreſſion wherewith the ſaid Informer ſeems to conclude his Information,Note, that ſince this Anſwer was ſent into the Commons Houſe of Parliament, Sir William Cole received a Letter of the 8. of January, 1644. Written by one of the Captains of his Regiment from Iniskillin; certifying that about that time, fourty Horſe, and 120. Foot of that Garriſon, fought with and routed 500. Foot, and 3. Troops of Horſe of the Rebels, conducted by Colonell Philip O Rely, wherein they not onely reſcued their own Cattle which were Plundered by the Enemy: But alſo killed 140. of them in the place, and took 55. Priſoners, whereof are Officers, one Serjeant Major, 3. Captains, two Lievtenants, with divers Gentlemen, and other Officers. Whereby it appears, that neither the ſaid Sir William, or his Souldiers, did any way correſpond with the Rebels, ſince the Ceſſation, or before. by ſaying, he could inform many other particular omiſſions and diſ-ſervices, which the ſaid Reſpondent hath committed in this time of his imployment, &c. The Reſpondent faith, That he conceiveth the Informer means it, by the ſcandalous calumnies and aſperſions digeſted in fifteen places of that Pamphlet, Printed at London, in Anno Dom. 1643. Wherein his Services are regiſtred, and wherein this Reſpondent and his Captains, Officers, and Souldiers, are moſt injuriouſly taxed, with often reiterations of unworthy and mean carriage towards him, for that they did not wait upon him, upon all his calls, which this Reſpondent conceiveth, was more then he was bound to do, further then to this Reſpondent would ſeem fit, for the good of the Publike Service, eſpecially, when as at the ſame very times (which was long before the Ceſſation) he was imployed about ſervices of far greater and better concernment in the Counties of Fermanagh, Cavan, Monaghan, Tirone, Donegall, Letrim, or Sligoe, which hath formerly been well known, both in Ireland, and elſe where.
And this Reſpondent further ſheweth, That immediately after the ſaid Ceſſation, this Reſpondents Regiment deſtroyed 296. of the Rebels, and famiſhed many hundreds of them, and alſo took in Rory mac Gwires Caſtle, which is now preſerved for the Parliaments uſe: And as well then, as before, did reſcue, or otherwiſe redeem from the ſaid Rebels, 5467 Engliſh and Scottiſh Proteſtants, and relieved them for many Moneths, out of the ſpoils gained from the enemy, untill that in his own perſon, he guarded and conveied great numbers of them towards London-Derry, where further care was taken for their relief, by the good people there: And ſaith alſo, That he this Reſpondent, was one of the firſt Colonels of the Brittiſh Regiments in Ʋlſter, which did imbrace, and take the Solemn League and Covenant, which he humbly conceives will not be deemed to be Omiſſions or Diſ-ſervices, as the Informer terms them; who ſince his coming hither, hath not onely laboured to18 defame the Reſpondent, but alſo hath taxed the reſt of the Colonels in Ʋlſter, for their neglects in their Service, who (in this Reſpondents opinion) have done much better Service, then either of them.
Yet did this Reſpondent, ſeverall times, ſhew his deſires in a moſt effectuall manner, to help and relieve the ſaid Informer; for having received a pittifull Meſſage from him, about the 26. of July, 1642. That he, his Wife, Children, and Souldiers, were like to be deſtroyed by nine hundred of the Rebels, that then beſieged him: This Reſpondent immediatly ſent a party of four hundred Horſe and Foot, for his relief, with Orders, that after they had relieved the Informer, they ſhould return within fourty eight hours: This Reſpondent being then threatned to be beſieged, by the Generall of the Iriſh Forces Owin mac Art O Neille with 6000 men; but when the Reſpondents Lievtenant Colonell came to the Informer with this Party, they found him not at all beſieged, not in no ſuch extremity as he pretended, but perceived he ſent this preſſing Meſſage, onely to get ſome of the Reſpondents men with him, to take in the Caſtle of Dromahear, which without Ordnance, they could not have effected, though being come, at his importunitie they attempted, in concluſion, to no other purpoſe, then to deſtroy their men.
Whereupon his Officers and Souldiers, returned on the 29. of July from him, having received many affronts and abuſes. And on the 20. of May following, this Reſpondent intending ſome ſervice in the Province of Conaught, drew forth about 500. Horſe and Foot, and Leaguring within two miles of the Informers Garriſon, was importuned with much earneſtneſſe to come unto him to Chriſten his Son, which the Reſpondent (conceiving to be an act of charity and Chriſtianity) conſented unto, expecting ſuch civilitie, as might be anſwerable to ſo neighbourly an Office. But both himſelf, and thoſe few Officers he carried with him, received ſuch groſſe diſ-reſpect, that he will not deſile your ears with the hearing it.
Nevertheleſſe, God having bleſt the Reſpondent in his journey with ſucceſſe againſt the enemy, he gave him for the relief of his Garriſon two hundred fifty and nine Cows: There going with him in his journey of their own accord, of the men belonging to his Garriſon, onely 38. Footmen, and 12. Horſe.
He moreover then beſtowed upon his good Lady 1000. Sheep, and what he beſtowed on thoſe Gentlemen of his Ladies Kinred, and his Officers, who went in a friendly manner with this Reſpondent, the Informer ſuffered them not to enjoy, but converted to his own uſe.
Theſe civilities, which this Reſpondent is moſt unwillingly drawn to mention, he conceived might deſerve more thanks, and not to be himſelf19 and his Regiment, exclaimed againſt by the Informer, meerly to render him and them odious, in all places where his tongue gets him credit.
In the time of Peace, his carriage towards hie neighbours, was ſo full of contention, that there was hardly any man of quality or worth neer him, in the Province of Conaught, that he had not laboured to injure and oppreſſe, either in their Eſtates or Reputations, if not in both, ſo that before the Rebellion began, ſuch his carriages made him extremly diſtaſtfull to men of all conditions, that lived within twenty or thirty miles of him, in that Province, which will be evidenced by divers of his Neighbours, of the beſt qualitie, now in this City, if they may be called upon for that purpoſe.
And particularly this Reſpondent, repreſenteth to your further notice, ſomething of the Informers demeanour towards ſome of his diſtreſſed Neighbours in the hands of the Rebels, deciphered in theſe two ſhort inſuing Letters, Printed in the latter end of that Book of his own Services, Page 57. viz.
WE the undernamed perſons, having ſuffered in all our whole Eſtates, and being upon our baniſhment, out of this Kingdom, under the ſafe conduct of Maſter Edmond Bourk of Ragagh, and Maſter Walter Bourk of Ardagh, towards the North, but moſt oppoſed at Caſtle-Coner; Eniſcromme, Eſcagh-Bridge, Downeill, Arnaglaſſe and Tomler, go by ſeverall Bands of Armed men, purpoſely to ſet for our lives, were not there extreme violence ſuppreſſed by the diſcretion, worth, and care of thoſe two Gentlemen, and we taken Priſoners by the Mac Swines, brought before O Coner-Sligo, where we now remain, and intended to be ſent to the Caſtle of Dromahear, to be kept untill you Sir deliver ſuch Priſoners of the O Roirks and others, as you have in your cuſtodie, or to be dealt with, as you do unto them: Sir you are Nobly diſpoſed, ſo that in honour, we hope, the means of relief being in your ſelf, you will not ſuffer us to periſh, who will ever remain Sir
Theſe be the names and number of the Priſoners, Sir Robert Hannay, his Lady, his two Daughters, two Boyes, two men, and a Gentlewoman; Maſter Andrew Adare, and his Wife, and Siſters Son; Maſter Alexander Mountgomery, his Wife, and eldeſt Son; Maſter William Liston, his Wife, and Daughter; Maſter Thomas Fullerton, and his Wife; Patrisk Deomand, Maſter Adares man.
Sir, after the writing of this Letter, we are brought to Dromahear Caſtle, and Order left with the Captain to bring us unto the Camp at Mannor-Hammilton, where we muſt ſuffer death, if thoſe Priſoners with you be not delivered.
SIR, I have received your Letter, whereby I am given to underſtand of your treacherous ſurpriſall, not with ſtanding of your ſafe conduct promiſed, for the which I am very ſorry. But ſuch is the treacherous falſhood of thoſe diſtoyall Traitors, generally throughout this wholc Kingdom, that hath made me vew and ſwear, in the preſence of Almighty God, That I will never give or take quarter, with them, or any of them, yea, though my own Sons that diſcended from my Loyns, were in your eſtate, I had rather they ſhould die gloriouſly for the cauſe of Chriſt, then I ſhould ſo abaſe my ſelf, as to deal with ſuch Traytors to God and His Majeſtic. Thus beſeeching God Almightie, to ſtrengthen and incourage you, that you may continue conſtant, untill it ſhall pleaſe God, to give you deliverance, either by life or death. In the mean time, I am perſwaded, that they will uſe you with no worſe meaſure, then their Priſoners, who were apprehended by me in the action of Rebellion are uſed: So recommending you to God, I rest,
And after he delivered this Letter unto the Meſſenger, he hanged the chief of the Priſoners (being brother to Colonell O Roirke, who was deſired by this exchange) in the ſight of the Meſſenger, before he would permit him to depart, upon whoſe return to the Rebels, they in revenge thereof, murthered about ten or eleven of the ſaid Proteſtants, whereof two were godly Miniſters; and yet if their mercy and compaſſion, in the midſt of their Barbaritie, had not far tranſcended Sir21 Frederick Hammiltons, they had likewiſe put Sir Robert Hannay, and his Lady, and Children, and all the reſt to death.
And that his ill diſpoſition may the more fully appear, he hath with ſtriking, and other ill uſage, ſo behaved himſelf, toward his Officers, that his Lievtenant, Enſigne, Miniſter, and one of his Serjeants, have all forſaken him; ſo that he hath now no Officers, but one Serjeant to command his Company, at Mannor-Hammilton, conſiſting of ſeventy men, or thereabouts.
And not withſtanding all this, The ſaid Informer is labouring for the Government of London-Derry; and becauſe he conceived he might prevail in that ſuit, if his miſcarriages were not diſcovered, he moved this Reſpondent, that all the differences betwixt them, might be compoſed by the order of friends; which motion, if this Reſpondent would then have accepted, he conceives this Information had never been heard of.
And as touching the Government of London-Derry aforeſaid, this Reſpondent humbly deſires leave to declare, that once it was conferred upon Sir George Pawlet, a man whoſe temper in ſome things, was not much unlike this of the Informers, whoſe paſſionate demeanour in his Office, was not onely the occaſion of the loſſe of his own life, but of the loſſe alſo of the lives of many of this Nation there, and the burning of that Town, with the kindling of a violent (though as it hapned) but a ſhort Rebellion in the Countrey thereabouts, which did put the State then, to much unneceſſary expences in the ſuppreſſing of it.
All which, together with the premiſſes, this Reſpondent humbly repreſenteth as pertinent inſtances, and reaſons, to induce the honourable Parliament, not to put the Government thereof into the power of the Informer, whoſe demeanour will never be brooked, by thoſe good people that now inhabit there, upon whom, all the aſperſions that are laid by any late reports or Printed Letters (this Reſpondent beleeves) were invented and contrived by the Informer, or his Inſtruments, of purpoſe to make them deteſtable to this Honourable Parliament, whom this Reſpondent is confident, are as loyall, and wel-wiſhing to the Parliament, as can be expected; and will really witneſſe the ſame, by their ready and joyfull receiving and obeying of any Governour (except Sir Frederick Hammilton) that the Parliament will be pleaſed to appoint over them. But his conditions are ſo well known unto them, that they will quit their fortunes and ſtations there, which they have hither to preſerved, with ſo much expence and hazard, rather then ſubmit unto his Command.
And this Respondent moſt humbly deſires this honourable Committee, would be pleaſed to pardon him, if he have trespaſſed upon your Patience, in anſwer to the Charge given in by the Informer, being neceſſitated thereunto, for his more ample Vindication, by laying open the diſpoſition of the Informer, which he hath moſt unneceſſary drawn upon himſelf, without any provocations given to him, by this Reſpondent. And humbly prayes, ſuch reparations as in your Wiſdoms ſhall be thought fit.
THe ſaid Sir William Cole, confeſſeth the firſt charge, and for his defence pretendeth, That he gave advertiſement of the ſaid intended Rebellion, by his Letters to the then Lords Juſtices and Councell, with all poſſible ſpeed; with advice, That their Lordſhips would ſtrictly examine the Lord Mac Gwire, and others his Complices, concerning the ſame.
But if his notice given to the Lords Juſtices, had been ſo timely, as his Information was ſeaſonable, by him confeſſed to have been, twelve dayes before the breaking out of the ſaid Rebellion; without all peradventure, the Lords Juſtices and Councell, would not have neglected the opportunity, of preventing ſo great a miſchief; which had not been eaſily done, if to have underſtood thereof, ſo long before, nor can it be credited for tructh, that the Reſpondent gave them any ſuch timely notice, when it is manifeſt, That the diſcovery thereof, unto the Lords23 Juſtices and Councell, by Captain O Connelly, was with much difficulty to his perſon, very late in the night, immediately before the ſame day it was to have been acted at Dublin.
And the Reſpondent being a Juſtice of the Peace and Corum, and a man inveſted with great power and authority in his Countrey, and of great credit amongſt the people, by the duty of his place, ſhould, as very eaſily he might, and ought to have apprehended the Conſpirators; the ſaid Lord Mac Gwire, and the reſt of the chief of them, being his neer neighbours; whoſe perſons, if he had ſecured in ſo long time before the Tragedie was to have been acted, would have prevented their wicked deſigne, and diſheartned the reſt of their accomplices through the Kingdom, to have proceeded; nor can the Reſpondent, pretend any want of force, to have inabled him in this action, the Kings High Sheriff of that County living within five miles to him; who being an active able Gentleman, could in a very ſhort time, have raiſed for his aſſiſtance, the power of the whole Brittiſh, had he been timely advertiſed, as properly he ought to have been: So that for the Reſpondent thus to ſit ſtill in his own Caſtle, and to betray all his Neighbours, untill the very night before this bloody Rebellion broke out, and then to write Letters, as he alleageth, to warn his Neighbours and Tenants of this evill to come, who ſhould have been all in Arms, and apprehending the Conſpirators long before: Whether the Reſpondent performed the Office of a faithfull Magiſtrate, or the Duty and Courage of a Judicious Commander, or the Care and Providence of a good Neighbour, and Faithfull Subject, this Repliant leaveth it to your Judicious Conſiderations; And is verily perſwaded, That if the Reſpondent had timely delivered, but Arms to ſo many men, as he alleageth to have ſent Letters, and to have gone in the head of them, againſt thoſe Rebels, he might have done more good ſervice, for the ſafety of the Publike, his Neighbours, and Tenants, then all the Rhetorick he uſed in his Letters, to warn and admoniſh them of this danger: But his chief care appeared, the ſafety of himſelf at home in his Caſtle, to man, and ſecure that place; where much ado there was, (as the Repliant hath been informed) to perſwade the Reſpondent, for all his Regiment, in ſix moneths time, to ſet his Noſe out of that Caſtle, untill the greateſt ſury of the Rebels was paſt; and afterwards, for catching of Cows, and ſuch like plundering imployment, he proved very active: And that this Repliant, being from home, as the Reſpondent relateth, that he was, and in this caſe, ſhould be advertiſed by the Reſpondent, That there was intended ſuch an Inſurrection, it is much like his other aſſertion, That this Repliant herein doth want matter juſtly to accuſe him, as he hath informed: For certain24 it is, this Repliant never received Letter, or advertiſment from him, though he knew the Repliant to command the next Garriſon to him; which it pleaſed God, miraculouſly to preſerve, untill this Repliant with no ſmall hazard, returned amongſt them; at which time he did not delay venturing a Meſſenger, with a kinde Letter, to the Reſpondent, whoſe anſwer to the Repliants Letter followeth.
YOur zeal to His Majeſties ſervice, the common good, and care of us in particular, expreſſed in your Letter of the 29. of this inſtant October, hath added comfort and courage to us, your friends, and fellow Souldiers; who do conceive, that our fears are greater (as you alleage) then cauſe requireth; for if the Scots and Engliſh had unanimouſly united their Forces at the firſt, we had been able, not onely to have made head againſt the enemy, but alſo erre now, to have been Maſter of the Field: But their policy in giving out, that their Commiſſion was to deſtroy the Engliſh, and to ſpare the Scots, hath ſo prevailed with ſome of the more ignorant ſort of that Nation, that they withdraw their aſſiſtance from us, which as it could not but diſhearten us a little, ſo the enemy hath made advantage thereof: But the Sheriff of our County Maſter Adam Cathcart, and the reſt of his neighbours, by giving us two viſits with a good Troop of Horſe, with promiſe of Aſſiſtance, hath removed thoſe jealouſies, to which your worthy actions hath added a greater luſter; in ſo much, that I make no queſtion, that if a man of your eminency and worth, of that nation, would but once ſhew themſelves in the Field; it would not onely turn the Councell of the Achitophell into fooliſhneſſe, but the Scots and Engliſh in thoſe, and all other parts, would reſort together in ſuch Troops, That we ſhould be able to bid them Battle; for we are (I thank God) above 200. ſtrong in the Caſtle, and Town of Iniskillin, which is as yet ſafe; and our Scotch Neighbours are as many in Foot and Horſe: Therefore I think it the beſt way to finde them out, and not to keep aſunder thus in our ſtrong Holds; for my own part, I do verily beleeve, that they are far ſhort of thoſe numbers, and Ammunition, they give out, except they reckon Boyes, and Calloghes: But the worſt is, we have little intelligence, but what we have from themſelves, who queſtionleſſe will make the beſt of all things, and the worſt for us: As for Dublin, I hope it is not taken, whither I ſent a Meſſenger on Saturday laſt, with Letters to the State, whereof I have ſent you here incloſed. Cavan we hear holds out, being ſtrengthned with a Troop of Horſe that lay at Turbbet: Captain Atkinſon, upon what promiſes, I know not, hath yeelded up his25 Caſtle to Bryan mac Gwire, without any reſiſtance, and is with him; and ſo have all the ſtrong holds of this County, except this of Iniskillin, Tully, Mo•ea, which we hope with Gods help and the aſſiſtance of our friends to defend in ſpight of our enemy: But they have got all the Goods and Ammunition of the whole County into their poſſeſſion. And though the Plot be Generall as the Iriſh give out, yet there is not ſo much ſeverity uſed in any part of the Kingdom, as in this County: So giving you many thanks for your good intelligence; which I intreat you upon all occaſions continue, with aſſurance, that you ſhall receive the like from me: As alſo the contents of your Letter conveyed to the Lords Juſtices, with all convenient ſpeed, with the tender of my Service, to your ſelf, and Honourable Lady. I commit you, and all of us, to the ſafe protection of the Almighty, I reſt
Together with this Anſwer, the Repliant received a Letter, ſigned by the forementioned Captain Adam Cathcart, then High Sheriff, Captain William Acheſon, now Lievtenant Colonell to the Reſpondent: Who by that Letter, offered themſelves with their ſeverall Companies, which they then Commanded, to put themſelves under the Command of this Repliant, refuſing to take on with Sir William Cole at all: But this Repliant otherwiſe adviſed them, for the ſafety of their own Countrey, that they ſhould joyn themſelves with Sir William Cole, hoping to have found him, a more faithfull Neighbour, then he proved. Some few dayes after this Letter received, Captain Hugh Roſſe, having formerly been Chirurgion, for ſeverall yeers to the Repliants Foot Company, brought with him to the Repliants Garriſon, at Mannor-Hammilton, Captain George Greir, who had with them, two able Companies of the Repliants Countrymen, who were come a purpoſe to tender their ſervice unto him, who had much ado to perſwade them to return, or have any medling at all with Sir William Cole, whoſe baſeneſſe in ſeverall kindes they much complained off, yet at laſt, the Repliant having uſed them, and their men kindly, with free-quarters in his Caſtle for two nights, did afterwards give every one of their Souldiers Money, and every Captain, and Officer, a proportion of Salt, whereof they were ſcarce at that time, and perſwaded them to return, promiſing to acknowledge themſelves as Companies ingaged to the Repliant, when he ſhould think fit to command them, who afterwards joyned themſelves26 in the Reſpondents Regiment; and without thoſe four Companies, could not have made up a Regiment there, though he proved very unthankfull to the Repliant afterwards. And whereas the Reſpondent mentioned in his Letter, Captain Roger Atkinſon, an Ancient Servitour in Queen Elizabeths dayes, and a Noble Houſe-keeper, for many yeers together, living within a mile to the Reſpondent; who with his Wife and Family, had in former times received many charitable and Neighbourly helps and reliefs, from the ſaid Atkinſon and his vertuous Bedfellow, who was a neer Kinſwoman, to the now Earl of Leiſter: Nevertheleſſe, did the Reſpondent indeavour to caſt aſpertions upon this worthy Gentleman, as if had baſely parted with his Caſtle to the Iriſhes; whereas the fault ſhall appear in the Reſpondent, and his Treacherous and unneighbourly uſage of him, mentioned in this Letter, ſent by Captain Atkinſon to the Repliant, in Vindication of the aſpertions caſt upon him by the Reſpondent as followeth.
ACcording to your deſire, you ſhall be pleaſed to underſtand the manner, how I left my houſe the 22. of October, 1641. Towards night I received a note from Sir William Cole, wherein he made mention, he had notice given him that day, that the Iriſh was to make ſome attempt on the morrow, or ſoon after; and therefore wiſhed me to have ſome people about me, and to be upon my guard, Captain William Atcheſon being then within, to whom I ſhewed my Letter; whereupon he went preſently to Sir William, to know the manner, and did promiſe to come and acquaint me, how all things went that night, which he did; and withall, I ſent my man to call all my truſtieſt Tenants, to be with me preſently; ſome did come and went home again to bring ſome of their Goods, but did not return back again, ſo that night I cauſed charge all the Peeces I had, that was fixed; the next morning being Saturday, there came ſome Scotchmen by me, who dwelt towards Ballibalfoor, who told me, that all the Countrey that way was in fire, and that Rory mac Gwire was coming that way with a great many men all in Arms; and that Lough, which my Lady Goure lived in, was full of Boats and Cotts, with men and Arms, and that Rory mac Gwire, did not meddle with any Scotchmen at all, or their Goods; whereupon, all thoſe that were with me, went away home, and left me, and I having no more Powder then to charge my Peeces once again, took occaſion to ſend my man Humphrey, to Sir William Cole, with money, deſiring him to ſend me twenty pound of Powder, and if not ſo much, to ſend me twelve, in regard I had ſent to Dublin a twelvemoneth27 before, to Captain Pinner, to get me ſome Powder out of the Store-houſe, which he did, but not ſo much as I wrote for; who ſent me word, That the Clerk of the Store-houſe promiſed to write to Sir William Cole, to furniſh me with what I ſtood in need off, becauſe he had enough in his keeping; his anſwer returned me, was, That a pound of Powder was worth a pound of Silver: So Saturday, and Sunday, none came at me; but I perceived burning every where. On Munday morning, Sir William went to perſwade me for to leave my Houſe, and if I would come to Iniskillin, he would ſend me a guard of fourty men Armed, to conduct me: Whereupon, I acquainted theſe few men that were with me, who all wiſhed me to go; and if I would not, that they all would go, for they all knew that I had no Ammunition: I was perſwaded to write to Sir William, if he would ſend me the guard he promiſed, I would come; and preſently got Horſes, and did lay all my Arms, and ſundry other things, waiting ſtill for my guard, till towards night, but none came; ſo when it was dark night, one brought me word, that Bryan mac Gwire was at my Mill, with a great many men: Whereupon, I ſent Zachery Rampion, and Humphrey Holland, to know his intention; his anſwer, he was not acquainted with the intention of the Natives, But upon a word my Wife ſent him, he had gotten theſe men together, and had come for my good, and ſent them back, deſiring me to meet him, and another with him, at my utter Gate: I took my Wife with me, becauſe I durſt not truſt any other interpreter betwixt us, Commanding the reſt of the people to keep within; but before I come to the utter Gate, I looked back, and ſaw men and women follow after me; whereupon, I put them back again: In the mean time, my Wife was with Maſter Bryan at the Gate. When I met him, and asked him the reaſon of his coming, his anſwer was, He had received word from my Wife, to come for my good, and to preſerve me, and my Houſe, and Goods; ſhewing me, that three Counties, Tiron, Mannaghan, and Cavan, were gathering together to come in theſe parts, and ſeeing that I had no men to defend my houſe, if it pleaſed me, he would put ſome men of his in it, till they were gone, with a ſolemn Proteſtation, That he would redeliver it, and all my Goods, ſafe unto me back again; and in the mean time, preſerve me from the Tyranny of the enemy, that meant no good to me; and as ſoon as any Army came from the King, or that I could get any competent number of men, to defend, or guard me, and my houſe, that he would ſafely ſurrender it up with all my Goods; and finding his love unto me, and of my ſelf not able to ſecure it, by reaſon that my people left me, and likewiſe, that I had no Ammunition, was contented to give him leave to put ſome of his men28 into the Houſe, to be a guard to preſerve me from Rory, and the reſt of his Forces, being perſwaded that he would not attempt the Houſe, it being in Maſter Bryans cuſtody; he likewiſe, gave me leave to make choice of the Natives, which were my own Tenants, for my guard; he came once a week to ſee me, that no man wronged me: And as ſoon as I perceived ſome of them that was my guard, to grow a little ſawcy, he put them out, and put others in. About three weeks after, he and James Duffe mac Gra, came to my houſe, whom I found deſirous to have a protection, I told them, I would go to Iniskillin, to ſpeak to Sir William Cole, concerning that, who were thankfull to me for the motion; they ſent ſix Horſemen with me to Sir William, and told him their deſire; and deſired him to write to Sir William Stuart, for Bryan and his Son, and Maſter Magra and his Son, which Sir William did, and ſent the Letter with me to them, to be ſent to Sir William Stuart, Sir William Cole had not then received his Commiſſion: And likewiſe, at the ſame time, Maſter Bryan willed me to get ſome men to guard my Houſe, for he would not willingly leave it; for theſe men he left to keep it: He was forced to pay them then fourteen pounds for their wages, or otherwiſe, he deſired me to get a note under Sir Williams hand, not to beſiege the Caſtle, or elſe none of his people would ſtay in it for him, to preſerve me, for fear of Sir William Cole: Which he refuſed to give me under his hand, but paſt his word to my ſelf, ſo long as I was in the Houſe he would not attempt it; then I deſired him, to ſend ſome of his men along with me, and Bryan would render it up to him; which he refuſed to do, becauſe he could ſpare none: So at my return again, they were pleaſed with Sir Williams Letter to Sir William Stuart, likewiſe with Sir Williams promiſe, That he would not invade my Houſe, Bryans guard were the more willing to ſtay with me: I ſtayed one moneth after that in my own Houſe; and finding the guard to grow a little more inſolent, I ſent for Maſter Bryan, and did ſhew him his mens carriage, and deſired him to furniſh me with ſome Horſes, to carry ſomethings to Iniskillin, which he willingly granted, and appointed me a day, when I ſhould go, and deſired me, to procure Sir Williams Licenſe for my Convoys ſafe return, which was granted by Sir William; and likewiſe Sir William wrote unto me, That he had no room in his Caſtle, but for ſome little things, being bepeſtered, and there was no ſafety in the Town for any thing; which made me leave moſt of my things behinde me: And when I left my Houſe, Bryan deſired me to procure a guard from Sir William, and he would preſerve my Houſe, and all my Goods ſafe, for ten or twelve dayes, and deliver it up upon my Letter. I told Sir William, that my Houſe would be delivered, if29 he would be pleaſed to ſend a guard to receive it, his anſwer was ſtill alike, That he could ſpare none: The next morning after my coming to Iniskillin, Rory came to my Houſe, and fell very foul with Bryan, for giving me way to go for Iniskillin; for at this ſame time, Rory was gathering of more men, and the word was to fire my Houſe, which moved Maſter Bryan to put more men in it, to preſerve it. Upon the Friday ſeven-night thereafter, Sir William ſent his men out to attempt the Caſtle, and burnt all my Office Houſes: And the ſame night, thoſe that was in the Houſe, ſet it on fire, leaving the Houſe within the Bawn, and the two Flanckers unburned, and themſelves went away: And the next day, Sir William ſent to fetch ſuch things, as were found there; and upon relation of thoſe that was ſent, that the Houſe and Flanckers ſtood unfired; he ſent the next week, and cauſed to fire the ſame, together with the Mills. So Sir, this is the true manner, with the whole paſſages of my leaving of my Houſe; and to affirm all this to be true, one Bryan mac Gwires part of his love, for my ſafety, he hath acknowledged it ſince, before Maſter Smith, Parſon of Iniskillin, my Couſin, Captain William Atcheſon, Ambroſe Carleton, Torlaugh mac Gra, and Owen mac Gra, that he had no other deſigne, but for the preſervation of me, my Wife, and Goods, in regard he knew that Rory aimed otherwiſe for me, and did acknowledge, that he would have cauſed me to give up the Houſe without aſſaulting, if it had been demanded: and thoſe that were in it, did ſet it on fire, after they were aſſaulted by Sir Williams people, before he knew of it; ſince which, he did never look upon his Nephew, whom he left in charge with the Houſe, for burning of it: And moreover, That ſame day that I left my Houſe with Bryan, he gave the Warders fourteen pound more, and ſent a guard with thoſe ſmall Goods that I brought with me; and came himſelf to ſee me ſafely at the Waters-ſide. This with remembrance of my ſervice, and my wifes, to your ſelf, and to my Lady, beſeeching God to grant you victory over your enemies, ſtill I reſt,
I did hear Maſter Bryan acknowledge, before theſe forenamed perſons, that his onely aym was, in keeping of my Couſins Houſe, to preſerve it for his uſe, from all others that intended no goodneſſe to him; and would have ſure rendered it at my Couſins pleaſure.
The Originall of this Letter, the Repliant can produce, whereby doth appear, what an unthankfull, and unnaturall Neighbour, the Reſpondent proved to this diſtreſſed old Gentleman, and his vertuous Wife, who ſuffered much miſery by the Reſpondents cruell neglect of them, and had ſuffered much more, had not the Repliant made means divers times to relieve them, as they lay miſerable at the Reſpondents Garriſon, untill they were by the Reſpondent diſgracefully ſent away, amongſt ſeverall hundreds of poor Robbed people; who were ſent to the Derry, without getting any ſhare of the 1200. Suites of old apparell, and five hundred pound in Money and Victualls, ſent in charitie, by the Parliament; for the comfort and relief of the poor Proteſtants of that County.
II. To the Reſpondents Anſwer, to this Repliants ſecond Charge, this Repliant ſaith; Foraſmuch, as upon the matter, the Reſpondent denyeth not, what therein is alledged againſt him: This Repliant might acquieſſe therein, without more ado, and ſubmit that unto judgement: But foraſmuch, as the ſame is alſo ſtuft with calumnies, and aſpertions, caſt upon this Repliant, by way of Recrimination, this Repliant craveth leave to Vindicate himſelf therein, and ſaith, For his part, he hath been ſo far from the envying the Reſpondent in his Commands, or any other, the Brittiſh Colonels in Ʋlſter, as that if it were pertinent to the queſtion, he is well able to make it appear, That he hath contributed much to their aſſiſtance, and the Cauſe in hand; ſo far, as the force he had was able, and was not wanting unto the Reſpondent, in all good Offices, That to his power might advance the War againſt the Rebels, or further his proceedings in any particular; yet this Repliant muſt confeſſe, That he underſtanding the Reſpondents Forces, to be very conſiderable, as is confeſſed in his Anſwer, and able to have done greater ſervice at the beginning againſt the Rebels, if he had been active; but many times, the Ronſpondent lay ſtill about his own Town and Caſtle, while as his Officers and Souldiers were moſt deſirous to have been in action; and did many times ſolicite the Reſpondent, to relieve the Repliant, whileſt he was in great danger with multitudes of Rebels to be deſtroyed, being ſeverall times blockt up in his Caſtle: But to this ſervice, the Reſpondent was found both ſlow, and backward; which much troubled this Repliant, That ſuch a man profeſſing ſo much Neighbourly love, and being ſo well provided for the Service, ſhould thus delay and forbear, relieving ſo many Brittiſh ſouls, in ſuch eminent danger, as then they were in; which was a Juſt cauſe to raiſe a Jealouſie in this Repliant, That either the Reſpondent did it out of a31 careleſſe diſreſpect to this Repliant, and his Charge, or to the Cauſe it ſelf, or for ſome other private ends; which did miniſter an occaſion, for this Repliant to be more watchfull over himſelf, and that poor handfull of men, which he commanded; ſetting before his eyes, no other ends, but the King and Parliaments Service, and the rooting out of thoſe bloody Rebels, who would have deſtroyed us all.
This Repliant cannot but admire the Reſpondents weakneſſe, alledged in his Anſwer, That he ſhould think to perſwade any rationall man, that in caſe the Reſpondent ſhould juſtly ſuffer for his miſcarriages in the matters charged againſt him; and ſhould be therefore ſet by all imployment in that Army, that it could not in the leaſt, adde any thing to this Repliant in his preferment; and ſince the Reſpondent adminiſtereth the occaſion, this Repliant craveth leave, to let him know, That he was ſo far from envying the Reſpondents Honour, and greatneſſe, in the Commiſſions he received from His Majeſtie, for that imployment, that it was neither in thoughts or expectation, to believe, that His Majeſtie would joyn him in the ſame Commands with the Reſpondent, and the reſt of the Ʋlſter Colonels, the Repliant being at that time (as was thought) in ſome disfavour with His Majeſtie, for proſecuting the late Earl of Strafford. And this Repliant further ſaith, That as the Reſpondent never did any ſuch actions, to the knowledge of this Repliant, that deſerved to be envied: So hath this Repliant been as far from extolling any thing, done by himſelf, by Gods aſſiſtance, that yet may better pretend to merit: Surely, he hath learned better things, then from any vain-glorious Honour, to expect the admiration of any thing, but folly; from which, the Reſpondent himſelf is not altogether then free, whiles he indeavoureth by ſuch petty, and vain aſſumptions, to raiſe an opinion of popularitie, and that ſo great honour was conferred upon him, and laid down at his own doors without acquiſition, or other indeavours of his own; and nothing more then what fame hath raiſed him unto before. And this Repliant further ſaith, That ſince of his own ſhowing, it doth appear, that of the nine Companies raiſed, Armed, and Banded by him, as he alledgeth, he onely gained five hundred of them, to be inliſted, and his Troop of Horſe; and if but Victuall and Cloathing for ſo many was alloted him, yet it had been the leaſt, to have rewarded the four Companies (which he caſhiered) with the reſt, for the good ſervice they had done him then formerly, in defending his Caſtle and Town: And their diſcontent, which he confeſſeth, and the disbanding themſelves, doth cleerly manifeſt his courſe uſage of them, and that the truth is as hath been charged againſt him; for it is not to be credited, That if they might have ſhared,32 and pertaken of thoſe Proviſions, that they would have parted in diſcontent, or disbanded themſelves, and leave their kindly poſſeſſions and intereſt, in that Countrey, where many of them had been bred and born: Nor is it likely, that needy and neceſſitous men, would have refuſed his offer, to have pertaken of thoſe Supplies ſent them, if they might have had a proportion thereof for their relief: And ſurely, it had been but equall, that the Reſpondent had ſhared and divided, the twelve hundred Suites of old Cloaths, ſent from this Citie of London, by his ſaid Son in law, with theſe four caſhiered Companies: Albeit, he would not let them have any part of the new, he keeping and diſpoſing of which, and of five hundred pound worth more of Contribution Money, ſent for the relief of the diſtreſſed Proteſtants in thoſe parts, as pleaſed himſelf, and his ſaid Son in law, Maſter Dean Barkley; they have not delt ſo candidly and conſcionably in this, as men of their profeſſion ſhould, and ought to have done: But if it be true, which is commonly reported there, That Maſter Dean Barkley ſold ſuch Corn, and other Proviſions, as was bought with that Money, for relief of the diſtreſſed Proteſtant Brittiſh, in thoſe parts, and ſent from hence, and therewith hath made himſelf a ſtock, where withall, he now drives a great Trade, by Tanning of Leather, at the Reſpondents Town of Iniskillin, and cannot be done without the Reſpondents privity and allowance: This Repliant ſubmiteth it to judgement, if it be well done, thus to rob the Spittle; and what bleſſing can attend ſuch proceedings: And for the thirteen hundred pound worth of Corn, and Proviſions, which he alledgeth to have procured, upon his own credit, for the more ſupply of himſelf, and his Souldiers: This Repliant is certainly informed, That he hath put it to the Parliaments accompt, which thoſe his creditors have taken for ſatisfaction, and are, and muſt be contented with ſuch payment, when it may be well ſpared.
III. To the Reſpondents Anſwer to the third Charge, this Repliant ſaith, That it conſiſteth onely of invectives, fabulous inventions, and ſcandalous calumnies, made, and contrived, by the Reſpondent of purpoſe, to aſperſe this Repliant, without ground or colour; which appears, in that there is nothing therein materiall that concerns himſelf, but ſuppoſitions of things done to others, meerly framed and hatched out of the inventions of his own vindictive brain; and yet of that conſequence and concernment to this Repliant, That if the Reſpondent ſhall not make good his allegations, which he ſhall be never able to do, this Repliant prayeth, that repair from him, as ſhall be fit, and craveth leave, to let the Reſpondent know, That he underſtandeth better, what33 the danger is by Law, for any man to conſpire the taking away of another mans life, where with he accuſeth this Repliant, then to attempt it, and what ſuch a falſe malicious accuſation intendeth, and deſerveth, this Repliant is aſſured, is underſtood by thoſe that are their Judges; and it ſeemeth ſtrange to this Repliant, That the Reſpondent ſhould thus impudently overſhoot himſelf, and his reaſon, as that he ſhould imagin his vain and idle words, could poſſeſſe any man with a belief, That the malice of an adverſary could ſo charge the frame of the Law, as by that means he could inherit and poſſeſſe his Eſtate. Say it were in a peaceable time, and how unlikely it is, That ſuch a cruell and covetous diſpoſition, ſhould poſſeſſe the Repliant, who at that time had his thoughts taken up with other kinde of cares, then by ſuch means, to purchaſe his Neighbours Lands, while as he daily looked to be devoured by multitudes of bloody Rebels; and how black thoſe drops are, which hath faln from his Lips, by which he hath charged this Repliant, That he can indure no Neighbourhood, is plain to all that hears it, and that underſtands the carriage, and converſation of this Repliant, for many yeers paſt, beſides the incredibilitie thereof, that this Repliant ſhould be ſo irregular, as not to ſubmit unto Order and Government; to which, he muſt have been compelled: And denieth, that there was ever any ſuch conteſtation, betwixt the ſaid Dunbar, or the Hetheringtons, and this Repliant, as is moſt falſely pretended by the Reſpondent. But it appears, the ſaid Dunbar was his creature, whom he ſo truſted with the keeping of a Caſtle at the beginning of this Rebellion; wherein it is credibly reported, the ſaid Dunbar ſo baſely behaved himſelf, as he made his own conditions with the Rebels, for himſelf and his Wife, ſacrificing above fourſcore of Brittiſh ſouls to the Rebels cruelty, who were all burned to death in an inſtant: As to the Hetheringtons having done that ſpoil upon this Repliants Tenants, and their ſaid Eſtates and Goods as aforeſaid; and the ſaid Hetheringtons having lived amongſt the Rebels with the ſaid Dunbar, for a long time, it muſt needs be, that they were Papiſts, as is well known, or otherwiſe, they ſhould not have been ſuffered to have lived amongſt them, as they did; and for ſuch ſervices as they did for the Reſpondent, for which he gives them ſo great commendations; it is onely known unto himſelf, and not believed or underſtood of any other that knew them formerly; nor doth it (under favour) any wayes excuſe the Reſpondent of his miſcarriages of entertaining, and making uſe of them, being Papiſts and Rebels, for they were no better; and in refuſing to bring them unto a Legall tryall, when required for ſuch offences, which was Treaſon by the Law of that Kingdom, let the Religion be what it will: And whereof they were ſo34 accuſed by His Majeſties good Subjects; and the Reſpondent being a miniſter of Juſtice, that upon ſuch complaint, ought to have ſecured their perſons, untill tryall of the matters objected; and if it be a ſufficient excuſe to free him from the accuſation, becauſe as he ſaith, no proof of the crime laid againſt them, appeared, proved, unto him, who (by his leave) was not a competent Judge of himſelf, to determine the facts and offences, charged againſt them: And this Repliant cannot forbear to tell him further, That beſides it was unneighbourly, thus to ſet them free, after this intimation againſt them, made from this Repliant: So it argueth, how little he underſtood himſelf, and the Office of a Juſtice, that will voluntarily ſuffer a Priſoner to go at large, though but verbally at firſt accuſed, before he had examined the matter, and that they were legally acquited; and from all that he hath ſaid in his defence, from the guilt of this third Charge, informed againſt him, appeareth to be nothing, but meer matter of Recrimination, and without weight, that ſo he is ſtill unexcuſable of the crime objected.
IV. As to the Reſpondents Anſwer to the fourth Charge, given in againſt him by this Repliant: This Repliant ſaith, That the Reſpondent in the preceding parts of his Anſwer, having made ſhipwrack of a good conſcience, and not ſpared the telling of many untruths, to ſerve his own turn; caſting much dirt in the Repliants face, thereby hoping, that ſome will ſtick, and ſo to imploy this Repliant in waſhing himſelf; that in the mean time, the Reſpondents foul offences may be forgotten, or he eſcape the hands of Juſtice for the ſame, have therefore left nothing unattempted, which may any wiſe, ſcandalize this Repliant, and bring him into diſrepute, and diſeſteem, with the Parliament, or ſuch as knows him not, hoping thereby to work out his own ends the better; but that his malice and impudence may the more cleerly appear in his defence to this Charge, as in all the reſt of his Anſwers. This Repliant further ſaith, That howſoever the Reſpondent from the relation of others, as he conceiveth, is pleaſed to magnifie the ſaid Parck, both for his eſtate, and qualities, yet thoſe that were his Neighbours for many yeers before this Rebellion broke out, (and therefore have more reaſon to know, and underſtand him better, then the Reſpondent) are able to ſay and prove otherwiſe: And that the Reſpondent onely makes thoſe many flouriſhes, concerning his reputation, as an inſinuation to win credit, that he was an honeſt man, and ſo to weaken the belief of that which is objected againſt him, and the Reſpondent, concerning him; and yet it hath been found true by experience, That ſince this Rebellion began, many men, who in the time of35 Peace, lived orderly, and in good repute, and were imployed in Offices and affairs, of great concernment, concerning that Kingdom; yet ſome ſuch men out of covetous deſires, to ſave their Eſtates, and for other byends of their own, have baſely betrayed their Religion, and their Countrey, and joyned with the Rebels againſt the Parliament, and their Forces there, of which ſort, this Repliant doubteth not, but he ſhall make Maſter Parck, appear to be one; and that if this Repliant had not upon intimation of his purpoſes and reſolutions, taken and ſettled to go this way, as to ſecure his perſon and Caſtle, he had been out in action amongſt the thickeſt of them, and ſo would have done much hurt unto the Proteſtant party there; and without peradventure they are Birds of the ſame Feather, from whom, the Reſpondent hath had his Intelligence to the contrary, if they be not meerly fictious, and imaginations of his own; which the Repliant the rather beleeveth, for beſides the certain Information which the Repliant had of Parcks reſolutions to joyn with the Rebels, and of his daily compliance with, and intercourſe between them, he being then ordered by the State to obſerve this Repliants Commands, and to joyn with him in all things againſt them; the ſaid Parck not withſtanding, had contemned ſeverall times to obey this Repliants Directions and Orders, and altogether declined whatſoever ſervice he thought, might provoke or prejudice the Rebels; and yet this Repliant was ſo far from deſiring the ſaid Parcks Eſtate, (which the Reſpondent hath moſt falſly, and ſcandalouſly alleaged) as that onely for the King and Parliaments Service, put in an Officer of his own, to command that Caſtle of Importance, being far from that baſe condition of coveting other mens Lands, having ſo much (by Gods Providence of his own) as he had ſmall hopes at that time to our live the danger he was in, much leſſe to injoy other mens Lands. But as it ſeemeth, the Reſpondent judgeth other men by his own known covetous humour, witneſſe his barbarous uſage of his worthy Neighbour, Captain Roger Atkinſon, whoſe houſe and Land lay within a mile to the Reſpondent, which now he holds as his own, having in a manner baniſhed the old Gentleman, and his Wife, whom he grudged a little charitable relief in his houſe, they having many times bountifully and freely ſupplied, and entertained the Reſpondent, with his Wife, and children, while as the Reſpondent was held a much inferiour man in qualitic and condition to Captain Atkinſon, whom the Reſpondent ſent away amongſt a Company of poor diſtreſſed Beggers, with his Convoy to London-Derry, where the Gentleman, and his diſtreſſed Wife, might have ſtarved, if upon the Repliants credit, they had not been there relieved with five pounds to convoy them to Dublin, where36 they hoped to have met with me Lord Lyle, who was a neer Kinſman to this Gentlewoman; and miſſing of him there, this Repliant is informed, That thoſe two vertuous ſouls live ſtill in great miſery at Dublin, by reaſon of the cruell, barbarous, and unneighbourly uſage of the Reſpondent, who might at firſt, conveniently have inabled them to have made good their own houſe, or otherwiſe to have helped them off with a great deal of their beſt Goods, and Houſhold-ſtuff, which the Reſpondent for other baſe ends of his own, expoſed all to ruin, much invying in time of Peace, the worthy and good eſteem, which both the State and Neighbours in the Countrey had of Captain Atkinſon, and his vertuous Bedfellow, for the free and charitable way of living, to the comfort of all ſorts of good people, both of great, and mean condition, who uſed to travell in that Countrey.
As concerning the two Witherspins, both father and ſon, that they were Scotchmen; it is confeſſed, But ſo much the more unworthy to be of that Nation, as they proved Traitours and Rebels againſt the King and Parliament; concerning whoſe carriage, it was in manner following, That theſe men whom the Reſpondent pleaſeth himſelf to give ſo much commendation, as if naming ſuch two Scotchmen, ſhould ingage the Nation to adhere to his poor Recriminating way of vindicating himſelf.
James Witherspin, the Son being married to a meer Iriſh woman, and known to be of a moſt wicked baſe diſpoſition from his childhood, and one who had been accuſed of Fellony, and found guilty before the Rebellion; and upon the firſt breaking out thereof, ſoon after himſelf and his Wife, joyned themſelves with the Rebels, leaving his Father and Mother (two old people) in the Repliants Garriſon, which the Repliant had juſt reaſon to ſuſpect, as Spies, many times adviſing them to keep by themſelves, ſince their Son and Daughter had joyned themſelves with the Rebels. And about the moneth of February, before the ſuppoſed firſt of July, mentioned in the Reſpondents Anſwer, alledgeing that old Witherspin to be taken in Sligoe, and ſhot to death by this Repliants own hand; in which moneth of February, the ſaid James Witherspin the ſon, was then (in actuall ſervice and rebellion, againſt the King and Parliament) a Muskettier with the Rebels, under the Command of Bryan Ballagh O Roirk, who then lay incampt, with a many others, about this Repliants Caſtle, and Garriſon; whereof this Reſpondent well knew, and had ſtrength enough to have relieved this Repliant, and was many times importuned by Captain Cathcart, and others of his Officers, to have endeavoured the Repliants relief; but the Reſpondent with frivolous excuſes, being deſirous (as ſince, and now37 it doth appear) to have the Repliant rather to be cut off, did ſuffer him with his handfull of men, to take their hazards, envying the Repliants activeneſſe with ſo poor a handfull, as may appear by his vindictive humour, againſt this Repliant, whom God Almighty proſpered ſo well, as with his own handfull, one morning the rogues were ſurprized in their Camp, their ſiege raiſed, and a many of the Rebels killed; the foreſaid old John Wither spin, taken priſoner amongſt the Rebels, who the night before had ſtoln out of the Repliants Garriſon, to meet with his ſon James Witherſpin; where that night, he confeſſed to be much made off by the Colonell Bryan Ballagh O Roirk, to whom he delivered twelve pounds ſterlin, in ready money, which he intended for his ſon James Witherspin: So that for this Treaſon, upon his own confeſſion, the Father was undoubtedly hanged in February, which the Repliant is ready to prove with ſufficient witneſſes, now in Town: How the Reſpondent ſhall prove, that in July after, the Repliant ſhould meet with a man ſo many moneths dead before, and ten miles diſtant from the place of his buriall; let him prove his being there, and the Repliant hopes to be excuſed for ſhooting ſuch a one with his own hand. Therefore deſires no further vindication of his own honour, from this ſcurrilous, baſe, Libelling way of recrimination of the Reſpondents, then what credit this hiſtory brings him, amongſt all indifferent, and impartiall readers. And as for the ſaid James Witherspin the ſon, it is confeſſed, that the firſt of July, being the night, the Repliant with his ſmall handfull, attempted the burning of that Town of Sligoe, which then ſheltered a many bloody Rebels, who had murthered and maſſacred many poor Brittiſh in it, which ſtuck much in the Repliants ſtomack, whom God made his weak Inſtrument, to revenge that night that innocent blood; where amongſt the reſt of the Rebels, the foreſaid James Witherspin was taken priſoner, and brought home to the Repliants Garriſon; where upon his own confeſſion, That he had ſerved as a Muskettier amongſt the Rebels, and had done his beſt at ſeverall times, to endeavour the ruin and deſtruction of the Repliants Garriſon; upon which confeſſion of the ſaid Wither spin, he was juſtly hanged as this Repliant concerveth, and for no ſuch cauſe, as is falſly and ſcandalouſly alledged by the Reſpondent; and how apt this Reſpondent is to take up any thing upon truſt, and credit of others, that may vent his ſpleen againſt this Repliant, doth eaſily appear, though it be nothing materiall to this purpoſe, for the vindicating of himſelf, but rather of the Rebels, and their treacherous adherents.
And this Repliant further ſaith, That the Reſpondent faileth mightily in his Anſwers, wherein he attributes it to the information of38 Witherspin, and the aſſiſtance of Parck and his men, That in this Repliants return from burning of Sligoe, he eſcaped the ſurprize of the Rebels, who was lying in waite for him, with a great Body of men in his way homeward, which was eaſily perceived by our Scouts, that went before us, to which we gave better credit, then to Witherspins information: And for Parck, it is true, This Repliant carried him along with him as a Priſoner, and not to guard his perſon; neither is it altogether unlikely, but the ſaid Parck had a hand in that meeting of the Rebels that day, which was thought ſhould have been the day, the ſaid Parck ſhould have put himſelf and his Caſtle, in the hands of the Rebels, had not God put it in the heart and head of this Repliant, to do as he did the night before, in ſeizing upon the ſaid Parck and his Caſtle, and burning of the ſaid Town of Sligoe, which were the firſt actions that ever gave comfort or probable ſecurity, to the Repliant, and his handfull. As for the Reſpondents other expreſſions, and ſcurvy ſcandalous aſpertions in his Anſwer to this fourth Article, more proper to come from the mouths of Carmen and Oyſter-wives, then from the head and hand of ſo couragious a Colonell, as the Reſpondent would ſeem to be at his yeers, being paſt date before his preferment came upon him; and had not this Repliant received a Copy of the Reſpondents Anſwer, under his own hand, he ſhould not have believed there had been a man in the world, having any drop of a Gentlemans blood in him, that could have invented ſo many groſſe ſlovenly falſhoods