Da: Roberts to Ormond

fol. 292r

500
May it please your Excellency
<v> I am fallen now into the distast of the times; Instead of goeing to pray with my Parishioners, the Lord Lambert is perswaded I went to prey. Your Excellence may be gratiously pleased to accept the truth, vid My wife was a Captive, and three or fowre of Sir William Gilberts Daughters, and are still for ought to mee appeareing. Besides my brother in law now in restraynt with Captain ffarrar; ffor the redemption of these endeerements, we attempted to attatch one Mr Talbott and diverse others Rebels lodging in and frequenting the house of one Mr Lamport, assumeing by their surprisall; to vindicate both the Liberty and iniury done <w> to our freinds. In the prosecution of which act if the souldiers lighted vpon either money or other meanes I am sure it was without either violence or iniury respectively considering our former sufferings. For the sayd Lamport produced the bagge of money on purpose to wave Talbott and two Preists which were in the house, and knowne to be the sole Intelligencers betwixt the Enimy and vs. Besides we found them attempting to conceale diverse letters from Macguire, Owen roe o Neale, as also from Sir Phelim, directed to <x> noe inferior members of this state, and seales broken open, the misteries whereof might very much advance the honour of his Maiesties service, that men might be distinguished, and traytours knowne from subjects. which I shall clearely evidence before your Grace or the Councell Board, if it please your Lords to assigne me the Liberty. It is not for me being reduced to these extremities to vote but the least of the services wherein I haue beene noe inferior member since these distractions, though the least shippe will speake my activenes. I will acknowledge I did but my duty, though I am presently now to dye as an <y> vnprofitable servaunt. And whereas your Grace may be Mysinformed that the Petitioner was a Ringleader in that exployte, It will appeare by a Certificat vnder the souldiers hands, that he is more innocent then some others, if he may be allowed to declare himselfe.

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501
My humble Request therefore is that your Excellence would be fauourably pleased to produce me either <z> before your Grace of the Councell Board, that I may giue that evidence for the advancement of his Maiesties service, which my Conscience shall iustly enduce me vnto. And then after your legall Censures, patiently suffer in your Lordships fauour. In confidence whereof he humbly takes leave, who euer was, now is and will at the last dye
Your Excellence’s most faythfull
though afflicted servant
Da: Roberts
Pole Gate Aug 6 1643

fol. 293r

fol. 293v

To the most honourable
James Marquesse of
Ormond Leiutenant
Generall of his Maiesties
forces in the kingdome
of Ireland
these
humbly present