Deposition of Brian Stapleton

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Lieutenant Brian Stapleten late of the Barrony of Dartrie & Countie of Monoghan sworne & examJned deposeth and sayth That [ ] when the Rebellion began he held certeine landes
The lands I he held in the barony of Dartry in the County of Monaghan which as they were sett in part & as I he hathe beene offered for the rest were worth at the least (aboue all rentes) one hundred & thirty pounds per annum whereof he had leases for 60 yeres
The lands I he held in the mannor of Cluny in the County of Meath as they were sett in part & as I he made of the rest were worth (aboue all rents one hundred & xx li. pounds per annum besides improuements after som short leases his estate therein was 60 yeres alsoe. And alsoe when this said present Rebellion began there were to him
Debts due from the natiues as namely Ardell mc Mahon Rory mc Ross mc Mahon O Owen mc Mahon Phillip mc Mahon Ardell mc Mahon the younger & others, all in Rebellion And then alsoe he had w mony hou houshold goods & Haggard of Corn & stock of Enlish Cattle sheepe & horses stript without further encrease which if they had being sold when they were saleable & in their best I case seasons which in the begining of the Rebellion were all stolne & imbezeled by the rebells & were worth a Thousand pou < 1000 li. 300 li per annum> pounds at the least.
Soe that And to the best of my his knowledge & remembrance this rebellion hath stript hime out of meanes worth thre hundred poundes per annum and vpwards besides his other goodes & chattells whereof hee is Robbed and dispoyled.
<I> This deponent being demanded what Trayterous or rebellious speeches he hath heard sayeth that being tenn months prisner amongst them Rebells from the begining of the Rebellion it is not possible for him to remember all particulers: but the substance of theire sayeings was as followeth first he remembers that they sayed generally they would loose theire liues rather then be planted againe with Brittish, then that Owen O Neale would bring them munition & ayde from

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the king of spaine, that the king of ffrance was bound by promise to send them ayde, that the Queene of England would send them ayde because they had in England taken her preists from her & boyled one of them in a kettle that if they had not begun as they did they must all haue beene hangd at theire owne doores by the Brittish this deponent sayth alsoe that by inquiry of som of the Papistes which he was specially a quainted withall he vnderstood that the friers dispersed this rebellion throughout the kingdom & assigned the certeine day wherein to rise: they would did alsoe say that in the begining of the Rebellion That they knew for Certayne there was the like doeings in England which as this deponent conceaues is very remarkable for there by it seemes these Insurrections Insurrections & mischeefes here & t here haue beene hatchd & contriued by the Romish Clergy:

Brian Stapleton
Jurat November 28 1642
Joh Watson
Will: Aldrich
Hen: Brereton

Monoghan [ ]
Livetenant Brian Stapleton
Jur 28 Nov: 1642
Intw Cert
Hand w
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