Examination of Major Robert Ormsbye

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The Examinacion of Major Robert Ormsbye taken vpon Oath before vs at Dublin the 17th of June 1653.
The said Maior saith that in the begining of the Rebellion (vizt) in January 1641 or neere about that time the said Maior sent his footman Hugh Cunnoghan from the Boyle in the County of Roscommon where the said <A> Maior then Garrisoned with a letter to the said Maiors wife to Castle Coote where she then was; and that by the way the said footman was taken and brought to Ballintubbar vnto Colonell Hugh O Conor; and there by Order of the said O Conor hanged, as the said Maior heard by divers Intelligences gained about that time, and since, by the Generall Report of the Countrey. The said Maior farther saith, that about two or three Monethes after it happened that the said Colonell Hugh O Conor was taken Prisoner, by a Party vnder Command of Sir Charles Coote Lord President of Connaught, & brought to Castle Coote aforesaid where he remained about eight or Nine Monethes, within which time the said Maiors wife made the said Colonell Hugh O Conor a challenge, demanding why he hanged the said footeman, alleadging it to be an vncivill Act to hang a Messenger that came onely with a letter from a Man to his wife; wherevnto the said Colonell O Conor

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Answered, that he did not hang the said footman as he was servant vnto the said Maior, but to prevent the Passage of letters betwixt the English Garrisons, <C> without which prevention he the said Colonell O Conor alleadged he could not carry on his busines; wherevnto the said Maiors wife replyed, that it were but Justice to hang him the said Colonell for hanging of the said ffooteman. The said Maior saith and deposeth that this is the substance of the Discourse aforesaid, and that he the said Maior was present at the time aforesaid. And the said Maior further saith that the said footboy Hugh Cunnoghan was bred of a Child in the said Maiors house in the Protestant Religion; and that the said Maior doth not remember that the said Cunnoghan was for any time out of the said Maiors service. and further saith not.
Rob: Ormsby
Taken before vs the 17 of June 1653
Tho Herbert
Robert Harding Thomas Dancer.

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Major Ormsbyes
Informacion vpon Oath
against Hugh Ô Connor