Examination of John Thomson

fol. 144r

130
The examination of John Thomson of old Laughlin clerke taken before me one of his Maiesties Justices of the peace for the County of Catherlogh this
Who beinge duly sworne saith that about the begininge of this rebellion he repayred vnto the Castle of Sir Thomas Butler in Rahellin in the County of Catherlogh for safetye, & that one James Birne of Ballihacket in the said County haueinge seized on al this examinantes landes & goodes & one of the said Birnes sonnes came with a company of rebells and one of the said Birnes boyes & seized on certaine horses which brought this examinantes wife & children to Rahellin aforesaid; & the said Birne & one George Comerford of wells in the said County of Catherlogh the next haruest after the said rebellion toke away al this examinates corne he haueinge sowen before about 40 barrells of winter corne
He also saith the said Comerford is in rebellion & his sonnes; & that the said George Comerford is a commissioner or officer amongst the rebells & showed this examinant his Commission or warrant vnder the Lords Montgarretes hand
This examinant further saith that he his wife & children were with the said Tho: Butler from about 10 dayes before Christmas next after the rebellion broke out vntil a litle before Easter followinge & then Sir Morgan Kauenagh, Walter Bagnall of Donlicknye in the County of Catherlogh & his followers Walter Butler of Polestone & others to the number of 500 men of theraboutes came & set on fire the houses ioyning to the said Castle of Rahellin & with pickaxes iron Crowes & other instrumentes brake the wall of the Castle & so this examinant his wife & children & others weare taken prisoners & sent to the fort of Laughlin in the County of Catherlogh, within a short time after which a warrant was sent for the hanging of this examinant & another minister called Mr Darwin, but Mr Tho: Dauills preuayled so that this examinant es escaped but was kept in misery vntil December last at which time he was released for and the daughter of one Garret Birne of Busherstowne who was with others taken by Captain Dunbell & was by him exchanged released with Mr Bagnal for this examinant his wife & children
This examinant also saith that whilest he was in the fort of Leighlin he had libertye to walke within the walls & vpon occations in to the towne with a keper & obserued that he said Walter Bagnol had the commande of that fort & that once about a fortnight or more he kept house ther, his wife & hir two sonnes named Plunketes which she had by a former husband & the rest of his famely with him, the eldest of which of the two Plunketes doth beare armes & ride with them & as it semes is an actiue yonge man in theis mischeifes for as this examinantes wife told him, that the wife of the said Walter Bagnol & the said Plunket & one Butler a Seiriant Maiour speakeinge about the fortifyinge of the said fort, the said Plunket aduised that it might be made stronger by addition of some stone worke, & at this examinantes cominge from thence ther was an addition of stone worke about the gate
This examinant further saith that in the absence of Mr Bagnol from the said fort his wife being ther had power and <in> it, & the lettres that came were giuen vnto hir & complayntes cam before hir, soe one Richard [Noget] a soldier beinge hurt by another of the fort although officers were present at the abuse yet the complainte came before Mtrs Bagnal at which this examinant was present
he also saith that at the time the warrant came for the hangeinge of this examinant ther were sent out of that fort the number of thirtye fiue english persons which were al put to death as this examinant was told saue only 3 or 4 which escaped
This examinant further obserued that in the said fort & the towne of Leighlin there are kept about 200 soldiers
Johs: Thompson
Rob Meredith