Examination of Henry Neale

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118
Henry Neale 4th January 1642 sworne & Examined
Saith this Examinant together with ten Musketeires accompanied of Sir Arthur Loftus his Companie the Sariant of Sir Arthur Loftus that companie when vpon christmas day att night last they set forth from the Naas to Ballymore Eustace there beeing notice beeing given vnto them that Capta they should finde Captaine Scurlock & his company att Dowdingston hard by & wherevpon comeing within a quarter of a mile of the said Towne of Dowdingston they surprised two of the the said Captaine Scurlocks Scouts & this Examinant demaunding who were in Mr Eustace his house att Dowdingston aforesaid they told this Examinant & the rest there were about six of them his this Captaine Scurlocks company there, wherevpon the said Seriant & the rest of the Muskettiers made towardes the said Mr Eustace his house att Dowdingston where hee vnderstood the said Rebells were, & comeing to the doore & desireing Mrs Eustace & the rest that were in the house to giue them th admittance therevn t o Itt with would not bee granted vnto them Soe that as the aforesaid Seriant & the rest in his companie were forced to breake ope the doores of the said house which they had noe sooner entered but there were six or seaven of the said Captaine Scurlocks souldiers seene to escape out of the back wayes of the said house whom this examinant and the rest followed but haueing the advantage of the waies

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darknes of the night they the said Rebells got awaie and seeing they could doe noe good vpon them hee the said Seriant & the rest returned back to the said Mr Eustace his house & demaunding of Mrs Eustace what men those were that went out of her house she said they were her owne servants haueing before give formerlie told this said Examinant and ther rest before they got into her house that they were Captaine Scurlocks men, which hee this hee Examinant & the rest taxing her with all she the said Mrs Eustace said she was deceiued, wherevpon certaine of the Souldiers which came along in companie with him this Examinant begining to take something away that was in the house she imediatelylie therevpon wished Captaine Scurlock had beene there indeede And this Examinant saith that the said Mr Eustace his house is a a constant rept receptacle for Captaine Scurlock & his company Soe as the Souldiers of the seuerall three Garrisons namely that of the Naas the other att Cottlandston and Harriston can by noe meanes passe that that way without great danger and cam & neuer dare venter that way without a convoy
Murtagh Masterson in the like wordes.