Examination of Anthony Preston

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The Examination of Anthonie Preston taken the xiiiith day of ffebruary 1642 Before mee Sir Robert Meredith knight one of his Maiesties Justices of the Peace for the Countie of Roscomon Dublin and Chancellor of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer By direction of the right honnorable the Lords Justices & Councell
Who beeing sworne & Examined vnto soe much of this his Examinacion as concerneth others saith that as sonne as hee this Examinant vnderstood that the Lordes of the Pale had taken Armes in this present Rebellion hee this Examinant did likewise ioyne with them But notwithstanding hee this Examinant kept about his owne dwelling att Ballybritton in the kings Countie vntill hee was remoued thence by a part of his Maiesties Armie And since by order of the Grand Councell att Kilkenny there beeing to bee raised out of euerie two Counties in Leinster 1000 men The seuerall Counties of Kildare the King & Queenes Countie were assigned for the raiseing of 1400 men which were equally diuided vnder the command of Roger Moore & him this Examinant The Countie of Kildare and one halfe of the Queenes Countie beeing assigned for his this Examinants charge and residence And the Kings Countie together with the other halfe of the Queenes Countie aforesaid vnto Roger Moore And this Ex{aminant} saith that 500 of his men were guarrisoned in manner following vizt 300 men in the Towne of Kildare and 200 in Mynooth And for the payment of the said 500 men att the rate of 6 d. a day according vnto the enhancement of the monny there was to bee raised out of this Coun{tie} of Kildare the summe of 3000 li. which was the share the said Countie of 30000 li. plotted on the whole Province{of} Leinster by the grand Councell att Kilkenny aforesaid for the maintenance of the warr And this Examinant likewise saith that the said summe of 3000 li. soe appointed to bee p{ }

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by the Countie of Kildare as aforesaid was sent into the aforementioned Guarrison by the Countie Councell namely by Maurice ffitzGarratt of Allen who is Cheife and tearmd the Gouernour of the said Countie Sutton of Tipper John Allen of St Wolstons as this Examinant conceiueth and certaine others of the ffitzGarralds who are Strangers vnto him this Examinant And this Examinant further saith that the Grand Councell is appointed to bee resident constantlie att Kilkenny where this Examinant remembers to haue seene the Lord of Gormanston the Lord Mountgarret Patrick Darcie the Lawyer Nicholas Pluncket the Lawyer Doctor ffennell Doctor of Phisick & James Cusack the Lawyer Members of the said Councell Where alsoe hee this Examinant remembers there was an oath framed to bee ministred throughout the Kingdome The contents whereof as farr as this Examinant remembers was that the Common law the Kings rights and the Romish Religion should bee maintayned in this Kingdome And this Examinant likewise saith there were seuerall Ordinances made by the said Grand Councell one for bringing in of all the Kings Rente vnto the said Grand Councell, annother for the takeing awaie all distinction & comparison betweene the old Irish & the old English And saith that his this Examinants wife and her mother the Ladie o Doughertie doe remaine with Sir Jesper Harbert att his house att Ballyroan in the kings Countie And this Examinant further saith that vpon notice giuen vnto his ffather of the Kings fforces going vnto Athlone hee this Examinant was commaunded by his ffather to follow them in the Reare But not beeing able to gather his men together sufficientlie furnished soe suddenlie this Examinant himselfe

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went as a priuate person vnto Rahonnell where hee well knew his Brother who is Seriant Maior vnder his ffather would meete him And this Examinant comeing vnto the said place the morneing before the battle with his Maiesties fforces vnder the command of Sir Richard Greenvill hee this Examinant there mett his brother according with about 700 men & certaine of Sir James Dillons men where likewise this Examinant mett with Sir Luke ffitzGerrald with about 20 horse attending him and Sir Thomas Nugent who had certaine fforces of his vnder the Command of a Captaine of his owne name
Anthony Preston
Rob: Meredith

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Anthony Preston
x