Examination of Nicholas Dowdall
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The Examination of Nicholas Dowdall of Brownestown in the Countie of Meath Esquire taken xviith day of March 1641 Before mee Chancellor of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer by direction of the right honnorable the Lordes Justices & Councell.
<E> Who beeing sworne & Examined & sworne vnto soe much of the Examination as concerneth others saith, that about a day or two after the slaughter of the English neare the Bridge of Jellyanstowne in the Countie of Meath by the Northeren Rebells, hee this Examinant together with Cusack of Garratstowne, James Bath of Athcarne, & Edward Dowdall of Monckestowne, went vnto Duleeke, where the said Northeren Rebells were, to view the numbers of the said Rebells, & where alsoe hee this Examinant saw <F> Roger Moore & saluted him, & where likewise hee mett with Sir Christopher Bellew knight, Darcie of Plattin, James Aylmore of Dullarstowne, Darcie of Dunmore, Bath of Rathfeck, [ Thomas Cusacke of ] Bartholomew Moore of Dowanstowne, & sundrie others of the gentrie of the Countrie, But whether anie of the said gentlemen had conference with the said Northeren Rebells or noe hee this Examinant knowes not, And likewise <G> saith that his owne repaire vnto the said place was out of a feare hee was in of the said Northeren Rebells who had taken Prisoners some of this Examinants
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<H> next Neighboures, to witt, James Aylmer of Dullerston, Porter of Kingstowne, ffeild of Painestowne, & others who alsoe threatned to robb, and spoile such as would not come vnto them, as they had done the English. And this Examinant conceiued, that the said Northerne Rebells were perticulerlie offended with him, in regard hee had apprehended the persons of one Bartholomew Kelly, & the Soueraigne of Kells. And alsoe saith that the Lord of Gormanstowne (beeing then commander in cheife of the <J> Countie of Meath by appointment of the State) within two or three daies after sent a direction vnto him this Examinant, who was then Shreiffe of the Countie to warne all the Noblemen & Gentrie thereof to meete att Duleeke, there to conferr concerning the safetie of the said Countie which hee this Examinant accordinglie performed, and at tthe tyme and place & appointed, and before this Examinant himselfe <K> came vnto Duleeke, the said Lords & Gentrie Namelie the Earle of ffingall, the Lord of Gormanstowne, the Lord Netterfeild, the Lord of Slaine, the Lord of Trimblestowne the Lord of Lowth, Sir Richard Barnwall Barronet, Sir Christopher Bellew knight, Valerian Wesley James Bath of Athcarne, Lawrance Dowdall of Athlumney Cusack of Garrottstowne, Darcie of Plattyn, William Malone of Lismullin, Bartholomew Moore of <L> Dowanstowne, Patrick Barnwall of Kilbrew, Patrick Brimingham of the Corballies, Edward Dowdall of Moncksto{wne} Caddle of Harbertstowne, Luke Netterfeild, Darcie of
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<M> of Dunmore, & a very great number more whom hee this Examinant cannot now call to minde, were all gathered together vpon the hill of Bedlowstowne where they consulted together, & from wthence they rode vnto the hill of Croftie, where they mett with Roger Moore, Hugh Birne, Arthur ffox, Collogh McMahowne, Hugh Relie, & seuerall others of the cheife of the said Northerne Rebells, theire fforces beeing <N> about the said Hill; And therevpon the said Lord of Gormanstowne, in the name of the Lordes and Gentrie demanded of them the said Rebells, what were the Groundes of theire warr, & the reason of theire soe comeing into the Countie in that hostile manner, vnto which the said Roger Moore made answeare. That theire soe doing was for there free Exercise of the Catholique religion, the restoreing of the king vnto his prerogatiue & the <O> gaineing vnto the Subiects of Ireland the like ffreedome that the Subiects in England haue Wherevpon the said Lord of Gormanstowne replied, that if those were the true Groundes of theire warr, they likewise would ioyne with them therein. But if they had any other ends mett they would not; Wherevpon the said Roger Moore protested solemnely, that was the onelie intention they had by of theire soe <P> doing, & therevpon the said Lordes, & the aforesaid Northerne Rebells shoke handes together And soone after all parties went thence; But before they parted the said Lordes and Gentrie agreed to meete att the Hill of Tarragh within a day or two after, to setle a waie of maintenance for the Armie, vnder the command of the Irish Rebells
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And accordinglie att the tyme & place appointed to the <Q> best of his remembrance, there mett the Earle of ffingall, the Lord of Gormanstowne, the Lord Netterfeild, the Lord of Slaine, & the Lord of Trimblestowne, And of the Gentrie Sir Richard Barnewall Barronet, James Bath of Athcarne, Nicholas Darcie of Plattin, Thomas Nangle Baron of the Navan, Patrick Barnewall of Kilbrew, Cusack of Garraldstowne, Patrick Bremingham of the Corballies, Lynam of Adamstowne, Malone of Lismullin, Edward Dowdall of Monckestowne, this Examinant <R> himselfe, with many others whom hee cannot call to minde: Att which tyme & place aforesaid, Itt was agreed and consented vnto that euery hundred of the Northeren Rebells, then att the Seidge of Drogheda, should receiue from the Country for theire daylie [ weekelie ] provision a Beefe, & halfe Barrell of bread Corne a day, which in the whole amounted vnto ffortie Beeues and twentie <S> Barrells of Bread Corne a day, & which by the Command of the said Lords & Gentrie, hee this examinant plotted amongst the seuerall Barronies he e reafter mentioned, by which command, likewise this Examinant was required to send warrantts vnto the Collectors of the seuerall Barronies, formerlie appointed att the Quarter Sessions, for levying & sending in of the said Beifes and Corne accordinglie, which hee alsoe performed. And this Examinant further saith that att annother <T> meeting held at Tarragh, there beeing there present [ ] of the aforementioned Lordes & Gentry, & sundry others, namelie the Lord of Dunsany, Nicholas Pluncket the Lawyer, Sir William Hill, & Sir Luke ffitzGerrald, hee
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the said Lord Viscount Gormanston was chosen Lord <V> Gennerall of the fforces of ffoote of the Pale: And the Lord ffingall Gennerall of the horse there. And then alsoe the seuerall Barronies of the said Countie were devided amongst the said Lords & seuerall of the Gentry, who were in seuerall Barronies respectiuelie assigned vnto them, to name & appoint such & soe many Captaine{s} as they thought good, vizt, The Barronie of Duleek vnto the said Lord of Gormanstowne, who appointed for Captaines James Bath of Athcarne, James Alymer of <W> Dullerstowne, A Caddle of Harbertstowne his eldest sonne, Darcie of Plattin his third sonne, The Barronies of Skreene & Dease vnto the Earle of ffingall, who nominated for Captaines, a younger brother of his Lordshipps, Lawrance Dowdall of Athlumney, Patricke Cusack of Gerraldstowne, Edward Hussey of Mulhussey & Hugh Hussie eldest sonne vnto the Baron of Galtrim. <X> Vnto the Lord of Trimblestowne, the Barronies of Lune, & Navan, who alsoe appointed for Captaines a younger brother of Rochforts of Kilbride, the rest hee this Examinant knowes not. Vnto the Lord of Dunsany the Barronies of Kells & Demifore, who likewise appointed for Captaines Walter Cruse of late servant vnto Cusack of the Defectiue Titles, the rest hee this Examinant doth not remember. Vnto the Lord of Slaine the Barronies of Slaine and <Y> margallin but what Captaines were appointed by his Lordship, hee this Examinant knoweth not. Vnto Sir Richard Barnwall & Patrick Barnwall of Kilbrew were assigned
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assigned were assigned the Barronies of Dunboyne and <Z> Ratoth, but the Captaines nominated by them are vnknown to this Examinant; vnto Sir Luke ffitz Gerrald, & Valerian Wesley, were assigned the Barronies of Moyfenrogh who as hee heard appointed Garrald Linch of the knock, the rest hee this Examinant heard not of. And by the like agreement alsoe eight Souldiers were to bee raised out of euery Plough Land throughout the said Countie, which in the whole was conceiued would amount <A> vnto two thousand men for that Countie. And this Examinant further saith that att annother meeteing held of the said Lordes and Gentrie att Tarragh, they then consulted how sixscore horse might bee raised might bee raised in the said Countie: And for that purpose they appointed Patrick Barnewall of Kilbrew, and certaine others, whom hee doth not remember to bring in a List of such persons as they conceiued able to send out any horse, which was <B> accordinglie brought vnto the said Earle of ffingall Gennerall of the horse, who therevpon caused a Proclamation to bee made that all the parties soe presented in the said List, should (vpon paine of death) bring the number of horse soe chardged on them by the said List within ffoure or ffiue dayes then next ffollowing, vnto the place appointed And accordingly, there appeared about ffiftie or threescore horse a t t the tyme & place appointed which said horse the said Earle of ffingall commaunded should <C> attend his Lordshipp vnto Killsalachan; there to bee left vnder the command of such Captaines as Collonell Birne should think fitt. And further saith that the said Earle entreated this Examinant, his Brother Edward Dowdall of Moncktowne,
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Lawrence Dowdall of Athlumney, Adam Cusack of Trevelt, <D> Sedgraue of Killeglan Killsal chan, and diuerse otheres to waite on his Lordshipp which they accordinglie did, not dareing to refuse him. Where likewise hee this Examinant saw Collonell Birne, Peirce ffitz Garrald Collonell, Lisagh Moore Collonell, Hollywood of Artaines eldest sonne, One Russell of Brownestowne his eldest sonne, & Mr <E> Phillipp Hore, And where alsoe the Earle of ffingall was seene by him this Examinant, to goe into a Chamber with the said Collonells. But what was eyther done or said in the said Chamber this Examinant knoweth not; But at theire comeing from the said Towne of Killsalchan the said Earle left the aforesaid horse with the said Collonell Birne, & went themselues that night vnto Killeglon. <F> And in theire waie thither they mett Cusack of Garrallston going with his Companie vnto Killsolchan, there to remaine in Garrison. And this Examinant alsoe saith that att annother meeteing, held for the procureing of mony to paie the two thousand men to bee raised out of Meath for one Month, there were Letters written by the Lord of Gormanston, and the Lord Netterfeild vnto two of the ablest persons in each Barronie within the said Countie, <G> to lend the summe contained in the said Letters, which mony the said Lordes engaged themselues should be repaid, as soone as the same night bee gathered vpp from the Countrie. And att the same tyme alsoe there were seuerall warrants vnder the handes of the Lord of Gormanston, & as hee remembers likewise vnder the hand of the Lord Netterfeild, directed vnto Patrick Barnwall
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of Kilbrew, whereby hee was authorised in case anie of <H> those persons, vnto whom the Letters were directed, should refuse to Lend the mony soe demanded of them, to raise horse to attend him, and therewith to break into the said persons houses, and there to make search in all Chestes, trunckes, or otherwhere for any Plate, mony, or Jewells, & to bring the same with him awaie, which warrants hee the said Patrick Barnewall receiued, But what was done therevpon this Examinant knoweth not. And this examinant <J> alsoe saith that soone after hee this Examinant receiued a Letter from the Lord of Gormanston, directing him to acquaint the Countrie, that Sir Phelim ô Neale was come vnto the Seidge of Drogheda, & that the Gentrie of the said Countie should bee the ffrydaie following att Gormanstowne Mourning town, there to see the said Sir Phelims men mustered, & to assist in the service intended. And <K> accordinglie sundrie of the gentlemen mett with the said Lord of Gormanstowne repa But noe men of the said Sir Phelims appeared there to bee mustered, and soe the gentlemen parted for that tyme. And this Examinant further saith that att Stamyne there was annother meeteing of the said Lordes and Gentrie, namely the Lord of ffingall, the Lord of Gormanstowne, the Lord of Slaine, the Lord of Trimblestowne, Sir Richard Barnwall Barronett, Patrick <L> Barnwall of Kilbrew, James Bath of Athcarne, Edward Dowdall of Monckestowne, & this Examinant, & diuerse others, together with Sir Phelim ô Neale, and Collonell Relie, where alsoe an oath was administred vnto all then & there
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present, to keepe secrett what should bee revealed vnto <M> them And therevpon hee the said Sir Phelim told them that an assault should bee given vpon the Towne of Drogheda But the tyme hee thought not fitt then to discouer Yet wished euerie one to bee readie vpon call And the Satturdaie following the Lord of Gormanstowne gave notice the said assault should bee vpon that night And therefore required all the <N> gentlemen to bee there to give theire assistance And accordinglie the Lord of ffingall the Lord of Gormanstowne the Lord of Trimblestowne the Lord of Slaine Sir Richard Barnwall Patrick Barnwall of Kilbrew Wesley of the Dingan Bath of Athcarne Barnwall of Rosetowne Aylemer of Dullerstowne Wesley of the Dingan, this Examinant and his brother Edward <O> Dowdall with diuerse other gentlemen whom hee this Examinant remembers not, came att the tyme and place aforesaid where all the said gentlemen remained that night But knewe not what was to bee done by them in case the said Towne had beene taken And this Examinant further saith that after the departure of the Northern Irish from the Seidge of Drogheda the Lord of Gormanston sent a Summons vnto the Gentrie of <P> the Countie for raiseing of eight men more out of euerie plough Land (the fformer Levies beeing scattered & disbanded) to meete att the Hill of Garistowne with three daies victualls, & a penaltie mentioned in the said Summons that whosoeuer refused to send the
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<Q> said men accordinglie should loose his head One of which warrants sent vnto the Barronie of Skreene hee this Examinant saw and read in the handes of Lawrence Dowdall of Athlumney But what was done therevpon this Examinant knoweth not Onelie hee heard that Patrick Barnwall of Kilbrew brought a hundred men <R> & s om Cusack of Garratstowne some men the number whereof hee knoweth not And this Examinant beeing demanded whether hee knowes or hath heard of any Letters written by the Lordes of the Pale or Gentrie vnto any other partes of the kingdome for inciteing any others to assist them in this present warr saith that James Bath of Athcarne about a ffortnight since entreated this Examinant and his Brother Edward Dowdall of Monckestowne to <S> repaire vnto him one night att Athcarne where the Earle of ffingall, the Lord of Gormanstowne the Lord of Slaine the Lord Netterfeild, & the Lord of Trimblestowne then were. And this Examinant and his said Brother comeing thither they the said Lordes caused him this Examinant to engrosse out a Letter which they penned & signed vnto the Earle of Clanrickard, declareing the causes and motiues of this present warr & thereby alsoe entreateing his Lordshipps furtherance & assistance vnto them <T> therein And att the same tyme likewise there were other Letters prepared and directed from the said Lord Netterfeild & Lords Gormanston vnto Sir Thomas Nugent the Birnes & seuerall of the cheife of the Irish in Connoght, with the same request which was made vnto the Earle of Clanric=
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kard in the Letters written vnto his Lordshipp as aforesaid <V> And the like Letters were then alsoe written vnto the Lord Mountgarrat & certaine others in Munster as hee this Examinant heard And lastlie this Examinant saith that what hee hath heere in this his Examination discouered concerning himselfe hee this Examinant was drawen therevnto through feare & terror of the Northeren rebells, hee liveing in the Barronie <W> where they kept theire Camp, & through the threats of the Nobilitie against any, who would not bee seene att theire meeteings, & not out of any desire hee this Examinant euer had to side or partake with them in this warr, & would have long since submitted himselfe, if hee could safelie have repaired vnto the State.
Nicholas Dowdall
Rob Meredith
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