Examination of Sir Silvester Browne

fol. 246r

1934
The Examinacion of Sir Silvester Browne knight taken before Thomas Richardson by vertue of an order of the right honorable the Commissioners of the Comon wealth of England for the affaires of Ireland the third day of May 1653.
The said Examinant being demanded whether hee knew <A> one walter ffitsgerrald late of ffortmure in the County of longford now a prisoner in the marshalsey, and of any murthers or massacres to haue bin committed by him in the said County sayth that about the begining of ffebruary in the first yeare of the rebellion to the Examinants best remembrance the said Walter ffitsgerald came to this Examinant being then at Ballina in the Collow and shew{ed} demanded of this Examinant his Armes (which was onely a Rapier hee had then about him) which this Examinant refusing to deliver the said walter <B> shewed this Examinant a warrant vnder the hands of Oliver ffitsgerrald, Richard fferrall of Bawne, James mc Lisagh fferrall of fforgh=hill, James Dillon of Cornadaugh and others whom hee doth not now remember which warrant this Examinant read over and found it to be directed to the said Walter ffitsgerald, requiring him to apprehend the bodyes of this Examinant, daniell Stibbs John Stib{bs} and

fol. 246v

1935
and his wife, william Steele and his wife and some six Thomas Creggan and his wife, and about six persons more whose names the Examinant doth not now remember, and to carry them all to Longford, and there to put them to death, which warrant when this Examinant <C> had read over the said walter demanded of the Examinant how doe you now Sir will you deliver your Armes yett, which this Examinant still refused to doe resolving rather to dye on the sword point then render himselfe to the said walter and about a hundred Rebels hee had then in his Company vnto whom hee was called the officer, and the warrant <C> was directed to him by the name of Leivetenant walter reagh ffitsgerald, And further sayth that while they were in dispute as aforesaid the Examinant espyeing James mc Lisagh mc Gillernew ferrall being one of them whose hands wh were to the said warrant sent his little sonne to him to desire him to come and speake with him which hee did accordingly, and then the said James confessed his hand to the warrant, but denied hee knew the contents of it onely signed with the rest the same being drawne by his father in lawe Oliver ffitsgerald, And after some conference betweene the said James fferrall and the said walter <D> ffitsgerald the sa this Examinant was suffered to goe to his owne house with the said walter as this Examinants keeper, where the said walter and his company (or some of them) stayed about two nights and then

fol. 247r

1936
departed leaving this Examinant and his people to their owne libertye, And further sayth that hee doth not know of any murther or massacre committed by the said Walter but sayth that by the report of the Country hee the said walter ffitzgerald was leivetenant and a base brother to the said Oliver boy <E> ffitsgerrald, a most bloody Rebell, And being demanded whether hee knew or beleive that John mc Knogher fferrall now prisoner also in the marshalsey had any hand in the hanging of the English people at the mill in the Callowe (then in the Examinants possession) sayth that hee never heard that the said John had any hand in the said murther, but beleiveth the contrary for that the said John fferrall and his s ster sister were releivers of poore English people at about that tyme as this Examinant hath bin very credibly informed to the Examinants owne knowledg and did frequently send his sister to giue this Examinant ladye intelligence of the mencions of the Irish partye in that Countrey And further sayth not.
Siluester Broune
Taken vppon oath before
mee
Tho: Richardson

fol. 247v

1935

{54}
Sir Silvester Browne
his Examinacion touching
Walter ffitsgerald and
John mc Knogher
fferrall. prisoners.