Examination of Peter Hooper

fol. 33r

The examinacion of Peter Hooper of Passage in the County of Waterford gent, aged about forty two yeares taken vpon oath on the behalfe of the Comonwealth Concerning James Bryan of the Skarre & Longraiges in the County of Wexford gent deceased vpon the Interrogatoryes etc
<To the 1st Interr>The examinant deposeth & saith that the said James dwelte in the Irish quarters all the time of the first yeare till he was killed & did not remooue into the english quarters as <a> the english protestants thereof did the deponents cause of knowing the said James, is for that the examinant was acquainted with the said James before the rebellyon till he
<To the 2d interr> Hee Cannot depose
<To the 3d & 4th inter> The examinant deposeth & saith that in the first beginning of the rebellyon & at least a moneth before the generallity of the countrey did rise & take vp Armes Lieutenant Esmond of the forte of Duncannon Ensigne Anthony Bolton this deponent, one Jeffery Harney & two more of the said forte Coming from Rat[umny] were met with by the said James Bryan; George Browne & about fourscore men vnder their Comand at which time the said Bryan being on horse backe, in the head of that party of Irish, told the said Lieutenant Esmond & the rest with him that they should not thence passe whereuppon the said Lieutenant answeared that he was not Come to disturbe the Countrey <b> nor to take any thing , but what he paid for, & desired to passe quietly which the said James Bryan denyed to grant, & thereupon bid one of his party (then lyeing in a ditch with a fowling peice) to shut at the said Lieutenant which the said Irishman did, & shot Lieutenant Esmonds horse in the buttocke whereuppon the said Lieutenant Esmond Lighted & the said Bryan, Browne & other two then on horse backe with them (whose names the deponent doth not know &) being Lighted the said Bryan drew his sword & & strucke at the said Esmond & that he the said Bryan & Lieutenant Esmond fought at togeather till the said Lieutenant was wounded in two places of his head with two blowes the one Crosse the other, & with a blow [ ] on his right Arme soe as the said Lieutenant neuer after Recouered the perfect vse thereof & afterwardes the said Bryan was killed by one William Cooke that came in with the said Leiutenant after that the said Lieutenant was wounded that he could fight
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fol. 33v

noe longer being fallen to the ground And further saith that after the said Bryan & Browne & the other two gent with them were killed this deponent did see the said James Bryans Cloke bagg opened & which was full of paper cut into small peices about an Inch broad each & therein written theese wordes wee will lay our heads togeather & March wee Care not whether (which the said Lieutenant & the deponent carryed to the Lord Esmond, the same being by him sent to London as he beleiues Dublin <And> The deponent verily beleiues that the said papers or billets were to be disperst throughout the Countrey to abet & further the said Rebellyon & to gather more of the Rebells togeather to carry on the same, And the deponent is of opinion that there could not be lesse then <c> two thousand billets or Libells in the said Bryans Cloke bagg each of them written with the said wordes
<To the rest> of the Interrogatoryes he cannot depose & further saith not &c
Peter [mark] Hooper his marke
Sworne before vs the 27th of January 1653
T Dancer
Am Andrewes

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