Examination of John Hay

fol. 66r

The examinacion of John Hay of Wexford merchant taken vpon oath on the behalfe of the Comonwealth being of the age of thirty eight yeares or thereabouts Concerning James Welsh of Wexford seaman
The deponent being duely sworne and examined saith vpon the whole matter of the Interrogatoryes saith & deposeth that he well knew the said James Welch who liued & had his Residence in Wexford the whole time of the warre & that the said James was a pyrate in the friggot called <z> the ffrancis which went to sea & brought in much plunder. The cause of the deponents knowledge is for that the deponent and the said James Welch being taken at sea as they were goeing towardes Coming out of England, one of the pyrates aboard the man of warre that tooke the them prisoners vpon discourse with the said James told the said James that It had been better for him to haue Continued in the vessell ffrancis then to haue been otherwise & afterwardes the same verified by the said James his acknowledgement to the deponent and further saith not
Jo: Hay
Sworne before vs the
13th of Jaunary 1653
Edw Tomlins
Am Andrewes
297
<James Welsh of Wexford>