Deposition of Chidley Coote
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Chidley Coote of Eglish in the kinges Countie Esquire nowe Sargent Major to the right honorable the Lo: Esmond being sworne and examined deposeth as followeth That aboute the last daye of November 1641 hee this Examinant was depriued robbed and spoyled or otherwise dispoyled of his estate in meanes goods & Chattles consistinge of Cattle, horses, sheepe Corne, haye, howshold goods & other goods & Chattles to the vallue & Loss in all of one Thowsand, fowerscore and five pounds ster. or thereaboutes By the Rebells vizt John McGarrott <A> Coughlan of Streameston Esquire Nicholas Harbert of Ballengwelshy Esquire and Arte Molloye Esquire with theire seuerall Confederates & followers whome this Examinant Cannott remember theire names at this present, And this Examinant further sayeth that hee was likewise as aforesaid Robbed spoyled & depriued in money plate howshold stuff horses & Cattle to the vallue of one hundred pounds or thereabouts at the taking of Birr Castle aboute the 20th of Ma January 1642 by the Rebells <B> Generall Preston, Sargent Major generall Preston the Earle of Castlehaven, Sir Robert Talbott Barronett, Sir George Harbert of Durragh in the kinges County knight Sir James Dillon knight Rory ô Moore Esquire John ô Carroll of Cloneliske Esquire Nicholas Harbert aforesaid Esquire Teige Carroll of Rathmore Esquire Donogh Carroll of Bovyne gent John Molloy of Lisheene gent. Richard Butler of Ballylockin gent. John Grace a capt. of the Ormond Rebells gent. Tirlagh mcArte Molloy of Rathmcgilladuff gent with many others gent whome this Examinant cannott remember theire names All which persons as aforesaid are or lately were in action of Rebellion Carrying Armes with for & amongst the other Rebells against our Soueraigne Lo: the Kinge and his Loyall protestant Subjects. And further saith That before the time first time that he was soe robbed vizt
Chidly Coote
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The 24th of October 1641 Intelligence Comminge vnto vs him & the rest e at Parsons Towne, of the treacherous and bloody conspiracie, of Mack-Gwires Takeinge and surprizinge the Castle of Dublin; They stood att the gaze awhile, hopeinge that Allmighty God through his infinite mercy haueinge frustrated that wicked plott, the rest of the complotters, woulde haue surceased from pursueinge there wicked and divellish designes. But contrary to our hopes, we had fresh intelligence, about the 9th of December 1641 of the sudden risinge in the Countie of Wicklowe; wheruppon we foorthwith much about the same Time went and summoned the English inhabitants in; and adiacent vnto the Territorie of Elie O Carroll, to Joine into a Boddie; And to Contriue some such sudden and wholesome way as might preserue our Liues and estates from the crueltie of the Irish papists; iff they shoulde suddenly fall vppon us, scattered in diuerse partes of the Country. But contrarie to all the reasons giuen them, of the danger, that shortly after did ensue pursue, each man, and familie woulde Looke, vnto themselues, and what belonged vnto them onely and would by no means be brought to followe the aduise I gaue them. He was much greeued att the dull aprehentions of the poore people; but that we might not not to followe theire example; my Capten William Parsons (within fewe dayes after made Gouernor of Elie O Carroll) and myselfe raised of the Towne dwellers, of Parsons Towne, and our owen seruants, the number of fortie horse and one hundred foote, and poorely Armed as we were, haueinge notice of the riseinge of the Dunns, in Dunns Countrie, we marched thither wards, the 17 of Nouember; and brought away the men, and seueral families, with the munition, Armes, and such of the best goods, as we Coulde Carry with vs. from Castle Cuff; that House being no waies Tenable, by reason of the weaknes of the place, and the want of prouision in itt. that same day I surounded the house of John Mack Murtogh Dunn, and thought to haue Taken him; who was one of the first in Dunns Countrie that rose, and a most cruell inuectiue rebbell against his Maiesties poore English subiects but allthough itt
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itt was somewhat Late in the eueninge before we came vppon him, yett itt seems, he gott intelligence of our Comminge for he fledd from thence before we came which we perceauinge [enterd we] entred his house and pilladged itt, after the pilladginge this house, we resolued to fall vppon Danniell o Dunn <B> Art O Dunn and the rebells that followed them; beinge encamped within two miles of vs; but the Luggage, and number of women and Children that were with vs inforced vs to retire back vnto Parsons Towns againe, doeinge no greater hurt vnto the enemie att that Time; but the pilladgeinge this place, and the Takeinge one Prisoner which we hanged. Within fewe dayes after we came from Dunns Country; the plauge-sore of the rebellion, begann to shewe itt selfe on euery side of vs, the whole Country riseinge. the first of december 1641 we had notice that Brian Mack William Mulloy of Balliboy, and his reb rebells had robbed [ the ] manny families of poore english, stripped and absolutely despoiled them. We They vppon the verry sudden marched towards him, with the small number of Horse and foote we had, fell vppon his Campe, Tooke fiue or six prisoners, which we hanged, brought a prey from him of verry neere two Thousande sheepe, one hundred Cowes, and pilladged many houses in the Mulloyes Country. To reuenge this, Art Mulloy, <C> Brian mack William Mulloy, and manny of there Confederates; and the Dunns and many of there Confederates, on the 7 of December marched towards vs; and thought with there thunderinge bragg of batteringe us to peeces with Cannon, to haue frightned vs to haue yealded vppon Composition, but seeinge themselues deceaued, they fell vppon a Little Castle within halfe a mile from vs, called Clunaghell, assaulted itt three Times one after another, but was enforced to retire with the Loss of seauen men dead in the place, and greate numbers hurt and wonded. on
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3.
On the tenth of December 1641 my Lady Offalie haueinge giuen vs notice of the greate danger she was in; beinge beseiged with two or three hundred of the Dempsies, who had burnt up all her fireinge, and Left her destitute of all manner of fuell, I atempted the goinge thither with fortie Horse, and some fewe foote, but by the way was mett <D> with, by Capten Brian Mack William Mulloy of Balliboy in the Kings County, where we killed him hurt many of his men but the whole Country beinge vp, wasere forced to retire againe.
The 24 of december 1641 about Ten of the clock in the morninge, haueinge due notice that one Mr Richard Butler Liueinge in Ormonde, had been att an assembly with the rebells, my t he deponents brother Richarde Coote with [my] Capten William Parsons his Troope, and the Leftennant of the Troope, fell suddenly vppon him, and Tooke him prisoner to the Castle of Birr, where his examinations beinge Taken; the verry same day a Little before night, I went with some 30 horse, and 50 muskettiers or therabouts entered his house, pilladged itt, brought home with us a prey of betweene 500 and 1000 english sheepe, 40 or 50 Cowes, but on a passage neare a drye woode were oposed by a greate number of rebells; where but on the first charge of the Horse they broke, and rann towards the dry woode, but before they came thither we slewe ran some of them, and tooke three or fower prisoners, and in the verry wood itt selfe, our Horse pursueinge them, killed many to the number of those three and Twentie, more [as] as was affirmed by those that viewed the boddies Lyinge scatteringly dead some in one place some in another This day before we came to Parsons Towne, we tooke one of the Tiewes prisoners about an hower before this fight
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<E> on ashwednesday In the yeare 1641 I went out with about [matter of] fortie horse, and haueinge intelligence that Capten Tirlagh Mack Lishagh Carroll, and many other of the Carrolls, Lay encamped att a place called Cree, fell uppon them in the morninge and killed Capten Tirlagh Mack Lishagh, and Mr Mack Creamon, two men of verry considerable estates in freehould with fiue other of the rebbells in Deade in the place, and brought from them, fower musketts, fower skeanes, fower darts, fower swords, one halbert, and a number of pikes, this Tirlagh Mack Lishagh , and his Kerne aboute him shewed themselues, most bloodily cruell and malitious to the distressed English protestants.
About the Latter end of March 1642, I fell uppon <symbol> Phelim Mulloy, and his rebbells, and killed one of his Kerne; and he with the rest runninge to the bogg, I coulde doe no more good uppon them att that <hand> Time about this Time Capten Errel O Kennedie murthered the poore women & a poore ould man and another, with his rebels in Ormonde.
about the beginninge of Aprill 1642, we fell uppon the Elie O Carroll rebells, but they flyinge away we coulde doe no other good then fetch away a prey from them.
The eleuenth day of Aprill 1642 we fell out on the Elie O Carroll rebbels encamped att Cree <ff> in some two mile from the Castle of the Birr, Killed six dead in the place, and Tooke two prisoners, which two with some after prisoners before Taken, we hanged, amountinge to the number of Tenn.
About the sixteenth day of Aprill 1642, and betweene the 16th and 30th we brought from the rebbels of Elie O Carroll Three preyes, two of which wer amounted to 32 Cowes, and 120 sheepe, belonginge to John o Carroll of the Leape in the Kings County the 3d prey wer Consisted of sheepe and Horses
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<f> aboute this Time we brought from one Anthonie Mack Connel in the Kings Countie (a most notorious rebbell), a whole <ff> Barne full of Corne, which we distributed amounge the poore Languishinge English, which were att this Time in verry great distress.
The 30 day of Aprill 1642 we sallied out on the Mulloyes Countrie, fired manny houses and villages and killed dead in the place besides what we hurt Tirlagh Mack Art Mulloys sonn, whose father is a man of a verry Considerable estate in freehoulde, and two more of his Kerne, brought from then three musketts, one sworde, one headpeece, with skeans, and such Like Armes, and a prey of sheepe, horses and younge Cattle.
The 20th of May 1642 we sallied out on the rebels of Elie o Carroll, fetcht a prey of Cowes from them, and killed one rebell.
The 24 of May 1642, we sallied out on the Mulloyes, but they runninge away, we onely in the pursuite killed one of them; about this Time certaine intelligence Came vnto vs, of the greate necessitie the poore English were, Lyinge att knocknamease, which was so greate that haueinge eate upp all the Horses, Doggs, and Cowe hides they had, were att Last some of them enforced to <hand> eate, the verry flesh and carcases of the rebels that happened sometimes to be slaine by them, and others of them to hange up there owen children till they were dead, and eate them, and others to eate the small morcells of bread there husbands had, And to feede there husbands with the milke of there brests.
The first day of June 1642 we sent out a matter of fortie horse to Atempt the releeuinge the poore English
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english at Knocknamease, but our men founde such stronge intrenchments, and Trauerses a Cross the passages betweene vs and That place, that haueinge no foote with them, were forced to returne. but such was our desire to helpe poore creatures in so greate necessitie, as the verry next night with the same number of Horse, and some 20 foote, we atempted the seconde Time and though with Longe fight and greate some difficultie and danger yett we made a way ouer there the rebells workes with shouells and spades, and the wattles and thatch of adiacent houses, and with the mercie of God, putt in the house of Knocknamease three months T hree weekes prouision, for all the fightinge men therof, and all with the Loss of but one man, Killinge as we conceaue some store manny of the rebbells, our men haueinge <G> fired uppon them verry fiercly and roundly some six howers before we with Gods asistance releeued them, Roger O More, with the O Maughers neare Roscreah, and most of the gentry of the <&> others of the Carrols rounde to the number of fiue or six hundred Horse and foote, had summoned the place engageinge themselues verry strictly to giue them faire quarter, and asked but the poore English findinge by woefull experience, the brutishnes crueltie and perfidiousnes of the rebells, refused there cruell mercie, att which the Rebells went Laughinge away, Laughing askeinge them whether or no they expected that releefe woulde fall doune from heauen to them, for they were well asured there was no [ ] way for man to releeue them; and gaue them notice that we of the parliament rouges of the Birr the night be (as they Termed vs) atempted the succoringe them, but itt nether Lay, nor neuer shoulde Lye in our powers
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the 13 of June 1642 we sallied into Ormonde and killed three rebells, and brought a prey of sheepe and hoggs from them.
The 14 of June 1642 we sallied into the Mulloyes Countrie, killed one rebbel dead in the place, and brought some horses from them.
The 15 of June 1642 we sallied into Elie O Carroll and fetcht a prey of sheepe and some nine horses from neare the Castle of Rathmore; att this time we were in great distress att the Birr for the poorer sorte.
The 16 of June 1642 a partie of some fiue and Twentie Horse, and 40 foote sallied ouer into Ormonde killed many of the rebells, one of which was Leftennant vnto Mr John o Carroll of Moydrinnithin in <H> Ormonde, we brought from the rebels att that Time 29 Cowes, 38 sheepe, and many Armes.
The 18 of June 1642 the rebels of Elie o Carroll cruelie <hand> murthered two younge boyes, and a poore English man that was lookeinge to the Cattle belonginge to the Towne of Birr and dispightfully gaue each of them att the Least 20 wounds a peece.
The 17 of July 1642 I sallied foorth with some 30 horse, and as many foote, on the rebells of Elie o Carroll then encamped att a place called Castletowne, but we killed not but one of them when they runn into the boggs from vs.
The 12 of August I sallied out on the Elie o Carroll rebells, Tooke one Edmunde o Hanitie prisoner) and Left one of the Kerne shott through the boddy in two places for dead.
The 13 of August 1642 I sallied foorth with some fewe horse and foote, into the rebells country of Elie o Carrol, and brought some Corne from them which did much releeue the poore.
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about the beginninge of September 1642 my br Capten William Parsons, and I with some Horse and 30 Horse and as many foote, went to a Towne of the enemies, burnt there Towne pilladged itt, brought some corne away from them, and tooke some six or seauen prisoners.
Aboute the 11th of September 1642 some fewe of the poore English of Knocknamease stole vnto vs and geue ge brought a message from them, but the winter now aproachinge, and we haueinge no newse that might giue vs the Leaste hope of releefe vnto ourselues, from his Maiesties Army; we durst not aduenture any prouision from our selues who were brought verry Lowe; yett did Hazarde the sendinge them a smale conuoy of some fiue and Twentie, who gott vnto them by way in the most priuat manner they coulde in the night, and Joininge with them diserted the place, and with the fewe Armes they had, about the 15th of September 1642 came vnto vs to the Towne of Birr, but the night, beinge darke they forsooke the house beinge verry darke, some fewe fiue or six of the weaker sorte of Men and Women Lagged behind, Looseinge there Company, Lagged behinde, and were cruellie murthered, by the O Maughers <hand> neare Roscreagh and the Carrolls.
The 16th of September 1642, Rogger More, his brother Lishagh more, and most of the Carrolls, gentry and Commons in generall gentlemen, and churles and most of the <I> Mulloyes in generall, gentrie and Commons, manny of the Kennedies, and buttlers of Ormonde, John Mack Garrat Coghlan, and many of the Coghlans about three a clocke in the after noone, asaulted the Castle of clunaghell, with at Leaste 500 men, there beinge but six men in the Castle; but the poore English behaued themselues so well as they
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as they killed many of the Kerne in two desperate asaults they made; who att Last seeinge no Hope that the warde woulde yealde; they putt the doore and roofe of the Castle affire; and though the poore men cryed out for quarter, yett they such was the Crueltie of the rebell, as they woulde not giue any, but there burnt the men, three or fower women and children and all the men but onely two, who desperately Leaped out of the windowe amoungst them; which they were enforsed to saue maugre there mallice leaste we shoulde putt some of there prisoners lately Lately taken to the sworde, which we <hand> ransomed for them, within fewe dayes after the castle was thus taken.
The 18th of September 1642 the enemie heareinge that we were brought something Lowe of saulte our Salte meate grewe Lowe, they encamped a matter of fower or fiue hundred of them in and about this Castle of Clanaghell; hopeinge to haue starued us and the fewe sheepe and cattle we had Left, with blockinge them and us within the Castle of Birr, but God so asisted us, that one day of one side of our Castle, and the next day of another side, we sent out smale wings of muskettiers within dich enclosures, and bankes, betweene vs and the rebells, and put our Cattle a grazeinge betweene the Castle and our muskettiers, so that without the rebbells shoulde Come betweene our Muskettiers, and the Castle, they Coulde not any wayes atempt the forceinge our Cattle; which they durst not doe.
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allthough we had many skirmishes with them.
The 7th of october 1642 euen att the faleinge of the night, I went out sallied out with a matter of fiue and thirtie Horse, and some fiftie foote, stole by a secrett [ ] way towards the enemies Trenches and att a way entringe into theire workes, gaue fire uppon there sentrie, Killed him dead in the place, and fell into there the midest of there Campe, putt a number of them to the sworde, gott manny of there Armes, musketts, pikes, swords, skeans, with there drumm, and some small store of there prouision, and sett fire of there Hutts, and Lodgings.
Aboute The Laste of September 7 th of October 1642 we sallied out on the enemies campe againe, about two a clocke <K> in the after noone, killed some seue fewe of them, and shott one of the most principall of them <by> name Tirlagh Mack Art Mulloy through the right <shoulder> and through the foote, att which the rest of the rebells runninge away, we coasted about att the verry instant, about into the Country, Tooke one of the greate O Carrolls wifes prisoners, with some others, and brought Home good store of Corne; but att out Comminge Home, The Enemie gott into a Boddy of Horse and foote, and fell uppon vs, but att the sa Collonell Cullen then in the head of them, but att the first vollie of shott that we made one of the Mulloys was shott through the head dead in the place, one of Colonell Cullens men shot through the Hand, two or three of his Horses Killed, and he and his men [the rest] were Content to runn
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And giue us way, to the Castle of Birr, with our corne gotten from the rebbells.
The 24th of October 1642, the rebbels seeinge Considering that they Lay before vs the protestants att a verry greate charge, such as the Country coulde not well endure, groweinge verry poore, what with the maintenance of such rusticke multitudes about vs, and what with the greate store of prouision we continuallie brought from them by diuers sallies; they fell on an other way; and made triall whether they coulde trick vs out of our houlde, by faire-seeminge letters, asureinge of vs we fought in a wronge way, against our Kinge, against our Countrie, against Lawe, against Religion; and if we woulde yett att Last Joine with them, and deliuer them the Castle, we shoulde haue (forsooth) all the respects, And freedome from them in as one of themselues; but iff we woulde not yealde; such was the greate preparations makeinge ready against vs; as we our obstinacey woulde suddenly bringe vs to most ineuitable ruine and destruction. We were so This Letter we receaued from them; and was rather content to reade itt, then either to answer itt, or performe the contents of itt: which they perceaueinge, without any Longer demure, raised there seige and went away, which we next morninge perceaueinge coulde not but much reioice, in reguarde that our extreame necessitie for want of victualls were was such, as dureinge this Time of restrainte; as our poore <hand> Townes people, men women and children, were most pittifully hunger starued, haueinge eaten up all the Doggs, and Horses of the Towne, some fewe Horses of seruice excepted; and many of them were forced to eate sheepe skinns, Cowe Hides, Tallowe & and such Like trash and manny who starued in this seege woulde haue been gladd to haue gott such Like trash to haue saued there Lives
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Eate Hay , or stubble, iff by that means, they coulde haue kept Life. But very many, yea some many of That formerly Liued in good esteeme and Condition, were contented rather patiently to endure death by fammine; then to begg mercie of the rebbel papists, or to craue asistance or releefe from there Idoll Gods: though some of a weaker kinde of Temper faith, woulde dureinge this scarse Time, fly vnto them for mercy; desire there pardon in a most submissiue manner iff in any thinge they had done amiss; and proffered them There seruises, and best endeauours all the dayes of there Liues, iff they woulde, but permitt them to serue them, and giue them releefe; but the most pittifull answers they Coulde obteine, was stripes, and Taunts and strict comaunds to goe to Birr And pray to there puritan Gods for releefe; and to there Gods of the Birr: asureing them iff euer they durst to come vnto them againe they woulde kill them, though for this Time, they were Content to Lett them goe backe againe amounge the English Doggs and sowes, and there starue in th before there eyes to there greefe and vexation.
The 27 of October 1642 our men sallied into Ormonde and brought some a prey of younge Cattle and garron s horses from the enemie rebels; this verry day they sallied Likewise into Elie O Carroll, and brought some small store, of oates, and pease.
The 29 of October 1642 our men sallied out into Elie O Carroll and brought a prey of six or seauen Horses from the rebells.
The first of October No u ember 1642 haueinge gotten some horses from the enemie in these Late preyes, I
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I made the greatest strength I coulde in horse, which was not aboue fower R or fiue and fortie, and went somethinge farther into the rebells Countrie, for that all was wasted neare vnto vs, and brought a prey of neare vppon a hundred cowes and Horses, and some fewe sheepe.
The 22 of Nouember 1642. I with others sallied on the mulloyes, in there Owen Countrie, and beinge opposed by them the b them, putt them to the route, <L> Tooke there Drumm, hurte many of them; and brought from them a prey of neare one hundred cowes, fiftie horses, mares, Coultts and good store of sheepe and goats.
The 4th of December our men brought from Teige O Carroll of Rathmore in Elie O Carroll 140 sheepe, some other pilladge, and Tooke fower prisoners.
About the 9th of December 1642: I with others be sallied out with some 40 Horse, and 30 foote, into Elie o Carrol, brought from the rebells, 86 Cowes, fiue horses, 355 sheepe, good store of Corne, killed one rebell, and Tooke one prisoner.
The 30 of December 1642 some of our men Tooke one prisoner, and Three Cowes; and the next Day from the same place Tooke two Horses from the rebells.
The 8 and 9 of January 1642. A small partie of our men, brought from the rebells of Elie o Carroll A prey of 17 Horses
The 10th of January 1642. A partie of our men brought a prey a small prey of sheepe from the mulloyes
The 12 of January 1642 a small partie of our Horse brought from the rebells of Elie o Carroll 26 Horse and Cowes
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The 13th day of January 1642. Colonell Preston Tittularie Generall of Leinster, my Lord of Castlehauen Tittularie Generall of the Rebbels Horse of Leinster, Mr Thomas Plunckett, Tittularie Leftennant Generall <M> of the Rebells Horse , Colonel Prestons sonn Tittularie Sariant Maior Generall of the Army, in Leinster, Roger Moore, Tittular{ie} Collonell, Sir Robert Talbot, Collonell Plunckett, Sariant Maior Warrin, Mr Teige o Carroll of Rathmore, greate Mr John o Carroll of Clanliske, Mr Danniell <+> o Carroll of Ballimonnines sonn nick-named Teige Owre, Sir James Dillon, Capten John Dillon, with a matter of two thousande foote, and two hundred Horse, marched towards the Castle of Birr, hearinge of our greate want of powder, haueinge not powder when they came vnto vs, to maintaine, two howers assaulte,
The 14th of January Nouember 1642 the Rebbels Army viewed the grounds about the Castle to make there Aproaches; and that day was both a busie and Troublesome day vnto vs, such was the flockeinge in of all the poore widdowes and orphans, from the Towne into the Castle, of the poore Towne dwellers, and the poore women and children, the whose husbands that wer Turned out of the Country vnto us, (out of an intent to starue us out the sooner) whose husbands and children, were cruelly murthered by the rebbells, of the Mulloyes Country and Elie o Carroll and the number of them beinge att the fewest three or fower hundred, that came in naked uppon us, without all manner of releefe, but what the Allmighty made vs the instruments of gaininge them by the sworde, did much anoy and trouble and endanger vs
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The 15th of January Nouember 1642 the Rebells begann in the nig{ ht } darke of the night to drawe there Lines of Aproach{ments} towards the Castle back side of the Castle, haueinge {the} helpe of manny greate ditches, and enclosures ready made to there hande; we knewe the grounde they begann to digg in, to be verry harde and stonie, and while itt was night we did not much Trouble or molest Them, for that we suposed there works to be in vaine, and in reguarde we had not powder to maintaine two howers asaulte, we thought itt good discretion to preserue our munition the best we coulde: yett in the morninge seeinge perceaueinge they had not gott so farr vnder ground but that we had some reasonable aime att the boddies of Them, I comaunded the souldiers to giue fire on them, and to hinder them the best we they coulde from workeinge. Our shott itt seemed galled gawled them, for same of them we disearned to fall; which did so much frighten the rest as they did desist from digginge any Longer that day.
The 16th of January Nou 1642 the rebells findinge the grounde to be harde, and troublesome to digg, they shifted there grounde, and made choice of another peece of gro u nd e nearer to The Castle, and in the night fell a digginge verry roundly, and allthough we coulde not well disearne them, yett out sentries heareinge the noise there shouells, spades, and pickaxes made against the harde clay and stones, gaue vs notice of itt, and I comaunded the souldiers to fire apace vppon them to diuert them as much as in vs Lay, and to gaine Time in hope of releefe from the Lords Justices and so good success we had by giueinge fire on them, as they were forced to Leaue of workeinge the second Time, with some fewe of them killed, but many hurt, and bemangled with with quarter shott, and pistoll bullets
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The 17 day of January n ou 1642 about the darke of the night the rebells, de suposeinge the grounde round aboute the Castle, to be such, as they must longe dwell uppon the busines, before they coulde come vnder the wales with a mine, They begann to make a batterie, against a weake parte of the wales and att pistoll shott distance but to hinder them the best we coulde, we shott muskett shott, & square shott, and pistoll bullets att Them most part of The night, but in the morninge, A Demie Culuerin, and sacre, begann to play, through the Topps of the wales, ino the verry to Ca s roomes of the Castle, to the endangeringe the Liues of those that were within; insomuch as many of our souldiers, and women and children, were forced to remoue ther Lodginge to that side of the Castle of that was farthest from the batteries. t his was a most dolefull time to our poorest sorte of women, children and the starueing Cattle, that were within the wales, who for want of fodder, eate the verry maines, and Tailes, one of another yett but allthough there ordnance played apace on vs, and fetched downe, the a peece of one of our Flankers, yett yett did our muskett shott, out vie them for number (though not for force) of for there shott. we shott both there cananisers we with pistoll bullet and square shott, one in the head, the other all ouer the face, and allthough nether of them was killed dead as we after heard from themselues, yett they were not so well furnised with cananeers, as any Longer to Troble trouble vs with there ordnance.
This morninge about breake of day two or three hundred musketiers of the rebells, asaulted a stone mill, belongeinge to the Towne, (in which there was but six of our muskettiers) three Times one after another, and att the Last asaulte, came to the verry doore, and with sledges broke to the doore {to shiuers}, which our men perceauinge, They clapped a greate
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Chest of Earth across the doore, and at the t{woe} first asaults, and This Last, our men, played {soe} fast vppon Them, out of Two Little flankers, and the windowes of the mill, with sqare shott [ ] and pistoll bullets as they killed and hurt forty of the rebells of att the fewest. And amounge the rest one Capten Dillon who Ledd the rest on, was shott all ouer the face; which did so much incense the rest of them, that allthough they were most fearfully beaten of and gawled, yett about the breake of the day, They came on againe with euery man, a faggott of strawe, and or dry wo wood faggotts with them and euery man castinge downe his faggott, neare one end of the mill, they grew to such a heape as they Touched the shingle eaues of the mill, and then puttinge fire vnto the heape, the roofe tooke fire, and was suddenly all ouer on [ ] a flame. which the rebells perceaueinge, asked our men whether they woulde Take quarter, but they returned them no answer, but what there musketts gaue them; but some shott, and others were faine, to beate beate downe the shingles from the inside, and in some two howers did so bestirr themselues, as what with the fire, and what with there Labor, the whole roofe, was without one shingle allmost, and our poore men was Left destitute of any other roofe then the heauens to couer them but so gladd they were, that they were there Imminent danger of burninge was ouer, as they cryed out to the rebells to fall on againe for shame; but itt seemed att That Time, they had not
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{a}ny minde so to doe, and well they had not, for our mens powder was all spent to some dozen shott, b which I supose was the reason that our men putt so good faces on the matter, that thereby they might disannimate the rebells the more. And allthough the distance of the mill, was not aboue muskett shott from the Castle, yett so were we surounded by this wicked Crue, as we coulde not come to knowe whether our men, were dead or aliue, or whether the enimie were pocessed of the ruines of the mill or no. Therfore to come to the knowledge of This I bethought my selfe that there was no other way, then to come to some fained parley with the rebbels, knoweinge that dureinge the Time of parley, iff our men were aliue they woulde rather venture to make an escape vnto the Castle, what euer itt Cost Then, then Lye Lurkeinge within a roofeless paire of Wales without shelter or munition, to be swallowed up by the rebells the night followeinge.
To this end we desired a Cessation dureinge vntill such Time as we sent a message vnto the and Letter, vnto the Rebells Tittularie <N> generall; which was graunted by him, and our Letter and message, was to This effect, to Lett him knowe, of the greate miserie the horses, cowes, sheepe, and cattell were in, which were pennd up within our wales, for want of their natural foode, and Therfore writt him worde that iff he pleased, we woulde entrust our Cattle with
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With him, rather then they shoulde starue in {that} pittiless manner, on condition that iff he Tooke {the} Castle, they shoulde be his with the Castle, {or} iff he Coulde not, Take the Castle, att the ray{sing} his seige, he shoulde returne vs the Cattl{e} againe. Before our letter and messenger came the rebells thought surely we woulde haue Treated att This Time about the surrendrie of the Castle, and Tearmes of quarter, but when Preston reade the letter, and sawe itt was so contrarie to his expectation, he grewe verry angrie, and returned vs answere, that he did not expect we coulde no haue conceaued that, he woulde Take charge of our Cowes. but before our messenger came back againe vnto us, we had our end and purpose, for our poore Six poore men, crept vnder the mill dame and escaped vnto us with there armes, allthough with much danger, haueinge hadd manny shotts made att them by the rebbells; and att there escape the rebells generally grewe more angrie then euer, Haueinge been fully resolved to have cutt them to peeces that night, to vindicate the blood of there brother rebells.
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The 18 day of January November 1642 The enemies cananeers beinge shott, and indeede there ordnance not preuailinge much on the wales Castle, they fell to mineinge againe, and by the intelligence of a mason that was att the buildinge the Castle, they hitt at Last on the right place, which was att in the side of a greene claysh banke on the west side of the castle, not fower yardes the mouth of there mines, not fower yardes distant from the verry foundation of the wales; there sappinge we hearde verry plainly; which caused v s [ ] to pelt and Therfore bestirred our selues, with shooteinge, and casteinge, and rowleinge greate stones, downe the Banke on Them, which did much anoy them, but the night grewe soe darke, and manny of them fell this night; but att Last the night grewe so darke, as we were faine, to hange ouer the wales, Torches, Linkes, Long Lanthornes and such & and to cast ouer strawe, ouer the wales and fire branches after itt, to giue the better light, which helped vs verry much to hitt the boddies of there men, and to Anoy there sappers, yett notwithstandinge doe what we they coulde, they gott by the breake of day vnder grounde, for ought we Knewe vnder the verry wales, which we perceaueinge, and knoweinge how Impossible, itt was for vs to houlde out, haueinge had in fowerteene monthes, no more then, one hundred smale waight of powder, and all that Ti of his maiesties store, and all that Time enforced to fight for euery bitt we putt into to our mouthes, and seeing no hope of releefe, we Thought good rather to surender {the castle}, then asuredly to Loose all our Liues, especially
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certainly especially Knoweinge, that the passages, betwe{en us} and our Armies, were so well manned by the re{bells} as itt was not to be thought the Lords Justices an{d} Councell woulde into runn the hazarde of send{ing} an Army from Dublin vnto vs the distance of betweene fiftie and threescore miles, to make through not onely the boddies of men, but thr{ough} men strengthened and encourged to fight by {the} <natural> strength naturall and artificiall strength of passes, and st r foordes, riuers, and stronge entrenchments; moreouer moue r d moued by the hideous cries of poore women and children ready to starue, our Cattell by which [ ] we must subsist and Liue, eatinge the maines, and tailes one of another for want of fodder, our men haue not in number aboue fifety for the who defe{nce} of the whole Castle, Killed allmost what for want of sleepe, and what with coulde in the often the rushinge through th {e} courte and what with could they Tooke, {in} the often rushinge through the dirtie courte to answere Alarums, which was made so noisome by the treadinge of the Cattell, that each stepp a man tooke, he was sunke to the verry Kneese in mudd and filth. We therfore duely conceauinge all these forementioned reasons and respects, on the nineteenth day of January Nouember 1642 about fale of the night <O> we sent vnto Preston, and desired to haue a parely, he sent vs worde, he was Content but withall toulde sent vs worde he woulde haue no cessation, onely in that quarter, {where}
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{he} that was to treate with him was to passe. he sent withall a pledge, for secureinge the person of him that was to treate; in a verry des{cent} faire and orderly manner. I my selfe { was } the [ ] of ventured to goe beginn the Treatie; and when I came into the enemies quarter, and was brought into Generall Prestons Tent, he asked what <{we}re> was my ocasions with him. I desired him <P> that he woulde reitterate a message that he sent vs vnto vs, the first day of his comminge before the Castle. He toulde me his message iff itt were deliuered aright, did Importe a demaunde, whether or no we helde that, castle for this Kinge or for the parliament; and iff we helde itt for the kinge, that we deli woulde deliuer itt up vnto him, who had a Comission sent vnto him from his maiestie into the Lowe Countries, from his maiestie, that he woulde repaire into Irelande and Take for his Maiesties vse such Castles, fortes, and Townes, within the Prouince of Leinster, as he Thought fitt, and there to place such garrisons of men, as he in his Judgment thought best for the secureinge the said places. and therfore he conceaueinge that this was a place fitt for that vse, for he demaunded the surendrie of the castle. And This I answered him, that my answere vnto him was this, That we of the cas all of vs the garrison now in the Castle, euer Thought, and was fully perswaded that we were there apointed, and placed, for the secureinge
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secureinge that place for his Maiesties vse and ha{d} comissions sent vnto vs to that purpose, from the {lords} Justices and Councell; but since he pretended {to} <Q> have a la{ter} comission, which vnto vs me seemed strang{e} I desired Preston to Informe me, what he intende{d} to doe, with the garrison of souldiers whoe had kept the Castle all this time for his Maiesties use, and with the poore women and children, that were in the Castle for that Time this present (iff the Castle shoulde be surendered for his Maiesties vse) and had kept the same all this time for his maiestie. he answered me that for the Gouernor and my selfe, we should haue Libertie, to march away, with a Competent number of Armes, with our Horse and foote, with Halfe, our plate and monny, all our cloathes but for the rest they shoulde onely march away with there weareinge cloathes, and as much proui halfe there monny, and as much prouision as woulde carry them away to Dublin which answere of his, I deliuered to the Gouernor, and the Gouernor went to Preston himselfe, drewe Articles with him to this purpose, and the next day we surendred the Castle, on beinge the 20th day of Januarie 1642; verry sorrie to parte with itt on those Tearmes (which we shoulde not haue done had we been able to haue maintained itt, for all his Jesuitticall professions, of the of his maiesties comission) but much more sorrie, to see his gratious maiestie, so Impiously belied and abused.
Chidly Coote
Jur xjo Aprilis 1643
Joh Watson
Will: Aldrich
Hen: Brereton
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