Examination of Richard Shortall

fol. 156r

The examinacion of Richard Shortall of Eniscorthy gent aged fortie yeares or thereabouts taken vpon oath on the behalfe of the Comonwealth Concerning Edward Masterson of ffernes in the barrony of Scarewailsh & County of Wexford esquire vpon the Interrogatoryes annexed to the Comission of enquiry
<To the 1st Interr> The Examinant saith that hee well knew the said Edward for that hee was brother in law to this Deponent which said Edward dwelt at <i> his Manor of ffearnes from about febr after the warres brake forth till the Reducing of the said County of wexford by the Lord generall Cromwell his excellency: vnto the obedience of the Comonwealth of england
<To the 2d Inter> The Deponent saith that the said Edward being a protestant in the first yeare of the said Rebellyon did accompany the Lord Esmond at his withdrawing himselfe to the forte of Duncannon in the first beginning of the said Rebellyon <k> from in which forte the deponent verily beleiues the said Edward was, for that he was absent from his owne dwelling about two monthes after his goeing with the Lord Esmond as aforesaid, And about the end of the said two monthes the said Edward deserted the Lord Esmond & Returned to ffernes in the barrony & County aforesaid in the Irish quarters where he Continued all the time of the rebellyon, The deponents cause of knowledge is for that the deponent did see the said Edward goe with the said Lord Esmond at his departure to the said forte of Duncannon and afterwardes the deponent did see the Edward at masse in the Romane Catholicque worship he being formerly a protestant as aforesaid
<To the 3d Inter> The examinant saith That the said Edward (as he Confidently beleiues) did contribute his proporcion of moneys and <l> prouisions towardes the maintenance of the Irish forces (as well the first yeare of the Rebellyon & as since) that beseiged In regard the Imposicions were vniuersall
<To the 4th 5th & 6th Inter> Hee Cannot depose
<To the 7th Inter> The deponent saith that he is Confident the said Edward did take <m> the oath of associacion, in that the said Rules were soe strict that none were admitted to places of trust till he & they had taken the same
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fol. 156v

<To the 8th Interr> Hee Cannot depose
<To the 9th Interr> That the said Edward about the yeare 1646 was high sheriffe of the County of wexford and Cheife Receiuer of the Irish Revenues during his officiating in that Imployment The Deponents cause of knowledge is for that the said the said Edward <n> did in the deponents presence at Eniscorthy Execute seauen fellons or Rogues of the Irish by vertue of that office and for that the said Deponent did see the said Edward two or three seauerall times goeing to Kilkenny to paie in the Reuenue of the said County by him receiued to the Exchequer there for & in the Irish behalfe
<To the 10th Inter> The deponent saith that the said Edward had a brother by Name Nicholas Masterson who dwelt with his said brother as a protected person & a member of the said Edwardes familie <o> which said Nicholas did take vp Armes & became a Captayne of a foote Compnay in the Regiment of Sir Thomas Esmond after the Lord generall Coming to the said County Esmond for the Irish against the english In which capacity hee Continued till the said Sir Thomas Esmondes Regiment submitted vpon Articles At which time the deponent did see the said Nicholas Come in with his Companie among the Rest who is since gone for Spaine
<To the 11th Inter> Hee deposeth That one John vnderwood a protestant that dwelt neere fernes vpon the parte of the said Edwardes estate <p> did fly thence vnto Dublin the place of the english Refuge in the first beginning of the rebellyon
<To the 12th Inter> The Deponent saith that the said John vnderwood beinge possest of some corne vpon his departure the same was seized of vpon by the said Edward: The deponents cause of knowledge is for that the children of the said vnderwood having sued the said Masterson for the same about two <q> yeares since the said Edward Informed this deponent that he tooke the said corne, but pretended it was for Rent that was due to the said Edward Masterson, from the said vnderwood
<To the 13th Inter> Hee Cannot depose and further saith not &c
Rich: Shortall
Sworne before vs the
2d of March 1653
Edward Withey
William Moore
441