Deposition of Robert Nicoll

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Robert Nicoll Minister at Skreene in the Dioces of Meath aged fifty six yeres or thereabouts sworne & examined before his maiesties Commissioners by virtue of a Commission to them in that befor behalf directed vnder the greate seale of Ireland sworne and examined deposeth and saith That he this deponent in the begining of the present Rebellion haveing beene by the Rebells deprived & dispoyled of all his meanes & flying for releefe to the Citty of Dublin Lived there with his family in great want and misery vntill the Cessation of Armes was proclaimed: After which tyme he being prest with want & vnfortunately runing a hazard against following danger to serve the Cure he had in charge & thereby to acquire some subsistence for himself and charg about the xxijth day of september Last 1643 repaired and returned to his old dwelling place in Skreene aforesaid, & in the Church there exercised his ministrie to such as would come to the Church (which to his great greef were but a few) and Juned and gathered some portion of tyth belonging to him Howbeit divers rebellious souldjers whose names he cannot expresse reputed to be vnder the Comand and gouerment of <A> Patrick Cusack of Garretstowne in the said County & others their assistants called the Slowbeg By the instigacion & procurement of his malignant papisticall neighbours maligning not only envying his function and profession but (as he is confident) all the English nation did vpon the xxvth day of January now Last past 1643 in meere derogacion & contempt of his Maiesties lawes & the proclamacion for Cessation of Armes aforesaid congregate themselues together at Skreene aforesaid And then and there being furnished with dangerous and vnlawfull weapons vizt swords

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pistolls and skeanes did in the night time forceibly attempt and falle vpon the breaking of the said howse, and eftsoone broke and burst open the dores thereof & with a fearfull noise entered into the place where the deponent and his family were & then and them most cruelly did beat wound and evilly intreate them and putt them into much feare, threatening to kill them for that they durst be soe bold as to come among them to dwell: Saying in great bitternes and that most publickly That the damned Cessation where vnto they this deponent and his family trusted should be noe peace for them And then and there robbed this deponent and his family of all his and their Corne provision victualls & cloths Leaving them stripped to their very shirts & smocks, and destitute of all comfort & releef: And further saith that most of the Rebells aforesaid doe frequent the howses and Lands of and are abetted & contenuanced <B> by the said Patrick Cusack & by Tho: Cusack of Staffordstowne & Patrick Brimdgham of Corballys in the parish of Skreen & said County of Meath: And saith that some of the aforesaid goodes were afterwards fownd vpon the Lands and neeghe the dwelling County and by him leif of the said Patrick Cusack by the Marshall of the said County and by him left in the hands of the said Patrick Cusack becawse in deed he the said Patrick refused to suffer the said Marshall to take away the same goods as he was crediblie tould by the said Marshall himself
Robert Nicoll
Jurat 9 Martij 1643
Hen: Jones
Hen: Brereton

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Meath
Robert Nicholl Jur
9o Marcij 1643
copied
Intw