Deposition of Ralph Billing

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Ralph Billing late of Newcastle in the parish of Church Towne in the barony of Connelloe & within <in> the County of lymerick taylor (a brittish protestant) duely sworne and examined before vs by vertue of &c deposeth and saith That on or aboute the 24th day of August last & since the begining and of this presente rebellion in Ireland he lost was robbed and forceably dispoyled of his goods and Chattles to the seuerall values followeing vzt worth 32 li.
Of Cowes horses and one mare to the value of foureteene pounds Of houshould goods to the value of eighteene pounds The totall of his losses amounts to thirty Two pounds. The deponent saith that aboute the same time Patrick Purcell of Crogh in the said County Esquire (titulary lieutenant generall of the enemy forces in the province of Munster) accompanyed with the lord <hand> Roch the lord of Muskry the lord of Castleconell Edmond fitz Gerrald of Clenlis Edmond mc Shihy of Ballyellynane in the said County gentleman Oliuer Stevenson of Dunmoylin in the said County Esquire (lately deceased in open & actuall rebellion) Denis o Bryen of Ballyneberny in the said County Esquire & diuers others to the number of seaven Thousand men horse & foote in a hostill maner with collors flyeing battering & field peeces & other war lick Engines as battering & field peeces came to besiedge Newcastle aforesaid (whither this deponent and many other protestants betook had betaken themselues for their safe guard to the number of one thousand persons men [ ] women and children) & haveing continued siedge from Turesday morneing aboute ten a clock till Saturday followeing to the said Castle dureing which time one Anthony Hawkins Constable of the said Castle Comanded vpon payne of death that noe shott should be made against the said besiedgers wher{e} vpon by the aduise & Consent of the said Hawkins vpon s{at}urday aforesaid the said Castle was deliuered vpp together {with}

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the armes & amunition therin consisting of eight score shotts peecs vzt musketts callyvers pistolls carbines & pettronells besides a greate number of pikes and swords the said besiedge{rs} <then> promisseing and agreeing with this deponent & the rest for a faire quarter of their liues & thone moytie of their goods <B> with a faire convey to the English quarter, whoe noe sooner came away but by the way were stripped & robbed of all they had left them He lastly saith that the said Dennis o Bryen was formerly a reputed protestant but since this rebellion turned papist & further deposeth not
the marke of [mark] Ralph Billing
Jurat coram nobis
7o Decembris 1642
Phil: Bisse
Ric: Williamson

Ralph Billings Exam for
breach of Quarter at Newcastle
Limerick
Lo: Muskery
Reu:
D 13