Testimony of Thomas Smith

fol. 269r

1585
I Thomas Smith of oranbegg in the Countye of Galway gentleman doe hereby declare & testifie that in the begininge of the present rebellyon Ricard Burke of derymclaghay Thomas Burke of Anballye & others their offic ers & souldiers vnder their comaunde to a greate number <A> haueing taken the prey of William Kinge, Collonel Thomas Burke was in my house at Oranbegg aforesaid, and vppon notice thereof the said lord Burke tould me that the Earle of Clanrrickard whom he then served charged him to take speciall care to preserve the said William Kinge, & John Morgan & their goods & prayed me, to goe alonge with him in hopes he & I might reschue the said Kings prey, & at his intreatye I wayted on him, & he & I crost the Bridge of Oranmore & laboured as much as wee could to stopp the prey, but being a weaker partye theare being none with vs but the said Collonel & his twoe men & myselfe could not prevai le & though the said Collonel Burke was offered a share of the prey to decline his interuption he refused the same & in greate passion being not able to resist the multitude he parted & went to the Earle of Clanrickard and as I was crediblye informed obtained orders or lettres for the restitution of the said prey. I doe further certifie that I doe know the said Collonel Burke since the said rebellyon & that though many of his neerest friends did labour to destroy me yett he alwayes stoode me fryende, & hath beene a chiefe & greate instrument to preserve my life, being suspected to haue then held intelligence with Maior Ormesby & that in all that tyme I did not know or neuer till heard till he was latelye questioned that he would be tainted for the effusion of any of the English bloode, either those executed at Clarin bridge or any other All which in discharge of my conscience being not vppon the common wealthes Imployment & therefore not able to repaire to the Boylle whereto I was summond by the high Courte of Justice I doe hereby certifie to be true As wittnes my hande the 19th of Juine 1653.
Tho: Smith

fol. 269v

1586

fol. 270r

1587

fol. 270v

1588

Tho: Smithes certificate