Deposition of Owen O’Roircke

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The deposition of Mr Owen o Roircke of Belagallwine in the Barrony of Dromahere and County of Leatrim taken before mee the 14th of May 1653
This deponent beeing examined, and sworne on the holy Evangelist sayth that hee came not to the siedge of Sligo vntill about three or fowre dayes after that Bryan mcDonnogh Leftenant <A> Collonell Charles and Hugh o Connor, brothers to O Connor Sligo Captaines Captain Teige Boy o Connor [J ohn o C] Chahell Duff McGlannaghy Mleaghlin mcGlanaghy, (with severall others whose names the Deponent remembereth not) had besiedgeed the towne. The deponent beeing demanded what made him then come sayth that hee receiued two severall threatening letters from Bryan mcDonnogh and Teige Boy o Connor that if hee did not immediately, and forthwith advance vnto Sligo with his company; that they would burne, and destroy him, and giue him the like measure with other enemyes This deponent beeing farther examined and questioned, what hee saw acted, after his marching into the Towne, sayth that that night that hee came itt was so Late that hee ioyned not himselfe vnto them vntill next Morneing, and then hee came to the small parish church ioyneing to the Towne where they had a meeteing, and some debate about who should Command in chiefe att lenght they resolved itt should bee tendered to O Connor which accordingly was donne, but O Connor Refuseing of itt, <B> Bryan mcDonnogh tooke itt on himselfe, without any further questioning of itt. This Deponent further sayth that by the breake of the next day those Castles which were possest by the english, had made theire captiulation, and hee the said Examinant beeing sent for to James Frenches house (as hee remembereth,) by Bryan mcDonnogh was spoken vnto by him or some of the officers then present, to signe the artickles which they had agreed vppon, which hee flattly denied to doe beecause that (as hee sayth) they had not for merly made him acquainted with theire former Consultations about itt; The said Examinant beeing further questioned whither <C> Teige o Connor Sligo were then present, or no, att the time that they sent for him to the signeing of the said Articles affirmeth that hee was, but whither hee the said Teige O Connor signed the said Articles, or no, hee knoweth not for hee the said Examinant left the place immediately beeing some what displeased that they tooke no greater notice of him. The said Examinant further sayth that a commanded

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a commanded party out of the severall Companies, then present were sent into the several Castles, for the maning of them, and receiueing the armes which were deliuered vp vnto them imediately after the articles were signed in which quiett posture they continued att that night and next day, and the night following vntill about after noone the next day, about which time there was a false alarme giuen (as hee conceiueth) by Bryan mcDonnoghs meanes that the English forces from the County of Roscomon ward were neare hand, vppon theire advance vnto the towne for the rescueing of the besiedged, where vppon the soldiery fell a plundering of all such brittish as were in the Castles or the towne, The said examinant beeing further questioned where hee was all dur ing the time of the said plundering sayth, that hee was then, in the Lady Jones her Castle, tog and in the Lady Jones her owne roome, together with many, other officers where likewise mr william Rycroft, Mr william welsh and Mr Browne the Minister were, who perceiuing the outrage the soldiers were in, within and abroad, calld to the officers then present for to assist them in the preserveing theire liues, and makeing good theire quarter vnto them, and that none tooke notice of them, but were as busie in plundering, as the rest att Lenght Mr welsh, and Mr Rycroft being intimatly acquainted with the examinant called vnto him and desired him to secure theire liues, wherevppon the said examinant immediately drew out his sword, and made way through the press for those three, which together with the assistance of his sonne hee convoyed in safety vnto a house neare Robbuck o Creans and from thence sent his sonne with Mr welsh to O Connor Sligos howse where hee desired to bee secured himselfe, and hee convoyed Mr Roycroft (according to his owne desire) to Mr Andrew Creans Castle, for Mr Browne, hee left him in that said house neare Robbuck o Creans, which was his owne desire The said examinant likewise sayth that Mr welsh, as they were Commeing out of the Lady Jones her house, gaue him the said examinant a smale bundle of Cloathes belongeing to his children which hee dsired him to secure for him, and which hee tooke with him out vnder his arme, and restored vnto him and likewise that Mr Browne deliuered vnto him when hee saw him in more safety, all which hee referreth to the testimony of Mr Browne beeing now liueing in the North, Mr. Rycroft and Mr Welsh beeing dead. The Examinant beeing further demanded if hee knew any thinge relateing to the Murther committed on do n ne of the English and Scotch afterwards in the towne of Sligo, sayes that hee knoweth nothinge of itt, and further sayth not,
Ow: O Ruorrke
Signed, and acknowledged before mee as wittness my hand
Rich: Coote

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Concering the business of Sligo
Mr Owen ô Rourkes examinacion
Prisoner