Examination of David McKenlaies

fol. 57r

1525

The examinacion of David McKenlaies of Dunluce in the County of Antrim Cooper taken before vs the second day of March 1652
<26:> Who being duely sworne & examined saith That he dwelt in Dunluce at the Begining of the Rebellion in Ireland. That vpon Saturday <A> the three & twentith day of October 1641 Gilduffe ô Cahan his son in law Brian Modder McHenry ô Cahan, & his owne sonnes Manus ô Cahan & Connogher reagh ô Cahan & Brian Ballagh ô Cahans two sonnes with other followers came who vnto Dunluce Towne & stayd there drinking all that day & all that night vntill Sunday about twelue of the Clocke About which time he the said Gilduffe ô Cahan Brian Modder McHenry ô Cahan with other the Persons forenamed entred & manned the Castle of Dunluce That the newes of the Irish Rebellion on the other side the Bann did not come vnto the Brittish at Dunluce vntill about fower howers after the said Persons had surprized the Castle which was about fower of the Clocke that Sunday in the afternoone Vpon which the Brittish in Dunluce manned the Outer gate above the Castle & then the said Gilduffe & the other Persons forenamed drew vp the draw bridge of the Castle, & the Brittish cut of or broake vp the Conduits which conveyed water to the Castle That about eight of the Clocke that Sunday at night Mr Alexander <B> McDonnell the Earle of Antrims brother Archibald Stewart Esquire & Capten Digby came to Dunluce & called before from the staires before the Castle to see who was in the Castle And the said Gilduffe treated with them out of one of the Turretts over the Castle Gate, & after some Conference suffered them three alone to enter in And this Examinante further saith that afterwards the keepeing of the said Castle of Dunluce was committed vnto Capten Digby & the Brittish partley by agreement with the said Gilduffe & partely by Order from the Earle of Antrim After which the said Capten Digby & the Brittish in the said Castle and Towne lived peaceably vntill the Murder at Portnaw which was committed on or about the second day of January 1641 Within or about fower nights after which Murder James McColl McDonnell Alexander McDonnell McColl Kittagh Randell Mc

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fol. 57v

1526

<C> Randell McDonnell Gilduffe ô Cahan John Mortimer Donnell grome McAllester, Coll McAllester Randell McAllester & Brian Modder McHenry ô Cahan with others whom he knowes not came with all their forces vnto Dunluce, the Brittish being fled out of the Towne vnto the Castle & rocks about the Castle That they sent a letter by one vpon a stick to summon Capten Digby to surrender the Castle which letter was signed by James McColl McDonnell & Gilduffe O Cahan & other of their cheife leaders which Castle the said Capten Digby refuseing to yeild vp the said Gilduffe ô Cahan stood in the street of Dunluce & he & the rest of the said leaders caused the Towne of Dunluce to be sett on fire & then murdred or caused their men to murder William Gault Merchant John Mathew (whom after they had knocked downe they threw over the Rockes) John Arthurs throat was cutt through [ ] with a sword & two more poore people whose names he knowes not were stript & throwne downe the steepe rocks of Dunluce All which people soe slaine were naked & unarm’d <D> And this Examinante further saith that in April 1642 Gilduffe ô Cahan & his men burned all or most of the houses & Haggards of Corne in the parish of Ballyagherane And further he saith not

Tho: Coote
Rich: Brasier Major