Examination of George McLaughlin

fol. 61v

[1534]

The examinacion of George McLaughlin of Colerane Innkeeper taken before vs at Colerane the third day of March 1653
<32:> Who being duely sworne & examined saith That he was one of the Brittish party which was routed by the Irish in the layny vpon the 11th of ffebruary 1641 since called blacke ffriday That he believes there was slaine by the Irish of the Brittish at that Rout about five or six hund hundred That he fled vpon the Rout to the left hand & soe escaped killing That the same night he returneing towards Colerane in the Evening he see a Party of the Irish standing in the way he intended to goe & perceiving they had spied him he haveing Irish & being an Irishman went forwards & comeing <A> neere them he mett with one of his acquaintance who would have had him to put of his breeches & put of his breeches & put on his [ ] trowses & made him pull of his band & soe he went along with him & the rest that night & the next Morneing this Examinante & some of the Irish came vnto a barne in Ballymoney where the Irish Gent following were to Witt Sir James McDonnell James McHenry James McSorlye Allester McColl Kittagh McDonnell with severall others of the rebells, where the said James McHendry (since killed) asked this examinante severall questions concerning the

(33)

fol. 62r

1535

strength of the forces in Colerane & what gunns were made & a <B> makeing at Colerane & after the said James McHendry had done in askeing these questions theye had a clarke there who this Examinante knowes not writt a letter by the direccions of the said Gent: to Tirlagh oge O Neile who then was marching towards Antrim as this examinante heard the contents of which letter was to let him knowe that they had given an overthrowe to their enemy the Brittish & alsoe <C> wrote vnto him either for a Cannon or Carnnoneer (which of them he doth not remember) to come against Colerane, which they hoped to gaine within few daies likewise the same Irish Gent wrote at the same time another letter to the Countess of Antrim declareing how they her servants had killed nyne Hundred (as he remembers) of her ladyshipp & their Enemies desireing her to make her liquor a little stronger then her last liquour was or otherwise they would noe longer be her Ladyshipps servants & soe the said Sir James McDonnell & the other Irish Gentlemen subscribed the said letters And further he saith not

Tho: Coote
Rich: Brasier Major