Examination of Robert Hamill

fol. 64r

1539

The examinacion of Robert Hamill of Ballymoney Parish yeoman taken before vs the said 4trh of March 1652
<36:> Who being duely sworne & examined saith That he was one of Capten Peebles Company in the Brittish Regiment vnder the Command of Archibald Stewart Esquire And that for secureing this side of the Bann the same Regiment lay vpon the Bannside That but vpon Tuesday the second day of January 1641 to his best knowledge James McColl McDonnell & Alexander McColl McDonnell perswaded & tooke of the Highland Company part of the same Regiment & drew together some Irish & early in the morning of the same day (the Brittish heareing an Alarum but suspecting noe danger drew vp towards one Coopers house) where they heard Mr Stewart was drawing the Regiment together & in their March thither they espied A great number of men with the Highland & other Colours of the Brittish Regiment (their friends as they supposed) and the Brittish sent one John Murdogh of to the said men whom by their Colours they supposed their owne men, to see what newes; which man comeing vp to them this Examinante see one come from the same Highland Company & other the forces with them, who runn him through with a sword; And he saith that he see the said James McColl McDonnell & the said Alexander McColl McDonnell lead on the said Highland Company & the Irish whom they had gathered with their Headpieces on And that when they came neere, where the Brittish forces were, drawne vp, they went to the right & left hand & wellnigh encompassing the Brittish (who vntill then by reason of their Coulours did not suspect them) powred in vpon them a volley of shott vpon which the British conceiveing themselves betraied runn for their lives And he saith that of eleaven files of Capten Peebles Company he, never could heare of any that escaped alive besides himself & six men more And this Examinante saith that he believeth that the number of them who were gathered together to murder

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fol. 64v

1540

murder the said Regiment were about 2000: And further he saith not.

Tho: Coote
Rich: Brasier Major