Examination of Donnell crone McCart

fol. 78r

1567

The examinacion of Donnell crone McCart of Ballycastle in the County of Antrim labourer taken before vs at Colerane the said 15th day of March 1652
<55> Who being duely sworne & examined saith That he being a soldier in ffergus McDowgalls Company About the first of January 1641 to his best memorie Archibald Stewart Esquire was desired to releive & bring over the Bann Mr George Canning who was beseiged by Manus roe ô Cahan & his men consisting of 500 Vpon which the said Mr Stewart instantly sent [ ] orders vnto Portnaw (where six of the Brittish Companies vnder his Command lay) to call 14 or 15 Musquetiers out of each Companey vnto the Crosse (a place opposite vnto the Castle of Aghgeavey where Mr Canning was beseiged) to ioyne with Capten Kennadaies Company who lay Constantly at the Cross, to bring Mr Canning his men & goods vnto the Eastside the Bann That vpon Tuesday the second day of January 1641 (as he remembers) James McColl McDonnell Allester McColl McDonnell Tirlagh oge ô Cahan & Donnell gorme McDonnell seduced the Highland Companeys being one of the Companies vnder Mr Stewarts Comand) who kept themselues entire & sent not a man out of that Company to bring over Mr Canning (excuseing <B> it by their Capten Randell McDonnells absence) & what other Irish of the Countrey they could perswade to joyne with them. And in the absence of the Brittish partie drawne vnto the Cross for releife of Mr Canning fell vpon the remainder of the said Brittish Companies (which quartered at severall places neere Portnaw distant the space of halfe a mile one from another) two daies houres before day, where this Examinante & 5: or 6: more of the said ffergus McDowgalls Company were taken prisoners & their lives saved by Allester McColl for that they were Highlanders And this Examinante saith that he believeth there were above forty of the Brittish murdred that morneing And being demanded why noe resistance was made by the Brittish He saith that

(66)

fol.78v

1568

that they did not suspect any danger seeing James McColls white Colours which he brought out of Scotland (through the twilight <C> come along with those Highland & Irish soldiers who overnight were part of the said Mr Stewarts Regiment But saith Capten Peebles Companey haveing some Jealouslie & sending one of the Companey to James McColl to know what the Alarum then raised meant he saith That vpon the same Soldiers comeing to him he was killed knocked in the head & they fell vpon the rest of the said Peebles Company & killed most parte of them And that the same day John Mortimer Manus roe ô Cahan & about fower or five hundred men came & ioyned with them & that night they sett the houses at the Cross on fyre & severall other houses in the Countrey & burnt the Towne of Ballymoney & from thence they Marched vnto Drummart where this Examinant made an Escape from them vnto Ballentoy And that the next night they marched to Darvocke & burned as they went alonge & killed all they could mett with And further he saith not

Tho: Coote
Rich: Brasier Major