Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Floating text 37
The Examination of Connor Lord Magwire, Baron of Eniskillin, taken before us, Charles Lord Lambart, and Sir Robert Meredith Knight, Chancell…r of his Majesties Court of Exchequer, the 26. day of March 1642. by Direction of the Right Honorable the Lords Iustices and Councell.
VVHo being Examined saith, That about the time when Mr. Iohn Bellew came out of England with …he Commission for the continuance of the present Parliament, Koger Moore, in the said Moores Chamber in the house of one Peter de Costres of this City, acquainted him this Examinant; that, if the Irish would rise, they might make their own condition for the regaining of their own Lands and freedome of their Religion,Note. at which time the said Moore also acquainted him this Examinant, that he had spoken with sundry of Leinster who would be ready for that purpose, and withall told him this Examinant, that he was assured a good part of Conaght would do the like, and thereupon moved this Examinant to joyn likewise with them with all he could make, unto which motion he this Examinant yeelded. And the next day following, there was a meeting in his the said Moores Chamber aforesaid▪ where were Col: Mac Bryan, Macmahone, Tir…lagh ô N…ale, Philip mac Hugh ô Relie this, Examinant, and Roger Moore, where discourse was had of that busi…esse, yet nothing concluded on; save that Roger Moore and the rest should go and prepare their parties: And this Examinant further saith, That about May l…st, he this Examinant, Roger Moore, Philip ô Relie, and Roger mac Guire, this Examinants Bro…her, dispatched a Priest, one Toole ô Conleij, who lived in Leinster, unto Owen ô Neale into Flanders to acquaint him with the businesse concerning the Generall Rebellion then in preparation,Note. which said Preist re…urned about a MonethMonth before the time appointed for execution thereof: And the answer which the said Priest brought from the said Owen ô Neale was, that he would (within fifteen dayes after the people were up) be with them with his best Assistance and Armes; and it being demanded why he said Owen should bring Armes considering the C…stle of Dublin was to be taken and the Armes therein. This Examinant answered, that they so provided for Armes, that they might not want any in case they could not take the said Castle, whereof they doubted: And this Examinant acknowledgeth, That the Castle of Dublid, was to have been surprised by himself, Captain Bryan ô Neale, Captain Con ô Neale Captain Macmahone, one Owen ô Relie, Roger Moore Hugh Macmahone, Col: Pluncket, and Captain Fox, and likewise further acknowledgeth, that Hugh mac Pheli…, Captain Con ô Neale, and Bryan ô Neale, brought from Owen ô Neale out of Flanders, the very same Message which the said Priest brought: And this Examinant further saith, That he was told by Roger Moore, that a great Man was in the Plot, but he might not name him for the present: And at another time, and during the sitting of the Parliament; the last Summer, he this Examinant was informed by one Iohn Barnwell, a Tranciscan Fryer then resident in this City, that those of the Pale were also privy unto the Plot (meaning the present Rebellion) and lastly saith, That of those persons who came to attend him this Examinant for the surprise of the said Castle of Dublin only Cohonough Maguire, was privy unto the businesse in hand, and that the last meeting (when the day appointed for execution thereof was resolved on) was at Logh Rosse, where were present only,Note. Ever Macmahone Vicar Generall of the Diocesse of Clogher, Thomas mac Kearnan, a Fryer of Dundalk, Sir Phelim ô Neale, Roger Moore, and Bryan ô Neale.
Charles Lambart. Rob: Meredith. Concordat cum Originali. Ex. per Paul Harris.
Memorandum, That this within written being shewed and read unto the within named Lord Maguire, and himself having perused the same, his Lordship did acknowledge the same to be true in all things, saving, that he doth not now acknowledge that Barnwell told him, that those of the Pale were privy to the Plot; neither doth acknowledge, that Cohonagh Maguire was privy to the Plot, before his coming to Dublin.
This Examination and acknowledgement, was made and taken the 22. day of Iune, 1642. Anno Regni Caroli Regis deremo ditum, before us.
Iohn Bramstone.
Thomas Malet.
In the presence of
Io. Conyers.
W. Ayloffe.
Nath. Finch.
The Examination of Cornelius Maguire, Lord Baron of Eniskillin in Ireland, taken before Isaack Pennington Esq Lieutenant of the Tower of London; and Laurence Whitaker Esq two of his Majesties Iustices of the Peace, for the County of Middlesex, the first day of October. 1644.
HEE denieth the receiving of any Letters or Messages out of England before the Rebellion, nor did he ever hear of any. He, saith he▪ was but a mean Instrument in the design in Ireland: He confesseth, he intended to Seize upon the Castle of Dublin, and the Magazine there, and keep it till they had redresse of some grievances, which they purposed to propound to the Parliament there: One whereof was, to have a Toleration of the Roman Catholike Religion. He confesseth that he came accidentally to Phillip Rellyes house as he came up to Dublin; and as he remembreth, Mr. Macmahone was then there, and that his intention of coming up to Dublin, was to put the aforesaid design in execution, and that then and there, they had speech about that design; but remembreth not the particulars: Which design was to be put in execution the 23. day of Octob. in that year, and that he was taken there that very day, being Saturday upon search made for him, carryed before the Lords Iustices, examined, committed and sent over into England.
He saith further, that he made his escape out of the Tower of London, upon Sunday the 18, of August last, about foure of the clock in the Morning.
Laurence Whitaker.
Isaack Pennington.
The Examinations of Hugh Macmahone, taken at Dublin in this conspiracy, since condemned of High Treason in the Kings Bench, and executed as a Traytor at Tiburn the last Michaelmas Term, I concur in substance with the L. Maguires: and here follow in their order of time.