Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Floating text 40
The Examination of Hugh Mac Mahone, taken the 20. day of Octob. 1644.
I. HE saith, that the Warrant which Philip O Neale told him of, was for the seazing of some strong Holds in his Country,Note. which was the County of Cavan; remembreth not whose hand or hands were subscribed to it besides Sir Maur▪ Eustaces, and that the intention of that Warrant was, that the strong Holds of that County should be seized upon untill they of that County had satisfaction unto their demands and grievances, which were to be presented to the Parliament. He remembreth not the date of that Warrant, nor how long it did beare date before the discovery of the Plot: remembreth not who w…re acquainted with the Warrant besides Orelly and himselfe, saving only one Hugh Orel…y, who was then present, when Philip Orelly shewed it to this Examinant; and Philip Orelly told him that the like Warrant was to goe into all Shieres of that Kingdom, and that it was to be accompanied with a Commission from the King or with other Copies of it; which he saith, he hath*That is by some Oxford cavalliers sin…e his escape out of the Tower: S… he twice confessed it her…t…fore. p. 238, 239. since heard to be false.
II. He confesseth, he was at Philip Orellyes house five nights before the discovery of the Rebellion; and that he told him this, except that the designe thereof was resolved upon in the May before, and that the matter touching the seazing of the Castles of the Kingdome, was referred to a Committee of Parliament to be considered of; and saith, that the Lord Magwire met him that night at Orellyes house, with his wife and children; but denyeth, that the Lord Magwire heard any of the conference which this Examinant had with Philip Orelly, but only at this Examinants departure from thence in the morning, he said, he should meere this Examinant in Dublin: but upon better advertisement this Examinant saith, that at his taking leave of the Lord Magwire, this Examinant said to him; What if the matter be as Orelly said, and that we seaze upon the Castle at Dublin, how if the City stir? The L. Magwire answered; What should they stir for, when we*This he feined since his app…ehension after his escape the carriage of the Rebels in all other parts, and the Testimonies p. 241, 242, 24…. contradicting it. wil do no body no hurt? perhaps we may shoot off a warning-piece, when we have taken the Castle, in some voyd place, or some Chimnies to make a noise.
III. He knoweth not any thing.
IV. & V. He saith, he did discourse about that Plot with one Rory Mac Mahone, and Kedman Mac Mahone, but did not consult with them about it otherwise then by telling them, what Philip Orelly had told him; and that he was the first and last that ever told him of it, and he thinketh Rory Mac Mahone, and Redman are still living, but where he knoweth not.
VI. He saith, that one Art. Mac Mahone, and two Boyes did accompany him to Dublin the 22. of October, of which boyes one was 24. or 25. yeares old, and the other 16. or 17. which Art. was also taken there and put in prison, and for the two boyes he knoweth not what became of them, and saith, that 8. persons came up after him out of the County of Monaghan, which were part of the twenty that were to be sent up out of that County; but remembreth not the names of any of those eight persons, and he spake not with any of them.
VII. He saith, that Ockonelly (as he remembreth) told him of the taking of Charlemon…, or of some stir about it, but by whom it was taken or seazed upon he knoweth not, if it were taken; nor knowes who was at the taking of it.
VIII. He knoweth the L. Blanyes house in the County of Monaghan, but knoweth nothing of the Fort of Mont-Ioy, nor whether there be such a place, or no.
IX. He knoweth not what Forts or places were taken in this rebellion.
X. He knoweth most of the parties named in this Inter; but denyeth that ever he had any discourse with any of them about the rebellion, more then that he told two or three of them what Philip Orelly had told him.
XI. He had speech with Con Mac Bryan Mac Mahone, so far as to tell him what Orelly had told him, but with the other man no speech at all.
XII. No speech with any of them.
XIII. He knoweth of no other encouragement given to him but that Orelly told him, that the King did say to Pluncket, sticke you to me, and I will sticke to you, and the Commission formerly mentioned which the Lord*Since his escape here, but confesseth it here before. p. 231. Magwire said, was not true.
XIV. Knoweth no more then he hath said, but that Mackennay should come up from the County of Monaghan with twenty men, to be of the number of those that should seaze the Castle.
Isaack Penington.
Lawrence Whitaker.
To these Examinations I shall adde this ensuing Testimony which will more fully discover the bloody intentions of those Conspirators against the Protestants and English in Ireland.