ABout the sixteenth of October 1641. before any notice of an Insurrection of this great and generall Rebellion, Captaine Lawson having occasion to take a journey from London-der­ry unto Dublin, and to to travell by way of Belfast, to the iron workes within two miles thereof, wherein he had some stocke and interest, tooke his journey from thence with intent to goe for Dublin upon Friday the 21. of October following, and came and rested that night in safety at Drummore, where arising early the next morning, being Saturday, tooke his journey towards Newry, when upon the way he happened to meete with a sonne of Sir Edward Tre­vers comming from thence, who related unto him upon enquiry, that the Countrey there was rising in Rebellion, which he not giving much credit to, went forwards untill he came within a mile of Newry to the Bridge there, observing and seeing upon the way upon severall hils, ten and twenty men in a company, and the Bridge guarded with about 80. men, who offered to assault this Captaine, whereupon he observing great danger, being accompanied onely with his man, returned backe to Loughbrickelane, where he happened to meete with Sir Thomas Lucas and Captaine Armestrong, where after long conference betweene them, a messenger approaches, and comes, who did relate the truth of a gene­rall Rebellion in all those parts; upon further conference it was agre­ed and concluded that the said Captaine Lawson with the rest should repaire for their reliefe to a house of Sir Edward Trevers, whither be­ing come, they found there his sonne Marke Trevers, and his wife, and a maid, and an Irish Agent of his, who was well mounted, and had served his Father sixteene yeeres, and five Irish footmen ready to depart thence into another house of his Fathers about twelve miles distant, [Page 2]his Father being gone in his Coach about an houre before a by-way from Newry, but yet not above a mile or two from Newry. So deman­ding what to doe for best safety, it was agreed amongst them, that they should goe into Sir Edward Trevers house, it being a place of some de­fence; and comming within a mile thereof, they sent their footmen before to the house, and stayed themselves upon the side of a hill, to have intelligence if the house were safe, whereupon one of the boyes in company with them, the rest being fled to the Enemy, returned and acquainted them that Sir Conn. Mackgennis had newly taken his Fathers house and himselfe prisoner so considering what to doe, it drawing to­wards night, it was resolved they should ride all night and goe Downe­patricke way, when they presently espied a horseman comming from Newry, whereupon Captaine Lawson and the Irish Agent stayed to en­quire for newes, and the rest of the company going forwards, but see­ing the Enemies horse halt on the way, and the rest of the company be­ing about a quarter of a mile before: Captaine Lawson desired the Irish Agent to come along with him forwards in their company, but being well mounted he leaves Captaine Lawson, and ridde to the Enemy to Newry, and presently rose 80. men, and followed Captaine Lawson and his company to Dondromme, where they stayed for a short time, in and about halfe an houre after they left it, came the Enemy and tooke it in, where in pleased God to give them a great deliverance, that night being Saturday; and the next morning being Sunday about breake of the day they came to Downe-patricke, where they stayed to heare a Ser­mon, all the Towne being in a great affright.

After which they went forwards and came that night to Killeleagh to the Lord Hamiltons, where Sir Thomas Lucas and the rest stayed, and Captaine Lawson thereupon that night procured a man with him from thence, and came in the night by Comber, through the Lord of Ardes Countrey about by litttle Belfast, and came to great Belfast, and up to the Iron workes neare thereunto about three of the clocke in the mor­ning, where his wife was then resident, and having sent severall mes­sengers before to enquire after him, who were taken and robbed. But Captaine Lawson not having rested there above two houres, arose, cal­ling two horsemen with him. And in the morning being Munday, went downe backe againe to great Belfast, where they found most part of the inhabitants fled, and flying, and carrying away their goods to Car­rickefergus, and the old Lord Chichester shipped aboard in a Ship. So Captaine Lawson went throughout the Towne, and blamed them much for offering to leave the Towne, and intreated for some Armes, [Page 5]either by buying or lending, but could not prevaile. At last he found in Master Lesquires house seven Musquets and eight Halberts ready in the streets to be shipped for Carrickefergus, which Armes he tooke and bought a Drumme, and beating the same through the Towne, [...]aised about twenty men, who came with him againe up to the Iron works, having Mr. Forbus, & some number with him joyned with Cap. Lawson, where also he gathered in-all about 160. horse & foot, who about two of the clocke upon the same Munday in the afternoone, being the 25. of October, the second day after the rebellion, marched unto Lisnegarvy, and there entred the Towne about foure of the clocke the same day, all the people with the Troope there engarrisond, having before left the Towne to the Enemies mercy the Sunday before, and they quartered all that night, in the house the Bishop of Downe lived in, and put many Candles in the Market-house and Centries out in every quarter of the Towne, making shew of sixe or seven lighted matches for every piece to astonish the Enemy, who came to the Centries that night, intending to have burnt the Town, but our shew and carri­age was more then our force, the Enemy being strong and many in num­ber, by which meanes they were affrighted and beaten off that night. And The next morning being Tuesday, the Enemy appeared by the Townes end, and drived before them about 400. Cowes, whereupon Captaine Lawson with 45. horse issues forth, leaving the rest to guard the Towne, and it pleased God by their good labour and industry they tooke the prey of Cowes, and some prisoners, and killing others of the Enemy, and got seventeene of their mantles. And after sending the prey into the Towne, they adventured three miles further, and brought in before night as many more Cowes, and kept them within the Bawne wall of the Bishops house, and all the next night secured the Towne also. Sir Conn. Mackgennis threatning and sending word he would burne the Towne that night, but it please God they were prevented and beaten off, and the Towne kept in safety, and often is­sued forth amongst the Enemy to prevent their gathering to a great head, untill at length upon the next day being Wednesday, the Troope and townesmen came in againe to the Towne, hearing and understan­ding what service Captaine Lawson and his small company of men had done there in securing the same, the preservation whereof under God was a meanes of the safety not onely of Lisnegarvy and Belfast, but of most of those parts thereabouts. Being the first that op­posed the Enemy in those parts. And at night came thither the Lord of Ards forces and the Lord Hamilton, Sir Arthur Firingham, Captaine [Page 6] Chichester, Sir Thomas Lucas, and Sir James Montgomery, and Mr. Arthur Hill, with their forces, who Captaine Lawson and his men great thankes for their good care and service in the Towne, and offered to give him a Commission to enable him to doe more service, which he was very unwilling to accept of, in regard of his Calling, being a Merchant. But being moved by Sir Thomas Lucas, accepted thereof, and gave him power thereby to raise as many horse and foote as he pleased in the Counties of Downe and Antrym (as may appeare by his said Commission) praying him to accept thereof, the said Sir Thomas Lucas promising he would acquaint his Majesty with his good service, which the rather encouraged him to accept thereof.

So there being come up to Lisnegarvy about 1500. horse and foote, himselfe, his men, and company had their order by their Commission, and quarters about the Iron workes in the Barony of Belfast, and then left to the Army about 400. Cowes, and onely brought with him from thence about sixty Cowes for his owne company.

About foure daies their Armies stayed in Lisnegarvie, and in that time most of their men went home with some Cowes to Claneboyes, and the Ards, and Captaine Chichester, Sir Arthur Tiringham, with some others, went to Drommore, where the Enemy approaching upon them, they retired home to their Quarters, by which meanes Lisnegarvie was left in a worser case then at first, so was Captaine Lawson was forced from time to time upon all Alarms to come up from his Quarters, be­ing three miles off to relieve the Towne. And for the space of a moneth by reason of the often approaches of the Enemies got little rest in day or night, but still in skirmish and assisting the Town, and was at the putting 250. of the Enemy out of Mr. Rawdens house neare there­unto, and recovered from them some Lead, with much other goods left therein, and were preserved for the owners, and killed severall of the Enemy at that time and afterwards above ten or more every day, and marched up to Ballanderry, and brought many Cowes from thence, put out Mr. Rory an Arch-rebell out of his house, losing upon many skirmishes some few of his men, which the Countrey thereabout well knowes, in which service Captaine Windsor was, and behaved himselfe gallantly, and severall other times as occasion offered.

At last having gotten notice of a Ship of his which he had fraugh­ted with Butter from Londonderry to goe for France, was stayed there and not suffered to passe. Captaine Lawson acquainted Captaine Chi­chester, Sir Arthur Tiringham, and the rest of the Commissioners, there­with, [Page 7]desiring them to have leave to come to Derry to take some course to release her, which they willingly granted, and gave him a Warrant under their hands (as doth appeare) unto his two Lieutenants and Quarter-master to command his company of horse and foote in his ab­sence, being limited for ten dayes and no longer, and withal write their letters in his behalfe to some of the Commissioners at Londonderry to take him into their care, and shew him all favour in releasing of his Ship and goods, and setting forth the good services done by him in those parts, as likewise doth appeare. Howbeit the Commissioners at Derry at his comming thither taking into consideration the great number of distressed robbed people there, and no shipping there to transport them, he was refused, his goods unshipped, and much spoyled, and much lost, and imbezelled by reason of the distraction of the times, and lost of Ad­vance-money to the Master of the Ship 30. li. Sterling, besides the benefit of his market beyond Seas, and for the defraying of his credit abroad and at home, which was the onely staffe of his livelihood, and might have beene the meanes to have returned a Ship or more of Corne in­tended for these parts, so as he cannot be lesse dampnified then 600. li. the same ship being afterwards imployed to carry away into Scotland about 500. poore soules, which would have perished if that occasion had not beene offered, no other shipping being there resident for the space of sixe moneths before. So as all his goods so shipped, being Butter, are wholly imployed and disposed for the supply of the seve­rall Regiments, his owne Souldiers and others of the British there.

By reason whereof, and for that the Countrey all about in this time were then broken out into open rebellion, he could not in safety returne backe to his Quarters by Land or by Sea, but was forced to stay in Derry; howbeit all his company at the Iron workes still kept on foote for foure moneths together, doing good service all that time, they being at all battels, and skirmishes there with the Enemy, and about ten of his company lost therein, whereof one was Captaine Boyd his Souldier at first, and after made a Captaine, whose wife and poore children wholly depend upon Captaine Lawsons reliefe; so as he can­not have expended lesse then 1200. li. for the raising, keeping, and main­taining his severall companies there, with Victuals, Munition, and Armes, besides all his stocke at the Iron workes, with the works them­selves wholly lost and brought to decay, the Sowe-iron unwrought to the quantity of 2000. li. value, beside much Iron oare, and 1000. tunnes of square timber most burnt by the Souldiers, 1000. loads of Charcoles [Page 8]burnt by the Enemy at Forge, Fornace, and in the Woods, with three Gorne Mils, and many houses burned, and land layed waste, and all the movables taken away by the Enemy and others, the land and Mils being worth 150. li. per Annum. The Mils, Lands, and Woods, wholly belonging to Robert Barre Esquire his Father in Law, onely 2000. li. Sterling which Captaine Henry Osburne his brother in Law & he had as a stocke on foot therein, which upon the matter is the losse of the greatest part of their three estates, the whole losse is above 12000. li.

In the interim of which time Captaine Lawson the more to expresse his willingnesse to further his Majesties service, having a Ship come into Carrickefergus, at the first of the rebellion, which was laden with 85. tunnes of Salmon for the accompt of him, Captaine Henry Finch and Captain Osburn, with other goods for Derry, and bound for France, caused the same to transport from thence to Dublin, Sir Thomas Lucas & Cap. Charles Boulton, where being landed, & the ship intending forwards to France, was presently after cast away worth 2000. l. Sterling, occasion­ed by the same. And by that conveyance Cap. Boulton getting to Dublin, shortly afterwards brought backe from thence to Londonderry, thirty Barrels of Powder, with other Armes and Munition, being the first re­liefe and supply which came thither for the supplies of the Regiments, and Souldiers there, without which they had beene utterly lost and perished, as being destitute before of any Power or Armes.

Captaine Lawson not being able by reason of the generall rebellion to returne backe from Derry unto his charge and companies at Lisne­garvie and the parts thereabouts, the Commissioners at Derry desired him to make his stay there, it being the place of his most aboade and dwelling, and were pleased to give him another Commission to raise a company there, which he out of a desire and zeale to the publike ser­vice did at his owne cost, consisting of 150. foote and eleven horse, and were there lately so mustered by the Commissary, which company of horse and foote he hath kept, maintained, and continued at his owne charge by weekly pay of two shil. six pence weekly, from the first of De­cember 1641. & 100. beside officers still continued on foot by his weekely pay; and hath issued and delivered out about 4000. Deale boards to make severall houses with timber, Planckes and Nailes to receive the Souldiers, their wives and children in the dead of Winter, most of them having beene men of good ability and housholders, neither hath he beene wanting on his part for and towards the repairing of the de­cayed wals, gates, and ramparts of the City, and doing other necessary [Page 9]workes there, and hath begunne a trench without the wals of the City of good consequence, intended to be perfected; for all which he can­not have expended lesse, to our understanding, then 5000. li. Sterling, besid [...]s his losse of severall houses, goods, and commodities at Strabane, all burned and consumed, to the value of 1500. li. Sterling, and the want of his meanes and imployment (as being a Merchant-adventurer to the Seas) and having great debts abroad in the Rebels hands, and others, who are poore distressed people and not able to make any satis­faction.

All which premisses considered, as by certificate in them the said doth appeare, are of opinion that Captaine Lawsons paines, zeale, va­lour, care, and service hath justly demerited a good reward, and a con­sideration to be had of his great losses sustained, being the first that opposed the Enemy in the Kingdome, at and about Lysnegarvy, by which means under God, we enjoy most of the County about, in regard it was so suddenly opposed, being upon the Munday following, the 25. of October 1641.