THe said Sir William Cole, confesseth the first charge, and for his defence pretendeth, That he gave advertisement of the said in­tended Rebellion, by his Letters to the then Lords Justices and Councell, with all possible speed; with advice, That their Lordships would strictly examine the Lord Mac Gwire, and others his Complices, concerning the same.

But if his notice given to the Lords Justices, had been so timely, as his Information was seasonable, by him confessed to have been, twelve dayes before the breaking out of the said Rebellion; without all perad­venture, the Lords Justices and Councell, would not have neglected the opportunity, of preventing so great a mischief; which had not been easily done, if to have understood thereof, so long before, nor can it be credited for tructh, that the Respondent gave them any such timely notice, when it is manifest, That the discovery thereof, unto the Lords [Page 23]Justices and Councell, by Captain O Connelly, was with much difficulty to his person, very late in the night, immediately before the same day it was to have been acted at Dublin.

And the Respondent being a Justice of the Peace and Corum, and a man invested with great power and authority in his Countrey, and of great credit amongst the people, by the duty of his place, should, as very easily he might, and ought to have apprehended the Conspirators; the said Lord Mac Gwire, and the rest of the chief of them, being his neer neighbours; whose persons, if he had secured in so long time before the Tragedie was to have been acted, would have prevented their wicked designe, and disheartned the rest of their accomplices through the King­dom, to have proceeded; nor can the Respondent, pretend any want of force, to have inabled him in this action, the Kings High Sheriff of that County living within five miles to him; who being an active able Gentleman, could in a very short time, have raised for his assistance, the power of the whole Brittish, had he been timely advertised, as pro­perly he ought to have been: So that for the Respondent thus to sit still in his own Castle, and to betray all his Neighbours, untill the very night before this bloody Rebellion broke out, and then to write Letters, as he alleageth, to warn his Neighbours and Tenants of this evill to come, who should have been all in Arms, and apprehending the Con­spirators long before: Whether the Respondent performed the Office of a faithfull Magistrate, or the Duty and Courage of a Judicious Com­mander, or the Care and Providence of a good Neighbour, and Faith­full Subject, this Repliant leaveth it to your Judicious Considerations; And is verily perswaded, That if the Respondent had timely delivered, but Arms to so many men, as he alleageth to have sent Letters, and to have gone in the head of them, against those Rebels, he might have done more good service, for the safety of the Publike, his Neighbours, and Tenants, then all the Rhetorick he used in his Letters, to warn and ad­monish them of this danger: But his chief care appeared, the safety of himself at home in his Castle, to man, and secure that place; where much ado there was, (as the Repliant hath been informed) to perswade the Respondent, for all his Regiment, in six moneths time, to set his Nose out of that Castle, untill the greatest sury of the Rebels was past; and afterwards, for catching of Cows, and such like plundering imploy­ment, he proved very active: And that this Repliant, being from home, as the Respondent relateth, that he was, and in this case, should be advertised by the Respondent, That there was intended such an Insur­rection, it is much like his other assertion, That this Repliant herein doth want matter justly to accuse him, as he hath informed: For certain [Page 24]it is, this Repliant never received Letter, or advertisment from him, though he knew the Repliant to command the next Garrison to him; which it pleased God, miraculously to preserve, untill this Repliant with no small hazard, returned amongst them; at which time he did not delay venturing a Messenger, with a kinde Letter, to the Respondent, whose answer to the Repliants Letter followeth.

Together with this Answer, the Repliant received a Letter, signed by the forementioned Captain Adam Cathcart, then High Sheriff, Cap­tain William Acheson, now Lievtenant Colonell to the Respondent: Who by that Letter, offered themselves with their severall Companies, which they then Commanded, to put themselves under the Command of this Repliant, refusing to take on with Sir William Cole at all: But this Repliant otherwise advised them, for the safety of their own Coun­trey, that they should joyn themselves with Sir William Cole, hoping to have found him, a more faithfull Neighbour, then he proved. Some few dayes after this Letter received, Captain Hugh Rosse, having former­ly been Chirurgion, for severall yeers to the Repliants Foot Company, brought with him to the Repliants Garrison, at Mannor-Hammilton, Captain George Greir, who had with them, two able Companies of the Repliants Countrymen, who were come a purpose to tender their service unto him, who had much ado to perswade them to return, or have any medling at all with Sir William Cole, whose basenesse in seve­rall kindes they much complained off, yet at last, the Repliant having used them, and their men kindly, with free-quarters in his Castle for two nights, did afterwards give every one of their Souldiers Money, and every Captain, and Officer, a proportion of Salt, whereof they were scarce at that time, and perswaded them to return, promising to acknowledge themselves as Companies ingaged to the Repliant, when he should think fit to command them, who afterwards joyned them­selves [Page 26]in the Respondents Regiment; and without those four Com­panies, could not have made up a Regiment there, though he proved very unthankfull to the Repliant afterwards. And whereas the Re­spondent mentioned in his Letter, Captain Roger Atkinson, an Ancient Servitour in Queen Elizabeths dayes, and a Noble House-keeper, for many yeers together, living within a mile to the Respondent; who with his Wife and Family, had in former times received many charita­ble and Neighbourly helps and reliefs, from the said Atkinson and his vertuous Bedfellow, who was a neer Kinswoman, to the now Earl of Leister: Neverthelesse, did the Respondent indeavour to cast aspertions upon this worthy Gentleman, as if had basely parted with his Castle to the Irishes; whereas the fault shall appear in the Respondent, and his Treacherous and unneighbourly usage of him, mentioned in this Letter, sent by Captain Atkinson to the Repliant, in Vindication of the asper­tions cast upon him by the Respondent as followeth.

The Originall of this Letter, the Repliant can produce, whereby doth appear, what an unthankfull, and unnaturall Neighbour, the Re­spondent proved to this distressed old Gentleman, and his vertuous Wife, who suffered much misery by the Respondents cruell neglect of them, and had suffered much more, had not the Repliant made means divers times to relieve them, as they lay miserable at the Respondents Garrison, untill they were by the Respondent disgracefully sent away, amongst severall hundreds of poor Robbed people; who were sent to the Derry, without getting any share of the 1200. Suites of old apparell, and five hundred pound in Money and Victualls, sent in charitie, by the Parliament; for the comfort and relief of the poor Protestants of that County.

II. To the Respondents Answer, to this Repliants second Charge, this Repliant saith; Forasmuch, as upon the matter, the Respondent denyeth not, what therein is alledged against him: This Repliant might acquiesse therein, without more ado, and submit that unto judgement: But forasmuch, as the same is also stuft with calumnies, and aspertions, cast upon this Repliant, by way of Recrimination, this Repliant craveth leave to Vindicate himself therein, and saith, For his part, he hath been so far from the envying the Respondent in his Commands, or any other, the Brittish Colonels in Ʋlster, as that if it were pertinent to the question, he is well able to make it appear, That he hath contri­buted much to their assistance, and the Cause in hand; so far, as the force he had was able, and was not wanting unto the Respondent, in all good Offices, That to his power might advance the War against the Rebels, or further his proceedings in any particular; yet this Repliant must confesse, That he understanding the Respondents Forces, to be very considerable, as is confessed in his Answer, and able to have done great­er service at the beginning against the Rebels, if he had been active; but many times, the Ronspondent lay still about his own Town and Castle, while as his Officers and Souldiers were most desirous to have been in action; and did many times solicite the Respondent, to relieve the Re­pliant, whilest he was in great danger with multitudes of Rebels to be destroyed, being severall times blockt up in his Castle: But to this ser­vice, the Respondent was found both slow, and backward; which much troubled this Repliant, That such a man professing so much Neighbourly love, and being so well provided for the Service, should thus delay and forbear, relieving so many Brittish souls, in such emi­nent danger, as then they were in; which was a Just cause to raise a Jealousie in this Repliant, That either the Respondent did it out of a [Page 31]carelesse disrespect to this Repliant, and his Charge, or to the Cause it self, or for some other private ends; which did minister an occasion, for this Repliant to be more watchfull over himself, and that poor handfull of men, which he commanded; setting before his eyes, no other ends, but the King and Parliaments Service, and the rooting out of those bloody Rebels, who would have destroyed us all.

This Repliant cannot but admire the Respondents weaknesse, al­ledged in his Answer, That he should think to perswade any rationall man, that in case the Respondent should justly suffer for his miscarri­ages in the matters charged against him; and should be therefore set by all imployment in that Army, that it could not in the least, adde any thing to this Repliant in his preferment; and since the Respondent administereth the occasion, this Repliant craveth leave, to let him know, That he was so far from envying the Respondents Honour, and greatnesse, in the Commissions he received from His Majestie, for that imployment, that it was neither in thoughts or expectation, to believe, that His Majestie would joyn him in the same Commands with the Respondent, and the rest of the Ʋlster Colonels, the Repliant be­ing at that time (as was thought) in some disfavour with His Majestie, for prosecuting the late Earl of Strafford. And this Repliant further saith, That as the Respondent never did any such actions, to the know­ledge of this Repliant, that deserved to be envied: So hath this Repliant been as far from extolling any thing, done by himself, by Gods assist­ance, that yet may better pretend to merit: Surely, he hath learned bet­ter things, then from any vain-glorious Honour, to expect the admi­ration of any thing, but folly; from which, the Respondent himself is not altogether then free, whiles he indeavoureth by such petty, and vain assumptions, to raise an opinion of popularitie, and that so great honour was conferred upon him, and laid down at his own doors without acquisition, or other indeavours of his own; and nothing more then what fame hath raised him unto before. And this Repliant further saith, That since of his own showing, it doth appear, that of the nine Companies raised, Armed, and Banded by him, as he alledgeth, he onely gained five hundred of them, to be inlisted, and his Troop of Horse; and if but Victuall and Cloathing for so many was alloted him, yet it had been the least, to have rewarded the four Companies (which he cashiered) with the rest, for the good service they had done him then formerly, in defending his Castle and Town: And their discontent, which he confesseth, and the disbanding themselves, doth cleerly mani­fest his course usage of them, and that the truth is as hath been charged against him; for it is not to be credited, That if they might have shared, [Page 32]and pertaken of those Provisions, that they would have parted in dis­content, or disbanded themselves, and leave their kindly possessions and interest, in that Countrey, where many of them had been bred and born: Nor is it likely, that needy and necessitous men, would have re­fused his offer, to have pertaken of those Supplies sent them, if they might have had a proportion thereof for their relief: And surely, it had been but equall, that the Respondent had shared and divided, the twelve hundred Suites of old Cloaths, sent from this Citie of London, by his said Son in law, with these four cashiered Companies: Albeit, he would not let them have any part of the new, he keeping and disposing of which, and of five hundred pound worth more of Contribution Money, sent for the relief of the distressed Protestants in those parts, as pleased himself, and his said Son in law, Master Dean Barkley; they have not delt so candidly and conscionably in this, as men of their pro­fession should, and ought to have done: But if it be true, which is com­monly reported there, That Master Dean Barkley sold such Corn, and other Provisions, as was bought with that Money, for relief of the distressed Protestant Brittish, in those parts, and sent from hence, and therewith hath made himself a stock, where withall, he now drives a great Trade, by Tanning of Leather, at the Respondents Town of Inis­killin, and cannot be done without the Respondents privity and allow­ance: This Repliant submiteth it to judgement, if it be well done, thus to rob the Spittle; and what blessing can attend such proceedings: And for the thirteen hundred pound worth of Corn, and Provisions, which he alledgeth to have procured, upon his own credit, for the more supply of himself, and his Souldiers: This Repliant is certainly informed, That he hath put it to the Parliaments accompt, which those his credi­tors have taken for satisfaction, and are, and must be contented with such payment, when it may be well spared.

III. To the Respondents Answer to the third Charge, this Repli­ant saith, That it consisteth onely of invectives, fabulous inventions, and scandalous calumnies, made, and contrived, by the Respondent of purpose, to asperse this Repliant, without ground or colour; which appears, in that there is nothing therein materiall that concerns himself, but suppositions of things done to others, meerly framed and hatched out of the inventions of his own vindictive brain; and yet of that con­sequence and concernment to this Repliant, That if the Respondent shall not make good his allegations, which he shall be never able to do, this Repliant prayeth, that repair from him, as shall be fit, and craveth leave, to let the Respondent know, That he understandeth better, what [Page 33]the danger is by Law, for any man to conspire the taking away of ano­ther mans life, where with he accuseth this Repliant, then to attempt it, and what such a false malicious accusation intendeth, and deserveth, this Repliant is assured, is understood by those that are their Judges; and it seemeth strange to this Repliant, That the Respondent should thus impudently overshoot himself, and his reason, as that he should imagin his vain and idle words, could possesse any man with a belief, That the malice of an adversary could so charge the frame of the Law, as by that means he could inherit and possesse his Estate. Say it were in a peaceable time, and how unlikely it is, That such a cruell and cove­tous disposition, should possesse the Repliant, who at that time had his thoughts taken up with other kinde of cares, then by such means, to purchase his Neighbours Lands, while as he daily looked to be devour­ed by multitudes of bloody Rebels; and how black those drops are, which hath faln from his Lips, by which he hath charged this Repliant, That he can indure no Neighbourhood, is plain to all that hears it, and that understands the carriage, and conversation of this Repliant, for many yeers past, besides the incredibilitie thereof, that this Repliant should be so irregular, as not to submit unto Order and Government; to which, he must have been compelled: And denieth, that there was ever any such contestation, betwixt the said Dunbar, or the Hethering­tons, and this Repliant, as is most falsely pretended by the Respondent. But it appears, the said Dunbar was his creature, whom he so trusted with the keeping of a Castle at the beginning of this Rebellion; where­in it is credibly reported, the said Dunbar so basely behaved himself, as he made his own conditions with the Rebels, for himself and his Wife, sacrificing above fourscore of Brittish souls to the Rebels cruelty, who were all burned to death in an instant: As to the Hetheringtons having done that spoil upon this Repliants Tenants, and their said Estates and Goods as aforesaid; and the said Hetheringtons having lived amongst the Rebels with the said Dunbar, for a long time, it must needs be, that they were Papists, as is well known, or otherwise, they should not have been suffered to have lived amongst them, as they did; and for such ser­vices as they did for the Respondent, for which he gives them so great commendations; it is onely known unto himself, and not believed or understood of any other that knew them formerly; nor doth it (under favour) any wayes excuse the Respondent of his miscarriages of enter­taining, and making use of them, being Papists and Rebels, for they were no better; and in refusing to bring them unto a Legall tryall, when required for such offences, which was Treason by the Law of that King­dom, let the Religion be what it will: And whereof they were so [Page 34]accused by His Majesties good Subjects; and the Respondent being a minister of Justice, that upon such complaint, ought to have secured their persons, untill tryall of the matters objected; and if it be a suffi­cient excuse to free him from the accusation, because as he saith, no proof of the crime laid against them, appeared, proved, unto him, who (by his leave) was not a competent Judge of himself, to determine the facts and offences, charged against them: And this Repliant cannot for­bear to tell him further, That besides it was unneighbourly, thus to set them free, after this intimation against them, made from this Repliant: So it argueth, how little he understood himself, and the Office of a Ju­stice, that will voluntarily suffer a Prisoner to go at large, though but verbally at first accused, before he had examined the matter, and that they were legally acquited; and from all that he hath said in his defence, from the guilt of this third Charge, informed against him, appeareth to be nothing, but meer matter of Recrimination, and without weight, that so he is still unexcusable of the crime objected.

IV. As to the Respondents Answer to the fourth Charge, given in against him by this Repliant: This Repliant saith, That the Re­spondent in the preceding parts of his Answer, having made shipwrack of a good conscience, and not spared the telling of many untruths, to serve his own turn; casting much dirt in the Repliants face, thereby hoping, that some will stick, and so to imploy this Repliant in wash­ing himself; that in the mean time, the Respondents foul offences may be forgotten, or he escape the hands of Justice for the same, have therefore left nothing unattempted, which may any wise, scandalize this Repliant, and bring him into disrepute, and disesteem, with the Par­liament, or such as knows him not, hoping thereby to work out his own ends the better; but that his malice and impudence may the more cleerly appear in his defence to this Charge, as in all the rest of his An­swers. This Repliant further saith, That howsoever the Respondent from the relation of others, as he conceiveth, is pleased to magnifie the said Parck, both for his estate, and qualities, yet those that were his Neighbours for many yeers before this Rebellion broke out, (and there­fore have more reason to know, and understand him better, then the Re­spondent) are able to say and prove otherwise: And that the Respond­ent onely makes those many flourishes, concerning his reputation, as an insinuation to win credit, that he was an honest man, and so to weaken the belief of that which is objected against him, and the Re­spondent, concerning him; and yet it hath been found true by experi­ence, That since this Rebellion began, many men, who in the time of [Page 35]Peace, lived orderly, and in good repute, and were imployed in Offices and affairs, of great concernment, concerning that Kingdom; yet some such men out of covetous desires, to save their Estates, and for other by­ends of their own, have basely betrayed their Religion, and their Coun­trey, and joyned with the Rebels against the Parliament, and their Forces there, of which sort, this Repliant doubteth not, but he shall make Master Parck, appear to be one; and that if this Repliant had not upon intimation of his purposes and resolutions, taken and settled to go this way, as to secure his person and Castle, he had been out in action amongst the thickest of them, and so would have done much hurt unto the Protestant party there; and without peradventure they are Birds of the same Feather, from whom, the Respondent hath had his Intel­ligence to the contrary, if they be not meerly fictious, and imaginati­ons of his own; which the Repliant the rather beleeveth, for besides the certain Information which the Repliant had of Parcks resolutions to joyn with the Rebels, and of his daily compliance with, and inter­course between them, he being then ordered by the State to observe this Repliants Commands, and to joyn with him in all things against them; the said Parck not withstanding, had contemned severall times to obey this Repliants Directions and Orders, and altogether declined what­soever service he thought, might provoke or prejudice the Rebels; and yet this Repliant was so far from desiring the said Parcks Estate, (which the Respondent hath most falsly, and scandalously alleaged) as that onely for the King and Parliaments Service, put in an Officer of his own, to command that Castle of Importance, being far from that base conditi­on of coveting other mens Lands, having so much (by Gods Provi­dence of his own) as he had small hopes at that time to our live the danger he was in, much lesse to injoy other mens Lands. But as it seemeth, the Respondent judgeth other men by his own known covetous humour, witnesse his barbarous usage of his worthy Neighbour, Cap­tain Roger Atkinson, whose house and Land lay within a mile to the Respondent, which now he holds as his own, having in a manner banished the old Gentleman, and his Wife, whom he grudged a little charitable relief in his house, they having many times bountifully and freely supplied, and entertained the Respondent, with his Wife, and children, while as the Respondent was held a much inferiour man in qualitic and condition to Captain Atkinson, whom the Respondent sent away amongst a Company of poor distressed Beggers, with his Convoy to London-Derry, where the Gentleman, and his distressed Wife, might have starved, if upon the Repliants credit, they had not been there relieved with five pounds to convoy them to Dublin, where [Page 36]they hoped to have met with me Lord Lyle, who was a neer Kinsman to this Gentlewoman; and missing of him there, this Repliant is in­formed, That those two vertuous souls live still in great misery at Dub­lin, by reason of the cruell, barbarous, and unneighbourly usage of the Respondent, who might at first, conveniently have inabled them to have made good their own house, or otherwise to have helped them off with a great deal of their best Goods, and Houshold-stuff, which the Respondent for other base ends of his own, exposed all to ruin, much invying in time of Peace, the worthy and good esteem, which both the State and Neighbours in the Countrey had of Captain Atkinson, and his vertuous Bedfellow, for the free and charitable way of living, to the comfort of all sorts of good people, both of great, and mean condition, who used to travell in that Countrey.

As concerning the two Witherspins, both father and son, that they were Scotchmen; it is confessed, But so much the more unworthy to be of that Nation, as they proved Traitours and Rebels against the King and Parliament; concerning whose carriage, it was in manner follow­ing, That these men whom the Respondent pleaseth himself to give so much commendation, as if naming such two Scotchmen, should in­gage the Nation to adhere to his poor Recriminating way of vindica­ting himself.

James Witherspin, the Son being married to a meer Irish woman, and known to be of a most wicked base disposition from his childhood, and one who had been accused of Fellony, and found guilty before the Rebellion; and upon the first breaking out thereof, soon after himself and his Wife, joyned themselves with the Rebels, leaving his Father and Mother (two old people) in the Repliants Garrison, which the Repliant had just reason to suspect, as Spies, many times advising them to keep by themselves, since their Son and Daughter had joyned them­selves with the Rebels. And about the moneth of February, before the supposed first of July, mentioned in the Respondents Answer, alledge­ing that old Witherspin to be taken in Sligoe, and shot to death by this Repliants own hand; in which moneth of February, the said James Witherspin the son, was then (in actuall service and rebellion, against the King and Parliament) a Muskettier with the Rebels, under the Command of Bryan Ballagh O Roirk, who then lay incampt, with a many others, about this Repliants Castle, and Garrison; whereof this Respondent well knew, and had strength enough to have relieved this Repliant, and was many times importuned by Captain Cathcart, and others of his Officers, to have endeavoured the Repliants relief; but the Respondent with frivolous excuses, being desirous (as since, and now [Page 37]it doth appear) to have the Repliant rather to be cut off, did suffer him with his handfull of men, to take their hazards, envying the Repliants activenesse with so poor a handfull, as may appear by his vindictive humour, against this Repliant, whom God Almighty prospered so well, as with his own handfull, one morning the rogues were surprized in their Camp, their siege raised, and a many of the Rebels killed; the foresaid old John Wither spin, taken prisoner amongst the Rebels, who the night before had stoln out of the Repliants Garrison, to meet with his son James Witherspin; where that night, he confessed to be much made off by the Colonell Bryan Ballagh O Roirk, to whom he delivered twelve pounds sterlin, in ready money, which he intended for his son James Witherspin: So that for this Treason, upon his own confession, the Father was undoubtedly hanged in February, which the Repliant is ready to prove with sufficient witnesses, now in Town: How the Respondent shall prove, that in July after, the Repliant should meet with a man so many moneths dead before, and ten miles distant from the place of his buriall; let him prove his being there, and the Repliant hopes to be excused for shooting such a one with his own hand. There­fore desires no further vindication of his own honour, from this scur­rilous, base, Libelling way of recrimination of the Respondents, then what credit this history brings him, amongst all indifferent, and impar­tiall readers. And as for the said James Witherspin the son, it is con­fessed, that the first of July, being the night, the Repliant with his small handfull, attempted the burning of that Town of Sligoe, which then sheltered a many bloody Rebels, who had murthered and massacred many poor Brittish in it, which stuck much in the Repliants stomack, whom God made his weak Instrument, to revenge that night that inno­cent blood; where amongst the rest of the Rebels, the foresaid James Witherspin was taken prisoner, and brought home to the Repliants Gar­rison; where upon his own confession, That he had served as a Musket­tier amongst the Rebels, and had done his best at severall times, to endea­vour the ruin and destruction of the Repliants Garrison; upon which confession of the said Wither spin, he was justly hanged as this Repliant concerveth, and for no such cause, as is falsly and scandalously alledged by the Respondent; and how apt this Respondent is to take up any thing upon trust, and credit of others, that may vent his spleen against this Repliant, doth easily appear, though it be nothing materiall to this purpose, for the vindicating of himself, but rather of the Rebels, and their treacherous adherents.

And this Repliant further saith, That the Respondent faileth migh­tily in his Answers, wherein he attributes it to the information of [Page 38] Witherspin, and the assistance of Parck and his men, That in this Re­pliants return from burning of Sligoe, he escaped the surprize of the Rebels, who was lying in waite for him, with a great Body of men in his way homeward, which was easily perceived by our Scouts, that went before us, to which we gave better credit, then to Witherspins in­formation: And for Parck, it is true, This Repliant carried him along with him as a Prisoner, and not to guard his person; neither is it alto­gether unlikely, but the said Parck had a hand in that meeting of the Rebels that day, which was thought should have been the day, the said Parck should have put himself and his Castle, in the hands of the Re­bels, had not God put it in the heart and head of this Repliant, to do as he did the night before, in seizing upon the said Parck and his Castle, and burning of the said Town of Sligoe, which were the first actions that ever gave comfort or probable security, to the Repliant, and his handfull. As for the Respondents other expressions, and scurvy scan­dalous aspertions in his Answer to this fourth Article, more proper to come from the mouths of Carmen and Oyster-wives, then from the head and hand of so couragious a Colonell, as the Respondent would seem to be at his yeers, being past date before his preferment came up­on him; and had not this Repliant received a Copy of the Respondents Answer, under his own hand, he should not have believed there had been a man in the world, having any drop of a Gentlemans blood in him, that could have invented so many grosse slovenly falshoods, much lesse to have presumed to publish such untruths to such an Ho­nourable Committee, and Assembly, whom the Repliant holds more wronged, then he dare presume to expresse; for in many of his Allega­tions, his malice rageth without limit or moderation: And it behoves him (we say) that tells untruths, to have a good memory. The Re­spondent seems very week this way, That either through the infirmity of doting age, or through some other weaknesse, forgets so much, as that he saith, and unsaith the same thing again, first he would have it believed that this Repliant plundered Master Parck, and then after­wards confesseth, That both his Castle and Goods were (by Order of the Councell Board in Ireland, where the Marquesse of Ormond sits as chief, executed by the Respondents Commands, and his Souldiers in the time of the Cessation made with the Rebels, and in this Repliants absence from home) restored to him again; and howsoever, he would mince the matter, and set a fair glosse herein upon his proceedings; he doth not deny his guiltinesse of the crime objected, and so to be a com­plier with the Rebels, as to that Cessation, and by obeying their Orders, who holds it with them: And as this Repliants compelling the said [Page 39] Parcks Souldiers to obey his commands; why should the Respondent think it an offence, when both Parck himself, and they (before the Cessa­tion) were injoyned to it by the Councell Table in Ireland. And this Repliant further saith, That the Respondent is pleased to lessen and extenuate the Repliants services, which for want of his assistance, this Repliant was not able to do, what he might have done, and in do­ing what he did with that handfull of men he had; he can approve, that he did more by much, then the Respondent who had ten times the Repliants number, under his command, by the Respondents own con­fession. And this Repliant humbly prayeth, it may be understood, That the Respondent indeavoureth to blemish this Repliant in the opi­nion of the Parliament; for that he refused to set Parck at liberty, by command of the Orders of the Councell Board in Ireland, having then concluded a Cessation of Arms with the Rebels; and being therefore declared enemies to the Parliament of England, by which tacitly, and by consequence, he himself approveth thereof; and by executing their Orders and Commands, in this perticular, declareth himself obedient to their directions; which he cannot shift from his shoulders by car­rying two faces in one hood, and pleasing himself as free, by (holding a detestable neutrality at the best) that he can say for himself; And as for that information of the Respondents, in his Answer concerning Abber­croomy, this Repliant saith, That therein he also follows the same tract, as concerning Master Parck, indeavouring first to raise him high in o­pinion for his Abilities in time of Peace, which to be true, as it is not so, as the Respondent setteth forth, yet if Abbercroomy, or any man snall in such time, be never so just, and serviceable to the state wherein he liveth, if in such a time of Rebellion as this, he shall fall away from his dut [...], and the obedience he oweth to God and his Countrey, as a subject, and shall joyn with, aid, or adhere to Idolatrous Rebels, against his King and Parliament, either unworthily to save his estate, or upon any pretext whatsoever, he hath thus (under favour) forfeited the Re­membrance of whatsoever was good and commendable in him before, and is to be looked upon in the present condition wherein he so remains. Then the said Abbercroemy refused to joyn with this Repliant against these Rebels, forsook his own house, and willingly joyned himself with the Rebels, and was afterwards taken by this Repliant amongst them; and what the said Abbercroomy deserved in this case, this Repliant sub­miteth to judgement; yet did not the Repliant use him after that fashi­on, as the Respondent is pleased to inform, but gave him better enter­tainment, then he was worthy off that had so behaved himself, and commanded, that he should not want any thing that was sufficient for [Page 40]him, being himself straitned, and in a hard condition in an enemies Countrey, and without hope of other help, then what he could get from the Rebels by his Sword, having no expectation to be relieved, but by the Respondent; Whose affection towards him, and care to preserve him, and his family, from destruction (in so great danger and extremity) is wel understood by this Respondents relations, in his answers set forth, this Repliant is confident, is but a meer suggestion of the Respondent; for if the said Abbercroomy had any cause of complaint, against the Repliant in the least, he was in Scotland a long time together with this Repliant, where he should have been sure to have had justice done him; and if he were so ingrate towards this Repliant, as to inform any such thing to the Respondent, it had been greater wisdom in him, by much (under favour) not to have believed the report of a discontented man in his own cause, but to have buried it in silence rather, being altogether without proof, and not thus to have shewn his weaknesse in the publish­ing thereof, which he can never be able to make good; and if to have been so (as it is not) are without consideration at all: the Respondent might with more discretion also, have spared to proclaim his charity towards him, which makes the verity thereof more suspected; but having seldom done so before, if so he did, he could not forbear to tell it as a thing unusuall, and rare in him, to have been performed to neerer Neighbours. And this Repliant further saith, That he doth not beleeve the Respondent did, or was able to receive Cloath, and feed all the Pro­testants of that Countrey where he lived; and doubteth not to prove, that he sent hundreds away also from himself, whom he was no wayes able to harbour and maintain, and that some of them also by accident, perished in their journey; and yet this Repliant will be more charitable towards him, then for to believe he did it of any other intent, then that he might the better preserve himself, and those under his Command; for charitie hath never before this time, been blamed to begin at home; and yet the Respondent had in this case, means, and hopes of succours, and supplies, which this Repliant neither had, nor could hope for, or expect, if not by the Respondents means, whom this Repliant had by his experience found to be otherwise minded towards him, as is here­in sufficiently discovered, which shall be all this Repliants answer to that particular: more then that he utterly denieth, That ever he did send any poor Protestant away succourlesse, that fled to him for relief, with­out some supplies, and with such convoy and protection in their pas­sages, as he could safely spare, and leave wherewith to maintain his Garrison; nor was there any such differences between the said Sir John Dunbar, and his Son, as is alledged by the Respondent, meerly to make [Page 41]out the matter, and to raise the untruth unto a higher pitch, nor can this great clamour be possibly believed, That whiles there was Peace in that Kingdom, and the Law was open for every mans complaint of any in­jury done him, that any man would suffer wrong by this Repliant, and not right himself, being well known what favour the Repliant might expect from the late Earl of Strafford, and the then Viscount Rannellagh, which two commanded both the Kingdom and Province, where this Repliant lived.

V. To the Respondents Answer to the fifth Charge, this Repliant saith, That forasmuch as this Respondent hath fully confessed the same, there needeth no reply to be made unto it (under favour and correction) yet in asmuch as the Respondent indeavoureth to extenuate the same offence, by his ignorance, and want of knowledge, of the affairs of that State, and how things then moved at Dublin, or in the Parliament here, at that time: This Repliant saith, That before the Cessation concluded at Dublin, and whiles it was in agitation, and in Order to the same, the Lord Marquesse of Ormond, and Councell there, made the same known unto all the Colonels and Commanders in Ʋlster, as this Repliant hath heard; and so doubteth not to prove; and that the Respondent had in­timation thereof, amongst the rest, and his approbation therein was desired; and likewise after the same was so unhappily concluded, the said Lord Marquesse, and Councell, immediatly afterwards intimated the same again unto them all, and to the Respondent amongst the rest, Commanding their obedience, and observation thereof, which was in time made, and done, the [...] of September, 1643. above foure moneths before the Respondent, by his own showing, received the said Rebels into protection; and it is without all peradventure, and so this Repliant doubteth not to prove, that even those Rebels themselves moved it unto the Respondent, as a great perswasive to obtain that fa­vour at his hands; and from whom also, he had perfect notice of the Lord Marquesse of Ormond, his being then made Lord Lievtenant of Ireland, and that he was declared an enemy to the Parliament, and the welfare of that Kingdom; the Respondent also, before this time, was certainl [...] informed by those Letters, sent from the Parliament of England into Ʋlster, by Captain O Connelly, and otherwise, how that they had declared themselves against the said Cessation, and moving the Brittish Regiments to receive the solemn League and Covenant of the Kingdoms; nor was the Respondent so straitned in his Quarters, but that he had continuall Intelligences from London-Derry, and other parts of Ʋlster, and could not be ignorant of the passages of the State, and how things [Page 42]moved at that time there, and in the Parliament here, and therefore in­execusable; and it is so far from lessening, as it doth rather aggravate his offence, that he would receive those Rebels into protection without Order, and without being first informed of all these passages of State, and things, in case he had been then ignorant thereof, as he was not; besides his fears to be supplied by the State there, and his little expecta­tion to be furnished in due time from hence, cleerly informs his know­ledge of these proceedings, and that he rested then in doubt, and in a detestable neutrality, to which side he should adhere; and therefore up­on the matter, was resolved to keep both sides his friends, if possibly he could, and would make use of the Rebels also, to serve his own turn, and that so he might stand well affected in the opinions of them also: But as it was not an Act warrantable, and justifieable, under the power of any Commission he had; so was it indiscreetly done, and of great disservice unto the Parliament, That this Repliant, and those who were invironed by the enemy, and in a great strait, and in much harder con­dition, then the Respondent, and yet both understanding off, and op­posing the said Cessation, were much discouraged and disheartned, to see those Rebels under the Respondents protection, to enter their Quar­ters, and places thereabouts; and to rob and spoil them of that, where­by they had hope of subsistance: For the Cows mentioned in the Re­spondents Answer to the fifth Article, were not the proper Goods of the Respondents protected Rebels, but prey which they had taken from the good subjects; and therefore, more fit for to have been possessed by thie Repliants Souldiers, when they had once gotten them, then by those Rebels; and yet such was the Respondents zeal and care for them, that by his own confession, he sent afterwards unto the State of Dublin, then in Cessation of Arms with the Rebels, complaining thereof against this Repliants Souldiers, and gaining Orders from thence, for restituti­on. And in the absence of this Repliant, procured the same to be re­stored even to the Parliaments enemies, and to be taken from the Par­liaments friends, and servants; besides, his further inclination to that Government, is observable, Wherein he charges it as a crime against the Repliant, That he should not observe the Lord Maquesse of Ormond, and the Commands of that State, even by a compliance with Rebels, his protected crew, before mentioned; Besides, that he applauds it as an Act of conformity to those Commands, that now in this Repliants absence, he hath perswaded the Repliants Souldiers to a neer conjuncti­on with him therein, and deplores it as a great prejudice to his benefit: That as he saith by this Repliant and his Souldiers means, he hath thus lost this bargain, and yet afterwards confesseth a many of them to be [Page 43]still within his quarters, faithfully holding the said agreement. And this Repliant further saith, That for his part, he disclaimeth his know­ledge of any such persons, as are named in the Respondents answer, to be by him, and his Officers protected, much more the protecting of them upon his Land; and if the Respondents Acts of like nature, hath now drawn it into example, and made the Repliants Officers in his absence, to fall into such an errour and mistake, he hopeth it cannot be imputed unto this Repliant for a transgression, yet cannot beleeve, that any such thing hath been done; howsoever, that taketh nothing from the Respondents offences, but further sheweth the extent of his ma­lice, and what hurt he would do unto this Repliant, if he were able.

VI. To the Respondents Answer to the sixth Article, or Charge given in against him by this Repliant, he saith, That it is possible that the said Bryan mac Coconaught mac Gwire, in his answer named, might do the Respondent those services also, mentioned in his answer, to this Charge: But it is very improbable and unlikely to him, that under­stands him not, or that any Papist so allied to the very prime and chief of the Rebels, especially where the Rebellion is pretended to be raised, to gain the free exercise of their idolatrous Religion, and to regain their Lands formerly forfeited, and disposed of from them to the Brittish, by the State, should do these services for the State: But to admit it to be so in his person, and that for those reasons given, the Respondent may be, and was well dispensed with, for receiving him into protection; yet to receive all those, together with him, if no more then is confessed, is not so justifiable (under favour) especially, when he that is acquaint­ed with the quality and nature of those Irish people, the meaner sort of them, to wholly addicted unto treacheries, and perfidiousnesse: Be­sides, that the principals of their Religion teacheth them to be so, and no longer, to hold, and keep Faith with us, whom they call Heretikes, then it serves their own turns: That he which is verst and read in the Histories, the Irish Wars, in former ages, or that hath had his conver­sation there amongst them, can justifie all this for truth; and what a great deal of Protestant blood they have their shed, by breaches of that trust which have been reposed in them, by the English, from time to time, being naturally mercilesse, and cruell upon advantages; that it hath never been accounted safe in the undertakings of any great designes, to have them joyned, either in Counsell or Action, being also base and cowardly spirited, where they are subjected, and have not been ob­served to perform any great services; but where by treachery or power, [Page 44]they have in an instant gotten first the mastery, and then no Salvages have been so bloody and butcherly minded, as they; that albeit, this Bryan mac Coconaught mac Gwire may be one black Swan amongst the rest; yet upon what ground he received such a crew, of his followers into protection with him, and imployed them, whose treacheries and revolt, is by himself confessed, this Repliant must say, that as yet he neither seeth ground, nor good discretion for it; and yet this Repliant craveth leave, to tell the Respondent this much, That it was a little preposterous, and out of order, first to do an unlawfull Act, and then to justifie it with an allowance afterwards, which is the very best of the Respondents case in this particular: And albeit, some times for money and reward, and to save their own lives, they have been known to have betrayed their own parents unto destruction; yet it hath been seldom seen, that they have been drawn to do such service in a Military way, and under a Protestant Commander, whilest they have continued to be Papists; nor was the hanging of one man (left for a pledge) a sufficient recompence for the great hurt, and prejudice, they did unto the cause, whiles they remained in service with the Respondent; and after­wards, being with the enemy, to whom no doubt, they related and dis­covered, whatsoever they understood, that might be any wayes disad­vantagious to this side, and knoweth now the better how to take the opportunities to put them in execution. And as to that Printed relation of the Repliants services performed, and done against those Rebels, which the Respondent is pleased to term scandalous calumnies in seve­rall places thereof, which concerns himself and Officers, this Re­pliant saith, and must so far excuse himself, That it was not a thing done immediately by his direction and appointment, or that he desired it, but was done in a time, when he was then in his Garrison at Man­nor-Hammilton, and far remote from this City, the same being sent to a friend of his at London-Derry, who afterwards coming hither, and by him that is now the Respondents, or Colonell Meevins Secretary; Tarlton tendering it to the publike view, it was directed to be Printed; of which, the Respondent may also be pleased upon a better review, to observe thus much concerning it, That it is not a relation of this Re­pliants own, but of one of his Clerks, who as it should seem, kept a Diary of the passages and proceeding done by them in that time, which he was desirous to communicate, for the publishing of Gods great mercy towards that handfull, and the Respondents arrogancy, and unneighbourly neglect of them: So that if any thing therein contained, is troublesome and grievous to the Respondent, he hath no rea­so to except against this Repliant for the same; And yet since the Re­spondent [Page 45]hath therefore brought him upon the stage, he must do his Clerk that wrote it, that right, as to justifie, and maintain, whatsoe­ver is therein contained to be true; nor was there any such waiting upon this Repliant, by this Respondent and his Souldiers required, as is imagined; it was for the King and Parliaments Service, the relief of the Repliant, and his distressed Garrison, and destruction of the Rebels, that this Repliant so often importuned the Respondent to joyn with him; nor can this Repliant conceive, what should be the cause or reason of his backwardnesse, if not that by such delayes, the Repliant might be destroyed and cut off; and it had been well, if at this time, the Respondent had also forborne the relation of his great Services, set forth in his answer, because he hath upbraided this Re­pliant of vain-glory for the like, nay, for not so much, if not for nothing, as may be understood, by that which hath been said before, and herein, because he confesseth the destroying of two hundred ninety and six of the Rebels, and the famishing, and starving of many hundreds of them more, by Preys of Cows, and other spoil, which he took from them since the Cessation, and by rescuing and redeeming of five thousand four hundred sixty and nine English and Scots, Protestants, from the hands of the Enemy; for the latter, it follows, to be done in performance of the Articles of the said Cessation, and may be verily beleeved, it being done in time after the said Cessation, as may be in­ferred from the Respondents Answer; and for which, not withstand­ing the Respondent doth well merit, for the relieving of so many dis­tressed souls: But how this, and the killing of so many Rebels in this time, being Acts so opposite, and of so differing a nature, one unto the other, as to keep, and not to keep, the said Cessation, is the thing which strikes most with this Repliant to beleeve; howsoever, the Preys of Cows, and spoil taken, may well be so, for this made for the profit and benefit of the said Respondent, and his Companies; and who were far enough from the fear, to answer any complaint at Dublin, for the same.

And as the Respondent being one of the first Colonells of the Brit­tish in Ulster, that took the solemn League and Covenant: This insi­nuation is as true as the rest; for it is well known, That all those of the Scottish Army had taken it before, and had not the Repli­ant been the best means of taking it at the Derry, it had been hardly taken by the Respondent there for all his brags, which suites with his other policie; yet he forbears to mention the place where he took it, or in what COMPANY, not having [Page 46]taken it in the properest place for the Respondent, to have given good example to his Officers and Souldiers in his own Garrison at Iniskillin, whether the Reverend Ministers went to tender the said Covenant; and having Preached to the Respondent, with his Officers and Souldiers, the Sermon being ended, and the Ministers about to explain and tender the Covenant; the Respondent in a disrespective manner, and to the ill example of his Officers and Souldiers, went immediatly out of the Church, thinking a many would have followed him, which doubtlesse they had, if their mindes had not been better inclining to that solemn League and Covenant, and to the King and Parliaments Service, then their Colonell was known to be; who perceiving himself in that con­dition, fearing what esteem he might be in amongst his Officers and Souldiers, and how his carriage might be informed off to the Parlia­ment, did (it may be out of those earthly ends) take the Covenant, be­fore he ventured to apply himself to the Parliament. Now what thanks this man deserves in this passage and carriage of his, let any indifferent man be Judge.

And this Repliant further saith, That he is not able to judge of the Respondents desires, which he pretendeth he had severall times, to have relieved this Repliant; But of this he is sure, he never exprest the same in any reall manner, while as the Repliant and his poor handfull, many times were in great distresse, and therewith did advertize the Respond­ent, who was alwayes ready, rather to weaken the Repliant, by debish­ing his Messengers, perswading them to incourage the Repliants Souldi­ers to run away, as many of them did, and were afterwards distri­buted and sheltered under the Respondents severall Companies, as may appear by this Copy of a Petition, directed to the Repliant, by one of his run-away Souldiers, as followeth.

By this may appear, the neighbourly carriage of the Respondent to­wards the Repliant; as likewise by these Depositions following, taken upon the discovery of a Trecherous Plot, contrived at Sir William Coles Garrison in Iniskillin.

By these Depositions it may be easily gessed, what comfortable Neighbourhood the Repliant had with the Respondent, who in July following, being in great distresse for want of Corn and Cattle, in his own Garrison, and not to be had in that Countrey neer him; the Re­pliant having by this time, (through the great power and mercifull pro­vidence of God) with his small handfull, so beaten the Rebels from about him, as he brought preys daily from amongst them, where with he acquainted the Respondents then distressed Garrison, being desirous the Respondent would have spared this Repliant a Partie of his men, having no great imployment at that time neer himself for them; where­upon, the Respondent did at that time, send his Lievtenant Colonell with a Partie of Horse and Foot, and a Letter to this Repliant, men­tioning, that he had now sent by his Lievtenant Colonell, such a Party to be made use of by the Repliant, in scouring of the County, or in whatsoever other kinde of service this Repliant should think fit to im­ploy them in, without limitation of any time mentioned in his Letter, or of any such thing, as is most falsely suggested in the Respondents answer, That he had sent them to relieve the Repliant, or that he heard of any siege or leagure to be then about him, though at the Repliants meeting with his Officers, and his unfortunate Son in law, Dean Bark­ley, he was told by them, that at their parting with the Respondent, they were limited by his Orders from his own mouth, not to be aosent from their Garrison above fourty eight hours, quite contrary to the contents of his Letter: Whereupon the Repliant told them, it was an impossibility, in so short a time, to ingage them in any service, or for the Repliant to make any use of them, therefore advised them to march back again; which all of them seemed most unwilling, to retreat to their Garrison, untill they were once commanded upon some service by the Repliant in the fields; who was perswaded by their importuni­ties, to march out with them towards a Castle called Dromahear, being within six miles to the Repliants Castle: Which said Castle of Droma­hear (at that time) had divers Rebels of great consequence in it, as like­wise Sir Robert Hannay, and his Lady, prisoners, the Repliant having [Page 49]most probable hopes to have taken, both the Castle and Rebels, and re­lieved the prisoners, had the Respondents officers and Souldiers, stuck to this Repliant and his small handfull but one night longer, which all of the Officers had resolved to have done, if it had not been the base, and imperiousnesse, of that prophane Son in law Dean Barkley, who peremptorily took upon him, to command the Officers of that party of the Respondents, to march away, and forsake the Repliant and his Souldiers, whereof he lost two, being shot dead in working at the Walls, having past all the difficulties in carrying of the Castle; and if we had but lien by it that night (as was confessed by Sir Robert Hannay himself, and divers others that were then in it, which the Repliant can prove by credible Witnesses that heard them speak it) we had got it. So that the Respondents information of the Repliants sending for his Party, in manner as is alledged, by the Respondent in this particular, is notoriously known to be most false: As likewise, there was not any use or need at all of Ordnance, for the taking in of that Castle of Droma­hear, the Repliant having sufficient intelligence of the condition and posture of that Castle, before he attempted it; where the Respondents Souldiers were never ingaged in any dangerous passage of that Service, onely what his Lievtenant Colonell Acheson pleased to offer, and ven­ture himself to go on with the Repliant, to see his Souldiers set a work at the Walls, most of the Respondents Party having dispersed them­selves in plundering of the Countrey, not being subject to Discipline, scarce owning the Orders of an Officer: Such was the neglect and carelessenesse of the Respondent, to have his men Disciplined, which was known to be the losse of a many good men, which he commanded when they pleased. As to the Repliants usage of the Respondents Of­ficers and Souldiers, it is well known to be far more bountifull and honourable, then ever the Respondent used them himself, the Officers having well deserved it; having behaved themselves civilly, with much regrate, to observe the Repliant and themselves, both so abused by the private Orders, which their Colonell had given to his indiscreet Son in law, Dean Barkley, who so unworthily behaved himself, as if he had been sent a purpose with that Party to pick a quarrell, and to put an affront upon the Repliant, not sparing publikely to threaten all the Officers, who were unwilling to leave that Castle of Droma­hear, being ingaged before it, and seeing such probability to have carried it that night: Neverthelesse, did the Repliant entertain all the Officers in his Castle, as also the Souldiers, every man of them, who many times confessed, they never expected the like entertainment of meat and drink from their Colonell: This being the greatest affront, [Page 50]and abuse the Respondents Officers and Souldiers met withall at hat time, all of them acknowledging most thankfully their kinde enter­tainment, thinking fit with one consent of the Officers, to leave three or four men out of each Company, for a small supply to the Repliants number, who were daily a wasting upon service: As likewise, the Lievtenant Colonell knowing the great necessity and want, the Repliant was in for Powder, did think fit to spare him ten or twelve pounds weight, which was no great matter for one Garrison, in such extremity, to relieve another: Neverthelesse, did Dean Barkley in a malicious vindictive railing humour, except against the Officers, for that small courtesie the Repliant had of them; alledging, the power of that Party to have been committed to his charge and trust, by his Father in law, and that he would give no consent, for leaving any Men, or Ammuni­tion, for the Repliants safety or relief, and so incenst the Respondent against his Officers for that Act, as if they had relieved the Rebels, forcing them very shortly after, to write for their men, which some of them would not do, telling him, they had rather loose their Companies, then to be accessary to the danger and destruction of the Repliant, for want of so few men, who had deserved better of them all. Now let any man judge of the impudent boldnesse of this Respondents informa­tion in this particular: There being nothing materiall as an Answer to any part of the Charge against him.

And this Repliant confesses, That the Respondent about the said moneth of May following, came with certain Companies of Horse and Foot towards this Repliant, but denieth, That the Respondent came upon any designe or intention of his own head, to do service in the Province of Conaught, as is most untruely suggested in his scandalous answer: But the Repliant shall truely inform the cause and incourage­ment the Respondent had for that march, which doth more cleerly appear, by this Copy of a Letter, this Repliant sent him.

By this Letter may appear, the main grounds of the Respondents mentioned service, intended for the Province of Conaught; to wit, for catching of Cows, being promised to be his own Carver, as the Repli­ants Letter mentioned; never formerly having made any such hast for the Repliants relief, while as he stoed in danger of being destroyed. And since the Respondent hath thus ingaged the Repliant to answer the severall base, unworthy, and most impudent untruthes alledged by the Respondent in this passage, the Repliant craves leave to inform the truth, That hearing the Respondent was in person with his party with­in a mile or two, to this Repliants Garrison, and being informed, the Respondent intended to come no neerer, the Repliant thought fit (be­ing at that time sick in Bed) to command the Gentleman, who then commanded the Repliants Horse, to take with him a party of Horse to attend the Respondent, and to let him know, the desire the Repliant had (being so neer other) that they might speak together, and withall, to inform the Respondent of the Repliants sicknesse at that time: But it seems, the guiltinesse of the Respondents conscience, did possesse him with some base jealousies, that the Repliant had some designe upon him, so that he absolutely refused to come neer the Repliant, but sent his Lievtenant Colonell Acheson, and Captain Adam Catheart, with orders to go back to the Repliants Castle, with his party of Horse, and that they should deliver from the Respondent, a Paper to the Repliant, which contained as followeth.

Upon reading this Paper, which this Repliant received, being in Bed, he asked the Lievtenant Colonell, and Captain Cathcart, if Sir William Col [...] had commanded them to deliver that Paper, which it seemed, put some fear in him, and scared his coming neerer: The Re­pliant telling them, That he was very sorry to see Sir William Cole, s [...] fir abused, as to wrong himself upon the information of a poor simple Women, in harbouring so base and treacherous a thought of the Repli­ant, he having so many good fellows at that time about him, to wit­nesse [Page 53]his usage: The Lievtenant Colonell telling the Repliant, That Sir William Cole needed not to have made any such use of that Paper; for before they left their Garrison, he had told Sir William Cole, that he had heard her Brother Richard Edwards to have spoken the like; whereupon this Repliant took a Copy of this Paper, attested under the hands of the Lievtenant Colonell, and Captain Cathcart, returning the principall with them to the Respondent; and withall, sent the Souldier Richard Edwards along with them, for the Respondents better satisfaction: As likewise, the Repliant sent his Minister, Master John Long, to inform and satissie the Respondent of the Repliants sicknesse, and unability, to go to the Respondent; and the great necessity there was, that the Re­spondent and the Repliant, should speak together, since they were so neer, for ordering, and concluding the course they meant to take for marching with that party, the Respondent and his men, being but strangers in that Province, were to be guided by the Repliants party, the Minister having Commission from the Repliant, to make offer to the Respondent for his safe conduct; if his sear still continued, that the Re­pliants Wise and Children should be sent as pledges to the Respondents party; whereupon, this motion of the Ministers, the Respondent was pleased to venture himself with a many of his Officers, who (the Re­pliant dare say) were both kindly, and courteously received, by the Re­pliant and his Wife, though he ill deserved it; howsoever, for the ser­vice sake, the Repliant thought sit to strain himself, and upon their meetings, the Rupliant gave Orders to his Officers, both Horse and Foot, what party they should draw out, and what course they should take, being joyned with the Respondents party; which course, God blessed with successe, as the Respondents expectation, and the Repliants undertakings were, both well answered, the party returning within two dayes, with a Prey of neer 2000. Cows, and very neer so many Sheep, besides abundance of Plundering, which the Respondents Souldiers knew well how to go about, though the main thing the Re­pliant most desired, they came short off, the rogues not daring to face or fight such a great party; The Repliants small handfull having many times made greater execution upon the Rebels, then was performed in that march; upon their return, the Respondent made no such ceremony as formerly, in taking up his Quarters at the Repliants Castle, where be and some of his Officers were better entertained, then his thankfulnesse by his expressions hath deserved, though it was not so good as the Repliant could have wished: Howsoever, the next morning, the Re­soondent sent betimes for severall of his Officers to his Chamber, where they being together, sent for the Repliant, to desire him to speak with [Page 54]them; who coming amongst them, the Respondent told the Repliant, that his desire to speak with him, was, That he would joyn with him and his Officers, in the dividing, and distributing of the Prey, to which motion, the Repliant answered the Respondent, That it having pleased God so to blesse them in this march, that he hoped the Respondent would not be so long a stranger hereafter; and as for the Prey he well remembered the words of his Letter, which was the incourage­ment the Respondent had, that he should be his own Carver for the Cows, which he meant to make good, desiring him to take all if he pleased; but if there were any wearied Cows, or what was not like to drive much farther, that rather then the Rebels should dog them, and get those wearied Beasts, he might leave what he pleased of such kinde of Cattle in the Repliants Garrison, which the Respondents Officers held too much courtesie, and would fain have prest the Re­pliant, and his Officers, to have joyned with them in a divident, which by no means the Repliant would do: Hereupon, the Respondent and his Officers, thought fit, to leave in the Repliants Garrison, neer that number of a hundred and fifty of those, weak Cows, they carrying and driving, with their own party, neer one thousand and seven hun­dered Cows more, besides a many Horses and Mares, loaded with plunder.

And whereas the Respondent most uncivilly, and clownnishly, doth mention, that he bestowed upon this Repliants good Lady, a thousand Sheep; which gift of his (if it be fit to be called his gift) was a number of poor Sheep, which his party had left uneaten, and could not drive with them, they having killed abundance for their skins, to carry with them, besides what they eat: As also, he mentioneth his gift to some Gentlemen, the Repliants Ladies Kinsmen, and to his Officers, alledging, they went with the Respondent in a friendly manner, as not having relation to any Charge under the Repliants Command; where­as these two Gentlemen, Lievtenant Vaughan, and Coronet Sidney, be­ing Cousin Germans to the Repliants Wife, did mock and jeer, when they heard the Respondent (having the whole Prey, bestowed upon him and his party) to name, three Cows for one of them, and two Cows for another, which they valued not so much, as two groats. And thus doth the simple old man, think to abuse Gentlemen.

Now let any man judge, what censure this Respondent deserveth for his false, and malicious relation of this passage; who being upon his parting that morning from the Repliants Castle, it having pleased God amongst the rest of his blessings, to send this Repliant a young son some weeks before that time, whom he thought fit to Christen, before the [Page 55]good Company parted; where the Respondent amongst other Gentle­men, were witnesses to that charitable Act, assuring him, it was none of the Repliants meaning, ever to invite the Respondent as a God­father, though at that time in civility, being in the Repliants own House, he was named to stand as a Cipher, for another man, which is con­fessed was more honour, then the Respondent deserved in his own per­son, little thinking he would have made this use of it, in bragging, as if he had been invited to that purpose, whereas his invitation, and the manner of it, appears by the Repliants Letter.

By this true relation, let any man judge, of what unworthy dis­position this Respondent is, and how unfit to get credit, in whatsoever he sayes; whose heart is wholly set upon greid and covetousnesse, which is not unknown to such as are acquainted with his humour, and condition. As to this Repliants civilties, and merit of better thanks, then to have himself and his Regiment exclaimed against, where the Repliants tongue may get any credit: This Repliant hopeth, that for all the Respondents endeavours to traduce him, his tongue shall still get credit, and rather more then lesse, in making discoveries to the Par­liament, of those, which seemingly pretend to do great Services for the State, whilest they onely serve themselves with pay and pillage, so long as they can make means to deceive the Parliament, and to waste the Publiques means, and to cast Aspersions upon such, who are about to discover their double-dealings, while as apparently they play on both sides, to serve their own turn: Of which number, I pray God the Respondent may prove none, if his power were answerable to his minde.

And this Repliant would be glad to know those Neighbours of his, which are of such quality and accompt with the Respondent, which will affirm such falsities and untruths, as to charge this Repliant with loving contentions in the time of Peace, or War; or that this Repliant ever laboured to oppresse, or injure, any man in that Province where he lived, or elsewhere: But if to defend a mans self against violence, and oppressions, strong confederacies, and conspiracies to ruin him, and his Estate, be accounted so, then this Repliant must confesse the action: For the truth is, That this Repliant being a strang­er born, and living amongst men, that partly for that reason, could not indure his Neighbour-hood, and acquaintance; And therefore, endeavouring by all means possible to weary and ruin him out of his Estate, and to blemish him in his good name and reputation; did so multiply sutes and vexations against him, and made such pro­tences and incroachments upon his Lands, as that he was inforced [Page 56]to defend himself against them, and because he would not be so tame as to lay down the Buc lers, and to yeeld that which was his own, to every mans desires and demands of what they would have had from him, without right or reason; and for that it hath been his good hap ever more yet to tree and acquit himself from the fury and fierce pro­secution of his adversaries; which have not been of the meanest rank and condition and to support his credit and estate, by protection of the Law against all opposition whatsoever, if this hath been any miscarri­age in him towards his neighbours or any others, he might confesse the Respondent and his worthies may have therefore cause to com­plaine of him: But that he hath willingly injuried or done wrong to any man, he utterly denieth, and shall be alwaies ready to answer the particular complaints of any persons grieved by him whatsoever; And therefore hopeth that by such generall accusations as these, he shall not be concluded guilty in the opinion of those before whom he now standeth in Judgement, who well knoweth it be the usuall roade wher­in such detractors do commonly walke the better to obscure their de­ceipts and frauds, intended for the ruin of those they would thus destroy.

And since the Respondant proceedeth yet further for to arraine this Replyants exceptions concerning Sir Robert Hannay and others, then prisoners by the Rebells, he doth acknowledge both the receit of that letter and his answer returned unto it, and shall give this account there­of: That this Replyant having then neer twenty foure prisoners in his Castle, many of them of the Chief and Prime Rebells in those parts, divers of them the most activest and dangerous men, of the O Roirks who claimed to be Lords of that Country, the Replyant endeavouring what he could to suppresse the rebellion there, in hopes that aide or re­lief should have come to his assistance, as was daily promised him by the then Lord President of Connaught, thinking till then those prisoners would have been a Curb to the rest of the Countrie; but observing at last the desperatenesse of the Rebels resolutions, after their taking in of Sligoe, and murthering of so many Brittish soules there, and this Replyant hopelesse of any relief, well understanding that to let these men loose againe upon any conditions whatsoever, would prove fatall and destructive to this Repliant, and all the rest of the Brittish then under his care and charge; and having made such a protestation to him­self, as is mentioned in his Letter, which he hath inviolably kept and observed unto this day; and the Replyant doth utterly deny that most malicious, wicked, and devilish invention of the Respondent, alledg­ing that in presence of the Messenger, who brought him Sir Robert [Page 57]Hannayes letter, that the Replyant should then in a most provoking and unchristian like manner hang up the said Colonell O Roerkes Bro­ther, and that thereupon the Respondant most falsly alledgeth that the Rebels, in a revengefull manner, did murther ten or eleven Protestants, whereof two were Godly Ministers. Whereas the Replyant did not hang a prisoner of his in many daies after; untill such time as the said Colonell Owen O Roerke, with divers regiments from other Counties fell into the Replyants Garison with neere two thousand men, and burnt up his Town and all about it close to the Castle walls, after which Act the Replyant held it time to dispatch his prisoners by hanging of them, which was their entertainement after that service done by their friends, this Replyant hoping that it was no disservice, but rather a peece of good service to rid so many of that viperous brood of idolatrous Rebells out of the way upon all occasions, for the poyson will remaine untill the beast be killed, and he hopeth that herein he shall not undergo the Censure of being uncharitable, amongst those that understand and tender the well-fare and safety of these three King­domes, it being rather an Act of folly and indiscretion, than of pity and charity, not timely to remove such blocks out of the way, against which otherwise himself and all he commanded must be sure not onely to stumble, but to fall; and this Repliant is confident that the said Sir Robert Hannay himself nor his wife and children will complaine of this as any injury done unto them, knowing the condition and estate of the Repliant, who heartily wished well unto them, so farre as it might stand with the safety of him and his, so that nothing appeareth but malice in this relation; it being a thing that nothing concerned the Respondant to have taken into his mouth.

And it seemeth strange to this Repliant, that the Respondant should so bitterly mention the Repliants evill dispositions, which in former times he hath held in better esteem: And how this Respondent should come to understand more of this Repliants own businesse then himself, and that his Livetenant and Officers have been forced to forsake their Garison, by reason of the Repliants beating of them, which is more (as the Repliant beleeves) then the Respondant durst alledge in the presence of any of the said Officers, though it is possible the Respon­dant hath been endeavouring to seduce and draw away the said Officers for the destruction of that Garison, as he did formerly the Souldiers; and this Repliant craveth that favour to tell the Respondant without ostentation, That he is not to learn from him how to carry himself in his commands towards his Officers and Souldiers, having never as yet been chast by any of them, as the Repliant is informed, the Respondant [Page 58]hath been by his, which was held no great matter for others his neigh­bours to do while as the Respondant was of a younger and abler yeeres to defend himself, though his courage was not observed to be then as now, which drawes these unexpected preferments upon the Respon­dant, and makes him fare so much better than other, who have been thought to have deserved informer times as well, if not better, than the Respondant.

And seeing the Respondant cannot yet hide the fire he had so long kept close in the straw, the venom and malice is apparently in his heart, he endeavoureth yet further to meddle in that, in which he hath nothing to do, and to calumniate this Repliant in a matter he understands not, concerning the Governement of London-derry; and represents this Repliant, as a Petitioner for that imployment, which is but his own fancie, purposely moved by him and his Confederates (if he may) to forestale all recommendations, which have or might be given of this Repliant for any command whatsoever amongst them. Least the Repliant should be able to discover the rest of their in­tended juglings: Nay by his good will he would not that the Repliant should be Governour of his own family, a strange prosecution of a mans good name and parts, that would make him unworthy of re­membrance, and of a being in the world: But this Repliant con­ceiveth that this proceedeth from an opinion, which the Respondant holdeth with a Gentleman of a deeper reach than his own, who late­ly declared his exceptions to this Repliants being made Governour of Sligo, because he was of the Scottish Nation; which the Re­pliant hopes shall ever be found more faithfull to the King and Par­liament, than any that have Irish blood in them; the Repliant be­ing long incorporated with the English, both by marriage and otherwise, alwaies hating and abhorring nationall difference be­twixt these two Kingdomes, yet hath this Repliant never sought this Governement by himself, nor any other imployment, of which the Parliament shall not thinke him worthy; but to do them service, this Repliant shall thinke no hazard, or other undertakings what­soever too much or too hard, wherein he may serve and obey their commands, in the like kinde; and thus it doth appeare that the Respondants greatest aym is to stop (if he can) the Parliaments favour to this Repliants preferment in any thing whatsoever, which hath caused his pen by Generalls to let fall those manifold un­truths.

And surely, if this Repliant had been informer times so foul, cri­minous, and unneighbourly, as the Respondent and his accomplices [Page 59]hath laboured with their scandalous tongue and pen, to make him ap­pear, the late Earl of Strafford, and the late Lord Viscount Rannellagh, and then Lord Precedent of the Province of Conaught, this Repliants mortall enemies, and who had then, both the means and power in their hands, to have discovered and punished this Repliant to the out­most, and who put forth all their strength, to have crusht, and undone him, if they could, must in all this time, assuredly have brought to light, the particulars of the Repliants misdemeanours, with which, the Re­spondent maketh so great a noise, which is a meer sound, and nothing else: And this Repliant faith, That untill he found the Respondents in­tentions, so maliciously declared, in those his answers towards him, he never apprehended, That the Respondent intended any complaint a­gainst him, as having no cause; And it had been strange, That this Re­pliant should have desired (as is most untruely suggested) a reconcilia­tion, with one whom he never offended, and who had been many times solicited by divers Gentlemen of worth, both in Scotland, and since he came into England for a reconciliation with the Repliant, as is well known to these severall Gentlemen still in Town, much wondering how the seared conscience of the Respondent, can serve him to alledge such notorious known untruths: But this his assertion, That the Re­pliant should desire the Respondent to have concealed that which was never thought or acted, is so palpable grosse, and imaginary; that in it self, it appears to any impartiall Reader but meer recrimination, which had never been heard off, if not occasioned by this Repliants Charge put in against him, for his severall misdemeanours, which this Repliant professeth, was not done out of any hurt intended to his per­son, but in zeal to the Publike safety; and the desires he hath, and ever shall have to serve this Cause and Common-Wealth, and to the dis­covery whereof, he findes himself more particularly oblieged by the late solemn League and Covenant.

And as touching the Respondents comparison, and likening of this Repliant unto Sir George Pawlet, mentioned in his Answer, being a man dead many yeers ago; which argueth much base bitternesse, to proceed from the mouth or pen of one in the Respondents yeers: So as comparisons are odious in themselves, and that it is both uncharita­ble and unworthily done, to knock at a dead mans grave, who in his life time, was esteemed a man of eminency and worth, and of another kinde of degree and quality, then the Respondent; who dares thus kick at him, being dead? which sheweth more weaknesse, malice, and spleen, then otherwise could have been imagined in the man called Sir William Cole; so much blazed thorow the Citie for his Hypocriticall [Page 60]goodnesse, hoping after this, whosoever shall reade this passage, in his famous vindicating History, will alter their opinion of the man here­after; and because it hath received a satisfactory Answer herein before, this Repliant will passe it by, and impute it, to the infirmity of his doting dayes, or as misled to it, by other like minded, that dare not appear in it themselves.

And as to that his impudent, and shamefull close of all his mali­cious invectives, which he terms pertinent instances, and reasons, for to induce the Parliament, not to put the Government of London-Derry upon this Repliant; wherein he pleaseth himself, to term those certain informations given in against Colonell Mervin, the Major of London-Derry, and the rest to be aspersions, and invented, and contrived by this Repliant and his instruments, of purpose to make them detestable to the Parliament. This Repliant faith, That forasmuch as all the same matter, and much more, and worse, then hath yet been alledged against them, is well known, and manifest unto the Honourable Committee of both Kingdoms, to be proved under their own hand writings, and further, to be attested against them upon all occasions this Repliant will be further silent in it, and will not weary out your patience with making any further reply unto it; But all that hath gone before, doth humbly pray you to observe, that the Respondent upon the matter hath confessed all the Charges given in against him by this Repliant, and have made no manner of defence (under correction) that doth in the least cleer him of the crimes and misdemeanours laid unto his charge. That he hath through his whole Answer, infinitly abused, and traduced, this Repliant, with unsufferable scandals and reproaches, the most of them couched under generalls, which imply nothing but abuses; some of them also, being matters concerning his own personall behaviour in the Government of his own Family and Commands; some concern­ing his Neighbour-hood, and in the mannaging of his own Estate, and in nothing that concerns the Publike; nor in any thing that hath relati­on to the damage or detriment of the Common-Wealth, in case they had been true, as they are most notoriously false: And therefore this Repliant humbly craveth, repair against him, for these intollerable wrongs and injuries done him, in these his relations; it being (under favour) against the common course and practise of inferiour Judica­tories, That an offender once accused, and charged with any wrong done to the Common-Wealth, should be admitted to recriminate any thing in his Answer against the prosecutor, untill he hath first purged himself of things, whereof he stands accused, much lesse to Print and Publish the same by way of Anticipation of Justice, while [Page 61]as the matter dependeth unheard, by the Honourable House of Commons.

And he humbly prayeth, it may be remembered, though one Micaiah suffered for prophesying the truth against some hundreds of the Court Parasits of the King of Israel: Yet when he was smote between the Joynts of his Harnesse, in Ramoth Gilead, that he died, The Prophet was found to have told the truth; albeit, it was too late for the King to repent him of his unbelief.