Duke of Ormond was made acquainted by Capt. Butler and Capt. Cox that a certain Priest was grosly abused for giving information in the Kings behalf of a Confederacy that was between some of the Officers of the Army and the Tories which the said Priest or Deponent desired to be secretly kept till the Tories might be taken which matter the Duke of Ormond hearing took it in further consideration The Deponent's Friends hearing of his troubles requested the Jaylor that he would take the Prisoner to his own House for which he should be considered and that the Informant should be perswaded to give in Bail in a short time which request of theirs was granted In the interim all the Petitions that the Informant sent to the D. of Ormond and other Letters to Mr. Hetherington then in Dublin were stopped in the Post-office by the means of the said Smith and Baker The Deponent having obtained more liberty than before feared it should cost him his Life therefore determined to go to Dublin and leave his Brother security till he returned being before informed by the said Mr. Hetherington in a Letter that he had taken Pluncket and that a Habeas Corpus would be ready for the Deponent which he no sooner understood but went without taking notice of any person with all the expedition he could for Dublin and at his arrival acquainted several there how he had escaped the hands of violence and at that instant the Informants grievances was carried before the D. of Ormond again who sent for the Deponent the next day to whom he related the whole business of the Officers and Tories to all which the said Duke promised that justice should be done and that the Country should be redressed and withal acknowledged that he had received the Deponent's Letter enclosed in Capt. Butlers touching these matters a year before XLVIII That the Informant immediately after this conference with the D. of Ormond repaired to Mr. Hetherington and related to him all the passages that had past between them particularly of the Excommunication that was denounced against the Informant that malice was the original cause thereof to which the said Hetherington replied that it was almost impossible as well as improbable to have any justice done against the said Pluncket by reason of his strong faction nor in any other matters relating thereunto the Informant not taking much notice of the reply informed the said Hetherington if he would accompany the Deponent to the North he would produce evidence to prove the whole that before he had revealed and more also XLIX That many days after the Informant remained in and about the D. of Ormond's House attending for a Warrant that he promised against Smith and Baker and also to bring such Evidence as was in Gaol to testifie in that behalf at length an Order of Reference was granted to Sir Hans Hamilton and a Letter to take Bail for such Evidence as was in Prison aforesaid which the Deponent no sooner received but acquainted Mr. Hetherington who went with the Deponent under the denomination of a Fryer which was lately come from Rome by which means he learned several matters relating to the Plot and other affairs the Informant came to Sir Hans Hamiltons and brought Bail with him for the Evidence aforesaid but Sir Hans said he would as well summons the rest that were not Imprisoned in the mean time the Informant complained he wanted safe conduct to prosecute his affairs to which he also answered there was no such necessity seeing the D. of Ormond did think it needful to send such assistance at first Hereupon the Informant consulted with Mr. Hetherington and so determined to prosecute the design L. That the said Lieutenant Baker in the mean time had intelligence of the Informant's Order of Reference from the Lord Lieutenant came therefore with several Armed men to the Deponent's Meeting-place with a design to kill him but was disappointed finding none but the Curat notwithstanding took the Informant's Brother and plundered several of his Friends and in the night time sent the Tories to find out the Informant and Mr. Hetherington and ordered they should murther them but in their pursuit the Deponent and his Friend escaped their hands through the goodness of the Horses they rid on both of the Soldiers and Tories who made diligent search after them hereupon the Deponent and the said Mr. Hetheringion saw it high time to remove from those parts and staying for one or two nights within some Six miles of the place in which time came the Wives of the Evidences in Prison with several of their Friends and acquainted Mr. Hetherington and the Deponent both by Letters and word of mouth that the said Evidences and Prisoners could not support their lives under such miseries they endured by the means of Smith and Baker the Gaoler not contenting himself to Bolt Yoak and Chain them beating them with an Iron Bar whereby they had lost much Blood and this was to force them to sign an instrument for their transportation so that their Evidence might not be given against the said Smith and Baker hereupon Mr. Hetherington repaired to acquaint the D. of Ormond which transactions he accordingly related and left it to his consideration LI. That the Informant also hastening to Dublin to bring in more of the matters to my Lord Lieutenant was drawing up his Examination when one Hugh Mac Canna who made a Proclamation throughout the City that the Informant was the cause of Pluncket's Imprisonment the which Hugh was soon after taken by George Murphy for not delivering the Papers of the Treason when sent by the Deponent along with the Bull to Mr. Hetherington by his hand is supposed to have delivered it to Pluncket Smith or Baker but he was soon released alledging the Deponent accused none but such as were honest men the Informants being imprisoned gave occasion to all the Primat's as well as Smith and Baker's friends to fill the Town with all manner of scandalous and ignominious Characters concerning the Deponent others came to Prison tempting him to Petition for to be transported to France understanding also that Mr. Hetherington was concerned in Pluncket's Imprisonment very diligent enquiry was made after him a general report going up and down the City that Two Rogues for their own interest intended to take a pretended method to discover Treason to the Duke of Ormond hoping to have Money for their reward the one being taken the other had escaped and that Five hundred pound should be given to any that took him and that the next Week there was great hopes he should be proclaimed a Rebel some came to the Deponent also and promised him Money and liberty to declare where the said Hetherington was LII That the Head of the forementioned Spy that the Informant employed to look after the Tories This was a notable Soldier and deserves to be Chronicled for a Champion that could kill a man when he was not able to resist was brought to the D. of Ormond as a piece of good service done by Lieutenant Baker notwithstanding his being authorized by Sir Hans Hamilton and Capt. Butler to betray the Tories under pretence of correspondency with them which he was allowed in The manner of Killing of the said Spy was when he was at his House sick in Bed Lieutenant Baker came and knock'd out his Brains with the But-end of a Pistol or Musket afterwards cut off his Head That afterwards the said Baker taxed the Countrey for Money for his Head as if he had been a proclaimed Tory who never was concerned in any thing but as one employed to be serviceable against the Tories neither was he accounted any other by the Country nor ever proclaimed LIII That notwithstanding the Deponent's Petitions the forementioned Witnesses were transported by the means of Sir John Davis during the Informant's Imprisonment arrived at Dublin from the North of Ireland a certain Gentleman by name John Curfy who was a stranger altogether to the Informant and being demanded the occasion of his coming to Town said he came to confirm the testimony of a certain Priest for this he added he could confirm what the said Priest had said and relate much more of the like kind The said person being brought under pretence of seeing the Deponent was clapt up in Prison also under the notion of several unknown Actions of Debt and was threatned to be hang'd by my Lord Chief Justice Booth and in that fright gave a Bill of his Hand for what was alledged to his charge besides Ten pounds that he paid down and made protestations that he would deny that he had any thing to say on the Deponent's behalf which done he was dismissed FINIS
intelligence that one of his Horses were stolen obtains a warrant from Sir Hans Hamilton for the apprehending such person or persons in whose custody the said Horse should be found which he effected accordingly and brought the persons before one Sir Toby Points one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace where the Informant met one Captain William Butler who enquired of the Informant if he had seen the great Rebel Hanlon lately to which the Informant replyed he might easily be seen in the Informants Parish if there were any to look after him Upon which the said Captain called the Informant aside asking him if he could assist him with his advice how the said Rebel Hanlon might be apprehended or kill'd to which the Deponent answered how dangerous it was to trust the military men of that Kingdome and withal related to the said Captain how Lieutenant Baker had served him in that matter adding that if any diligent and faithful Souldiers had taken the cause in hand the said Hanlon had not tyrannized over poor people for two years last past to which the said Captain answered if that service was but once accomplished the said Baker should be disbanded the said Captain desiring the Informants advice herein they made a solemn Covenant among themselves to be true to each other in the management of this affair the Informant telling the said Captain that Cormucke Raver O-Murphy who had lately fallen out with the said Hanlon and being by him taken he would prove the only man instrumental in this business and withal the Informant told the Captain he would by one means or other incite the said Cormucke to this service if the said Captain thought no danger would ensue thereon hereupon the Captain approved highly of the design and desired the Informant to promise the said Cormucke twenty Guineas and his Pardon and that he might have free regress to the said Captain seeing he was hitherto no Murtherer though a Robber and Rebel all which the Captain desired to be done in his name XI That the Informant made diligent search and enquiry after the said Cormucke several days and when he had found him he privately declared to him what service he was to do with Captain Butler's propositions for the performance of the same withal the Informant told him he would give him five pounds of his own over and above XII That the Informant having delivered the message the said Cormucke made the following Objections viz. that there was great difficulty that attended the accomplishment of the said design by reason of the mutual correspondency that was held between him and several of the Officers of the Kings Army as also his intimacy with many of the Romish Clergy though he the said Cormucke confessed he knew no Company less concerned than the said Captain Butler's by reason they were newly come to the Countrey though five therein held correspondency with the said Hanlon who by his Letters received daily encouragement that in a short time he should see war and it was that expectation which obstructed his departing the Kingdome before that time nevertheless he the said Cormucke would work a device to have him destroyed or taken with the assistance of Captain Butler aforesaid XIII That the device should be carried on thus that the said Captain should send Cormucke a private protection and twelve Souldiers habited like the Tories and this to be done in the night time and that he would place ten of the said twelve in Ambushment near the place where Redmond's goods were suspected to be by him the said Cormucke and that himself would go with the other two to a place where they might be discovered by the said Redmond and his company as such as came to plunder which when by them observed they would make a retreat to bring the said Redmond and company to the men in Ambush who might presently issue forth and take Redmond this the said Cormucke concluded to be the best course to which the Informant gave his approbation XIV That the Informant might not be suspected by the said Redmond's friends living in his Parish he concluded to go on foot to the said Captain Butler's house which was sixteen miles distant from the Informants habitation it being also very tempestuous weather he notwithstanding repaired thither and not finding the Captain at home determined to send the result of his message to Cormucke and Cormucke's answer in a Letter by the hand of one of his Souldiers to the said Captain Butler by reason the Informant understood he was not to return in four days and obtaining leave from his Lady for one of the Souldiers to go he sent the Letter accordingly XV. That the Informant suddenly after this met the said Cormucke who demanded where his private Protection was to which the Informant made answer that he had not seen the Captain since but that he had sent him a relation of their Conference by one of his own Souldiers in a Letter but the said Cormucke replied he would neither trust the Deponent nor the said Captain for he further said that if the Souldiers came to execute the said design against Hanlon he would not stir without a Protection for thereby himself was liable to be taken especially if what he intended could not be effected against the said Redmond upon the hearing of this matter the Informant sends a Messenger with a Letter to the said Captain therein acquainting him with the said Cormucke's readiness to the service aforesaid as also how he doubted the Informant's and said Captains fidelity seeing no Protection was provided for him wherefore the said Captain returned answer to the Deponent that he had enclosed him a Letter in the Duke of Ormond's from whom he expected a Protection should be had the Tuesday following desiring also the Informant to give the said Cormucke all the encouragement possible assuring by Oath in his Letter he would not for a Million of money any Trick should be put on the said Cormucke but on the contrary he should have all reasonable security for the performance of what was promised which Letter the Informant sent to the said Cormucke for his assurance of a Pardon and Protection and better encouragement to prosecute his design XVI That the first opportunity the said Cormucke took to expedite his intent was the surprizal of one David Molligan of the Town of Lecorry in the County of Armach who coming from Dublin was commanded to stand by the said Cormucke and deliver his Purse instead of which the said David produced his Pass under the great Rebel Hanlon's hand telling him that his Father and Hanlon were Gossips and that the said Hanlon had often been sheltered in his Fathers house when narrow search was made by virtue of Sir Hans Hamilton's Warrant for him hereby the said Cormucks had the opportunity to exasperate the said Hanlon seeing his name and authority were made use of for the said Cormucke on set purpose resolved to
contemn the same acquainting further the said David notwithstanding his great esteem of Hanlon that he would not save the least scrip of his goods for his sake till such time the said Hanlon did restore the said Cormuck's Arms which he had a little before deceitfully taken from him hereupon the said David promised he should have them provided he would restore his goods at the reception thereof at a certain place appointed which both parties agreed to XVII That the said Cormucke found out the Informant that night and told him how opportunely he had met with the great Rebel Hanlon's Friend and of the other circumstances relating to the said meeting by them appointed but the Informant counselled the said Cormucke not to send for the Souldiers assigned for that purpose till he might be assured of Hanlon himself being at the place XVIII That on the appointed day the said David came to the place agreed on placing the said Hanlon and his Associates near thereunto but providently one John Mackeevir going by was by the said Hanlon and his company espied out of the Ambush who immediately surprized him and thought to have killed him concluding it was the said Cormucke This being in the night time but he cryed out aloud for mercy and the Rebels understanding by the voice that they were mistaken released him by this outcry the said Cormucke was alarmed that the said Hanlon and his company lay wait for him therefore he absented himself for that time the said Hanlon thus missing his expectation sends the said David Molligan and his Father-in-law to Patrick Murphy's house brother to the said Cormucke who lived about half a mile from the said appointed place of meeting The said David and his Father-in-law Gibson made diligent search for the said Cormucke there where he was not found therefore they returned with an answer to the said Hanlon who in great rage went to the house of the said Patricke and openly before all the Town caused him to be brought from the Plough before the said Hanlon to be examined whether it was with his consent the Traytor his Brother had robbed his Friend the said David to which the said Patrick Murphy answered the Negative declaring that he knew nothing of his Robberies but notwithstanding Hanlon proceeded to judgement which was that Patrick's goods if that might suffice should be responsible for the robbery taken by his Brother from the said David if not his life to which the said Patrick replied that he hoped his friends should not be responsible for all his villanies if so they had enough to do which the said Hanlon not able to bear gave the said Patrick blow and with an Oath affirmed he should dearly pay for the said goods if they were not suddenly restored XIX That several messages passed between the said Hanlon and Cormucke and at length determined among themselves that the said Cormucke should restore his goods to the said David and that the said Hanlon would restore him his Arms for which a time and place was appointed which was no sooner done but the said Cormucke acquaints the Informant of the whole desiring him to inform Captain Butler therewith and that the Souldiers might he placed in a readiness near the prefixed place and the time aforesaid withal that the Informant should provide some Brandy and Hot Waters which might be placed near the said place that Redmond and his Associates might be decoy'd therewith which the Informant at his own charge bought and disposed of accordingly XX. That Fortune seemed to frown at this Enterprize for it was established by an Act that the Tories relations should make good what was taken from any therefore the said David Molligan got a party of Souldiers who apprehended the said Patrick Murphy brother to the said Cormucke who told the Souldiers how the said David and his Father-in-law came with the said Redmond threatning to kill him for the said goods that therefore he had employed his Wife to learn where the said Cormucke had disposed of the fore-mentioned goods which after she found hid in a mountain and at her return found her Husband apprehended by Souldiers which Souldiers she guided to the place where the goods were upon which her husband was set at liberty and the said Redmond hearing thereof was very much pleased thereat and sent word to the said Cormucke that he would neither meet him at the place appointed nor restore him his Arms which the said Cormucke understanding was very much enraged with his said Brothers Wife All which was declared to the said Deponent from Cormucke and the said Patrick his Brother XXI That after this the said Cormucke took the first opportunity he found to bring about his intention and that was by robbing a certain Cousin of the said Hanlon's who had a Protection from him and his name was Raverty who one evening going from Dublin told some Travellers that were of his company that if they thought good he would preserve them from any robbery if they would deliver their charge to him for he told them he was a kinsman of some of the chief Rebels in the Kingdome to which they consented but Cormucke no sooner met them but he made it a good argument to rob the said Raverty when he heard him mention the said Hanlon which done he immediately repairs to the Informant to desire him to acquaint Captain Butler that he had done something to provoke the great Rebel and that he knew he and his company would presently be at his heels and therefore desired the Souldiers might be ready which the Deponent hearing went to Tondegree to see for the said Captain and there heard that the said Captain was departed thence two days before by the Duke of Ormond's Order with his Company a journey of fifty miles distant to which the Deponent knew not what to say XXII That at this juncture of time was great stir in the Informants Parish and other places near adjacent narrow search being there made by the said Hanlon and his Confederates for the said Cormucke upon this account several were apprehended by Hanlon as being in Confederacy with Cormucke among the rest was taken one Bryan O-Hagby and John Hamilton for revealing that some of the Kings Souldiers were lookers on when the Tories apprehended them and did never attempt to impede those things acted by the Tories so openly in the sight of all resident in those parts who dared not to make the least opposition being as much afraid of the Souldiers as Tories XXIII That within two nights following the Informant arrived at home from Tondegree at whose return the said Cormucke came to him and enquired for the Souldiers he was to have for the effecting his design telling the Informant he was well satisfied where the said Redmond lay adding how he and his Confederates had been in the pursuit of him the said Cormucke since the Informant had been absent to all which the said Informant replied that