Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament Assembled That Hubart Bourk and John Macnamara have hereby leave given them to Print and Publish their respective Informations or Narratives concerning the Popish Plot formerly by them given in at the Bar of this House JOHN BROWNE Cleric Parlimentorum By Vertue of the Order above mentioned I do appoint Randolph Taylor near Stationers-Hall to Print this my Information and that no other person or persons do Print the same JOHN MACNAMARA Decemb. 14. 1680. THE INFORMATION OF John Macnamara Gent. Touching the POPISH PLOT IN IRELAND Carried on by the Conspiracies of the EARL of TYRONE And others his Confederates To deliver up that Kingdom to the French King and Establish the Popish Religion therein Being all Matter of Fact delivered upon Oath to His Majesty and both Houses of Parliament in Novemb. 1680. LONDON Printed for Randolph Taylor and are by him sold at his House near Stationers-Hall Anno 1680. To the Right Honourable ANTHONY Earl of Shaftsbury May it please your Lordship THere is no question to be made but that the Grand Enemies both of His Majesties Person and Government did believe that their Party had been sufficiently prevalent in England to have trampled upon Persons whom they had render'd friendless and impoverish'd in Ireland Where Authority had made a League with Greatness and cover'd all it's faults as if the Earl of Tyrone could not be Guilty because he was a Person of so high a degree Kindred Friends Relations Tenants and Dependants all assisted Him but the Detectours of his Conspiracies had not one Patron to take them into his Protection England they soon found deeply apprehensive of the Dangers that threatned one of the fairest Kingdoms of the British Monarchy And certainly it could not choose but be an Extraordinary Consolation of their former discouragements to meet with here so many Eminent and worthy Patriots Personages of chief renown and Dignitie so readily giving ear to and so judicially weighing and examining the discoveries of their Loyalty For my own part it was not only known to me for It was known to all the Christian World how conspicuous your Lordship had alwaies been for your indefatigable Zeal and Vigilance over the safety of His Majesties most Sacred Person and the welfare of the whole Extent of His Dominions This I observed to be the reason why so many of His Majesties Loyal English Subjects made their Addresses to your Lordship And if I among the Irish am not the first that have pressed to implore the Countenance of your Lordships favour it was only the want of a happy Opportunity to render my self capable of so high an Honour To which if now I presume to aspire I hope it will prove an argument that I firmly intend to maintain and justifie my Information and therebyin some measure to make my self worthy of that Noble Title of being My LORD Your Lordships most humble most faithful and most obedient Servant John Macknamara THE INFORMATION OF John Macnamara Gent. THis Informant saith that in the Year 1676. one John Brenan who was then lately come from Rome was made Archbishop of Cashell Waterford and Lismere by one Plunkett who by the Authority of Rome pretended to be Primate of Ireland the said Brenan producing Bulls from the Pope to the said pretended Primate for that purpose together with several other Bulls brought over at the same time by the said Brenan of which Dean Powre the Earl of Tyrone's Kinsman informed this Informant as hereafter shall appear In the year abovesaid this Informant observ'd the tumultuous Gongregations of Priests and Fryers who resorted to Knock-house a House of Entertainment three Miles Westward of Waterford This Informant took extraordinary notice of it as being not a thing so usual insomuch that being in company with several of the said Priests in the said House and that at several times but especially with the aforesaid Dean Powre who was nex in dignity to the said Brenan this Informant began to enquire the reason of their Meetings so publick and so frequent in time of Persecution The said Powre made answer That he would satisfie this Informant as to that next Patron day at Resk which happen'd to be upon the Lady-day following and within a few days after the proposal of the Question Accordingly this Informant met at the time and place appointed and there receiv'd the following satisfaction For the Congregations being gather'd together to confess and receive the Sacrament after the Popish manner one Edmund Poore a Jesuit preached a Sermon the substance of which was to let the Congregation understand that they had an indulgence from the Pope of Rome granted them and liberty to eat flesh on Wednesdays But in the conclusion told them that there was a consideration for which so great a Priviledg as that was granted which the Priest of every Parish had orders to give in charge to his Parishioners at the time of confession Sermon being done the Priests fell to the exercise of their main duty which was to confess the Congregation and this Informant being then one of that Religion made his Confession to the aforesaid Dean Powre Now at the time of his Confession the said Dean gave this Informant in charge as followeth That he should not divulge to any person whatsoever on pain of mortal sin and damnation and as he would be thought worthy of the holy Sacrament which he was to receive what he should impart to this Informant upon which this Informant promised him he would not With that he proceeded thus That the aforesaid Indulgence and Liberty was granted upon this account That whoever was in a capacity to help and assist the Holy Cause in the present Designs and which had been in hand for a long time might have the benefit of the aforesaid Indulgencies which was a pardon of sins for many years He further added That the Clergy of Ireland were to have the benefits and profits of the Tythes accrewing out of each Parish with the Gleabes and Monks Lands and Appurtenances belonging unto them which the Hereticks had wrongfully possess'd for a long time That great preferments were intended for others and that the French King and the rest of the Popish Confederates together with the assistance of his Holiness the Pope did intend immediately to invade the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and then proceeding we do not doubt said he but by the assistance of God to bring our design to pass in a short time and to wash the hands of Hereticks out of the Estates of our Ancestors for that the Duke of York gives full consent and is of our side besides that we have the assistance of the Earl of Anglesey and several other Persons of Quality in the Kingdom of England for whom we are to have instructions to celebrate several hundreds of Masses which he the said Dean had accordingly ordered all the Parish Priests to do within his Titular Jurisdiction After
said Informant Letters to be delivered to the said Judg which were to Invalidate the Testimony of the aforesaid Bourk and which this Informant delivered accordingly and found that what the said Earl said was true for during the time that this Informant denied the Treason and kept it undiscovered the said Judg did Act for him as much as he could so that at night after the Council was up the aforesaid Quartermaster Ronan Sulivan and this Informant went to Sir John Davis being Secretary of State and one of the Earls great friends all the while that this Informant was of the said Earls Partie who gave us the aforesaid Witnesses a full Account of what was done against us every day in Council This Informant further saith that the said Earl at this Informants coming to Dublin exchanged one of his Gueldings with Mr. Michael Roe because this Informant should ride the said Roes Horse for fear that there would be notice taken of this Informants riding the said Earls Horse and gave this Informant mony to bear his expences to Dublin with promises of greater rewards for appearing for him and withal admonished this Informant in what danger he was if he should discover the said Treason as well as the said Earl which very much terrified this Informant and kept him from making any Discovery for a long time This Informant further saith that the said Quartermaster Ely after the Commitment of this said Informant into the Pursivants hands by Order of the Lord Lieutenant and Council was with him every day charging this Informant not to discover for his Life the said Treason for that if he did he would certainly be hang'd and gave this Informant money to bear his charges till the said Earl could furnish him this Informant with more And this Informant further saith that one John Powre Esquire a Relation of the Earls together with Mr. Cowdal and Mr. Roe proferred 700 l. security for this Informant during his Confinement and brought this Informant a Petition to prefer to the Lord Lieutenant and Council wherein they had ordered this Informant to move that the said security might be taken with Reflections upon the Kings Witnesses in a high nature which this Informant kept but never preferred And further saith that being alone in the Condition that he was this Informant made his Addresses by Prayer to Heaven to direct him the said Informant being then at a stand whether it were better for him to Discover the Treason or to Conceal it for the guilt lay so heavy upon this Informant's Conscience that he was in as much fear of himself as of those that were most concerned But at last and he believes it to be the Effect of his Prayers God put it into his mind that in was the truest way to discover what he knew Upon which this Informant gave in this his Information concerning the Plot and his knowledge of such Persons as were to be Commandders in the Army intended to be raised by the Earl of Tyrone and William Bradley Esq for the use of the French King This Informant further saith that at what time he went to the said Earl to give him an Account of what this Informant and the rest had done with Bourk when they were ordered to tamper and make a Composition with him the said Earl of Tyrone shewed this Informant a Letter from his Father in Law the Earl of Anglesey Signed Anglesey and which the said Earl averd to this Informant to be his own Letter and Subscription wherein this Informant read that the said Earl of Anglesey had made so many Friends in England and Ireland for him the said Earl of Tyrone that there was no need to fear what was laid to his Charge and that he had spoken with the Duke of York about Interceding for him which the Duke had promised he would do This Informant further saith that the Earl of Tyrone did imploy several persons whose names were James Powre Richard Powre William Powre and Owen Whelam formerly a Tory and one of the said Earls followers with several others to steal Horses from several parts of the Kingdom for the service of the Army designed and promised by him to be raised to joyn with the French Kings Forces which were expected to be Landed in Ireland In pursuance of which directions of his Lordship the said persons did accordingly steal several Horses of good value out of several parts of Ireland and brought them all into the County of Waterford to the number of thirty or thereabouts which by order of the said Earl were distributed among such persons as were by him engaged in and privy to his design Particularly some to William Finch the said Earls menial Servant and a Papist some to one Mr. John Welsh Nephew to the said Earl some to this Informant some to Mr. William Dobbin and some to Mr. William-Bradleys Servant John Labor which by the Order of his Master he received at Raghneskdoig and some to John Powre of Clonmel But some of the owners of the said Horses making pursuit after their stollen goods and apprehending by Virtue of a Warrant some of the Persons who had stollen their said Horses they were by Sir Thomas Osborn Committed to the Custody of one Patrick Karney then High Constable and one of Mr. William Bradleys Fosterers to be by him Conveyed to the Goal of Waterford from whence they were to be removed to Maroborough Goal in Queens County Whereupon the said Mr. William Bradley understanding that the said Persons were Apprehended and as he knew well upon what account being doubtful least they might betray the Business immediately wrote to the said High Constable his Fosterer to set those Persons at liberty Upon which the said High Constable in the way to Waterford notwithstanding he had a sufficient Guard of Six petty Constables and others Assistants gave liberty to the Felons in Custody to make their escape upon a couple of the stollen Horses that were led along with them bridled and saddled for that purpose For doing of which he had the engagement of the said Mr. Bradley and the said Earl of Tyrone to save him harmless Wherein they were as good as their words for the said High Constable being questioned at the next Assizes at Waterford the said Earl and Mr. Bradley by their great interest in the High Sheriff who was then that very William Dobbins already mentioned who had some of the said Horses in his Custody and being a Confederate provided the High Constable such a Jury that he was soon acquitted besides that the Judge of the Assize the Lord Chief Justice Keating was no less the Earl of Tyrones friend then the High Sheriff And this Informant further saith that after this Informants appearing against the Earl of Tyrone in the City of Dublin John Folio and Mr. Denis Macnamara being in the company of this Informant those Felons of which mention hath been already made did acknowledge the particulars aforesaid
Whereupon this Informant together with one Mr. Edward Ivie went to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland for Advice how to procure a Warrant for the apprehending the said Felons But in the Interim of time the Wife of Richard Powre one of the said Felons went and Inform'd the forementioned William Dobbins High Sherif of the County of Waterford that the said Felons did intend to appear against the said Earl of Tyrone Upon which the said Dobbins with the assistance of one Captain Morrice a friend of the said Earls procured a Warrant to seize upon the said Felons before this Informant should do it himself Which was done and they Committed to Newgate in Dublin which this Informant no sooner understood but he together with Mr. Hubert Bourk went to the said Persons in Newgate who acknowledged before this Informant and Hubert Bourk that they were committed to prevent the appearance against the Earl of Tyrone and Mr. Bradley and that they had the same matters to inform if they could be admitted their Liberty At the same time this Informant and Mr. Bourk being with the said Felons at the same Conference the aforesaid Mr. Dobbins and Captain Morrice came into the next Room and sent for the said Felons out of this Informants Company and there concluded an Agreement with the said Felons that they should not appear against the Earl or Mr. Bradley upon Consideration that the said Dobbins and Morrice should clear them out of Goal and obtain their acquitment from the Crime laid to their Charge Which the said Felons did acknowledge to this Informant and Mr. Bourk the next Morning The truth whereof appeared for that the said Persons were immediately Bailed by the said Dobbins and Morrice and so discharg'd out of Goal This Informant further saith that although he cannot make the Information himself yet he believes he may be able to bring sufficient Testimony of the quantity of Arms and Ammunition that was received by Mr. Bradley upon the account of the Earl of Tyrone for the service of the French King and where they were by him Concealed till occasion should require And this informant further saith that being in the City of London in April last past to complain of his own grievances and the miscarriages of the Irish Jury in the acquittal of the Earl of Tyrone his Majesty and the Council were pleased to order him back again to make out before the Lieutenant and Council in Dublin what he had here made known which accordingly he did viz. That the Major part of the said Jury were the Relations and the Dependents of the said Earl of Tyrone and Mr. William Bradley pickt and cul'd not only out of the proper County but out of several other remote parts and places of the Kingdome During which time for about a quarter of a year he was not only exposed to the Malice of his Enemies but also to very great necessities without any Allowance or Consideration from the Lord Lieutenant Whereas on the other side a poor and needy Scotchman coming in and pretending a Sham-Plot of the Presbyterians and denying the Popish Plot was immediately kindly entertain'd and cherished and well Rewarded for his pains Which said Scotchman came also at the same time to this Informant and endeavoured to perswade this Informant to joyn with him and desist from Prosecuting the Papists saying it would be far more advantagious to this Informant so to do than to Prosecute the Popish Plot in regard it was not minded as being an Affair wherein the Duke of York was concerned However in a short time after the said Scotchman gave them the slip and run away This Informant further saith that in the same year 1677. at the time when William Bradley Esquire imparted to this Informant the Design which was carried on by the Earl of Tyrone and the said Mr. William Bradley together with the rest of the Confederates the said Mr. Bradley gave this Informant to understand that the French King would send Ammunition and Arms to furnish the Army design'd for the Service of the said French King in Ireland and that there were several persons in Ireland appointed for receiving the same and that among the rest he the said Mr. Bradley was appointed for one and that he did expect the said Arms very speedily together with the Ammunition promised He also said that the Roman-Catholick Clergy both in England and Ireland made it part of their business to write Letters both to Rome and France and had their Agents abroad in those parts to sollicit and procure the raising of several thousands of pounds as well in Italy as in France to furnish and supply the wants of such as were employ'd by the Pope the French King and the rest of the Confederates And that the said Arms should be landed in the Creek of Ballirone which lay within half a mile of his House between the City of Waterford and the Town of Dungarvan which is also a Seaport-Town This Informant further saith that at the time of his Conference with the Titular Dean of Waterford Robert Powre by Name he told this Informant that one Dr. White was employed as an Agent betwixt the persons concerned in Ireland and the Pope to give the said Pope an accompt how Affairs were carried on and in what Condition the Kingdom stood The said Titular Dean also further said that there was hardly a Province in Ireland but there was one or other employ'd for that purpose This Informant further saith that about two years since the Earl of Tyrone did acknowledg to this Deponent that one James Lavalline who was to murther the King was sent over into Ireland to be there secured from being apprehended and that the said Earl did receive Letters to that purpose from his Highness the D. of York upon which he forthwith sent the said Lavalline to his Kinsman Mr. John Powre to be there kept private This Informant further saith that the persons concerned in this Conspiracy for the County of Waterford were the Earl of Tyrone William Bradley Esquire Quartermaster Ely Mr. John Butler Paul Strange Richard Powre Peirce Welsh John Powre VVilliam Powre Peirce Powre Edmund Powre VVilliam Fits Gerrald Michael Row Richard Manswell John Folio James Fumigan Denis Macnamarra John Lahor and this Informant with several others In the County of Limerick the Lord Brittas Bourk Collonel Peirce Lacy John Harly Sir John Fits-Gerrald David Fits Gerrald and several others In the County of Cork VVilliam Fits-Gerrald VVilliam Barry James Barry Theoby Roch David Coudon Denis Mac Cartie Teige Mac-Cartie and several other In the County of Kerry Sir Tirlagh Mac-Mahon Daniel Mac-Conor Teige Mac-Conor John Sulivan Derby Sulivan Daniel Sulivan and Garret Skack with several others In the County of Clare John Macnamara Tirlagh Obrian with several others FINIS ARRATA P. 9. l. 2. read for 1677. read 1679. l. 26. for Fish read Frith
hear and make information of the said Sampsons Confession Whereupon the said Earl was very well satisfied and commending the said contrivance said that Bourk had not the wit to prosecute him without the assistance of the said Sampson However to prevent any further danger said the Earl I would have you write unto the said Bourk and bring him to some composition This Informant made answer that he knew not where the said Bourk was Whereupon the said Earl told this Informant that he was at Gurtens in the County of Kilkenny and that he heard that the said Bourk had a design for England to apply himself to the King and Council therefore to prevent that mischief said he go home and write a Letter immediately to him and let the Contents of the Letter be that you have urgent occasions with him and that you must of necessity have some private conference with him According to the said Earls instructions this Informant went home and writ a Letter to the said Bourk desiring him to come to this Informants house but the said Bourk refused so to do Nevertheless this Informant understanding afterwards by a Messenger sent by the said Bourk where he was being then removed from the aforesaid Gurtens whither the Earl had said he was retir'd This Informant went to Waterford and there meeting with the said Bourke courted him so long to go with him to this Informants house that after many perswasions the said Bourk consented to go along with this Informant Of which two days after this Informant went and gave notice to the Earl Whereupon the said Earl gave this Informant these following Instructions That this Informant should endeavour to get the said Bourke to confess that one Squier Villiers Capt. Nichols Mr. May Mr. Bradley and Peter Anthony were the persons that had hited him the said Bourke to accuse the said Earl and that if he would acknowledg the same and give it under his hand the said Earl promised he would give him the said Bourke a Farm well stockt together with a considerable sum of mony and would save him harmless from any danger that could ensue This Informant in answer to the said Earl knowing that the said Mr. Bradley was concerned in the Plot asked his Lordship the Reason why he should go about to bring the said Bradleys Name in question The said Earl made Answer that Mr. Lyn his very good friend and Mr. Bradley had contrived it so that if Bourk did acknowledg the same the said Mr. Bradley should confirm what the said Bourk should say and that he the said Earl should bring his Action of Sandalum Magnatum to the vallue of 40000 pound against the rest After which the said Earl appointed Major John Butler and Mr. John Ronan to meet Mr. Bourk and this Informant at Cariginure Mill being also an Alehouse And that this Infarmant should appear as the said Bourks friend and the other two for the said Earl which accordingly we did There we had a long conference about the business but the said Bourk being very obstinate refusing to concur with our desire though we proffered him the said Farm and Stock and a thousand pound to boot We broke off and the said Major Butler and Mr. Bourk went along with this Informant to his House that night The next morning the said Major Butler departed with an Account to the said Earl that we could not bring the said Bourk to any composition Upon which the said Earl immediately petitioned the Lord Lieutenant that whereas the said Bourk according to his Recognizance had not appeared to prosecute him that there might be some course taken therein Upon which there was an Order granted for apprehending the said Bourk who thereupon was taken at this Informants House and carried to Dublin by the Pursivants and examined the reason of his absenting himself from the Assizes where he was bound to prosecute the Earl of Tirone He answered that he wanted the rest of the Witnesses and being examined who they were he said there wanâ—ed Mr. Sampson Mr. Ivy and this Informant with several other Witnesses upon which the said Sampson and Ivy were sent for and appeared and upon their appearance gave in an Information against Quartermaster Ely John Ronan Major John Butler Dawrence Sulivin this Informant and several other persons Upon which Information a Letter missive was sent for the aforesaid persons together with this Informant and directed to Quartermaster Ely notwithstanding he was accused The said Quartermaster having received the Letter immediately repaired to Caraghmore to the said Earls House and shewed him his Order upon which the said Earl sent Tho. Powre his Gentleman for this Informant But this Informant being not at home at that time the said Thomas Powre followed this Informant to Waterford where he found this Informant in Company with the High-Sheriff of the said County and one Squire Welsh a Relation and correspondent of the said Earls and told this Informant his Message and that he must immediately repair to Caraghmore for that there were Orders from Dublin for this Informant and the aforementioned persons to appear there and answer a Charge laid against them by the aforesaid Sampson Bourk and Ivy. Upon which the said Squire Welsh Son to Sir Robert Welsh now or late living in this City of London begg'd of this Informant to appear for the said Earl with promises of great rewards for so doing which this Informant promised he would do the said Wealsh afterwards being one of the Grand Jury for the Trial of the said Earl But this Informant having sent his Horse home that night by his Servant told the said Earls man that he had never a Horse to go along with him Upon which the said Earle's man procured a Horse for thâ—â— Informant In our journey to Caraghmore we met with one Jasper Grant that had been a Captain of one of his Majesties Men of War who told this Informant that the said Earl had employed him the said Grant to speak with this Informant and to go seek him where ever he could find him and further said that if this Informant did appear for the said Earl in Dublin he would reward him at a high rate This Captain was also afterwards admitted of the Jury for the Trial of the said Earl This Informant further saith that after he arrived at Caraghmore at the said Earls house the said Earl together with the said Quartermaster Ely took him into the Garden and there did engage this Informant not to discover any kind of thing that he knew and swear to the contrary of having any knowledg of any Treason that Father Robert Powre the Titular Dean would give an Absolution to the said Informant for so doing for that it was not a sin to swear any thing to save a mans Life and further told this Informant that Judg Keating and Sir John Davis were the said Earls great Eriends and would stick close to this Informant and gave the