Fitz Gerald Capt. William Fitz Gerald and John Hicks the Innkeeper Cousin when will you take as much care of me as I have done for you within this two hours Then I asked Sir John if it were any private business of importance to walk in the next Room he answered that he would not and where there was one he wished there were Twenty Sir John Fitz Gerald reflecting upon Sir Thomas Southwell and that it was a business not to be smothered repeating the said message sent from Sir Thomas Southwell by Mr. Hurly to Coll. Lacy and that if I did tell Sir Thomas Southwell such a thing as Coll. Lacy said meaning the discovery of the Plot in Ireland to the said Sir Thomas Southwell that he was no better than a Traytor to his Country in betraying me and that if I did not repeat the same to the said Sir Thomas Southwell that he was a Rascal for abusing me and then asked when I saw Mr. Hurly Mr. Mackmechiny Mr. John Burk Capt. Purdon or Coll. Lacy I told him lately Then says he did none of your Friends and good Relations acquaint you with this business before I told him not Then says he look to your self and take it from me as a special Caveat Sir John's Caveat to me for the future that for the future you avoid all their Companies for I do assure you that they have an eye upon you which for ought I know may cost you your life except you have a special care of your person saying that as soon as he heard it he could not rest until he had given me a full account thereof The Lord Brittas being examined before the Lord Lieutenant and Council in November 1679 under what pretences he did give out that he was to have a Regiment of Horse or under whose Command or from whom was he to have his Commission He answered that it was by the Earl of Orory's interest who was newly dead who promised to procure him a Commission to raise a Regiment for the Service of Holland but could not prove that he had spoke with the Earl of Orory in several years before nor could produce the Messenger that brought him that Message nor a Line under the Earl of Orory's hand Coll. Lacy being also examined Examined before the Lord Lieutenant and Council owned to be at several Consultations aforesaid and that at the same time after his return from Dublin to be at the meeting in Rakeal where the Popish Clergy of that Diocess Assembled together and did confess that Dr. Hetherman was appointed Agent for France and that at that time from thence he went away for France but said he did not know what about Mr. Eustace White examined Examined whether he received a Letter from Sir John Fitz Gerald to carry to the Lord Brittas in February 1677 or thereabouts owned that he did Mr. John Piggott being examined Examined whether I told him the particulars afore-mentioned in the year 1675 1676 1677 and 1678 who owned some of the particulars and all the other part in general terms as by his Depositions doth appear John Gilbert Clerk being brought up to Dublin to prove the meetings in Night-time in Rakeal and other parts of the Country for several years before did own their private meetings both of Clergy and Laity and did conceive it to be of dangerous consequence to the English as by his Depositions doth appear John Hicks the Innkeeper in whose House the designs upon that County were for the most part contrived and discoursed of Hicks Examined and proved a Rogue and did not declare what he knew as shall hereafter appear did not own much thereof But it will be proved by Three persons of Quality who are not yet brought to give their Evidence that Hicks told them in the year 1677 that he was sure and did understand no less by the Company that frequented his House that there would be a sudden alteration and several other particulars to that purpose which I am confident he would declare otherwise than he did had he not been disswaded from it Sir John Fitz Gerald being examined before the Lord Lieutenant and Council in Dublin in November 1679 whether Coll. Lacy told him that Sir Thomas Southwell did send him such a Message by Mr. Hurly or whether Sir John did acquaint me with the particulars aforesaid in the year 1678 the said Sir John did acknowledg the same as by his Examinations given before the Lord Lieutenant and Council will appear On or about the 26th of March in the year 1679 I went to the House of the said Sir Thomas Southwell to charge him with sending the said message to the said Lacy by the said Hurly but not meeting him met with his Son-in-Law Mr. Piggot and discoursed the business with him and acquainted him what Sir John Fitz-Gerald told me Whereupon the said Piggot was very angry with Sir Thomas Southwell and was very much concerned for me considering the danger I was in The said Mr. Piggot would have me stay until Sir Thomas got out of bed which I refused to do Then the said Piggot promised me that he would give me an account of what Sir Thomas his Answer should be to him that afternoon the said Piggot seeming to be much concerned both for Sir Thomas and me in regard that he had Married Sir Thomas's Daughter and his Sister had been my former Wife In the afternoon the said Piggot and one Patrick Pepperd came with him to my house and brought me a Certificate from the said Sir Thomas Southwell in manner following THese are to certifie all whom it may concern The Certificate That Mr. David Fitz-Gerald did not reflect upon Col. Lacy or any other Gentleman directly or indirectly in my hearing Witness my hand the 26th of March 1679. Thomas Southwell Being present John Piggot I Set down this Certificate here to shew that Sir Thomas Southwell's Allegation before the Lord Lieutenant and Council in Novemb. 1679 Observations upon Sir Tho. Southwells Denial of the knowledg of the Conspiracy before Aug. 79. wherein he says that it was upon the account of a Dispute between him and my self the 26th of August 1679 that I made use of his Name is false and scandalous But to avoid all such suspicions and false allegations I thought it convenient to mention the precedent particulars and the said Certificate and I desire only such people that be apt to give their Censures of me according to their Inclinations or such as are desirous to know the truth of the whole matter Now Reader observe March 78 79. Aug. 79. and the said Sir Tho. Deinal that they would consider the time that Sir John Fitz-Gerald first acquainted me with the Message from Sir Thomas Southwell to Col. Lacy being in March 1678 the date of the said Certificate viz. the 26th of March 1679 and the 26th of August subsequent to the said Certificate in
Grace the Lord Duke of Ormond the Right Honourable Arthur Lord Viscount Granard Henry Lord Bishop of Meath and the rest of the Lords of that Honourable Privy-Council Now to return to give a further account of what happened with me after I parted with Sir Thomas Southwel The 26 of August 1679. As aforesaid I returned home to my house and that very night about twelve of the Clock a great multitude of People assembled together about my house In number 62 Whose names ensue These are they who broke my House about 12 a clock at night John Barratt Thomas Fisher Thomas Fisher Junior Garrett Lao. John Pounsey Edmond Newland Morrice Ornane Tobias Barrett John Magynane James Herbert Maurice Herbert Humphry Farrell Nicholas Halpin Francis Halpin James Farrell Daved Lewis John Lewis Robert Poore Charles Cullanon Henry Gibbens James Stretch Nicholas Stretch James Mc ' Teigue O Coner Morough Madagane Patrick Mc ' Cooke Samuel Parker Chill O Coner John Wall John Bluet Edmund O Daniel Teige Shaughinssy Michaell Noane Donough Mc ' Tâ—ige James Bren. John Creagh Richard Nash Charles Harrison Gerald Simkin John Spicer James Mc ' Nichas Francis Taylor John James Maurice Rauleigh Garret Rauleigh Hugh the Butcher John Mc ' Teigh John Murfey John Mortimer Daniel Cavanaugh John Mc ' Teigh Maurice Lewy Michaell Honahan Mortough Shea. Teigh Mulkerin c. Others to the number above mentioned All the said persons were well armed some with Swords naked some with Axes Sledges Pikes and Spades and such like Armes they broke down my Gate and the Door of my Dwelling house all to peeces and I had no other way to keep them off then by throwing Chairs Tables and such Rubbish in their way to barr them from coming up Stairs They all Unanimously crying out Kill the Rebel and Knock him in the head before he goes any further or brings Sir Thomas Southwel and the Gentlemen to trouble Those words they spoke in the hearing of twenty sufficient People who have already proved it though to little purpose they being Countenanced and Favoured by Judge Reynolds rather then brought to Condigne Punishment At last with much ado and with the assistance of one Philip Glissane a Gunsmith who came with some work to my house that night Slipped down by one Philip Glissain out if a Window some two stories high for to save my life about 1 a clock at night the said Glissane going up to a Garret where he was in bed brought me down a peace of Irish Frize and got one end thereof bound under both my armes and twisted the other end about the Frame of a Table and pulled down a Pane of the Glass and slipt me down out of the Window some two stories high and by that meanes I made my escape As soon as I got out at Liberty I sent several of my Servants and Tenants c. Mr. Aylmers assistance to me to secure the said persons Into several parts about me and went my self to Mr. Aylmer a Justice of the Peace who did not only command the Constables but several others to be aiding and assisting to suppress and apprehend the said persons so that after I returned from Mr. Aylmer being a mile and a half distance betwixt his house and mine in two hours time I got together about thirty men and apprehended ten of them within my house and twenty about it the rest made their escape and two other persons that we apprehended made their escape likewise and those that were in Custody were brought before Mr. Aylmer after examinations taken the said Mr. Aylmer Writ a Mittimus to have the said Persons committed to Limerick Goal In the interim two of Sir Thomas Southwels Servants rode with all speed after the said persons The said Persons discharged by Sir Thomas Southwels Supersedeas and produced Sir Thomas Southwels Supersedeas under his hand and Seal and on sight thereof the Constables who had the said People in Custody dismissed them from being Prisoners and so returned home again Mr. Aylmer Sir Thomas Southwels request to the Sheriff and I continued together in an Inn all this while and about an hour and a halfes time or more after the said People were discharged the high Sheriff of the County of Limerick's man came to me in the presence of Mr. Aylmer and told me that the Sheriff would speak with me I rode straight to the Sheriffs being two miles distance from that place Apprehended upon an execution being bound for a relatiâ—n of mine when he and I met he told me that he was sorry that he could not avoid apprehending me upon an execution granted the Assizes before I being bound for one David Fitz-Gerald a near relation of mine to the Commissioners of His Majesties Revenue he being Receivour of part of the said Revenue in the County of Limerick and not dischargeing his Accounts I was sued upon the Bond as aforesaid but saies the Sheriff A Letter from Sir Thomas Southwel Mr. Fitz Gerald I pray you not to be dissatisfied with me and though I appear against you it is not my action then produced me a Letter from Sir Thomas Southwel to him the Contents thereof importing that the said Sir Thomas Southwel did understand that the said Sheriff had an execurion in his hands against me upon the account aforesaid and that I was then at the house of Mr. Aylmer and that if the Sheriff did not immediately execute his Office on me that the said Sir Thomas would send to the Commissioners to acquaint them thereof and that the Sheriff himself should become liable for the payment of the said Debt if the Sheriff did not performe what Sir Thomas requested as aforesaid That night I lay at the Sheriffs and instead of close imprisonment I had my Liberty and had one of the best Lodgings in the house and very good entertainment and next day discharged my self thereof being a Sunday and staying at Captain Odells who was then Sheriff till after Sermon and Dinner in the mean while comes one Henry Gibbins Servant to the said Sir Thomas Southwel The second letter from Sir Thomas Southwel and coming up to the Room delivers a Letter from Sir Thomas Southwel to the said Sheriff after he perused the said Letter he gets up from the Table and calls me into a Drawing Room and shewed me the said Letter which imported the said Sir Thomas requesting the Sheriff for to keep me in Custody until he had Clapt an action of 100â—0 l. against me for making use of his name in the Conspiracy The Sheriff returned his answer that he knew his Office better then to do Illegal things and that he was sorry that Sir Thomas Southwel should stand so much in his own light as to propose it That night I returned home to my own House and was come no sooner thither than I had notice that Sir Thomas Southwel sent Messengers to and fro to all the Popish Gentry
the said Neal that I did resolve to Travel into France the said Neale said that he did prevail with a great many young Gentlemen to venture their Fortunes abroad and that he did believe if they did generally know in Vlster how the Game was playing for them that there would be hardly any left in the whole County but would all unanimously go for France but added that he did conceive it would be of dangerous consequence to him to declare what his knowledge was of the affairs abroad and how likely they were to have good success in their undertakings if they did prove obedient to such as were intrusted to give them timely notice and that it was for want of good and prudent management Viz. Costellows the last design so long in agitation was discovered These Officers being crossed in their Voyage and their men dispersed went back into France again from whence about a year after the said Lieutenant Hurly returned into Ireland and resided in New-Castle or thereabouts for half a year or upwards where it was credibly reported that he did train up several Gentlemen by teaching them to Exercise Pike and Musket And it was generally affirm'd then amongst the Papists that in several parts of Ireland the like method was used in order to being in readiness to receive Commands from such as were appointed for the carrying on the said Conspiracy in the Kingdom of Ireland About the year 1675 Captain John Lacy came out of France into Ireland giving an account of the affairs abroad to Bishop Mullowny and the rest of the Popish Clergy in that Country giving them full assurance The Romish Religion in Ireland established that all was working on for the better chargeing and commanding them to be very urgent with the people and to omit no opportunity and that they should suddenly see their Religion better setled in Ireland than ever before and that they would be rid of that yoke of Heresie which they had so long suffered under and that now the minute was nigh at hand on which their Fortune depended or their utter Destruction These words he did utter in the presence of several of the Clergy as I have been told by the said Mullowny and others and the said Lacy declared the same in effect in my company About the said year News came fresh into Ireland That the King of England was very ill and the report sometime after was strong that His Majesty was dead some affirming that if he was not that it was impossible for him ever to recover which gave great incouragement to their design The King fell ill which gave much encouragement to the said design At which time there flocked great multitudes out of France into Ireland giving notice That they would be in Arms and such as had none should use their endeavours to procure some and that the time was come on which they would execute their designs But His Majesty by God's Mercy recovering from the said Distemper gave them much discouragement for that time instead of their former hope His Majesty being well recovered from his sickness gave much discouragement to the party s insomuch That those desperate persons returned into England as we in Ireland supposed and continued there some time before the Parliament assembled and then returned into Ireland with no less hopes of good success than formerly declaring to the people there that there was great industy used in preparing a Bone to throw between both Houses of Parliament which gave the Malecontents there The Officers gone out of Ireland hopes that by means thereof they would bring their horrid designs long in agitation to effect That is to say to abolish the Laws established and the Protestant Religion and upon the Ruines thereof to erect Popery and establish Arbitrary Government Again returned with new hopes But coming short of their wicked expectations they returned into France About the year 1676 I saw Doctor Creagh otherwise called the Titular Bishop of Cork Bishop Creagh came out of France and Rome who as I was told by one Doctor Stretch was newly come from France and Rome afterwards in Limerick happening to be in the company of the aforesaid Bishop Mullowny who was my former acquaintance and knew that I was privy to several passages and intrigues of this kind he told me that they had received further intelligence concerning the said affairs by Bishop Creagh and several others of the Popish Clergy who were lately arrived in Ireland and that they had instructions to proceed and authority from his Holiness the Pope for to quit and discharge the Roman Catholicks of Ireland from their Allegiance to the King of England saying That the King of England had no Right to Ireland but what he had from the Pope and that the King being an Heretick the same right returned to the Pope again and said the French were not then in a condition to perform what was formerly agreed upon Bishop Mullowny This is the same Mullowny that fomented the former Rebellion saying That the Articles in order to the carrying on of the said design were in the hands of the Titular Arch-Bishop of Tuam and did not question but every point therein mentioned should be faithfully performed adding that there were those in England appointed for to supply His Majesties Wants One Lynch and keep off Parliaments until this were accomplished It was a general rumour throughout Ireland amongst the Popish Clergy and Gentry for several years before especially 1675 and 1676 That his Royal Highness in 1677 ensuing at the furthest should be King As soon as I had this intelligence from the said Mullowny and others I acquainted John Piggott Esq a Justice of the Peace Acquainted John Piggott Esq with the said particulars with that in particular in the aforesaid years who being examined before the Lord Lieutenant and Council in November 1679 did not only acknowledg the same but gave it in his Examinations under his Hand and Seal and so far I refer my self to the said Examinations which are now in the custody of Sir John Davis Secretary of State in the Kingdom of Ireland How this and a French design and the Plot discovered against His Majesties Life here in England doth agree I will not take upon me to determine but refer the inferences to the Judicious Reader On or about the 2d of November 1677 Collonel Pierce Lacy invited me to go with him to Limerick he being then to treat about the said design with the Lord Brittas Mr. John Macnamarra of Crattellagh and several others who were engaged in carrying on the same as I have been told by the said Lacy Bishop Mullowny and many more of the Popish party About January 1677 The Lord Brittas Captain Thomas Bourk and several others with them came into the Barony of Conollue in the County of Limerick where they had several private Consultations one whereof was at the House of
one John Hicks Inn-keeper in Rathkeal in the said County of Limirick there being at the said meeting in number Twenty or more who were accustomed to meet at Night Twenty or more in number met at John Hickes in Rathkeale Innkeeper but some English Gentlemen coming suddenly there Gibius and Palmes barred them of treating of the particulars at that time Therefore they agreed to have another meeting at the same place the week following and another at New Castle in the said County where they met accordingly but the particulars they then concluded upon I know not On or about the Fourteenth of February in the same year I met Mr. Eustace White upon the Commons of Chrough Burgess in the County of Limerick who told me that he had Two Letters to the Lord Brittas one from Sir John Fitz Gerald the other from Mr. Hurly or Mr. Poore I enquired of the said White what did Sir John's Letter import The said White answered That they did understand the Lord Brittas had received his Commission and that Sir John Fitz Gerald did expect to be his Lieutenant Collonel White owned the same and that the said White did expect a Captains Command under the said Lord Brittas Sir John Fitz Gerald being examined before the Lord Lieutenant and Council in November 1679 did own to have sent such a Letter by the said White at the same time to the Lord Brittas Many of the Irish which are well to live Many who were not at the last Rebellion at the least concerned suffered more than the Actors and restored to part of their Estates if not all were very much discontented at those proceedings who though they knew not the particulars had a general notion of the Evil coming upon them and did fear that their Innocency might smart for the Nocency of others several of Ireland who were not only innocent in themselves but harboured and protected several English Families having smarted for the Rebellion of others in a manner more than those that have been Actors in the said Rebellion as by woful experience I can justifie and maintain The English likewise in those last years The English had Forty-one in their memory having Forty-one fresh in their memories were much dismayed to see and hear of those great multitudes meeting both publickly and privately and mistrusting that there was some evil or mischief intended them commanded that strict Watches be duly kept through the Country In the years 1676 and 1677 several Emissaries went to and fro giving intelligence of foraign affairs and how managed abroad likewise several Letters were come down to the Country with feigned names to them one whereof I had in my hand and perused it it was directed to Capt. Edwards and subscribed by Capt. Jones both feigned names which said Letters were writ at their grand Cabals in Dublin The Gran Cabals in Dublin or thereabouts as I did understand by Coll. Lacy and several others and that which I did read he said was come from one Dr. Cusack near Dublin whom I have never seen nor known the substance thereof I delivered to Sir John Davis Secretary of State These were the methods that were used in the said years for the better managing the said design On or about May 1678 an Agent being then appointed to go into France by name Dr. Hetherman the Emissaries of the Jesuits and the rest of the Clergy in those parts that were the principal men consulted together and pitched upon Coll. Lacy to be a fit person to go to Dublin to confer with Coll. Richard Talbot Coll. Lacy to Dublin in May 78. and others there and to bring what advice and instructions they had there to the said Agent that was bound for France as soon as the said Lacy returned from Dublin Coll. Lacy being short of Money borrowed 60 l. of Simon Eaton Esq under the pretence of discharging Rent and Arrears to Sir William Talbot Agent to his Royal Highness in that Kingdom The said Lacy after the receipt of the said Money went to Dublin as aforesaid and was away until August following Returned in August following then returned to his own House being there but Three days or thereabouts when the Popish Clergy of that Diocess assembled together at the House of Dr. James Streitch in Rakeal Priest Bp. Dowly Father Creagh Dr. White c. assembled To wit James Dowly Titular Bishop of Limerick Dr. Hetherman Vicar General of that Diocess Dr. Creagh Dr. White Father Fox and several others they and Coll. Lacy being together for a good while before I came there I do not know what the particulars of the said instructions given by the said Lacy to the said Hetherman were but being intimately acquainted with all the Company except Hetherman that being my first acquaintance with him who conversed altogether in French or in Latin several circumstances in general terms were treated of upon the former subject after Dinner was over Coll. Lacy and my self walked abroad in the Street for an hour at least and he told me how forward they were in managing and carrying on the said design and that Dr. Hetherman who was then Agent bound for France as aforesaid was as fit a person to manage the affairs in France and Rome as any in that Kingdom the said Lacy saying that it was proper for me to renew my acquaintance with the said Hetherman After we returned into the House of the said Streitch and several discourses being treated in general terms about the said Design the said Hetherman and I walked abroad in the Garden of the said Streitch the said Hetherman was very earnest to learn of me what force or strength I conceived the Protestants to be in that County A Roll in Paper with the number of Papists and Protestants I made answer that I never enquired into the particulars He told me I was to blame for it whereupon he produces me a Roll in the nature of a Pannel but in Paper where he shewed me each Parish in particular and the number of the Protestants and Papists in that County the Papists by the return of the said Hetherman had in number amounted to Fifteen for each Protestant in the said County and that he had the like return from the County of Cork County of Clare County of Kerry c. not mentioning the numbers of the said Counties then to me I asked him then how came he to have such an exact return of the Protestants and the Papists He said it was not difficult to him prescribing the ensuing methods used in those affairs saying that every Parish-Priest had always an exact Catalogue of Protestants and Papists in their Parishes and returned the same twice a year to the Bishops and likewise said that he had a List of the Nobility that were ingaged in managing the said Design but did not shew me the same and did say that he did trust in God that the Natives of Ireland
Sheriff haveing received the said Order at the bounds of that County where he was to receive the Judges all comeing together to Limerick on Saturday night the said Sheriff as soon as he came thither came to me to the Marshal sea and shewed me the said Order which was very welcome to me because it would set me at Liberty never haveing been a minute in any restraint before those three nights Then the said Sheriff and I got ready to go to the Duke and did set forth from Limerick about a elven of the Clock the said night the night following his Grace being told that we were come to Town sent for me and upon further discourse of the said matters after he had taken part of my depositions asked me whether I feared any thing of the Treason sworn against me in Limerick as aforesaid and if I did suppose that there would be any dainger that his Grace would give me a Pardon I answered that for my knowledge in the said Conspiracy against the Government that I would accept of his Majesties gracious Pardon though I did not doubt to prove that I had discharged my self thereof by acquainting Magistrates from time to time of my knowledge thereof and for any other Crime excepting the same that I renounced all manner of Pardons and Protections and that in Limerick I would trust to a fair Trial this I refer to the Duke of Ormond Whereupon his Grace was pleased to order the Sheriff to return me my Arms and not to be used in the nature of a Prisoner and then we returned to Limerick to receive my Trial the Assizes sitting then the Grand Jury as I was informed were unwilling to returne Billa vera upon the Information of Walter Huet against me I haveing notice thereof used my interest in the said Grand Jury and desired that they might find the Bill against me that the accusation might be publickly known and the occasion thereof which was accordingly done the under named persons impannell'd for to try me The Names of the Jurors Sir George Inglesby Kt. Ralph Wilson Esq David Wilson Esq George Ailmer Esq Arthur Ormesby Esq John Croker Esq Nicholas Munckton Esq John Bury Esq Hassard Powel Esq John Mansfeild Esq George Evans Esq John Dixon Gent. Then they proceeded to the Trial and after hearing of the Witnesses who contradicted each other very Materially nor did either of their Tales agree together the matter appear'd so frivolous or rather set up by Practice that the Jury without any Hesitation pronounc'd me not Guilty Then the Grand Jury returned Billa vera upon the Indictment against the persons who broke my house Sir Richard Reynolds would not admit the Trial at the request of others but dissmissed them then the Clerk of the Crown called them by their names upon their Recognizance the number of fourteen or fifteen did appear Judge Reynolds adjudging the Indictment to be Vexatious having 31 mentioned therein but would not have the patience to hear the Trial being worked upon by others as I will Justifie put me off having at least twenty witnesses then in Court to prove the matter of Fact and ordered the said people to be dismissed and addmitted them not to their Trial then I prayed his Lordship in open Court to do me Justice and to let the Trial of the said persons that did appear proceed but all to no purpose Afterwards I went up to Dublin and petitioned to the Lord Lieutenant and Council and did set forth in the said petition the greivances and Injustice done unto me by Sir Richard Reynolds as I conceived by putting off the Trial aforesaid after the said Petition was read I was called to appear before the Lod Lieutenent and Council the Lord Chief Justice Keating alledging before the Lord Lieutenant and Council that the people aforesaid were extra But Sir Richard Reynolds could not deny they were in Court Keating and Reynolds Which I will justifie maintaine and prove by many good witnesses but they having no other way to smother the Illegal proceeding in Limerick than to say that the people did not appear The Lord Lieutenent and Council upon full consideration of my complaint did grant the ensuing Commission to examine the matters aforesaid Ormond By the Lord Lieutenent and Council of Ireland WHereas David Fitz-Gerald of Rakeal in the County of Limerick Esq hath exhibited an Information at this Board of several enormous Abuses done to him to the Scandal of his Majesties Government We therefore appoint and Authorize the High Sheriff of the County of Limerick Sir William King Kt. Governor of Limerick The Commission from the Lord Lieuten Sir George Inglesby Kt. Simon Eyton George Ailmer John Odel and Richard Maguair Esquires or any four or more of them to examine the matters in the Information hereunto annexed and make speedy return of the truth thereof to this Board by examination of Witnesses or otherwise in Convenient time that such course may be taken therein as to Justice appertains Given at the Council Chamber in Dublin the 23th of December 1679. Michael Armachanus Chan. Johan Dublin Aran. Henry Midensy Blessinton Ranalaugh Robert Fitz-Gerald Thomas Jones John Davys Secretary of State The said Commission was executed the third fourth and fifth daies of February 1679. By Garret Fitz Gerald Esq high Sheriff of the County of Limerick Simon Eyton George Ailmer and John Odel Esquires Upon the full examination and hearing of ten sufficient witnesses who proved the particulars mentioned in the said Information as aforesaid and finding twenty more ready to averre the same Returned the said Commission to the Lord Lieutenant and Council with the depositions of the ten that swore positive to the names of those that broke my house and heard them say kill the Rebel and knock him in the head before he goes any further and the said Commissioners did Certifie to the Lord Lieuetenant and Council that there had been a great many more ready to depose the same as the ten did in their depositions aforesaid Whereupon several of the riotous persons aforesaid were again taken up and brought to Tryal and though the breaking my house in the night and menacing words before recited were fully sworn against them by divers Witnesses against whom they had no colour of Exception yet such was the prevalency of the Conspirators and the Jury so prepared that they would not find them Guilty After which I went to Dublin and from thence came for England to give in my Testimony to His Majesty as I had before done to His Grace the Lord Lieutenent and Council from whom I had good encouragement to proceed and which I have herein before punctually publisht An Appendix in a Seasonable Address to his Country-men The Natives of Ireland Dear Country-men MY Family and self having so severely suffered for their Loyalty by the late Rebellion in Ireland and having the opportunity to discover another most horrid Conspiracy against our Gracious Soveraign