The Civil War (1641-1653), Contemporary Accounts

That about the first of January February this deponent (being imployed a trooper in his Maties services, under the command of the right honble the Lord of Broghill) was then taken prisoner, following the rest of his Lopps troupe as they went to keepe off the enemy from goeing over the blackwater, & that by the hands and means of Richard Butler of Kilcash in the County of Tipperary, Esquire, colonell among the rebells, Captaine Edmond ffennell of Clonmell in the said county, gent, Whoe then came with force and armes, at least four hundred men in company with them, & comitted many outrages & rebellious actions against his Maties subjects, namely, by murthering Edward Croker of Ballyancor, in the said county, merchant, & two or three of his famkily (their names he knoweth not), likewise Robert Downing, cornett of the sd troope was then killed by them.

This deponent saith that he being then taken prisoner & disarmed by the said parties, he observed that they and [some sixteene musketeers] were admitted to come into Dromany Castle [in yd sd county] by the consent of Mabell fitz Gerrald, wife to Gerrald fitz Gerrald, of the same, Esquuire, & notwithstanding the said parties stood in a full body within the shott of the said Castle, one Miles mc Cragh who commanded the same, & now in open rebellion, would not suffer noe shott to be made at them by any of the warders of the sd Castle. And lastly saith that the sd and chief comanders of the rebells were entertained in the said castle from morning till two o'clock at night, dureing which time he saw the enemy abroade releeved at the sd Castle [as he verely beleeveth] with beefe, bread, & beere. [As also the Tower & garden neere adjoining to the said Castle was delievered vnto them, wherby to defend themselves against any shott to be made against them out of ye Kings pinace which then was expected to come up the river]
John Griffine
Jurat &c 8 Decembris 1642
Phil Bisse
Ric. Williamson

Author: Catherine and Liam Nugent